Zimbabwe: Harere Central Hospital Memorandum – Re: Suspesion of Elective Lists- Drug Shortage (16.09.2016)

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Sobering message from Zimbabwe People First leader Joice Mujuru (Youtube-Clip)

“JOHANNESBURG , 18 September 2016 . Leading opposition figure Joyie Mujuru has urged Zimbabweans living in South Africa to effect change in their country through the ballot box.Addressing hundreds of Zimbabwean expatriates in Mamelodi on Saturday,the former deputy president says change is within reach” (eNCA, 2016)

Zimbabwe: Danida Hands over Murambinda Magistrates’ Court (17.09.2016)

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On the International Day of Democracy, UNPO Vice-President Delivers a Statement at the Human Rights Council (15.09.2016)

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Each year on the 15 September, the world celebrates the International Day of Democracy, highlighting the global importance of maintaining democratic values for nations and peoples. As one of its fundamental principles, UNPO is committed to advocating and supporting democracy around the world. Democracy is a form of government by and for the people, where freedom of expression, protection of human rights and the rule of law ensure that all its citizens are treated equally.  For many nations and peoples, however, autocratic governments not only fail to uphold democratic values but also are the very perpetrators of gross human rights violations. On this day, the international community turns its attention to victims of undemocratic governments and reflect on what can be done to promote inclusive, participatory, representative, accountable and transparent political systems. 

On this year’s International Day of Democracy, UNPO would like to draw particular attention to the case of Ethiopia. Despite its complete lack of democratic setup, the country is generally hailed as an African democratic role model and a beacon of stability in an otherwise troubled region. Aiming to raise awareness of the human rights abuses in Ethiopia committed by the authoritarian Tigray-dominated regime, Mr Abdirahman Mahdi, the leading representative of the Ogaden People’s Rights Organization and UNPO Vice-President, spoke today [15 September 2016] at the 33rd United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of the Nonradical Party, Transnational and Transparty.

In his speech, Mr. Mahdi highlighted that “while Ethiopia, in theory, has a federalist constitution that guarantees wide-ranging autonomy for the nations-based federal states and equal participation in national politics – in practice almost all the nations have no real say in political, economic and military affairs, instead these fall under the sole control of a Tigray-dominated elite, who does not shy away from using excessive violence”.

Ethiopia is but one case of many governments that adopt features to portray itself as democratic to the international community when, in reality, the complete opposite is true. The Ethiopian government has denied its people all the fundamental democratic rights promulgated in its constitution. Elections are consistently rigged and external observers are banned from coming to Ethiopia to monitor them. Armed and security forces extend their reach through all levels all society while trying to showcase to the world that a federal system has ensured the right to self-determination to its ethnic groups, as stated in the constitution.

However, 500 people were killed since November 2015 in various protests, including the most recent protests outside of Qilinti jail against the detention of Oromo politicians and activists which, according to Mr. Mahdi, is “the latest evidence of the readiness of the government to exert brute force against civilians”. Systematic use of rape as a weapon by the Ethiopian army and paramilitary forces as a way to exercise total control through fear and violence was also highlighted by Mr Mahdi in his speech at the HRC. In addition to systematic persecution, the victims of the Ethiopian regime are silenced due to the criminalization of free speech, impeding the news of their plight to be widespread throughout the international community. Journalists from abroad are banned access and local journalists are jailed, while NGOs on the ground are forbidden to report the facts.

Against this background, recently the Oromo athlete Feyisa Lilesa’s powerful gesture of resistance at the 2016 Rio Olympics brought much-needed media attention to the plight of the Oromos and the other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Concomitantly, the European Commission’s decision not to send money from its Emergency Fund to Ethiopia in consideration of the serious violations of freedom of speech and right to protest in Ethiopia contributed to drawing the international community’s attention to the lack of democracy in the country. On the International Day of Democracy, UNPO reaffirms its commitment to its core values and will continue to raise awareness of violations committed by states which, in many cases, claim to be “young democracies” to conceal its appalling human rights records and dictatorial structure.

Tens of thousands of protesters call for a regime change in Ethiopia (Youtube-Clip)

“Tens of thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Gonder in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia on Sunday demanding a change of government due to the unfair distribution of wealth in the country. The protest, reported to have been staged in defiance of a government order, is also in solidarity with the Oromia protests held between November last year to March 2016 in opposition to a government development plan in the region which could affect poor farmers” (Africa News, 2016)

Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Response to CNN’s Widely Publicised Story on Zimbabwe: 13-14 September 2016 (15.09.2016)

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Zimbabwe: Demonstration against the corrupt Savuour Kasukuwere (13.09.2016)

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Zimbabwe: Notice of Proposed Prohibition Order (13.09.2016)

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Ethiopia Meet EBC Getachew Reda Government Communication Affairs Minister on Oromia and Amhara demonstrations (Youtube-Clip)

Press Release: President Mugabe’s attack on Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission uncalled for (12.09.2016)

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Harare –The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) takes seriously the recent attacks by President Robert Mugabe on the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) as reflective of the Head of State and Government’s worrisome and negative attitude towards basic human rights in the country.

Following a report of investigations by the ZHRC on human rights violations concerning partisan food aid distribution, the President launched personal attacks on the Human Rights Commission’s chairperson, Mr. Elasto Mugwadi, and other Commissioners and deployed language meant to denigrate them and discredit their important work.

The President should be reminded that the independent constitutional Commission does not report to individual politicians, but to the Parliament of Zimbabwe which is a separate arm from the executive.

The Human Commission should be allowed to carry out is mandate without being subjected to unwarranted abuse, interference, and naked threats from political actors in evident disregard of the requirement that the constitutional body should conduct its public business independently.

As a Head of State and Government who is sworn to defending the people-driven Constitution of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe’s utterances betray a knee-jerk inclination to defend his political party, Zanu-PF’s officials who are accused of perpetuating discrimination than his constitutional duty and the public good to serve all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

Sections of 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe ensures equality and non-discrimination, and Section 77 guarantees the right to food, and the acts of partisan distribution of food aid and agricultural inputs grossly violate these fundamental human rights.

The revelations by the ZHRC are not new as many similar cases of discrimination in food aid and agricultural inputs were repeatedly reported by various civil society organisations, including ZimRights, the media and certain Members of Parliament over the past months, since and even before the onset of the current drought affecting many parts of the country.

This wave of concern from various stakeholders prompted earlier remarks from the President and Labour and Social Welfare Minister clarifying the position that government policy did not endorse discrimination in social welfare programs.

Given the importance of the human rights matter during the ongoing El-Nino induced drought affecting over 4 million people in the country, and the relief efforts by the government and humanitarian agencies, the ZHRC had a clear duty to investigate the continued concerns of discrimination brought to it by members of affected communities.

If President Robert Mugabe was true to his earlier word against discrimination the report by the ZHRC should move the government to discipline officials who are involved and perpetuating the human rights violations against government policy, the Constitution’s Bill of Rights and international human rights and humanitarian principles.

ZimRights is therefore concerned that despite spirited efforts by other stakeholders and of late the ZHRC, the utterances to the effect that these reports are false by the President encourages rather than discourage public officials who are behind such a clearly unconstitutional and inhuman practise that violates Ubuntu/Unhu.

For further inquiries contact:

National Chairperson, Passmore Nyakureba 0772 339 159 email: pnyakureba@maungamaanda.co.zw

National Director, Okay Machisa: 0772 135 882 email: omachisa@zimrights.co.zw