Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

Press Release

The most colorful display of the constitutional discord was witnessed on Monday 13 July when delegates at the “All stakeholders” conference saw the petal of confusion, deception and violence cascading down to the center stage, effectively blowing the runway light bulbs when the constitutional plane was just about to land. The level of disorganization and the consequential impression emanating from the just landed indaba fails to justify the commitment and faith placed by relevant stakeholders in the parliamentary led constitutional initiative. 

ROHR Zimbabwe is a huge supporter of people driven and democratic processes and therefore stands opposed to the current process led by the parliament. Article 6 of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which gave birth to the parliamentary steered constitutional process makes a mockery of the constitutional reform process in Zimbabwe as it relegates civil society to an observer role with little influence while awarding the primary political parties ample room and opportunity to manipulate the document for political gain. It preclude other political players from participating and reduces civil society to mere spectators with an insignificant muscle to manoeuvre meaningfully.

Albeit predictable, the disruption of the Indaba by hired ZANU PF thugs is a statement not only of the fact that the former revolutionary party  has not yet repented, but that politicians see the constitution as yet another bargaining tool of sealing deals of the interparty negotiations that began in 2007. Installing the usual infrastructure of violence at the starred hotel facilities to disengage any gears of progress casts serious questions on the wisdom of bestowing an exercise of this importance in the hands of politicians, particularly these primary parties currently involved in tugs and negotiations for political grip in the government. Obviously the drafting of the constitution is yet another tool necessary to create and/or strengthen party stake in the Government in preparation for the impending elections. We seriously question their credibility to be at the forefront of this agenda. 

ROHR Zimbabwe firmly believes that any reform of the Zimbabwe constitution should be people driven and not parliamentary driven. The secretive nature of political negotiations gave birth to the controversial draft doctored at the resort town of Kariba in September 2007, and the GPA in September 2008, both of which are political deals kept away from public scrutiny and participation to the detriment of popular input. There is little doubt that the insertion of Kariba draft in the parliament led process as referenced in article 6 of the GPA is a well orchestrated campaign by the primary negotiators to protect their political interests. If the draft is to be used as the basis for constitution-making in the country, Zimbabweans will be denied their right to write a constitution for themselves. The draft is seriously flawed. It sneaks in weak aspects of the current constitution and that of the rejected constitutional commission draft that was reject by the people in 2000, thereby producing an unacceptable government with unchecked executive powers, a weak parliament, and inadequate protections for fundamental rights and freedoms.

Therefore Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe reiterates its position that we will not participate in the process in its current form because we believe it is not people driven and runs the risk of political manipulation. By stating the following ROHR Zimbabwe is only reiterating the position we took in 2008 and the views expressed in the People’s Charter that the people should be allowed to write their own constitution in a free, transparent and participatory way and this can be achieved through creating an independent inclusive All Stakeholders Commission to run the process.  

Furthermore our non-participation approach stems from prior knowledge of President Mugabe and his colleagues in ZANU PF  who pride on a culture and history of violence and politics of coercion in the agency of youth militia, ex-combatants and the passive or active cooperation of national institutions such as police, army and Central Intelligence Organization. Despite his verbal commitment to power sharing in a coalition Government with MDC, Mugabe is yet to demonstrate  policy and attitude shift from this culture and the recent disruption of the constitutional conference only strengthens this fact. What we observe is Mugabe’s continued intransigence as shown by his keenness to ignore all stakeholder rejection of the Kariba Draft which we all agree fails to protect anything else except enormous and sweeping powers for the President while underplaying the importance of checks and balances derived from judicial independence and strength of parliament.

As a progressive movement, we will not stop anyone who wants to participate or observe the proceeding of the constitutional process led by the Parliamentary Select Committee. Our position will however remain as that enunciated before that ROHR Zimbabwe will not participate in a process we do not believe will produce the result necessary to solve current constitutional and human rights challenges that catalysed Zimbabwe into a gigantic human rights furnace, exposing her citizenry to the worst economic and social dragons unprecedented in the history of the nation. 

Justice for all of us, the will of the  people shall prevail

From the information Department of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe  

Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe is deeply disturbed by a vicious, hate-fuelled and well-orchestrated campaign by some UK-based Zimbabwean online newsites aimed at discrediting ROHR Zimbabwe as an organisation and the personal integrity of Ephraim Tapa, its President. Chief among these are Nehanda Radio, Zimdaily and ZimEye. Articles on these newsites have accused ROHR Zimbabwe and its President of masterminding a spontaneous response from Zimbabweans to the Zimbabwe Prime Minister, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s call for Zimbabweans in the diaspora to ‘come back home’. ROHR Zimbabwe and its leadership wants to disassociate itself from these malicious accusations as they are baseless and outright falsehoods. We also want to state categorically that at no time did the organisation agree, let alone set an agenda to ridicule or disrupt the Southwark Cathedral meeting. Mr Tapa was not even at the meeting. We therefore dismiss the accusations with the contempt they deserve. 

Why did the people boo the Prime Minister? Watching the online video clips, it is clear to see that the PM is loudly applauded at one point followed by a somewhat subdued reaction as he continues his speech, finally to be greeted by a spontaneous, deafening chorus of ‘Chinja!, Chinja! Mugabe must go!’ Truly this was not the work of Mr Ephraim Tapa or ROHR Zimbabwe and neither was it the work of its sister organisation, the Zimbabwe Vigil. To suggest so is to pour contempt on the conscience of the people of Zimbabwe whom we so respect. To launch this campaign on so little evidence mean that elements in the Zimbabwean UK Diaspora must feel very threatened by us as our message continues to reasonate with not only those in the Diaspora but also the wider constituency within Zimbabwe.  The issue is that Zimbabwe is still not safe to return for those who fled persecution and are in need of international protection. ROHR Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Vigil does not apologise to anyone for our principled stance that ‘Mugabe Must Go’, our demand for democracy and justice, respect for the rule of law and the Restoration of Human Rights. It is interesting that groups like the Vigil and ROHR who are kept busy by real activism don’t have the time or inclination to decampaign other groups.  

ROHR and its President have been accused of many other crimes in a campaign that dates back to 2007, when the MDC-UK & I Executive, then led by Ephraim Tapa, was dissolved unconstitutionally. At NO time was Mr Tapa ever EXPELLED from the MDC Chairmanship and for the record, he actually declined to stand the second time he was requested to do so. Then, the call was for the Party to uphold its founding principles – constitutional democracy, transparency, accountability and justice for all. The ROHR President continues to cherish those values and, unlike some who have started glorifying Mr Mugabe with the advent of the inclusive government, continues to fight for GENUINE CHANGE. Whilst engaged in this struggle for human rights and notwithstanding his right to do so, Mr Ephraim Tapa does not for now have plans to seek any political office within any political party. And contrary to misleading theories being peddled by those who seek to detract from him, Mr Tapa harbours no rancour or vendetta against anyone within the MDC family. 

The call NOW is for the inclusive government to address human rights concerns, uphold the rule of law and mete out justice to all those who perpetrated human rights abuses, including Robert Mugabe and his cronies. In its quest for these ideals, ROHR Zimbabwe has managed to create in three years a respectable national and international profile. Mindful of the suffering of Zimbabweans, ROHR Zimbabwe filed a lawsuit against Gono to remove cash withdrawal limits, mounted successful demonstrations in demand for justice and democracy, buried and cared for victims of the 2008 Mugabe terror campaign, provided basic necessities to vulnerable groups such as orphanages, the displaced, and disadvantaged school children, to name a few.  We have registered a prominent presence in defence of human rights as we continue to operate legally in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It seems ROHR Zimbabwe has become the victim of its success. 

ROHR Zimbabwe runs offices in Zimbabwe, employs staff, runs programmes and assists on humanitarian causes, and like any other organisation, it needs money to do this. As a membership based organisation, ROHR Zimbabwe depends mainly on the support of its membership. Monthly subscriptions are decided and managed as per its constitution and members reserve the right to vary this and determine the direction of the organisation. As an international organisation, ROHR Zimbabwe operates within the legal framework of host countries.  Membership is open to the willing and those who join do so of their free will. 

ROHR Zimbabwe is not a refugee or asylum organisation – it does not have the power to regularise anyone’s stay in any given country. We believe that those in need of international protection can only base their claims on their personal / activist profiles. We are however aware that ROHR Zimbabwe members, their staff, supporters and activists have been persecuted under the Mugabe regime and still continue to face persecution, along with other human rights defenders, under the inclusive government. Therefore, whilst membership of ROHR Zimbabwe or participation at the Zimbabwe Vigil may be helpful, it is important that those who join us do so for what we do: defending and restoring human rights in Zimbabwe and not otherwise.  

ROHR Zimbabwe will continue to stand by the people of Zimbabwe whatever it takes and will not allow itself to be distracted by hate-filled individuals hiding behind the facade of gutter journalism. ROHR Zimbabwe will never be silenced, especially not by merchants of hatred, jealousy and disunity. For SW Radio Africa’s broadcasts featuring the Vigil and ROHR’s position on what happened at the meeting at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday, 20^th June, please check SW Radio’s Archives: Newsreel on Monday, 22^nd June and Diaspora Diaries on Tuesday, 23^rd June – www.swradioafrica.com.  (http://www.swradioafrica.com/news220609/zimuk220609.htm) 

From the ROHR Information Department