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ROHR Zimbabwe yesterday (5th October) held a public hearing in Bindura to establish facts from the inhabitants on the precipice of an imminent eviction from Foothills farm under the ongoing chaotic farm invasions by ZANU Pf supporters. More than 30 family heads attended the public hearing representing over 700 inhabitants.
It was a nerve racking experience learning the brutal first hand information from a people that have suffered so much pain, agony and loss at the hands of a few callous men that believe they are more superior and deserving than other human beings.
Sitting listening to the testimonies of the worst human rights violations in this day and age seemed like turning back the clock to the horrific slave trade era. To think that men and women over the ages of 65 years could be forced farm labor refused to sink. For what its worthy the justification of the inhuman treatment is premised over political grounds emanating from a clique with war credentials that believes in rewarding itself and holding at ransom those that are deemed to be outcast from the party that brought the liberation struggle to Zimbabwe.
All the victimization and persecution is in itself not the end but a means to an end. The weaponry is denial of the fundamental human rights, right to decent shelter, right to live in peace, right to safe clean water, right to live a dignified life, right to education, right to state security, right to a fair trial, right to decent working conditions, right to life. All these fundamental rights have become a far cry and have since been substituted with a chaotic environment of uncertainty, fear and psychological torture.
The oppressors clearly know that they are fighting people riddled in poverty without resources to hire expensive lawyers. No matter how loud their victims can cry, it falls between the rocks. The police have assumed a pre determined positions in favor of the oppressors.
To that part of the country, the government of national unity is a non event. A participant at the hearing said,’ self proclaimed war liberators like Webster Bepura, cde Sato, Ruston Ngandu and Jacob Chiripanyanga believe that they are still running this country, there is nothing like a government of national unity’ hence the resolve to exercise their power on the vulnerable and trampled.
First it was punishment for participating as voting agents for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), then for participating in a peaceful march by ROHR Zimbabwe in a campaign to demand democracy and justice from the government and head of state.
Systematic series of trumped up charges on the grounds of theft of farm equipment are the order of the day as punishment for resisting illegal eviction.
An operation to weed out workers who worked for the white farmers followed. Typical of the ZANU Pf hate speech and slogans a discriminating term was coined to refer to those who worked for white farmers and
considered members of the MDC, ‘mabritish.’ Resisting illegal eviction has come with a steep price of a multi faceted man made crisis.
Homes have been destroyed by heartless youth militia, livestock looted, attempts at growing crops has been met by herds of cattle unleashed to graze as deliberate stifling efforts to deny food security, donor aid groups have been barred from giving assistance and school children have not been spared.
Despite all the suffering, the inhabitants of foothills farm have not given up on the place they have known as home their entire lives, a place that is linked to their fore fathers, their birthright. Some had their fathers coming as far as Malawi and Mozambique.
What pains them most is the sacrifice of sweat and blood that they have tendered towards the development of their community let alone the knowledge that the place is designated to be a growth point. Through community owned development schemes the residents molded more than 10 000 bricks towards the building of a school and clinic and suddenly a few individuals impose themselves and demand their ouster because the party they belong to does not subscribe to the 21st century ideals of a democratic society in which people with different political backgrounds can co- exist in peace and harmony. ‘’We cannot suffer because of one new comers who cannot live well with others. We are prepared to work with people who tolerate others for the development of this country” said Luckmore Langton.
ROHR Zimbabwe noted the following appeals that were directed to the government and other well wishers, aid humanitarian organizations, donors and individuals:-
· Need for a fair trial to be heard under the law without discrimination as guaranteed by the Zimbabwean Constitution and International law. The call follows shocking revelations to ROHR Zimbabwe that the judgment made by Judge Chakanyuka on Friday the 2nd of October was passed in the absence of the defendants and defense lawyers were only called to collect a ruling from the clerk of court.
· Need to reverse the unfolding circle of the illegal eviction of farm workers at the hands of the new often violent farm occupiers as this would set in motion a dangerous precedence considering the fact that there are hundreds of families/households facing the same circumstances country wide.
· The Zimbabwe Republic Police should conduct their duties professionally and accept reports without discriminating on political ground, investigate and bring to book criminals who violate the rights of vulnerable citizens like farmers workers with impunity. No one is above the law and every citizen regardless of political affiliation is entitled to the right to state protection.
· Assistance in settling legal fees that are now an excess of US 17 000 stretching from December 2008 when the trial opened. The people in question do not have a sustainable income to cater for their basic requirements such as food let alone legal fees.
· Need for law enforcement agents to put to an end to the intimidation and victimization currently instigated by ZANU Pf supporters on innocent people who are now living in constant fear of their lives.
· Intervention to support food security and providing capacity for small scale sustainable projects to bolster livelihoods and improve standards of leaving. Inhabitants are barred from engaging in small scale gardeningwhich is their only available source of survival. The US $ 10 they earn as salary is a far cry to carter for the daily needs for a standard family 4.
· Providing clean safe water. For more than two years inhabitants have been drinking water from unprotected wells which leaves them in danger of cholera outbreaks and other water borne diseases.
· Ensuring the availability of decent shelter suitable for human beings. Demolished houses are in need of renovation to restore rooftops, windows, doors and electricity. Inhabitants have been discriminated from occupying houses with electricity under the new farm settlers.
· Need to teach the inhabitants about their constitutional and fundamental human rights, how to protect, defend and demand human rights at community level. There is need to provide capacity for the community to assume the watchdog role on human rights abuses and getting involved in governance issues as long term measures aimed towards a culture of respecting human rights.
· Need to initiate counseling programs that encourage psychological healing and eradication of fear.
Financial assistance to ensure the right to education for all children on the farm.
From the information Department of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
It was a nerve racking experience learning the brutal first hand information from a people that have suffered so much pain, agony and loss at the hands of a few callous men that believe they are more superior and deserving than other human beings.
Sitting listening to the testimonies of the worst human rights violations in this day and age seemed like turning back the clock to the horrific slave trade era. To think that men and women over the ages of 65 years could be forced farm labor refused to sink. For what its worthy the justification of the inhuman treatment is premised over political grounds emanating from a clique with war credentials that believes in rewarding itself and holding at ransom those that are deemed to be outcast from the party that brought the liberation struggle to Zimbabwe.
All the victimization and persecution is in itself not the end but a means to an end. The weaponry is denial of the fundamental human rights, right to decent shelter, right to live in peace, right to safe clean water, right to live a dignified life, right to education, right to state security, right to a fair trial, right to decent working conditions, right to life. All these fundamental rights have become a far cry and have since been substituted with a chaotic environment of uncertainty, fear and psychological torture.
The oppressors clearly know that they are fighting people riddled in poverty without resources to hire expensive lawyers. No matter how loud their victims can cry, it falls between the rocks. The police have assumed a pre determined positions in favor of the oppressors.
To that part of the country, the government of national unity is a non event. A participant at the hearing said,’ self proclaimed war liberators like Webster Bepura, cde Sato, Ruston Ngandu and Jacob Chiripanyanga believe that they are still running this country, there is nothing like a government of national unity’ hence the resolve to exercise their power on the vulnerable and trampled.
First it was punishment for participating as voting agents for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), then for participating in a peaceful march by ROHR Zimbabwe in a campaign to demand democracy and justice from the government and head of state.
Systematic series of trumped up charges on the grounds of theft of farm equipment are the order of the day as punishment for resisting illegal eviction.
An operation to weed out workers who worked for the white farmers followed. Typical of the ZANU Pf hate speech and slogans a discriminating term was coined to refer to those who worked for white farmers and
considered members of the MDC, ‘mabritish.’ Resisting illegal eviction has come with a steep price of a multi faceted man made crisis.
Homes have been destroyed by heartless youth militia, livestock looted, attempts at growing crops has been met by herds of cattle unleashed to graze as deliberate stifling efforts to deny food security, donor aid groups have been barred from giving assistance and school children have not been spared.
Despite all the suffering, the inhabitants of foothills farm have not given up on the place they have known as home their entire lives, a place that is linked to their fore fathers, their birthright. Some had their fathers coming as far as Malawi and Mozambique.
What pains them most is the sacrifice of sweat and blood that they have tendered towards the development of their community let alone the knowledge that the place is designated to be a growth point. Through community owned development schemes the residents molded more than 10 000 bricks towards the building of a school and clinic and suddenly a few individuals impose themselves and demand their ouster because the party they belong to does not subscribe to the 21st century ideals of a democratic society in which people with different political backgrounds can co- exist in peace and harmony. ‘’We cannot suffer because of one new comers who cannot live well with others. We are prepared to work with people who tolerate others for the development of this country” said Luckmore Langton.
ROHR Zimbabwe noted the following appeals that were directed to the government and other well wishers, aid humanitarian organizations, donors and individuals:-
· Need for a fair trial to be heard under the law without discrimination as guaranteed by the Zimbabwean Constitution and International law. The call follows shocking revelations to ROHR Zimbabwe that the judgment made by Judge Chakanyuka on Friday the 2nd of October was passed in the absence of the defendants and defense lawyers were only called to collect a ruling from the clerk of court.
· Need to reverse the unfolding circle of the illegal eviction of farm workers at the hands of the new often violent farm occupiers as this would set in motion a dangerous precedence considering the fact that there are hundreds of families/households facing the same circumstances country wide.
· The Zimbabwe Republic Police should conduct their duties professionally and accept reports without discriminating on political ground, investigate and bring to book criminals who violate the rights of vulnerable citizens like farmers workers with impunity. No one is above the law and every citizen regardless of political affiliation is entitled to the right to state protection.
· Assistance in settling legal fees that are now an excess of US 17 000 stretching from December 2008 when the trial opened. The people in question do not have a sustainable income to cater for their basic requirements such as food let alone legal fees.
· Need for law enforcement agents to put to an end to the intimidation and victimization currently instigated by ZANU Pf supporters on innocent people who are now living in constant fear of their lives.
· Intervention to support food security and providing capacity for small scale sustainable projects to bolster livelihoods and improve standards of leaving. Inhabitants are barred from engaging in small scale gardeningwhich is their only available source of survival. The US $ 10 they earn as salary is a far cry to carter for the daily needs for a standard family 4.
· Providing clean safe water. For more than two years inhabitants have been drinking water from unprotected wells which leaves them in danger of cholera outbreaks and other water borne diseases.
· Ensuring the availability of decent shelter suitable for human beings. Demolished houses are in need of renovation to restore rooftops, windows, doors and electricity. Inhabitants have been discriminated from occupying houses with electricity under the new farm settlers.
· Need to teach the inhabitants about their constitutional and fundamental human rights, how to protect, defend and demand human rights at community level. There is need to provide capacity for the community to assume the watchdog role on human rights abuses and getting involved in governance issues as long term measures aimed towards a culture of respecting human rights.
· Need to initiate counseling programs that encourage psychological healing and eradication of fear.
Financial assistance to ensure the right to education for all children on the farm.
From the information Department of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
