[DEBATE] : FW: WOZA and MOZA arrested in the streets of Bulawayo on Valentine's Day

[m_redmond at btinternet.com]

I think this is an even more dangerous time. Whenever there is promise of something better is often the worst time in hindsight. I hope the UK govt doesn't start rounding up Zimbabweans for deportation. I'm thinking of visiting Malawi or Mozambique in June/ July. Do you know any organisations in Malawi?
Megan.
===============================================================  Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism: Martin Luther King

--- On Sat, 14/2/09, gallirose <gallirose1 at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
From: gallirose <gallirose1 at tiscali.co.uk>
Subject: [DEBATE] : FW: WOZA and MOZA arrested in the streets of Bulawayo on Valentine's Day
To: debate at debate.kabissa.org
Cc: nowoxford_internalforum at yahoogroups.co.uk, "'Lorraine Krofchok'" <lorraine at krofchok.com>, "'Sacramento WILPF'" <wilpf at nicetechnology.com>
Date: Saturday, 14 February, 2009, 12:21 PM

Mass arrests continuing in Zimbabwe despite new Unity government!

 

  _____  

From: Explo Nani-Kofi [mailto:nkexplo at yahoo.co.uk] 
Sent: 14 February 2009 11:06
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Fw: WOZA and MOZA arrested in the streets of Bulawayo on
Valentine's Day

 


 

Press statement from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
 
WOZA and MOZA arrested in the streets of Bulawayo on Valentine's Day
 
At least 800 members of WOZA and MOZA took to the streets of Bulawayo this
morning, Valentine's Day, urging Zimbabweans to let love light the way. At
the
time of this release, at least a hundred women and men have been arrested by
riot police. It is not clear exactly how many people in total have been
arrested
as the large group that had been sitting under arrest was broken down into
smaller groups by police and these smaller groups are still being taken in
Bulawayo Central Police Station.
 
The peaceful Valentine's protest had four different starting points - two
beginning at opposite sides of Herbert Chitepo Street in central Bulawayo at
10am and two beginning at opposite sides of Fort Street at 10.05am. The plan
was
for all four groups to meet on 9th Avenue and process together to the office
of
the state-owned Chronicle newspaper. All four demonstrations started on
time,
despite a heavy police presence in the city centre. One of the first groups
starting on Herbert Chitepo was stopped after one block by riot police
however.
A leader was arrested and the rest of the group told to disperse, which they
did
peacefully.
 
The other three groups successfully met up with each other on the corner of
9th
Avenue and Fort Street but were unable to process further as they were
stopped
by riot police. Hundreds of members were held under arrest at this point,
including someone who was taking photographs. Due to the size of the group
under
arrest however, several people were able to slip away. 
 
As people slipped away, they met up with those that had avoided arrest and
continued with spontaneous marches through town or else congregated as
delegations at the Chronicle. Several groups of WOZA members were seen
entering
the Chronicle offices to deliver Valentine's cards, roses and flyers. 
 
Valentine's Day is traditionally an occasion that WOZA has used to urge
Zimbabweans to choose love over hate and marks the 7th anniversary of
WOZA's
birth. Today's demonstration also marks the first public action in Bulawayo
of
the new WOZA campaign, Take the Step, which is designed to encourage
Zimbabweans
to continue with the civic participation that they demonstrated in March
2008. 
 
This year the Valentine's Day protests take place at the dawn of a new
unity
government that was sworn in this week and follows the Harare chapter's
Tuesday protest to Parliament that resulted in the arrest of eight members
and
two lawyers. All 10 were released from custody on bail on Thursday 12th
after
appearing in court. 
 
The events in Bulawayo today, together with the arrest of the 10 people
after
Tuesday's protest, the arrest of MDC Treasurer Roy Bennett on the day of
the
swearing in of Ministers and the continued incarceration of Jestina Mukoko
and
other abductees despite court orders instructing their release, are further
evidence however that nothing has changed in Zimbabwe. More than ever
Zimbabweans need to remain vigilant and participate in defending their
rights
and freedoms against a regime determined to cling to power despite the
platitudes they mouth that they are prepared to share power.
 
Solidarity events are also being held in London, Canada and South Africa
today.
WOZA invites any friends or supporters to join one of these events or to
simply
light a candle to show your solidarity with Zimbabweans who, despite
remaining
in the darkness, are trying their best to let love light the way forward.
 
More information will be given as it becomes available.
 
Ends
14th February 2009
 
For more information, please contact Jenni Williams or  Annie Sibanda or
Magodonga Mahlangu through email wozazimbabwe at yahoo.com. 
 
Please note that our website www.wozazimbabwe.org continues to be affected
by
the inability of our host provider to understand the meaning of targeted
sanctions. They decided to 'sanction' all Zimbabweans and have
suspended our
service. Please kindly email them and tell them WOZA are human rights
defenders
and they should reverse their suspension: www.bluehost.com
 
 
 
 
 

 

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