Margret Tashayawedu Why l became Human Right Activist

The main reason l chose to be human right activist is to advocate for the voiceless such as women and children who are not at liberty to voice for their human rights. I feel it is my duty to bring awareness to the situation.  

Zimbabwe has seen so many young women arrested for speaking out the truth, women who can be used for the betterment of Zimbabwe. We have women like Joanna Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecillia Chimbiri who were arrested in May 2020 for attending a peaceful protest in Harare about the widespread food shortages during the pandemic. They were abducted from police custody by suspected state agents and subjected to horrific physical and sexual assault, resulting in long term mental damage. 

They were initially arrested for protesting what they saw as the authorities' failure to provide social protection during COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe. They were later arrested allegedly for lying about police torture and abduction. These women were jailed without any concrete evidence. They were denied bail as the government saw them as a threat while seemingly the only threat here is that of young women who are standing up for the rights of other citizens. As Zimbabweans, we demand justice of the perpetrators of their abduction, torture and sexual assault. No woman should have to go through that. 

We are calling on Zimbabwean authorities to release them after they have been arrested for the third time in less than a year. The three young women were denied bail after their arrest for holding a gathering in violation of lockdown rules. 

Zanu-PF are trying to silence the voices of people trying to stand up and speak against the injustices happening in Zimbabwe. “They want to make sure that we are all shuttered and continuing victimizing us. We have become soft targets of the regime just because we are women.”  

Early February, the same young women were arrested again without clear allegations though the constitution says one must be informed about charges upon arrest. 

Johana Mamombe, MDC-Alliance Harare West MP, has suffered acute stomach pains in her prison cell. Reports from prison sources are saying Mamombe has been rushed to a local hospital for medical attention. The prison officers came to the hospital to take her back to prison while she remained adamant that she was not going anywhere since she was still in pain. 

In Zimbabwe, it is a crime to love the country more than the people who claim to be the leaders of the country. Zimbabwean government must stop jailing people for exercising their rights. It is difficult time for any Zimbabwean who believes in justice and rule of law, seeing what the young people are facing in so called democratic country. It is hurting leaving Zimbabwe in control of criminals, let us fight for our freedom. 

Also, we seen the arrest of Fadzayi Mahere, a Zimbabwean lawyer and MDC-A politician who got arrested after she held a peaceful demonstration, even though she followed the covid regulations. In Zimbabwe, we live in a society that looks down upon women and the system is built upon oppression that whosoever wants to challenge the government will either get arrested for doing the right thing or they will suffer in the hands of police brutality. As Margret, l am a single mother and l see how my child hopes for a better Zimbabwe a Zimbabwe that allows women to have their voices heard and women that are treated equally with men. We see young women now staying away from politics or doing the right thing because there are afraid and do not see any benefits for standing up for what is right because they see their role models being brutally beaten. In Zimbabwe, the justice system does not take up its course due to the few elite who are always winning, and as a woman l would like to be the voice that changes that. 

Another story that touched my heart was that of a young boy called Tapiwa Makore, who was killed by his uncle for ritual purposes. The uncle is still walking free on the streets until now and has not been arrested due to apparent lack of evidence. Meanwhile Tapiwa’s head is still missing. The legal system of Zimbabwe is really a joke. The criminals meant to be in jail are the ones walking around freely, getting government tenders giving them more ability to steal money from innocent citizens while innocent citizens are in jail for a long-time awaiting trial due to lack of evidence. We have our own president who went against the Constitution by appointing the Vice president as  the minister of health. The Constitution clearly states that any member of parliament is not supposed to serve two offices. Our government only uses the justice system only when it benefits them and their pockets . Going to court seems like protocol as judges seem to have a verdict even before trying a case. 

The justice system in Zimbabwe really needs more clarity as what is written on paper is not always the case of what takes place in real life. Zimbabwe is a nation of property and wealth, but our justice system is failing us. We have a government that only cares about the rich getting richer while the poor people continue to suffer. We have a justice system that claims we are an independent nation and a republic but this s clearly not the case. Activists and oppositions members that fight for human rights are being jailed for speaking the truth every day. The lack of a justice system has made us not to believe in the prosperity of Zimbabwe. We had hopes but most are finding the only way to achieve quality of life is by moving outside of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is no longer a place of dreams for young people, you will find a person with a bachelor’s degree or a qualification selling fruits and vegetables in the street while their rightful job is given to someone with little or no qualification at all. For instance, the case of our vice president who has no healthcare background but has been installed as the Minister if Health. How? How does it work? We have people who are qualified and who can lead Zimbabwe forward in becoming a better place being jailed for standing up for human rights whereas, if given the opportunity, would flying the Zimbabwean flag high. They have the potential to make our country one to be proud of.  

l want to be the voice to the voiceless to those young women and children. I want them to know there is still hope in our Zimbabwe becoming a better place, a place where we can exercise freedom of speech and other civil liberties, not detained for standing for our human rights. l want Zimbabwe to be a country where human rights are practiced. l want children and young women to fight for what is theirs.

About the author; Margaret Tashayawedu is a human rights activist and a member of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom

#WeAreNotIndependentZW

By Vongayi Mufara 22 April 2021

The 18th of April 1980 officially marked the end of British colonial rule in what was Rhodesia and the establishment of a nation called Zimbabwe. This year Zimbabwe turns 41, yet for the ordinary Zimbabwean citizen, the promise of independence remains a dream and spell betrayal by ZANU-PF. The liberation, freedom, peace and prosperity promise remain unfulfilled leading to many citizens asking whether we are independent or not. My fellow Zimbabweans #WeAreNotIndependent.

The years of colonialism were characterised by state-sanctioned violence, racial discrimination and a rule by force. The majority, black people, were designated as subjects and not citizens, with only a few rights were able to practice. The law was used as an instrument of coercion to consolidate British control and proved a more effective means of colonial administrative control. Four decades later, Zimbabwe has witnessed growing repression, abuse of human rights and closure of democratic space. It is tragic therefore that in independent Zimbabwe, the rulers have continued using the colonial legal system to suppress citizens.

As we reflect on the journey travelled over the past 41 years, we realise that we are not independent, what changed is just the colour of the oppressor. We are now colonised by ZANU-PF elites. Several activists, opposition political leaders and journalists continue to suffer the state’s heavy-handedness. On the 9^th of March 2015 Itai Dzamara, a Zimbabwean journalist, peaceful pro-democracy activist and leader of the protest group Occupy Africa Unity Square disappeared and he has never been found. His family and citizens have asked the government to make public the findings of the commission of inquiry and those implicated to be brought to justice in fair trials to no avail.  Itai Dzamara had previously been targeted by state security agents, beaten, abducted and unlawfully detained. The question remains- where is Itai Dzamara in a so-called Independent Zimbabwe?

In November 2017, there was a military coup, the new government, led by military under Emmerson Mnangagwa. He has increasingly deployed the army to conduct policing especially during protests with no hesitation to shoot to kill unarmed civilians. On the 1^st of August 2018, the Zimbabwe military used unjustifiable force against protesters, they shot and killed at least a dozen of unarmed peaceful protesters in Harare. Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states, “Every person has the right to demonstrate and to present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully.”  Zimbabwe security forces still enjoy impunity despite calls from human rights groups to bring them to justice after murdering civilians in broad day light.

Prominent freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested on spurious charges by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State. He exposed government corruption involving coronavirus supplies. Hopewell was arrested three times within 6 months, denied bail and stayed in prison for more than 3 weeks. The arrest reflected the muzzling of free expression, digital or internet rights and continued harassment of media personnel by the state just like what used to happen in the colonial era.

In July 2020, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concerns over allegations that Zimbabwean authorities may have used the Covid-19 crisis as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly on the streets. The arresting and persecution of Human Rights Activists during the pandemic was designed to intimidate and silence dissent. 31 July protesters were arrested, among them was the prominent Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga and MDCA National Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, on charges of unnecessary movement and inciting violence. The party Vice-Chairperson Hon Job Sikhala and Jacob Ngarivhume were arrested on trumped up charges and detained for several weeks in an effort for them to serve sentence without being tried in court.

The state has also upped its gear in terms of persecution of student leaders and numerous arrests have been recorded over the past months. On 26th February 2021, Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore was arrested together with the ZINASU Secretary-General, Tapiwanashe Chiriga, on charges of convening a press conference in solidarity with incarcerated opposition activist Makomborero Haruzivishe. On 1 March 2021, police arrested three students; Richard Paradzayi, Paidamoyo Masaraure and Lean Kanengoni on charges of unnecessary movement after they had attended court in solidarity with Haruzivishe. On 5 March 2021, opposition MDC Alliance activists Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri were arrested at the Magistrates Courts where they had also attended court in solidarity with Haruzivishe, and they continue to languish in remand prison. Mamombe and Chimbiri are victims of torture and sexual abuse at the hands of state security agents. The state continues to entrench authoritarian rule through persecution by prosecution. 

A few days before independence an MDCA activist Lengwani Mavhunga sustained facial burns in policy custody after being sprayed a substance by a state security agent. The substance is believed to be sulphuric acid. Police brutality and torture is an endemic in Zimbabwe law enforcement just like in the colonial era despite that Section 53 of the constitution guarantees every citizen freedom from torture or any degrading treatment.

We are also now seeing a growing trend where the law, as in the colonial era, is being systematically used to suppress citizens and Human Rights Defenders. The amendment of the constitution without proper consultation with the public. The consultations were done during covid 19 lockdown. The amendment of the bill with the intention to make the president less accountable, weakening the parliament, compromising the judiciary, and undermining its independence. When a bill advantages the president at the expense of citizens, where is the independence?

Zimbabwe at 41, citizens continue to experience rigged elections, political intolerance, police brutality, judicial capture and genocide.  At 41, poverty is at highest point due to looting of public funds by the regime. Unemployment is at 95%, no decent wages and salaries, corruption continue to derail the national liberation streams, no solid infrastructure, roads are dilapidated and no safe drinking water. The education system has deteriorated and majority of talented citizens are in the diaspora. Senior citizens have nothing to show, their hard-earned pension was looted by the regime. At 41 citizens have no land entitlement, land is for ZANU-PF elites. It is ZANU-PF independence not Zimbabwean independence.

 #NotYetUhuru

#WeAreNotIndependentZW

Author: Vongayi Mufara is a human rights activist and the Information and Publicity 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 vongayimufara@gmail.com

#WeAreNotIndependentZW

 By Olivia Chamboko 22 April 2021

Many freedom fighters died not to replace colonial rule with Black Corrupt, Incompetent, nepotistic and repressive rule. White racist and oppressive rule was as evil as Black corrupt and oppressive rule.

Zimbabweans want to be free from oppression. But we are muzzled so that we won't cry . We are oppressed, killed, starved, and sojourn in foreign lands. The elite cling onto power on people’s blood, is that what independence means? Is this what our veterans fought and died for? Is this to be celebrated? All l know is 41 years of brutality, impunity, suffering, dictatorship, ruthlessness, pariah status, incompetence, looting, no rule of law and unaccountable bad governance by a lost generation.

Happy independence to the @ZANUPF_Officials, rich family members and military regime not the Zimbabwean people! 

#WeAreNotIndependentZW

#Zanupfmustgo

Author: Olivia Chamboko is a human rights activist and Vice Chairperson of the Scotland branch of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom 

Zimbabwe Independence Day, No cause for celebration

 By Mavis Harrison – 18^th April 2021

Zimbabwe turns 41 years of "Independence" today the 18th of April 2021. We are said to be independent and free.

My question is “Independent from who, free from what, free to do what?

Many “born frees” in Zimbabwe still live with their parents. Forty-year-old men and women who should by now have built their own homes are stuck at home because they cannot afford to move out.

Most Zimbabweans are either unemployed, underemployed or living from hand to mouth in one form of hustling or another.

ZANU-PF has remained in power against the majority’s will through blatant rigging of elections and repression of the citizenry since 1980.

All systems are broken. Healthcare, Education, Industry are all in tatters.

The judiciary is captured and so other state institutions.

Civil liberties are non-existent. Those who dare speak out are incarcerated or persecuted in one way or another, including being abducted or killed. Some are made to disappear without trace.

All rights to freedoms are curtailed through use of force by government agencies, including the army.

The Media is highly censored. Opposition political parties are silenced through sheer repressive force and persecution of members. Some are killed, some are incarcerated and some are hounded day in day out. Same applies to human rights activists, some of whom are maimed, made to disappear or killed for speaking out.

Is it true that Zimbabweans are independent?  Is there real cause for celebrating this day?

l stand to differ!

About the author:-
Mavis Harrison is a Zimbabwean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the current Deputy Organizing Secretary of the North Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. She can be contacted via email; - mandiwenisteve@gmail.com

#WeAreNotIndependentZW

 By Alvina Chibhamu - 17th April 2021

18th April 1980, Rufaro Stadium saw international luminaries such as Indira Gandhi, Bob Marley,

Prince Charles, Seretse Khama join in the celebrations to commemorate the end of Zimbabwe’s colonial history. Zimbabwe had at last attained its independence from the clutches of British colonisation- heralding brave new dawn rich with potential. Robert Mugabe, the newly founded liberation hero of Zimbabwe, became its first prime minister. The country was deemed “ripe with possibility” and Prime Minister Robert Mugabe (as was his designation then) went on to build excellent education and health care systems that were the envy of Africa. Endowed with fertile lands Zimbabwe was soon to be famously coined “the breadbasket of Africa”. In a convoluted twist of fate, the country’s so-called liberator would later become Zimbabwe’s long-running President, who, for nearly 4 decades, presided over the spectacular decline of fortunes. His ruling party, Zanu-PF and indeed himself were reviled for political repression, corruption, gross human rights violations, incompetence and economic mismanagement.

This was until the peaceful coup that saw Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (ED Mnangagwa) being sworn in in 2017. There was so much hope that the “new dispensation” would radically change things. There was fresh hope and renewed expectations of a transformative approach to the economic decline. However, it soon became obvious that the substitution of Mnangagwa for Mugabe, theatrics aside, was just another ruse by Zanu-PF to perpetuate its grip on power. Mnangagwa’s policies and actions were equally iniquitous, if not worse. Mnangagwa was a Zanu-PF stalwart who had been Mugabe’s right-hand man for more than four decades. Word has it that Emmerson Mnangagwa was the brains behind most of the violence, human rights abuses and corruption that became the hallmark of Mugabe’s reign.

“Thank you, ZDF (Zimbabwe Defence Forces),” and “Zimbabwe army: the voice of the people”. These were words chanted on the streets and written on thousands of placards as the citizenry celebrated ED Mnangagwa’s takeover. Fast forward 2years, those hailed for speaking and acting for the people are now the prime cause of the people’s suffering. The euphoric hope that had lit the streets and glowed across the country was short-lived. Hope and optimism soon turned into disillusionment.

As we approach yet another anniversary, we do not have any reason to celebrate. To the common man, there is nothing about Zimbabwe that is independent. The current regime is more brutal and more repressive than the Ian Smith settler regime before it. Every strategic institution in Zimbabwe is captured. The judiciary, media, military, etc. are now mere puppets of the Zanu-PF party. All systems are in decay – education, healthcare, transport, housing, you name it.

People are being displaced willy-nilly to make room for Mnangagwa’s cronies with no compensation whatsoever and without clear forward planning for their relocation. Homes in which most of the victims would have sunk their life savings are being demolished every other day. Human rights activists are being persecuted for merely speaking out and so are legal and media professionals. Political activists are equally fair game. The once enviable economy now records one of the highest rates of inflation. Standing at 785.55% as of May 2020, it could easily be the highest in the world in contemporary terms.

The “ruining” party’s corrosive prerogatives continue unabated - an ultimate betrayal of the country's dreams. ED Mnangagwa’s three-year stint has been a nightmare and there is no sign that things will change soon. The 18^th of April 2021 marks 41 years since ZANU assumed power. It later morphed into ZANU-PF through a Unity Accord that was forced upon a hapless ZAPU following the Gukurahundi genocide in the 80’s.

People are right to ask what independence is there to speak of in Zimbabwe. WE ARE NOT INDEPENDENT. We feel like prisoners in our own country. Zimbabweans are literally thrown in prison for speaking out against all these atrocities. We are a people under siege from our own government.

Let us continue to speak up for what is right and challenge the murderous corrupt regime.

The struggle continues. Let no one tell you otherwise.

About the author:-
Alvina Chibhamu is a Zimbabwean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the current Secretary of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. She can be contacted via email - alvina80@yahoo.com

Olivia Chamboko - Why I became a Human Rights Activist

 03 April 2021

I became a human rights activist because I am moved by the idea that I can help people by providing a voice to those who don’t have one. With so much violation of Zimbabwean human rights and social injustice, ROHR provided a platform for me to act in defence of peoples’ freedoms and civil liberties.

For this reason, I have spent the last 10 years defending the rights of Zimbabweans starting from demanding my own rights to choose a life free from violence, police/army brutality and intimidation and to inspire others in my society to break their silence and speak out. I want the people all over the world to know about the everyday brutalities of the Zanu-Pf party. I want them to realize what it means to live in Zimbabwe where you can live in your own land but with no control over any resource and no enjoyment of your basic human rights, including rights to life and to freedom of expression. 

Joining forces with other human rights defenders from other organisations all over the world to stand with Zimbabweans and show their solidarity will definitely change our current situation in Zimbabwe.

Author: Olivia Chamboko is a human rights activist and 
Vice Chairperson of the Scotland branch of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom 

Harriet Ndlovu - Why I became a Human Rights Activist

 03 April 2021

“To Make a real difference In my Motherland Zimbabwe ’’

Amongst the things that are of great concern is the issue of   Gukurahundi  a series of massacres of Ndebele civilians carried out by the Zimbabwe National Army from early 1983 to late 1987. A term which loosely translates to “The early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains". This was the looting of Matabeleland and Midlands provinces and unlawful arrest and the brutal attempt of the marginalisation of Matabeleland since 1980.May I take this opportunity to express my grief particularly on the number of lives that were lost through this Demonic operation by the Zanu-PF government. Which has continued to torture the lives of the citizens in many ways up to this day?

Zimbabwe had a strong agricultural sector, however, Mugabe's damaging land reform program, where land was seized from white farmers and given to black farmers who did not have the skills to farm their new lands, together with a multimillion dollar foray into the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, shattered the economy, with Zimbabwe going broke with a reliance on food imports. Health care and educational systems, once the pride of Africa, are in tatters and over half of the rural population don't even have access to a toilet.

Thousands of Zimbabweans are living in Diaspora in search for greener pastures. I therefore stand to advocate for the Human Rights for the people of our land. To call upon all the organisations to put heads together to put these injustices to an End!! 

Author: Harriet Ndlovu is a human rights activist and Branch Treasurer of the Scotland branch of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom