ROHR Zimbabwe Combined Manchester & Liverpool Branches Meeting Saturday 8th March, 2014 Report
On Saturday 8th March, 2014 Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe human rights activists from Manchester, Liverpool, stoke on Trent and Kent in the UK converged at Central Methodist Church, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ for a combined Manchester & Liverpool Branches meeting which started at 2:00 pm and ended at 6:00 pm.
The meeting was also attended by some members of the National Executive Committee of the UK Chapter, namely Panyika Anselm Karimanzira (Secretary for Information & Publicity), Paradzai Mapfumo (National Co-ordinator), Lorraine Mudyiwa (Co-ordinator – North) and Delina Mutyambizi (Treasurer). Delina Mutyambizi who is also Chairperson of Manchester branch, chaired the meeting.
Other attendees included Pythias Makonese (Vice Chairperson of Manchester branch) as well as activists Sithembiso Sibanda (from Stoke on Trent), Petronella Mahachi (from Liverpool), David Ngwenya, Kelly Muranganwa, Eve Mwadiwa, Chipiwa Stella Makaranga, Hedwig Tabikira and Artwell Pfende
The meeting was updated, by Panyika Karimanzira and Paradzai Mapfumo, on current human rights situation in Zimbabwe as well as the activities of ROHR Zimbabwe on the ground in Zimbabwe and also in South Africa and the UK. Under the theme “Who is a human rights activist”, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was discussed in great detail and so were the Aims & Objectives of ROHR Zimbabwe.
As has become the norm, the meeting was interactive with everyone participating in the proceedings. These included, among other things, the implications on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe of the mooted easing of targeted sanctions on some of the ruling elite in Zimbabwe by the EU as well as the way forward for the UK Chapter of ROHR Zimbabwe in its ever-important role of providing material and intellectual resources to the people on the ground in Zimbabwe.
There was also a lively question and answer session during which everyone presents contributed to the ensuing debate on a wide range of topics, including ROHR Zimbabwe’s ongoing involvement with and impact on the activities on the ground in Zimbabwe.
In a process presided over by Lorraine Mudyiwa and Paradzai Mapfumo, the meeting also set up an interim Manchester & Liverpool Branch Committee to steer the revitalization of the two branches and the resumption of the Manchester and Liverpool Vigils and petitions. The line up of this interim committee is as follows; –
Chairperson: – Delina Mutyambizi, Vice Chairperson: – Pythias Makonese, Secretary: – Petronella Mahachi, Vice Secretary: – Sithembiso Sibanda, Info & Publicity Secretary: – Panyika Karimanzira, Activist 1: – Chipiwa Stella Makaranga Activist 2: – Hedwig Tabikira, Activist 3: – Artwell Pfende, Treasurer: – David Ngwenya. The Chairperson would also act as Organizing Secretary for now.
The meeting ended at a around 6:00 pm.
To view pictures taken at the event, click here or follow link below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/sets/72157642144581084/
By: Panyika Karimanzira – Information & Publicity Secretary
