E. Vengeyi, The Bible as a source of strength among Zimbabwean women ...Prayer rallies seems to have been paying dividends for ZANU-PF politi-
cians, for, in no time, some women in Zimbabwe who are directly linked
to national politics such as Women of Zimbabwe Arise, (WOZA) which
is aligned to MDC began to also organize prayer vigils to protest the
harsh economic and political environment.^29 On 31 March 2005, for
instance, WOZA organized a prayer vigil at Africa Unity Square in Ha-
rare, to pray for peace as political violence was soared. On another sepa-
rate incident, in Bulawayo police are alleged to have attacked about 400
(WOZA) women who had gathered for an all-night prayer meeting on
the eve of Election Day and severely assaulted them. The focus of the
women's prayer meeting was to pray for peace before and after the elec-
tions.^30
The ending of political violence at the inauguration of the Government
of National Unity (GNU) in February 2009 saw women of Zimbabwe
gear themselves more toward the promotion of national reconciliation.
Again, the Bible is taken as a source of directions regarding forgiveness
and reconciliation. At a conference held in April 2009, (two months after
the formation of Government of National Unity with the aim of promot-
ing reconciliation following a decade of political violence) whose theme
was ‘Bringing Zimbabwean women to the centre of the transition,’ Rev-
erend Regina Katsande ‘referred to the Pauline writings and encouraged
all women present to undertake the day’s deliberations in love, peace
and oneness, all as beings created by one God. She urged participants to
stand united and put aside all that had been dividing them, clothed with
the ‘forward ever and backward never’ spirit.’^31
The same message was echoed by the chairperson for Women Coalition
of Zimbabwe, Ms Emilia Muchawa who cited from Isaiah 32 verses 9-13.
Ms Muchawa urged ‘the daughters of Zimbabwe to rise up and claim
[their] space,’ end complacency and stop agonizing but participate in
nation building.’^32 Apostle Eunor Guti, a renowned gospel preacher and
(^29) It is disguised as a movement which was formed to providewomen from all walks of
life with a united voice to speak out on issues which affect them in their daily lives, but
in reality, they will never speak in support of ZANU-PF women.
(^30) ‘Torture and murder in Zimbabwe as prayer rally is attacked’, available online,
http://www.zimbabwehope.org/articles/art004.html.
(^31) Cf. Report of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe National Conference on ‘Zimbabwe
Women in Transition’, 7 April 2009, Crowne Plaza, Monomotapa Hotel-Great Indaba
Room.
(^32) Cf. Report of the Women’s Coalition.