Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

ROHR holds provincial leadership development workshops in Midlands and Bulawayo.

On Friday and Saturday 15-16 May 2009, Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) embarked on leadership development workshops in Midlands and Bulawayo provinces respectively. The two workshops were held under the banner of capacity building, restructuring and strengthening community leadership. The meetings which saw the delegates discussing the  Constitution making process, National Healing  and the human rights situation in the country were attended by ROHR Midlands provincial leadership, representatives from NANGO, NCA, ZIMCET, ZCTU, Women’s Coalition Group, political parties and many other civic organizations.

Delegates expressed growing mistrust in the current government’s credibility and ability to address and lead the critical issues of National Healing and the Constitutional making process given the continued human rights violations perpetrated by the state machinery. Human rights defenders, members of the opposition parties, journalist and lawyers are still facing prosecution on trumped up charges.   

In the eyes of the people on the ground nothing has changed. 

Amongst the delegates were victims from last year’s orgy of state sponsored violence. The people voiced their disappointment over the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s failure and reluctance to bring their violators before justice.

Worse still, is the agony of seeing people who committed bloody crimes still walking scot free. As a result people in the community are still hounded by fear of the unknown. Delegates came to the conclusion that without Truth and Justice there will be no guarantee that those who committed crimes will not repeat it again.

Some of the issues raised include:
·         Domestication of International conventions on human rights such as Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR)  into the new constitution so that they become legally binding and enforceable.
·         An urgent need for grassroots education on human rights issues for everyone to actively participate in the constitutional reform process.
·         Representation of women in Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and constitutional reform process to advocate for women’s rights and empowerment.
·         De-politicization of the Youth Training service.
·         There is lack of professionalism and respect for humanity among the police, army CIO and prison officials hence there is need to educate them if the national healing process is to take off.
·         There cannot be justice before the truth is said and established.
·         Politicians lack credibility in leading the national healing process since most of them were involved in political violence witnessed in the country.