Human Rights day message
On 10 December 1948 at a place called Palais de Chaillot in Paris progressive representatives of varied nations gathered and resoundingly voted for a very important document for both the body politic and also in socio-economic circles, this document is known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.The UDHR is one of the most pivotal International instruments for upholding human rights and the fundamental freedoms and liberties in national constitutions, Bills of Rights and municipal/domestic laws.
After Zimbabwe progressively noted that living within the boundaries of set rules and laws separates humanity from animals and all other living organisms, and as a result gives men dominance over everything created, on 16 March 2013 the people of Zimbabwe voted for a brand new constitution of Zimbabwe with a comprehensive bill or declaration of rights under chapter 4, which domesticates almost all provisions of the UDHR. All these have been plausible actions on paper and plan, but taking a cursory audit of the intended versus reality, the opposite is absolutely true.
I seek to remind the present and future governments to be truly committed on the implementation and respect of human rights as enshrined in the supreme law of the land, in the best interests of protecting the masses in our society.The status quo and the status quo-ante of the country since independence on 18 April 1980 has been a grave mismatch of desires and what actually is being practiced by the government.There is a bloody history of human rights abuses emanating from the lines of tribe,race, political affiliations and divergent views, this history being a function of an intolerant and notorious government.
Some tribes have been vociferously attacked and human rights crushed by their own government without proper protection of human rights from the government, some races have been attacked over property issues resulting in many families being displaced, some people have been displaced from their homes evidenced by the ongoing shenanigans in Mazowe as I type, thousands have been killed due to racial hate.On the 11th of this same month in the year 2007, we witnessed the brutal attack of opposition leaders including Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Lovemore Madhuku, Arthur Mutambara, Nelson Chamisa and so many valued and progressive Cdes for the simple reason of being advocates of justice and sanity to prevail. The following, year there was a bloody crackdown on opposition supporters which led to the unforgettable June 27 brutal massacre of innocent civilians.
Human rights continue be a sacrosanct and treasonous topic to discuss in our country 36 years after independence.Many opposition activists have been tortured, incarcerated punished and even abducted, burnt alive and have property destroyed and looted.As I type, there are some activists missing, injured and some saving bogus jail sentences, speak of my revered sister Yvonne Musarurwa and team, they are behind bars over politically motivated judgments. I have been barred from enjoying my constitutional rights to demonstrate for 5 years, a judgment that I consider diabolic, wannabe and being an instrument of perpetual repression and continued dictatorship, doing community service everyday from 08:00h to 16:00h everyday, my crime being standing up against injustice. As a mother, how do I look after my children with these conditions?God forbid!!!, this country needs more prayers and more action.
I condemn in the strongest sense the failure by government to come up with an independent, competent and impartial judiciary, and the will to implement constitutional provisions on human and social rights, rights to health, education, clean water and shelter. I condemn the ongoing evictions in Mazowe where more than 100 families are being moved to satisfy the interests of the first family. I however wish to thank many Civic society organizations for the priceless effort the are putting towards the democratization of political spaces, I also would wish to thank Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights fr all their works to defend human rights defenders.
Linda Masarira.
Human Rights Defender
On 10 December 1948 at a place called Palais de Chaillot in Paris progressive representatives of varied nations gathered and resoundingly voted for a very important document for both the body politic and also in socio-economic circles, this document is known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.The UDHR is one of the most pivotal International instruments for upholding human rights and the fundamental freedoms and liberties in national constitutions, Bills of Rights and municipal/domestic laws.
After Zimbabwe progressively noted that living within the boundaries of set rules and laws separates humanity from animals and all other living organisms, and as a result gives men dominance over everything created, on 16 March 2013 the people of Zimbabwe voted for a brand new constitution of Zimbabwe with a comprehensive bill or declaration of rights under chapter 4, which domesticates almost all provisions of the UDHR. All these have been plausible actions on paper and plan, but taking a cursory audit of the intended versus reality, the opposite is absolutely true.
I seek to remind the present and future governments to be truly committed on the implementation and respect of human rights as enshrined in the supreme law of the land, in the best interests of protecting the masses in our society.The status quo and the status quo-ante of the country since independence on 18 April 1980 has been a grave mismatch of desires and what actually is being practiced by the government.There is a bloody history of human rights abuses emanating from the lines of tribe,race, political affiliations and divergent views, this history being a function of an intolerant and notorious government.
Some tribes have been vociferously attacked and human rights crushed by their own government without proper protection of human rights from the government, some races have been attacked over property issues resulting in many families being displaced, some people have been displaced from their homes evidenced by the ongoing shenanigans in Mazowe as I type, thousands have been killed due to racial hate.On the 11th of this same month in the year 2007, we witnessed the brutal attack of opposition leaders including Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Lovemore Madhuku, Arthur Mutambara, Nelson Chamisa and so many valued and progressive Cdes for the simple reason of being advocates of justice and sanity to prevail. The following, year there was a bloody crackdown on opposition supporters which led to the unforgettable June 27 brutal massacre of innocent civilians.
Human rights continue be a sacrosanct and treasonous topic to discuss in our country 36 years after independence.Many opposition activists have been tortured, incarcerated punished and even abducted, burnt alive and have property destroyed and looted.As I type, there are some activists missing, injured and some saving bogus jail sentences, speak of my revered sister Yvonne Musarurwa and team, they are behind bars over politically motivated judgments. I have been barred from enjoying my constitutional rights to demonstrate for 5 years, a judgment that I consider diabolic, wannabe and being an instrument of perpetual repression and continued dictatorship, doing community service everyday from 08:00h to 16:00h everyday, my crime being standing up against injustice. As a mother, how do I look after my children with these conditions?God forbid!!!, this country needs more prayers and more action.
I condemn in the strongest sense the failure by government to come up with an independent, competent and impartial judiciary, and the will to implement constitutional provisions on human and social rights, rights to health, education, clean water and shelter. I condemn the ongoing evictions in Mazowe where more than 100 families are being moved to satisfy the interests of the first family. I however wish to thank many Civic society organizations for the priceless effort the are putting towards the democratization of political spaces, I also would wish to thank Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights fr all their works to defend human rights defenders.
Linda Masarira.
Human Rights Defender
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