I confess-I think Valentines Day is a scam perpetrated by men to buy forgiveness for all the things they mess up the rest of the year by presenting you with bouquet of convenience store flowers. Luckily, the members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) are far less jaded. Every year they take to the streets on in Zimbabwe on Valentines Day, urging political leaders to remember the power of love is greater than the love of power.
This year, celebrating their ninth year of peaceful protest, 1800 members marched in Bulawayo on Friday-their biggest gathering to date. They sang and danced their way to the offices of the state run newspaper, calling attention to the need for free and open access to the media. This will be particularly important this year as Zimbabwe moves toward a vote on a new constitution and expected Presidential elections. Open access by all candidates to the media is critical in ensuring a free and fair election.
As the WOZA members marched, they passed out Valentines to bystanders with messages regarding constitutional reform. You can help WOZA spread the message about the need for open media access and free and fair elections by sending a Valentine to South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma. President Zuma is appointed by regional leaders to supervise Zimbabwe’s negotiated interim government and upcoming elections. Our Valentines urge him to take steps to ensure all votes are free of violence and intimidation.
Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections saw high levels of political violence, with human rights defenders like WOZA, civil society members and political opposition figures particularly targeted. Amnesty is concerned about continuing levels of violence and the great potential for extreme violence to return surrounding any votes. Take action to keep WOZA members and all Zimbabweans safe as they go to the polls. Help Zimbabwe vote for love. Find our Valentine to President Zuma here.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that
Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
2. To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that
Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
2. To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;
Women Of zimbabwee we stand in support of your rights, and may God be with you all, May the zimbabawee people know the meaning of democracy AMEN Rickki The chosen one
Women Of zimbabwee we stand in support of your rights, and may God be with you all, May the zimbabawee people know the meaning of democracy AMEN Rickki The chosen one
women are givers of life they are sacred.
women are givers of life they are sacred.
WOZA rocks! What a model of a committed, nonpartisan, watchdog human rights NGO that Zim needs so much as elections loom on the horizon. I must admit to waiting anxiously to see what WOZA would do again this year as an annual rite. Love to you all, Jenni, Magodonga, and all WOZA activists!
WOZA rocks! What a model of a committed, nonpartisan, watchdog human rights NGO that Zim needs so much as elections loom on the horizon. I must admit to waiting anxiously to see what WOZA would do again this year as an annual rite. Love to you all, Jenni, Magodonga, and all WOZA activists!
This is very touching. It's incredible how in the middle of all that violence and death these people still find the strength to talk about love .