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