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ROHR LIVERPOOL COMES OF AGE, PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT US

Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:47 Anywhere Mungoyo
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I take pride in coming to you with news that ROHR Zimbabwe Liverpool branch is resuming peaceful demonstrations in the Liverpool city centre. We have been granted space in the city for activities on Saturdays starting on the 24th of October 2009 and every two weeks thereafter.  

On 11 April 2009 the President of ROHR Mr Ephraim Tapa and the United Kingdom coordinator Mr Paradzai Mapfumo were in Liverpool and a substantive committee was elected with an aim to re energise the branch. Since then we have worked hard to make sure that the aims and objectives of ROHR Zimbabwe are shared with our fellow countrymen and in the communities that we all live in today. We are progressing.  

At the chairs meeting in Coventry on the 5th of September the posts of Gender and Youth Secretary were recommended to our committees in abiding with the constitution. We have fully complied and I am happy to present to you the fully revised ROHR Liverpool Committee;  
Chairman: Desire Chimuka, 07917733711
Vice Chairman: Anywhere Mungoyo, 07939913688
Secretary: Trywell Migeri, 07956083758
Organising Secretary: Patrick Kushonga 07900857605
Information and Publicity: Humphrey Moyo, 07733240210
Treasurer: Netsai Karota, 07767483180
Vice treasurer: Yvonne Marufu, 07795956294
Youth Secretary: Constantine Nhundu, 07951321430
Gender Secretary: Alice Ruzario, 07815423680     
Vice Gender Secretary: Bridget Chimbiro, 07881993721
Activists: Ruregerero Zvomuya – 07961418715, Dionnie Biwi – 07939169838
Fundraising: Veronica Salies, 07774081983  

We owe it to the committee members above who are working tirelessly to keep the branch moving forward. We are quite happy to say that our membership is increasing gradually and we hope to host you all with a fundraising event in the near future, dates to be advised. We are forever thankful to the current ROHR Liverpool memberships who are always available to carry on the good work of jealously guarding our human rights.  

On Saturday the 17th October 2009 our neighbouring branch, ROHR Manchester are holding a general  meeting. The ROHR president Mr Tapa and the UK executive will be there, could we all please go and support them, details of venue and times are available on the website. 

Finally, we invite you all to come and join us for our demonstrations on the 24th of October 2009 in Liverpool city centre outside Primark between the hours of 1400hrs and 1600hrs and fortnightly thereafter.  

Anywhere Mungoyo, Vice Chairman
ROHR Zimbabwe (Liverpool Branch)  

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 October 2009 22:01
 

Did you know that ROHR does voluntary work to help the Local UK Community?

Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:45 Billy R. Machekano
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Enthusiastic ROHR members from Chelmsford Branch were involved in voluntary community support. This was organised by Chelmsford Borough Council on Saturday 10 October 2009 . 

ROHR members litter picked along the riverbanks of river Chelmer while Scuba divers and boaters used there various skills to de-clutter the riverbeds removing rubbish and hazardous materials. The litter pick was concentrated on the areas by the side of the rivers that run through the town, starting from Wharf Road Car Park and going up as far as the Bunny Walk covering a 3 mile stretch. This was a fantastic initiative to help with the drive to make Chelmsford Cleaner and Healthier. 

The Mayor of Chelmsford Borough Council Tony Sach and his delegation later joined the volunteers and pictures were taken for the local press by photographers from the council and the chronicle newspaper.  

Mr Billy Machekano speaking to Mayor Sach said ,”ROHR Chelmsford branch is part of a diverse community that promotes all programmes and a better lifestyle in our local communities. As much as we stand up for Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe, we also recognise that we belong to a local community that needs our support and our organisation is willing to support programmes that improve our local environment.” One councillor said, “I wish if all other minority organisations think the same way as you do, it will be so good for the community”.  

Chelmsford Borough Council was very pleased to receive support from many local organisations, including: ROHR Zimbabwe , Chelmsford Sea Cadets, Adventures in Diving, Inland Waterways,  Chelmsford Canoe Club, Chelmer Canal Trust, Borough Council staff and members of the public.   

Jackie Lane the Neighbourhood Environmental Action Team Officer of Chelmsford Borough Council thanked everybody who commited their time and took part in this cleaning programme. A special thank you from Jackie was extended to all the ROHR members who worked tirelessly on this day. The volunteers were: Petronella P. Wadzingenyama, Nyasha Muzambi, Abeliruna Gumbo, Christina Zhanji, Richard Mupunga, Samson Makale, Matha A. Magwaza, Constance Mafigo and Alex Chigumira.   

The event finished at around 1300hrs.

Billy R. Machekano, Information and Publicity Officer

ROHR Chelmsford Branch.

 
Last Updated on Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:58
 

ROHR Zimbabwe’s comment on the Zimbabwe Vigil’s 7th anniversary

Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:42 administrator
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In a colorful event, hundreds of exiles living in the United Kingdom gathered in traditional fashion to mark the 7th anniversary in existence of the voice of reason which has been calling for the liberation of the people of Zimbabwe from the oppressive rule of Mugabe and his cronies.  

So is the energy which has characterized the unity of a people determined to speak with one voice for the noble cause of raising awareness against a man made tragedy that has befallen their fellow kinsman under the yoke of Robert Mugabe back home.  

The Zimbabwe Vigil has been a symbol of protest assuming the watch dog role of not letting things like abuse of the voiceless pass unchallenged as far as the struggle for people’s freedoms is concerned in Zimbabwe. Now partnered with ROHR Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Vigil has worked with progressive forces like WOZA, the labor body ZCTU, SAVE Zimbabwe campaign to mention but a few.  

A blistering culture for the fight for basic freedoms has culminated into a more versatile religion to the London Vigils. Not a single Saturday passes without them converging out of their own evolution to chant songs of hope and mimic the lifestyle of those that have made it possible for Zimbabwe to be in the abyss of malaise since attaining independence from Britain.  

Since formation, the Zimbabwe Vigil has not looked back but has joined hands with like-minded individuals, organizations, governments to lobby towards the resolve of Zimbabwe’s muiti layered crisis which has been heightened by ZANU PF‘s standing in the way of democratic reform and full implementation of the fragile Global Political Agreement.  

Amongst those the Vigil has been calling out to hear the plight of the Zimbabwean people is the beleaguered guarantor to the GPA, the Southern African Development Committee (SADC). It is heart breaking that SADC has ignored the calls by the Zimbabwean people for Mugabe to respect human rights, put an end to political persecution, land evasions, culture of impunity and draconian media laws.  

The Vigil has called upon the United Kingdom government and the European Union to take up a tough stance against all the SADC countries that have been sympathetic and provided a life line to the Robert Mugabe regime by suspending government to government aid and instead channel it to the starving Zimbabweans. 

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:55
 

ROHR protests at exam fees beyond the reach of students

Monday, 12 October 2009 22:24 administrator
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ROHR Zimbabwe is highly concerned with the revelation that three quarters of the 300 000 students set to sit for the landmark ordinary level certificate this November are on the verge of having the four years they invested in preparations and resources put to waste as the examination fees being charged by Zimbabwe Examination Schools Council (ZIMSEC) are beyond the reach of the majority of parents.

We also note with concern that the future of education in Zimbabwe which was once the best in Africa, remains in doubt as the sector is plagued by poor remuneration of workers, mismanagement, shortage of qualified personnel due to the brain drain of qualified workforce to other regional markets, exorbitant school fees structures which have forcible denied students access, deteriorating learning and teaching conditions and other economic challenges.

Government has slept over a back foot reliance on international donors and is now failing to accord the education sector the priority it deserves as the right to education is slowly being relegated to a preserve of the elite.

Government stands to be reminded that education is a basic fundamental human right upon which the next generation’s foundation should be premised. Despite the economic challenges affecting the country, it remains government’s responsibility and prerogative to step up to the challenges besieging the education sector and ensure that the right to education is not denied on the grounds of discriminating against levels of income.

We hold that the extension of the deadline for the payment of the ordinary and advanced level examination is in itself not the solution to the problem but it only serves to prolong it. No student should be barred from sitting for the examinations on the grounds of failing to pay examination fees.

Government has a few days to address the recent strike by ZIMSEC workers, a body responsible for the administering of examinations, in time for examinations scheduled to start in a few weeks. The ministry’s decision to determine a friendly examination fees structure should be more realistic, practical and take into account all the varying issues that parents in different life circles find themselves in especially the plight of a sizeable number of parents working on farms across the country earning below the poverty datum line.

It should also be taken into consideration that most parents are among the 95% unemployed who find it difficult to raise at least US $ 60 for a child to sit for a minimum of six subjects. More so, the introduction of foreign currency has been a challenge especially to the majority of parents residing in the rural areas who depend on subsistence farming as they find themselves battling with money to procure farming inputs. Their plight has also been compounded by the deteriorating rainfall patterns in the last decade.

Staying in line with the Millennium Development Goals of achieving universal primary education, the ministry of education should ensure that the right to education remains equally spread without discrimination on gender against the girl child.

From the information Department of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
For Peace, Justice and Freedom
Last Updated on Monday, 12 October 2009 22:30
 

Activity Reports from Mashonaland Central and Manicaland

Thursday, 08 October 2009 21:18 Gladys Kalonga and Thokozani Bote
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Mashonaland Central activity report, 5 – 9 October 2009

Public Hearing – Fact Finding Mission

Introductions
The Bindura fact finding mission was mainly aimed at assessing the situation of the victim villagers who fell victim to eviction from a place they had known as home their entire lives. The foothills farm is the place and the villagers are being evicted on political grounds and specifically because they participated in a ROHR Zimbabwe demonstration and that they are supporters of the MDC. The delegation comprised of Programmes and Networking Director Clifford Hlatywayo, Information and Advocacy Director Ronald Mureverwi, Mashonaland Central Field Officer Gladys Kalonga and MDC Representative Peter Mabika. There were 22 participants at the Ray Suburbs in Bindura. The visit was on Monday 5th October 2009

Aims and objectives of the visit
•    Fact finding on the prevailing situation
•    Ascertain the nature and extent of problems faced by the evicted families.
•    Gather views on how ROHR Zimbabwe could possibly help.

The victims
There are 26 families who were evicted from the foothills farm. The main driving force behind their eviction are the fact that they are MDC members and had taken part in the election times as MDC election agents and that they had participated in the ROHR Zimbabwe demand for Justice and Democracy campaign demonstration in Bindura on 1 December 2008.

Submissions from the victims
From the deliberation done during the fact finding session and from the interviews conducted, it was emphasised that the ZANU PF regime is determined to wipe out any opposition supporters from the community. The victims lamented how the ZANU PF leaders in the area had influenced the decision in support of their eviction citing incidents where the magistrate had been seen at a local hotel with ZANU Pf
leaders and supporters a day before the ruling was made. The victims are suffering much and their children have since dropped out of school owing to lack of income, and the families do not have the basic needs of food and shelter.

Achievements
ROHR Zimbabwe managed to get first hand information on the evictions that are taking place in Bindura. ROHR Zimbabwe also managed to get clear expectations from the evicted families and they also were able to determine the actual causes of the evictions.

Challenges
The evicted families expected the ROHR Zimbabwe delegation to immediately assist them and the fact that the delegation did not have any form of assistance at hand meant that ROHR Zimbabwe did not fulfil
the immediate expectations of the victims.

Recommendations
•    Victims be helped with lawyers to represent them in further court sessions
•    That family support projects be identified and extended to them
•    That there be a programme of assisting them pay school fees of their children
•    That they be provided for with books and any other educational support material

Overall rating – very successful

Conclusion
People in Bindura are suffering much at the hands of ZANU Pf despite having signed an agreement and forming a unity government with The MDCs. There are quite a lot of victimisation taking place in Mashonaland central and it seems as if ZANU PF wants to create a previous perception of the province being declared a no go area for opposition forces hence the victimisation of all people perceived to be anti ZANU. This calls for major programmes in the communities which will strengthen the current crop of human rights defenders and empower new ones so that the dream of transforming Zimbabwe into a democracy can be achieved.

For ROHR Zimbabwe Mashonaland Central
Gladys Kalonga (Field Officer)


 


Manicaland Province Activity Report, 28 September – 02 October 2009

Chipinge South Member of the House of Assembly Hon. Meki Makuyana was suspended from Parliament following his conviction and 18 months imprisonment sentence for kidnapping two ZANU PF supporters last year in Chisuma village of ward 29 in Chipinge South.

The suspension was confirmed by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Austin Zvoma who is a ZANU PF loyalist. Hon. Makuyana was convicted together with Chipinge South Councillor for ward 29, Hardwork Masaiti and two other MDC activists Wedzerai Gwenzi and Simon Chaya by Chipinge magistrate Mr. Samuel Zuze who is also a ZANU PF apologist. Hon. Makuyana was suspended without benefits and any other privileges accorded to a Member of Parliament. He no longer attends Parliament sessions and is not allowed to sit in any Parliamentary committees. He is the third Member of Parliament from MDC-T to be suspended from Parliament in Manicaland Province among them Hon Shuwa Mudiwa of Mutare West constituency and Hon Mathew Mlambo of Chipinge East. They are all out on bail pending appeal against both the conviction and sentence.

This has been the barbaric way in which ZANU PF is behaving as it desperately hunts for ways of trimming the opposition’s majority in the august house. Chipinge District, and by extension, Manicaland Province seems to be the main ZANU PF focus and target because since time immemorial, it has been supporting the opposition. The times of Ndabaningi Sithole and ZANU Ndonga bear testimony to this. Although Hon. Makuyana is the third to be suspended from Parliament in the Province, and the second in Chipinge District, other MPs have different cases to answer in courts and as long as there are sympathetic ZANU PF Judges like Zuze, they stand chances of being convicted.

Behaviours like these are sharply against the spirit of the Inter-party political agreement signed between the three main political parties. These MPs do not have real cases but they were merely arrested on trumped up charges so that they could be jailed and open spaces to accommodate ZANU PF people should there be any by-elections which ZANU Pf seeks to terrorise. This can never result in the actual national healing desired by Zimbabweans as those who perpetrated the actual human rights crimes are walking free while the victims are languishing in jails. As ROHR Zimbabwe Manicaland, we demand that those who perpetrated violence for whatever reasons under whosever’s influence should be brought to book. The actual national healing process should be based and built on truth, justice and compensation.

For ROHR Zimbabwe Manicaland
Thokozani Bote (Field Officer)
Programs Department
Last Updated on Thursday, 08 October 2009 21:25
 
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We are growing in strength and are making a difference in Zimbabwe. This requires money and any assistance you could offer to help our cause and the people of Zimbabwe would be greatly appreciated. You can either make a deposit into the UK Bank Account: Account Name: ROHR Zimbabwe, Account Number: 20204870, Bank: Barclays, Finsbury Park Branch, Sort Code: 20-46-60. Or you can donate using Paypal via the link below. Thank you.

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