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E-mailThe following article appeared on www.zimdiaspora.com -
From Zim Diaspora correspondent in Harare
THIS week, Harare-based Zim Diaspora's undercover reporter set out to unravel the activities and authenticity of a United Kingdom based human rights organisation, Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR).During a weeklong investigations, our reporter found out how Zimbabwe has been besieged by different sort of evil forces – all at play in a country where arbitrary arrests, repression, political persecution, violations of human rights have become a way of life.In such an environment, a haven of bogus humanitarian organisations now exists intentions of taking advantage of a screwed-up situation. Such is a day in life in Zimbabwe.
Our reporter picked up ROHR for validation in an attempt to protect the beleaguered masses of Zimbabwe who have more often been victims of fake organisation. There are many such organisations which have looted money from unsuspecting citizens.I set out early in a Harare morning and my first port of call was the National Association of Non Governmental Organization (NANGO), an umbrella body of all Non Governmental Organization operating in Zimbabwe. In there, access to information was not problematic, I was allowed to access the organisation's register as a means of establishing the authentic existence of ROHR, which I was after.
From NANGO’s registration book, ROHR Zimbabwe was formed in 2007 and is registered as a human right non-profit making organisation. ROHR is also listed as a member of Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe.As a journalist, there is a saying which goes "good news is good". However, I was convinced this was a worthwhile assignment in light of the recent controversy surrounding ROHR.
Armed with this information, I left the NANGO offices partly satified that the organisation I was investigating has passed the litmus test, let alone the first step of my investigation.
Now, my next step was to try and establish ROHR's physical location in Harare as a means of confirming the real existence of this organisation. This was paramount to prove that ROHR was not one of those organisations administered from backyards. I also needed to find out what exactly was ROHR doing and what have they achieved so far.
I drove around Harare for about one and half hours without any luck at all. I reckon that is always the case with Third World countries where Navigators are still 50 years away, that is, if Google map ever bothered to add Zimbabwe in it.
ROHR Zimbabwe offices are located in the serene and plush suburb of Alexandra Park at number 5 Normandy Street. The offices are professionally manned by individuals who are undoutedly well polished in terms of presentation and greeting strangers like myself.What attracted my attention as soon as I entered the ROHR Harare offices was a soft-spoken man called Mr Tichanzi Gandanga whom I was later told was Zimbabwe's leader of the organisation.
After speaking to him for a few minutes I learnt a lot about ROHR from this eloquent and handsome man. Mr Gandanga is a veteran human rights activist who has suffered a lot at the hands of Zimbabwe’s security agents. He has been arrested, abducted, tortured and detained innumerable times.It was after talking to him at length that I discovered that ROHR Zimbabwe was formed by exiled Zimbabweans, victims of human rights abuse. These are individuals who suffered at the hands of government sponsored evil forces of repression in Zimbabwe. It was through talking to Mr Gandanga that I had a full picture on how Mr Ephraim Tapa now ROHR Zimbabwe's CEO also suffered in the hands of President Mugabe's notorious CIOs. I also got to know that former abductees such as Gandanga, Stanley Zvorwadza and Edgar Chikuvise had joined ROHR not as a means of making money, but as a calling to highlight gross human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. This explained to me why ROHR Zimbabwe's membership was growing everyday. Zimbabweans know these people championing the human rights cause, hence atrcating membership is not a huge problem.“ROHR Zimbabwe’s founding vision is to see Zimbabwe become a peaceful, just and free nation that is conscious of and respect human rights. This is to be achieved through various strategies that encompass radicalism, active participation, awareness campaigns, capacity building in rural communities and wholesale mobilization of Zimbabwean masses. ROHR Zimbabwe, because of its strong belief in action, it is the power behind many powerful demonstration that have rocked Zimbabwe to the core in recent years,” said Mr Gandanga.“On the ground ROHR Zimbabwe is scoring many goals. This is as a result of its radical approach, responsiveness and sheer bravery. The organization first cut its teeth with investigation and exposure of the Mumbengegwi issue in which Zanu pf Minister Mumbengegwi’s wife was accused of murdering one of her employees at her farm and claiming farm workers were like dogs. Since then, the firebrand organization has stood shoulder and chest higher than many of the docile but well funded human rights organizations operating here in Zimbabwe,” he said.“The organization’s funding comes mainly from its many overseas based and local well wishers who desire to see a human right engendered Zimbabwe. Also unique in their funding structure is membership fees paid by thousands across the world. The structure is only peculiar to them and this adds impetus to their activities as well as guards against funds abuse and docility. To their credit ROHR Zimbabwe is finally becoming the face of human awareness campaigns and a knight of rural communities’ mobilization,” he added.Mr Gandanga said ROHR Zimbabwe’ physical presence in the country's ten provinces makes it the most important human right organsation in Zimbabwe.
“We are pleased with our capable leadership in England and in South Africa which assist in resource mobilisation thereby making us more effective in executing our work. I can now tell you that ROHR Zimbabwe is now known right in every corner of Zimbabwe. We have started off programmes in grass root level of training people about their right to have rights,” he said.Mr Gandanga highlighted that a lot needed to be done in Zimbabwe as far as human rights issues are concerned.“Of particular concern are the continuing arbitrary arrests, abductions and detention of opposition forces and human rights activists. ROHR Zimbabwe has also noted with concern and has highlighted to the government the need to move away from pretending that victims of violence have forgiven the perpetrators because they set up the National Healing Commission. We are currently moving around the country to educate people to avoid retribution. We agreed to do this after realising that many people in Zimbabwe are extremely bitter with ZANU-PF did to them,” he said.Mr Gandanga added that: “We would like the Unity government to work but as of now it looks like nothing but a symbol of Mugabe’s intransigency of relinquishing power. To us Mugabe remains an icon of repression and we would like him to leave office for the good of Zimbabweans”.
ROHR's director of Information, Mr. Edgar Chikuvise said there was a need for Mr Mugabe to dismantle his evil machinations that has caused a lot of suffering in the country since he took office in 1980.On constitutional matters, ROHR Zimbabwe, he said, it was a sacred right for every Zimbabwean to participate in such a process of governance to the realisation of rights and other freedoms. As such, he said ROHR Zimbabwe is strongly opposed to the imposition of the Kariba draft upon the people of Zimbabwe. The organisation believes that the Kariba draft should only be used as a soft landing spot or as reference only, said Mr Chikuvise.ROHR Zimbabwe is currently lobbying the government to include human rights in the schools curriculum.Much of their activities and source of funds could not be drawn due to their policy of not sharing much of their private information.From the interviews, the evidence seen and past experiences ROHR Zimbabwe thrust, vision and objectives remains the dream of every Zimbabwean. Its idea of lobbying the government to include a curriculum on human rights in every stage of education is as good as it comes.
