For human rights to flourish, religious rights have to come second by Justice Sibanda

I came across this article in the Guardian newspaper from the 27th of December; Deborah Orr writes..

For human rights to flourish, religious rights have to come second to them. We are all human. We are not all of the same religion, or religious at all. One cannot protect religious rights if they are used as a reason to abuse human rights, human equalities, as so often they are. From Uganda and India introducing anti-Gay laws, Russia introducing laws against homosexuality, then it's Saudi Arabia resisting the idea that women should drive cars. If it isn't Burma, spoilt for choice, decade after decade, as to which ethnicity to cleanse, then it's a bunch of African countries extolling female genital mutilation.

The human rights that come without the need for direct financial investment are also the simplest. If some people can go about their business without their skin colour being an issue, that's how it should be for all humans. If some adults are allowed to conduct their consensual sexual lives as they wish to, then all should. If some adults are encouraged to utilise their skills and intelligence fully, then all should. .

Click here for the rest of the article


Justice Melusi Sibanda 
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

What a year it’s been in Africa...and then Uganda - by Melusi Sibanda

Warning- this article was written in anger.

What a year it’s been in Africa. 

Robert rigged the Zimbabwean election. The African Union applauded him.

Morsi got jailed – damn Morsi, you used to be the man!!

Central African Republic, yet another religious conflict – stop killing each other WTF!!!

South Sudan – you just got your shit together – what the hell’s going on now? Haven’t you had enough war yet?  Let’s cut that crap out and democratise the country. Come on Juba!!! Guns will never be the answer.

We lost our beloved father Madiba....

Days after Madiba’s burial UGANDA announces the most archaic, homophobic and outrageous anti-gay law! If you are gay it is punishable by life in prison. The ‘reason’ for the passing of this grotesque decree is;-

“Because we are a God-fearing nation, we value life in a holistic way. It is because of those values that members of parliament passed this bill regardless of what the outside world thinks.” – MP David Bahadi

First of all Fuck you MP David Bahadi you bigoted dogmatic swine!!!

The God card, seriously!!! After Madiba – a man who promoted tolerance for all dies the Ugandan Parliament has nothing better to do than persecute people living their innocent lives. This has seriously riled me to the point that I will support any decision made by International Agencies and States to stop sending all forms of aid to Uganda with immediate effect. This is an extremely serious issue and cannot be ignored as people’s lives are at risk. These backward idiots in the Ugandan Government are forcing their beliefs on others based on a bible which doesn't even stress homophobia as much as stealing oxen from your neighbour or wearing two fabrics woven differently.

As Human rights activists it is extremely important to speak out against such injustices, wherever it is located, and states which allow such medieval nonsense to prevail should be criticised and held up to ridicule by all who disagree fundamentally with this ridiculous legislation.

UGANDA HAS FAILED ITS OWN PEOPLE! STOP THE AID IMMEDIATELY!!

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary ROHRZIM Bradford Branch

I am no British clone: Robert Mugabe - Melusi Sibanda

http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2013/11/18/i-am-no-british-clone-robert-mugabe

I picked up this article from TimesLive.co.za and it's had me in stitches for a week. It has the former Sir Robert of Zwimba rather meekly attempting to divorce himself from any form of British influence in his life during a graduation speech at the University of Great Zimbabwe. It is absolutely hilarious when the notes that

"..At the graduation, he wore a sash, robe and mortarboard, academic regalia used in some of Britain's most conservative universities."

Fantastic stuff! The author further goes on to state that;

"..Until Western travel and banking bans were imposed on Mugabe and his party leaders to protest human and democratic rights violations about a decade ago, Mugabe regularly visited the upscale Harrods department store in London's Knightsbridge district and Saville Row in Mayfair, the home of Britain's best bespoke tailors."

Brilliant read...

Melusi Sibanda

Mandela and Mugabe both embraced violence, but one could not give it up (Martin Meredith - The Guardian) - Melusi Sibanda

Fantastic and fascinating piece of historical and thought provoking journalism by Martin Meredith..

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/08/zimbabwe.southafrica

The tributes will be wasted if they morph him in to a deity - instead lets grab this moment to celebrate the life of a inspirational human being whose sole aspiration was for humanity to reach it's maximum potential....RIP - Melusi Sibanda

The tributes will be wasted if they morph him in to a deity - instead lets grab this moment to celebrate the life of a inspirational human being whose sole aspiration was for humanity to reach it's maximum potential....RIP.

Zimbabwe: after elections, a painful reality sets in - by Justice Sibanda

As Zanu-PF will attest to, rigging an election is the easy part, the hard part is governing, running the economy and ensuring the welfare of the people. On this our Government has fallen short on. It is clear policies before the elections were helping economic recovery as real GDP growth accelerated to a peak of 9% in 2010. The humanitarian situation and provision of social services had improved. Since the election the economic recovery has stalled and the humanitarian situation and provision of social services has deteriorated. There are widespread reports of children fainting at school due to hunger and increased instances of deaths due to malnutrition. Corruption and crime continue to increase unabated. 

Reminiscent of the period from 2002 to early 2009 when Zimbabwe went through an acute economic crisis, winding queues have resurfaced as banks find it difficult to cope with clients due to low liquidity. The 2013 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) rural livelihoods report, which estimates food insecurity levels, predicts that 2.2 million Zimbabweans will be unable to access sufficient food during the peak hunger period, January – March 2014. This is the highest level of food insecurity since 2009.

Worryingly independent surveys carried out by two civil society organisations, the Zimbabwe Peace Project and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, reveal partisan distribution of food relief in Matabeleland North and South, the Midlands, some parts of Masvingo and Manicaland. Both reports chronicle incidents of a political nature in the affected areas, where officials are allegedly demanding party cards before food is distributed. Those perceived not to have voted for Zanu-PF are being punished by being denied aid, said the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition report.

Justice Melusi Sibanda 
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Zimbabwe: An anticipated economic train wreck - By Melusi Sibanda

Let’s face the facts we are headed towards another economic disaster. It is unavoidable as the ZANU PF government have no clue on micro-economic issues. It’s been 3 months since they ‘won’ the election and unemployment is back at 90% meaning the job market is basically non-existent. Yet again innocent hardworking Zimbabweans find themselves starring in to another ZANU PF abyss.

Industry is in full decline at an ever increasing rate particularly in Bulawayo were lay-offs are as common as potholes in the streets. Productivity has taken a nose dive and the Reserve Bank is powerless to provide a much needed financial stimulus. They have no resources to kick start the economy with US style quantitative easing. The banks are running out of money...

There are rumours of billion dollar loans from our ‘good old’ friends the Chinese however I wouldn’t hold my breath on that, besides, what would they be receiving in return – our children’s children’s resources. Will the common man ever see this money if it does come through?

So to put it mildly – we are screwed!

Thanks again ZANU PF

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary ROHRZIM Bradford Branch

Zimbabwe Government Mismanagement, Corruption Risks Lives of Millions by Justice Sibanda

http://www.hrw.org/node/120594

 The water and sanitation crisis in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, places millions of residents at risk of waterborne disease, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Five years after cholera killed over 4,000 people and sickened 100,000 more, the conditions that allowed the epidemic to flourish persist in Harare’s high-density suburbs.

The 60-page report, “Troubled Water: Burst Pipes, Contaminated Wells, and Open Defecation in Zimbabwe’s Capital,” describes how residents have little access to potable water and sanitation services, and often resort to drinking water from shallow, unprotected wells that are contaminated with sewage, and to defecating outdoors. The conditions violate their right to water, sanitation, and health. The report is based on research conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Harare, including 80 interviews with residents, mostly women, in eight high-density suburbs.

Corruption and mismanagement at the local and national levels of government exacerbate the situation, Human Rights Watch said. For example, city budget guidelines specify that most of the revenue from water must be ploughed back into the system for maintenance and improvement, but even government officials acknowledged that the money is diverted for other uses. As a result, key parts of the service delivery system, like purchasing water treatment chemicals, are not adequately funded, leading the city to produce less potable water.  

The government of Zimbabwe is obliged under international law to protect the right to water and sanitation, Human Rights Watch said. In 2010, Zimbabwe voted for a United Nations General Assembly resolution establishing the right to water and sanitation. The government should take a number of steps to improve Harare’s water and sanitation crisis, including investing in low-cost sanitation and water strategies. These include providing community toilets and pit latrines, and drilling and maintaining boreholes so that residents do not have to rely on contaminated sources.

Justice Melusi Sibanda 
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Zimbabwe , The Good, the Bad and the totally Nasty – by Melusi Sibanda

On Thursday 13 November 2013 I watched a report on Aljazeera about farming in Zimbabwe that really rubbed me the wrong way. In the report it was suggested that White farmers (former landowners) were reaching out to black farmers who recently acquired the land to work together and provide expertise and experience with the aim to increase and maximise the output from the land.

Predictably and to my displeasure, the reactions of the local leaders were that of mistrust and total incertitude. One of the local administrators shockingly said something along the lines of, ‘....if the WEST heard that we were turning to the Whites for help, they would declare the Land Redistribution Program a failure!’ At this point I almost kicked my TV out of shear astonishment and frustration.

Come on people!! Is this how we’re ‘rebuilding’ our country going forward? Are we planning on creating an Apartheid-like, segregated environment where our fellow countrymen (4^th generation White Zimbabweans) are not allowed to participate because they are white? Just the thought of us becoming like this is disgusting and vile...we are better than this! As my mother would say, ‘liyenzani?’  Are we turning into a fascist state?

Fascism  -  A governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry and emphasizing aggressive nationalism and racism.

HELLO!! NOT COOL!!!

Come on people, we have the opportunity to correct things and make it better. Let’s take it!

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary ROHRZIM Bradford Branch

Zimbabwe – The Bitter Sweet Narrative... by Melusi Sibanda

Since the July/August election we have been taken on a roller coaster ride on the goings-on in Zimbabwe. Amongst the usual appalling stories off continuous human rights violations, press harassment, false imprisonments and others - there have also been some green shoots of positivity, namely, the supposed success of the land redistribution exercise and the ever-lauded triumphs of the economic indigenisation program.

From an expatriate viewpoint the messages are mixed, however there is one underlying observation that I think we all agree seems to be dominant in the news coming out of Zimbabwe - that is the rise of the corrupt cartel-like new African imperialist types. These mainly ZANU PF sponsored filthy rich black few have taken control of all major institutions and resources and run a Mafia type parallel economy. It’s difficult to figure out how to deal with such powerful a foe and all I can think of is just strengthening our legal systems and human rights will and continue to collate as much information on any illegal happenings for possible future indictments and prosecutions. We all have to be vigilant because history tells us that this will not last forever – ask the Oligarchs of modern Russia.

That said there a lot of good hard-working Zimbabweans across the land breaking their backs to bring home the bread and bring the credibility back our economy. The same goes to our courts/legal systems and civil service. They all deserve our support and the continuous negative blogging does not help them or our economy in any way. Personally I believe that it is my duty as a Zimbabwean to blog on positive truths in my country, however I refuse compromise in any way when it comes Human Rights violations.

Stay vigilant!!!

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary – ROHRZim – Bradford Branch

A light at the end of a very dark tunnel...or maybe not- by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24757351

A small victory, but very welcome nonetheless .

Kwanele Khupe

What's OUR country famous for? (by Justice Sibanda)

http://thedoghousediaries.com/5414

A map published by DogHouse Diaries out today has revealed surprising things that countries are best at. The map is based on statistics gathered from across the internet - ranging from sources as diverse as the World Bank to the Guinness World Records.

Created by online comic and website DogHouse Diaries, the map shows what each country leads the rest of the world in and the words picked - which are written across the country's geographical territory - are in many cases surprising.

Zimbabwe leads the world in "Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate", really?? I thought there would be loads of other things we led the world at. When you introduce yourself as a Zimbabwean people don't immediately think, "oh that's the country with the best Commercial Bank Lending Rate", right. I would have thought that, our ridiculous record at having unfair elections or our "President-for-Life" situation (his will to cling to power by any means necessary could have had notable mention) or that Zimbabwean Dollar reached the point where the face value of many banknotes (which had reached denominations as high as Z$100,000,000,000,000) was less than the value of the paper itself.

Shows how little people know about the dire situation in Zimbabwe.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Mtetwa's Optimism is refreshing but the jury is out on this one- by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-12601-Mtetwa+says+optimistic+over+rule+of+law/news.aspx

I really admire the resilience and the optimism of human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, bearing in mind what she has been through lately at the hands of the corrupt Zanu PF cronies. Though I'm still sceptical about the return of the rule of law to Zimbabwe I agree with her that history shows that where there's been repression it has resulted in change which has been positive. So we will stay vigilant and steadfast in our quest for the return of personal freedoms and liberty.

Personally I salute her fight and her unwavering dedication to the human right cause for ordinary Zimbabweans who suffer daily at the hands of the corrupt, vicious and dictatorial government and I stand with her in support with fist clenched and chanting : Aluta Continua!!!  

Kwanele Khupe

Africa to debate ICC role - by Justice Sibanda

In just 2 days’ time, African leaders could kill off a great institution, leaving the world a more dangerous place. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s first and only global court to adjudicate crimes against humanity. But leaders of Sudan and Kenya, who have inflicted terror and fear across their countries, are trying to drag Africa out of the ICC, allowing them the freedom to kill, rape, and inspire hatred without consequences.

African leaders will debate the continent's "relationship" with the International Criminal Court at a special summit on October 11, officials said Friday, amid growing opposition to the tribunal. The 54-member African Union has accused The Hague-based ICC of singling out Africans for prosecution and has previously called for the court to drop crimes against humanity trials of Kenya's leadership.

As defenders of human rights we believe that any withdrawal from the ICC would send the wrong signal about Africa’s commitment to protect and promote human rights and to reject impunity, as reflected in article 4 of the AU’s Constitutive Act, the organizations said. The work and functioning of the ICC should not be beyond scrutiny and improvement, but withdrawal would risk grave consequences of undermining justice in Africa.

  If African victims could get justice in their own countries, there would be no need for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to step in, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan said on Monday. He went on to say that, "On a continent that has experienced deadly conflict, gross violations of human rights, even genocide, I am surprised to hear critics ask whether the pursuit of justice might obstruct the search for peace,"

Sign the petition here

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

The ROHRZIM Campaign machine in pictures - Melusi Sibanda

Melumel's joint's photostream on Flickr.

ROHR CAMPAIGNS

It’s time for the ‘Woman of Zimbabwe’ to take the lead – By Melusi Sibanda

Have you ever stopped to think what Zimbabwe would be like if women were allowed similar opportunities in life as men. How would Zimbabwean politics look if our leaders were women? What would the state of our economy be if women were in full control of all of our natural resources?

I’d like to believe that we’d be better off in Zimbabwe if we empowered women and allowed them to take charge of the day to day running of our country. Just by looking at my own family and around me growing up I can proudly proclaim that all or at least most woman I knew were of a strong and magnificent breed. I was certainly surrounded by inspirational and courageous women whom I respected and still continue to admire. The same cannot be said about a lot of their male counterparts.

As I observe the work and achievements of the likes of Beatrice Mtetwa, Jestina Mukoko, Thokozani Khupe etal, my admiration only deepens. I marvel at the way they have evolved within their related struggles and sacrifices and come out as the stalwarts of truth and justice again solidifying their claim to be the true leaders of a New Zimbabwe – if there ever will be one. This is the real story of the women of Zimbabwe, the mothers of our feverish nation.

With everything that life throws at them under the guise of tradition and culture they have always come out as the heroines of our lives. Think of your own mother/grandmother and the manner in which they handled the worst scenarios with such composure – I don’t need to give examples as we all know the certain issues and ‘skeletons in closet’ men brought home. Whatever demeaning and de-humanising episode was thrown at them, the women in our lives often persevered with so much heart and character and paved the way for hope and happiness for all of us.

It’s time we as men stepped aside and allowed these exceptional and inspirational people to take a leading role in rebuilding where we have failed. They are the rich resource we have not utilised and yet have in abundance. Let us acknowledge that their vision, knowledge and strength are indispensable and their decision making is more balanced and rational than ours.

Women of Zimbabwe, you are remarkable!

Melusi Sibanda – ROHRZIM Bradford Branch – Information & Publicity Secretary

Of Mugabe rhetoric and poverty - by Justice Sibanda

On Thursday 26th of September President Mugabe addressed the General Council of United Nations. In a speech littered with the usual rhetoric and blaming the West for all for Zimbabwe's problems. Our favourite line from his speech was " Our small and peaceful country is threatened daily by covetous and bigoted big powers whose hunger for domination and control of other nations and their resources knows no bounds". Where do you even start breaking down that statement, these big words I am sure would have in the past brought ululations and cheers from Zimbabweans. They now offer very scant consolation or comfort to millions of us whose children go to bed with empty stomachs, million of us who are struggling to send our children to school, the millions of us who dare not speak up for fear of reprisals, the millions of us who are unemployed with no hope for a bright future and the millions of us who are exploited by the few rich elite and earn peanuts that can not see us to the next pay day.

Let me throw a few statistics at you; Contrary to Zanu PF assertions that it has alleviated suffering through the controversial land redistribution exercise and indigenisation, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) poverty analysis report shows grinding poverty has worsened with the rural average consumption per person per month standing at US$4,70, compared to US$87 for urbanites. Poverty currently stalks 62% of the country’s estimated 13 million people, mostly in rural areas and high-density suburbs.

The Zimstat report defines poverty as the prevalence of households or people in households whose consumption expenditure per capita are below the upper line, while extreme poverty represents households whose per capita consumption expenditure falls below the food poverty line (FPL). The Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey (Pices) 2011/2012 says most of the poverty stricken households are resettlement and communal areas.

Matabeleland North is the hardest hit by poverty at 81,7% despite vast natural resources in the province. The province boasts of the largest game park, Hwange National Park, vast coal and gold deposits, tourist attractions including the world-famous Victoria Falls, and cattle ranching.

Mashonaland Central is also stalked by poverty with 75,4% classified as poor while President Robert Mugabe’s home province, Mashonaland West, has poverty levels of 72,4%.

In Matabeleland South, 70,8% are poor while Manicaland, which has rich diamond fields has a 70,6% poverty level, while Mashonaland East and Midlands stand at 67%.
Poverty levels in Masvingo are at 63,7% while the metropolitan provinces have the lowest poverty levels with Harare at 35,7 % and Bulawayo 34,5%.

Of the 62% wallowing in poverty, 16,2% are in extreme poverty while 76% of the rural households are poor compared to 38,2% in urban areas. About 30% of rural people are extremely poor compared to 5,6% in urban areas.

These shocking figures suggest one of the striking legacies of Mugabe’s rule is countrywide poverty, although some mainly an elite in Zanu PF and its connections live lavishly. Before talking about wanting transparency and accountability in the UN Security council, shouldn't we be talking about transparency in your own Government, transparency in our electoral system, stemming and eradicating rampant corruption, making the security forces more accountable to the people, and not a tool of repression and imprisonment of opponents, after-all aren't they there to serve us.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Spare a moment of thought for the victims, families and the nation of Kenya by Kwanele Khupe

Kwanele Khupe

The Government targeting all those who stand up for human rights by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/09/24/beatrice-mtetwas-trial-resumes/

Confidence in the rule of law is at its all time low after a human rights lawyer faces charges of obstructing the course of justices after she demanded to see a warrant before letting  the police search her client's premise. What's alarming is that this was within her rights to ask for a warrant but she is still facing criminal charges.

So what's become apparent is that in a country like Zimbabwe the rule of law does not apply to everyone and the police can operate with no impunity. Just like in animal farm some animals are more equal than others.


Kwanele Khupe

In Zimbabwe it's against the law to express yourself by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/09/24/chiredzi-man-convicted-after-hitting-mugabe-portrait-in-ange

This is sad that even a simple case of justified anger can land you in trouble in Zimbabwe. The insult laws are ridiculous and an infringement of the people's rights of expression. It's pretty obvious that the current regime will go to great lengths to stifle and severely punish any form of dissent. This farcical trial was a complete waste of tax payers money which could've been used for better things.

A letter to Robert Mugabe – Melusi Sibanda

Your Excellency,

33 years ago we entrusted you with the privilege of inspiring and transforming our beautiful country and the lives our wonderful people for the better. However instead of the ‘elevation of lifestyle’ we all yearned for our people and once prosperous country, you have managed to mutate it into a land of misery and unending suffering.

You rig elections, you punish dissent and imprison opponents. You threaten, harass and even shut down media or any organisation that is there to defend human rights and our right to self-governance. You are bigoted.

To establish and maintain your power, you and your cronies practise rampant corruption both in our courts and our economy. You continue systematically terrorize your own people. You do not respect our dignity!

You then criss-cross the world screaming and shouting about how the West has tried and failed to bring you and Zimbabwe down, and how our natural resources are now enriching real Zimbabweans. Since you came in to power you have managed to turn our economy to one based almost entirely on a few natural resources whose value will continue rise and fall based on the prices of world commodities. The resources you speak off are all in the possession of the corrupt and powerful few. These rich few take their profits and out of the country the same way the international companies did. They (you included) have set up base abroad. They (you included) have foreign bank accounts, their children (yours included) all attend foreign schools and universities, and even their health (you included) issues are dealt with abroad. Talk about a lack of faith your own building work – you built your house but sleep outside in-case it collapses.

Meanwhile we as a country are still considered too risky for investment due to our lack of transparency, shortcomings in rule of law and an almost non-existent economy.  Mr President, the diamonds will not last forever, yet you still give your army and the Chinese free reign over what could have been our only way out of this ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe inflicted predicament.

You have destroyed our beautiful land and brought shame and pity to our proud people. You rule by repression and corruption. We have languished and lamented enough at your hands.

Your Excellency – you are tremendous disappointment!

Melusi Sibanda

Human Rights Agenda for President Mugabe – by Justice Sibanda

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/09/04/zimbabwe-human-rights-agenda-president-mugabe

Officially opening Zimbabwe’s first session of the eighth Parliament Tuesday morning, President Robert Mugabe said his administration will complete the job of aligning laws to the new constitution and take steps to improve food production to avert hunger. As we have learnt in the past, talk is cheap when it comes to Mugabe and Zanu-PF's promises.  Along with other Human Rights Organisations we hope Mugabe's government takes concrete steps to fulfill the country's human rights obligations. Human rights watch has identified the following key priorities;

• Reaffirm rights provisions in new constitution

Reaffirm the rights provisions in the new constitution, immediately amend or repeal laws as necessary to bring them in line with the new constitution, and ensure that government officials respect and protect these rights.  

• Ensure accountability for past human rights abuses

Investigate cases of serious abuses, including during the 2008 elections, and prosecute those responsible in accordance with international standards. Those prosecuted should include members of the security forces implicated in killings, arbitrary detention, and torture and other ill-treatment.  Provide appropriate redress to victims of government abuses.

• Uphold Rights of  interested Zimbabweans  and Human Rights Defenders to organize and work in civic affairs

Send a clear public message to Zimbabwe’s people that the new administration will honor its human rights obligations and not interfere with the rights of nongovernmental organizations to freely operate across the country and without fear of harassment, intimidation or arbitrary arrest. 

• Protect Media Freedom

Carry out policies that encourage, not weaken, freedom of the press. Ensure that the rights to freedom of association and assembly are fully realized, and promote free expression and communication. Amend or repeal repressive laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Public Order and Security Act, and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

• Strengthen the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission

Take immediate steps to ensure that the legislation establishing the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission complies fully with international standards. Ensure that the commission has adequate resources and has competent, independent and non-partisan secretariat staff. Expand the commission’s mandate to allow it to investigate human rights abuses in 2008.

The government of Zimbabwe has important legal obligations under African and international human rights treaties that require it to respect the rights to life, bodily integrity, and liberty and security of the person, as well as freedoms of expression, association, and assembly.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

15th of September- International Day of Democracy by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_statement-on-the-international-day-of-democracy/

On the 15th of September the world commemorated the international day of democracy which was established by the United Nations in 2007.

Sadly as the world celebrates ordinary Zimbabweans bemoan the death of democracy and freedom of expression.

Kwanele Khupe

No end to the violence by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_zanu-pf-supporters-invade-shamrock-farm/

Zanu-pf youths and supporters are on a state sponsored spate of violence and no one is safe. The farm invasions and intimidation have risen and the police are turning a blind eye.

When police are called no arrests are made and the poor civilians of Zimbabwe are the mercy of the Zanu-PF thugs.

Kwanele Khupe

A moment of thought for our Gay, Lesbian and Transgender community in Africa – by Melusi Sibanda

In these days of the Syrian War and the unrest in Egypt we tend to forget the strife of others across the globe suffering from human rights injustices.

 

Today I would like to make a special mention of our Gay, Lesbian and Transgender community in Africa. Our laws, traditions and cultures in Africa criminalise consensual same-sex relations and acts. In many countries those who challenge sexual or gender norms face arbitrary arrest and detention, physical attacks, blackmail or extortion, and discrimination in the areas of employment, education, and access to health care. 

We have Presidents, namely one Mr R G Mugabe (his excellency????), publicly denouncing gays and lesbians as worse than pigs and dogs. In his latest inauguration speech President Robert Mugabe castigated same sex marriage calling it a ‘filthy, filthy, filthy disease’.  He went on to make a reference to the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah, unwittingly re-iterating and re-enforcing his well documented preference of genocide to a pure loving relationships between consenting adults.

This has to change!! We as Human Rights activists have to help to force Africa to wake up and smell the coffee.

That said, I’d like to applaud groups like Gays & Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), OUT and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) for their progressive humans efforts and work. They lead the way through dedication to human rights advocacy on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We have to emulate local and international organisations such as these in order for us to help those with no voices to be heard.

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary ROHRZIM Bradford Branch

Mugabe cabinet taking us forward to yesterday

Interesting article and well worth a read by  Luke Tamborinyoka . I can already here the excuses that ZANU-PF have lined up for the inevitable failure of this Cabinet.

http://nehandaradio.com/2013/09/11/mugabe-cabinet-taking-us-forward-to-yesterday/

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Post-election retribution continues on those that supported MDC-T

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/09/03/mdc-t-condemns-endless-attacks-on-its-supporters/

Worrying reports are growing about violence against those who voted or supported the opposition of Zanu-PF. The Zanu-Pf militia are on a campaign of violence and intimidation of people as punishment for going against the fraudulent government. In Zimbabwe freedom of expression and democracy are dead and the innocent are constantly suffering.

Crushing Black Imperialism - By Vince Musewe

Fascinating and honest article by  Vince...

http://zimbabweelection.com/2013/09/03/crushing-black-imperialism/

SADC report casts doubt on fairness of Zimbabwe election

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has cast doubt on the fairness of the July 31 elections held in Zimbabwe noting that although they were free and generally credible, some irregularities had cast doubt on fairness.

The SADC observer mission to Zimbabwe was headed by Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe and today they released their report congratulating Zimbabweans for holding free and peaceful elections. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission dominated by Mugabe apologists and former state security operatives, declared Mugabe the winner with 61 per cent of the vote against Tsvangirai with 34 per cent. Tsvangirai refused to accept the result arguing that Mugabe abused his control of the electoral process.

The MDC-T raised issues of a skewed voter registration exercise, a doctored voters’ roll which was kept secret, overprinting of ballot papers (more than 35%), use of fake ink and double voting by Zanu PF supporters. No UV lamps were used to detect removal of visible ink that allowed double voting, use of fake registration slips obtained from Zanu PF officials, high number of assisted voters, and bussing in of people from other constituencies.

Zanu PF threatened to evict resettled families, used soldiers to intimidate villagers, traditional leaders to force bloc voting, abused and monopolised the state media and the chaotic special vote allowed double voting of its supporters.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) who brokered a power sharing deal in 2008 after Mugabe lost elections have called this year’s “free and peaceful” but have avoided saying the election was fair.

The MDC-T meanwhile has demanded a forensic audit of the electoral processes in particular the voters’ roll, the ballot papers, where they were printed, the special vote; voter displacement and voter registration certificates.

The party said it is determined to pursue all peaceful, legal, political, constitutional and diplomatic remedies to resolve the current crisis and once all the remedies have been exhausted, Zimbabweans should be allowed a fresh opportunity to freely and fairly elect a government of their choice.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

‘Justice Never Forgets’ – by Melusi Sibanda

Today we witness the swearing in of Robert Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe for a seventh term. For some this is another stab in the heart and the beginning of another journey to the gates of hell; for us Human Rights Activists it is another challenge to regenerate and ensure that ours and the common people’s voices are heard. These voices may be that of sadness and helplessness however we have all the tools on the ground for them to be amplified to the rest of the world. We will not allow the situation in Zimbabwe to degenerate to pre-2008 levels.

Our campaigns should be reformulated to have a voice as well as provide justice for the people. All those with access to evidence of all wrong doing should gather it and channel it to the right authorities e.g. The International Court of Justice. There are certain elements within the current Zimbabwean political system that now believe they are beyond the arms of the law. However, as they say in the ICJ ‘Justice Never Forgets’! As technology progresses access to information becomes easier and the voices of the people get louder. The law will catch up with those who have trampled on people’s rights to life, water, food, votes, etc. All the cowards that ride the gravy train of robbery of the poor and torment of the masses will feel like they are scot-free but that can’t be the case for ever. There will be no return to innocence to all those involved putting the wants of a few before the needs of the masses. Justice maybe delayed but it can never be denied. Mark my words, the time will come when someone will pay for this.

In the mean time as human rights activists should continue with our passion to amplify the voice of the people at let the world hear our cries. Pressure must be applied on the Regime to uphold all human rights.

Justice for all

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary - ROHR Zimbabwe/ Bradford Branch

Zanu PF rears its ugly head of violence in a bid to destroy democracy by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/08/19/mdc-t-under-attack-in-mugabes-home-district/

Systematic violence is being used by Zanu PF  to target, stifle and strangle the voice of the oppostion. So Zanu PF are not content with their stolen victory in the heavily rigged elections their are after blood and want to permanently silence the voice of the opposition and gain absolute power. Their are rendering the final death nail to the MDC coffin and democracy will go with it.  

Violence and Intimidation being used by Zanu PF activist to punish those who voted against them by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/08/19/mdc-t-losing-parliamentary-candidate-survives-knife-attack/

Now that they've secured victory through rigging the polls in the recently stolen elections, Zanu PF has set its vicious activists upon the opposition and anyone who dared vote against them. Their goal is to totally annihilate the opposition and drive them to the ground using violence and torture so that Zimbabwe reverts to a undemocratic one party state ruled by a dictator with absolute power.

  

Concern raised as women and children flee ZANU PF violence

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/08/16/concern-raised-as-women-and-children-flee-zanu-pf-violence/


Human rights groups have expressed concern at the increasing intimidation, violence, and reprisals being experienced by MDC-T supporters in the rural areas.

Since the results of the July 31st elections were announced, ZANU PF activists have unleashed a wave of reprisals which have seen some villagers, including women and children, seeking refuge in the mountains.

Rights campaigners Amnesty International (Amnesty) last week revealed that six women from Mukumbura, in Mash Central, were now living in the mountains after they were targeted for being MDC-T supporters.The women told Amnesty that they were being victimised after they resisted ZANU PF instructions to feign illiteracy, blindness or injury so they could be “assisted” to vote in the recent elections.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Mugabe trampled on constitution to win polls

Came across this article, well worth a read;
http://zimbabweelection.com/2013/08/09/veritas-mugabe-trampled-on-constitution-to-win-polls/

PRESIDENT-elect Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF’s "crushing" victory in last week’s elections was achieved through unconstitutional means, according to Veritas, a local leading lawyers’ grouping.

Veritas said several provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution were breached, resulting in the polls falling short of Article II(4.b) of the African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections and Sadc Principles Governing Democratic Elections which say polls should be held under certain stipulated conditions.
Even the proclamation of the elections was unconstitutional because Mugabe did not act on the advice of cabinet as provided for in Section 31H.
Veritas questioned the setting of the elections date by the judiciary, through a Constitutional Court ruling.
The group agreed with Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba in his dissenting judgment, which said setting elections dates was a matter for the executive, not for the judges.
“The Constitutional Court’s ruling departed from the previously accepted interpretation of the existing constitutional provision, which had been in place since 1980, stating that elections shall be held within a period not exceeding four months after the dissolution of parliament.”
Mugabe also violated Section 157 which states that an Act of Parliament must provide for the conduct of elections. He further amended the Electoral Act using the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act, although the electoral law can only be altered by an Act of Parliament.
The voter registration exercise was not done lawfully because Paragraph 6(3) of the Sixth Schedule to the new constitution required the Registrar-General’s Office, under the supervision of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), to conduct a voter registration exercise and voters’ roll inspection, at least 30 days after gazetting of the constitution.
The exercise fell far short of the constitutional provision since registration units spent only three days in each location, disenfranchising many potential voters.
Veritas said the voters’ roll was in shambles and contained a high number of dead people and those over 100 years old.
Veritas said Zec violated the law by treating the voters’ roll as a secret document resulting in parties receiving hard copies on the eve of the elections, thereby violating Section 21 of the Electoral Act, which says Zec must provide copies, in printed and electronic version, to parties within “a reasonable time” after an election has been called and to candidates within “a reasonable time” after nomination day.
It said throughout the election period, the state-controlled media shamelessly supported Mugabe and Zanu PF while ridiculing outgoing Prime Minister Tsvangirai and the two MDC parties, breaching Section 155(2)(d), which obliges it to provide all parties equal access.
Under Section 133H of the Electoral Act, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is obliged to establish special investigations committees for every province to assist police liaison officers investigate cases of political violence or intimidation. These were not established.
Veritas said although it was accepted that the special voting was shambolic, allowing special voters to vote again was illegal as it breached Section 81B of the Electoral Act, which prohibits voters who have been authorised to cast special votes from voting in any other way.
There was no procedure laid down in the Act or the regulations allowing people to vote in a ward if they were not registered on the voters’ roll for that ward and, presumably, the people who were authorised to cast special votes would not have been within their wards on polling day; otherwise they would not have been eligible for a special vote.
Under Section 67(3) of the new constitution, every adult Zimbabwean citizen has the right to vote in all elections. In Section 155(2), the state is enjoined to take all appropriate measures to ensure that all eligible citizens have an opportunity to cast their votes.
However, no effort was made to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora, prisoners and patients to vote.
Section 72 of the Electoral Act disqualified those in the diaspora from obtaining postal votes since only government employees stationed outside Zimbabwe and their spouses are entitled to apply for postal votes.
“Ironically, when Zec applied to the Constitutional Court for an order allowing special voters to vote on general polling day, it used the argument that Section 67(3) of the new constitution, which gives all adult citizens the right to vote, trumped the Electoral Act, which denies people authorised to cast special votes an opportunity to vote on polling day.”
Veritas expressed concern with the appointment of judges to hear election disputes as Mugabe ignored Schedule 8 of the constitution and Article 20 of the Global Political Agreement which says the premier should be consulted.

Evidence of vote rigging in Zimbabwe trickles in - by Melusi Sibanda

It is easy for some to just acept what happenned last week in Zimbabwe and move on, however as a human rights activist I believe that this would be taking ten step backwards in our sojourn for all to have a voice. Besides, as Morgan Tvangirai put it, '...you can't legitimise the illegitimate' just by accepting defeat. 

Some easily shakeable supporters of the opposition have even gone on to accuse the MDC of being naive or not preparing well enough for the polls, however on analysis there were not many options available to them. Infact the option of going into the election and allowing the rest of the world to see for themselves the extent to which ZANU PF will go to stay in power has worked and as long as the evidence continues to come out the people will learn how their 'human rights' have yet again been trampled all over. The truth will always come out..

I have lifted this article from SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe entitled 'Evidence of voter rigging in Zimbabwe'. It shows the tremendous lengths to which the ZANU machine went to 'win' this election. It is gut wrenching but highly informative.

Youths bused in to Mount Pleasant

Another fraud technique appears to have been captured on video: footage allegedly shows busloads of youths arriving at a polling station at Mount Pleasant, in Harare. The footage shows the youths running off a bus, hiding their faces from the camera. The MDC-T Secretary General and MP for the constituency, Tendai Biti, found out about the new arrivals and headed down to the polling station. In the amateur footage, he can be heard exclaiming: “This is not on, this is blatant cheating”. When Biti asks a man, allegedly the bus driver, where the people are from he responds: “It’s not a secret, but we’re not allowed to say that”. In the window of the bus there is a sign for Honde Valley, suggesting the bus came from the border area between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, over 300km from Harare. (France 24)

Illiterate voters ‘helped’

Three Zimbabwean election observers told France 24 they saw hundreds of voters from rural areas claim they did not how to vote because they were illiterate, while policemen and polling officials came across especially keen to give them a hand.

Dead voters

1 million dead voters, 350 000 people over 85 years old, 109 000 over one hundred years old.

Duplicate names

838 000 duplicate names: same name, same address, same date of birth, different ID numbers.

Candidate gets zero votes in Zvimba North

How does a candidate get zero votes, as in Zvimba North, where 13,877 votes were cast? Surely a candidate would have voted for herself, and surely one or two of those who nominated her would also have voted for her?

ZPF non resident wins in Chegutu

The situation is tense in Mashwest, particularly Chegutu, where a ZPF non resident candidate has won. The ZPF activists in this town are themselves still wondering how their party rep won, when all the odds were tilted against them. They (ZPF supporters) have  stopped wearing their party regalia here, as they do not want people to call them names, as they feel ashamed by the actions of their party and leadership.

Militia recruits in Matobo

Jobless young men were recruited into militias from Matobo just before the elections. This was one of the strategies.

Multiple votes in Mutare

From Roy Bennett: Friends, I received this message from an anonymous source:
“I was talking to someone who stays in Rural area of Zimbabwe he told me that he was paid money and Forced to vote in many polling stations in Mutare Town. He voted Seven times one day. He told me that they were given 10-20 ballot vote papers per person which were already voted for ZANU PF already. What they do is to produce receipt and get ballot paper when he is on the box he mix those papers which he brings and the one he get there and cast 11-21 Votes at a time. Then multiply by the number of people in the bus 60×11 or 21 votes per bus. All police were aware of what was going on and what will going on, but they give blind side. Think of it when a person Vote 7 times then 7 X 10-20 votes per person. This is very very ridiculous.”

Voters double in 5 years in Mount Pleasant

Mt Pleasant constituency results: 2008… 6,000 voted….. 2013….. 12,000 voted………..2008……. 1,700 ZPF………2013……….. 7,900 ZPF. Where did these people come from?