Source: Linda Chinobva / Nqobani Ndlovu, NewsDay
HUNDREDS of people under the banner of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza and Moza) yesterday protested in Bulawayo demanding that President Robert Mugabe steps down, piling pressure on the 92-year-old leader, who has also been rejected by ex-combatants.
They marched through the streets of Bulawayo singing anti-government songs and briefly stopped at the NewsDay offices in the city before holding a mini protest outside Chronicle offices, police regional offices at Southampton Building and Mhlahlandlela Government Complex.
Riot police in vehicles did not interfere with the marchers, and instead accompanied the protesters to Mhlahlandlela — the final stop of the protest.
On Sunday, War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube spoke strongly against the brutal police crackdown on protesters.
“We are saying the government has failed the masses. People are hungry, there are no jobs, our children are not going to school and we are not seeing any future with this government. We are demanding that the Zanu PF government steps down,” Magodonga Mahlangu, the Woza leader, said in her address to the protesters.
The protesters distributed fliers demanding an end to alleged police repression and urging Zimbabweans to unite against Mugabe’s government among other things before warning of civil unrest.
“This response of government repression must come to an end. We now march to amplify our voices and demand the government review and repeal all laws that take away our rights to trade and peaceful protest and petition,” one of the fliers read.
“We call on the government to genuinely engage citizens and listen to their grievances as regards the state of the nation. Failure to address the socio-economic meltdown could result in serious civil strife. We demand the government to lift unconditionally the undeclared curfew and repressive police presence stifling the right to protest and petition.”
Source: Linda Chinobva / Nqobani Ndlovu, NewsDay