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ZimRights member faces discrimination
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
January 19, 2011

ZimRights Board member Mrs. Sithengisiwe Kalenge based in Mvuma, Midlands Province, was denied a share of fertilizer by some ZANU PF supporters yesterday at Gundamusaire shops.

The ZANU PF supporters indicated that she did not deserve to enjoy community donations from President Mugabe, because she is non patriotic by virtue of her being a ZimRights member.

ZANU PF members, Majoni, Mai Robert and a councillor named Tremendus were distributing the fertilizer. Citing that she is a non-patriotic Zimbabwean, the three denied Mrs. Kalenge a share of the fertilizer saying that being a ZimRigths member automatically makes her an MDC member, an enemy of ZANU PF and hence an enemy of the state.

Individuals who were approved by the three ZANU PF supporters were the only one who would benefit. Kalenge argued that ZimRights is a human rights organisation that stands for the rights of everyone in spite of one's political affiliation. She added that ZimRights actually assisted a relative of Mvuma businessman and staunch ZANU PF member Gundamusaire at whose shop the fertilizer was being distributed who was assaulted by police at an incident which resulted in the death of two other men.

She added that she was being discriminated against because she is a ZimRights member and not because of her political affiliation. Kalenge argued that if the distribution was based on political affiliation then only three bags of fertilizer were supposed to be sent to Mvuma since ZANU PF only got three votes in the area in Presidential elections.

ZimRights is of the strong view that donations which come through the Office of the President should not benefit only ZANU PF supporters, but must be enjoyed by any Zimbabwean who has the need. This is not the first time that ZimRights members have been discriminated against or intimidated for being human rights defenders. ZimRights will not be deterred from its objective of promoting, protecting and defending human rights despite all the criticism. ZimRights is notinclined to any political party, hence condemns the continued unwarranted accusations by ZANU PF loyalists. As the name of the organisation entails, it is a human rights organisation that accepts as members and deals with everyone of any political persuasion, be they ZANU PF, MDC or any other political party for that matter.

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