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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
ROHR Zimbabwe demonstrates in Harare for the right to vote
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
July 14, 2012
Well over 100
ROHR Zimbabwe activists thronged the Zimbabwe Electoral Offices
on Friday 12th July demanding that voter registration be continued
until all young people and the so-called aliens are registered
to vote in the upcoming plebiscite. Messages on their placards
included “my vote, my right”, “allow diaspora
vote”, “vote in peace”, “free and fair election”
and many more. Passers-by in Harare, surprised at the bravery of
these gallant men and women, could only marvel and cheer the peaceful
procession. A few members of the public though could not resist
the temptation to join but many stayed on the side-lines in fear
of what could happen. An election petition was handed over to a
representative at the ZEC offices and another at the Home Affairs
ministry.
Sally Mutseyami,
Publicity & Information Secretary of the ROHR UK Chapter, spoke
to some of the participants soon after the demonstration. According
to Mr James Ndoro, one of the co-ordinators, the event was originally
scheduled to commence at 11 am. However, they chose to delay the
start for strategic reasons. On arrival at the ZEC offices at around
12:30pm, they found an armoured police vehicle with riot police,
which appeared to have been lying in wait for them, preparing to
leave the venue. It would appear that the element of surprise and
the strategic move to delay the demonstration was crucial to the
successful outcome of the event. As soon as the police van drove
away, activists felt safe enough to start the protest and they quickly
pulled out their posters and banners – all with the ROHR Zimbabwe
logo.
Onlookers who
watched intently from a distance, afraid to take part, reminded
participants of the danger of what they were doing and the fact
that Zimbabwe was still a military state. Clearly, Zimbabweans are
still gripped with fear of arbitrary arrest, harassment and torture
should they choose to freely associate or express themselves like
any other citizen of the free world. In apparent defiance, the demonstrators
sang and danced, chiding the ZEC for denying the right to vote to
many and challenging the ZEC Chairperson Rita Makarau to do the
right thing.
Once the petition
was handed over, the demonstration quickly moved to the Ministry
of Home Affairs where activists expected to petition a minister.
However, both ministers were said to be away from their offices,
leaving them with no option but to leave the signed petition with
one of the officials. They dispersed soon after, worried that police
might accost them.
James Ndoro
explained that participants were fully aware of the possibility
of police harassment, brutality and even possible imprisonment,
as memories of the bloody
2008 election were still fresh. But true to the “voice
of the voiceless” ROHR motto, activists braved the tyranny.
In his final words, Mr James Ndoro said, "If the election is
for the people, then the people should be allowed to vote."
Other ROHR activists
interviewed voiced their appreciation of the logistical support
received from the ROHR UK Chapter and their preparedness to continue
with the campaign until their grievances are addressed. When contacted,
Mr Ephraim Tapa, ROHR Zimbabwe President and Founder, emphasised
the 2013 election would not pass the credibility test with 4 million
diaspora Zimbabweans being denied the right to vote, hundreds of
thousands of young people and the so-called aliens not registered
to vote, international observers blocked, state media still biased
and partisan implementation of the rule of law, among other things.
He added that the result would be a sham election with a pre-determined
outcome. He concluded by saying this election was a non-event to
all those who had been denied the right to vote and that protests
in demand of a free and fair election would continue abroad and
at the home front, pre and post the election.
Visit the ROHR
fact
sheet
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