Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

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

From ROHR Zimbabwe Information Department

On 4^th May Chief Kasekete of Muzarabani ordered a group of ten marauders to forcibly take three beasts, two goats and two chickens from the Machimbidzofa family of Kagoda village. The livestock were taken as payment for allegedly insulting ZANU PF supporter and war veteran Andrew Chiwere.

Andrew Chiwere is believed to have connived with Chief Kasekete to have two brothers Alfred and Benjamin Machimbidzofa arrested by the police on allegations that the two insulted him and threw stones at his house. The two brothers deny the charges and accuse the controversial chief, of abusing his office to sway the course of justice in order to vindictively punish them because they are supporters of the MDC party.       

After the chief lobbied for the arrest of the Machimbidzofa brothers, he deployed a team of his supposed police to inflict further pain by sanctioning day light robbery of livestock belonging to the mother of the two brothers. By the time of reporting the case to ROHR Zimbabwe, Chief Kasekete had already sold one of the beasts as payment to his agents in confiscating the livestock and the other two beasts were handed to Chiwere to sell. The selling of the beast was fast tracked defying even the legal procedures and laid down protocols which govern the theft of livestock in rural areas.

Among the group of the people who were identified who came to steal the livestock were Andrew Chiwere himself, Herdman Kagoda, Robert Chaerera, Kurauone Chiwere and one Madzibaba Brian.

Reporting their case to ROHR Zimbabwe, the brothers broke into tears narrating their ordeal in the hands of callous chief. They said after the beasts were taken the chief ordered their arrest and they were locked up for a further two days without food and water at a nearby police camp.

Alfred and Benjamin were both victims of political violence during the reign of terror of 2008. Their houses were burnt and at one time they were severely beaten by youth militia at the behest of Andrew Chiwere. They accuse Chiwere of spearheading the terror in Kagoda village, mobilizing youth militia and directing uniformed forces to brutalize people during the election period in 2008.

Speaking to ROHR Zimbabwe, Agreement Kagura the Muzarabani North district secretary said the problem is that the chief is a ZANU PF supporter and he is fighting his battle to destroy the MDC party in Muzarabani. He further went on to reveal that this chief, a self confessed ardent supporter of ZANU PF, is abusing public forums in which he calls for meetings to carry out ZANU PF party business to the dismay of other villagers who support other parties of their choice.

In another separate incident chief Kasekete held a meeting in March in which he gathered all the herdsmen in Muzarabani and instructed the church leaders of all church groups to bar supporters of MDC from attending church or face the wrath of violence.

As ROHR Zimbabwe we are greatly perturbed by the magnitude of the corrupt leadership exhibited by chief Kasekete. His position warrants him to be an independent officer who should facilitate the provision of justice among his people but regrettably he has become a law unto himself and abuses his office to rob the poor, enrich himself through elicit means, suppress victims and distort the course of justice. AS ROHR Zimbabwe we reiterate that chief Kasekete’s activities are not only illegal but they are tantamount to undermining the agreements of the GPA under section 13 which state that the three political parties agreed to ensure the neutrality of traditional leaders so that they do not engage in partisan political activities at the national level as well as in their communities.

ROHR Zimbabwe is committed to campaigning for retributive and restorative justice to take place in the criminal offence committed by chief Kasekete as matter of principle because if such acts of impunity are allowed to flourish they will set a dangerous precedent within the community as a reference point for further gross abuse of rights of innocent people.

During this time of hardship in which most families are struggling with livelihood support after they lost their property and livestock to terror of 2008, it is unthinkable that a leader continues to take from the poor. It is a mockery of leadership and it reflects badly on the political party he represents. It also mocks the liberators who fought for liberation during the Ian Smith regime. 

It is regrettable that the National Healing process is being blocked by intransigent forces in ZANU PF whose supporters are still bent on reversing the efforts being made during the transition period which should lead to democratic elections to enable people to elect a legitimate government of their choice without fear of repression.

For SW Radio Africa’s interview with Ronald Mureverwi of ROHR Zimbabwe listen to the Newsreel broadcast on Wednesday, 12^th May. Check: http://www.swradioafrica.com/news130510/zpfterror120510.htm for the accompanying story, 

For Peace, Justice and Freedom