ROHR ZIMBABWE AND ZIMBABWE POETS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (ZPHR)
ROHR Zimbabwe, in conjunction with Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR), is launching an ongoing Arts Festival on Saturday 19 July 2008 in Kadoma. Besides the poets and artists under the ZPHR umbrella, we have invited two urban grooves artists as a way of improving visibility as this is one of many such festivals to be held with ZPHR and later another arts group, Born Free.
For more information on the festival, please contact: Cynthia Manjoro, ROHR Zimbabwe, Information Officer, Tel: +263 4 744 593, Cell: +263 23 375 199
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The harmonized elections on 29 March and one man run off sham of an election were characterized by widespread political violence in which many people were murdered, displaced or injured. This shows that there is generally a lack of political tolerance across the nation and hence not much progress can be made under these circumstances. The use of hate language by different politicians has also widened the rift between their supporters. This has eroded the spirit of cooperation and oneness amongst the once peace loving citizens of Zimbabwe . No meaningful progress can therefore be made by Zimbabwe as a nation if the people who are supposed to work for its development are deeply divided on political affiliation basis.
There is need to star t an honest national healing process which will clear the way for Zimbabweans to work as one if the country is going to progress and reclaim its place in the families of democracy. Whilst it is necessary to preach the gospel of one love, one people and one nation this must not be done blindly. There is need to continue with the struggle for the respect, recognition and restoration of human rights. The struggle for a new people driven constitution, space for people to exercise their freedom of expression and initiatives that aim at improving the general living standards of Zimbabweans as a people should be intensified as means to achieving this one love. At the end of it all true unity must be realized not through politicians putting signatures on some papers but true unity must be expressed and felt in the day to day affairs of the ordinary citizen, in the manner people relate to each other.
More than 50% of the population did not vote on 29 March 2008 and people had to be coerced to vote in the run off election. This undoubtedly proves that the Zimbabwean people now need to move beyond the ballot to the table to find solutions to the problems that have reduced the country from Great Zimbabwe to Zimbabwe in ruins. There is therefore an urgent need to promote a culture of peace and non-violence, a culture of one love and non hatred amongst the youths and general populace regardless of political affiliation if the country is to move forward.
More than 200 Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR Zimbabwe) activists stormed the streets of Harare today at 1000hrs hours in a protest march. The demonstration was staged under the Demand for Democracy and Justice Campaign whose primary aim is to see Zimbabwe hold fresh elections for a new government and a leader of the people’s choice within two years. The campaign also seeks to push for the prosecution of perpetrators of the Post March 29 election violence most of which are being rewarded with public position in the GNU.
