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ROHR Zimbabwe meets school headmasters and parents in Masvingo
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
February 16, 2009

ROHR Zimbabwe convened a meeting today with 43 Heads of Schools and 18 Chairpersons of School Development Association (SDC) and School Development Association (SDA) in the province of Masvingo. The meeting was chaired by ROHR National Coordinator Mr Ray Muzenda.

The meeting was a consultative discussion aimed at interrogating the educational challenges in Zimbabwe, that have brought this crucial sector to disrepute. The heads of schools in Masvingo lamented the state of the education sector which they say has forced teachers to strike for the most part of 2008. Teachers demand recognition and restitution their professional status they once enjoyed before 1980. Recognition must be in the form of equitable remuneration equal to the importance of their work and equal to their regional counterparts are earning.

Parents feel that the non-provision of quality education, closure of schools, and exorbitant fees pegged in foreign currency is a huge violation of their children's right to education. They expressed concerned that attempts they made to provide incentives to teachers in 2008 such as hampers and other assortments were met with hostility from the Government's inspectors who argue that remuneration for teachers is the sole preserve of the Government alone.

Mr Muzenda noted that educations is a right of every person in Zimbabwe as stipulated the Zimbabwe constitution, African Charter for People and Human's Rights (ACPHR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). He noted that the paralysis in the sector is one of the most visible manifestations of the deeply rooted man-made Zimbabwe crises that has been raging on for more than a decade and is most likely to continue even after the inclusive Government has taken over the ruins.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) dismissed 2008 as a wasted year academically. Zimbabwe National Students Union noted that the state of the educational sector was threatening the whole generation and have been organising demonstrations countrywide against school fees pegged in foreign currency.

To date, Grade seven results have not yet been released although students sat for examination in November 2008.

Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, the new prime Minister promised all civil servants salaries in foreign currency beginning end of February this year. Minister Patrick Chinamasa on the other hand said on 13 February through The Herald that civil servants will only receive vouchers worth $100 this month and that they will eventually peg salaries in hard currency when Government has money.

The parents and heads of schools resolved to increase pressure of the new Government to urgently attend to their concerns. They agreed that there is urgent need to carefully observe if there will be change in attitudes from the new Government with regards to their concerns and decide the next course of action needed to amplify the pressure thereafter.

Roy Bennett case deferred

The trial of Roy Bennett, at the Mutare Magistrate court which was scheduled for today did not take place and no information has been obtained over the failure. At around 5pm MDC supporters were still gathered at the Mutare Magistrate court waiting for the trial. The deputy Minister of Agriculture nominee is being charged with attempted banditry, insurgency and terrorism.

Roy Bennett who was arrested on Friday was taken to Mutare after initially having been driven to Goromonzi. It is reported that drivers who had taken him discovered that they were being tracked and then returned to Harare before driving him to Mutare where he is currently detained. Bennett, who was originally charged with treason, was abducted at Prince Charles airport on his arrival from South Africa where he has been staying since 2005 after escaping arrest through the Mozambique border. ROHR Zimbabwe field officer who reported at the court at around 5:30pm said that people were still waiting for the trial. However she expressed doubt that the case was going to be heard today as it was too late.

Lawyers said that the case has been transferred to Harare and will be heard tomorrow 16 February.

Ephraim Tapa speaks on political prisoners

ROHR Zimbabwe President Mr Ephraim Tapa expressed disappointment with the act of carrying forward the culture of arrests and detention of human rights and political activist into the new Government which supposedly signified a dramatic shift from ZANU PF human rights record to a more democratic. He castigated the continued detention of the Director of Zimbabwe Peace Project Ms Jestina Mukoko, 20 MDC activists and journalist and 6 Woman of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) who were arrested last week while giving people roses for valentines.

"As activist for human rights and people's freedoms, we feel that each day that passes by while living in comfort of our homes without really getting into the street to express anger over this culture of human rights violations is a betrayal of our own conscience. Zimbabwe will benefit more from pragmatic approaches to dealing with violations than the cosmetic, half-hearted efforts being made by politicians to secure their release." Tapa said.

"If the political detainees are not released by Tuesday, ROHR Zimbabwe will enter the streets to express disappointment with the issue and demand their release."

ROHR Zimbabwe has been holding peaceful demonstrations in 2008 against human rights violations and in demand for free and fair elections under a new constitution and a peaceful environment supervised by United Nations.

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