New threats to WOMEN'S RIGHTS in Zimbabwe

New threats to WOMEN'S RIGHTS in Zimbabwe by Advocate Tinos Kucherera

_________________________________________________________________________________

It is inevitable that during this Women's month the issue of women's rights come to the fore. In Zimbabwe, some women have been victims of what has become known as "Revenge Pornography". Revenge Porn is basically the distribution of private sexual films, pictures or photos on the Internet without the consent of the other party or partner. Reported cases have always been against women hence this discussion as we commemorate Women's month.

The following is an example of a recent case which happened in Zimbabwe.
In August 2015, Vimbai was a victim of being filmed without consent during intimacy. Vimbai and her boyfriend were in a turbulent on and off relationship which was characterised by occasional fighting. One Saturday, after yet another break up, the boyfriend pretended to reconcile and during intimacy, he video recorded their intimacy without her consent. It happened that another woman who was involved with the boyfriend then reported him to the police for an unrelated matter. Vimbai agreed to testify against her boyfriend in this case at the Victims Friendly Court (VFC).In a pure blackmail bid to stop her from testifying, the ex-boyfriend showed her the video recording. In spite of all the efforts by Vimbai and the police, the video recordings have not been recovered. Vimbai will now be petitioning the Parliament of Zimbabwe to make such practices by vengeful lovers illegal.


With the advent of the Internet "Revenge porn" has become a major problem usually perpetrated by aggrieved male partners as a means of shaming their ex partners. It is therefore pertinent that clear legislation is promulgated to deal with the proliferation of such vengeful activities. In South Africa the FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS AMENDMENT BILL was introduced to Parliament last November as an endeavor to regulate online content distribution. In Zimbabwe the current Censorship and Entertainment Control Act, Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act and Posts and Telecommunications Act do criminalise the distribution of offensive material but does not effectively deal with "Revenge Porn". Section 15 of the COMPUTER CRIME AND CYBERCRIME BILL seeks to regulate pornographic related issues. The said Bill is currently receiving urgent attention because of the recent demonstrations and the Zimbabwean government seeks to throttle social media forums.

A Zimbabwean NGO, Katswe Sistahood has also previously made representations to the Parliament of Zimbabwe claiming to represent about 40 affected women.

As we celebrate Women's month we stand together with Vimbai in her quest to see that justice is done by enacting laws that specifically deal with the 'revenge Porn". The New Bill will be tested once it becomes law.

It is important to note that other countries including South Africa celebrate International Women's Day on the 8th of March, though for South Africa the 9th of August is peculiar to the role of Women during the struggle against apartheid.

It is beyond doubt that the distribution of private films and photographs by a partner without the consent of the other partner is a violation of one's rights. The Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution clearly stipulates the following Rights: Section 10 notes that everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected. Section 14 says that everyone has a right to privacy. In the Zimbabwe's Constitution these are enshrined in Sections 51 and 57 respectively. Both countries are taking legal steps to ensure that "revenge porn" is criminalised.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Advocate Tinos Kucherera is the current legal advisor for Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe Party and personal advisor to the Interim President Nathan Banana. He writes in both his personal capacity and as a member of Freedom justice Coalition Zimbabwe Media and Publicity Team.

A Government for the people or for a political party?

"The tragedy of our lives lies in our differences"

Response to following article:

RTUZ March Update- Day One

15 August 2016

RTUZ today embarked on its 200km walk from Mutawatawa in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) to Harare as part of advocacy for the betterment of rural education.

The demand for the day was that all forms of violence against teachers in rural areas be stopped to allow them to deliver their work in safe schools.
The march commenced at 1600hrs after delays at the UMP district education offices where a petition was being handed over.

RTUZ leaders who submitted the petition where interrogated by various security agents operating in the area. One of the agents went so far as to give threats that they would not tolerate 'penetration of ZANU PF territories by the opposition.'

The overzealous agent went on and asked the  RTUZ leaders to 'to pack and leave the area or they would be heroes in the grave yard.'
However the march continued peacefully without incident and the union leadership was joined by dozens of villagers.

The walk went on until 2100hrs and a total of 15 km had been covered by end of Day One.

At around 0200hrs on the morning of 16 August 2016, some food stuffs and water containers were stolen by a group of youths who passed by Nyagande School turn off where camp had been set.

The rest of the night proceeded without incident and the march will resume today (16 August 2016).

The demand for the day is a 100% salary based rural allowance so as to compensate for the hardships of working in rural areas.
More villlagers and parents are expected to join the walk along the way and RTUZ leaders will also take the opportunity to tour schools and assess infrastructure and other challenges.

The march will cover 20km for the day.
RTUZ Information department. 

 ________________________________________________________________________________

Comment

Not until all Zimbabweans, and I mean every Zimbabwean, be it ordinary citizens, the police, the army, CIDs, CIOs, church leaders, civic leader, civil servants, everybody; have grasped the true concepts of governance will we ever consider ourselves to be free. 

There is a very disturbing misconception pervading the entire nation that shows many people do not understand what is government. And such ignorance has been left to take hold by those who know better because it enhances their positions. 

People should be enlightened on issues that separate state apparatus from a political party. Zimbabweans must be knowledgeable enough to know and understand such divisions. That the state serves everybody regardless of who they are while a political party is like a club that serves the interests of its members. 

The fact that if one is a police officer or a clark at some government department who favours a particular political party therefore he should only attend to those who belong to that party, is downright ignorance of the workings of government. But unfortunately this is what is happening in Zimbabwe.  

Disgruntled rural teachers of Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe have decided to show their anger at the manner the government is neglecting their plight by marching 200kilometres to Harare to present their petition to the Ministry of Education. And twenty kilometres into their epic  journey they've stopped by the Rural District offices of education to present their other petition enroute where they have met threats from some government security officer who said, quote: "They would not tolerate PENETRATION OF ZANU-PF TERRITORIES BY THE OPPOSITION!"

A security who is on government service blatantly taking sides. This is the kind of ignorance that must be eradicated. People must understand that those who are on government service are there to serve everybody. People are sacrificing to walk 200kms to try and show the pain and suffering they are enduring under very deplorable conditions in their rural areas but another human being cannot see that! How cold and cruel can one get! You can see this suffering?!

Lameck Mahachi is a founding member of Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe Party and a life time member of the Elders Council passionate about issues of freedom and justice for all.

Who the 'cap fit', let them wear it.

Zimbabwe has come a very long and turbulent way but still there is nothing to show that the suffering is relenting.

People have been led astray for too long firstly by those who were at the forefront of the liberation struggle who later turned into being the oppressors themselves more than Smith and his gang, then there came those who failed to dislodge these latter day oppressors while Zimbabweans continue to suffer unabated.

Today when people thought that they were now masters of their own destiny, those who are supposed to govern the country by making sure that every area of Zimbabwe is evenly catered for, are busy feathering their nests while the common man continues to scratch the hard surface for survival.
There is no clean water to drink in nearly every urban centre. There are no medicines in nearly every hospital in country whose facilities are also falling to pieces through neglect.

The roads are so pot-holed in such a way that driving has become a menace. There are no street lights that moving at night has become a nightmare. Electricity supply is so erratic in such a way that many industries have closed down and sent workers home to join the unemployment list which now stands at more than 85% and still rising.

The so called opposition, just like the ruling party, is busy jostling for positions in their respective organisations and totally neglecting the plight of the people on the ground that you sometimes wonder if there is a government in place.

There is absolutely nothing to indicate that there are ministries of government in place to cater for these diminishing amenities. All of those ministers are busy lining their pockets to look at what they are mandated to do at their ministries.

The country has just broken down before our own eyes and this calls for every citizen to play their part in bringing our country back to its feet.

We can no longer rely on these people to work out some miracles when they have failed to do that in the past 36 years they have been in power. Neither can we have faith in those who have failed to dislodge this Zanu-PF group that has been responsible for our demise. We need new people with new ideas to resuscitate Zimbabwe.

We need people who will unite all people to work as one unit regardless of what we hear from a Vice President of a nation Mr Phelekezela Mphoko saying Zezuru, Karanga...which is the working of a misguided and ignorant individual. In Zimbabwe we are one.

Zimbabwe needs people who are down to earth. People who will listen to the plight of every individual and work towards alleviating their problems.

Zimbabwe needs a government that is accountable to its deeds and transparent in its working, giving everybody the right to question their activities.

A government is for the people, by the people and of the people. There is no reason to behave like a monarchy when you are chosen by the people who have a right to vote you out should you fail to serve as required by law.

And for that reason I put all my faith in this new man Nathan Banana.

Mr Lameck Mahachi

Mr Lameck Mahachi is a Zimbabwean Elder who writes from experience. Like many Zimbabweans his wish is to one day live in a Zimbabwe where all can unleash their full potential without any forms of intimidation.

Demolition of Houses in Harare

Illegal House being demolished in Harare 2016

In the year of our Lord 2005, the government of Zimbabwe orchestrated an operation called 'Operation Murambatsvina'. To those who were not there then you need to take a short retrospection of this event. Unemployment was increasing sharply in Zimbabwe Those that were affected started operating flea markets and tuck shops. 

This operation was a direct criminalisation of the informal sector and for sure they were made to shut down operations. Domestic accommodation made up of shakes was also affected as people were forced to demolish their own property.....more like face your own music...and those that resisted faced the full wrath of the law. The government employed brutal force as it used members of the armed force as well as armed policemen. They used bulldozers, sledgehammers and flamethrowers. There was intimidation and all acts of barbarism. The situation was indeed very tense. Homelessness began for about 2 million people. The UN condemned this heinous crime against humanity. People were moved to Caledonia Farm, on the periphery of Harare. This place, according to others, resembled detention centres of the 1970's war period. The president of the republic did not see anything wrong with this operation. 

Immediately after this then came into being Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle. This was a resettlement of the people who had been displaced by the former operation. This one is also dubbed 'a scandal of dismal and ZANU PF patronage '. This operation was an attempt to redress the damages of the former. But how successful was it? 

Listen to this:

In November 2005, 20 houses in Chinhoyi collapsed after the first rains.

Sewer pipes could not be laid because it emerged houses were built on bedrock - Bulawayo. (Do we first build or we service the land first, and whose job is it?)

In January 2006 contractors started pulling out due to non payments. This resulted in the authorities handing over unfinished houses to occupants, who were then asked to finance the completion of this project. 

This long review of these two operations is deliberate. I want us as Zimbabweans to see how much deceitful our government is. The same government is heartless, insensitive and full of empty promises. I know people who died of heart attack after having their houses demolished. And the song continues like a tale told by an idiot, 'full of sound and fury but signifying nothing!!' 

Ten years down the government has legalised and instituted a wanton and heartless demolition of houses along the airport road. The reason being given---they are an eyesore to visitors. Gushungo cannot stand the site of them. That's wonderful is it not?? 

Well you get me. 

Now what shall those home owners do? Who gave out those 1000 pieces of land to those people? If it was illegal, why give the stands anyway? Our government is vindictive, frivolous and cruel. Surely when those people were constructing these houses the authorities could see. Remember it's not a pre-made structure that is put together elsewhere and then brought to the stand- and construction was done during the day.  Someone somewhere must answer to crimes against humanity. With this sad news ZANU PF will still claim they liberated the people. But to me it's a simple issue, from the frying pan into the fire!! 

Our country needs some divine intervention. Some of these house owners will never in their entire life time have this singular opportunity to erect a piece of shelter over their heads. Some money was even borrowed to complete the construction. Maybe there is gonna be another Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle!! Who knows? 

Remember 2018 is around the corner, and my brethren and sisteren, we have the memory of the gold fish. Tears will be dry. We shall be chanting along Tambaoga's 'Rambai Makashinga'!!!

I rest my case. 

And may the good Lord bring his mercies to this heartlessness!!

Courtesy of Daniel Nyaude

Daniel Nyaude

Daniel Nyaude is a member of Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe Party Elders Council. He is also the Disciplinary Committee Chairperson and a key member of the Research Team based in Pretoria.