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

STATEMENT BY RESTORATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (ROHR) ZIMBABWE ON THE PLANNED DEPORTATION / REMOVAL OF SOME ZIMBABWEANS TO ZIMBABWE BY THE HOME OFFICE, UK GOVERNMENT - 14th July 2021

 14th July 2021

ROHR Zimbabwe is gravely concerned about the impending deportation / removal of some Zimbabweans to Zimbabwe by the Home Office of the government of the United Kingdom.

It has come to our attention that since the week commencing 5^th July 2021, the Home Office enforcement unit has been detaining large numbers of Zimbabweans for the purpose of deporting / removing them on chartered flights the first of which is scheduled to depart on Wednesday 21^st July 2021. Those being targeted are mainly those without leave to remain and / or have no live leave to remain applications filed with the Home Office. Top of the list are those with a criminal record in the United Kingdom.

What is disturbing about this move by the Home Office is not only that it gives no regard to the fact that the deportees’ lives are in danger when they get to Zimbabwe but also that this development is pursuant to a bilateral arrangement between the notorious government of Zimbabwe and the government of the United Kingdom. The clandestine nature of the operation and the speed at which it is being executed appears to be designed to give the victims little to no chance of access to legal representation.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Government of Zimbabwe has an atrocious human rights record with so many recorded cases of state sponsored murder, abductions, enforced disappearances, torture, rape, excessive pre-trial incarceration and general persecution of those perceived to be enemies of the state. In this category fall members of opposition political parties, human rights activists, journalists and the diaspora community. The diaspora community in particular is accused of being sell outs mainly because they publicly speak out against the human rights violations of the repressive Zimbabwean government state agencies and the ruling party, ZANU-PF thereby exposing the Zimbabwean government’s ugly human rights record to the international community.

For the avoidance of doubt we wish to draw attention to the dossier of some of the human rights violations by the Mnangangwa regime since he ascended to power on the back of a military coup in November 2017. In a short space of time, Emmerson Mnangagwa has outperformed his notorious predecessor, Robert Mugabe in persecuting perceived enemies of the state who happen to be innocent and unarmed civilians of all walks of life. The dossier can be accessed via the following hyperlink;- https://rohr-zimbabwe.org/index.php/2020/07/19/rohr-zimbabwe-dossier-on-human-rights-violations-in-zimbabwe-from-nov-2017-july-2020-pdf-version/ .

More recent record of human rights violations by the government of Zimbabwe can be accessed via the monthly reports by ZimRights here or on the 2021 ZimRights monthly reports for June, April, March, February and January.

We urge the Home Office to immediately stop deportations / removals to Zimbabwe until such a time there has been a change in the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

We also ask all residents of the United Kingdom to support all the initiatives that the Zimbabwean community in the United Kingdom will come up with to fight against these deportations / removals

It is our considered view that the deportees face imminent danger if they return to Zimbabwe.

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By Information & Publicity Department
Contact: - Panyika Anselm Karimanzira
Spokesperson
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
Mobile: - +447538534375
Email: - rohrzimbabwe@yahoo.com
Email: - anselm.karimanzira@yahoo.ie

 

ROHR Zimbabwe Official Statement on Free and Fair Elections and the alleged Webster Shamhu completed ballot papers

ROHR Zimbabwe - WOJA - TWOCO - Petition Submission 15th September 2017

Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe partnered with Women of Justice Arise on the 15th of September in a protest against rape being used as a weapon of intimidation by the ZANU PF regime in the 2018 Zimbabwean Elections.

In Attendance (Representing Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe):

Nicolate Gwati, Tsungirirayi Kahiya, Grayson Petros, Weston Mupfururirwa, Mary Muteyerwa, Lynette Chivizhe, Lillian Nleya, Patricia Chingozha, Bridgette Mupotsa, Salome Nkiwane, Namatirai Angela Sithole and Magdeline Moyo

The demonstration started with activists meeting at Parliament Square in Westminster, the activists gathered representing various U.K. based Zimbabwean Human Rights Organisations namely: Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR Zimbabwe), Women of Justice Arise (WOJA), Tawananyasha Widows and Orphans Christian Organisation (TWOCO). The protest moved onto 10 Downing Street where the activists proceeded with the handing over of a signed petition addressed to Lord Ahmad, requesting the U.K. government of Theresa May to intervene on political violence against women in Zimbabwe.

The petition was handed over at 10 Downing Street by representatives of TWOCO, WOJA, ROHR Zimbabwe. The representatives of these organisations where: Deborah Jandles, Beverly Mutandiro, Lean Jean Mushuku and Nicolate Shungu Gwati. The petition was signed by women and is for women. Rape is physically and emotionally destructive not only to the victims but also to their families and the communities that they belong to. ROHR Zimbabwe strongly condemns the raping of women and our hope is that the petition that was presented would enable the UK government to intervene to ensure there is a free and fair election in 2018, where women are free to vote for any party they choose without being intimidated.

From 10 Downing Street, the activists moved on to the South African Embassy before finally ending up at the Zimbabwe Embassy – continuing with their peaceful demonstration to create awareness amongst the British Public of the atrocities being committed by the ZANU PF government against women in Zimbabwe, with countries like South Africa not taking action to assist the Zimbabwean women.

Report typed by: Nicolate Gwati

Secretary ROHR Zimbabwe UK Chapter Midlands Branch