ROHR (Zimbabwe) ROARS IN LEICESTER

By Elisha Shamba

Last week marked the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the foundation of the international human rights law and the first universal statement of these basic principles common to all beings. Concomitantly, that week saw the launch of Restoration of Human Rights (Zimbabwe) in Leicester on Saturday December 13, 2008, at The Learning and Information Library, Bishop Street.

More than 30 Zimbabweans gathered for this consultative meeting. Also in attendance were Patson Muzuwa – the Director of Zimbabwean Association, Paradzai Mapfumo – the UK ROHR Co-ordinator, E.Zibgowa – Chair for Birmingham ROHR branch and Julius Dehwa Mutyambizi – the co-founder of ROHR. These all addressed the group.

ROHR(Zimbabwe) is a non-governmental organisation formed in 2007 whose mission statement is to ‘advance human rights, social justice, state accountability and respect for citizens in Zimbabwe through engaging the public and other civic movements to defy unjust laws, systems and practices of the state and political formations.’ ROHR has established branches in Zimbabwe, South Africa and UK.

A recent Human Rights Watch mission to Zimbabwe documented the abusive policies, corruption and repressive governance that have led directly to the economic collapse, humanitarian crisis and growing public desperation. Poor governance, state-sponsored violence , intimidation and corruption have not only prevented Zimbabwe’s citizens from exercising their civil and political rights but have also denied them their right to satisfy their most basic social and economic needs — for food, health and clean water.

Projects

As part of its strategy to bring about change in Zimbabwe ROHR has set up various projects aimed at helping suffering communities in Zimbabwe. One notable project is in Hatcliff Extension, a vast township on the outskirts of Harare which is one of the worst areas affected by the human rights crisis. ROHR is aiding children education-wise by providing school fees, teachers’ salaries and a donation of 500 note books and pencils. They are also raising funds to sink 10 boreholes in the area.

Encouragement

Simon Parker, the Inclusion and Diversity Manager at the Leicester Libraries and John Coster, the Managing Editor of Citizens Eye Community Media Hub addressed the group. They both hailed the formation of ROHR in Leicester as a welcome additional voice in the diversity of Leicester. They encouraged members to take advantage of the free services and resources that Leicester Libraries and Citizens Eye offer, which empower them to gain skills and knowledge, that in turn promotes innovation and advances the vision of human rights.
<!–[endif]–>

Interim Committee

An interim committee was elected and comprises of the following : Chairperson – Mitchel Meki, Vice Chair – Collen Ndoro, Secretary –Dennis C.Sibanda, Organising Secretary – Mable Ndoro, Information and Publicity – Pelagia Zigangwe and Simon Nzara, Fundraisers – Melody Chirimuta and Fungisai Chipangura, Treasurer – Willard Madondo, Vice Treasurer – Lindiwe Maphosa, Activists – N.B.Chikwanha, Brian Kaswa, R.Chikwanha, Cosmas Ndlovu, Laizah Chombe, Nyasha Sigauke, Blessing Maphosa and Martha Mupepuri.

Carol Singing

After the meeting, Patson Muzuwa led the group to the Town Hall to represent Leicester in the countrywide ZA organised ‘Singing for Your Supper’ program.It was an amazing spectacle as members, some clad in Father Christmas costumes including wigs and beards, broke into song and dance.

With the grim state of affairs on the ground in Zimbabwe at the moment, there seem to be onerous hurdles and mountains to overcome in endeavors to restore human rights; but the main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand. Pope Paul VI once said, If you want peace, you must work for justice. Thankfully ROHR (Zimbabwe) are striving to do that.

 

- Hatnews