Women are considered to win every argument especially in relationships because they raise their voice the loudest. Personally, at the back of mind right now I can hear the echoes of my voice of my last argument. This is one characteristic that I associate WOZA with. To me they strike me as women who will surely raise their voice. The kind of Zimbabwe that we now live in leaves no room for smooth talk, one has got to be aggressive and speak loud to be heard. I remember last year when WOZA took to the streets in a demonstration against ZESA. The women were chanting “Tinoda magetsi” (We need electricity). Everyone was so fed up with ZESA and we still are but it took the guts and bravery of WOZA to march outside ZESA’s office along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare. There has been a lot of other strikes and demonstrations by WOZA but yesterday’s demonstration is among one of the major highlights in the constitution making process in Zimbabwe.

As we are aware, COPAC produced a second draft constitution, which had been approved by all parties. Soon after its release Zanu PF’s politburo made a u-turn and made amendments to the draft constitution. The MDC stood by the second draft constitution and the party launched a ‘Yes’ campaign for the draft constitution. But back to WOZA, the brave women demonstrated yesterday outside the Parliament of Zimbabwe, to remind Zanu PF and MDC that they have gone several steps ahead of the COPAC constitution making process itself. This is so in the sense that Zanu PF has made amendments to the second draft released by COPAC and MDC is close to launching a Yes Campaign. Initially, COPAC had planned that when a second draft constitution was released, an All Stakeholders Conference was to be held to discuss the draft constitution and the way forward would be mapped from the outcome of the conference. Meaning if Zanu PF had amendments to make they had to table them during the conference and the MDC voting for or against the constitution should be made after the conference.

During this demonstration WOZA reminded the political parties that neither of them owns the constitution. The constitution is made by the people and it’s for the people. It should not in any way favour a political party but should always be found abiding by the interests of the citizens.

Last week I attended yet another ‘constitution meeting’ – this time organized by the Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU) to discuss the place and voice of women in the ongoing constitutional debate. I say yet another because this is easily the fifth or sixth I have attended of such nature in the past month. The meetings always fascinate me one way or the other, but the WIPSU one took the cup for two reasons.

First, a large group of women suddenly and disrespectfully stood up and marched out of the venue right smack in the middle of one of the esteemed panelists’ opening remarks. Their marching out process was so fluid, so mechanical and in your face that there was a hush momentarily as people tried and failed to comprehend what was going on. We were soon to find out that the people who had marched out had done so in protest of failure – apparently – on the part of the organizers to officially acknowledge Beitbridge Senator, Tambudzani Mohadi. Aptly dubbed by some in the meeting as ‘Mohadi’s people’, the Zanu PF supporters made it clear that they had been extremely slighted by the botched protocol to the point of actually ditching a meeting that was critical for them to participate in not as party minions, but as women in solidarity with others.

But if you really think about it, how many ordinary people in Zimbabwe actually know the names and faces of ten public officials? Not necessarily suggesting that the WIPSU representatives probably just did not recognize Senator Mohadi, but it is a possibility. However for her to actually storm out even after the usual ‘all protocol observed’ announcement was a tad childish and an unwarranted display of self-importance. I remember back in 2005 when I was as a cub reporter attending an event where security detail at the then Sheraton Hotel failed to recognize Minister Sekai Holland and demanded that she register her name like all other mortals. Of course, Holland was offended but simply informed them that her minions would do that for her, and the message was received loud and clear. I recall that even I didn’t know what she looked like till that day.

Secondly, I found it very interesting that one of the panelists, Hon. Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga chose to deliberately mislead all the women in the room into believing that the current squabbles and draft disagreements between political parties were “at least not touching or affecting women’s issues”. Really? It really got me thinking of the one previous meeting I also attended where the Copac comedians clashed in a heated discussion to a point where Hon. Paul Mangwana lied through his many teeth to an audience of over 300 people, that he did not in actual fact sign the Copac draft, but only appended his initials. Signing and initialing: big difference. Fortunately, I had had the privilege of seeing the Copac draft and could not believe that the man could lie about something so easily verifiable. But then again, I know someone who believes and maintains that Zimbabwe is a nation of super-literate people who just don’t read stuff. Perhaps that’s the thinking Mangwana tried to harp on.

Anyway, back to the constitution draft squabbles not ‘touching’ women’s issues; I think this was the biggest understatement of the day. The most fundamental issues that Zanu PF wants amended are the very ones that to a significant extent affect mainly women. Issues to do with citizenship, devolution and electoral systems among others, are ones close to women’s hearts and lives. It also does not help any to make vague references to ‘women’s issues’ without assessing how the larger context affects the realization of those same issues.

What are women’s issues anyway? Because as a woman, I believe that if Zanu PF is trying to scuttle progress by removing clauses on devolution; removing the clause on the establishment of a peace and reconciliation commission; removing provisions of an independent constitutional court; restoring a wide range of unlimited executive presidential powers including appointments of the judiciary; reintroducing a compulsory national youth service – those are the very issues that affect me and my kin directly. So, which issues was Misihairambwi referring to? I certainly do not take any comfort in being informed that at least 70 percent of ‘our issues’ as women are covered and remain untouched if they do not include positive clauses on the above. I am particularly concerned that we are being encouraged to celebrate the 70% percent victory partially with the reasoning that after all, women can always challenge or advocate the other 30% through the proposed constitutional court. Somehow, people seem to conveniently forget that the subject of an independent constitutional court is one of the issues Zanu PF wants scrapped too from the draft. Nonnegotiable.

Nonetheless with all its shortcomings, the COPAC draft is still worth voting for because it reads like a much better devil and is a significant step towards the democratization agenda. It is just unfortunate though that because of the latest ‘deadlock’, the majority of women have actually not seen or read the draft constitution. They will vote whichever way without having clarity of what the actual content of the document entails for their future.

In the Zimbabwe women’s movement I have observed three kinds of people; there are those who know what’s really going down but choose to misinform people on technical issues while trying to push own political agendas by playing on the ignorance of the populace. There are those who know squat and sit there clueless like puppets just waiting to be instructed to make either a yes or no vote just because they foolishly answer to being referred to as somebody’s people. Then there are those who genuinely know stuff, want to impart knowledge as best as they can but whose efforts are undermined and frustrated by extenuating political circumstances. I look forward to a day the women’s movement actually operates as such and not as fragmented sections caught up in politicking at the expense of people’s welfare. This is the movement’s Achilles heel.

Information is distributed to educate us all. It’s up to us how we decide to use this information. I was so devastated when I heard that The Color Purple joint in the City of Harare, a place where some people go to relax and braai, was gutted down by fire. A fire caused by human error too. The Color Purple Club has suffered a great fall because of a woman who decided to burn rubbish, the fire got out of control and things ended up in tragedy. The owner is so distraught by this and worse still she had not insured her hard earned work.

It’s so much appreciated how Kubatana has been distributing and being so relevant with the Good Neighbor cards. The cards simply encourage people to live together as neighbors. My work is not in vain as my task has been distributing these cards carrying important information. I just hope that people take heed and practice what is written therein.  I urge those that have received the good neighbor cards will share this information with others. It not only helps you and me but the communities we live in.

So police stopped my husband and me after crossing Fourth Street along Herbet Chitepo for “failing to stop at an amber light”. The officer who pulled us over was unnecessarily aggressive right off the bat harshly telling us ‘green is a caution to stop so you’re not allowed to proceed on amber’. I wasn’t happy with his attitude and asked for his unit number, rank and name all of which he refused to give and asked us to pull over. Basically, the whole thing devolved into threats to open a docket and us argue our case in court simply because I asked for unit number, rank and name none of which were ever given to us. The second officer then diffused the situation and let us go but not after trying to open the front passenger door so he could let me out “so we could talk”. I locked my door, told him I’m pregnant and it’s hot so no thank you but I was stunned that he was so forward and intent to “talk” and I wasn’t even the driver. It was an aggravating situation to be in and the blatant abuse of power and manipulation (twisting facts and threatening us with court) had me reduced to tears. – Kubatana subscriber, Harare

Action: Get informed. According to the Highway Code, you must stop at an amber light, unless you are too close to the stop line that you cannot stop safely, in which case “the vehicle shall proceed subject to due precaution being taken.” According to the February 2012 Traffic Fine Schedule, the fine for proceeding against an amber light (where you could have stopped safely) is $10. You can get the Traffic Fine Schedule here

Take Over The Town!
8 countries – concerts – comedy night – DJ parties – poetry slam – workshops  – debates –live graffiti – social media – conference – exhibition

The Take Over!
The Shoko Festival is back and taking over the town! Running from the 18th to the 23rd of September Shoko will feature artists from the USA, UK, Germany, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Malawi. Shoko is embracing even more art forms this year as it becomes a celebration of urban culture. The festival will feature live music, comedy, hip hop, neo-soul, dance music, house, spoken word, dub-step, reggae and much more.

Venues
King Pinn Main Stage, Chingono Stage & The Hub  – Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo
Vera Amphitheatre – Gallery Delta, 110 Livingstone Ave
Book Café 139 S. Machel Avenue
Glen Norah B Shop and Bus Terminus