Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

We the concerned members of Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe, who suffered serious human rights violations during last year’s election period, worried by the reluctance by the organ on Integration and Reconciliation on making concrete moves towards the establishment of a holistic National Healing process, we hereby raise fundamental issues to achieving lasting peace. 

Reminding the organ on Reconciliation and Integration that we suffered gross human rights violations of immense proportional levels varying from the loss of beloved ones to abductions and murder, loss of valuable property to theft, our family members were exposed to inhuman treatment like torture and rape, homes were destroyed and families were torn apart as we were fleeing violence. All these crimes were committed as organized violence for political expediency by supporters of ZANU Pf, youth militia and state agents. 

Understanding that under the Global Political Agreement the three political parties to the coalition government, ZANU Pf and the two MDC formations resolved under article 7 ‘to achieve national healing, cohesion and unity in respect of the victims of pre and post independence political conflicts’ and also under article 15 ‘to expedite the determination as to whether or not there is sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution or keeping on remand of all persons accused of politically related offences arising out of or connected with the March and June 2008 elections’ under the principles of the rule of law and the highest law of the land, the Zimbabwean Constitution. 

Being aware that ‘peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs’ guaranteed under the Zimbabwean, regional and International law and that for the achievement of thus there should be good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and democratization. 

Cognizant of the fact that the coalition government has been in existence for close to a year now, we hold that the organ on Integration and Reconciliation, has been reluctant in making steps towards addressing the historic imbalances created by the orgy of organized political violence as duly agreed by the three political parties when they appended their signatures to the Global Political Agreement of September 2008.

We note, with grave concern that the people who were responsible for fanning and carrying out acts of violence during the March and June elections 2008 are not only walking free but are still leaving as symbols of remembrance for the need for justice and their continued stay in the communities is a painful reminder and constant intimidation to us who bore the brunt and scars of their tyranny.  We further hold that without the prosecution of the perpetrators of human rights violations, the communities will continue to live in fear of the reoccurrence of the pain they endured during the 2008 harmonized elections.  I

n observing the International Day of Peace, following the United Nations resolution in 2002 to set aside 21 September as the permanent day ‘to concentrate the efforts of the UN and its member states, as well as the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of Peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to Peace in all visible ways’ we hereby state our demands directed to the organ on Integration and Reconciliation and to the August House:
·         We demand the establishment of the truth and for the truth to be told on the political violence which swept the country in the March and June 2008 elections as the first step towards attainment of true sustainable peace and National Healing.
·         We demand that the National Healing exercise be victim centered encompassing three broad steps, the establishment of the Truth, Justice and Compensation for the victims.
·         We demand that all the people who actively or indirectly participated in the acts of political violence and human violations be brought to book and face trial for the crimes committed under the constitutional of Zimbabwe and International Law.
·         We demand compensation from the government on the loss of property and personal belongings during the March and June 2008 election political violence.
·         Government officials who are implicated directly or indirectly in the last year’s election violence should step down from holding public office. No one is immune from the law under the Zimbabwean constitution. The organ on National Healing should lunch an investigation on the allegations of government officials who are implicated in directly or indirectly promoting acts of violence and violation of human rights. 

We demand transparency and accountability on the part of the organ of Integration and Reconciliation on carrying out its mandate as stipulated in the Global Political Agreement