VALENTINE�S DAY IN ZIMBABWE
At least 70 persons, most of them women, were arrested in Harare, Zimbabwe
at a Valentine�s Day rally organized by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza)
against hate and political violence. The protesters were gathered outside
the United Nations office in central Harare, where they were handing out
red roses before the police arrived. The women had gathered outside the UN
building because they wanted to ask secretary general Kofi Annan to "be our
valentine". Several journalists covering the march were also arrested and a
cameraman for the French news agency, AFP, had his camera confiscated.
Those arrested are being charged with breaching the Public Order and
Security Act which requires organizers of meetings to seek clearance from
the police two weeks before the meeting is held. Chief Supt Mugariri said
the police would charge the organizer of the demonstration, former
spokesperson for Commercial Farmers Union, Ms Jennie Williams for failing
to abide by the laws. The Chief added, "The group was waving some red
roses, chanting � slogans and were marching along Samora Machel Avenue
intending to gather in the Harare Gardens. Other people were also joining
in and by so doing peace was disturbed. The situation could have been
chaotic if the police had not moved in." (Sure sounds chaotic, doesn�t it?)
More were detained in the second city, Bulawayo. Woza's Valentine's Day
message is: "Learn to love again. Say no to hate and violence in all its
forms."
Of course, in Zimbabwe flowers, chocolates or even a night out are the last
things most people are thinking about this year. Normally a fun-filled and
romantic time for Zimbabweans, many people interviewed by a local newspaper
this week said 2003's Valentine's Day was shaping up to be another dull and
endless search for food or jobs. Both are in short supply because of the
country's economic crisis, which has been compounded by drought and has
forced prices up beyond the reach of most Zimbabweans. For instance, Jane
Bakare says while in the past she and her husband would treat themselves to
a night out on Valentine's Day, this year they would have to spend most of
their salaries to enjoy the same treat. Dinner for two at a good restaurant
would cost them more than Z$20 000, while a night's accommodation at a
hotel is going for Z$40 000. Levy Chisiri says he would love to shower his
girlfriend with expensive flowers, imported perfumes or chocolates. But the
23-year old lamented, "I can't afford to buy flowers and a card for my
girlfriend for more than Z$10 000. I won't have bus fare until my next pay
day if I do that." A teddy-bear, normally the gift of choice for many
women, costs around Z$30 000 in some places, twice the net pay of the
average civil servant or a non-managerial worker in Zimbabwe's collapsing
manufacturing sector. Deodorants and perfumes at most shops surveyed in
Harare are selling for Z10 000 or more, which is roughly the price of a 25
kilogramme bag of white sugar on the black market. Sugar, like other
essential commodities in Zimbabwe, is normally readily available on the
black market and not in shops. Some of the best bouquets of fresh flowers
were this week selling at Z60 000 each, more than the monthly salary of a
high school teacher. Sources: Herald (Harare), Financial Gazette (Harare),
Daily News (Harare), BBC
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