Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

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Dignity and justice for all of us

Sun, 14 Dec 08 20:22 administrator
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"Dignity and justice for all of us,” on the occasion of the International Human rights day 10 December 2008
“It is our duty to ensure that these rights are a living reality, that they are known, understood and enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. It is often those who most need their human rights protected, who also need to be informed that the Declaration exists and that it exists for them”.
                                                                                         UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (2007)
ROHR Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Human Rights Day. It is the day when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted in Paris on the 10th of December in 1948. We salute those who struggle to defend, protect and promote the fundamental freedoms that are the birthright of all mankind, regardless of race, sex, religion, political affiliation and ethnicity. Today, as we honour and commemorate that historic document, the values it enshrines and our ongoing effort to restore a culture of human rights, Zimbabwe is sinking deeper in chaos and experiencing increased human rights violations. In fact, the State has become a serial human rights violator.

Last Updated ( Thu, 25 Jun 09 13:11 ) Read more...
 

ROHR-ZIMBABWE IS LAUNCHED IN WAKEFIELD!

Wed, 10 Dec 08 14:48 Donnah Mugoni
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ROHR-Zimbabwe is now in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, as from 15 November 2008! 
The branch took its momentum from the tireless efforts of the UK Co-ordinator Mr Paradzai Mapfumo and Northern Region Chairperson, Donnah Mugoni in the noble struggle for the restoration of human rights in Zimbabwe. 
 The inaugural branch meeting started at 13.00 hours. Ms Mugoni introduced the guest speaker; Mr Mapfumo to all gathered who in turn explained the aims of ROHR Zimbabwe and its activities. He further stated that ROHR was founded as a brain child of its President Mr Ephraim Tapa, who, with a few others concerned about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, came together to form the organisation. 

Both Mr Mapfumo and Ms Mugoni echoed the same sentiments about the need to help Zimbabweans both inside Zimbabwe and in the Diaspora. To that end, ROHR Zimbabwe is lobbying the international community to recognise Zimbabweans in the Diaspora for purposes of work permits and scholarships with a view to capacitating them for the reconstruction of the post-crisis Zimbabwe. ROHR also campaigns for access to free legal aid to those without the means as we hold the view that ACCESS DENIED is JUSTICE DENIED. We feel that Zimbabweans have been traumatised from experiences such as political persecutions, rape, property grabbing, property destruction, family members being abducted and disappearing, community cleansing, and that they deserve a measure of relief.  
 
The meeting was informed that ROHR Zimbabwe was currently working inside Zimbabwe providing humanitarian assistance such as clothing, medicines,  safe housing of activists and legal assistance to the vulnerable and victims of political violence. 
The Branch meeting was also addressed by Bradford secretary, Margaret Chihotah, who said that ROHR Zimbabwe is a non-partisan political human rights movement. Ms Beauty Sikhosana added that, many were willing to support the cause and cited the SDA church members in the USA who were going to places singing to raise funds for a hospital outside Bulawayo.  
An interim committee for Wakefield branch was elected with the following members: 
Chaiperson- Donnah Mugoni, Vice Chair- Patience Karuwa, Secrcetary- Beauty Sikosana, Organising Secretary- Victor Songore, Treasurer- Bongani Hove, Vice Treasurer- Esther Mukwaira, Fundraiser- Prudence Chikozhere, Vice Fundraiser- Sydney Moyo 
By Donnah Mugoni
Last Updated ( Tue, 16 Dec 08 14:20 )
 

ROHRZIM SOUTH AFRICA CHAPTER

Wed, 10 Dec 08 00:00 administrator
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PROTEST AGAINST THE CONTINUED HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND IN DEMAND OF DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE

On the 10th of December, Rohr Zimbabwe SA Chapter was joined by comrades
 from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to mark the World Human Rights Day as they protested against the rising spate of abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests and abuse of civic
leaders, members of the opposition and innocent ordinary Zimbabweans. They also protested against the SADC resolution on both Zimbabwe and the DRC arguing that the regional leaders had chosen to stand in solidarity with dictatorships against peace-loving and defenseless citizens.

About 700 activists rocked the Union Building gardens to hand over their petition
to SADC chairman and SA President Kgalema Motlanthe. Addressing the gathering, Tineyi Munetsi, a ROHR activist said "The political and economic crisis
in Zimbabwe has forced Zimbabweans into neighboring countries. He pointed out that it was unacceptable that 4.1million Zimbabweans were out in South Africa with an estimated million people seeking asylum when Zimbabwe was not at war. “As if that was not enough, Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa continue to suffer human rights abuses; many are homeless, unemployed, without food and with no legal status at all”. “Without any papers, women get raped and men resort to bribing the authorities to avoid detention; this is unacceptable!” 
 
ROHR activists expressed revulsion at the abductions of Jestina Mukoko, Gandhi Mudzingwa,and other activists and demanded their immediate release. They also lamented that whilst friends and relatives were dying of Cholera in Zimbabwe, the leadership was enjoying unparalleled comfort made possible by their reckless plunder of national treasures.

ROHR Zimbabwe will continue to campaign for an immediate return to democracy as we believe this to be the only viable way out of the current political impasse. We remain committed to
the restoration of human rights to all Zimbabweans and the need to have civic and political rights guaranteed through a people driven constitution.
 

Bournemouth Launch Report

Fri, 05 Dec 08 09:49 Phyllis Chibanguza
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A new day, a new beginning! Yet another Chapter, as ROHR Bournemouth Branch is launched.

Despite the biting cold weather, people turned up in their numbers in support of their country, Zimbabwe. A prayer from Retina Mkanda, introductions from Mr Paradzai Mapfumo then a brief account about ROHR Zimbabwe from Phyllis Chibanguza marked the opening of the proceedings. 

With us as key speaker was Mr Ephraim Tapa, the President and founder of ROHR Zimbabwe who recounted his gruesome experiences while in Zimbabwe, at the hands of ZANU PF and Government sponsored militia. Based on countless of human rights abuses and his own ordeal, Mr Tapa informed the gathering that ROHR Zimbabwe was formed in realisation of the need to help and stop the suffering in Zimbabwe. He explained that ROHR is about empowering the disempowered by conscientising the people to their rights and helping them to fight themselves free.

Mr Tapa added that the current cholera epidemic ravaging Zimbabwe smacked of a deliberate plan to decimate those in urban centres on account of their disaffection with ruling elite. He said Zimbabweans, like any other human beings deserved to be treated with dignity and respect and lamented about the lack of basic rights and freedoms in Zimbabwe. He challenged all Zimbabweans in the diaspora to come together and join hands with fellow Zimbabweans at home in the fight for genuine peace, justice and freedom.  Lastly, Mr Tapa told the meeting that ROHR Zimbabwe, had a humanitarian, watchdog and activist role to play now as well as in the post-crisis Zimbabwe and that it would not accept the bringing back of Mugabe by the backdoor, the so-called power sharing deal – when the people clearly voted for change on 29 March 2008. 

Following the president’s speech, there was a lively discussion with the audience who vowed never to return to Zimbabwe as long as Mugabe was in charge. They instead expressed a sense of gratitude for the ROHR Zimbabwe project and pledged their commitment to restoring human rights in Zimbabwe. 

As ROHR Zimbabwe we say NO MORE of the SAME SUFFERING, enough is enough!

Many thanks to all that supported on this day and may God Bless you all.

Come on Bournemouth…we can do it!!!

 

ROHR Zimbabwe demonstrates in Mashonaland Central, Bindura...

Tue, 02 Dec 08 20:36 Information Department Zimbabwe
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As the economic sting forces millions of Zimbabweans to rely on food aid
More than 350 Bindura ROHR members and residents took to the street today (01 December 2008) in a protest organised by ROHR Zimbabwe. The protest is part of a ROHR Zimbabwe's multilayered campaign for Democracy and Justice.
The protests are calling for a quick resolution to the political impasse and the creation of a transitional government that should be able to quickly deal with the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by a total breakdown of the socio-economic fabric of the country. The evidence of this can be seen by the over 800 deaths caused by Cholera and closure of public hospitals, widespread hunger and poverty and the increase of the population that is relies with food aid over the past few months. According to United Nations statistics 4.9 million people are in need of food aid and project the number to increase to 5.1 million in January 2009.


The protesters marched from the CBD of Bindura along the main street. It ended at Chipadze bus terminus, where the presence of police forced people to disperse.  The experience of arrests by police, beatings and possible abductions by Central Intelligence Organisation agents and Zanu PF operatives which have become Zanu PF's chief strategy of dealing with dissent and peaceful protests have affected the people's ability to protest freely.
 
ROHR Zimbabwe calls upon all Zimbabweans and other civic organisations to join in protests to register anger for the unresolved political, socio-economic multi-layered crises in Zimbabwe. No words can describe the high level of poverty and hunger that has cuffed the citizenry due to the political vacuum created by the highly elusive all-inclusive Government of National Unity comprising Zanu PF and the two MDC formations.
 
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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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