WOZA Activists Stage Harare March, Demand Peace
WOZA co-founder Jenny Williams said the peaceful march was not disrupted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
HARARE — At least 200 members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) on Thursday marched to parliament and delivered a petition demanding good service delivery, peace and tangible national development programmes from the new Zanu-PF government. Members of WOZA celebrated after handing the petition in parliament without being arrested. WOZA co-founder Jenny Williams told journalists soon after the peaceful march that members of her organisation that participated in the event are happy as it was not disrupted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. “Parliament is supposed to be a space where the representatives of the people of Zimbabwe can go and petition. And because we did’nt manage to stand there at the door of parliament and do our work peacefully, finish our programme that day (few weeks ago), today we decided to return and see if we would be allowed to petition parliament as is now effective in the new constitution and we are happy today at least,” said Williams. Williams said Zanu-PF should preach peace and bring meaningful development to suffering Zimbabweans who are struggling to make ends meet. WOZA has over the years handed numerous petitions to parliament ranging from spreading love on Valentine’s Day to demands for a political settlement in Zimbabwe before and after the formation of a government of national unity. Members of the organization are always arrested or beaten up by police whenever they engage in public protests. Williams and WOZA co-founder Magodonga Mahlangu together with journalist Tawanda Karombo, were last month briefly detained at the Harare Central Police Station for participating in a similar march for peace.