REPORT ON THE MEETING WITH UK LORDS AND MPS ON TUESDAY 11th JANUARY 2022

 15^th January 2022

On Tuesday 11^th January 2022 ROHR Zimbabwe was part of a delegation that met with a delegation of UK Lords and MP’s via the UK Lords’ MS Teams platform. This meeting was hosted by Lord Oates as Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe, and it was set up to discuss the call for the Zimbabwean government to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote as well as the failures of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

The Lords & MP’s team comprised of Lord Oates (the Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe), Lord Hayward, Lord Purvis of Tweed, Lord Wigley, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Grahame Morris MP and Adam Bull.

The full Zimbabwean human rights delegation included Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, David Mpoko and Arnold Bhebhe representing MyRight2Vote, Panyika Karimanzira and Vongayi Mufara representing ROHR Zimbabwe and John Burke, Beverley Mutandiro and Moses Mbano representing ZHRO.

Following the meeting we got a mention in the House of Lords on 13th January 2022.
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2022-01-05.HL5134.h&p=24911
and the issues we raised were also discussed in the UK House of Commons.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-05/HL5134

We will continue to engage with and update the UK government on pertinent human rights issues.

Pictures of this meeting can be viewed here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72177720296333263

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

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with Dr Alan Whitehead MP Southampton, Test

11 May 2018

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with Dr Alan Whitehead MP Southampton, Test

Report by Douglas Kambarami

On Friday the 11^th of May 2018, Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe UK Chapter, Midlands Branch member Douglas Kambarami met MP Dr Alan Whitehead. The meeting was organised as part of the ROHR Zimbabwe; “Meet Your MP Campaign” https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157666203400169

Dr Alan Whitehead is the Member of Parliament for Southampton, Test. He is  a Labour party member. 

Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe activist Douglas Kambarami with his family meeting MP for Southampton Test, Dr Alan Whitehead.

I, Douglas Kambarami as an activist and member of Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe, made a step to meet my MP for my constituency Dr Alan Whitehead to highlight the ongoing human rights violations happening in Zimbabwe under the so called, ‘NEW DISPENSATION.’

In the meeting I also felt it necessary to inform my MP of the empty promises that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is making in particular that the upcoming Zimbabwean Elections this year will be ‘Free & Fair.’ 

The meeting went very well, and my MP is a man who gave a listening ear. He was very pleased with the information l gave him and the letter l took to him from Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe. He promised to follow up in parliament and to contact the Foreign Office, to understand how the UK government is approaching the Zimbabwe case. We were strongly in agreement that the apple does not fall far from the tree, Mnangagwa and Mugabe are the same. The Foreign Office should not be fooled by Zanu PF.

On the ZANU PF led government calling for foreign investors, l highlighted the Paul Westwood case; Paul was a permanent resident in Zimbabwe running his businesses but had to flee the country after being threatened with death and the rape of his wife by the ruling Zanu PF thugs. I advised my MP, Zanu PF can not be trusted and his help in freeing Zimbabwe of the Zanu PF cancer will be greatly appreciated by the millions of Zimbabweans wishing for a bright tomorrow.

To view more ‘Meet Your MP Campaign pictures follow link below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157666203400169

Report Written by: Douglas Kambarami

Member ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter Midlands Branch 

 

ROHR Zimbabwe Official Statement on Nurses Strike

ROHR Zimbabwe Meet your MP Join us on 16 Dec in Manchester

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with Keith Vaz MP Leicester East

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with Keith Vaz MP Leicester East

Report by Vincent Mwase

On Friday the 08^th of December, Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe UK Chapter Midlands Branch members Vincent Mwase, Kauza Mugarisanwa, Tsungi Kahiya, Lenny Banda met MP Keith Vaz. The meeting was organised as part of the ROHR Zimbabwe; “Meet Your MP Campaign”

Keith Vaz is the Member of Parliament for Leicester East. He is a Labour Party politician and is the British Parliament’s longest-serving British Asian MP.

I met my local MP Keith Vaz at his offices with my fellow Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe members.

In the meeting with Keith Vaz MP, we discussed the current political situation in Zimbabwe and the way forward for a free, just and democratic Zimbabwe. Keith Vaz MP agreed the situation in Zimbabwe needs international intervention which he has and will continue to bring up in parliament.

In our presence, Keith Vaz MP wrote a letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Boris Johnson and attached my Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe letter. He promised to keep myself and colleagues updated with any correspondence he will receive from the foreign office.

The meeting was concluded with Keith Vaz posing for pictures with us.

To view more ‘Meet Your MP Campaign pictures follow link below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157666203400169

Report Written by: Vincent Mwase

Member ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter Midlands Branch 

Get the issue of Human Rights in Zimbabwe back in Westminster -Meet your MP

Gallery Click here

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with Jack Brereton MP Stoke-on-Trent South Report by Zanele Ncube

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with Jack Brereton MP Stoke-on-Trent South

Report by Zanele Ncube

On Friday the 01^st of December, Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) UK Chapter Manchester/Liverpool Branch member Zanele Ncube met MP Jack Brereton. The meeting was organised as part of the ROHR Zimbabwe; “Meet Your MP Campaign”

Jack Brereton is the Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South. He is  a Conservative party member. 

I met my local MP Jack Brereton at this offices and was very pleased by how welcoming he was. “Would I get this sort of welcoming, if I requested to meet a politician in Zimbabwe?” I wondered.

In the meeting, I elaborated on the contents of my Restoration of Human Rights letter that outlines the reason why myself and other Human Right Activists are clearly upset and requesting immediate action be taken by the UK government against Her Majesty’s Ambassador (HMA) to Zimbabwe – Catriona Laing.

Jack Brereton MP, was shocked and did not shy away at expressing his concerns towards the facts that were put forward in the letter about HMA Catriona Laing and how this had gone undetected by the international media.

We also discussed the “coup that was not a coup” and the new President Mnangagwa. Jack Brereton MP made it clear that from this point of view, it’s far to early for Zimbabweans and the world to celebrate the appointment of President Mnangagwa, as no-one really knows if he is going to be any different from Robert Mugabe. We agreed on this point, after I pointed out during Mugabe’s 37 years in power, his right-hand man was Mnangagwa, hence his hands are just as bloody as Robert Mugabe’s and simply put: the corrupt and abusive ZANUPF is still the party in power.

The meeting was concluded with Jack Brereton MP stating he will present my letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

To view more ‘Meet Your MP Campaign pictures follow link below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157666203400169

Report Written by: Zanele Ncube

Fundraising Committee Member ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter Manchester/Liverpool Branch 

Meet Your MP Campaign

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with David Tredinnick MP Bosworth

Meet Your MP Campaign: Meeting with David Tredinnick MP Bosworth

Report by Olive Ruvimbo Ruzvidzo

On Friday the 17^th of November, Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) UK Chapter Midlands Branch members Grace Makoni and Olive Rivimbo Ruzvidzo met MP David Tredinnick. The meeting was organised as part of the ROHR Zimbabwe; “Meet Your MP Campaign”

David Tredinnick is the Member of Parliament for Bosworth in Leicestershire. He is  a Conservative and has been the MP for Bosworth since 1987. 

Upon arrival at his offices, he greeted us activists with great excitement, as he was eager to hear about the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe. There had been numerous events that had occurred in Zimbabwe between the appointment was confirmed to date of the actual appointment. (Let’s bear in mind, this meeting was held during the same week as the Army Generals in Zimbabwe had begun executing the ‘peaceful’ transition of power with the ZANU PF government (coup)).

MP David Tredinnick was very welcoming and we greeted him in Shona and we promised to teach him more Shona words at future meetings and gatherings. He was eager to help us, after he read our ROHR Zimbabwe letter handed to him by Grace Makoni, he wanted to know more about the initiative, ‘Meet YOUR MP CAMPAIGN.’

Letter handed over to MP David Tredinnick, was asking him to take our concerns to parliament which included the following:

·         The restoration of human rights in Zimbabwe

·         The assessment made by Her Majesty Ambassador (HMA) Catriona Laing that; ‘Zimbabwe is peaceful and she feels very safe,’ which was published in the state run newspaper, The Chronicle in 2015 at a time when the Human Rights Watch was publishing a report on the various Human Rights abuses occurring in the country, and Human Rights activists were being kidnapped, tortured and killed.

·         Even most recently in 2017 HMA Catriona Laing in her 2017 Queen’s Birthday Party in Harare, she blatantly avoided speaking on what the British government is doing to support the struggling and oppressed Zimbabweans, but her speech was filled with optimism and shed good light on the ZANU PF government.

In the discussion about our concerns with the way Her Majesty’s Ambassador handling of the situation in Zimbabwe, Grace Makoni and Olive Ruvimbo Ruzvidzo asked MP David Tredinnick to look into what actions the UK government can take in ensuring there is a free & fair election in Zimbabwe next year (2018). David is to follow this up in parliament on behalf of her constituent and ROHR Zimbabwe.

The meeting ended with a photoshoot and the handing over of a small parting gift of a DVD: Simon Wright directed documentary titled: “Robert Mugabe. What happened?”

Zimbabwe Situation: Foreign Secretary Addresses the House of Commons Of The United Kingdom

ROHR Zimbabwe Meet Your Local MP Campaign

ROHR Zimbabwe Members meet Member of Parliament for Leigh; Jo Platt. As part of the campaign, "Meet Your Local MP," organised by Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe Manchester/Liverpool Branch).

The campaign is for each ROHR Zimbabwe Human Rights Activist to meet their MP, with the aim of hand delivering a letter requesting them along with their  Westminster colleagues to address the continued worrisome and contradictory comments being made by U.K. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, HMA Catriona Laing CB.

Who on several occasions since 2015 has been quoted supporting the ruling ZANU PF regime led by Mugabe, whilst the people of Zimbabwe suffer and have their human rights abused/violated ruthlessly.

www.rohrzim.org

www.rohrzim.org