We are very pleased to inform you that our Leicester ROHR branch is now back on track. We have a full programme of human rights campaigning activities on our calendar year with even more involvement with the local civil society. For details of our next general meeting see NOTICES

In addition, Ambrose has arranged for us to attend a talkshow titled 'State of the African Union' this  Saturday evening the 21st April 2012 from 6pm to 7:30pm at Leicester, Secular Society, Secular Hall 75 Humberstone Gate Leicester LE11WB, opposite Sainsbury's. I know its a bit short notice, but it does sound interesting, please see link below for further details.  http://www.stateoftheafricanunion.net23.net/

2012 becomes a crucial year for ROHR. The trials and tribulations of 2011, the efforts of ZANU PF in trying to infiltrate and split the organisation all paled into insignificance as ardent members and supporters braved the chilly weather to converge at the Strand Continental Hotel on 4^th of February 2012. This was evidenced by the harmony, unity of purpose and commitment to the cause of human rights that characterised the meeting from start to finish. The presence of some members from the Zimbabwe Vigil team including Rose Benton and Fungayi Mabhunu made it all the more assuring and inspirational.

Following registration and introductions, one of the UK Co-ordinators, Mr Collin Chitekwe, opened the meeting by drawing attention to ongoing attempts by a few disgruntled members of the previous UK executive in collaboration with agents from the Mugabe regime to destroy ROHR Zimbabwe by demonising its Founder and President, Mr Ephraim Tapa. He cautioned members to be wary of anyone who sought to discredit those who had a good track record of fighting for a better Zimbabwe and encouraged all to be vigilant. He ended up by encouraging members to take responsibility for defending their organisation and to raise issues of concern at appropriate fora and not in the media.

It was then time for the Founder to take the floor. Mr Tapa gave an account of how the organisation was formed, starting with himself and later, inviting others to the Board of Trustees. He went on to explain how the financial arrangements operated, detailing the in-built checks and balances, in the process. The meeting heard how ROHR had become a victim of its successes and how the enemy had taken advantage to cause divisions and near demise of the organisation. The President declared ‘we all know who stands to benefit from the collapse of ROHR’ adding that this will never be allowed to happen. Later, Mr Tapa took time to tackle the spurious allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him, proving to all present that it was in fact himself who had subsidised the organisation from own pocket right from its inception. He also told the meeting why these problems had only started now, citing his involvement of the Zimbabwe We Can Movement and a perceived opportunity to benefit from possible donor funds by some members of the former Board of Trustees . The meeting were left convinced that the ugly hand of the Zimbabwe regime was at work prompting member after member, to express their dismay at the unwarranted interference and their determination to save the organisation and bring it to its former glory.

After all questions had been asked and clarifications made, the meeting culminated in the election of an interim national executive committee with a fixed term of 6 months. The new interim office bearers are: Chair: Catherine Tshezi, Vice Chair: Wellington Muringai, Secretary: Portia Mwayera, Vice Secretary: Tapiwa Semwayo, Treasurer: Fungayi Mabhunu, Vice Treasurer: Bright Domingo, Organising Secretary: Chamunorwa Chisuko, Deputy Organising Secretary: Mary Ndoro, Information and Publicity: Nobuhle Mazula, Vice Information and Publicity: Huvandirwa Makaza, Fundraising Team: Ernest Zvoma, Tawanda Matemura, Naome Kakungowa, Georgina Makaza, Delline Mutendi, Co-ordinators: Jonathan Kariwoh, Rumbidzai Javani and Bright Domingo join existing co-ordinators: Collin Chitekwe, Rugare Chifungo and Lungile Ncube.

Members believed that this would give them the opportunity to assess and identify those who were genuinely interested in human rights activism. The new team was tasked with the responsibility to revive structures, conduct a membership audit, bring in growth and stability to the organisation. It was resolved that a national conference would be held at the expiry of six months to elect a substantive executive. ROHR members were happy to move on and take the fight against the abuses of human rights in Zimbabwe to the Mugabe regime.

One of the attendees concluded by declaring ‘We, as the new ROHR national executive are prepared and committed to work hard and dedicate ourselves to the restoration of human rights and advocate for those that are unable to do so themselves. We should take this opportunity to reflect that while we can, some people (in Zimbabwe) cannot stand up and fight against human rights abuses and it is therefore our duty and obligation to do just that, bring justice to Zimbabwe.’

Another member cited reports of the Chinese abusing workers in Zimbabwe (Racist Chinese bosses abuse African workers, http://greatindaba.com/issue/january-2012/article/racist-chinese-bosses-abuse-african-workers) and the ongoing abuses at the Marange diamonds fields(http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/zimbabwe/111005/blood-diamond-mines-conflict-minerals-kimberley-process-). The newly elected member declared ‘this cannot be allowed to continue’.

Yet another member pointed out a recent article that human rights abuses are now rife in Matabeleland North and  that according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Matabeleland North province is now the most hostile province in the country as police have so far arrested or harassed more than 40 politicians and human rights activists since January lastyear.www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/news/34-news/6854-cops-defy-high-court-order.html. Everyone agreed that ROHR Zimbabwe had a lot to do to bring relief on the suffering people of Zimbabwe.

Watch this space.

Nobuhle Mazula
ROHR UK Publicity and Information Secretary (Interim)

I am writing this letter to clarify the situation regarding our sister organization the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR).  It was set up in 2007 to be the Zimbabwe Vigil’s face on the ground in Zimbabwe. ROHR has now become well known and consequently there have been attempts to disrupt it – partly by government intelligence agents but also by elements seeking to cash in on promises of donor funds.

The upshot is that there is a group purporting to represent ROHR who are likely to make approaches to you in connection with asylum matters who are not authentic representatives of the organisation. ROHR continues to be led by its founding President Ephraim Tapa, who is also a founder member of the Vigil.

At a meeting of the ROHR Board of Trustees in Johannesburg on 21^st – 22^nd July 2011 Mr Tapa’s leadership of ROHR in Zimbabwe was confirmed. His ROHR position was reaffirmed at a meeting in London on 4^th February 2012 at which a new ROHR UK Executive was elected.  See our websites for more information (www.zimvigil.co.uk and www.rohrzimbabwe.org). Any other websites purporting to represent ROHR are not recognised by the Vigil.

For you information, Mr Tapa was a former head of a Zimbabwean civil service union and fled to the UK in 2002 after torture. He is currently working as a probation officer in London and has won a London Probation Trust Changing Lives Award.  

ROHR Leicester general meeting minutes – 22nd January 2012
Venue: Phoenix Square Café, Midland Street, Leicester LE1 1TG
Present:  Enniah Dube, Ambrose Musiyiwa, Stanley Zvekare, Lorraine Manenji and Rachael Munda, Huvandirwa Makaza.
Apologies Sithembiso Chilufuya, Wadzanayi Mpandawana

 The meeting began promptly at 17.30hrs with Rachael formally addressing the agenda. Discussed were the remainder of the positions in the committee, Huvandirwa was then elected to the position of Information and Publicity officer, and will be working closely with Ambrose.

 The group also finalised the branch’s 2012 calendar. It was agreed that all members take responsibility for organising events. Stanley volunteered to oversee the campaign to send letters of solidarity to victims of social injustice to commemorate Social Injustice day on 20^th February. Huvandirwa volunteered to co-ordinate the Human Rights exhibition on the 24^th of March. Enniah elected to organise the event on 3 May, which is a meeting at New Walk Café followed by a press freedom campaign in the town centre. Lorraine volunteered to co-ordinate the branch BBQ fundraising event on the 7^th of July. Rachael will co-ordinate the event to submit our petition on 19^th August. Sithembiso was elected to oversee the anti-violence campaign day event. Wadzanai and Ambrose will be in charge of the human rights day event on 10^th December.

 The meeting ended at 18:15 and then the group attended the screening of the documentary ‘Mugabe and the White African’.

Lorraine Manenji, Secretary ROHR Leicester

ROHR Leicester attends showing of ‘Mugabe and the White African at the Leicester Documentary Film Festival
ROHR members present: Enniah Dube, Stanley Zvekare, Lorraine Manenji, Ambrose Musiyiwa, Huvandirwa Makaza, Rachael Munda 

The inaugural Leicester Documentary Film Festival began on Friday 20^th January. It was hosted by the Phoenix Square Film and Digital Media Centre and featured a wide range of fascinating and controversial documentaries from around the world covering diverse subjects including journalism, the environment, war and human rights.

The ROHR Leicester group attended the final day of the festival in support of the screening of the documentary ‘Mugabe and the White African’. This film depicts one family’s fight against a relentless campaign of state-sanctioned terror. It highlights the gross human rights violations happening in Zimbabwe and the total disregard for the law.

The film started at 6:15pm and the event organiser, John Coster, of the Reportage club and editor of Citizens’ eye Community News Agency gave a brief introduction and acknowledged our group to the audience, encouraging them to sign our Zimbabwe elections petition at the end of the film.

We had a stand set up just outside the screening room and after the film; we all engaged with members of the audience who were interested to know the current situation in Zimbabwe and offered their support by signing our petition and buying our campaign wrist bands.

Rachael Munda, Chairperson (ROHR Leicester)

21^st JANUARY 2012

Mr. Richard Mahlahla was appointed the chairman for today as the chairperson was going to arrive after the meeting had started. He took the opportunity to welcome parties to the meeting and notified them of health and safety exit points. Mr. Colet Dube opened the meeting with a prayer. The Chairman invited individuals to introduce themselves after which everyone had the opportunity to do so.

Rugare apologized to the North East branch regarding an incident that happened on 23^rd July 2011 when the executive were present. From Rugare’s understanding the executive were given an hour to hold their meeting before attending the North East meeting but they went on until the closing time that had been allocated to us when we booked the venue. The North East branch were not happy because they were supposed to meet the executive after they had held their election and that did not go as planned which meant they had to go home after their elections without meeting the executive. It was advised that those who can, should attend ROHR meeting on 4^th February 2012 in London and people should keep themselves informed by reading the upcoming events on the ROHR website. Some members from North East will be attending the meeting on the 4^th February 2012 in London.

Mr. Richard Mahlahla said that people must be dedicated and committed and work together to achieve the objectives as the North East branch. Richard Mahlahla encouraged parties to empower each other and to be morally correct. He also suggested that if some of our members cannot attend meetings perhaps internet skyping could be used for members who could not attend the meeting due to different commitments. The Chairman again emphasized that first of all people should remove gossiping and remove tribal politics and jealous. He asked people to change their behaviour and leave the hate thing and not to focus on material things. He added that it is the reason why people fail because they focus on the wrong things and easily get distracted. Cathrine suggested that transparency is needed in any organization if it is to grow. The Chairman put forward that ROHR members need to identify issues that have failed ROHR in the past and how the issues have been resolved. He pointed out that people need to communicate more and not to act like businessmen in competition because this organization is about human rights and empowering people in Zimbabwe. He again emphasized that parties should not entertain gossip. Individuals were encouraged to spread togetherness and bring more people to join ROHR. Tapiwa stated that ROHR cannot move forward if individuals sit back and wait for others to work. Alan Chamboko suggested that as a ROHR activist that he believed in ROHR and emphasized that we should be focused more on the aims and objectives of ROHR and not to be distracted with other things. He also mentioned that in future if there are issues going on within the executive as members we should be informed to avoid disengagement.

Parties discussed that ROHR needs to draw attention as a human rights organisation. They agreed that during the campaign, they need to be recognized for example by wearing T-Shirts with the name ROHR printed on them or wearing reflective jackets with the name of ROHR printed. Richard Mahlahla suggested that as part of a campaign, members could walk in areas picking up litter. A placard with the name ROHR printed on it will be used. He mentioned that what members needed to do was to approach councils and inform them of an area where there is litter. ROHR members would then offer to the council to clean the area. A theme would be used during the campaign. MP lobbying was advised.

Hazvineyi Choto reminded the meeting that last time a ROHR awareness raising day for fundraising purposes had been suggested.  Parties were urged to come up with fundraising ideas that do not create losses. Members were informed that during the meeting of 23^rd July 2011 it was agreed that people could pay what they can afford and there was no fixed amount suggested. Richard Mahlahla pointed out that ROHR needs money and that there are donations which could be received from the areas where members live. Parties mentioned that they needed to raise the issue of £10.00 subscriptions at the forum. The Chairman recommended that people should contribute. He commented that if people could not afford to contribute money they could be supporters or members. Hazvineyi Choto wanted to know if the application for money which had been applied for was still ongoing. Rugare responded that it was still ongoing but a North East bank account needed to be opened first which needs three signatories.  Cathrine suggested if we could have an awareness campaign first before fundraising event. Rugare urged members to spread emails that she would have forwarded to them for example petitions that might need signing. Mr Richard Mahlahla and Martin Ngwerume urged people to attend a meeting that they were going to be having with the home office on the 26^th January 2012. Richard Mahlahla and Martin Ngwerume also advised members to check online their organization called DASUK.

The meeting went well and the Chairman thanked members for coming and asked Pelargia Chandafira to give a closing prayer. The date of the next meeting will be notified to members in due course. 

Minutes compiled by Tapiwa Merrymore Semwayo