Taking ownership of my community

Dear Zimbabweans

It is critically important for all of us to take ownership of our community and to develop community pride.

All of us belong to a community, whether local or national. This community could be my school or university, it could be my neighborhood or village or it could be my professional community.

It is likely that we are part of several communities. Communities are made up of individuals who choose to identify themselves with that community. For that community to succeed and prosper, it requires the members to take ownership and contribute to the betterment of that particular community.

The same goes for a country. For a country to succeed and improve, it's citizens must take ownership and responsibility for its affairs and participate actively in its development using their skills, abilities and expertise. Only when we begin to take ownership of our country, will we begin to see the country that we want.

As a S. T. A. R. Fellow, committed to servant leadership, I am humbly requesting every Zimbabwean to start being responsible and cultivating a nature of ownership.

1. Don't throw garbage on the roads/streets.
2. Don't spit or urinate on roads and walls.
3. Don't write on walls and currency notes.
4. Don't abuse and insult others, rather be patient tolerant and controlled.
5. Save water and electricity.
6. Plant a tree.
7. Obey traffic rules.
8. Honor and take care of your parents and grandparents, take their blessings and always respect them.
9. Respect women.
10. Give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
11. Treat your neighbor in a way you would want to be treated.
12. Do not seek for corners to cut in anything you do.
13. Be intentional in honesty and integrity.
14. Fear God in a way that is demonstrated in your lifestyle.
15. Respect every individual regardless of race, religion, tribe or status. We are all God's creation.
16. Always seek to be part of the solution and not the problem.
17. Grab every opportunity to be kind and helpful.
18. Be conscious of setting a good example for the younger generation.
19. Be content and grateful for what you have more than lamenting over what you lack.
20. Be proud of being a Zimbabwean by focusing on the positives and acknowledging that God does not make mistakes.

We need to change ourselves and not the country. Once we change ourselves the country will automatically change.

If we want our children to live in a clean, safe and prosperous environment then pledge to follow these pointers every day.

No one person or leader can change the country alone. Change starts with you and me. We can change our beloved nation's status by changing ourselves first and our mindsets.

In conclusion stop asking what Zimbabwe can do for you and start acting on what you can do for Zimbabwe.

Be inspired to influence change.

#ThisIsMyHome #TogetherWeCan

Zimbabwe needs a welfare state not rice donations

Earlier today I was in Eastlea. ZanuPF was creating cell groups and giving out 2kg of rice.
One lady told me that during the voter registration at Eastlea shops everyone who was given a form VR9 proof of residence was supposed to leave their cell number. She was surprised last week to find her number added into a ZanuPF WhatsApp Group.

I strongly believe that people should be taught how to fish and not be given fish. You can't trade your future for plastic rice. We need a conducive environment for job creation and investment not to be given rice. Zimbabweans need full freedom. Freedom from need and fear. The ZanuPF government should be prioritizing social policy programs and nurturing a welfare state which will pursue job creation, pensions, quality Healthcare, quality and affordable education and proper housing and sanitation.

As a result of the financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009, Zimbabweans have faced a lot of challenges including persistent high levels of unemployment, erosion of traditional family structures, rising public debt and increased inequality. All these issues cannot be addressed by buying votes with rice. We need more comprehensive social protection systems, regulated labour markets ensuring decent salaries and decent pension payouts to the senior citizens.

VOTE for a candidate who will ensure that key policy areas such as the tax system, unemployment insurance/basic income security, decent pension systems, quality Healthcare, quality education and quality water are addressed and implemented. Your livelihood matters. Your HEALTH, WEALTH AND HAPPINESS is key to your success. #TogetherWeCan #PurpleCampaign #teamJacaranda #Register2Vote

2017 reflections Part 1

Today is the last day of 2017. I just gave myself four hours of 'me time' I the morning reflecting on the year which was a tough year for me and most Zimbabweans. It's hard enough balancing fighting personal struggles which carry a heavy burden on my life since I was laid off at NRZ and standing firm and resolute in rebuilding Zimbabwe against all the odds.

I spent eleven months going to court at least three times a week and that wasn't easy and it left me failing to make ends meet as I spent most of my time in court rooms. That didn't derail my struggle for a better Zimbabwe.

January was a very difficult month as I was trying to ascertain how the year would be like. I spent most of my time chasing my outstanding terminal benefits as NRZ was dilly dallying in paying out my outstanding salaries and terminal benefits. It just didn't make sense for me anymore to chant the Mugabe must go mantra. After meeting with some like minded colleagues and cross pollinating ideas, we decided to have a campaign which started on 1 February 2017 which was dubbed #21DaysofActivism.

#21DaysofActivism was a campaign to protest against former President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash as he turned 93 years old on February 21,2017.

The campaign highlighted  21 human rights issues which affected the Zimbabweans during Mugabe's regime and which are still affecting citizens under the current government. The demands were that, former President Mugabe had to address 21 issues  before he ate the birthday cake.

The 21 issues were as follows: eviction of vendors from streets, corruption, electoral reforms, women’s rights, unemployment, access to natural resources, presidential age limit, student welfare, national peace and reconciliation, cash crisis, state of prisons, alignment of laws to the constitution, disability issues, human rights, access to health care, service delivery, devolution of power, media and freedom of expression, police brutality and constitutionalism.

Year in and year out, former President Mugabe’s birthday approach was characterised by the ruling party’s youth league, under the banner of the 21st February Movement, fundraising and praising his supposedly iconic status, ending as usual with thousands of buoyant supporters watching the cutting of a huge cake in a stadium.

For me and my fellow  challengers of the government’s 37 year record which included human rights abuses, we felt that it was critically important to tackle the bull by its horns in our quest for the democratization agenda to be fulfilled.

On the first day, Wednesday February 1, 2017, we handed over a letter to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Parliamentary Portfolio on Small and Medium Enterprises and the Mayor of Harare, against the proposed eviction of vendors from the streets.

We kept on writing letters to parliamentary portfolio committees and relevant ministries until the last day of the #21DaysofActivism and government ministers and parliamentary portfolio committees did not bother to respond.

On the 25th of February 2017 when Mugabe was celebrating his birthday, I was with fellow activists at Parirenyatwa Hospital where Doctors were on strike, patients were not being attended and fuel for ambulances had been diverted and donated to Mugabe's birthday bash. Governments response was police brutality and subsequent arrest for trying to expose the former Presidents shortcomings to the world.

I spent the first two weeks of March recuperating from the assault by the police. Couldn't walk for about a week. Towards March monthend Arnold farm villagers were evicted from Arnold farm by former first Lady Grace Mugabe. The evictions were a real eye opener of how Grace would do anything to amass wealth. To be continued...

Workers rights are Human Rights

The United Nations organization recognizes that people have a “human right to work, or engage in productive employment, and may not be prevented from doing so”. This concept enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law. According to Article 23.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment”.

Everyone must have access to work.  Article 22 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, “for work to be a source of livelihood, everyone must have access to work and it must provide a just and favorable remuneration ensuring the worker and their family an existence worthy of human dignity.

Work satisfies two significant social functions that is; [1] it is a source to livelihood. Work enables workers to obtain remuneration that will enable them and their families to meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, paying bills, transport, education etc. and [2] it provides a deep sense of self-worth, dignity, desires and aspirations in life. A job is part of our personality and a means to self-actualization.

Workers’ rights are employment entitlements protected by law and claimable by workers. According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013)’s chapter 4 declaration of right, section 65.1 “Every person has the right to fair and safe labour practices and standards and to be paid a fair and reasonable wage”.  Workers’ rights are also protected by law. According to Chapter 28:01 of the Labour Act (2005), section 6, all employers are required to pay their employees a fair wage, commensurate with their occupation and to ensure that workers are working  under safe working conditions.

Following on from legal requirements and principles stated above, the National Railways of Zimbabwe(NRZ) continues to violate workers’ rights with impunity. This must stop. The NRZ management must be condemned by all fair minded people for unfair and life endangering labour practices. They must be brought before the courts to account for their willful violation of international and Zimbabwean laws. There is a shameful and willful disregard of employees’ occupational safety and health at NRZ. Working practices are, in a lot of cases, also contrary to the provisions contained in the “Train Working regulations (TWR)”, Factories and Works Act (20 of 1948) and the National Social Security Authority (Accident Prevention and Workers Compensation Scheme) Notice No. 68 of 1990, as amended.

NRZ workers are underpaid, do not receive their salaries on time and are at times forced to work longer hours, under unsafe working conditions. Every year there are reports of workers dying on duty and no effort has been taken to address these corporate manslaughter cases.
As an example, on Friday 8 December 2017 one of my former workmates Benson Makotore was trapped between two wagons at Lukosi Siding near Hwange and died on the spot. According to a narration given anonymously by one of the Train man who was at work that day, he said “we were detaching a wagon on the storage loop, as we were pulling out of the storage loop the wagon started rolling towards the load which was left on the crossing loop. As Makotore was applying brakes he ended up being trapped as the wagon side swiped with the ones on the crossing loop whilst he was still hanging. He had noticed a wagon with binding brakes and had decided to detach it at Pongoro storage loop. He cut off and advised the driver to ease off. Unfortunately the wagon released the brakes. Both handbrakes were not effective.  We pushed the wagon in the storage loop and cut off then advised driver to ease off. Meanwhile the other portion of the load was stationery in the crossing loop. The wagon started rolling towards TJ, which is when it went past the clearance indicator on the storage loop and collided with one wagon part of his load that was stationery in the loop.”
It is sad that our government is not putting in place strict measures on wholly state owned enterprises, such as the NRZ, to ensure that management is fully adhering to safe working practices and regulations. Hundreds of lives are lost every year at NRZ and most of these cases go unreported. The dilapidated rail infrastructure was condemned by experts and employees many years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. Signals ceased to be operational more than ten years ago. The NRZ is currently using the antiquated paper order system.

Staff are regularly victimized and often dismissed or made to resign for raising issues to do with occupational safety and health.  TWR 1 states that “SAFETY TAKES PRECEDENCE” yet NRZ management continues to force workers to work in in unsafe spaces with inadequate personal protective equipment, such as safety clothing. An example is that of one security detail called Mahumucha.  He is currently admitted in a Bulawayo hospital after falling off a wagon at Mpopoma siding.  The sad part is that, despite Mahumucha having been injured at work, the NRZ has not contributed anything so far to his medical expenses. He is struggling to pay for his medical care and treatments. Considering that NRZ is a wholly state owned enterprise, it is expected that they would be more enlightened about occupational safety and health regulations and would be in the forefront of practicing safety at work. Unfortunately, this has never been the case in the last 8 years.

Another example of management’s insensitivities to workers’ plight and willful violation of the Labour Act occurred on 31 July 2015. On this day, all labour leaders had their contracts of employment terminated. They cited the government’s proclamations and support of the infamous “Nyamande and Another V Zuva petroleum Pvt Ltd, 2015” judgement. The NRZ labour leaders were summarily dismissed for taking their employer to the labour court after they had gone for nearly eleven months with no salaries. In 2016 workers who were actively participated in the month long strike were also dismissed.

Incidences of unfair labour practices are pandemic across many sectors of the economy in Zimbabwe, mainly because of the high rate of unemployment.  There is an urgent need for the government, and the ministry of labour in particular to intervene and ensure that workers’ rights are protected and that occupational health and safety is prioritized. Trade unions must also be in the forefront of advocating for workers’ rights and safe working practices, as required by law.
Every life matters. No worker should die on duty. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
Human Rights Defender, Aspiring MP Harare Central, Political Activist and Founder and National Coordinator of Zimbabwe Women in Politics Alliance

Be an active citizen: know your rights

Today is International Human Rights Day. Zimbabwe is on record for being one of the countries that violates human rights to settle political scores. Very little is done to educate Zimbabwean citizens on Human Rights with some ignorantly professing that Human Rights is a western concept.

Human rights are claims that every human being is entitled to in order to live a dignified life. In Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it states that, "ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE BORN FREE AND EQUAL IN DIGNITY AND RIGHTS."

Every Zimbabwean has the right to a dignified life, should have equal access to resources, opportunities and services essential for an adequate standard of living. It's rather unfortunate that most in Zimbabwe, a large percentage of the population lives in poverty and social deprivation which has led to many people normalizing the abnormal and accepting violation of rights as a way of life.

Economic, Social and cultural rights are human rights and should ensure pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable development. These rights were not considered at all in the preparation of the 2019 budget which was presented on Friday. The budget was more of a market economy with very little connotations to social justice.

The very few Zimbabweans still employed deserve a living wage and decent working conditions. In the budget statement it was stated that,  technically insolvent parastatals will be closed. What happens when the parastatals are closed as there was no budget presented for their packages. Two years down the line Zuva judgement victims are still wrong for their terminal benefits and retirement packages with most of them now living in abject poverty. Former workers of the same parastatals who had their contract of employment terminated by the infamous zuva judgement are struggling to make ends meet. There are no jobs and those who had resorted to vending to sustain their livelihoods are being chased off the streets which has made life generally unbearable and miserable for the unemployed.

The African Charter on Human and People's Rights safeguards the following rights;

1. Right to work (article 15)
2. Right to health (Article 16)
3. Right to Education (Article 17)

Zimbabwe signed this charter on 28 February 1986 and ratified it on 30 August 1986.

The right to health care is essential for one to fully enjoy their right to health. Healthcare must be accessible, available, acceptable and of good quality. Zimbabwe has failed to provide adequate healthcare for the past twenty years in public hospitals which is a gross violation of human rights and their obligation in relation to Article 1 of the African Charter which requires State parties to "recognize" the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the charter.

Hundreds die prematurely in our government hospitals due to shortage of critical drugs, shortage of blood, malfunctioning machinery and poor Healthcare. It is our responsibility as active citizens to continue demanding accountability until every Zimbabwean enjoys the right to quality healthcare.

The right to education is a Human Rights on its own. It is a guarantee of being entitled to education that us accessible, affordable and available to everyone. The right to education as enshrined in section 75 of the constitution of Zimbabwe is a fundamental human right necessary for every person to know and be able to demand and assert other human rights. Section 75 further states that in clause 1(a) every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to a basic state funded education, including adult basic education...

Government must pay for basic education and efforts should be made to ensure that all the children gallivanting in the streets are afforded the opportunity to go to school. All children who have been sent away from school should go back to school and those who are engaged in child prostitution and drug abuse should be rehabilitated and taken back to school.

These provisions in the constitution show some of the commitments made by government when if accepted these uman rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.

In conclusion, our right to health is greatly compromised by the dirty, filthy and condemned water that comes out our taps which is a violation of our right to safe, clean and potable water as enshrined in section 77 of the constitution of Zimbabwe. Water is very important for a healthy life. No one can exercise other rights if they do not have right to water. Every Zimbabwean must access clean and safe drinking water and sanitation.

The United Nations also passed a resolution in 2010 recognizing that water and sanitation is a Human right. The government of Zimbabwe has an obligation to provide clean, safe and portable water to every Zimbabwean and must respect the right to water, protect the right to water and the central government and local authorities have a duty to provide clean and portable water in Zimbabwe. Our duty as Zimbabweans is to demand basic human rights to be adhered to. First things first the right to water.

Let us be active citizens and demand our fundamental human rights to be respected and protected.

Violence against women a violation of human rights

Today, I join the world to commemorate the international day for the Elimination of violence against women. This year’s theme is “Leave no one behind: End violence against Women and Girls. One in every three women around the world has been a victim of violence. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today.

I have observed that most women feign emotional stability in public spheres whilst they are suffering and broken emotionally. This is due to negative cultural expectations which dictates how a woman ought to behave and present herself. In the face of abuse and ill-treatment a woman is expected to be resilient and embrace any form of hardship and suffering that comes her way. Growing up a young woman is told that “usafukure hapwa”, “mukadzi anoshinga”.  In a bid to follow what they have been socialised to believe,  many women have painted a sunny picture of their lives, whilst their lived realities depicts a dark, gloomy cloud hanging over their lives. It is fact that many women in Zimbabwe are subjected to gender based violence perpetrated by their husbands, fathers or partners being the chief perpetrators.

Violence against women is the most extreme form of discrimination. The UN reports that “on the basis of data from 2005 to 2016 for 87 countries, 19 per cent of women between the ages of 15 and 49, said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey. In the most extreme cases, such violence can lead to death. In 2012, almost half of all women who were victims of intentional homicide worldwide were killed by an intimate partner or family member, compared to 6 per cent of male victims. These figures could actually be a fraction of the reality on ground, taking into account the culture of silence and some unreported cases.

Moreover, only just over half (52 per cent) of women between 15 and 49 years of age who are married or in a relationship make their own decisions about consensual sexual relations and use of contraceptives and health services. That statistic is based on available data from around 2012 for 45 countries, 43 of which are in developing regions.”

Another extreme case of violence against women as highlighted by the UN report is that of female genital mutilation/cutting. Great strides are being made to eradicate this harmful practice, resulting in about 24 per cent decline since around 2000. Nevertheless, prevalence remains high in some of the 30 countries with representative data. In those countries, survey data from around 2015 indicate that more than 1 in 3 girls between 15 and 19 years of age have undergone the procedure compared to nearly 1 in 2 girls around 2000.

In the political spheres, women have not been spared of violence tendencies either. As a victim of state sponsored violence, police brutality, rape, discrimination, torture and domestic violence I strongly advocate for the Elimination of any form of violence against women. On the 25th of February this year, I was brutally assaulted by ZRP in riot gear at Parirenyatwa Hospital for protesting against former President Mugabe’s $4m birthday bash whilst the biggest referral hospital in Zimbabwe had no medication. Earlier this year Thokozani Khupe,  MDCT Vice President was assaulted by party youths at their party offices.  The violence I experienced made me more resolute in advocating for the promotion and protection of human rights, helping women to think positively about the future as well as moving away from self pity. As a leader, one of my obligatory duties is to inspire change in an effort to have a violent free Zimbabwe.

Most women are traumatized by the violent attacks they have experienced in their lives and many have never received any form of therapeutic interventions or any form of support. Political violence is one critical area that needs redress and today. I urge all political party leaders to make peace pledges and eliminate violence in solving intra party conflict. Women in different spaces experience different forms of political violence including rape and most of these cases are unreported.

Politically-motivated sexual violence against women was prevalent under Mugabe’s oppressive regime and was used as a tool to silence and intimidate dissenting voices and repress political opposition. Women are frequent victims of brutality at the hands of police and other security forces, subjected to torture, rape, disappearances, and displacement. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Southern African Development Community Gender and Development Protocol, Mugabe’s regime did not respect its commitment to enforce the protocol. I am challenging the incoming President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to ensure that any forms of violence are condemned and perpetrators of violence, face stiff penalties and the full wrath of the law.

Public violence against women is another challenge for women especially at kombi ranks and bus terminus. Stiff penalties should be in place to deal with the rogue, uncouth, foul mouthed and violent kombi conductors and touts. Dialogue should be used to resolve conflict.

The onus is on us women to be agents of change, we need to socialize our children to shun violence and endeavour to bring up our children in violent free homes. A nation cannot be successful without the contribution of women. Women are naturally endowed with influence. It is imperative that men promote peaceful environments in the home for their spouses to promote peace in our communities. For the woman, peace begins in her home.

I am encouraging every woman who has been a victim of any form of violence to speak out boldly about the importance of eliminating any form of gender based violence. Together we can make a difference in our communities.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarirais a
Human Rights Defender, Aspiring MP Harare Central, Political Activist, Founder and National Coordinator of Zimbabwe Women in Politics Alliance.

Age ain't nothing but a number

Austria made history by electing the world's youngest president who is 31 years old. His name is Sebastian Kurz, and has a girlfriend Susanne.

Before the 2017 presidential election, he was the country's foreign minister. Emmanuel Macron (39) was elected as president of France in May 2017. Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern (37) is a New Zealand politician and the incoming Prime Minister of New Zealand. She is the Leader of the Labour Party. Just across the border in South Africa we have young firebrand leaders like Julius Malema (36) and Mmusi Maine (37)leading vibrant opposition parties.

Unfortunately young people in Zimbabwe are content with being boot lickers, praise singers and special assistants  on social media in Zimbabwe whilst youths in other countries are disrupting the status quo, pushing for innovation, changing the narrative and pushing for a new frontier.

Mark Zukerberg is just 32 years old and the youngest billionaire in the world.

The bar was raised in Austria when they elected a 31 year old man as its leader. What is an average 31 year old man in Zimbabwe doing? Probably sitting at a street corner smoking weed or abusing bronco or helplessly enduring the heat at street lights selling airtime.

Most young people in Zimbabwe stay with their  parents, are unemployed and broke. They are in a fake comfort zone because they eat free food and are not bothered an inch about their status quo. These are the ones who chant "zvobatsireyi kuvhota".

The 31 old Zimbabwean man is feeling big supporting politicians (who directly or indirectly put us in the mess we are in) on Facebook without seeing the nexus  between the failed leadership and present unemployment predicament.

My heart bleeds for our youths many of whom are wasting precious time forgetting that time waits for no man.

The economic crisis and socio-political quagmire in Zimbabwe has not helped many to realize that they have to step up and change things. It is rather unfortunate that my generation is not ready to push for change and freedom doesn't come on a silver platter.

Those who have bank jobs think they are on top of the world, forgetting that the owners of the banks were Billionaires at their age.

Those who work in IOCs see themselves as great achievers, not knowing that they are slaves.

What are you doing with your life? Are you happy with the way things are in Zimbabwe right now? What are you doing to push for change?

Take this moment to aspire to change your current situation. To be an advocate for change. Don't ask what Zimbabwe can do for you. Think about what you can do for Zimbabwe.

Your future is in your hands. Go and register to vote. #TogetherWeCan #I💓Zimbabwe