Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

This week, ROHR Zimbabwe joined other progressive organizations within the region at the 7^th Annual Southern Africa Civil Society Forum Meeting and the SADC CNGO (Council of Non-Governmental Organisations) roundtable meeting in Johannesburg South Africa. The high level yet grounded and interactive multi-stakeholder policy dialogue was entitled ‘SADC Governance and accountability - Taking stock’. 

The Forum attracted civil society leaders from all countries to discuss the civil society positions and proposals for consideration by the SADC Heads of States Summit ahead of the 2011 Ordinary Heads of States Summit which will be held in mid-August in Luanda, Angola.

The dialogues were aimed at achieving the following objectives:
1. To bring diverse views for critical engagement with  development challenges facing the SADC region and the continent at large;
2. To create space for collective and in depth examination of regional, continental and global policies, processes and institutions and their effectiveness and impact on the citizens of the SADC region;
3. To create a platform for broad based generation of ideas and regional policy proposals as a contribution of non-state actors to addressing the development challenges in the region. 

The dialogue, pitched at the highest possible level, drew participants from accomplished civil society activists, independent analysts, former and current senior government officials, members of SADC Secretariat and of the United Nations, scholars, media, private sector and international cooperating partners.

ROHR Zimbabwe Executive Director Mr. Tichanzii Gandanga praised the forum for coming at a crucial time ahead of the SADC summit in Angola and said “The Forum provided civil society within the region the opportunity to formulate the basis of engagement with SADC leaders in Angola, as well as to brainstorm and share views, ideas and notes on human rights and democratization issues within the region”.

Speaking from Johannesburg ROHR South African Chapter Coordinator Mr. Reason Machengere said, “The discussions were fruitful and focused on issues bedeviling the region as well the ways to mitigate them”. 

The 7^th Annual Southern Africa Civil Society Forum Meeting Highlights in brief:
- Malawi joins Zimbabwe, DRC, Madagascar and Swaziland as hot spots in SADC.
- Issue of free movement within SADC.
- Lack of cohesive regional development strategies.
- Challenging SADC Heads of State on the suspension of the SADC tribunal among others.

ROHR Zimbabwe will publicize the full resolutions when it’s finalized by the Forum.

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For Peace, Justice and Freedom

ROHR South Africa would like to respond to recent public notices inserted by and bearing the signatures of Stendrick Zvorwadza and Grace Mupfurutsa masquerading as ROHR Zimbabwe.  ROHR South Africa Chapter wishes to distance itself  from this group and wishes to notify the media, partners, civic society and members of the public that the aforementioned people have nothing to do with ROHR Zimbabwe, can never speak, act or contract on behalf of ROHR.

The position is: Stendrick Zvorwadza, Ronald Mureverwi and Edgar Chikuvire were expelled from ROHR Zimbabwe for violating its constitution and founding principles. Grace Mupfurutsa who claims to be a board member of ROHR is an alien who wants to gate crash the organization through the trio’s machinations. 

In an attempt to hijack ROHR Zimbabwe the group has been spewing malicious, misleading and extremely defamatory public notices and press releases. Our membership takes exception to such mischief. As a human rights organization, we encourage everyone to resort to the rule law and legal due process. We encourage law abiding citizenship, respect to our organization, its membership, and secretariat.

The ROHR South Africa Chapter through its Chairman Mr. Reason Machengere continues to rally behind ROHR Zimbabwe as led by its founding President and Board Chairperson Ephraim Tapa and Executive Director Tichanzii Gandanga, its secretariat and membership.

We remain true and steadfast to ROHR Zimbabwe’s founding principles and vision to lobby to fight for the entrenchment of human rights in support of the broader democratisation process in Zimbabwe.  Any attempts at subversion through the hijacking of the organisation will be strongly resisted.

Thank you

Reason Machengere, ROHR South Africa Chairperson
Phone +27837419076