A time to act Issue #: 328
IN THE NEWS
“The inspirational power of the american civil rights movement
Friday,
13 February 2015
COMMUNITY NEWS
“We don’t want bread; we want to own the bakery
STUDENTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING LECTURERS - ZINASU
I am a vegetarian but I have got beef with the system I smoke dope with police dockets” Stephen Chisvuvi a.k.a Godobori
Feb. 12, 2015 --- Seven state universities ground to a halt on Tuesday, February10, 2015, as a general lecturer’s strike slid Zimbabwe’s education sector into a crisis.
Poets take on civil rights Zimbabwean poets have joined the ongoing Black History month by performing poetry and other artistic creations which speak to human rights. Celebrated in February annually in the United States of America, Black History Month is used to remember, recognise and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans in every area of endeavour throughout American history. Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR) and other organisations in the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) ‘s Art Committee such as Uhuru Network and Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT) will this year be carrying out a a nationwide Slam Poetry Tour, focusing on Civil rights and Civil Disobedience elements of Black History. The tour started with some performance poetry on Thursday February 5 2015 at the Quill Club in Harare. CiZC Arts Committee chairperson and ADZT director, Mehluli Dube, said as Artists and activists they had a lot to learn from the black civil rights movement. Head Office #329 Samora Machel Ave Eastlea Harare +263 864 411 9477 +263 4-442948/9
ADZT Director, Mehluli Dube
has infected a lot of people across the world. There is a lot to learn from this movement that was home to the likes of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther, Malcom X and others who underwent untold suffering and violations in order to achieve the dream of equality for the African America” Dube added: “These brave actors’ actions and words are as relevant and inspirational today as they were during the days of their activism. As artists, we are out here in this significant month to share their inspiration and wisdom, and hope to continue their work of inspiring people towards the full realisation of freedom, and inspire others through the accomplishments that fellow black people made during their life times under tough conditions”
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The educators are aggrieved after the government last year prioritized bonus payments to the security forces and other civil servants this year, leaving them to wait even for the January salary. Thousands of students at National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Bindura State University (BUSE), University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Lupane State University, Gwanda State University, Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and Chinhoyi State University (CUT) have been left stranded by the developments. Majority of the students are renting out accommodation in the cities at up to US400.00 per semester with the strike meaning there could be an extension of their stay; or rushed lessons after paying up to US$ 650.00 tuition fees, when the strike ends. Zimbabwe National Student Union (ZINASU) President, Page 2….
The bulk of the poetry which will be showcased is protest poetry that touches on social justice issues in its different political, economic and social elements. One of the participating peots will be current Shoko Festival Slam Poet Champion, Steven Biko Chisvuvi a.k.a Godobori, whose protest poetry has been received with international critical acclaim, and was honored by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition in 2013 for his Human Rights and Governance work through poetry and hiphop music. ZPHR official, Robson Shoes, and Internationally acclaimed Protest Poet himself, said the performances sought to interrogate the issues of equality. “We are celebrating the work done by African Americans in ending black oppression and white supremacy,” said Shoes. “We see that we have a role to play in our current situation. When we are interrogating equality in our context we are no longer talking about black or white, but Shona, Ndebele and young people. Let’s observe equality in everything including access to land and political power.” The poets have also held performances in Bulawayo and Gweru and are set to perform in Mutare, Chitungwiza, First Street in Harare, and other venues across the country.
STUDENTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING LECTURERS - ZINASU (cont) Cont.. from page 1 Gilbert Mutubuki, criticised the government for not being development focused.
money has been paying perks for the vice-chancellors and pro-vice chancellors, ignoring of the lecturers whom
“The reason the government is not prioritizing lecturers is because they are prioritizing power politics,” said Mutubuki. “They are prioritizing the coercive apparatus of the state in soldiers, police officers, and Central Intelligence Organisation because they want protection from for themselves. University of Zimbabwe
“In other words, they are more concerned with the institutions that allow them to secure their political power the students want to get knowledge from.” than with institutions that can aid the development of the country, with education being one of the sectors Mutubuki bemoaned the fact that the strikes had become rethat is contributing to development, being neglected” petitive since there was another crippling strike at NUST last year. Mutubuki said that attempts to make students shoulder the greater part of the cost of education through privatization Mutubuki said this showed clearly that the concerns were not trends such as the introduction of high tuition fees, had not being addressed in a comprehensive and sustainable manner borne fruit. and said the students, who are still coming to college “to read and mobilize” for a potential solidarity protest, “are a united He blamed the lack of financial prudence by the universities who front with the lecturers”. squeeze the last financial juice out of student through exorbitant fees, but still fail to quench the lecturer’s thirst for decent pay “As far as yesterday, there were no engagements bebecause along the way money would have been misallocated. tween the lecturers and government we don’t know whether this has started. “After receiving such huge amounts of money, I don’t think there is a university which cannot afford to pay “As students we engaged with the lecturers yesterday lecturers. so that we are a united front on this issue,” said Mutubuki on Thursday. “So instead of supplementing the lecturers’ salaries the 2
Citizens tell of brutal policing Feb. 12, 2015 --- Testimonies and comments from ordinary Zimba[Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front] an old bwean citizens have revealed a deeply entrenched culture of brupeople's home,” said Innocent Karaga. tality in the policing practices of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The culture is so entrenched that some citizens have had no Victor Shereni said it was impossible for poor people to get justice, or have their rights observed in the country. choice but to resign to it, making this abnormal police practice almost normal. “Mutemo unoshanda une mari vasina mari ndivo vanobatwa nekuseri kweruoko so mutemo hakuna. (The law The above reactions were captured in comments attached to a works for those who have money, those who don’t are recent post by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition which stated the abused. So there is no law),” said Shereni. constitutionally enshrined rights of people during arrest and detention. The post, which is part of the recently launched Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) campaign dubbed, “Know your rights” which shares online the fundamental rights in Zimbabwe’s Constitution. The comments shone a rare light into the lived realities of some ordinary Zimbabweans. Commenting on the social networking site, Facebook about the rights of arrested and detained persons in Section 50 of the new Constitution, which CIZC started publicizing on Wednesday, February 3, 2015; citizens shared that it seemed police were insensitive to such constitutional rights. File Photo: Riot Police
“Vana ndini ndamubata avaiti izvo chavo kudhonza munhu chete. Thanks nekutibetsera. (Police do not pay attention to human rights, they just harass you. Thank you for sharing),” said Nyasha Komboni. This sentiment was buttressed by Alick Bcause, who suggested that police would harass you, and if you said anything about your rights they would readily assault you. “Ana ndindamubata vanongokuzvuva. kana ukataura mutemo iyi wakubikwa rough. (The police just treat you roughly, and if you say anything about rights they will beat you up),” said the commentator. Marcus Marimo said human rights may not be applicable in Zimbabwe altogether. “Zvinoshanda kune dzimwe nyika kwete kwedu izvi. (This works in other countries not ours),” said Marimo.
Meanwhile, CIZC has been trying to help the citizens by informing them that they could get free legal help from organisations such as Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who have been working hard and winning court cases for citizens against victimization at the hands of the police. The latest such case saw Constable Muuya and Detective Sergeant Musekiwa of the ZRP ordered by the court to pay USD2 168 to Cosmas Nyambara in damages after shooting at and injuring him in 2009. The ZLHR also operates hotlines through which aggrieved citizens can contact them for help. The hotline number is (263)772257247 or by email on info@zlhr.org.zw , Facebook Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and twitter @ZLHRLawyers The campaign by CiZC will last for several months, and will see all 40 sections of the Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of the Constitution being serialized on the popular social networking site, Facebook. Where necessary the Coalition will share some analysis and interpretation of the shared rights.
Others suggested that human rights violations could be addressed The campaign has so far proved popular with an estimated reach if there was a change of government without which violations will of 2000 people per post so far. remain part of life. “Human rights are to be followed when MDC [Movement for Democratic Change] comes in power not Zanu The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is a broad based civil society network of over 72 active members comprising churches, women’s groups, social movements, residents associations, labour unions, human rights lawyers, and health professionals. It was formed in August of 2001 to focus on democracy, human rights, good governance and sustainable development 3 issues – working locally, regionally and internationally.