30 March 2021
Human rights exist partly to protect vulnerable groups from abuse
and ensure basic needs are met. They allow people or groups to stand up to
societal corruption, allowing people access to such basic services like
education, housing and other civil liberties including freedom of speech and
expression, freedom to practice their religion of choice, freedom of
association, equal work opportunities, protection of the environment etc., by
right and not as a favour. My definition of human rights activism, is the
practice of addressing issues by challenging those in positions of authority to
observe, uphold and promote human rights. Human rights should provide a
universal standard that hold the government accountable. I engage in activism
because I desire to see a just society in Zimbabwe where human rights are
respected for every individual regardless of their station in life and where
the government does not trample upon people’s rights for political expedience.
I also yearn to see a Zimbabwe where there is genuine rule of law, where
everyone is treated the same before the law and where the Executive does not
interfere with the operations of the Judiciary.
Whilst the human rights situation in Zimbabwe has always been deplorable from time immemorial, the situation has reached an all-time low during Emmerson Mnangagwa’s (ED Mnangagwa) presidency.
I became an activist after seeing the magnitude of ZanuPF’s flagrant disregard of human rights, their perpetual plundering of public funds and the adverse effects thereof to the country; keeping silent was not an option. Human Rights are important for me as they accord every human being the inherent dignity of life. The right to life and good health for example are enshrined in our constitution but the same government that took an oath to uphold the constitution is the same one violating those rights willy-nilly. I wonder why some people continue to trust and support such a government. Citizens are facing repression and mistreatment at the hands of the government- ZanuPF, including;
Torture & other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment “Sept 19, 2019, Peter Magombeyi, was found abandoned after being abducted for 5days, subjected to gross physical and mental torture”.
So, I will pause a question-who exactly is responsible for protecting human rights?
Zimbabwe’s public health system has totally crumbled, underlined by drug and equipment shortages. The staff are underpaid and overstretched, endangering the lives of mothers and babies. “Mother and baby are both doing fine…,” words uttered at will whenever a mom gives birth and equally, words taken too much for granted. My childbirth experience was quite the traumatic one, fraught with complications. I shudder to think what would have become of me and my baby had I been in Zimbabwe. We both could have died. The healthcare system in Zimbabwe is in a sorry state. The largest hospital has only two operating theatres. Over 2,500 women die during childbirth every year. Maternal mortality is spiralling; at a major hospital seven babies are stillborn in one night.
“…this scenario plays out in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals with alarming regularity these days”.
"These are not isolated
incidents. This is repeated every day and all we can do is watch them die. This
is torture for the families…”
This is excruciating,
my heart bleeds for all the families going through such loss. Yet the
government continues to lavish its enablers with unnecessary luxury cars which,
put together, would build a sizeable, functioning hospital.
Fundamental human rights are being ignored. Zimbabwe’s prevailing water and sanitation crisis was exacerbated by the Covid19 pandemic as the Zanu-PF elite continue to syphon funds meant for the relief of coronavirus. Moreover, the government has destroyed our education system, the right to housing is being trampled upon everyday as the government continues to demolish houses leaving thousands homeless, displacing masses out of their ancestral homes with no regard to their welfare, no consultation, no compensation, just sheer tyranny and oppression.
Q: Again, I ask, just who is responsible for
protecting human rights?
Security forces and other government agencies, who are supposed to be protecting the citizenry are the very perpetrators of violence and injustice of the worst order, raping women and girls and subjecting them to sexual violence as a tool to silence dissent. Since becoming a Human Rights activist-my personal focus is advocating for the rights of women and girls- in particular- victims of rape and sexual violence. Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe has been instrumental in my implementation of that cause towards rape and sexual violence victims among other human rights violations. They have afforded me the opportunity to connect with pressure groups in Zimbabwe that protect the girl child as well as other projects that support women who have endured such. Even though I still fear for my life, I am also resolute about obtaining justice for survivors irrespective of profile. Perpetrators have managed to evade the strong arm of the law and remain untouched because of their high positions in society.
The police and other government agencies continue to subject civilians to unlawful or arbitrary killings. They continue to perpetrate physical and psychological torture, unwarranted detention, abductions, targeted violent assaults and torture of civil society activists. Opposition members, other perceived opponents of the government, labour union leaders such as Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure, have all repeatedly faced persecution and fury of the government. Yet, the said government agencies and security forces have the implicit support of the government, with no single record of arrest or punishment for these atrocious violations. We continue to call for an international investigation into these attacks by security forces on citizens protesting fuel price increases in January 2019. Collectively, the aim is to provide windows of insight into the multi-battles faced by the powerless.
Action Points for everyone who cares about human rights (activist or not)
§ Speaking up puts pressure on perpetrators of abuses (ZanuPF) to change their behaviour.
“It's only a drop in the ocean - but the ocean wouldn't be the same without that drop”. Anyone can be an activist. Speak up against discrimination, oppression, torture, kidnapping, arbitrary arrests, right to housing, ANYTHING or any injustice you see. After all, we would all benefit from a successful economy that meets current and future needs of its people in a sustainable manner. Rise Zimbabweans, Rise Up Zimbabwe.
Human rights exist partly to protect vulnerable groups from abuse
and ensure basic needs are met. They allow people or groups to stand up to
societal corruption, allowing people access to such basic services like
education, housing and other civil liberties including freedom of speech and
expression, freedom to practice their religion of choice, freedom of
association, equal work opportunities, protection of the environment etc., by
right and not as a favour. My definition of human rights activism, is the
practice of addressing issues by challenging those in positions of authority to
observe, uphold and promote human rights. Human rights should provide a
universal standard that hold the government accountable. I engage in activism
because I desire to see a just society in Zimbabwe where human rights are
respected for every individual regardless of their station in life and where
the government does not trample upon people’s rights for political expedience.
I also yearn to see a Zimbabwe where there is genuine rule of law, where
everyone is treated the same before the law and where the Executive does not
interfere with the operations of the Judiciary.Whilst the human rights situation in Zimbabwe has always been deplorable from time immemorial, the situation has reached an all-time low during Emmerson Mnangagwa’s (ED Mnangagwa) presidency.
I became an activist after seeing the magnitude of ZanuPF’s flagrant disregard of human rights, their perpetual plundering of public funds and the adverse effects thereof to the country; keeping silent was not an option. Human Rights are important for me as they accord every human being the inherent dignity of life. The right to life and good health for example are enshrined in our constitution but the same government that took an oath to uphold the constitution is the same one violating those rights willy-nilly. I wonder why some people continue to trust and support such a government. Citizens are facing repression and mistreatment at the hands of the government- ZanuPF, including;
Torture & other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment “Sept 19, 2019, Peter Magombeyi, was found abandoned after being abducted for 5days, subjected to gross physical and mental torture”.
So, I will pause a question-who exactly is responsible for protecting human rights?
Zimbabwe’s public health system has totally crumbled, underlined by drug and equipment shortages. The staff are underpaid and overstretched, endangering the lives of mothers and babies. “Mother and baby are both doing fine…,” words uttered at will whenever a mom gives birth and equally, words taken too much for granted. My childbirth experience was quite the traumatic one, fraught with complications. I shudder to think what would have become of me and my baby had I been in Zimbabwe. We both could have died. The healthcare system in Zimbabwe is in a sorry state. The largest hospital has only two operating theatres. Over 2,500 women die during childbirth every year. Maternal mortality is spiralling; at a major hospital seven babies are stillborn in one night.
“…this scenario plays out in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals with alarming regularity these days”.
Fundamental human rights are being ignored. Zimbabwe’s prevailing water and sanitation crisis was exacerbated by the Covid19 pandemic as the Zanu-PF elite continue to syphon funds meant for the relief of coronavirus. Moreover, the government has destroyed our education system, the right to housing is being trampled upon everyday as the government continues to demolish houses leaving thousands homeless, displacing masses out of their ancestral homes with no regard to their welfare, no consultation, no compensation, just sheer tyranny and oppression.
Security forces and other government agencies, who are supposed to be protecting the citizenry are the very perpetrators of violence and injustice of the worst order, raping women and girls and subjecting them to sexual violence as a tool to silence dissent. Since becoming a Human Rights activist-my personal focus is advocating for the rights of women and girls- in particular- victims of rape and sexual violence. Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe has been instrumental in my implementation of that cause towards rape and sexual violence victims among other human rights violations. They have afforded me the opportunity to connect with pressure groups in Zimbabwe that protect the girl child as well as other projects that support women who have endured such. Even though I still fear for my life, I am also resolute about obtaining justice for survivors irrespective of profile. Perpetrators have managed to evade the strong arm of the law and remain untouched because of their high positions in society.
The police and other government agencies continue to subject civilians to unlawful or arbitrary killings. They continue to perpetrate physical and psychological torture, unwarranted detention, abductions, targeted violent assaults and torture of civil society activists. Opposition members, other perceived opponents of the government, labour union leaders such as Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure, have all repeatedly faced persecution and fury of the government. Yet, the said government agencies and security forces have the implicit support of the government, with no single record of arrest or punishment for these atrocious violations. We continue to call for an international investigation into these attacks by security forces on citizens protesting fuel price increases in January 2019. Collectively, the aim is to provide windows of insight into the multi-battles faced by the powerless.
Action Points for everyone who cares about human rights (activist or not)
§ Speaking up puts pressure on perpetrators of abuses (ZanuPF) to change their behaviour.
“It's only a drop in the ocean - but the ocean wouldn't be the same without that drop”. Anyone can be an activist. Speak up against discrimination, oppression, torture, kidnapping, arbitrary arrests, right to housing, ANYTHING or any injustice you see. After all, we would all benefit from a successful economy that meets current and future needs of its people in a sustainable manner. Rise Zimbabweans, Rise Up Zimbabwe.
Author: Alvina Chibhamu is a human rights activist and the Secretary of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom and can be contacted by email on alvina80@yahoo.com
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