Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

ROHR Chelmsford branch had their second General meeting on Saturday 27^th June 2009 at Springfield Parish hall. The meeting started at 1400hrs as scheduled.  

Wellington Rupere(Vice- Chair South East London) led the opening by singing Ishe Komborera Africa. The chairman Robert Mafigo welcomed and thanked everyone and the committee for attending the meeting. A special welcome was extended to the UK National Co-ordinator Mr Paradzai Mapfumo who was among us. The President Mr Ephraim Tapa who was meant to be with us on this day sent an apology. He attended another meeting at the Vigil Zimbabwe House. 

After the welcome speech the Chairman passed the time to the Information and Publicity Officer Billy Machekano to give a speech. He spoke about the human rights abuses that are still happening irrespective of the power sharing Government which was formed in February this year (2009). Mr Machekano also discussed about what made people furious regarding the comments made by Zimbabwe Prime minister Mr Morgan Tsvangirai at Southwark Cathedral.  

Mr Tsvangirai was confronted by angry Zimbabweans as he conveyed a message that Zimbabweans in Diaspora should come back home. People started booing the Prime minister, waving banners and shouting Mugabe must go. Mr Tsvangirai didn’t expect this kind of behaviour from his own fellow Zimbabweans as he gave up the pulpit. What he, (Mr Tsvangirai) should know is that, things like booing, pelting with eggs or shoes is an occupational hazard which he will just have to accept in a democracy and get used to. 

The Prime Minister’s call for Zimbabweans to come back home was untimely and undefined. It is clear that at the current moment with high unemployment it will cause more problems. The PM is desperate to show the whole world changes since he took office but it will be difficult with Mr Mugabe still in power.  

ROHR members in the meeting didn’t agree with the PM’s claims and promises. People are still being abused, raped and child abuse is hitting its heights all over the country especially in the rural areas for example areas like Marange where the army has been deployed to protect the diamonds. http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/06/26/zimbabwe-end-repression-marange-diamond-fields  

Mr Machekano said, “The whole world will want to see media reforms but this remain aborted. There is no progress on key legislation on fundamental issues such as the promotion of freedom of speech, assembly and expression”. Also discussed was the call to all members to help with used clothes for people in Zimbabwe.  

It was also suggested that, we will contact the local authority of Chelmsford Council to offer ourselves for voluntary community work.

The UK Co-ordinator Mr Mapfumo spoke about the importance of every member to understand and have in-depth knowledge of our purpose as ROHR. He emphasised that we as an organisation we don’t offer or regulate anyone to stay in the UK. The likes of Nehanda Radio are there to destabilise our organisation by making false claims.

Mr Mapfumo explained that ROHR has members and membership fee is paid to run the organisation both locally and internationally. Every member is free to ask how the subscriptions fees are being distributed and managed. Mr Mapfumo said that we stand between the gap of the Zimbabwean people including those of Nehanda Radio for humanitarian issues.

The chairman requested that more committee members to be added to the current committee because there is more work and more members are joining. The new committee is as follow:
Chairman                                  Robert Mafigo
Vice Chairman                           Tendai Ngwanzura
Secretary                                   Petronella P. Wadzingenyama
Organizing Secretary                  Faith Benesi
Info & Publicity                          Billy R. Machekano
Treasurer                                   Charity Marere
Events Co-ordinator                   Tobokwa Malikongwa
Fund Raising                            Matha A. Magwaza
Committee Member                    Nyasha Muzambi
Committee Member                    Abel Gumbo
Activist                                      Fungai Muzambi
Activist                                      Richard R. Mupunga
Activist                                      Christina Zanji  

The chairman thanked the members and those that contributed their money and time to prepare the food and refreshments, “a special thank you to Matha A. Magwaza, for her contribution and to Faith Benesi and Christina Zanji for their effort and cooking,” he said.The meeting finished at 17:00hrs.  

Billy Machekano, Information & Publicity, Chelmsford Branch.