The Fearless Women of Zimbabwe
Despite harsh treatment, normal women are desperately seeking change
Jun 5, 2007
A mild case of attention deficit afflicts many of us when we read or hear about a social or humanitarian cause. Perhaps this is due to the millions of causes competing for our attention, but also because we guiltily prefer the escapism that sport, entertainment and scandal offer us. Or maybe we think activism only attracts certain hippy-dippy types that take up causes that won’t ever affect us. For some, however, there is no other choice but to get involved, because the survival of what little they have left depends on their steadfast involvement.
A country where even millionaires starve
Zimbabwe is in tatters. Its octogenarian ruler, Robert Mugabe, has over the past thirty-odd years changed from liberation hero to cranky oppressor of his own people. With inflation of 1700%, money that has little value, and an economy that is barely existent, it is evident the country is in crisis.
Very little good news comes out of this impoverished African country these days, but when its downtrodden people start to fight for change, it certainly is a welcome piece of information. In 2003, a group of women who felt compelled to empower female voices in their country, started a movement for change. WOZA, acronym for Women of Zimbabwe Arise, is also a word in the Ndebele language which means “come forward”. Since its inception it has evolved into an organization that also includes men (MOZA) and current membership has reached more than 35000.
Their non-violent approach aims to give people a voice on issues they are not empowered to speak about on their own. WOZA wants a New Zimbabwe and they want social justice. Their tool: tough love, i.e. something akin to the disciplining love of a parent to bring back dignity to normal people. Miraculously there have been successes – average Zimbabweans have been given a forum (however oppressed) to speak about the things they want for their country, and more than 50 non-violent protests have been held. Unfortunately WOZA’s non-violent approach has not always elicited a non-violent response from the police. More than 2500 activists have been arrested and in custody many women have been tortured and beaten.
WOZA members have written about their ordeals and their accounts offer a heart-wrenching glimpse into what they have to endure for their New Zimbabwe. One woman writes: “…we were beaten from 16 00hrs to almost 20 00hrs” and another says “…we were beaten every 10 minutes…” and “…they beat us, they kicked us and walked on us whilst wearing shoes.” Another account tells of how a junior officer walked around “stepping on our backs and buttocks with heavy shoes asking – Did you ever read this paper? When it was my turn he pressed me on my genital organs forcing me to tell him but I told him I don’t know.”
Protest is possible from anywhere in the world
There are many more examples of horrific mistreatment, of beatings and arrests the WOZA activists say they are prepared to face. The question is what normal citizens around the world can do to help. WOZA says that a show of international solidarity, mainly through letters and faxes, is the most helpful, because often that is what keeps their activists safe. If you have access to e-mail or fax and you want to protest about the mistreatment, you can e-mail WOZA directly or get involved through other international groups like Amnesty International. Appeals Worldwide offers an online letter-writing tool with the appropriate address in Zimbabwe and Defending Women Defending Rights lists addresses in Zimbabwe and Europe.
