ROHR Zimbabwe Central London Branch General Meeting Saturday 4th February, 2017 Report

ROHR Zimbabwe Central London Branch General Meeting Saturday 4th February, 2017 Report

On Saturday 4th February 2017, 14 members  of the Central London branch of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter, converged at The Royal Festival Hall in central London for a general meeting.

Register of attendance

Mary Muteyerwa (Chairperson), Salome Nkiwane (Committee member), Bridget Mupotsa (Fundraising committee), Sibongile Bvungidzire (Fundraising committee), Namatirai Angela Sithole (Member), Lloyd Mudzengerere (member), Bertha Mwatse (member), Patricia Chingozha (Deputy Organizing Secretary), Margaret Tandi (member), Kingstone Jambawo ( member), Pythias Makonese. (Information & Publicity Secretary), John Burke (member), Paradzai Mapfumo (International Director / Board member)

George Shambela (Secretary).

NB: John Burke is also the founder of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organization (ZHRO).

Apologies

Apologies were received from Plaxedes Damiso, Chipo Kamhunga, Morella Gertrude Nhau, Priscilla Chitsinde, Tawanda Mawushe, Kuziva Mafaro and Mercy Nyamuka.

The meeting started at 12.30 hrs and was chaired by the branch chairperson, Mary Muteyerwa who is also the Treasurer in the Steering Committee of the UK Chapter of ROHR Zimbabwe.

George Shambela, the branch secretary, who is also the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the UK Chapter of ROHR Zimbabwe took the minutes.

Sibongile Bvungidzire, fundraiser in the branch executive committee, led the opening prayer after which members in attendance were requested to make self introductions.

The agenda items for the meeting included understanding the history as well as the aims and objectives of ROHR Zimbabwe plus understanding the roles of the individual portfolios of committee members. All the agenda items were deliberated upon in detail and in a robust and enthusiastic way in a meeting where everyone present made contributions.

Resolutions.

The meeting resolved;-

1. That, in addition to the conventional physical activism through demonstrations, vigils and petitions, members should increase their activism through popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

2. To increase advocacy for human rights, peace, justice and freedom in line with the ethos of ROHR Zimbabwe and to engage more with and increase the support activists on the ground in Zimbabwe.

3. To increase the collaboration with other progressive human rights organizations such as Zimbabwe Human Rights Organization (ZHRO) headed by John Burke, here present.

AOB

The meeting acknowledge and made special mention of the notable sterling work  of the branch fundraising team duo of Sibongile Bvungidzire and Bridget Mupotsa whose efforts saw the branch raise a considerable sum of money on this particular occasion alone.

Special mention was also made of the evergreen Margret Tandi, the Organizing Secretary for the branch, whose sterling work resulted in a good turnout. Over and above mobilizing for the meeting, she also provided home-made cookies and refreshments.

The Information & Publicity team comprising Pythias Makonese and Kingstone Jambawo was also singled out for special mention for their notable publicity efforts in the run up to the meeting.

During a lively question and answer section of the meeting one question stood out. This was to do with whether or not members should participate in joint vigils under the Super Vigil banner at the Zimbabwean Embassy in London on Saturdays. The final consensus was that members were free to make individual choices in accordance with the freedom of association as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular article 20 which reads;-

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

With all the agenda items having been disposed of, the Chairperson Mary Muteyerwa declared the meeting closed at 15.05 hrs.

To view pictures taken at the event, click here or follow link below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157679974019645

By: Information & Publicity Department

Cover Picture:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/32726656155/in/album-72157679974019645/