20th July 2019
On Saturday 20th July 2019 Restoration of Human
Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe human rights activists from various cities and towns in
the UK converged at Motel One, 78 – 82 Oswald
Street, Glasgow G1 4PL, Scotland for a meeting
and the official launch of the Scotland Branch of the UK Chapter of ROHR
Zimbabwe. The meeting was chaired by Panyika Karimanzira (Board member and
Spokesperson for ROHR Zimbabwe). It started at 15:00 hrs.
Also, officiating at the meeting was another Board
member, Delina Mutyambizi who, together with two other ROHR Zimbabwe members
Magadaline Moyo and Estery Dhliwayo had travelled all the way from Manchester
to partake in this special event.
The meeting was a culmination of a process, the
brainchild of Olivia Chamboko that started with the
coming together of members resident in Scotland to form a branch. After a
period of caucusing via a bespoke WhatsApp group they then agreed on a date for
the official launch of the Scotland branch.
Register of attendance
Olivia
Chamboko, Alvina Chibhamu, Vongayi Mufara, Edward Rhappozzoh, Lindah Chenyama,
Abigail Chidavayenzi, Sean Chipango, Delina Mutyambizi, Estery Dhliwayo,
Magadaline Moyo and Panyika Karimanzira.
Apologies were received from Don Mangisi, Bethuli
Makuwe and Margaret Jenkins.
Upon calling the meeting to order at 15:00 hrs
Panyika Karimanzira asked for self-introductions before delving into the
business of the day. He went on to narrate the history of Restoration of Human
Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe first before explaining, in detail, the roles and
responsibilities of each portfolio (Chairperson, Secretary, Organizing
Secretary, Treasurer, Information & Publicity Secretary, Committee Members,
Fundraising Committee Members and, where relevant, their deputies).
Participants were afforded an opportunity to ask questions or seek further
clarification and the Chairperson duly obliged.
Delina Mutyambizi explained, in detail, the role of
Organizing Secretary and also took questions from the floor on this topic.
Magadaline Moyo explained the importance of
activism, networking and forging alliances with other human rights
organizations and social movements, e.g. LIST and LGBT Foundation, both of
which are LGBT organisations in Manchester of which she is also a member.
Once everyone had confirmed that they had
understood what would be expected of them if they were nominated and accepted a
role in the new Branch’s executive committee, the chairperson called for the
nomination and election process to start in earnest.
The process was presided over by the two Board
members present. The process led to the election of individuals into
portfolios. At the end of the process Delina Mutyambizi officially announced the
new executive committee of the Scotland Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration
of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe as follows;
The new Scotland Branch committee
Chairperson: Olivia Chamboko
Secretary: Alvina Chibhamu
Organizing Secretary: Vongayi Mufara
Treasurer: Abigail
Wadzanayi Chidavayenzi
Information &
Publicity Secretary: Sean Chipango (acting) with the assistance of Olivia Chamboko
Fundraising Committee
Member: Lindah
Chenyama
Committee Member: Don Mangisi
Committee Member: Edward Rhappozzoh
After the usual congratulatory civilities
and protocols Panyika Karimanzira handed over the chairing of the meeting to
the newly elected Chairperson of the Scotland branch committee, Olivia Chamboko
to mark the official birth of the branch.
Olivia Chamboko led a robust
discussion covering several topics including the potential of the new branch,
the recruitment of new members, campaigns, demonstrations, petitions and
networking. Everyone in the meeting participated in the ensuing discussion.
Abigail Chidavayenzi described
how she had since established contact and rapport with a prominent human rights
activist on the ground in Zimbabwe and how the new branch could benefit from
this relationship. The meeting agreed to pursue this matter further together
with that of potential networking partners mentioned by Sean Chipango.
Vongayi Mufara, Lindah Chenyama
and Edward Rhappozoh were upbeat about their new roles and each promised
maximum effort in seeing to the success of the new branch.
During her closing remarks, she
singled out the following members for a special vote of thanks; -
·
Sean Chipango for securing the
venue of the meeting and for offering to assist the Information & Publicity
portfolio.
·
Alvina Chibhamu for volunteering
to take the minutes of this meeting.
·
Delina Mutyambizi and Panyika
Karimanzira for mentorship in the run up to the branch launch
·
Estery Dhliwayo for the travel
logistics of the delegation from Manchester
·
The Manchester delegation
comprising Delina Mutyambizi, Estery Dhliwayo and Magadaline Moyo for
travelling all the way to officiate at and support the launch of the new
branch.
The meeting ended at 17.15 hrs.
To view pictures taken at the event, click here or follow link below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157709791449212
By: Information & Publicity Department
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