ROHR News
21st JANUARY 2012
Mr. Richard Mahlahla was appointed the chairman for today as the chairperson was going to arrive after the meeting had started. He took the opportunity to welcome parties to the meeting and notified them of health and safety exit points. Mr. Colet Dube opened the meeting with a prayer. The Chairman invited individuals to introduce themselves after which everyone had the opportunity to do so.
Rugare apologized to the North East branch regarding an incident that happened on 23rd July 2011 when the executive were present. From Rugare’s understanding the executive were given an hour to hold their meeting before attending the North East meeting but they went on until the closing time that had been allocated to us when we booked the venue. The North East branch were not happy because they were supposed to meet the executive after they had held their election and that did not go as planned which meant they had to go home after their elections without meeting the executive. It was advised that those who can, should attend ROHR meeting on 4th February 2012 in London and people should keep themselves informed by reading the upcoming events on the ROHR website. Some members from North East will be attending the meeting on the 4th February 2012 in London.
Mr. Richard Mahlahla said that people must be dedicated and committed and work together to achieve the objectives as the North East branch. Richard Mahlahla encouraged parties to empower each other and to be morally correct. He also suggested that if some of our members cannot attend meetings perhaps internet skyping could be used for members who could not attend the meeting due to different commitments. The Chairman again emphasized that first of all people should remove gossiping and remove tribal politics and jealous. He asked people to change their behaviour and leave the hate thing and not to focus on material things. He added that it is the reason why people fail because they focus on the wrong things and easily get distracted. Cathrine suggested that transparency is needed in any organization if it is to grow. The Chairman put forward that ROHR members need to identify issues that have failed ROHR in the past and how the issues have been resolved. He pointed out that people need to communicate more and not to act like businessmen in competition because this organization is about human rights and empowering people in Zimbabwe. He again emphasized that parties should not entertain gossip. Individuals were encouraged to spread togetherness and bring more people to join ROHR. Tapiwa stated that ROHR cannot move forward if individuals sit back and wait for others to work. Alan Chamboko suggested that as a ROHR activist that he believed in ROHR and emphasized that we should be focused more on the aims and objectives of ROHR and not to be distracted with other things. He also mentioned that in future if there are issues going on within the executive as members we should be informed to avoid disengagement.
Parties discussed that ROHR needs to draw attention as a human rights organisation. They agreed that during the campaign, they need to be recognized for example by wearing T-Shirts with the name ROHR printed on them or wearing reflective jackets with the name of ROHR printed. Richard Mahlahla suggested that as part of a campaign, members could walk in areas picking up litter. A placard with the name ROHR printed on it will be used. He mentioned that what members needed to do was to approach councils and inform them of an area where there is litter. ROHR members would then offer to the council to clean the area. A theme would be used during the campaign. MP lobbying was advised.
Hazvineyi Choto reminded the meeting that last time a ROHR awareness raising day for fundraising purposes had been suggested. Parties were urged to come up with fundraising ideas that do not create losses. Members were informed that during the meeting of 23rd July 2011 it was agreed that people could pay what they can afford and there was no fixed amount suggested. Richard Mahlahla pointed out that ROHR needs money and that there are donations which could be received from the areas where members live. Parties mentioned that they needed to raise the issue of £10.00 subscriptions at the forum. The Chairman recommended that people should contribute. He commented that if people could not afford to contribute money they could be supporters or members. Hazvineyi Choto wanted to know if the application for money which had been applied for was still ongoing. Rugare responded that it was still ongoing but a North East bank account needed to be opened first which needs three signatories. Cathrine suggested if we could have an awareness campaign first before fundraising event. Rugare urged members to spread emails that she would have forwarded to them for example petitions that might need signing. Mr Richard Mahlahla and Martin Ngwerume urged people to attend a meeting that they were going to be having with the home office on the 26th January 2012. Richard Mahlahla and Martin Ngwerume also advised members to check online their organization called DASUK.
The meeting went well and the Chairman thanked members for coming and asked Pelargia Chandafira to give a closing prayer. The date of the next meeting will be notified to members in due course.
Minutes compiled by Tapiwa Merrymore Semwayo
