WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu have spent their third weekend - and a total of 19 days - in Mlondolozi Prison in Bulawayo. Despite a High Court appeal on the 27th October there has still been no response from authorities. The pair have been denied bail three times in a Magistrate's court, prompting the defense lawyer to appeal in the High Court last week.
WOZA says it is concerned about their well being as the group has been told they will now only be allowed to visit once every two weeks. Previously they were allowed to see them daily during the week. Although the daily visits have been stopped, they are still being allowed to send food into the prison.
WOZA believes the two women are being punished for filing complaints about the way they are being treated by the prison guards. The pressure group also accuse the High Court of "playing games" as court officials are never available when the defense lawyer tries to contact them. WOZA said: "The latest ploy, in a long list of delaying tactics, is that the judge that received the paperwork on Thursday 30th October has gone to Hwange and they are unable to locate the file to give to another judge."
Williams and Mahlangu were arrested on October 16th for leading a peaceful demonstration in Bulawayo calling for an end to the suffering of all Zimbbweans. Several protesters were beaten and a number were arrested, but released on the same day.
Meanwhile, the influential South African Council of Churches (SACC) joined the growing list of South African civil and student bodies condemning the unjust detention of the WOZA leaders.
"We are very concerned about the welfare of these two courageous women," said Eddie Makue, SACC General Secretary. "It is ironic that those who are working for peace are charged with disturbing it, while those with the power to promote a true and just peace seem to have no interest in doing so," he added.
The SACC General Secretary called for a speedy and fair trail of the two women and called on the political leaders to involve civil society in negotiations to resolve the political impasse. "Incidents such as the attack on WOZA heighten our concern that ordinary Zimbabweans will be the ones to suffer if the country's social compact is nothing more than a self-serving agreement among political elites."
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In our haste to argue over policy positions in the regular threads, are we missing the growing revolution already brewing within our midst?
I'm asking here whether, during our many prolonged discussions over this policy of ZANU-PF/Mugabe versus MDC-T, we have not seen the true impetous for change within Zimbabwe? Are Jenni Williams and the supporters of WOZA the exact type of people that need to become energized to purge Zimbabwe of ZANU-PF/Mugabe?
They are a force of Zimbabwe's collective conscience. They are not beholden to either ZANU-PF OR MDC-T or MDC-M. They stand for a united, healthy, educated and prosperous Zimbabwe. Does anyone here doubt their position on the issues that confront Zimbabwe presently?
They are mothers and they are civic leaders. Who else can bring justice and forgiveness to Zimbabwe? They do not argue for one side or the other, just to let to live in peace with a government that shares and will address their concerns.
Just like the "Orange Revolution" and the "Velvet Revolution" in Europe, I'm asking (for open discussion here) whether people like Jenni Williams and WOZA represent a "way-out" for Zimbabwe in it's present state?
Curious as to the response............
Of course, they shall face the full wrath of Zanu Pf. If anyone had doubt what the regime is capable of - you now know. But why? To really detain women for asking to be allowed to feed themselves and their children in their own country? This is a great shame to mankind. Even animals do not deny each other that basic right.
These meddling neo-colonialist racists deserve to rot in prison! They will be denied bail until they learn their lesson: you do not question our great and glorious nations's leader or institutions! Let this be a lesson to all you malcontents!
zimpatriot??you sound more like the fckn hitler..is discusting to see someone saying stuff like that agains your own people in your own country,that just prove that monkeys like u never chud leave the jungle to mix with people..your grandparents died to give u the freedom u deserve and u support someone ho take it from you??!! WHAT A DONKEY U ARE..
ZimPatriot is definitely Zim-the-IDIOT!
What a cheap attitude! He is rather Mugabe's prostitute to service all his evil doings!
Shame and down with such unpatriotic sellouts!