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Reply from Zimbabwe Vigil and ROHR to accusations by Nehanda Radio

Friday, 09 December 2011 22:19 administrator

An article on 5^th December on nehandaradio.com (http://nehandaradio.com/2011/12/05/zimbabwe-vigil-should-consider-their-position/) repeated several malicious accusations against the Zimbabwe Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR). The article is a cut and paste job from discredited Nehanda Radio articles, some dating back two and a half years, when the Vigil was blamed for Tsvangirai being booed at Southwark Cathedral in London. The latest attack is in response to our diary of 3^rd December suggesting that Tsvangirai should consider his position as leader of the MDC, partly because of his lack of political acumen in having a relationship with a woman with known Zanu PF connections. The Nehanda Radio article hardly addresses the issue brought up in our diary: it is just an excuse to have another go at the Vigil and ROHR.

Because misinformation like this may hurt our supporters seeking asylum here we feel the need to yet again set the record straight.

The Vigil has had a letter of apology from the UK Border Agency for misuse by its case workers of articles from the Nehanda Radio website as evidence that Vigil letters in support of asylum seekers are not reliable. For text of the UKBA letter check: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/323-text-of-letter-from-ukba-to-the-zimbabwe-vigil and for the background to this situation check Vigil diaries of 25^th June and 23^rd July (http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/315-home-office-a-disgrace-objective-evidence-zimbabwe-vigil-diary-25th-june-2011 and http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/324-uk-border-agency-says-sorry-to-vigil-zimbabwe-vigil-diary-23rd-july-2011).

Most of the latest Nehanda Radio piece was directed at ROHR and they wish to set the record straight as follows:

ROHR is a properly constituted organization formed to fight for human rights in Zimbabwe. Members complete a form on joining and commit to paying £10 a month membership subscription (normal for political parties and civil society organisations) to help fund ROHR’s administration costs (staff salaries, office rentals, utility bills, etc) and human rights campaigns in Zimbabwe.
ROHR does not charge for letters in support of asylum claims. It will issue letters of support only to deserving members who have shown their commitment to opposing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. While members may from time to time be asked to contribute towards the administration cost, ROHR letters are strictly not for sale.
Allegations of financial irregularities against ROHR President Ephraim Tapa were made by then suspended (now departed) members of the Board of Trustees (check: http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/Latest-News-from-ROHR-in-Zimbabwe/rohr-zimbabwe-public-notice.html). Mr Tapa commissioned an inquiry into ROHR financial matters by the UK National Executive. Checking of moneygram transfer vouchers to Zimbabwe, original bank statements and confirmations of receipts from ROHR head office in Harare in a long and assiduous process established that the allegations were not only false, but malicious and calculated to cause maximum damage to Mr Tapa and ROHR Zimbabwe as an organization. The inquiry noted that Mr Tapa used his personal funds for telephone bills transport costs and other expenses involved in running ROHR Chapters in South Africa, Zimbabwe and the UK. It was also established that Mr Tapa occasionally used his personal funds to subsidize ROHR operations in Harare. ROHR operates a transparent accounting system and its records are available for inspection by bona fide members through Head Office.
The assertion that Mr Tapa was sacked by ROHR is laughable. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Tapa is still the President and Board Chairperson of ROHR Zimbabwe and is very much in control.
Neither ROHR nor the Vigil initiated the Zimbabwe We Can (ZWC) movement. It was a global initiative involving a number of organisations, members of various political parties, prominent and ordinary Zimbabweans alike, and all lovers of a free, just and peaceful Zimbabwe. Ephraim Tapa was approached by many to lead the movement and was elected President at the first meeting. After that the Zimbabwe Vigil Management Team met and agreed to support ZWC. The ZWC continues to attract the attention of not only Zimbabweans abroad but also at home and all are welcome to come on board.

ROHR Zimbabwe attends SADC CNGO Forum meetings in South Africa

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 18:51 administrator

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 for a robust ROHR Zimbabwe, condemns destabilization agenda by the Zvorwadza Clique

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 18:47 Reason Machengere, ROHR South Africa Chairperson

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

ROHR Zimbabwe Harare Chapter Distances itself from Zvorwadza

Sunday, 07 August 2011 12:14 Last T Maengahama, ROHR Zimbabwe Harare Provincial Chairperson

Pursuant to recently published Public notices inserted by and bearing the signatures of Stendrik Zvorwadza and Grace Mupfurutsa masquerading as ROHR Zimbabwe, the ROHR Zimbabwe Harare Chapter wishes to register its dismay and 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.

The position is, Stendrik Zvorwadza, Ronald Mureverwi and Edgar Chikuvire were expelled from ROHR Zimbabwe for violating its constitution and founding principles while Grace Mupfurutsa was never a ROHR Board member. In an attempt to hijack ROHR Zimbabwe the group has been spewing malicious, misleading and extremely defamatory Public notices and press releases.

The ROHR Zimbabwe Harare chapter led by its Chairperson Last Tamai Maengahama continues to rally behind ROHR Zimbabwe as led by its founding President and Board Chairperson, Ephraim Tapa and Executive Director Tichanzii Gandanga.

We remain true and steadfast to ROHR Zimbabwe’s founding principles and vision as such any attempts of subversion through the hijacking of the organization will be vigilantly resisted.

Thank you

Last T Maengahama
ROHR Zimbabwe Harare Provincial Chairperson

Zimbabwe Vigil Statement on ROHR

Wednesday, 03 August 2011 21:23 administrator

An attempt is being made to hi-jack the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR). This organisation was set up by Zimbabwe Vigil founder member Ephraim Tapa in 2007 on behalf of the Vigil as its organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe to reflect the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way.

The profile of ROHR has grown such that it is now attracting the interest of donors and this seems to have prompted a small group of people to try to take over the organisation. ROHR has consequently expelled Stendrick Zvorwadza, Grace Mupfurutsa, Ronald Mureverwi and Edgar Chikuvire. The Zimbabwe Vigil does not recognise these four individuals as representing our sister organisation ROHR.

The Vigil continues to recognise Ephraim Tapa as the President of ROHR. He says press releases and emails from the group of four should be disregarded. Mr Zvorwadza is not the spokesperson for ROHR.

Officers of ROHR in Zimbabwe are the National Chairperson Ray Muzenda (+263762272485) and the Secretary-General Tichanzii Gandanga (+263774444134), a man widely respected for his personal sacrifices for the liberation struggle. (He was abducted on 22^nd April 2008 and forced to lie down on the road and then his abductors drove over his legs four times.)

For more information, check the ROHR Press Statement: http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/Press-Releases/rohr-zimbabwe-press-release-10th-july-2011.html# or contact Ephraim Tapa 07940 793 090.

Zimbabwe Vigil Co-ordinators

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk

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