Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

On Saturday 7th February, ROHR members, supporters and activists met in Harlow at St James and St Lukes Church for a branch launch meeting. The meeting was organized by Clement Kudakwashe Sabau, Esther Makamo and Lloyd Kashangura. 38 people attended the meeting including the ROHR President Mr Ephraim Tapa, the ROHR UK coordinator Mr Paradzai Mapfumo and ROHR Publicist and Secretary Ms Rose Motsi.  

The introduction and the welcome message from Clement Sabau was followed the opening prayer which came from Shamiso Storey who then handed over to Paradzai Mapfumo the master of ceremonies of the day. Mr Mapfumo gave his welcome speech before leaving the floor to Mrs Anna Mubaiwa, the Chair for Cambridge to give a motivation speech before the handing over to the President Mr Ephraim Tapa, the main speaker of the event.  

Mr Tapa started by introducing himself and then explained how the organization was formed, its objectives and fundamental beliefs such as justice, freedom and peace. He then appealed to every peace loving Zimbabwean to join and support the organization to stop the Human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Mr Tapa told the gathering that the struggle for a Free Zimbabwe must continue until a free and fair election under international supervision is held in Zimbabwe. He argued that the just formed Government of National Unity would only help to provide a temporary truce between the political foes. He added that there would not be any lasting peace in Zimbabwe without genuine democracy and true justice. Those who perpetrated human rights violations must be arrested and punished if the many exiled Zimbabweans were to feel safe to return to Zimbabwe.  

Following his speech, Mr Tapa opened the floor for questions. Mr Billie Nedi, also a guest speaker decried the collapse of the education sector in Zimbabwe and wondered what future we were leaving to our children if we failed to take action to restore the right of every child to education. Members were visibly moved by his energetic presentation.    

Traditional food was prepared by Esther Makamo and Hilda Muzuwa as part of their contribution to support the meeting and drinks were served at the end of the meeting. Mr Shingirai Goredema (DJ) provided music. 

After the elections, Mr Tapa made his last comments before he led in the singing of ISHE KOMBORERAI AFRICA. It was an emotional moment that befitted the world wide cause of human rights. Mr Billie Nedi gave the closing prayer before the newly elected Chairman; Clement Sabau closed the meeting with a vote of thanks.   Mr Lloyd Kashangura ensured that the venue was left in order by cleaning everything from floors, toilets and the kitchen.  

Elected Committee
Chair: Clement Kudakwashe Sabau – 07765831500
Vice Chair: Esther Makamo – 07507949023 
Secretary: Lloyd Kashangura – 07506481334
Organising Secretary: Chaka Chizanga – 07534271925
Treasurer: Shamiso Storey – 07881683008
Fund Raiser: Grace Kachingwe – 07785107858
Publicity: Esther Makamo - 07507949023  
Activists: Spiwe Karimatsenga - 07938626315 and Hilda Muzuva – 07951284778  

(Acknowledgements – the above topic was inspired by a discussion I had with Mr E Tapa  president of ROHR UK during one of the brief intervals between the fashion shows which were part and parcel of a successful fund raising event at Handsworth New Road in Birmingham UK on 10 January 2009) 

I intend to comment on the above topic against the background of the statement below

‘Sadly, save for the Republic of South Africa, institution elsewhere; be it parliament, the army, police, the judiciary, state intelligence and the civil service, is designed, staffed and used to serve the short-term interest and ego of the big man in the State House at the time. This explains why election rigging, corruption and human rights are taking place with impunity. It also explains the vicious cycle of poverty, wars, famine, refugee exodus that has gripped Africa since independence. Only independent state institutions will free Africa from this vicious cycle.’  - Sam Akaki, Executive Director Democratic Institutions for Poverty Reduction in Africa (DIPRA London )

The education system and key functions have all but collapsed in Zimbabwe. I am living proof of having seen and experienced it. Six years ago I was a head of Mathematics at one of the exclusive and independent multiracial and multinational boys schools in Zimbabwe. I was also an accredited Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examiner for Mathematics and was one of the key, suitably qualified and experienced teachers of Mathematics Examinations Branch  and later ZIMSEC relied upon to mark and process the public examination results for our candidates. It was not lack of patriotism which made me and many of my colleagues abandon teaching in Zimbabwe and head for the diaspora where my skills although in demand are not as critically needed as they are in my country. The stark reality is that the education delivery service has plummeted from the world leading levels of over 90% to a sporadic and unsustainable below 20%. Just about every literate person has heard of Zimbabwe’s collapse and other tragically driven but man-made collapse of essential services. I am passionately and morally challanged by the obvious fact that the simple cause of all this is bad governance , unchecked corruption and a callous disregard for  Human Rights, including the right to education.

The present political and economic challenges trace its origins to the total disregard for justice and the rule of law. That is what Sam Akaki is referring to above. My organisation therefore  at every platform and opportunity is determined to raise awareness within its members and any others it can influence on the need to Restore the Right to education of every Zimbabwean whose education and related professional development has been impeded by Robert Mugabe’s failed political and economic policies,  ROHR Zimbabwe encourages every one of its members at whatever level of particpation within its structures to act as an activist who stands both watchdogs  and  campaigners against human rights violations to Zimbabweans of every colour, creed or political affiliation provided their commitment to peaceful and democratic pursuits of change are beyond reproach.

In pursuant of the above mentioned objectives and expectaion it would be incumbent upon ROHR activists to challenge SADC and AU’s solidarity with dictatator Mugabe and his cronies. In keeping with this non-violent stance, activists will proactively implement, sustain enhance and adapt to worldwide efforts by United Nations and affliated organisations to make the world a better place to live in for all its inhabitants. Drawing from my extensive international experience as a Mathematics educator and as a student of Psychology, Education, Ecocomics, eCommerce, Forensic Science and Computer Science among several other disciplines, I shall do everything in my power to complement this intellectual capital with that of other similarly endowed Zimbabweans to create an arsenal of expertise that would restore our Jewel of Africa status Zimbabwe once achieved in the early 80s.

I am optimistic that the winds of Change that enabled Obama to achieve the near impossible presidency will blow in Zimbabwe’s direction to restore us from the dark ages we have been taken back to by the scouge of political patronage within Zanu PF, and I have heard within SADC and the unethical lobbying in the AU which has enabled Mugabe to ride rough shod over every rational thinking person’s will.

By Amon Chauke
Stoke-on-Trent 
January 2009