Police watch as WOZA demonstrates

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom


BULAWAYO – Police stood by while over a thousand WOZA members, both female and male, marched through the streets of Bulawayo on Monday to protest against constant power cuts. For the first time in years of public demonstrations, no one was arrested.
“WOZA would like to thank the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for joining in the protest by refusing to be used by the Mugabe regime and accepting that they are also refugees in their own country,” said a statement from the group.
WOZA has conducted over 35 protests in its three-year existence and over 1000 women have spent up to 48 hours in custody, some more than once. These women, front-line human rights defenders, have proved themselves willing to suffer beatings and unbearable conditions in prison cells to exercise their constitutional rights.
The peaceful procession began with a five-minute Toyi Toyi at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) offices and proceeded to the Department of Social Welfare offices along Fort Street where they left placards and newsletters for Nicholas Goche, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and National Security, before dispersing peacefully. Some police officers drove by monitoring unobtrusively and eventually went away. There have been no reports of arrests to date in Bulawayo.
“A significant factor was that the protest started at ZESA and there are very few Zimbabweans who do not agree that the electricity cuts are now unbearable,” said the statement.
WOZA marks World Refugee Day – 20th June. The UN theme this year is ‘Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive’. WOZA is marking this day because we are refugees in our own country. Our lives have been stolen but the flame of hope still burns. We demand the right to earn a living.