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Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s 2012 UK National Conference – Saturday 8th December

Thursday, 06 December 2012 21:21 Thandiwe Gwarumba - Chair, ROHR Birmingham Branch

ROHR Zimbabwe is holding its UK conference in Birmingham on 8 December 2012. Apart from renewing its leadership and strategizing for the difficult years ahead, ROHR will also use this occasion to mark International Human Rights Day. Delegates will be drawn from branches all over the UK and ordinary members are invited. Also invited are dignitaries from civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, other Zimbabwean community groups and representatives of the UK political establishment.

ROHR will also use the conference to drum up a petition to the UKBA against recently surfaced allegations of deportees being sedated to ease their removal from the UK. The ROHR President has stated that “ROHR will continue to impress upon the UK immigration authorities the need for respect of international human rights statutes in their treatment of other nationalities, regardless of their status. ROHR believes that all people must have equal protection before the law and that arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment of deportees must stop. Further, ROHR calls upon the Home Office to seriously reconsider the timing of deportations to Zimbabwe to at least 6 months after the planned 2013 elections”.

The 2012 National Conference comes after a year aptly described by activists as hectic but progressive following the infamous boardroom 2011 fall-out. Once the UK Interim Executive was put in place on 4 February 2012, there was nothing to stop the mission towards greater emancipation, empowerment and freedom from suffering. Under the able leadership and stewardship of the Founder and President, Ephraim Tapa, ROHR was able to get the organisation back on track. As the year ends, ROHR has been able to resuscitate most of its structures in the UK Chapter. More and more activists are coming on board as more branches continue to open. ROHR has been strengthened by the mixture of setbacks and victories in its quest for freedom, justice, the rule of law and democracy.

ROHR recognises that fighting a dictatorship was never going to be easy, more so once the Inclusive Government had come in being. So far, the envisaged reforms critical to a free and fair election have remained elusive as all parties in the Inclusive Government have tended to put their mouths and pockets ahead of their moral values and the Zimbabwe agenda. The human rights situation remains precarious and the appetite for real change by people in power is fast waning. Zimbabwe’s violence spreads but there is no sense of urgency. This strengthens ROHR’s role to stand up for the voiceless. ROHR’s resolve and commitment to peace and freedom has never been stronger as the behaviour and priorities of the political elite continue to remind us that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’.

As we take time to mark UN International Human Rights Day in Birmingham, members and activists of ROHR stand more determined to reaffirm our support for human rights. The ROHR Birmingham branch is honoured to be hosting this conference ahead of watershed elections expected to be held next year.

Those being made to suffer by the Zimbabwe regime cannot be expected to suffer indefinitely. We will always remember our friends, families and human rights activists who were slain, brutalised, raped and maimed in the past three decades for daring to stand up for what they believed in. Atrocities of the 1980s Matebeleland massacres, the 2005 Operation Murambatsvina and the 2008 election bloodbath come to mind. Today many Zimbabweans find themselves far away from their beloved homes and families. ROHR believes in speaking out for those who remained and the displaced.

As Zimbabwe approaches the 2013 constitutional referendum and the general election, we know with certainty there will be more deaths, disappearances, rape and untold suffering. Another Unity Government is an increasing likelihood as the will of the people is crudely manipulated to give way to the politics of accommodation. ROHR’s cause cannot be clearer; the people must rise and have their way!

Zimbabwe must rise once again!

Date and time: Saturday 8^th December 2012: from 1100—1900 hours
Venue: St George’s Church and Centre, Bridge St West, Newtown, Birmingham B19 2YX.

All are Welcome!

For Peace, Justice and Freedom

Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 21:40

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

Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 August 2011 19:02

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

Last Updated on Sunday, 07 August 2011 12:14

ROHR Zimbabwe PRESS RELEASE – 10th July 2011

Sunday, 10 July 2011 22:34 Ephraim Tapa

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

Last Updated on Sunday, 10 July 2011 22:39

Christmas Messages from ROHR UK and ROHR Zimbabwe

Thursday, 23 December 2010 21:26 administrator

On behalf of the ROHR UK executive I would like to wish all our valued members, supporters and all Zimbabweans a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Paradzai Mapfumo
UK National Coordinator

Season's greetings from Restoration of Human RIghts Zimbabwe (ROHR). We have come to the end of 2010 and we wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful 2011.

Our wish as human rights defenders is that respect for human dignity and human rights should become the basis of governance for the vision of a free, liberated Zimbabwe in which the security of all persons is guaranteed by the state regardless of political affiliation.

We reiterate that human rights are not seasonal / occasional or gifts bestowed upon the people at the pleasure of governments and politicians but rather God given, inalienable and universal.

Ronie Mureverwi
Spokesperson
ROHR Zimbabwe

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