Hundreds at WOZA protest

from SWRadioAfrica



About 700 WOZA members marched through the capital city on Saturday to the offices of the state’s mouthpiece newspaper, the Herald, handing out Valentine cards, red roses and abbreviated copies of WOZA’s report on the state of democracy in Zimbabwe to thrilled passers-by. Six protests started separately and converged on the offices of the Herald. The peaceful demonstrators sang as they marched, handing out roses and Valentine’s cards to eager Saturday shoppers who rushed forward to accept the gifts. At the Herald offices, the peaceful protestors chanted slogans for a few minutes before leaving a copy of the report, a Valentine rose and a WOZA scarf at the door, then dispersed without incident.

Then on Monday, WOZA members re-enacted the scene in Bulawayo where close to a thousand peaceful protestors marched on the offices of the Chronicle newspaper. Five protests started separately and made their way through the city, singing and handing out roses and cards to the public in Bulawayo, many of whom then proceeded to join in the demonstration. WOZA leader Jenni Williams explained how people rushed out of shops and offices to join in the excitement, saying there was a ‘carnival’ atmosphere.

Songs sung by the peaceful protestors included: “We want to expose this delay in writing our constitution, which will delay our getting our social justice”; “we don’t want the Kariba Draft” and “we need a Bill of Rights that respects us - send us around the country to consult on the constitution, as WOZA respects people.”.....

Woza women beaten

from SWRadioAfrica


On Thursday Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, the leaders of the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were arrested during a demonstration protesting the deteriorating situation and hardships being suffered, while the political impasse continues. Some people were allegedly beaten when the riot police used force to disperse the peaceful protesters.

Group spokesperson Annie Sibanda said several women went to the police station in Bulawayo to hand themselves in, in solidarity with their leaders, but were turned away. ...
(all but one were later released)

Zimbabwe Diaspora Protest Vote

Calling ALL the Zimbabweans in Diaspora

Join the PROTEST for the right to vote in the elections

Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Protest

No Diaspora Vote, No Free, Fair or Credible Elections in Zimbabwe

Washington DC February 21 - 22

21 February

10 - 12 p.m. Roundtable on Zimbabwe

Venue : TBA

Contact persons: Ralph Black and Handel Mlilo

7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Zimbabwe consultation and social

Venue : TBA

Contact persons:

22 February --

9. 30 a.m. Arrival at Lafayette Park 1608 H St NW, Washington DC

10:30 a.m. March from Lafayette Park

11:30. Arrive at Zimbabwe Embassy.1608 New Hampshire Ave Washington,

Moment of reflection for victims of politically motivated violence

Demonstration. Speakers:

Ralph Black

Handel Mlilo

Ruzvidzo Zvidzair

Nassar Rusike

Alyce Murambiwa

HANDING PETITION: protest organizers to present petition to Ambassador or his staff.

DIASPORA VOTE. Diaspora will cast votes in a ballot.

News conference : Media will be invited to ask questions.

3 p.m. Gathering at a venue to be announced for the termination of the protest

Contact persons

Canaan Mhlanga 604 461 3072
Zvidzayi Ruzvidzo 614 622 0427
Stanford G. Mukasa 724 467 0001
Handel Mlilo 240 505 0179

Monks lead protest in Burma

The BBC reports that huge pro democracy protests are occuring in Burma (Myanmar):

Tens of thousands of monks and civilians around Burma have held the biggest protest marches against the military government yet.

Eyewitnesses say up to 100,000 people marched peacefully through Rangoon with monks demanding better living conditions and national reconciliation.

To those of us in the Philippines, this brings back memories of the EDSA revolution, where hundreds of thousands demonstrated against Marcos, led by priests and nuns and the greatly revered Cardinal Sin.

When intellectuals write scathingly of religion, they usually chose the worse case scenerios: the most ignorant and extreme as examples of religion.

But the real danger of religion to governments and others who want to control people’s lives is twofold: One, that religious leaders are respected by the common people, and two: that religious leaders answer to a Higher Power, and so a government is not able to insist their law is supreme. The third way religion is dangerous is that threats of death is not a deterrant.

Yes, this last reason has been twisted out of recognition by jihadi “suicide bombers” who kill civilians they consider heretics (mainly Shiite Muslims). But it was this fearlessness and sense of peace that marched in defiance of threats of violence that made the Freedom Marcher of Selma and the Edsa and Gandhi and of Solidarity so inspiring.

If there are only two ways to overthrow an evil government (war from within and war from without) it is religion that gives a third way: peaceful resistance.

The BBC has an article on Democracy advocate and Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi HERE.

THIS WEBSITE has updates on the situation.

and Gateway Pundit has a long report with links of the huge protests against that military junta…led by Buddhist monks.

One worry in all of this is China. A the BBC reports, they are an ally and trading partner of the government of Myamar but ironically, one thing standing in the way of their support of a government crackdown is….the Olympics.

instability or even war in Burma is not in China’s interest. But neither is a bloody crackdown, because China is worried about its own image in the run up to next year’s Beijing Olympic Games.
And a Beijing-backed crackdown in Burma would spoil China’s idea of a trouble-free Olympics.

So one of the ironies is that the Burmese people might get their democratic government because of the Olympic games.

Now, if only we could pressure South Africa’s support of Mugabe, by threatening a boycott of their World Cup…

Demonstrators in Bulawayo protest shortages

Zimbabwe women's group and male counterpart demonstrated Monday in Bulawayo, the country's second-largest city, against the widespread and acute shortage of food and other essential goods following a government move to roll back prices.

More than 200 members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, and its male consort, Men of Zimbabwe Arise, staged peaceful protests at multiple locations in the city.

WOZA members demonstrated in 10 areas in high-density suburbs, targeting local shops and businesses and demanding “affordable food on the shelves and an end to selling to cronies and the uniformed forces out the back door." Police have been reported to have imposed price cuts then cleaned out available stocks....

==========

Elsewhere, four National Constitutional Assembly activists arrested in Mutare late last week for protesting to demand a new constitution were released Monday on Z$3.5 million bail each.They are charged with demonstrating without permission.

NCA members hospitalized in Harare after alleged police beatings were released on Saturday. Madhuku said police who had sealed off the civic group’s offices in the capital last week, arresting scores, had dispersed by Sunday

The reports from Zimbabwe pundit and others

Zimpundit has a long article on local sources of information and what is going on there on the "Global voices" website.

Sorry for the short blogging on this site: my laptop is broken and I have to use an old desktop that is hard to use.

SAfrican unions vow to press Mbeki about Mugabe

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — The country's largest labor federation, which has lambasted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for "attacks on democracy and human rights," says it will keep up pressure on Zimbabwe, in contrast to the quiet diplomacy advocated by the South African president.

President Thabo Mbeki, leader of the African National Congress, said Saturday that he was confident new mediation could help resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe, on South Africa's northern border.

But after meeting with Mbeki in Cape Town, the general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions said it would go ahead with demonstrations set for this week.

"We are proceeding with the protests. We are not going to let go because there is a promise of dialogue," said Zwelinzima Vavi, whose group is a member of the ruling alliance with the ANC.

"We're having demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday, we're having marches in Johannesburg and we'll be marching to the Zimbabwean high commissioner's office."
.....

Vavi said the labor federation's responsibility was to make sure the unions exerted pressure to force the parties involved to engage in serious negotiations for a solution to the crisis. He said the group hoped for a breakthrough.

Protests in Zimbabwe
To follow events as they unfold, visit our index page on Strikes and Protests in Zimbabwe in 2007.

View an animation of photographs (500kb) taken on March 13 when activists, arrested for gathering for the Save Zimbabwe Campaign Prayer Meeting in Highfields on March 11th, were brought to the Magistrates Court. Right click the link and save the file onto your computer to share with others.