Breaking news
Saturday 8th March

WOZA members beaten in the streets of Bulawayo on International Women's Day

Over 1,000 members of WOZA and MOZA marched through the streets of Bulawayo today to commemorate International Women's Day. The peaceful protesters, who were carrying balloons, were met by riot police after four blocks and viciously beaten. Over 50 members received medical attention for injuries caused by the assault.

The aim of this march was to exhort Zimbabweans to stand up for their children in these times of extreme hardship and to encourage people to vote in the coming elections. As they marched, the demonstrators distributed flyers urging people to inform themselves of the policies and track records of the candidates running in their areas and to choose leaders who will deliver a socially just future, regardless of their political affiliation. The group also carried balloons that carried the message - Stand Up for Your Child.

As the procession neared the Chronicle offices, the dispersing point, a police officer known to WOZA, approached Jenni Williams and asked her to take the protest off the road, to which Williams indicated she would do so at the next intersection, Jason Moyo Street. Before they could reach there, a loud noise that could have been a shot or tear gas was heard, alarming the peaceful activists. Riot police officers then violently set upon the demonstrators, severely beating the two young activists holding the rear banner. They then moved through the procession beating people as they fled.

The women human rights defenders, feeling provoked by the violence they had seen, regrouped and began a second protest before being violently dispersed for the second time. Police then adopted the strategy of moving amongst groups and saying out the 'woza moya' (come holy spirit) slogan and assaulting anyone who sang out the reply 'woza'!

A member from Pumula, Eva Tanyanyiwa, was beaten to the ground by two police officers and lay prostrate before being dragged up and pulled towards the police vehicle where she fainted. When Jenni Williams went to implore the officer to leave the woman alone as she was seriously injured, they arrested her as well.
Magodonga Mahlangu then joined the two in solidarity. The trio were driven to Bulawayo Central Police Station being threatened by police officers all the way. On arrival at the police station, the three women had their details taken before being released after 30 minutes by a police officer who said they should go and get Eva treated as she had 'fallen in the road'.

Eva has serious bruising on her upper arm and lower body. Another women had to have stitches to her neck as she was pushed by a police officer into a stationary vehicle whilst another was pushed into a pole by a police officer, receiving a deep cut across her forehead.  Other injuries included a woman who developed a haematoma just above her kidneys as a result of being beaten and many others with deep tissue bruising from being beaten with baton sticks.

This violent response by police negates recent information that WOZA had received that police had been instructed not to arrest or beat WOZA members until further notice; evidence of which has been borne out by the reduction in arrests since October last year. The release of the WOZA leaders after a brief period however does not bear out even more recent information received that the uniformed forces and prison authorities had been briefed to arrest and detain WOZA leaders and deny them bail until after the elections. They had also been instructed to teach the WOZA leaders 'a lesson they will not forget' whilst in detention.

Undaunted by these threats, WOZA members decided to continue with their peaceful protest, an act of courage that obviously put them in a dilemma, especially as the news had already been covered by independent media.

WOZA would like to pay tribute to its members that came out into the street today to join events that have been taking place all over the world to mark International Women's Day, despite recent threats by the Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, that police will meet demonstrations with the utmost force, including live ammunition. Their determination to stand up for the future of their children with dignity and courage is to be commended and WOZA would like to urge all other Zimbabweans to stand up and be counted.

Ends

For more information, please contact either
Jenni Williams on +263 912 300 456 or +263 912 898 110,
Magodonga Mahlangu on +263 912 363 668 or Annie
Sibanda on +263 912 898 112.

Text from flyers that the demonstrators were distributing as they march has been included below.

Flyer one text:
Our children's future is in our hands

The March election is a chance to choose leaders that will help us build a better future for our children. But WE need to make sure that we vote for the right leaders by finding out who is standing in our area and examining their policies and track records. Ask them WHAT they are going to do to improve our lives and HOW. We should not vote only for party but for candidates that will deliver social justice. If they
want our vote, they must win our trust.

We should not be confused by more empty promises. We know what is best for our families - affordable food, a good education for your children and a safe environment.

Our vote is our choice and a secret. No one should force us to change our minds. The current situation is not free or fair, but we can protest oppression by voting in large numbers.

Make your choice, cast your vote, register your
protest

Flyer two text:
Your choice, your vote, your protest Many people are confused about the coming election. Do YOU care that there is an election? Do YOU feel betrayed by the squabbling of politicians? Do YOU think you are not important and your vote will not make any difference to your daily struggle to survive? Would you rather go and queue for water or sugar than go and vote?

WOZA would like to tell you that YOU are important - to us and to your child. You can also be important by going to VOTE on 29 March. We know that conditions are not good. People are still being beaten and arrested for nothing and we do not have a new constitution to protect us. But by voting in large numbers we can tell these thieves and opportunists to go - we want new leaders with people at heart. Go and VOTE for someone who cares about your family and will deliver social justice. Wake up early, register your PROTEST and be prepared to stand strong for your child's future.

Be ready to stand up and be counted!