Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

We as ROHR Zimbabwe, dismiss the outcome of the sham one-man election held on June 27 which was marred by State authored violence countrywide, intimidation, murders, abductions, economic plunder, rape and widespread internal displacements. Far from being a reflection of the will of the people, the June 27 sham election was a blue print of the Zanu PF strategy to retain power at all cost even if it meant loss of life.

We therefore reiterate our position that Robert Mugabe is not the legitimate president of Zimbabwe and that he earned his position at the negotiating table through unorthodox and insensitive means.

He used violence to have an edge over his contestant and then called for talks. This scenario is not peculiar to the current case. In the early 80s, Mugabe purged the supporters of PF ZAPU and the Ndebele people in order to cow them into submission. The negotiations that followed were a result of a desperate and worn out opposition in which huge concessions were granted, much to the detriment of the nation and democracy. Suffice to say PF ZAPU was swallowed in the process resulting in a defacto one party state with Robert Mugabe as life president.

In addition to orchestrating a violent war against the innocent and the defenseless citizens', the Robert Mugabe regime and ZANU PF denied the dying and sick of food and medical relief from NGO's and removed all of what remained of democratic space necessary for a credible election thus effectively driving the nation and opposition into submission.

In light of Mugabe's deployment of violence and terror to earn his place at the negotiating table and his known history of deceitfulness; the weakened position of the opposition in which some of its leaders are either missing in hiding, facing spurious charges or still nursing fresh wounds and the exclusionary nature of the talks were civil society and other stake holders are not involved thereby turning the talks into an elitist form;

•  We believe that the people of Zimbabwe have a right to a legitimate government born out of the exercise of their right to choose in a free and fair environment.

•  We believe the continued suffering of Zimbabweans be it economically, socially and politically is needless and avoidable and that this calls for a holistic approach to the Zimbabwean question.

•  We believe that there is an urgent need for an all stakeholders platform to map the way forward for Zimbabweans. The people of Zimbabwe should not be alienated in deciding their destiny.

•  A civil rights campaign must be launched to empower the people of their rights and obligations as citizens of Zimbabwe .

•  The civil society and all stakeholders should demonstrate their displeasure with nature, scope and methodology to the current talks. Further we believe in the unfettered right of citizens to resist unjust laws and polices and their right to be heard as sacrosanct.

ROHR will continue to name and shame the perpetrators of violence .We will also continue to maintain a register at local level of violators of human rights to ensure that justice will be done one day.

As an option a transitional authority from all stakeholders including churches , trade unions, students etc should be established to overseer the creation of a new people driven constitution that guarantees respect for the rule of law, end to human rights violations and bring to justice all human rights violators.

Further the transitional authority should create a conducive environment in which free and fair elections can be held.

Zimbabwe belongs to Zimbabweans!!

ROHR ZIMBABWE AND ZIMBABWE POETS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (ZPHR)

ROHR Zimbabwe, in conjunction with Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR), is launching an ongoing Arts Festival on Saturday 19 July 2008 in Kadoma. Besides the poets and artists under the ZPHR umbrella, we have invited two urban grooves artists as a way of improving visibility as this is one of many such festivals to be held with ZPHR and later another arts group, Born Free.

For more information on the festival, please contact: Cynthia Manjoro, ROHR Zimbabwe, Information Officer, Tel: +263 4 744 593, Cell: +263 23 375 199

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The harmonized elections on 29 March and one man run off sham of an election were characterized by widespread political violence in which many people were murdered, displaced or injured. This shows that there is generally a lack of political tolerance across the nation and hence not much progress can be made under these circumstances. The use of hate language by different politicians has also widened the rift between their supporters. This has eroded the spirit of cooperation and oneness amongst the once peace loving citizens of Zimbabwe . No meaningful progress can therefore be made by Zimbabwe as a nation if the people who are supposed to work for its development are deeply divided on political affiliation basis.

There is need to star t an honest national healing process which will clear the way for Zimbabweans to work as one if the country is going to progress and reclaim its place in the families of democracy. Whilst it is necessary to preach the gospel of one love, one people and one nation this must not be done blindly. There is need to continue with the struggle for the respect, recognition and restoration of human rights. The struggle for a new people driven constitution, space for people to exercise their freedom of expression and initiatives that aim at improving the general living standards of Zimbabweans as a people should be intensified as means to achieving this one love. At the end of it all true unity must be realized not through politicians putting signatures on some papers but true unity must be expressed and felt in the day to day affairs of the ordinary citizen, in the manner people relate to each other.

More than 50% of the population did not vote on 29 March 2008 and people had to be coerced to vote in the run off election. This undoubtedly proves that the Zimbabwean people now need to move beyond the ballot to the table to find solutions to the problems that have reduced the country from Great Zimbabwe to Zimbabwe in ruins. There is therefore an urgent need to promote a culture of peace and non-violence, a culture of one love and non hatred amongst the youths and general populace regardless of political affiliation if the country is to move forward.