Campaign empowering female activists and the democracy movement

One year after the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) embarked on the campaign on mobilisation, education and protection of female activists at grassroots level, it is time to take a moment to look back at what we have achieved so far.

The ACT NOW Against Political Violence, Torture and Rape campaign has gained momentum, in particular in terms of mobilisation of female activists, who have been beaten down from years of repression.

 “Women are strong and believe we need to continue the struggle for democracy. Activism is within us and we will never move backwards. We will continue the fight until we have a people driven constitution in Zimbabwe” says a leading female activists in NCA.

NCA National Spokesperson, Madock Chivasa, speaking about the ACT NOW Against Political Violence Campaign

Mobilisation and education of women

In the past year, the NCA has embarked on a national outreach programme to encourage an open dialogue about the risks and challenges facing women and provide a platform for women to share their personal stories about the physical, mental and social attacks by the law enforcement agencies, militia and youth gangs.

Around the country women and men has gathered in small groups to break the silence and talk about the trauma resulting from being targeted by the state in response to their call for a people driven constitution. This has contributed to building women’s self-esteem as individuals and as active participants in the movement for a genuine democratisation of Zimbabwe’s repressive regime.

Responses to police brutality

In spite of the courage and unity of the democracy movement, activists are still putting their lives on the line when they take up the fight against repression. Many female activists have been faced with police brutality, and women who choose to become active in NCA are acutely aware of the risks of physical assaults, arrest and torture. By teaching women about their rights they have become better prepared for how to react, when the police interrupt demonstrations and NCA meetings.

“Women now stand firm against the police. We tell them that we will not run away, so they can just go ahead and arrest us all. If one of us is arrested we stand together as a group and tell the police men to arrest us all. The police will leave us alone because we stand firm” says one of the women, who has educated grassroots women.

Protection and support to female activists

No matter how firm the women stand, the effects of the medical and psychological trauma from political violence cannot be underestimated. In the past year, NCA has scaled up the efforts to provide counselling, medical and legal support for women, who have been subjected to political violence. No woman should be left alone with the physical, mental and social wounds from violence, rape and torture. Therefore NCA has put a system in place, where women can report any incidences of political violence to the local offices, who will then refer them to medical, counselling and legal support.

Unfortunately the Zimbabwean police and court systems are under Robert Mugabe’s control, and it is not possible to report cases to the police or take the perpetrators to court. The police routinely refuse to investigate any cases of political violence against civic activists, who are perceived as being affiliated with Mugabe’s political rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Prosecution of perpetrators of political violence is therefore rare, and in the few court cases, the political elite has sought to threaten or pay the judges to rule in favour of the perpetrator. However, human rights lawyers and doctors still document all the cases, and are preparing to take them to court as soon as the political control of the court system is reduced. Attempts have also been made to prosecute perpetrators in other countries.

International lobbying

The women of Zimbabwe are not alone in their fight against repression. Throughout the past year, NCA and Africa Contact have put pressure on policy makers in Southern Africa and Europe to push for an end to political violence in Zimbabwe.

NCA has held a series of demonstrations around the campaign in Johannesburg. When the Southern Africa Development Community held an extraordinary summit in Johannesburg in June 2011, NCA handed in a petition calling on SADC to pressure Zimbabwe to put an end to political violence.

NCA Activists on their way to hand in petition to SADC

NCA Chairman Lovemore Madhuku and International Coordinator Munjodzi Mutandiri visited Copenhagen in December to mobilise support for the campaign. Civil society arranged a conference to address the issue of women’s political participation, and the Danish Government opened the doors to discuss the current political situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took note of NCA’s analysis of the Government of National Unity’s failure to provide stability and security for Zimbabweans, and NCA stressed that there is an urgent need to ensure that all Zimbabweans are free to choose their leader and contribute to building the future of the country.

In February, NCA’s partner Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU), went to Geneva to engage the United Nations in the fight against political violence. During Zimbabwe’s review by the Committee on the Elimination of all Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), RAU successfully lobbied the Committee to condemn the systematic use of political violence against women. The CEDAW Report called on the Zimbabwean Government to end political violence.

International Solidarity

On the International Women’s Day and May Day, activists from Africa Contact took to the streets to urge Danish citizens and policy makers to show their solidarity with the women of Zimbabwe. More than 500 Danes showed their support by having their picture taken for a virtual petition on Facebook.

Danes calling for an end to political violence against women in Zimbabwe

The events caught the attention of Danish policymakers and the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Lene Espersen said: “I think we should fight all attempts at trying to misuse women for political purposes. So let’s speak up and speak up loud for the Zimbabwean women”, when she had her picture taken for the petition.

Strengthening the movement for a democratic Zimbabwe

The campaign has not only contributed to improving the situation for female activists. It has also strengthened NCA as a movement. The fear and consequences of political violence is something that is present in the lives of all activists. By initiating discussions about political violence at all levels of the organisation, NCA has become even more relevant for its grassroots supporters, because the organisation acknowledges and seeks to assist the physical and psychological risks the membership face.

“The campaign against political violence is the first of its nature in NCA. We have always campaigned for a people driven constitution, and our members were positively surprised to see us talk about political violence. It has helped us mobilise our grassroots, especially women“, says a member of NCA’s Task Force.

But the struggle does not end here. Political violence, especially against women, has become integral to Zimbabwe’s political battleground as is still used as a tool to silence critical voices. It is expected that Zimbabwe will have a referendum on a new constitution this year and elections next year. Mugabe is not expected to give up power without a fight and is likely to launch a new campaign of intimidation and violence against the democracy movement. We need to prepare ourselves to protect women and provide support for the victims of political violence – and speak out to the international community on the continued human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Danish civil society meets to discuss women’s political participation

On the International Women’s Day, Africa Contact launched the report “Countries in Transition: Options for Women’s Political Participation” with our partners Gendernet, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy and KVINFO.

Last year we went on the streets in Copenhagen in a solidarity event to raise awareness about political violence against women in Zimbabwe, and this year we went into the meeting room to address Danish civil society and mobilise support  to continue fighting for women’s right to participate in decision-making and public life.

NCA Chairperson, Lovemore Madhuku, speaking at the conference on 8. December 2011

The report presents NCA Chairperson Lovemore Madhuku’s analysis of political violence in the context of women’s role in the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe. It also includes NCA International Coordinator Munjodzi Mutandiri’s presentation of NCA’s strategies of mobilising and protecting activist women, who live in fear for becoming targets of physical attacks, abductions, torture, rape and psychological violence.

 At the launch an activist from Africa Contact stressed the importance to continue our work with inclusion of marginalised groups, such as women, in political processes and decision-making. Africa Contact remain deeply committed to the fight for Zimbabwean women to continue the struggle for democracy without fear of political violence.

 In Zimbabwe and around the world, women face a range of different problems when they become politically active, such as economic and cultural barriers for their active participation. Director of the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy (DIPD), Bjørn Førde,  stressed that the issue of women’s political participation cannot be addressed as an isolated problem.

Director of DIPD, Bjørn Førde, speaking at the launch

The roots causes of unequal access to power and influence are closely interlinked with economic, social and cultural power, and in many societies the loss of power equals a loss of economic benefits, social status and power in other spheres of life. A genuine process of democratisation therefore need to address the issue of separating political power from social and economic power.

As the International Women’s Day is coming to an end, we left the launch with new inspiration to continue our struggle for women’s opportunities to contribute to defining the future of their countries.

Victim of political violence becomes minister in Zimbabwe

Lucia Matibenga from Morgan Tsvangirai’s party MDC-T, was sworn in as Minister of Public Service in the inclusive government by Robert Mugabe yesterday. She is a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change and a veteran trade-unionist. She was the vice president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and has also been the president of the Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council.

In an interview, earlier this year, with Africa Contact Lucia Matibenga talked about her personal experiences with political violence.

“I was at an MDC meeting when suddenly a group of young men came. People started running, but I am old I could not run away from them. They hit me and I fell. Then they cut me with a knife here in my head”, she told Africa Contact while pointing at the top of her skull.

According to The Zimbabwean, a local newspaper, this is not the only incident experienced by Lucia Matibenga,

“In 2005 thugs from ZANU PF attacked her in her ZCTU (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions) office and broke her arm. The same arm was broken again in 2006 during another attack by state security agents and this has left her hand deformed.”, they write.

“We must target the youth”

When Africa Contact asked Lucia Matibenga about how political violence should be addressed in Zimbabwe, her answer was clear,

“The perpetrates are young, they are poor and unemployed and they perpetrate for just a little amount of money or even drugs. Therefore we must give them something to do so they can be educated and be employed instead of joining youth militias”, she explained

Women’s Rights defender

She also told Africa Contact about the importance of including women in the political decision-making processes. She stressed that women from across the political spectrum should fight together against the male dominated world of politics.

It is unclear whether her opinions will be reflected in her actions as minister of public service. Her area of responsibility does not invite her to address political violence directly since it lies with the minister of -women’s affairs, -justice, -youth and ultimately with the president who, to a large extent, is in control of the security sector. But hopefully she will raise her voice to those ministers and demand a politically induced investigation of the past years violence and impunity of the perpetrators.

Human rights activist and lawyer Kudakwashe Chitsike is visiting Denmark to talk about political violence in Zimbabwe

Kudakwashe Chitsike, or just Kuda, has had a busy schedule during her stay in Copenhagen. Africa Contact and other Danish organisations had invited her to speak at a conference on women and the UN Millenium Development Goals on the 16th of August.

She raised the issue of political violence as a barrier to women’s participation in politics and society at large. She urged the international community and decission makers to reach all those goals they set instead of just postponing exisitng goals and replacing them with new ones. And she called for repercussions if power holders do not keep their promisses.

Besides from the conference she also participated in an afternoon debate meeting where she talked about the issue of political violence against women in fragile states. Peter Kenworthey from Africa Contact has written a very informative and interesting article from the meeting where he describes the issues Kuda brought forward to her audience.

Read the article Rape and Torture is Still Being Used as a Political Weapon in Zimbabwe here

Kuda also had meetings with organizations and politicians with an interest in her work. Many were impressed with her work of documenting and publishing the politically motivated violence in the hostile and risky environment of Zimbabwe. According to Kuda it is necessary to speak out and make noise about the wrong-doings in Zimbabwe,

“We are all well educated, I have a degree in law. Imagine all those people with no education and no voice. We, who can, must speak up when things are wrong otherwise nothing will happen” Kuda said to the audiens at her film screening on wednesday night at café Retro in Nørrebro, Copenhagen. She showed her two films What About Us and Hear Us

Solidarity Party against political violence was a success!!

The Africa Contact solidarity party on Friday the 29^th of July was a huge success. In spite of the rainy weather Africa Contact raised enough money to invite Kudakwashe Chitsike to Denmark in August where she will speak about the issue of political violence against women in Zimbabwe. She will put the issue of political violence on the agenda amongst the Danish population, organizations and politicians in Denmark and in the EU.

At the party there was a barbecue, bar, lottery, dart contest and great music played by the two volunteer Dj’s john and the Howlers. All the guests were very generous and thirsty and Africa Contact would like to thank everybody who showed up and supported our work!

Africa Contact would also like to give a special thanks to all the sponsors:

• The volunteer dj’s:  Snerle og Thomas a.k.a. John and the Howlers
• Café Blågårds Apotek for beer
• Harboe Bar, kaffesalonen and Understellet for the amazing presents

Read about the conference where Kudakwashe Chitsike will speak here

Read about the afternoon debate meeting here

Read about the film night at Café Retro here

Pictures from the Party

Testimonies from victims of political violence

Africa Contact Activist, Copenhagen

Victims of political violence speak out about their experiences. The testimonies show an environment of fear with large degrees of hostility and a constant flow of threats.

The organization Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ), has collected testimonies from victims of political violence in the Mbare township in Zimbabwe since February 2011. These were published on facebook earlier today by activist and Africa Contact partner Blessing Vava from NCA (National Constitutional Assembly).

Only few of the victims speak directly about physical violence. Rather, they describe an environment of fear and threats where people flee their houses, have their property destroyed, lose their sources of income and live in constant fear of being beaten, tortured or raped,

“The Zanu PF youths broke into my mother’s house where they were sitting as a family. They started throwing property from the third floor of the building to the ground. The family fled, leaving the youth in the house. They took a computer, home theatre and a fridge which they carried in a truck and drove away. They promised to come back for my mother, but she joined others in the safe houses. She left her children with a relative and the youths went on to seize her flea market table where she got some income. She is unemployed and struggles to feed the children. She did not recover her confiscated property. The case was reported to the Police. The chief culprit was arrested but later released on bail “, testimony by Amanda.

Earlier this year researcher and Human rights activist Shari Epple visited Denmark and spoke about the phenomenon of Machbox-rattling. She referred to the use of fear rather than concrete physical attacks as a means to prevent people from getting involved in politics. The testimonies clearly confirm Shari Epple’s theory as described in the following by Mavis (female),

“Zanu PF youths would come to my house and chant war songs. I was frightened. I was afraid they would destroy my house or attack one or all of us. I fled to Highfield where I lived with my relatives. When it seemed calm I came back. But I am still living in fear because the meetings are now held so close to my home. The youths are using the entrance to my house as their singing venue”

This shows how threats of violence are deeply integrated in the machinery of political violence and that threats and fear alone can be just as effective as physical violence.