Zimbabwe police officers © APGraphicsBank
Pig. Fuzz. 5-0 (as in Hawaii). These are some American slang terms for police. I won’t even get into some of the terms police are referred to around the world. (The Moustached Pagoda? Really Canada?) Despite our affectionate, or not so affectionate, appellations for police officers, they are an invaluable and indispensable part of society and do far more good than harm. Zimbabwe is no exception to this rule-really, the police are usually the good guys. Unless they are acting under order of unscrupulous persons desperate to hold on to power and squash dissent. Sadly, then you see events that have unfolded all to often lately in Zimbabwe; where club wielding anti-riot police go after protestors marching peacefully in the streets.
On a day to day basis in Zimbabwe, police officers go about their business preventing crime and protecting citizens; but these officers are also deployed to repress those same citizens. Students, lawyers, trade unionists, political activists have all felt the unrelenting force of anti-riot batons as they violently disperse Zimbabweans gathering in the streets to demand human rights, equitable treatment, and greater civil liberties.
Because they march so frequently, the members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) are often the target of this violent repression. WOZA is a grass roots movement of primarily women activists that demand a better life for all Zimbabweans through non-violent civic activism. They are grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts and cousins who sing and dance in the streets calling for a future for their children, families, friends and neighbors that incorporates strong human rights standards and civil liberties. And because of this, they are frequently violently beaten by the anti-riot police.
This Valentines Day, as WOZA marches in the streets, we are calling on the Zimbabwe anti-riot police to treat the ladies of WOZA as they would want their mother to be treated-with respect. As a police officer you may be ordered to disperse a protest, but you are not required to do so with violence. Send a valentine to the Zimbabwe anti-riot police during the month of February and remind them that real men don’t beat women. Ever.
Stop the violence!
concerned Canadian
These women have so much courage!
What a bunch of cowards. And then other African authorities wonder why Africa is not taken seriously. It is hard to take Peter Akinola seriously, for example, when he is more concerned with Western "morality" than with the bloodshed, cruelty, mass rape and genocides going on at home.
Please stop the violence against women! You are no man if you feel you must beat a person who is physically weaker than you are.
REAL MEN DON'T BEAT WOMEN! Be a real man and stop the violence now!
Stop the violence!
concerned Canadian
These women have so much courage!
What a bunch of cowards. And then other African authorities wonder why Africa is not taken seriously. It is hard to take Peter Akinola seriously, for example, when he is more concerned with Western “morality” than with the bloodshed, cruelty, mass rape and genocides going on at home.
Sending some powerful hugs to the wonderful women of WOZA, these women are truly amazing and show such courage and spirit. Let us pray and hope that the police for once see sense and allow them to go about their marches and protests peacefully as they have every right to do.
Please stop the violence against women! You are no man if you feel you must beat a person who is physically weaker than you are.
REAL MEN DON’T BEAT WOMEN! Be a real man and stop the violence now!
Thanks everyone for sharing your concern. Let's show WOZA our love by taking part in AIUSA's Valentine campaign! Send valentines and host parties where more people can learn about what's happening and get involved.
Sarah
Sending some powerful hugs to the wonderful women of WOZA, these women are truly amazing and show such courage and spirit. Let us pray and hope that the police for once see sense and allow them to go about their marches and protests peacefully as they have every right to do.
Thanks everyone for sharing your concern. Let’s show WOZA our love by taking part in AIUSA’s Valentine campaign! Send valentines and host parties where more people can learn about what’s happening and get involved.
Sarah
Real men dont beat women – story about Zimbabwe's police.
I was amazed to see that u have all the facts about how life is in Zimbabwe,
yet the Danish Government is happy to send George and Grace Scott, two 78 yr olds who have beer refused protection under the Geneva Convention, saying their case is Groundless". They left Zim after their home was destroyed by the military in 2005, violence became more widespread. Is it possible that Amnesty could launch an appeal for them? The Danish govt. says its ok to send two homeless 78yr.olds back to Zimbabwe, when they have family in Denmark who want to care for them. CAN U HELP THEM IN ANY WAY??
They are here in DK, while their appeal for family unification is being re-examined
and asylum was refused.
Yours truly,
Ausirez Christensen
Ordrup Jagtvej 8,1tv
DK2920 Charlottenlund
Denmark
tel. oo45- 60610186 mobil
0045 -39 63 59 56 landline
Real men dont beat women – story about Zimbabwe’s police.
I was amazed to see that u have all the facts about how life is in Zimbabwe,
yet the Danish Government is happy to send George and Grace Scott, two 78 yr olds who have beer refused protection under the Geneva Convention, saying their case is Groundless”. They left Zim after their home was destroyed by the military in 2005, violence became more widespread. Is it possible that Amnesty could launch an appeal for them? The Danish govt. says its ok to send two homeless 78yr.olds back to Zimbabwe, when they have family in Denmark who want to care for them. CAN U HELP THEM IN ANY WAY??
They are here in DK, while their appeal for family unification is being re-examined
and asylum was refused.
Yours truly,
Ausirez Christensen
Ordrup Jagtvej 8,1tv
DK2920 Charlottenlund
Denmark
tel. oo45- 60610186 mobil
0045 -39 63 59 56 landline
Hi Ausirez-
I think the best thing you can do is contact Amnesty in Denmark and raise your concerns with them. They should be able to provide a letter to Danish officials regarding country conditions in Zimbabwe that could be helpful with the refugee application process. That is what we do here in the US with people seeking asylum.
Sarah
Hi Ausirez-
I think the best thing you can do is contact Amnesty in Denmark and raise your concerns with them. They should be able to provide a letter to Danish officials regarding country conditions in Zimbabwe that could be helpful with the refugee application process. That is what we do here in the US with people seeking asylum.
Sarah