Zimbabwe 2013 Programs Report
Celebrating five years of fighting and advancing the cause of human rights in Zimbabwe, ROHR Zimbabwe has come of age. Alongside huge achievements that include the maiden peace building project which was supported by the European Commission in 2010, the organization has survived fierce internal turbulence that threatened its existence. It was either the vision had to die or some bad elements had to be gotten rid of.
2013 was a major shifting point for the nation with the holding of the harmonized elections on the 31st of July. ROHR Zimbabwe represented by Deputy Chairperson Ronald Mureverwi took part in the Feya Feya Conference which took place in Bulawayo, Montegomery Gardens on the 27th of June 2013 before the holding of the harmonized elections. The broader Civil Society converged in Bulawayo to assert a firm position with regards to advocating for a free and fair election as well as lobbying for the implementation and upholding of the SADC Guidelines for free and fair elections
The Feya Feya campaign was endorsed by ROHR Zimbabwe and, spanning from this event, members of ROHR Zimbabwe in South Africa, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe embraced the initiative and actively took part. The harmonized elections have ushered in a new dispensation in which Civil Society and development players are yet to adjust to the new dynamics in order to impact the community development agenda.
In realigning with the current environment, ROHR Zimbabwe will be holding its 6th Annual Board meeting for the first time in the United Kingdom. The significance of having the meeting in England is motivated by expressing solidarity to the contribution that has come from this constituency to developmental issues back home in Zimbabwe.
To see the year off, ROHR Zimbabwe, as a member of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, attended the coalition’s elective AGM in Bulawayo at the Montegomery Gardens on the 16th of December, 2013. The successful AGM saw the appointment of a new Board headed by Dewa Mavhinga as the Board Chairperson, Samkeliso Khumalo as the deputy Chairperson and Mfundo Mlilo as the spokesperson respectively. ROHR Zimbabwe would like to congratulate this new administration elect and wish them a prosperous tenure in office. We look forward to working with the elected board in 2014 going forward.
ROHR Zimbabwe acknowledges the divine intervention of God for the reigning of peace within Zimbabwe’s borders, before, during and after the harmonized elections amid high speculations of political violence. The prevalence of peace is an integral foundation for national development and observance of fundamental rights.
Grace Mupfurutsa
Chairperson – Board of Trustees
