Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

Present: Alista Mabiya – Chairman, Tariro Chikaka – Treasurer, Getrude Kugura – Secretary, Bertha Chiyangwa - Vice Chair. 
Apologies: Nyarai Maziso, Chipo Mabiya

The Mayor welcomed us into his parlour and offered us drinks and asked how best he could help us. We introduced ourselves to the Mayor and then Alista explained what ROHR is all about.

Alista explained that as a new branch we were looking for ways to establish ourselves and create awareness to the people in our community plus some advice on laws and regulations of operating, fundraising and free  public halls for holding meetings .The Mayor suggested we contact the press and he telephoned one of the journalists from the Evening Telegraph to arrange this. Alista was to call him back to arrange an interview. Tariro said we were willing to work with the community by doing voluntary work such as cleaning the streets. The Mayor was for that and said it would be good as that will feature in our article as part of our publicity. He also went on to say that we could use his Parlour for a few hours to have meetings for the locals. He suggested that we invite influential people to this meeting and he said if we could do an exhibition in his Parlour of human rights abuse happening in Zimbabwe and get the invited guests to sign up to support our project. We also invited him to our fun day but he said he could not attend due to other commitments but promised to come to the next whenever when he is free. The Mayor suggested that we have a base to work from for receiving mail, donations and he sign-posted us to Audrey Chalmers for the use of  the hall in her area.

Christine joined the meeting in regards to voluntary work and she suggested that we do voluntary work in Audrey’s area if we were going to be based from there. We also spoke of donation of second hand clothes, books, pens, blankets, shoes to send to victims of human rights abuse in Zimbabwe. Christine asked how the donations will get to Zimbabwe and who would receive them. We explained that we had an office in Zimbabwe and that most victims of human rights abuse were deprived of  any help from the government abusing them. The mayor suggested we could do collections from town however we would need a licence. He suggested we  contacted  City Centre services  on 01733747474. He also gave us a list of influential people that he would invite for our exhibition:

• Evening Telegraph – Davidson Young
• Radio Cambridge – Andy Barrow
• Peterborough Council City Chief Executive – Gillian Beasley
• Leader  of  Council – Marko
• MP Peterborough – Stewart Jackson
• MP North West Cambridgeshire – Shaleish Vara
• New Link – Leona McCarthy
• Perkins Engines
• Sainsbury
• The Lions Club – David Pop
• Rotary Club – John Fox 01733 810083
• TA – Lt Colonel John Symon
• Peterborough Women Centre – Rachel Ransfield
• Audrey Chalmers, 3 Jubilee Road opposite Cherry Pub
• Stall in Town – Chantell Watson 01733747474
• Salvation Army – Major Adrian and his wife Berth.

Christine said she was going to put something on the website of Peterborough City Council for donations for our branch.

Action Points

• To follow up with Christine regarding voluntary work
• Contact Audrey for working base and the use of the Hall for meetings and functions
• Getting pictures and flyers for use for the exhibition
• Contact ET after voluntary work
• Follow up with a meeting with the influential people

Meeting ended at 11 am. ROHR Peterborough presented the Mayor with a ROHR Zimabwe tshirt.