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The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), the country’s first post-independence indigenous human rights advocacy group passed a raft of resolutions that will see major changes in how the association operates. The changes will see the creation of a Women Council, the Business Council, the Diversity Council as well as a Diaspora Council as the grassroots movement moves towards a new inclusive human rights strategy for Zimbabwe.

These changes are part of the 14 resolutions passed by ZimRights during an Extraordinary General Meeting convened on 17 March 2021 at a virtual conference called specifically to ratify the resolutions and accelerate the institution’s transformation.

ZimRights believes that Devolution is the single most comprehensive door to a governance system of inclusion, participation and empowerment. As such, we strive to ensure that everybody participates in the devolution discourse. To achieve this, we translated the Guide to Understanding Devolution into Ndebele. If you want to receive the manual on Whats App, send us a Whats App message on +263 772 954 075

ZimRights Members in Gweru Confront the Police

ZimRights members in the Midlands have had enough of harassment by state security apparatus. Shadreck Muchena and Jerome Ndanga have taken steps to claim their right to justice. The two Gokwe men have pursued their cases of torture and robbery at the hands of the police and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officers, after several attempts to have the dockets finalised by the police had hit a brick wall. Shadreck Muchena who had been tortured by members of the army pursued his case despite the threats that he was receiving from members of the Central Intelligence Organisation and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Jerome Ndanga who witnessed a robbery which was initiated by members of the ZRP, but was being threatened for spilling the beans. With the help of lawyers from the ZimRights Secretariat, he successfully pushed for the opening of a docket against the perpetrators. The two were vigilant in the face of unprecedented threats. 

ZimRights has joined hands with other civil society organisations in fighting displacements under the CSO Working Group Against Displacements. The group is currently campaigning against the displacement of the Shangaan people in Chiredzi. ZimRights notes that there is a growing pattern of government manipulating the absence of security of tenure for communal lands to displace indigenous groups from their ancestral land. Other organisations that are part of the campaign are ZIMCODD, CNRG, WILSA, MACRAD, Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum, ZPP and Citizen Manifesto

ZimRights in partnership with the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) supported Kuchengetana Trust Relief Kitchen, in Chitungwiza Unit A Extension being run by Samantha Muzoroki. The Kitchen is providing food to over 3000 residents who are struggling economically and failed to get food during this Covid-19 induced lockdown since the first lockdown on March 30, 2020. ZimRights handed over COVID-19 hygiene packs including gloves, sanitizers and water dispensers. The consignment was handed over to Shelly Munyoro (Samantha Muzoroki’s mother). During the hand over, Munyoro said they served two meals a day, porridge in the morning and supper.

In our featured blog, ZimRights Communications Specialist, Rutendo Mawere reflects on what the Chilonga people are going through after their communal land was designated as State Land. What it means to live in uncertainty, in fear and eviction hovering over your head. 

If you care about the work we do, you can now donate to our work through our website. Visit www.zimrights.org.zw/donate/ and make your donation from any part of the world.