ROHR Zimbabwe Manchester/Liverpool Monthly Branch Meeting 09th September 2017 Report. The branch meeting was held at: Welcome Centre, 18 -32 Brentfield Avenue, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 0TW.
Opening
The meeting of ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter, Manchester Branch was called to order at 14:15hrs by branch chairperson, Karen Nhakaniso.
Members Present
Karen Nhakaniso, Delina Mutyambizi, Rufaro Zondesa, Amos Nyakudya, Billy Kahari, Farai Nhakaniso, Fortunate Sibanda, and Shelton Mhlanga.
Apologises
Thobekile Gumbo, Lorraine Mudjgiwa, Tabeth Mabiza-Nhakaniso, Silvanos Mudzvova, Kelly Mutasa.
The chairperson, welcomed everyone and requested Rufaro Zondesa to start the meeting with an opening prayer, before she read out the meeting agenda.
Rufaro Zondesa read out the last Branch Meeting Minutes – emphasising on the below points raised in the last Manchester/ Liverpool Branch meeting
- Mr Standrick Zvorwadza who was in the country and managed to attend the ROHR Zimbabwe Central London branch meeting (05/08/2017) gave encouragement to keep up the fight and take to the Zimbabwean embassy to let our voices heard in protests and handing over letters to the ambassador.
- To keep working with other civic organisations who share the same values as ROHR Zimbabwe.
- As people in the ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter, we have a duty to put Zimbabwe’s issue on the International limelight without facing persecution from the regime.
- The banner for Manchester/Liverpool branch was paid for in full as of the date of the last meeting.
- The branch had £78.00 in the fundraising account as of the last meeting.
- We should continue the selling of food items and snacks during meetings to raise funds for the branch
Karen Nhakaniso
- Next agenda, an update on events in the past month and events scheduled for the coming month
- Over to the second speaker, Farai Nhakaniso.
Events in the last month and events to come
Farai Nhakaniso:
- There have been two other ROHR branch meetings, Midlands and Central London.
- ZHRO had a 105km walk for freedom from Brighton to London which ROHR Zimbabwe members participated in, Shelton Mhlanga represented our Branch.
- A demonstration by WOJA on the 15th of September 2017 at 10:00 at the Zimbabwe house in London as well as at number 10 Downing Street. ROHR Zimbabwe is a part of it with Nikki Gwata speaking as our representative.
- 10th anniversary celebrations for ROHR Zimbabwe in Nottingham on the 23rd of September 2017. Other organisations such as ZHRO and MaZimbabweans Yes We Can have been invited, as well as Media Houses such as ZimeEye, Nakai Media, Zimbabwe Today, BhanditiTV.
- The anniversary will be covered by various media houses.
- Silvanos Mudzvova will be doing a theatre performance (Title: King of Mutapa, written by Silvanos Mudzvova) on the 18th of December 2017 supported by the Manchester University showcasing African Dictators. Entrance is free but one needs to register on Eventbrite.
- All the above events to be posted on the WhatsApp group chats for detailed information by Farai Nhakaniso, Information and Publicity Officer for ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter.
Karen Nhakaniso:
- Transport arrangements for upcoming events and a confirmation of attendance.
15 September London demonstration
- Farai Nhakaniso to organise transport from Manchester to London.
- Rufaro Zondesa, Karen Nhakaniso and Farai Nhakaniso have confirmed they will be going if they are able to raise funds for the trip.
23 September 10th ROHR Anniversary:
- Transport arrangements are still to be finalised.
- Confirmed attendees are Mr Billy Kahari, Fortunate Sibanda, Amos Nyakudya, Karen Nhakaniso, Farai Nhakaniso and Rufaro Zondesa.
Karen Nhakaniso
- Next item on the agenda, Fundraising.
- Third speaker, Karen Nhakaniso.
Fundraising
Karen Nhakaniso:
- The Account balance still stands at £78.00 raised over the last 3 months.
- Fresh maize on sale at the meeting.
- The Manchester banner was paid for by Delina Mutyambizi and Farai to give an update on the progress.
- We need to reach £100.00 to buy mugs to sell off with the ROHR logo, and ideally to have the mugs ready for sale at the anniversary on the 23rd.
Fortunate Sibanda:
- We need to advertise ourselves to get more numbers which would help with raising funds.
- Suggested reaching out to churches, social media, hand out flyers and to invite other Zimbabweans to our events.
Farai Nhakaniso:
- Suggested Shelton help us out with flyers so that these can be posted on notice boards and on digital platforms.
- We need two flyers now, one for the anniversary and one for the branch.
- The Manchester branch banner has been completed and will be delivered in 2 weeks.
Shelton Mhlanga:
- Agreed to make flyers for the anniversary and flyers for the branch.
- The flyers will be digital as well as hard copies.
- Small contributions such as £2.00 per each member, will help raise money. Getting small amounts in volumes goes a long way.
Funds raised today:
- Karen Nhakaniso contributed £20.00.
- Fortunate Sibanda contributed £10.00.
- Sale of fresh maize amounted to £13.00. The fresh maize was supplied by Delina Mutyambizi
- In total, £43.00 has been raised today.
Karen Nhakaniso
- Next item on the agenda, letter to members of parliament (MPs).
Letter to Members of Parliament
- As Manchester, we are starting a project where members are to engage their MPs.
- The letter is to address and question how Catriona Laing, (Britain’s ambassador to Zimbabwe) has been faltering in statements and her non-consistent stance on the situation in Zimbabwe.
- Over to fourth speaker, Delina Mutyambizi.
Delina Mutyambizi:
- The letter will be on the ROHR letterhead, and is meant to start a discussion in the house of commons and bring the issue of Zimbabwe back to the table.
- Each member of ROHR is to individually approach their MPs as the letter will be personalised with the members name and that of their MP.
- Photos to be taken as the letters are presented, and these will go up on our website and be sent out to various Media Houses.
- Each member is to now go and approach their MPs to get an appointment to meet them and then present the letter.
- A list will be compiled of all MPs who have received the letter.
- Once the project starts, we will roll it out to other branches.
Other matters arising
Farai Nhakaniso:
- Asked for an update on the opening of the branch in Scotland.
Billy Kahari:
- Assigned one lady who is well connected with other Zimbabweans to recruit people at least 10 people.
- The lady is currently in Zimbabwe but as of today, 5 people out of the given target have shown interest.
- The 5 are meant to meet on Tuesday the 12th of September, but due to commitments the meeting is to be pushed for Thursday the 14th of September.
- Updates are to follow on the matter.
- Shelton Mhlanga mentioned how flyers would help with the starting up of Scotland’s branch.
Farai Nhakaniso:
- The minutes for the past branch meetings will now be uploaded sooner, but due to a backlog these shall take a while.
- A meeting with the website developer was held last week where Mr. Karimanzira and Mr. Mapfumo were trained how to upload on the website.
- Farai to go to Huddersfield to be trained on uploading to the website.
- Karen asked if the photos from demos and other events will be hosted on the website.
- The website will have a link to the ROHR flicker page as well as the Facebook page and the YouTube page.
Manchester Branch organised demonstrations
Karen Nhakaniso
- There was a cancellation of gatherings by the council following the Manchester arena attacks.
Farai Nhakaniso
- On the next meeting, we can start with a demo then people can move onto the meeting venue.
- It will avoid people having to travel a lot by combining the two.
Karen Nhakaniso
- Put to a vote next month’s meeting to be held either in Leeds of Manchester. Leeds won 8 to 1.
- Rufaro and Shelton are to organise for next month’s meeting and demo in Leeds.
Shelton Mhlanga
- Ideas on what to protest about can be put on the group for discussion as the venue is now available.
Karen Nhakaniso
- All items on the agenda have been addressed.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 16:27 by Karen Nhakaniso. The next general meeting will be in Nottingham at 12:00 on 23 September 2017, in Leicester.
To view pictures taken at the event follow link below:
Minutes typed by: Rufaro Zondesa
Vice Chairperson ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter Manchester/Liverpool Branch
Cover Picture:
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