Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

It is appalling that at this day and age and in the wake of this coalition Government, basic human rights are still as scarce in Zimbabwe as they were a decade ago. This has often included restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, torture, detainment without due process and murder.

I recall the likes of Edgar Tekere who fell out of favour for daring to stand against ZANU PF and sadly died in poverty. Or Patrick Kombayi who got shot for choosing to stand against ZANU PF in an election. There are even grimmer cases of those who have paid with their own lives for being in opposition but no one has been held accountable for their deaths.

ROHR Zimbabwe applauds the efforts of all those who selflessly stand up for human rights and are prepared to face imprisonment in pursuit of basic human rights regardless of their political affiliations.

The recent protests carried out by ROHR Activists, at which 13 were arrested, helped secure the release of Glen View suspects accused of being involved in the murder of a policeman.  Hats off to ROHR Board meeting held recently in South Africa at which the decision to take action was made. My heart also goes to the gallant 13 who were arrested and attacked for daring standing up against repression and for justice.

With this in mind, it is time that unity of purpose is allowed to prevail within the human rights movement at large and in particular, within rank and file of ROHR Zimbabwe activists, as we celebrate the many achievements that ROHR Zimbabwe, under the able leadership of Ephraim Tapa. Without a doubt, his campaign for an improved human rights situation in Zimbabwe has been tireless and selfless. All energies should therefore be expended on championing rights and fostering an environment of peace, justice and freedom.

Evidently the positive results yielded by these protests bear testimony to the power of the people and ROHR’s resolve to better the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Such victorious  moments should encourage all those within ROHR  and all peace loving out there, to do more  for the countless  Zimbabweans who are still languishing in prisons and torture camps scattered all over the country.  For change to happen, sacrifices have to be made, so let’s all come together united for the betterment of our country and the improvement of human rights in Zimbabwe.

By Haiza Juma
Human Rights Activist

Dear Stakeholders

ROHR Zimbabwe Board wishes to thank all stakeholders who contributed to the success of its 4th traditional Annual Board meeting in South Africa. The meeting went as planned and was the most successful in the history of the organization as various experts were given an opportunity to make presentations on the Zimbabwean question.  From the experts’ presentations, Board members were able to formulate SMART strategies. “We wish to thank all those who have contributed to the success of this Board meeting through finances, time, and those who made various presentations on strategies to intervene in the Zimbabwean question,” said ROHR Founder and Board Chairman Mr. Ephraim Tapa in his closing remarks. The Secretary General of ROHR Zimbabwe (Former MDC-T Provincial Director of Elections) Mr. Tichanzii Gandanga castigated the unrepentant violent behavior of ZANU PF which shamefully manifested itself at Parliament. “Zimbabwe will not remain the hub of dictatorship in Africa, the sooner ZANU PF realizes this the better. Our country, through various forces in civic society and progressive political players, is steadily marching out of dictatorship whilst ZANU PF continues to cling to its destructive and dangerous dictatorial tendencies. This is unfortunate.”

Various resolutions emerged which will strengthen ROHR Zimbabwe’s thrust in human rights interventions.

The resolutions included the adoption of two females to become part of the Board, a gesture meant to address gender balance within the Board itself.

Please note that a comprehensive report on the resolutions will be circulated to interested stakeholders by Tuesday 26 July 2011

ROHR Zimbabwe Information Department This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

There is an article going under the banner of ROHR Zimbabwe claiming that an Extra-Ordinary meeting  of the board was held on 7 July 2011 and that Mr Ephraim Tapa (Founder President/Board  Chairperson), Mr Tichanzii Gandanga (Secretary General/ Board Secretary) and Mr Ray Muzenda  (National Chairperson/Board member) were expelled from the organisation following a vote of no confidence.

On behalf of ROHR Zimbabwe, I wish to state that this message represents an act of mischief horribly gone wrong or simply, a hoax. The message is calculated to hoodwink and mislead our membership and stakeholders and must be ignored. The authors of this malicious document are a suspicious lot, either trying their best to avoid the inevitable impact of the disciplinary measures already underway or just keen to manipulate the organisation for their selfish ends.

In accordance with the ROHR Trust Deed, Constitution and standard practice, a properly constituted meeting involves the Chairperson naming a date after consultation and the Secretary circulating an official notice to all concerned members incorporating the date, time, venue and in most cases, the agenda of the meeting. We are not aware of any notice from the Secretary General which called for the so-called Extra-Ordinary board meeting and neither were we made aware of the venue or the person convening the meeting. A Board meeting is a serious matter and without the reports of the three critical offices namely President, Secretary General and National Chairperson, it reduces such gathering to a beer hall talk. By making such malicious and palpably ridiculous claims, Mr Stendrick  Zvorwadza, Ms Grace Mupfurutsa, Mr Ronald Mureverwi and Mr Edgar Chikuvire violated various sections of ROHR Zimbabwe Trust Deed and Constitution and as a consequence, they put the name of the organisation into disrepute. By their act of coming together for the purposes of forming their own group, they all automatically expelled themselves from ROHR Zimbabwe with effect from the date of their so-called meeting: 07/07/2011.

As I was starting the organisation in 2007, I offered the UK-based Ms Grace Mupfurutsa the opportunity to be a Trustee, which she duly accepted. However to this day, Ms Mupfurutsa has not been confirmed as a board member and neither has she attended any board meeting or participated in any structure building activities where she lives in the UK, almost 4 years on.  In light of that, the last board meeting of November 2010 subsequently resolved that she be dropped from the board as she had not demonstrated sufficient commitment or taken up the responsibilities of a Trustee, among other reasons. It must be noted that this resolution was carried in the President’s report, which was adopted by all present. Simply put, Ms Mupfurutsa is not a Trustee of ROHR Zimbabwe.

It was also my pleasure to invite Mr Stendrick Zvorwadza to the board and I can confirm that after working with him for a year, the board began to doubt his motives following his failure to account for organisation property entrusted in his care. Suffice is to say Mr Zvorwadza effectively stopped all active involvement with ROHR Zimbabwe after the 2008 Board meeting. In May 2011, Mr Zvorwadza suddenly re-appeared on the scene throwing accusations at all but himself and offering positions to those who were agreed to the idea of supporting him and hell, to those who resisted his moves. In the process, he harassed staff, engaged in gerrymandering activities, threatened officials with arrest citing his blood links to Minister Makone, falsely accused staff of corruption, accused the president of various crimes, made insinuations that he was on a paid mission to deliver ROHR Zimbabwe to the MDC-T to stop Tapa, and on occasions, would visit the office and address workers whilst inappropriately dressed (in a small short trousers) against the organisation’s code of conduct,  among many other concerns. As the custodian of the constitution and head of the organisation, I suspended Mr Stendrick Zvorwadza from the offices of Trustee and Vice President of ROHR Zimbabwe on 15 July 2011 pending a board decision on the matters. Please note that ROHR Zimbabwe is apolitical and does not tolerate meddling in party politics.

Mr Ronald Mureverwi is currently suspended from the Secretariat for not attending to his workplace for months and unbecoming behaviour, condoning and aiding unacceptable behaviour by Mr Zvorwadza, among other breaches. That in my view, creates a picture of opportunistic teamwork by the said four former Trustees for reasons of personal gain and elevation for the work that they have not done. The same applies to Mr Edgar Chikuvire, a nephew to Mr Zvorwadza, who also played a pivotal role in bringing about this situation. Mr Mureverwi’s case currently awaits board decision.

The quartet’s unbridled courtship of the press and their unusual desperation for publicity betrays their insidious motives – to destroy the organisation. Suffice is to say, as ROHR Zimbabwe board, we will not be able to respond to any further  articles relating to the issues at stake until after the board meeting on 21-22 July. Please be advised that unless communication is from the Chief Spokesperson of the Organisation and representative, Mr Ephraim Tapa, any communication purporting to be from ROHR Zimbabwe shall be of NO interest and NOT representative of the organisation.

In the meantime, ROHR Zimbabwe leadership wishes to assure all members and stakeholders of our unwavering commitment to the cause and objectives of human rights and we will continue to work hard and do our best as always.

Insofar as the newly formed Zimbabwe, We Can Movement, the organisation wishes to draw members attention to its Trust Deed’s Aims and Objectives:
4.1.9 To encourage participation by members of the public in governance issues including their constitutional rights
4.1.11 Network with other civic organisations that share the same objectives and values nationally, regionally and internationally.

Clearly this initiative falls within ROHR Zimbabwe constitutional mandates, hence the huge interest shown by our membership. Please note that the Movement is not a political party.

Those who have been receiving our statements can note that the email address being used to propagate such information is not the organisation’s official email but one created to facilitate these nefarious activities.

Ephraim Tapa
ROHR Zimbabwe Founder/President

For Justice, Peace and Freedom

Message from ROHR President Ephraim Tapa

To All Branches and Membership

ROHR Zimbabwe continues on its path to the great revival following the reconstitution of the National Executive. I have no doubt in my mind that together we can reach to greater heights and make a positive contribution to the people’s lives. The Mugabe dictatorship is not yet ready to cede power to the people. But we the people, declare rediscovery our VOICE with which we NOW RECLAIM our POWER.

I therefore ask of your indulgence in making the journey to restore, defend and promote human dignity, respect and peace a reality and a threat to all dictators and their hangers-on. We remain firm in our belief that PEACE and LIBERTY will eventually REIGN in Zimbabwe. Our tools become our faith and hope, and passion, our armour. With this we can see no other way than to escalate our struggle.

It is in this endeavour and the need to create a united front that I, with others, participated at a political conference held at Huddersfield, UK and attended by a number of Zimbabwe groups and activists in May 2011. Cognisant of the continued deterioration of the Zimbabwe human rights, political, social and economic situation, the conference resolved to form a global movement (Zimbabwe, Yes We Can) to spearhead the search for effective solutions to the Zimbabwe question and the bringing about of a new democratic Order; A Zimbabwe that respects human rights and the rule of law, where every Zimbabwean is accorded respect and dignity, where every Zimbabwean has equal opportunities to pursue their dreams, a nation where leaders are democratically elected and accountable to their electorates, where our nationhood is prioritised ahead of party affiliation; A Zimbabwe where Freedom Must REIGN.

The movement seeks to bring together all progressive voices and groups including political parties in both Zimbabwe and the Diaspora to speak with one voice, to unite in our cause for a free, democratic and Accountable Zimbabwe, to press for a return to governance with, for and by the people, unite for a prosperous, peaceful and progressive Zimbabwe. The MOVEMENT is NOT a POLITICAL PARTY. If anything, it is simply a broader platform with a wider mandate to push for REAL CHANGE in Zimbabwe. All Zimbabweans are welcome to join.

The movement does not seek to replace ROHR Zimbabwe or any other organisation. If anything, it seeks to create the critical numbers and tape into that strength, to help organisations effectively achieve their ends.

Now is the time for the Diaspora to join hands with those who remained home to make a real and direct contribution to our country. I hope to see you more in the days to come.

Thank you.