Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

A new day, a new beginning! Yet another Chapter, as ROHR Bournemouth Branch is launched.

Despite the biting cold weather, people turned up in their numbers in support of their country, Zimbabwe. A prayer from Retina Mkanda, introductions from Mr Paradzai Mapfumo then a brief account about ROHR Zimbabwe from Phyllis Chibanguza marked the opening of the proceedings. 

With us as key speaker was Mr Ephraim Tapa, the President and founder of ROHR Zimbabwe who recounted his gruesome experiences while in Zimbabwe, at the hands of ZANU PF and Government sponsored militia. Based on countless of human rights abuses and his own ordeal, Mr Tapa informed the gathering that ROHR Zimbabwe was formed in realisation of the need to help and stop the suffering in Zimbabwe. He explained that ROHR is about empowering the disempowered by conscientising the people to their rights and helping them to fight themselves free.

Mr Tapa added that the current cholera epidemic ravaging Zimbabwe smacked of a deliberate plan to decimate those in urban centres on account of their disaffection with ruling elite. He said Zimbabweans, like any other human beings deserved to be treated with dignity and respect and lamented about the lack of basic rights and freedoms in Zimbabwe. He challenged all Zimbabweans in the diaspora to come together and join hands with fellow Zimbabweans at home in the fight for genuine peace, justice and freedom.  Lastly, Mr Tapa told the meeting that ROHR Zimbabwe, had a humanitarian, watchdog and activist role to play now as well as in the post-crisis Zimbabwe and that it would not accept the bringing back of Mugabe by the backdoor, the so-called power sharing deal – when the people clearly voted for change on 29 March 2008. 

Following the president’s speech, there was a lively discussion with the audience who vowed never to return to Zimbabwe as long as Mugabe was in charge. They instead expressed a sense of gratitude for the ROHR Zimbabwe project and pledged their commitment to restoring human rights in Zimbabwe.