3rd August 2020
On Saturday the 1st of August 2020, the North Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe held a meeting via Zoom. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it is still imperative that the branch observes lockdown guidelines and minimise face to face gatherings where possible, hence the use of the Zoom platform. The meeting was chaired by Branch Vice Chairman Vengai Mutsawu.
Register
of Attendance:
Vengai
Mutsawu (Vice Chairman), Karen Nhakaniso (Secretary), Estery Dhliwayo
(Treasurer), Pauline Makuwere (Organising Secretary), Nontokozo Malaba Ncube
(Committee Member), Tabeth Mabiza-Nhakaniso.
Apologies: Farai Nhakaniso
(Chairman), Petronella Mahachi (Information &Publicity Secretary)
Agenda
1)
Update
on Zimbabwean Situation
2)
ROHR
UK National Campaigns
3)
North
Branch Zimbabwe Campaign
4)
Fundraising
and Donations
5)
How
to help vulnerable Zimbabweans living in the UK
6) Any Other Business
The
meeting connected at 14:00 hrs
1) Update on
Zimbabwe Situation
-
Members
on the call gave their individual update on what has been happening in Zimbabwe
over the last couple of weeks.
-
Karen:
The arrest of whistle blowing journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and
Opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume. Hopewell exposed alleged government
corruption involving Covid-19 supplies. The two are charged with inciting
public violence from his expose and social media posts. They have been denied
bail and are still in prison. These activists’ actions forced the government to
charge former Minister of Health Obadiah Moyo with corruption. In contrast to
the treatment that was given to Moyo whilst in prison and under court orders,
Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were in chains when coming to court. This exposes the
double standards in the way the government of Zimbabwe treats activists and its
own allies.
-
Vengai:
On 31 July, the government sent police to the city centres to try block
activists from going to the organised demonstrations. The three MDC Alliance
girls and their lawyer had gone to court to fulfil their reporting conditions
at Police Central. On their way, the car they were travelling in was stopped by
police officers and army personnel. They were harassed. Joanna Mamombe streamed
the encounter that shows the treatment that they were subjected to. The
government has brought ‘witnesses’ forward that claim that the girls were
lying.
-
Vengai: In ZANU PF there have been two
prominent deaths, Perence Shiri and the spokesperson for the army. Official
reports claim these to be due to Covid-19. There are rumours that these are
suspected poisonings due to the upheaval that is occurring in ZANU PF. Evidence
cannot be gathered as Perence Shiri has already been buried. No autopsy was
done.
-
Nontokozo: Former ZANU PF Youth League Deputy
Secretary Lewis Matutu is in hiding. Matutu quit his social media, deleted his
Twitter, and went into hiding after appearing to take aim at President Emerson
Mnangagwa and his family on corruption charges. Suspected state officials were
unable to locate him and they have resorted to abducting Matutu’s relative to
try get him to reveal where Matutu is.
2) ROHR Campaigns
-
We
have 4 major campaigns that are currently happening in UK Chapter.
a) #HumanRightsViolationsUnderED
-
This
campaign has been launched and spearheaded by volunteers from the UK Chapter.
The campaign is looking at the human rights violations under ED government. If
any member in the North wants to join, they advise the branch committee.
-
Action
to take: Sign the petition and share it on your social media platforms.
b) #StopViolenceAgainstWomen
-
This
campaign was launched after the #MDCTrio was arrested, abducted, beaten,
sexually assaulted and dumped by the side of the road. This campaign was
launched to call for an end for the escalating violence that is being committed
against women by state officials, the police, and the army of Zimbabwe.
-
Actions:
The members that attended said that they will take the photos by the end of the
week and write a statement condemning violence against women.
c) #MeetYourMPCampaign
-
This
campaign seeks to raise awareness about the situation in Zimbabwe to Members of
Parliament in the UK. The campaign aims to persuade MPs to put Zimbabwe on the
agenda. The updated letter concentrates on human rights violations by the
Emerson Mnangagwa government.
-
Actions:
Provide your full name and your MP’s name to the Branch secretary so the MP
letter can be written on your behalf. A letter will be sent to you to email
your MP as MP clinics are currently not possible.
https://guidetoprocedure.parliament.uk/articles/8MHJ9zSp/how-to-submit-a-written-question-online
d) #RestoreDontIgnore
-
This
campaign highlights the various ways in which the government of Zimbabwe has
destroyed or looted resources from the country and its citizens. This campaign
covers such things as education, health, sports, culture, employment, industry,
rule of law etc.
-
Actions:
The North Branch has decided to concentrate on the recent news of 7 stillborn
babies at Harare Central Hospital on the night of 27 July 2020. The branch will
have photos taken in their ROHR t-shirt and write a statement about it.
Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53580559
3) North Branch Zimbabwe
Campaign
-
As
a branch is there a way that we can identify a campaign or a place that we can
raise money for. Just as the Scotland Branch was able to help the foodbank in
Epworth during this Covid-19 crisis, can the North Branch find somewhere they can
help too. Nontokozo suggested that we identify the areas that we want to do.
Each one of us would want to make an impact in the places that we are
from. Estery spoke of the Hurricane that
affected people in Chimanimani. These people have yet to receive help. Vengai suggested that we list the places or
people that need help and then say who needs the immediate. We have limited
finances, but our fundraising efforts can make a difference. Nontokozo suggested that we start mobilising
finances. This is next on the agenda.
Suggested
Projects:
|
Project |
|
|
Chimanimani
Hurricane Idai Survivors |
This
is a dire need and as a branch we can pursue this first as survivors are
homeless. |
|
Bulawayo
Water Crisis |
There
are several city councils that are struggling with water. |
|
HIV/AIDS
Orphans |
Zimbabwe
has a high HIV/AIDS mortality rate, as branch we can help orphans with
various items. |
|
SOS
Charity work in partnership with |
See
notes** |
-
**Pauline
approached SOS charity on behalf of the branch, to find out if ROHR can work
with them and we start a project back home. SOS does different activities.
Activities for women and young persons for skills and projects so they are able
to survive. A program that helps these young adults that would be struggling to
help themselves. We can also help women and widows. The point of these projects
is helping them with the knowledge rather than hampers or money. The lady at
SOS advised that she speak to Pauline in a few days. Pauline will update as
soon as she hears anything.
- Branch decided to pursue the Bulawayo Water Crisis. We need to identify the specific area or group that we will be supporting. There are a lot of people that are struggling with water. Identify the town/area with a dire situation. The borehole costs £1500 upwards. A borehole would ensure that people receive a long-term solution. This will allow us to make a true difference. We can approach The National Executive with this so we can get other branches onboard.
4) Fundraising and
Donations
-
First,
we need clarity on where to put our funds. Members are not comfortable to have
the funds sent to personal accounts. If we are to pursue these projects lets,
ensure that we have bank accounts with full access by the branch and can be
audited. Even if we want to access funding it is difficult because we have no
traceability. Pauline suggested that we
join CashPlus or Tide. Pauline will find out details and advise ASAP.
-
As
a registered charity, we need meeting minutes, constitution. With no
constitution then letter on headed paper. Minutes of the meeting will confirm
that a bank will be opened. The people to be signatories and the committee and
minutes will be signed by two people.
-
Minutes
will say that why we wanted to open accounts.
-
ID
and proof of address for signatories.
-
Three
signatories: Farai Nhakaniso, Mr Karimanzira and Pauline Makuwere need to
coordinate this and get the account registered.
-
The
monthly contributions can be £5-10 per month from members that will kept at
ROHR to keep our branch’s fundraising pot healthy.
-
Pauline
will be chasing these up and Estery will advise where it will be sent till the
Branch has their account sorted.
- It is difficult with Covid-19 to do fundraising
5) How to help
fellow Zimbabweans in UK
-
How
can we as an organisation help our fellow Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom
that are struggling especially now with Covid-19.
-
Can
we not have food hampers such as monthly 5kg of Mealie Meal for example. The
vouchers cannot buy IWISA since they are not available in the big supermarkets.
-
There
are people that can even buy clothes. There are charities that give clothes,
but they do not get their size.
-
Pauline
talked about New Life and suggested if we can get in touch with charities such
as New Life to get support for Zimbabweans in the UK. Even approaching Primark
for example.
-
We
need to identify people that are not in the system at all.
- We need to pick this up with more members on the call. As an organisation we will need policies in place etc that need a bigger body to address.
6) ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
a) T-Shirts for ROHR
-
Pauline
raised the issue about t-shirts and subscription card for ROHR.
b) Membership fees
will be chased up by Pauline
c) The banner for the Branch. Will Nontokozo be able to have a banner that she can have so that she can use it since she lives faraway?
-
Need
to raise these issues with the National Executive
-
Membership
cards are done from Zim so Pauline to speak to Mr Mapfumo of when the next
batch will be
- T-Shirt are with Grace Makoni so need to speak to
All agenda items and any other business having been exhausted, Vengai
Mutsawu declared the meeting closed at 15:57 hrs.
Minutes
written by Branch Secretary Karen Nhakaniso
To view pictures taken at the event, follow the link below; -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157715346451622
By: Information & Publicity Department
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