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We demand an end to political violence!

Thursday, 27 May 2010 19:47 administrator

From the ROHR Zimbabwe Information Department

ROHR Zimbabwe is grappling to come to terms with the attempts by the ministry of home affairs to deny the people their legitimate right to hold the government to account and demand transparency through peaceful protests. It is a classic dramatic irony of the most extravagant nature; only one year governing alongside ZANU Pf, an MDC minister of all people elected by the people of Zimbabwe, would be at the part of a controversial alleged move to withdraw a legitimate fundamental right of the people in the backdrop of over a decade protracted struggle for democracy and human rights that has claimed lives of innocent men, women and children.

If there is anything that the MDC can do to stop this madness, it is to be truthful about the situation on the ground and put pressure on their defiant partner in government ZANU Pf to restrain from engaging in violent tendencies. Violence is a destructive force to our national brand; it stands averse to the current peace building efforts, the constitution making process, democratic transitional reforms and the economic recovery efforts to lure investment in the country to resuscitate the economy.

As an organization we view the untenable decision to ban protest ahead of the world cup as a criminal fraudulent attempt by the coalition government to create a misleading image of an all-is-well in the house approach while there is a backdrop of growing persecution of victims of political violence, political activists, human rights defenders and journalists. It is regrettable that we have new incidences of violence and destruction of property in the grassroots communities around the country particularly in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland.

ROHR Zimbabwe’s growing impatience with the outbreaks of violence targeted at vulnerable victims of political violence across the country has reached intolerable levels. In the wake of rampant allegations of a partisan police, that is reluctance to guarantee security, safety and the observance of the rule of law. It is only through protest that the voices of victims of violence can be amplified and heard as an attempt to advocate for redress.

The attempt to ban peaceful protest, if left unchallenged, sets in motion a bad precedence that people’s democratic fundamental rights can be withdrawn at the whim of politicians and government officials.

ROHR Zimbabwe therefore intends to hold a peaceful march to call upon the coalition government to make concrete steps to ensure that violence is ceased forthwith. The coalition government should address the plight of victims of political violence in the country. We are concerned that the infrastructure that caused untold suffering among innocent people in the 2008 elections is still intact and so far its existence has inspired the continued harassment of victims of political violence. We have received reports of not less than 50 families so far, forced to flee their homes due to systematic intimidation campaigns by youth militia and ZANU Pf supporters.

We reiterate our position that human rights are not gifts bestowed on the people at the pleasure of governments but they are universal and should apply to all. We seek to engage in a peaceful march to highlight the following demands to the coalition government:

The security of victims of political violence should be guaranteed regardless of political affiliation especially during the constitutional outreach scheduled to kick start very soon.
Perpetrators of violence should be stopped from committing further crimes to the ones still lurking unaccounted for from the past eras stretching decades back to post independence. If left free they will continue to haunt communities and cause chaos because they are the chief drivers of impunity who deal a blow to the rule of law.
The police should step up efforts to arrest all those who commit crimes in the name of political patronage. No one is immune from or above the law.
The coalition government needs to make serious investigations on the allegations of threats of widespread organized violence by ZANU Pf after the world cup in South Africa.
The coalition government should promote a culture of truth telling to set a foundation for a credible national healing process that is built on transitional justice.
The organ on National Healing should be dissolved if it’s not producing tangible results. Its continued presence is a burden on the taxpayer.

For Peace, Justice and Freedom

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 May 2010 19:54

African Freedom Day 25 May 2010

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 23:08 administrator

ROHR Zimbabwe joins the people of Africa from the entire member states of the African Union to commemorate this year’s African Day of Freedom which is being commemorated under the theme ‘The year of peace and security’. The year of peace was proclaimed by the 14th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and the Tripoli Declaration on the Elimination of Conflicts in Africa and the Promotion of sustainable Peace. African Freedom Day came to be as a result of the 1st Pan African conference of 1958 to symbolize the unity and determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation. We acknowledge that the hosting of the 2010 World Cup Football show which kicks off in a few days is a historic milestone for the entire African continent.

This year’s commemorations come at a time when the continent of Africa is in need of visionary leadership with a new dimension that is premised on development that is based on the foundation of the unity of the people of Africa, the respect of the inalienability of human rights and the dignity of the human family as enshrined in the Universal declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

Cognizant of the fact that the body politic in Africa has shifted from the era of colonization by foreign nations, African states have attained sovereignty and self rule, there is need of the African Union to shift attention towards the need of ensuring that people of Africa exercise their fundamental right to chose leaders of their choice without fear of coercion or persecution. The sprouting of negotiated coalition governments as in the case of Zimbabwe and Kenya is against the people’s wishes and runs contrary to democratic principles.

The persistent raging armed and unarmed conflicts in Madagascar, Somalia, Sudan, Darfur, Guinea and Zimbabwe are attesting to a failed leadership. It is concerning that when leaders fail it is innocent people who bear the brunt of selfish pursuit of power driven struggles. Millions of African people find themselves outside of their boarders of birth due to the scourge of political conflict, security concerns, and abuse of human rights, economic hardships and poverty.

Worse still, against the spirit of our connectedness derived from our common struggles, challenges and achievements reports have sprouted of cases of gross ill-treatment of refugees in other countries, as in unfortunate case of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa in the recent years.

As ROHR Zimbabwe we note with concern that, a lot needs to be done in putting focus in efforts to promote sustainable peace and security in the grassroots communities particularly in countries emerging from legacies of violence and hotly contested elections like Zimbabwe. The continued relentless victimization of victims of political violence of the year 2008 and subsequent failure of their official recognition particularly by the government of Zimbabwe undermines the declaration of the year 2010 being a year of peace and security.

We challenge the coalition government to use the treatment of past victims of political violence as the barometer of measuring peace efforts before more talk is generated on the country’s preparedness of holding the next credible election that can produce legitimate results that reflect the people’s choices. As long as victims of political violence continue to be persecuted it means any attempt to hold elections will only produce more victims.

The country can only redeem its image on the continent by refraining from political violence, putting to an end the cancerous culture of impunity, respecting human rights, embracing free political activities, freeing the media and stopping corruption. ROHR Zimbabwe’s Acting Director, Ronald Mureverwi has slammed the recent arbitrary arrest of political party members of the newly formed MDC99 as a serious violation of the GPA and it reflects badly on the countries’ preparedness to transform itself from the dominance of a one party state into a multi party democracy. The suffocation of the political environment amplifies the need for a new democratic constitution that guarantees people’s freedoms.

For Peace, Justice and Freedom

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 23:13

NANGO Press Statement - 5 May 2010

Thursday, 13 May 2010 22:10 administrator

ROHR as a member of NANGO publishes their Press Statement below.

Women on the Talking Points and Demands on the Constitution

The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) facilitated Civil Society Cluster Consultative Meetings on the ongoing constitutional reform process from 27 to 29 April 2010. The meetings were attended by 712 delegates representative of the various stakeholders within civil society actively participating on the constitutional reform process.

Talking Points

Women Groups expressed strong reservations concerning the proposed talking points that the Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC)’s intends to use during the outreach meetings, which have they described as prescriptive and suggestive hence probabilities are high that the output thereof shall not adequately represent the will and intention of the people of Zimbabwe. Further concern was expressed regarding the technical language used in drafting the talking points as this will elude the layman’s scope.

Women Groups are extremely concerned about the existing gaps within the talking points; key issues affecting the rights of women and equality before the law, as well as humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable persons are not adequately addressed. The delegates observed that COPAC had not consulted key stakeholders, including civil society, hence the resultant gaps that have been identified in the talking points. We therefore call for broader consultations on the talking points before these are finalised by COPAC.

Key Demands
Women Groups reiterated that their demands for a minimum of 52% representation in the leadership of political, socio-economic aspects of public life; this can be achieved thorough implement the zebra principle in all key appointments. Women groups demand equality in terms of opportunities, and mainstreaming of gender issues into the constitution making process.

The operational environment is currently not conductive for the outreach teams to conduct their work. Delegates were gravely concerned that the majority of our people will not be able to freely contribute to the drafting of the new constitution in the existing polarised environment. Women are exposed to great security risk in the constitutional making process such as rape due to the highly polarized environment. There is overwhelming evidence of ongoing systematic harassments and intimidation of women in order to stifle them from contributing during the outreach process hence the mostly men will be leading in making submissions on content of the constitution.

The National Association of Non – Governmental Organisations (NANGO) calls upon the inclusive government to immediately attend to the legislative agenda to ensure that a conducive environment, with security of women being observed as paramount, and should be guaranteed for this critical national process; Selective application of the law through application of restrictive legislation such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) need to be urgently attended to in order to ensure that all citizens are able to participate in this national process It is therefore imperative to address the issues of concern regarding the talking points and the operational environment before embarking on the outreach phase.

Last Updated on Thursday, 13 May 2010 22:16

Outcry! Campaign - End Immigration Detention of Children

Thursday, 13 May 2010 22:08 administrator

The Children's Society and Bail for Immigration Detainees (united under the OutCry! campaign) are delighted that the new Government has pledged its commitment to ending child detention in immigration centres. This is a major step forward for the OutCry! Campaign and we feel a tremendous reassurance that the new Government is taking this so seriously.” For further information, check: http://communicatoremail.com/IN/PbeqTW25g2Kk_YycGpR81h-kL5yf3D14/WebView.aspx and http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/.

Zanu Pf’s treatment of victims of political violence a test of their sincerity towards the transition phase

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 21:57 administrator

From ROHR Zimbabwe Infromation Department

Because of outbreaks of violence and intimidation campaigns linked to the envisaged constitutional making process in some parts of the country particularly in Mashonaland Central, Manicaland and Masvingo provinces, a delegation of ROHR Zimbabwe and VAC team paid a solidarity visit to Shamva to assess the human rights situation after some families were displaced last month following threats of violence by ZANU PF supporters.

The gruesome predictable findings are that the victims of the reign of terror in 2008 bloody elections are not only denied justice but have become even more vulnerable and susceptible to further victimisation. Members of Honzeri family in ward 13 of Zhanda village in Shamva represent the anecdote of solitude and fear deeply stricken in the divided community between the victims and the perpetrators of political violence.

Their case is a smoke screen of many innocent man, women and children who are being persecuted for being supporters of the Prime Minister’s party MDC, against the principled position agreed by the three political parties in the Global Political Agreement that there should be free political activity throughout Zimbabwe within the ambit of the law in which all political parties are able to propagate their views and canvas for support, free of harassment and intimidation.

The voices of victimised families have been rendered utterly desolate as any attempt to work towards the upkeep of their livelihoods is either met with contempt or repressive action amounting to destruction of property and livestock. ‘Should I uproot my houses? Where should I take them where I can leave in peace because I am being chased away from our God given country of our forefathers?’ cried Mrs Honzeri. ‘We cannot rebuild our houses because we are in a war situation. War brings suffering and destruction to some people and yet to others they will be enjoying the status quo. For us it is endless.’

The latest of the series of systematic harassment and intimidation is the prevention of the Honzeri family from praying in the nearby bushes – they risk being confronted with threats of violence from Ishmael Jena, a self-confessed notorious liberation war veteran who also leads a Masowe sect. Mai Honzeri said praying is their only solace in which they get a platform of asking God to heal their broken hearts and fight the enemy on their behalf. She also informed ROHR Zimbabwe that she was told to seek permission to pray in the mountains from Harare by her oppressors.

The backdrop of the continued relentless persecution of victims of political violence is that nothing has come out of the organ of National Healing to address their plight. The culture of impunity rages on, following MDC minister Sekai Holland admitting that the GPA did not state clearly the mandate of the organ of national healing.

Paradoxically the victims have been on the wrong side of proceedings stirring only more hostility from the police who have been accused of being partisan and protecting perpetrators from being tried. ROHR Zimbabwe has received reports of controversial cases in which victims of political violence have been severely punished for complaining to the people who vandalised and stole property during the reign of terror in 2008.

It is clear that defiant intransigent supporters of ZANU Pf are not ready to welcome the transition agenda and will do anything to throw a spanner in the works. No acknowledgement has been made to those who suffered immensely from the past man-made injustices. The coalition government has not only failed to protect the voice of the victims in freely expressing their plight through truth telling but it has mobilised the police to suppress and stifle public freedom of expression as witnessed by the arrest of Zimrights staff and confiscation of photos of victims of political violence during public photo exhibitions held across the country by Zimrights.

The antagonistic pressure that has been put on the people by ZANU Pf supporters to coerce the nation into adopting the Kariba draft constitution and silence free engagement leaves a lot to be desired provoking speculation among critics on the way forward. Central to how the nation can progress forward is the holding of a free and fair election under a democratic new constitution in the presence of international observers.

Wadzanai Mupandawana a human rights activist in the Diaspora strongly blames the coalition government for condoning corruption by government officials, the looting of diamonds at Chiadzwa and selective application of the law. She said the country is not free if journalists, human and political activist are still being harassed for carrying out their duties. She further castigated the unprofessionalism and non reformist stance of the police on law enforcement in matters involving politicians loyal to Mugabe.

In the event of elections being held, ROHR Zimbabwe's founder Ephraim Tapa has expressed fears that with or without a new constitution the likelihood of violence is very high since the infrastructure of violence is still intact across the country.

For pictures of a house that was demolished in Shamva during the reign of terror, check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/sets/72157623924696227/

For Peace, Justice and Freedom

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