WOZA plans another Valentine's day protest

The Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), an activist organisation formed last year, plans to return to the streets of the capital, Harare, on 14 February, St Valentine's Day, the anniversary of its first protest action against the rising cost of living. This year's protest will again be marked by the distribution of red roses, symbolising the women's defence of their "right to live" and the hope that all Zimbabweans could "still love one another and not be overtaken by hatred". The organisation has attempted to give women a voice to protest Zimbabwe's political crisis, which has been marked by violence, and the country's socioeconomic problems. "Woza" means "come forward" in the Zulu language of South Africa. Last year their protests, accompanied by songs, the red roses and other symbolic actions, such as sweeping streets and banging pots and pans, received a good deal of local and international media attention when 16 members spent a night in police custody in the southern city of Bulawayo for breaching the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). WOZA took to the streets six times last year in various protests against violence, the deteriorating economic situation and POSA. The legislation, activists say, violates the freedom of assembly enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution because it restricts public gatherings. However, Rosemary Mpofu, acting executive director of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), believes "consumer power" and dialogue with relevant stakeholders would be more effective ways of achieving change. "Consumers have the power to control. If they rush to buy, they push the demand high and create an artificial demand," she told IRIN. But at 600 percent, Zimbabwe has one of the highest inflation rates in the world. The cost of the December 2003 low-income urban household monthly basket monitored by the CCZ rose five percentage points from the November total to about Zim $678,000 (US $193.71). However the government argues that consumers have benefited from a new monetary policy, which had seen the firming of the local currency, and the prices of some goods stabilise. WOZA remains unconvinced that any meaningful change had taken place in the economy. "We say the prices are still too high - there's hunger, and the cost of education is worse," National Coordinator Jenny Williams told IRIN. "If there is a recovery, there is no impact on the ground." Many WOZA members are vendors who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope. Glenny Mapfunde sells vegetables and fruit in Harare’s poor suburb of Mbare. Deserted by her husband a few months ago, she is the sole bread winner in a family of five, but earns barely enough for food and rent. She can no longer afford school fees and health care. Her story is similar to that of scores of other women in disadvantaged areas such as Hatcliffe and Chitungwiza. WOZA believes their form of protest works. "We are not a WOZA of the offices, but of the streets," said a member. "When something bothers us, we come together as women and we demonstrate." They also believe they are making strides in strengthening women's voices, still largely confined to Harare and Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo, by reaching out to other areas. "WOZA is a journey of learning and growing for all women of Zimbabwe to experience together," Williams told IRIN. WOZA membership cuts across race, creed, class and age. Their oldest member is a 72 year old grandmother. "Women who attend our meetings feel confident that we can, and are, making a difference," said Williams. POSA requires that police clearance be sought for public gatherings of a political nature. WOZA has consistently argued that they are a civic grouping concerned with bread and butter issues and therefore do not require police clearance. "POSA has exemptions for a club or association not of a political nature, and WOZA is not a political party. We are all about women, and about why women are crying. Our concern is the tough socioeconomic situation. We don’t care about politics - that’s for the politicians. We march because we have no food," Williams explained. WOZA members have been arrested after demonstrations in the past but have always been released without serious charges, the exception being the anti-POSA protest last July. The 48 WOZA members arrested after that demonstration are to appear in court on 7 February and expect to be remanded for the third time.