Re the Southwark message from the diaspora that all is not well.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYsf9dsNIjM

Statement from the Information & Publicity Department, MDC Pressroom – 29^th June 2009. (http://www.swradioafrica.com/Documents/khyupe290609.pdf) 

Full text of Acting President, Hon Thokozani Khupe’s speech after MDC Ministers walked out of Mugabe’s “Cabinet” meeting 

"For a long time the MDC has made issue of the unequivocal lack of paradigm shift on the part of ZANU PF as an actor in the Transitional government. For a long time we have remained the polite and subservient Upholders of the GPA against clear evidence of the absence of a reliable & honest partner. 

At the epicenter of our disappointment has been the unwillingness of ZANU PF to timeously resolve the unfinished issues of the inclusive government under the GPA. In particular, despite five months of endless meetings amongst the Principals ,the central issues of the Reserve Bank Governor, The Attorney General, the Provincial Governors, the swearing in of Roy Bennett and the appointment of ambassadors remain unresolved as such the inclusive government is yet to be fully constituted. 

These issues continue to affect the health of the GPA. They are structural issues that are at the root of the GPA. Any breach of the same and any failure to resolve the same is fundamental .Part of the problem lies in the fact that ZANU PF has not woken up to the reality of the MDC as an equal partner in the agreement following the March 29 result .More importantly they have not accepted that in the constitution, the GPA, Mr Mugabe and President Tsvangirai are placed on par and that the former cannot do anything without the latter. 

Further evidence of the lack of a paradigm shift, is the deliberate refusal to convene the National Security council. The National Security Council became law in February 2009 and demands that the Security council meets once every month. Four months later, it has not met simply because a few elite securocrats do not recognise the authority of the new order. 

The lack of recognition of the fundamental principle of equality has given rise to a persistent and corrosive culture of unilateralism. That unilateralism includes unlawful redefinition of the mandate of ministries, executive appointments and a pervasive reproduction of a business-of-the old order mentality. The same unilateralism is being reflected in the nascent constitution making process where suddenly and contrary to the provisions of the GPA, the Kariba draft constitution is now being sought to be imposed lock stoke and barrel on the people of Zimbabwe. 

Over and above this we have protested at the persistent abuse of the rule of law, the cynical disrespect of the countrys’ laws and flagrant insensitivity to the multiplier effect of all acts of lawlessness. We remain concerned about the persistent victimization, arrest and violence against our MPs, activists, civil society members, and members of staff. We have remained abhorred by the continuous incidents of farm invasions and virile prosecution of farmers. We have remained abhorred at the selective application of the rule of law. Equally of concern is our disenchantment at the continued frustration of the democratisation agenda by ZANU-PF. Media reforms remain aborted whilst state media, in particular the Herald and ZBC continue to churn out vitriol and propaganda. Equally, there is no movement on key legislation on fundamental issues such as the promotion of freedom of speech, assembly and expression. 

This morning, we were advised that Cabinet had been shifted from its mandated day of Tuesday to Monday at 10am. Innocent and innocuous as this decision may be, the fact of the matter is that it underpins everything wrong about the present agreement. The decision seeks to deny the recognition of the Prime Minister as chair of Cabinet when the President is away. Mr Mugabe has indicated that he will not be present on Tuesday and hence the unilateral decision to move Cabinet forward to today. This reflects unilateralism, disrespect, contempt and refusal to recognise reality and the letter and spirit of the GPA, the reality of 29 March 2009 and the reality of now to the extent that Cabinet is held on Tuesday, we will not attend an informal unilateral meeting. 

However whilst we remain fundamentally committed to the GPA in the interests of our people, it is our constitutional right to consider disengagement. It is time that for Christ’s sake toxicity and insanity are removed from the GPA. It is time that the irreversibility of our change became a living reality not just to ZANU-PF but to the people of Zimbabwe at large.

Thank you"

Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe is deeply disturbed by a vicious, hate-fuelled and well-orchestrated campaign by some UK-based Zimbabwean online newsites aimed at discrediting ROHR Zimbabwe as an organisation and the personal integrity of Ephraim Tapa, its President. Chief among these are Nehanda Radio, Zimdaily and ZimEye. Articles on these newsites have accused ROHR Zimbabwe and its President of masterminding a spontaneous response from Zimbabweans to the Zimbabwe Prime Minister, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s call for Zimbabweans in the diaspora to ‘come back home’. ROHR Zimbabwe and its leadership wants to disassociate itself from these malicious accusations as they are baseless and outright falsehoods. We also want to state categorically that at no time did the organisation agree, let alone set an agenda to ridicule or disrupt the Southwark Cathedral meeting. Mr Tapa was not even at the meeting. We therefore dismiss the accusations with the contempt they deserve. 

Why did the people boo the Prime Minister? Watching the online video clips, it is clear to see that the PM is loudly applauded at one point followed by a somewhat subdued reaction as he continues his speech, finally to be greeted by a spontaneous, deafening chorus of ‘Chinja!, Chinja! Mugabe must go!’ Truly this was not the work of Mr Ephraim Tapa or ROHR Zimbabwe and neither was it the work of its sister organisation, the Zimbabwe Vigil. To suggest so is to pour contempt on the conscience of the people of Zimbabwe whom we so respect. To launch this campaign on so little evidence mean that elements in the Zimbabwean UK Diaspora must feel very threatened by us as our message continues to reasonate with not only those in the Diaspora but also the wider constituency within Zimbabwe.  The issue is that Zimbabwe is still not safe to return for those who fled persecution and are in need of international protection. ROHR Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Vigil does not apologise to anyone for our principled stance that ‘Mugabe Must Go’, our demand for democracy and justice, respect for the rule of law and the Restoration of Human Rights. It is interesting that groups like the Vigil and ROHR who are kept busy by real activism don’t have the time or inclination to decampaign other groups.  

ROHR and its President have been accused of many other crimes in a campaign that dates back to 2007, when the MDC-UK & I Executive, then led by Ephraim Tapa, was dissolved unconstitutionally. At NO time was Mr Tapa ever EXPELLED from the MDC Chairmanship and for the record, he actually declined to stand the second time he was requested to do so. Then, the call was for the Party to uphold its founding principles – constitutional democracy, transparency, accountability and justice for all. The ROHR President continues to cherish those values and, unlike some who have started glorifying Mr Mugabe with the advent of the inclusive government, continues to fight for GENUINE CHANGE. Whilst engaged in this struggle for human rights and notwithstanding his right to do so, Mr Ephraim Tapa does not for now have plans to seek any political office within any political party. And contrary to misleading theories being peddled by those who seek to detract from him, Mr Tapa harbours no rancour or vendetta against anyone within the MDC family. 

The call NOW is for the inclusive government to address human rights concerns, uphold the rule of law and mete out justice to all those who perpetrated human rights abuses, including Robert Mugabe and his cronies. In its quest for these ideals, ROHR Zimbabwe has managed to create in three years a respectable national and international profile. Mindful of the suffering of Zimbabweans, ROHR Zimbabwe filed a lawsuit against Gono to remove cash withdrawal limits, mounted successful demonstrations in demand for justice and democracy, buried and cared for victims of the 2008 Mugabe terror campaign, provided basic necessities to vulnerable groups such as orphanages, the displaced, and disadvantaged school children, to name a few.  We have registered a prominent presence in defence of human rights as we continue to operate legally in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It seems ROHR Zimbabwe has become the victim of its success. 

ROHR Zimbabwe runs offices in Zimbabwe, employs staff, runs programmes and assists on humanitarian causes, and like any other organisation, it needs money to do this. As a membership based organisation, ROHR Zimbabwe depends mainly on the support of its membership. Monthly subscriptions are decided and managed as per its constitution and members reserve the right to vary this and determine the direction of the organisation. As an international organisation, ROHR Zimbabwe operates within the legal framework of host countries.  Membership is open to the willing and those who join do so of their free will. ROHR Zimbabwe is not a refugee or asylum organisation – it does not have the power to regularise anyone’s stay in any given country. We believe that those in need of international protection can only base their claims on their personal / activist profiles. We are however aware that ROHR Zimbabwe members, their staff, supporters and activists have been persecuted under the Mugabe regime and still continue to face persecution, along with other human rights defenders, under the inclusive government. Therefore, whilst membership of ROHR Zimbabwe or participation at the Zimbabwe Vigil may be helpful, it is important that those who join us do so for what we do: defending and restoring human rights in Zimbabwe and not otherwise.  

ROHR Zimbabwe will continue to stand by the people of Zimbabwe whatever it takes and will not allow itself to be distracted by hate-filled individuals hiding behind the facade of gutter journalism. ROHR Zimbabwe will never be silenced, especially not by merchants of hatred, jealousy and disunity. 

For SW Radio Africa’s broadcasts featuring the Vigil and ROHR’s position on what happened at the meeting at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday, 20^th June, please check SW Radio’s Archives: Newsreel on Monday, 22^nd June and Diaspora Diaries on Tuesday, 23^rd June – www.swradioafrica.com.  (http://www.swradioafrica.com/news220609/zimuk220609.htm) 

From the Information Department of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe