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ROHR hold leadership development workshop in Harare
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
June 23, 2009

On Friday 19 June 2009 Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe held a leadership development workshop in Harare. Delegates were drawn from the 29 constituencies of Harare and Chitungwiza. Leadership development workshops have been previously held in Manicaland, Mashonaland central, Bulawayo and Midlands. The workshops are part of the campaign aimed at creating a pool of community based activists with core capacities in promoting and defending human rights.

Presenters were drawn from local civil society leaders and ROHR membership. ZINASU spokesperson Blessing Vava who presented on state of the media in Zimbabwe asserted that the role of the media in a democracy is to empower people with information. Vava spoke of the polarization that still characterizes the media in Zimbabwe despite the coming in of the inclusive government. Speaking on behalf of ZINASU, Vava called for repeal of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Public Order and Security Act (POSA) to allow reforms that promote freedom of expression and diversity to be put in place.

National healing

On national healing and reconciliation Mr. Claris Madhuku chairman of Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) said that the government is disregarding democratic principles by taking leading role in processes that should be directly people driven.

Madhuku further highlighted that it was suicidal to follow the government's formula on national healing and reconciliation.

General consensus in the workshop was that the current process will not yield meaningful results arguing that violence was still widespread in rural and urban areas.

Participants at the workshop unanimously conformed to the fact the government has no mandate to lead national healing and reconciliation advocating for an independent commission to spearhead the process. It was clearly pointed out that Zanu PF was still in control of government processes and activities despite two MDC formations having joined the government.

Edgar Chikuvire, ROHR Zimbabwe information and communication director submitted that the agenda of national healing could be equated to misdirection, a concept used by Magicians that diverts peoples' attention to what the performer wants it to be, while doing something underhand that will escape public scrutiny. The overall effect is that people will suddenly face a new reality which they never saw coming.

Constitution

People said that the current constitutional making process was heavily flawed and encouraged the government to ensure that the process is democratic and people driven.

The common feeling was that a flawed process can only produce a flawed outcome. Few among the delegates felt that civil society organizations would have lost an opportunity saying that their participation had a greater influence on the outcome.

ROHR secretary General Tichanzii Gandanga spoke about ROHR's position in relation to the current constitutional making process which he said fell short of democratic standards. Gandanga said from the day it was founded ROHR has been advocating for a democratic and people driven constitutional making process.

What the people said:

• That the current constitutional making process is flawed and will produce flawed results.
• That politicians distance themselves from the national healing process since most of them were involved in human rights abuses.
• That media reforms be put in place to promote freedom of expression and diversity of views.
• That civil society organizations reach out to communities with educational campaign to empower people with information for them make informed decisions and contributions.

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