Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

Saturday 17 January 2009 marked the beginning of another branch for ROHR in Northampton. Despite the biting cold wind, the people turned up in support of restoring human rights in Zimbabwe, where the rule of law no longer exists. Mr Chimimba began by introducing Mr Paradzai Mapfumo the current UK ROHR Zimbabwe Co-ordinator and the founder and President of ROHR Mr Ephraim Tapa. An opening prayer from Mrs Maria Karichi preceded participants’ self introductions.  

It was refreshing to hear a moving devotion from Ms Chakaredza, the Information and publicity secretary for Wolverhampton. She told the gathering that she had not known what ROHR was all about, until a friend invited her to the Wolverhampton branch launch. She said she was touched and moved on knowing why ROHR was formed and emphasized that it was everyone’s duty to fight for our beloved Zimbabwe. She added that Zimbabweans must stop moaning about Mugabe’s evil ways and policies but that time for ACTION was NOW!  

With us was key speaker, the President and founder of ROHR Zimbabwe Mr Ephraim Tapa. Mr Tapa began by thanking everyone for their commitment demonstrated by their presence at the launching event. Mr Tapa expressed appreciation at the individual fundraising efforts by Ms Chakaredza that he said made a huge difference in our struggle against human rights violations in Zimbabwe. He encouraged other participants to embark on robust fundraising activities for the cause adding that it was ‘none other than ourselves’ to save Zimbabwe.  

Touching on the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, Mr Tapa said he felt for the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), coordinator, Jestina Mukoko, abducted from her own house in Norton on the 3rd December 2008. He told the meeting that he knew exactly how it feels to be abducted, being taken away by strangers from loved ones and the pain of torture and near death, all from his gruesome experience of 23 days in a torture camp at the hands of Zanu PF and Mugabe militias. He said one has to live by the minute, anxiously wondering what the next moment brings for you; a matter of life and death. Mr Tapa also informed the gathering that he was worried sick about the 40 ROHR activists who had taken to living in the Bindura mountains after being hunted out of their homes by the militia. He said ROHR UK had a responsibility to look after the victims in partnership with other NGOs who were working tirelessly to feed the people of Zimbabwe.  

Mr Tapa proceeded to launch a scathing attack at the arrogant, laidback and reckless manner in which the Mugabe regime was handling the Cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe as many lives were being lost and a lot of suffering being endured. Media reports indicate that over 3 000 people have died and nearly 50 000 infected. On the economic situation, the President said inflation had gone completely out of control and the government had not the slightest clue on how to remedy the situation and that the dollarization of the economy had priced most basic commodities out to the reach of the poor and sick, effectively condemning them to their slow but sure death. Something drastic needed to be done sooner rather than later to save lives. He went on to say the people of Zimbabwe are fast losing their confidence in the country’s political leadership and justifiably wondered if there was any glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. He reiterated the fact that the people of Zimbabwe voted for change in March 2008 and not for Robert Mugabe and his regime and called for SADC and the international community to honour the people’s verdict.

As ROHR Zimbabwe, we say enough is enough; we cannot take anymore of ZANU PF’s crooked, oppressive and corrupt ways.  

The ROHR President said that the declaration of human rights says every child had a right to education yet schools had still not opened. With teachers threatening not to report for duty unless their demands are met, it is increasingly doubtful that schools will open come 27 January 2009. That most schools will demand fees in foreign currency is another big hurdle for the majority of parents who do not earn in foreign currency let alone an income.  

Mr Tapa said ROHR is an action orientated organisation geared towards empowering the people on their rights and raising their consciousness to their collective potential to bring about the much desired change. He added that ROHR strongly believed in true freedom, justice and peace.  

After his speech, the president welcomed questions from the floor. The day’s proceedings culminated in the election of the Northampton Interim Committee presided over by Des Paraiwa (Vice Chair Birmingham) and Coleen Maredza (Chair Wolverhampton).  

The event was also attended by a delegation from Bedford led by Daniel Manyanga (who signalled their intentions to set up a branch in Bedford) and Cambridge branch’s Anna Mubaiwa, Margaret Jenkins and Jerry Mubaiwa.  

Many thanks to those who prepared the delicious food for the day, all ROHR activists who came a long way from other towns as a show of support for the human rights causes.    

Rugare Chifungo
London ROHR Activist

Following a spirited campaign spearheaded by the Organising Secretary Joana Zhira ably supported by Pauline Mutema, Agnes Chivhimbo and Farirai Muchibwa a ROHR meeting attended by up to 24 people took place in Stoke-On-Trent as planned.  This was a fitting tribute to the afore-mentioned response to the recruitment drive which involved distributing flyers and displaying placards at expedient locations and times. They braved cold weather, rain and curious glances as they robustly rose to the challenge issued throughout the year by ROHR President E. Tapa and his committee to spread awareness of the ongoing cholera deaths and related challenges facing Zimbabweans amid gross violations of their human rights by the ruling party in their country.       

Emnah Zibgowa gave the opening speech in which he shared with the members present his knowledge of and experience with human rights and the attendant commitments and responsibilities of all members of ROHR. Members present were reminded of the HR (Human Rights) violations for which the ruling party is notorious of; violations of the rights to education, shelter, food and health as evidenced by the total collapse in Zimbabwe of the economy, justice and fair treatment. Also lamentable is the suppression of all forms of freedoms of expression through peaceful demonstrations or writing about subjects that appear to criticise the government. These were singled out as some of the violations of our human rights. The aims of ROHR include the courage to risk punishment by the regime when actively raising awareness in all people of the need to point out human rights violations as well as refraining from selfish behaviour in the course of such activism. 

Mr Nyamande also spoke on the same vein building on the previous speaker’s speech. Freedom of speech and desisting from an individualistic mentality were emphasised. He insisted that even though we are small group we can stand our ground and fight back and make our oppressors realise we are saying ‘enough is enough’ to human rights abuses or violations. 

Mr Moses Nyagodzi spoke at length about the economic and political problems besetting Zimbabwe. The brutalities perpetrated by the ruling party are well known through out the world. Although the opposition parties were found to have their fair share of human rights shortcomings, it was observed state-sponsored militia and security agents were the major perpetrators. In this regard, members were urged to throw their full weight behind ROHR as a Human Rights watchdog. It was argued that the Human Rights’ view to the power sharing DEAL was that it was a waste of time considering that Mugabe has a long drawn out history of insincerity considering how he cheated ZAPU. The policy position of ROHR is that the perpetrators of murder and other violent acts should be brought to justice and concern was raised that MDC-T seems prepared to make some concessions. ROHR’s position is that there can never be any compromise where Justice, Peace, Freedom and Democracy are at stake. 

Many thanks to Farirai Muchibwa who did sterling fundraising work involving selling refreshments and related activities. Thanks also go to photographers Des Paraiwa and Aaron Masakure who skilfully captured images that appear in the ROHR website in conjunction with various ROHR gatherings and activities. 

Compiled by Secretary: Amon Chauke