The practice and culture of political violence.

On the 1^st of May activists from Africa Contact expressed solidarity with women in Zimbabwe – and the activists worked to get other people to join forces with them in their virtual petition, to stop political violence against women, thereby sending a strong signal that backing and support is there for them, in their fight for a more democratic and just society – also as far away as in Denmark.

For women in Zimbabwe being subjected to politically motivated violence is regrettably a fright they have to live with when being politically active in any way or even when it’s not the woman herself but her husband or other male relatives who are involved with the political opposition or civil society organizations. This of course represses the scope for both personal and democratic freedom as well as it is threatening the development of institutions and processes encouraging democratic participation.

Political violence is by no means a new phenomenon in Zimbabwe. In the new book; When a State Turns Against its Citizens: Institutionalized Violence and Political Culture, Lloyd Sachikonye, associated Professor at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Zimbabwe, explicates how Zimbabwean politics of today and the continual violence that emanates from it have origins in the Liberation War (1964-1979), in the inter-party conflicts that arose at this time and in the actions of the Rhodesian armed forces during the war. Seen in this light Zimbabwean politics have become entrenched in a tradition and practice of violence.

Lloyd Sachikonye’s focus in the book though is on the period since 2000. In this last decade political violence has increased in Zimbabwe and democratic space has withered as the state has become progressively more authoritarian and suppressive regarding the political opposition and civil society. In 2008 violence erupted during election period and again this year, by assumptions of an upcoming election, violence has escalated once more.

As the perpetrators of violence enjoy impunity, this makes the fight against political violence even harder and necessitates an even stronger voice to advocate for the victims as well as for democratic progress.

Zimbabweans are struggling for democracy, for freedom and for their rights and especially the women are systematically targeted with violent actions as beatings and rapes. We should all join in giving our support and encouragement to keep up the fight against the practice and culture of political violence.

Read more on Lloyd Sachikonye’s book at: http://jacana.book.co.za/blog/2011/03/23/new-release-when-a-state-turns-against-its-citizens-by-lloyd-sachikonye/

Danes show their solidarity on May Day

Today activists from Africa Contact spread the word about the campaign against political violence on the International Workers’ Day in Copenhagen. As the unions and political parties rallied for their priorities in Denmark, more than  300 people showed their support to the campaign and had their picture taken for the Facebook solidarity statement.

“I think it is very important to support women in particular because most often they are the ones who are left out of the political arena, and they have a hard time getting through to the decision-makers. Because women in Zimbabwe are facing political violence, something which is completely unknown in Denmark, it is important to show that we are fighting for them. I hope that by supporting this campaign I can show them my solidarity and support”, said the 24 year old student Maja who had her picture taken for the Danish facebook site for the campaign.

Solidarity event for women in Zimbabwe in Copenhagen, Denmark May 1st

The Zimbabwean people are banned … The situation in Zimbabwe fertilize that a number of Zimbabwean Security Officials and the President Robert Mugabe party ZANU-PF warn against revolt against status quo and the police ban marches and rallies in Zimbabwe on May 1^st.

We will act…The Danish organisation Africa Contact will on the international workers day May 1^st make an event in solidarity with the women of Zimbabwe who are targets of political motivated violence and with the Zimbabwean who wants to demonstrate for democratic rights. We will create awareness and take photographic statements that demands that the political motivated violence against women in Zimbabwe will be stopped.

The event will take place in Copenhagen, where a large group of volunteers from African Contact will support women in Zimbabwe by collecting pictures and statements from the people in Denmark, who reject the political violence targeting women in Zimbabwe.

Equipped with cameras, black tape, flyers and signs that says ‘STOP POLITICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN ZIMBABWE’ we will create awareness about the situation in Zimbabwe and generate attention amongst politicians and thousands civilians, that are gathered in Fælledparken in Copenhagen. The pictures will be posted on the campaign’s Facebook page, where we already have 170 pictures from an earlier event on March 8.

Reed more about African Contacts work on our website http://www.afrika.dk/demokrati-projekt-i-zimbabwe

and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STOP-Politisk-Vold-Mod-Kvinder-i-Zimbabwe/169261219774403

Danish support event on International Women’s day

On the International Women’s day, campaigners from Africa Contact walked the streets of Copenhagen. Armed with tape and cameras the campaigners called upon Danish politicians and citizens to make a strong statement against political violence and show their solidarity to women in Zimbabwe.

To symbolise how political violence is used to silence women’s political voices, supporters covered their mouths with black tape and had their pictures taken.

Over 200 people, including several leading Danish politicians, participated in the event and had their pictures published on Facebook.

‘I’m very supportive of this event taking place in front of the Danish Parliament. I think it is very important that we make the Danish public aware of the violence and rape against women in Zimbabwe. 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”, said the Danish minister of Foreign Affairs Lene Espersen after she had her picture taken.

Follow the campaign on the Facebook fanpage ‘Stop Politisk vold mod kvinder i Zimbabwe’.