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