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Zimbabwe Briefing Issue 42
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (SA Regional Office)
September 07, 2011

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All roads lead to Musina

That the phrase 'human rights violations' is only raised when gross violations such as violence or murder occur, is a major cause of cause of concern. Against this backdrop, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has organised the Zimbabwe Human Rights Festival in the South African border town of Musina.

The concept of the Human Rights Arts Festival is not understood neither is it openly articulated nor embraced at the organizational or national level. Education systems and propaganda on national media platforms redefine human rights in broad terms that do not readily relate to the reality in the lives of ordinary people. There are no platforms available to the communities that do not readily relate to the reality in the lives of ordinary people. There are no platforms available to the community that define the rights of people or how they can understand them and better and advocate for them. The festival aims at using art to articulate a human rights discourse that speaks to the everyday living of the migrant Zimbabweans as well as the South Africans who are hosting them. The mass movement of Zimbabweans to South Africa has meant that most of these Zimbabweans are displaced and living in a foreign country they have no way of getting help. The festival therefore aims to empower these Zimbabweans with Information on where to get help should they need it.

Zimbabweans living in South Africa have and are experiencing different types of human rights violations but because of ignorance or lack of knowledge their plight has gone unrecorded and unsolved therefore, the festival is a platform to showcase different organisations that can help them in different situations. The festival is a good way to inform because it is both entertaining and is informal meaning that it will draw more crowds and the audience embrace it.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is using the Festival as way of showcasing different organisations that are available for Zimbabwean immigrants. It is also being used to honour those individuals who have been steadfast in helping the Zimbabweans and also highlight the human atrocities that the people of Zimbabwe have experienced both within and outside Zimbabwe.

According to Sharon Gwati a child rights activist and Festival coordinator human rights violations are not limited to the political issues the media portrays. "Lack of access to information regarding to health, education and any information that improves a person's welfare is a gross violation of one's human rights. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Arts Festival seeks to empower the Zimbabwean community in Limpopo with such information," she says.
There are thousands of Zimbabweans that have migrated to South Africa and most of them lack the basic necessities that should be every person's right, therefore this festival seeks to address, inform and empower these Zimbabweans to where they can seek help.

The Festival will not only be about informing and empowering but also it will be have entertainment on the menu. Different artists from Zimbabwe will be performing like Madiz and Deverangwenya Jazz Band. The success of the Festival will be the emancipation of the Zimbabweans living In Musina and South Africa.

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