SW Radio Africa (London)
Reporter
14 February 2009
press release
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.
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Women Of Zimbabwe Arise. Men Of Zimbabwe Arise. See Wikipedia. They are heroes who have the guts to say NO to the liar, thief, blackmailer, choleracauser and murderer Mugabe.
My sentiments exactly. The poelpe have to stand up to the murderous thugs who think they can walk over the people. Just goes to show what Mugabe is, ordering his thugs to try snuff out the light of Jesus in Bulawayo. Judgement is coming very soon on Murderous Bob and his Demons. The more the peolpe stand up to Bob and demons the better. The God of Heavan says, Let My People Go. Pharoah and cohorts were drowned for what they did. I tell you to Robert Gabriel Mugabe--- LET MY PEOPLE GO.
what does WOZA and MOZA stand for?