WOZA activists demand violence-free polls

Bearing placards proclaiming, "The power of love can conquer the love of power", a group of activists from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) marched through the streets of the capital, Harare, on St Valentine's Day to demand democratic and violence-free elections in March. "About 150 to 200 women participated in the protest and distributed red roses and St Valentine's Day cards until we were dispersed by the traffic policemen," Magodonga Mahlangu, a WOZA member, told IRIN. Since its formation in 2003, WOZA has taken to the streets every St Valentine's Day to protest against rights abuses in the country. Late Monday, WOZA was still trying to ascertain whether any of their members had been arrested. At least 53 WOZA members were arrested while holding a 'pre-St Valentine's Day' march in Bulawayo last Saturday, according to Jenni Williams, the organisation's national coordinator.