28th February 2021

On Saturday the 27thFebruary 2021, the Scotland Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe held a meeting via zoom. Thenjiwe Ndlovu (Information and Publicity Secretary) chaired the meeting.

The minutes were taken by Olivia Chamboko and compiled by Masciline Mzondiwa.

REGISTER OF ATTENDANCE
Alvina Chibhamu, Olivia Chamboko, Thenjiwe Ndlovu, Masciline Mzondiwa, Harriet Ndlovu, Vongayi Mufara. Guests from other branches were Nicolate Gwati, Vengai Mutsawu, Delina Mutyambizi, Sheilla Mironga and Magadaline Moyo,

Apologies
No apologies were received.

Alvina asked to add an item to the agenda as it was missed. Item 2 on the agenda should be: “Updates on Human Rights Violations in Zimbabwe”. It was agreed by all in last meeting that this would be a standard agenda item after welcome remarks and confirmation of minutes- approved.

Agenda

  1. Matters arising from the previous meeting.
  2. *Added* (Updates on human rights violations in Zimbabwe)
  3. Scotland Branch 2021 Year Calendar
  4. Campaign- International Women’s Day
  5. Update on subscriptions.
  6. Election of the New Chairperson
  7. Any other business.

Welcome Remarks

Thenjiwe started the meeting at 14:05hrs. She welcomed all guests and acknowledged visiting members from other branches who also introduced themselves and their respective branches. She said a short prayer in appreciation of life and remembrance of loved ones lost in the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

Minutes Approval

Alvina called for seconding of minutes of our last branch meeting held on 7th November 2020. They were approved by all present and were adopted as a true record.

  1. Matters arising from previous meeting

Olivia cited the issue of fundraising for the Albino community discussed in our last meeting. It was noted that the Midlands Branch has taken on that project and everyone was encouraged to participate.

  1. Updates on human rights violations in Zimbabwe

Alvina updated us on the unlawful incarceration of a University of Zimbabwe student, Alan Moyo for 75days. Thankfully, he has been released as of the 20th February 2021 but his case highlights that the Zanu-PF government is still carrying on with arbitrary arrests in a bid to silence dissent. Vengai spoke about Vice President Kembo Mohadi being caught up in a shameful sex scandal and being linked to several young women some of whom were married. Mohadi has denied all allegations and claimed his phone to have been stolen. The matter highlights the lack of respect for women and the flagrant abuse of authority by the Vice President.

Vongayi added updates on the arrest of student leaders, including Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) President Takudzwa Ngadziore, who were in solidarity with Makomborero Haruzivishe, a Human Rights Defender who is being detained on trumped up charges. This is a clear sign of closure of the democratic space by the regime in Harare.

Nicolate raised the issue of the double standards Zanu-PF live by. While ZINASU students were arrested on charges of breaking COVID-19 rules after attending court in solidarity of fellow imprisoned comrades, merely two days ago President Mnangagwa held a rally where hundreds of people were in attendance. Three weeks ago, the MP for Bindura, Kenneth Musanhi also held a rally, attended by a lot of people but both occasions were not treated as breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules. Here, we see selective application of the law. There is one rule for people affiliated with Zanu-PF and another for ordinary citizens in clear violation of citizens’ constitutional and human rights.

Harriet cited violations around the continued demolition of houses in Harare leaving families stranded. This command politics based on iron-fisted governance style must be resisted and we as an organisation should call on those responsible to stop it. Sheila concurred, stating that the heartless and cruel demolition of citizens’ homes is a violation of human rights and a violation of the dignity and security of persons. Most of the people who were affected had worked for 10-15 years to build their homes.

Action

Vongayi suggested campaigning against corruption as the top officials in the government and councils corruptly solicit for bribes before allocating illegal land and they later demolish the houses saying they are illegal.

  1. Scotland Branch 2021 Year Calendar

Vongayi suggested that for our annual calendar, we should plan and prepare in advance. She drew on the idea we did for events like #16daysactivism in Nov/Dec 2020 against Gender violence and continue along those lines for national events such as Zimbabwe Independence (as we are clearly not independent) and so on.  We can improvise or adjust the calendar as and when issues come up in Zimbabwe.

Alvina seconded what Vongayi said and stressed that we need to be part of the conversations concerning violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. On national days, we missed the boat on LGBT History Month which takes place for the whole of February each year. We can piggyback on other events such as Zimbabwe holidays and International awareness days such as:

–May 1st Workers Day; there are no jobs in Zimbabwe, and we need to have address why that is.

–May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day; we all know how it is in Zimbabwe. The continued persecution of the likes of award winning Zimbabwean journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono is testimony to the fact that there is no freedom of press whatsoever in Zimbabwe.

Alvina added it is also a chance to revisit issues that seem to fall from the limelight  with the passage of time. For example;-

-4th JuneDay of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression; re-examine previous campaign on #JusticeForTapiwaMakore

–7th June World Day against Child Labour; Child labour is rampant. Some examples are  the cases of children working at the Chiadzwa Diamond mines and Chiredzi sugar plantations.

-13th June International Albinism Day; support Midlands branch campaign for aforementioned albino community in Highfields, Harare, Zimbabwe.

20th June World Refugee Day: explore issues faced by asylum seekers in the UK.

Sheilla suggested to add ‘Girl child campaign’ on the calendar and to join international platforms on this campaign so that we do something for the girl child in Zimbabwe.  Alvina confirmed the date to be;

–11th October International Day of the girl child.

Vongayi applauded all suggestions brought forward today and proposed to continue filling in our calendar on the Scotland Committee platform.

Action

Vongayi encouraged members to join in campaigns from other branches as well as perpetuate or re-do previous campaigns to keep conversations going. Zanu-PF is not stopping.

  1. Launch of Campaign – International Women’s Day

Following a suggestion by Alvina, the meeting agreed that our campaign for the month of March 2021 be centred on International Women’s day (#IWD2021) on 8th March 2021. The theme this year is #ChooseToChallenge, and we will run it concurrently with #IWD2021.

We will be looking at the scene on both local and international level and we will be engaging on social platforms so as to be part of the conversations. We can do it as individuals and post on the social platforms, celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness against violence, thinking about equality, be it in the home or workplace. We challenge those things, we question why things are the way they are, not being content with the status quo and we partake in ongoing discourse on gender inequality.

Vongayi suggested we should challenge what Vice President Mohadi is doing and how government spokesperson Nick Mangwana is covering up. Magadaline highlighted the disparaging twit by Nick Mangwana on the matter whereby he said “it is now an issue when older men are dating younger women but when younger women are dating older men, they call them blessers”. A shocking comment which is suggestive of him being in support of what the VP Mohadi is doing in abuse of office.

Vengai supported that idea and also brought up what Themba Mliswa did which was also violating women’s rights. They are shameless and will continue abusing their positions of power. They get to cover up with no consequences. Elsewhere in the progressive world, Mohadi, Mangwana and Mohadi would have resigned or been fired.

Other suggestions for the campaign included attention to the inhibitive cost of Sanitary products for women as well as matters to do with contraceptives, pregnancy/childbirth, healthcare etc. .

Nicolate reminded us to also consider the positives such as highlighting the work being done by women in Zimbabwe. This includes champions such as Beatrice Mtetwa who stands up for the rights of others in courts, Samantha in Chitungwiza and the Epworth Kitchen women who are providing people with food amid government failures.

Action

The meeting agreed that the discussion as to how to execute the campaign should continue on the Scotland branch committee platform.

  1. Update on Subscriptions

Harriet thanked everyone for their contributions and fundraising efforts in the last year, especially for the Epworth kitchen initiative. She encouraged everyone to be up to date with their subscriptions and membership fees. She raised the issue of branch bank account, which we are aware is an ongoing conversation with other branches. Delina the Board member spearheading this project had connectivity issues and Nicolate jumped in to inform us that it is all on track and we will be updated in due course.

  1. Election of New Chairperson

Olivia Chamboko is stepping down from her post as branch chairperson for health reasons. It therefore became necessary to elect a new chairperson and also fill up other positions that may have become vacant over time. .
Olivia went through the current committee, which is as follows;

Chairperson – Olivia Chamboko
Secretary – Alvina Chibhamu
Organising Secretary – Vongayi Mufara
Information & Publicity Secretary – Thenjiwe Ndlovu
Treasurer- Abigail Chidavayenzi
Vice Treasurer- Harriet Ndlovu
Fundraiser- to be filled.
Committee Member – to be filled.

Nominations and voting were opened to the floor. A new Executive Committee of the branch was elected as follows; –

New Branch Executive Committee w.e.f. 27th February 2021

Chairperson – Alvina Chibhamu
Vice Chairperson – Olivia Chamboko
Secretary – Masciline Mzondiwa
Organising Secretary – Vongayi Mufara
Information & Publicity Secretary – Thenjiwe Ndlovu
Treasurer – Harriet Ndlovu
Vice Treasurer – Abigail Chidavayenzi
Fundraiser- Vacant
Committee Member – Vacant

As standard procedure, Mr Panyika Karimanzira will contact each member via email with information on their respective new roles.

  1. Any other business

Alvina brought up the matter of fundraising for Epworth kitchen for kids arising from  minutes of last meeting. Masciline suggested we do a rota of say fundraise for 2/3months then send the groceries over and so forth. All agreed.

Thenjiwe announced that the date of the next branch meeting is 27th March 2021.

All agenda items and any other business having been exhausted, Thenjiwe thanked everyone for attending and declared the meeting closed at 15:45hrs.

To view pictures taken at the event, follow this link.

By: Information & Publicity Department