ROHR Zimbabwe activists participate in “These Walls Must Fall” Campaign re-launch in Manchester event – 19th May 2021.

20th June 2021

One of the main human rights issues facing our activists in the UK is the rough journey most have to travel in the fight for the right to asylum, which is a human right in accordance with article 14 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

The journey is fraught with obstacles underpinned by a deliberate policy by government to create a hostile environment for asylum seekers and refugees in particular and other classes of immigrants in general.

Whilst ROHR Zimbabwe’s core business is the fight for human rights in Zimbabwe, our activists often find themselves having to extend their fight to universal human rights issues and platforms.

One such platform is the campaign for the abolition of detention as a form of immigration control.

Detention serves no purpose other than to destroy the lives of those affected. It costs the taxpayer huge sums annually and yet it still does not achieve what it is purported to exist for.

When some of our activists got wind of the UK wide “These Walls Must Fall” (T.W.M.F) campaign, they decided to join the campaign and some took up positions of responsibility in the campaign.

One such is Magadaline (Maggy) Moyo who took up the role of Organizer for Manchester for “T.W.M.F.” under the employment and tutelage of Right to Remain and Detention Action.

Magadaline (Maggy) Moyo set about mobilising various migrant community groups and individuals in Manchester and environs. This resulted in community groups and activists coming together to relaunch the campaign in Manchester culminating in the virtual re-launch event on Zoom in the evening on Wednesday 19^th May 2021.

Also directly involved in the mobilization for the re-launch event were other ROHR Zimbabwe activists Vengai Mutsawu, Nontokozo Malaba Ncube and Mavis Harrison (Tshuma) and activists from other countries like Uganda, Kenya, Pakistan and Nigeria just to name a few.

The re-launch event was also supported by “T.W.M.F.” campaigners from neighbouring Liverpool, Sheffield and South Yorkshire whose Organizers Rosie Huzzard and Veecka Smith helped coordinate this re-launch event.

The event was very lively with Vengai Mutsawu, Nontokozo Malaba Ncube and Mavis Harrison (Tshuma) sharing their touching personal experiences and urging activists to unite in the fight for the abolition of detention for immigration purposes. Many other activists from different nationalities also shared their stories.

Guest speakers at the re-launch event were Afzal Khan - MP for Manchester Gorton, Jane Traies – author, researcher and campaigner, Phillip Jones – campaigner and Founder of First Wednesday and Panyika Anselm Karimanzira a Board member and spokesperson for ROHR Zimbabwe and former Management Committee member of Right to Remain (RtR).

One of the Masters of Ceremony, Rosie Huzzard, when introducing one of the speakers, Panyika Karimanzira, alluded to the past successful campaigns run by ROHR Zimbabwe some of which led to the issues being debated in the House of Commons of the British Parliament as an example of how campaigns can produce results.

A solicitor from GMIAU, Ryan Bestford also spoke at the event.

The event concluded at a high note with a common resolve to unite and consolidate the “These Walls Must Fall” campaign in Manchester and to use it as a common platform to fight for the abolition of detention as a tool in immigration control and to fight against the unjust treatment of people seeking asylum.

By Information & Publicity Department
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe