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Obscure, political doctors' group renews efforts to join Zima
The Sunday Mail
July 11, 2004

See ZADHR response to this article

http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/index.php?id=7958&pubdate=2004-07-11

THE Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR), an obscure political group of medical doctors, has renewed efforts to join the Zimbabwe Medical Association amid reports that ZADHR was instrumental in the compilation of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights’ report alleging human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

It emerged last week that ZADHR, who caused a stir last year after proposing to amend the constitution of the Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) for it to join the better known association of doctors, is again trying to force the same changes at ZIMA’s Mashonaland branch annual meeting this week.

When ZADHR tried to join Zima at a meeting in Nyanga last year, where the latter refused, arguing that one of its branch members from the Midlands Province had not received the ZADHR’s proposals before the meeting, voting could, therefore, not proceed owing to this reason.

Zima were also reported to have indicated that as a legally constituted body of professional doctors, they were not keen to pursue political matters.

It is understood that ZADHR wants to make fresh proposals to join Zima at this year’s general meeting.

Zima president Dr Billy Rigava has resisted ZADHR’s move, saying they have to follow procedures that are stipulated in the Zima constitution.

According to the constitution, any proposal to amend the constitution should first be passed by the association’s branches before proceeding to the main AGM for consideration.

In letters sent to Dr Rigava by members of the ZADHR executive committee, Dr Gregory Powell and Dr Douglas Gwatidzo, the association indicated that it intends to lobby Zima to back it on board during this year’s AGM.

The letters were sent to Dr Rigava in April and on May 6 and 14.

However, Dr Rigava has insisted that they should first make their proposal at this week’s meeting of Zima’s Mashonaland chapter if ZADHR wants its issue considered at the national meeting.

Fireworks are expected at the branch AGM as some doctors who passed the amendment last year have now realised that ZADHR members want to tarnish the image of the country.

The doctors are understood to be vehemently opposing the submissions this time around.

Asked to comment on the latest developments, Zima secretary-general Dr Paul Chimedza said: "There is going to be an AGM for the Mashonaland branch next Wednesday (this week) and we will not disclose matters to be deliberated to the Press.

"If you want my comment, come after the AGM, but for now it is still an internal matter. ZDHR members are free to come and re-launch their proposals for any amendments."

The ZADHR is understood to be clamouring for the amendment of the constitution in order for the association to receive backing from other doctors in its onslaught against the Government.

It is believed that the association was a signatory to a letter sent to South African President Thabo Mbeki alleging human rights abuses in Zimbabwe after which some of the members allegedly helped in compiling the damaging ACHPR report on alleged human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

The report was tabled at a meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers at the Third African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last week but the discredited sections demonising the Zimbabwean Government were thrown out before the report was presented to the heads of state.

Zimbabwe protested against the offensive sections, saying it had not been given the chance to respond, resulting in them being withdrawn.

The Government has since dismissed the report as scandalous.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Stan Mudenge, has since said Zimbabwe would respond to the report "although it was not a product of the commission but of British agents based in the country who were bent on tarnishing the image of the country".

Some doctors have questioned the motive behind the proposal to amend the ZIMA constitution, saying the ZADHR should participate in ZIMA’s recently launched social responsibility programme if they wish to fight for people’s rights.

"If they are truly doctors for human rights, then why are they not helping ZIMA in its social responsibility programme where doctors are treating patients for free?" said one doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Zimbabwean Government has accused some Western governments, most notably those of Britain and the US, of working with lawyers, NGOs, some journalists in the privately owned Press and civic groups to demonise the Government in efforts to effect an illegal regime change.

The ZADHR is believed to be one of the vehicles through which the forces are trying to spread malicious reports about the human rights situation in the country.

It is understood that other ZADHR executive committee members include Drs Ginny Iiiff, Peter Iiiff, Farai Madzimbamuto, Jenes Mielke, Irene Kaiboni, Carl Madziwa and Faith Ndebele.

Investigations carried out by The Sunday Mail last year revealed that Dr Ndebele had a long association with Amani Trust, an anti-Government non-governmental organisation.

This has raised suspicion that this association is working to falsely accuse the Government of human rights violations.

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