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Four men survive planned execution

Sunday, 22 November 2009 15:23 administrator

From ROHR Zimbabwe information department - 19th November 2009

Four MDC activists from Muzarabani south have fled their homes after they were tipped of a death threat on their lives following a resolution to wipe out all MDC party position holding activists was passed at a ZANU PF meeting that was held on Friday 13th November at Chawarura business centre in Muzarabani. The meeting was attended by chairman for war veterans Jabulani Sibanda, chief Chiweshe, district administrator Mike Mazai among others.

Kiswell Masimbisa, MDC district secretary for Muzarabani South told ROHR Zimbabwe that six men, two of them armed with guns stormed his home the night of the ZANU PF meeting around 12 midnight looking for him. The six men gang is said to have paid a visit to Masimbisa’s other three colleagues: Jackson Rumero - district vice chairman, Stefan Sado - organizing secretary and Joram Frank - director of elections, but could not find them at home.

Edward Raradza from ZANU Pf is currently the member of parliament for Muzarabani south district. There are fears that youths have been recruited as officers on ZANU PF payroll to carry out acts of intimidation and violence with impunity to destabilize MDC party structures in preparation for the next elections. A person, who refused to be named, has revealed that the youth officers are being told not to hesitate or fear any consequences in executing orders since no one has been arrested for the crimes committed during the March-June 2008 election violence which saw more than 200 MDC party supporters murdered and thousands driven off their homes.

The country could be plunged into yet another round of organized violence with the news that the ZANU PF party is now making preparations for new elections. Morgan Tsvangirai, who is now the prime minister of Zimbabwe under the GPA pulled out of a second round presidential election runoff in June last year citing violence after defeating president Mugabe for the first time since 1980 and only fell short of the required 51% of the total poll.

For Peace, Justice and Freedom

Last Updated on Sunday, 22 November 2009 15:29

Lawyers Protest Intimidation - 16th November 2009

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 22:38 administrator

From the ROHR Zimbabwe information department

Legal practitioners from the Zimbabwe Law Society yesterday around 2pm marched in protest of the continued unprofessional conduct and intimidation campaign targeted at their profession by the state. The march began at the Harare High court along Samora Machel Avenue into 4th street and then turned into Central Avenue where a petition was handed to the minister of justice and legal affairs Patrick Chinamasa.

Addressing the lawyers at the High court, Chris Mhike expressed disappointment over the fallen standards of the handling of law officers as provided by the international tenets and statutes. He spoke heavily against the systematic harassment of prominent human rights lawyers like Alec Muchadehama , Andrew Makoni to name a few.

Mr. Mhike expressed disgust towards the conduct of the attorney general Johannes Tomana for failing to conduct his duty as an independent officer. Tomana has publicly declared himself an ardent supporter of ZANU Pf, something that compromises his position and credibility in delivering his services in a non partisan manner. His appointment as the attorney general is one of the hot contested outstanding issues threatening the existence of the Global Political Agreement.

It remains to be seen if president Mugabe will abide by the recently endorsed binding communiqué of January 2008 which states that the controversial appointments of the attorney general and reserve Bank governor must be resolved by the coalition government.

Meanwhile, residents of Bindura have lodged complaints to ROHR Zimbabwe on the continued interference on the judicial system by staunch ZANU Pf supporters in Mashonaland central to sway judgments against MDC political activist. The provincial information and publicity secretary for MDC Mashonaland Central, Kuda Chideya said “the justice system in Mashonaland Central is severely compromised by partisan interference from ZANU Pf heavyweights in the province.’’ The major borne of contention is the suspected fears that magistrate Chakanyuka has given in to pressure from ZANU Pf heavyweights and therefore she should step down from presiding over cases involving ZANU Pf and MDC supporters. Her continued stay at the bench is producing predictable outcomes pointing to an abuse of the judicial system.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 22:43

ROHR confront SADC 01/11/2009

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 16:38 administrator

Written by Staff Reporter from the Zimbabwean
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/2009110226200/human-rights/rohr-confront-sadc.html
Monday, 02 November 2009 13:32

HARARE - A group from Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe activists yesterday convened in the city centre to send a clear message to the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Troika to take up a hard stance against Zanu (PF) and President Robert Mugabe.

In carrying out its fact finding mission, ROHR called on the SADC Troika to take note of the following fundamental issues of concern:
1.       The uniformed forces should execute their duties professionally without discriminating on the grounds of political affiliation. Investigations should be made on the fresh reports on the abduction of MDC supporters by armed police officials.
2.       Draconian media legislature POSA and AIPPA should be repealed as a matter of urgency.
3.       The office of the attorney general should immediately cease intimidation campaigns that are targeted at harassing human rights defenders and political activist.
4.       Zanu (PF) should demobilize and disarm the militia.
5.       Known perpetrators of violence must face the law regardless of political affiliation and rank in society

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 November 2009 16:42

ROHR Zimbabwe pressures the Troika to take a tough stance

Saturday, 31 October 2009 22:52 administrator

A group of ROHR Zimbabwe radical human rights activists yesterday around 1000 hours convened in the city centre to send a clear message to the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Troika to take up a hard stance on the political parties, especially ZANU Pf and its leader Robert Mugabe, to own up to their agreements under the Global Political Agreement. Singing protesters marched from Cameroon Street into Jason Moyo Avenue towards the Harare International Conference Centre where the SADC regional special committee on security and politics was holding talks to resolve the impasse on the slow implementation of the GPA.

ROHR Zimbabwe is calling on the SADC leaders to desist from supporting ZANU Pf and Mugabe’s stranglehold on power at the expense of the Zimbabwean people. The coalition government is a circumvent to the aspirations of people who voted on March 29 to elect a leader of their choice to head government. SADC leaders therefore stand to be reminded that it is the people of Zimbabwe who should benefit from the Troika’s interventions and not to legitimize narrow partisan political agendas that lack the mandate of the people.

In carrying out its fact finding mission the SADC Troika should take note of the following fundamental issues of concern to redirect the nation towards the path to a democratic reforms:
1) The uniformed forces should execute their duties professionally without discriminating on the grounds of political affiliation. Investigations should be made on the fresh reports on the abduction of MDC supporters by armed police officials.
2) Draconian media legislature POSA and AIPPA should be repealed as a matter of urgency as a free and independent media is key for the establishment of a democratic society. The state broadcaster should desist from funning hate speech and lies aimed at prejudicing the public against civil society organizations and other political parties apart from ZANU PF.
3) The office of the attorney general should immediately cease intimidation campaigns that are targeted at harassing human rights defenders and political activist.
4)ZANU PF should demobilize and disarm the militia, the proxies of violence that are still active in the rural areas since the acrimonious epoch of political terror that claimed more than 180 lives and displaced thousands in March-June 2008.
5) Known perpetrators of violence must face the law regardless of political affiliation and rank in society.

SADC the guarantor to the GPA last month disappointed the expectations of many Zimbabweans who had hoped to see the regional body taking a tough stance against President Mugabe and ZANU Pf at the Kinshasa DRC summit.

For BBC video of the demonstration, check: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8334881.stm

Last Updated on Monday, 02 November 2009 00:03

Violence at Foothills Farm

Sunday, 18 October 2009 23:06 administrator

Pinsi Tauro, Gladys Guvheya and Tariro Benhura were heavily assaulted with an iron bar by a ZANU PF self confessed war veteran Jacob Chiripanyanga yesterday around 0700 hours in the morning at Foothills farm in Bindura. Tauro, who is battling for his life sustained serious head injuries, lost a lot of blood, collapsed and was unconscious for one and half hours before he was admitted at a local hospital in Bindura where he’s yet to receive treatment.

Jacob Chiripanyanga uprooted plants from Tauro’s garden before striking him several times with an iron rod in a deliberate move aimed at violent ouster for all the farm workers deemed supporters of the Movement for Democratic change (MDC).The warfare has now been directed towards destruction of the only source of livelihood for the farm workers who survive on small scale gardening.

It is unfortunate that no action has been taken by the police to bring the culprit Jacob Chiripanyanga to book despite the fact that the incident was reported at Bindura police station yesterday.

Residents of Foothills farm have been locked in a fierce legal battle with Jacob Chiripanyanga who is seeking their ouster after he occupied the farm under the ongoing violent land grab by ZANU Pf supporters.

Chiripanyanga is taking matters into his own hands despite the fact that he has filed an application at the Bindura magistrate courts under case number C232/9 due to be heard on the 19th of October. Inhabitants of Foothills farm are exposed to the worst human rights violations in the hands of marauding ZANU Pf supporters who have become law unto themselves, unleashing a reign of anarchy in Mashonaland West province.

Political violence against farm workers continues unchecked across the country as law enforcement agents are reluctant to act in political cases involving Mugabe’s loyalists.

Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) is calling for the government to address the plight of farm workers around the country who are exposed to rampant gross human rights violations in the absence of the law. We encourage Giles Mutsekwa the co-minister to ministry of home affairs to provide the much needed balance and put an end to the ZANU Pf cancerous culture of impunity.

Meanwhile the vice president of ROHR Zimbabwe Sten Zvorwadza is set to appear in court on Monday 19 October 0800 hours at Rotten Row magistrate courts on trumped up charges following a peaceful protest that was held last year in January in which more than 200 members of ROHR Zimbabwe were calling for the investigation of the murder of Fibeon Mafukidze who was beaten to death by army officials from Eastdale military base in Gutu under the instruction of Selina Mumbengegwi wife to the then minister of finance Samuel Mumbengegwi.

26 people were heavily assaulted and brutalized by the ZRP police for taking part in the peaceful demonstration.

One year after the formation of the coalition government between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations, it is regrettable that the attorney general’s office continues to harass and persecute outspoken human rights activist through the systematic abuse of the rule of law when people who committed documented bloody crimes with impunity during the March- June 2008 harmonized election violence are still walking free.

Renowned human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama has also fallen victim to the attorney general’s misconduct and intimidation campaign that is targeted at human rights defenders.

(Information via ROHR Zimbabwe)

This entry was posted by Sokwanele on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 2:41 pm. For photos, check

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4969.

Last Updated on Sunday, 18 October 2009 23:15

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