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Zimbabwe Briefing Issue 46
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (SA Regional Office)
October 05, 2011

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Zim civics gather in Geneva

Over a dozen Zimbabwe civil society leaders are on an advocacy mission in Geneva for the United Nations Human Rights Council's twelfth session of the Universal Periodic Review where Zimbabwe will on 10 October present its report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

Some of the civil society leaders already assembled here are: Okay Machisa (Zimbabwe Human Rights Association), McDonald Lewanika (Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition), Irene Petras, Roselyn Hanzi and Dzimbabwe Chimbga (Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights), Elizabeth Bishop, Blessing Gorejena, Rudo Mugandani and Dzikamai Bere (Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum), Machinda Marongwe (National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations) and myself, Dewa Mavhinga from the Regional Office - Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. Geneva-based Marlon Zakeyo of Zimbabwe Advocacy Office is giving facilitation, logistical and administrative support for the entire delegation. Two journalists, Dumisani Muleya of the Zimbabwe Independent and Barnabas Thodhlana of Newsday are also in Geneva for the UPR. Rindai Chipfunde-Vava of Zimbabwe Election Support Network and Jestina Mukoko of Zimbabwe Peace Project were expected to join the team yesterday.

As Okay Machisa indicated in the finalized program schedule sent earlier, we plan to focus on harmonized and properly calibrated advocacy that brings together various civil society delegations with a common message on Zimbabwe. Today, following successful accreditation with the UN UPR for all delegates under Marlon Zakeyo's superb facilitation all Zimbabwe civil society leaders met to share notes and strategize on advocacy, messaging and communication while in Geneva.

Two major events being undertaken are the Zimbabwe Side Event - panel discussion - UPR information briefing on Human Rights and Elections in Zimbabwe taking place on Wednesday, 5 October, from 11 to 1pm within the UN buildings with panelists from Zim HR NGO Forum, NANGO, ZESN, ZPP and ZLHR with Dewa Mavhinga as panel discussion chair - and ZIMRIGHTS Reflections Photo Exhibition & Launch of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition's Military Report and 'A Case Against Violence' brochure taking place from 1800 to 2000hours on the same day. In addition, we seek to target various UN mechanisms and Special Procedures for advocacy lobbying, as well as various country missions based in Geneva.

Key advocacy tools include the Zimbabwe Civil Society Organizations UPR Advocacy Charter - a commentary on the government official report with key recommendations on measures that the government of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders can take to ensure the full promotion and protection of all human rights; the ZIMRIGHTS Photo exhibition & newsletter; Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition reports on the military and on patterns of violence - a key human rights violation closely linked to elections.

The key message is broadly that 2012 is not an election year but must be a year for credible electoral reforms. The Zimbabwe government's 17-page report to the UN Human Rights Council UPR prepared by the ministry of justice paints a picture of a country 'desirous of promoting and upholding human rights for all despite the illegal sanctions induced challenges . . . ' We seek to show that the reality is a far cry from what is contained in the government report. Different organizations will focus on their area of expertise to demonstrate the true state of human rights in Zimbabwe and to show how the country is not prepared to hold democratic elections in 2012 as president Mugabe and ZANU-PF would want.

Marlon Zakeyo is leading the Geneva & UN press team (English and French) media strategy while various delegates are available for media work with Zimbabwe and other international media. We understand the official government delegation will arrive on Wednesday led by Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

Please note that a civil society delegation from Swaziland is also in Geneva on an advocacy mission as Swaziland was expected to present its report to the UN UPR on yesterday afternoon. Zimbabwe civil society delegates will provide solidarity support to our Swazi sisters and brothers.

Dewa, Okay and Mcdonald are reachable on mobile number: +41783443226. We have committed to develop a media advisory with contact details for other delegates to enable a smooth flow of information.

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