Author: TSA Press

Haulin,
which
is
extracting
quarry
stones
in
Pumula
suburb
in
Bulawayo’s
Ward
17,
has
begun
to
cooperate
with
the
community
to
address
the
violations
and
the
social
needs
of
affected
citizens.

The
relationship
between
the
Chinese-owned
company
and
the
community
began
on
a
rocky
note
in
2021
when
operations
commenced,
with
the
mine
violating
numerous
residents’
rights.

The
Pumula
community
has
for
years
complained
bitterly
about
cracking
houses,
damage
to
roads
as
well
as
air
and
noise
pollution
caused
by
Haulin
operations
taking
place
within
the
suburb.

Haulin,
on
the
other
hand,
had
repeatedly
turned
a
deaf
ear
to
calls
for
redress,
until
the
residents
joined
hands
with
civil
society
to
exert
more
pressure
on
the
quarry
miner,
an
investigation
has
established.

The
Centre
for
Innovation
and
Technology
(CITE)
has
been
at
the
forefront
of
exposing
some
of
the
environmental
challenges
brought
by
the
mining
operations.

In
an
interview,
Bulawayo
Progressive
Residents
Association
(BPRA)
Ward
17
organising
secretary,
Nqobizitha
Moyo,
also
admitted
that
there
was
poor
uptake
of
their
advocacy
to
engage
the
mine.

But,
according
to
Moyo,
that
was
because
they
were
operating
in
the
COVID-19
era
that
made
it
difficult
to
mobilise
residents
and
other
stakeholders.

Covid19
regulations
strictly
prohibited
huge
gatherings
and
human
movement
was
restricted
by
a
series
of
lockdowns.

“We
started
consultations
during
Covid-19.
If
you
remember,
there
were
strict
limitations
on
gatherings.
This
led
to
online
consultations,
with
a
few
people
meeting
for
further
discussions,”
Moyo
said.

“Among
the
priority
issues
were
employment
creation,
assistance
for
children
unable
to
pay
school
fees,
support
for
vulnerable
community
members,
road
rehabilitation,
and
other
development
projects.
Since
our
area
faces
water
shortages,
we
also
requested
the
establishment
of
alternative
water
sources.”

Nothando
Ndiweni,
BPRA
Vice
Chairperson
for
Ward
17,
noted
that
when
mining
operations
began,
residents
encountered
numerous
challenges.

“There
was
air
and
noise
pollution.
Our
peri-urban
community
includes
villagers
with
livestock
affected
by
the
mine’s
air
pollution.

“Blasting
came
with
loud
noise
and
the
tremours
were
strong.
Our
houses
would
shake,
windows
would
break,
and
furniture
was
damaged.
Sometimes
pots
would
fall
off
stoves,
posing
a
risk
to
anyone
nearby,”
Ndiweni
said.

In
addition
to
BPRA,
the
campaign
to
end
the
violations
perpetrated
by
Haulin
also
involved
the
Accountability
Lab
and
the
Zimbabwe
Coalition
on
Debt
and
Development.

“They
taught
us
the
stages
to
follow
when
engaging
the
mine.
Initially,
we
were
not
organised
and
didn’t
speak
with
one
voice.
Some
individuals
sought
personal
assistance
at
the
expense
of
the
community,”
she
added.

For
2024,
Haulin
has
paid
school
fees
for
19
students
attending
nine
schools
in
the
area,
even
though
residents
feel
that
mine
can
increase
the
scholarships
to
cover
more
children.

The
company
bought
five
of
the
requested
10
tanks
to
enhance
water
availability
and
donated
groceries
to
some
orphans

It
was
established
that,
while
Haulin
is
prepared
to
mend
the
roads,
Bulawayo
City
Council
(BCC)
bureaucracy
has
hindered
the
rehabilitation
process.

“We
are
now
benefiting
from
our
community
resources.
However,
some
projects
remain
incomplete.
Jojo
tanks
have
been
bought,
school
fees
for
19
children
in
nine
schools
have
been
covered,
and
groceries
have
been
donated
to
orphans.
Road
rehabilitation
is
still
pending,”
she
added.

Joel
Moyo,
the
village
development
committee
member
for
Methodist
Village,
expressed
frustration
that
despite
progress
with
the
mine,
BCC
was
delaying
project
implementation.

“We
are
concerned
because
the
city
council
is
slowing
down
our
projects,”
he
said.

The
BPRA
chairperson,
Elias
Nyathi,
echoed
similar
concerns:
“In
Pumula,
we
are
still
waiting
for
them
(BCC)
to
approve
some
of
the
sites
for
the
remaining
Jojo
tanks.
We
requested
10
in
total,
but
only
five
have
been
installed.”

Nyathi
added:
“BCC
requisitioned
materials
for
road
repairs,
and
though
the
mine
is
ready
to
transport
them,
the
council
is
yet
to
act.
According
to
city
by-laws,
road
rehabilitation
is
the
council’s
responsibility,
but
we
don’t
understand
the
delay
in
approving
the
project.”

Haulin
Mine
community
engagement
and
communication
officer,
Rodrick
Moyo,
told
this
publication
that,
despite
early
challenges,
progress
had
been
made
in
collaboration
with
residents.

“The
residents
were
initially
divided
and
faced
internal
conflicts.
However,
we
have
moved
forward
and
made
significant
progress,”
Moyo
said.

“The
main
setback
is
the
city
council.
We
are
still
waiting
for
them
to
advise
on
road
rehabilitation.
They
provided
us
with
a
quote
and
we
have
the
materials
ready.
For
the
outstanding
Jojo
tanks,
the
residents
are
also
awaiting
site
approvals,
but
everything
else
is
in
place,”
he
said.

Moyo
said
there
were
additional
environmental
projects
in
the
pipeline
as
part
of
the
mine’s
commitment
to
responsible
operations.

Ward
17
councillor,
Sikhululekile
Moyo,
said
the
ward
development
committee
had
fruitful
discussions
with
the
mine,
with
considerable
progress
achieved.

“We’ve
discussed
developing
a
CSR
(corporate
social
responsibility)
implementation
plan,
addressing
community
concerns
about
the
mine’s
social
and
environmental
impact,
and
negotiating
with
the
roads
engineering
department
to
rehabilitate
Ngena
Road
(in
Pumula),”
she
said.

“It’s
worrying
that
the
city
council
is
taking
so
long
to
cooperate.
These
mining
operations
are
time-sensitive.
If
they
finish
extracting
without
the
council’s
input,
we
will
be
left
without
development
in
the
community,”
she
added.

Cllr
Moyo
noted
that
urban
mining,
if
properly
managed,
could
significantly
benefit
communities.

“I
believe
many
people
misunderstand
urban
mining
due
to
past
negative
experiences.
After
the
progress
we’ve
made
with
Haulin,
we’re
ready
to
engage
another
mine
in
the
area,
confident
that
residents
will
benefit
from
that
as
well.”

The
Bulawayo
municipality
did
not
respond
to
questions
sent
out
by
this
publication
regarding
delays
in
the
outstanding
projects.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/53984686632/sizes/m/

Thanks
to
those
who
came
today:
Shepherd
Gandanga,
Simbarashe
Jingo,
Henry
Makambe,
Chido
Makawa,
Philip
Maponga,
Mellisa
Mbavarira
and
Ephraim
Tapa.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72177720320164220.

As
usual,
a
lot
of
encouragement
came
from
passers-by
and
increasingly
so,
members
of
the
Zimbabwe
community
–
black
and
white. Curious
young
black
Zimbabweans
(who
were
either
born
or
raised
in
the
UK)
would
also
stop
by
to
enquire
about
the
protest
and
the
Zimbabwe
human
rights
situation
in
general.
They
were
dismayed
that
Zimbabwe
under
Mnangagwa
was
now
a
military
state
where
the
rule
of
the
gun
is
the
order
of
the
day.
Out
of
patriotism, they
would
vow
to
come
and
join
in.

Meanwhile,
the
situation
on
the
ground
in
Zimbabwe
continues
to
worsen
particularly
for
the
vending
community. Towards
the
run-up
to
the
SADC
summit,
the
regime
adopted
a
cat
and
mouse
approach
to
rid
the
capital
of
street
vendors. To
that
end,
Harare
Municipality
Police
and
the
ZRP
would
gang
up
against
the
street
vendor
in
the
morning,
afternoon,
and
evening. They
would
ambush
the
unsuspecting
vendors,
dispossess
them
of
their
wares,
and
throw
them
in
their
trucks
never
to
be
seen
again.
When
vendors
presented
at
police
stations,
police
would
profess
ignorance.

One
vendor
had
this
to
say,
‘
tanzwa
nekumhanya
everyday
(we
are
tired
of
running
away
from
police
daily),
they
take
everything
to
stock
their
tuckshops’.
Another
went
further
to
say, 
‘we
no
longer
know
where
to
turn
to
because
the
police
are
now
the
thieves,
their
first
shift
is
to
steal
from
us,
the
poor’. Another
added,
‘Zimbabwe
is
not
free,
we
can’t
do
anything
or
even
protest,
they
are
bloody
killers!’.It
is
absurd
that
on
the
other
end
of
the
spectrum,
filthy
rich
people
who
benefitted
from
government
deals,
are
seen
buying
3
expensive
luxury
cars
for
themself
and
their
sons,
all
in
one
go.
Cry
Zimbabwe,
whither
my
beloved
country!

For
Vigil
pictures
check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.
Please
note:
Vigil
photos
can
only
be
downloaded
from
our
Flickr
website.

Events
and
Notices:

• 
  Next
  Vigil
  meeting
  outside
  the
  Zimbabwe
  Embassy. Saturday
  21^st September
  from
  2
  –
  5
  pm.
  We
  meet
  on
  the
  first
  and
  third
  Saturdays
  of
  every
  month.
  On
  other
  Saturdays
  the
  virtual
  Vigil
  will
  run.
• 
  The
  Restoration
  of
  Human
  Rights
  in
  Zimbabwe
  (ROHR) is
  the
  Vigil’s
  partner
  organisation
  based
  in
  Zimbabwe.
  ROHR
  grew
  out
  of
  the
  need
  for
  the
  Vigil
  to
  have
  an
  organisation
  on
  the
  ground
  in
  Zimbabwe
  which
  reflected
  the
  Vigil’s
  mission
  statement
  in
  a
  practical
  way.
  ROHR
  in
  the
  UK
  actively
  fundraises
  through
  membership
  subscriptions,
  events,
  sales
  etc
  to
  support
  the
  activities
  of
  ROHR
  in
  Zimbabwe.
• 
  The
  Vigil’s
  book
  ‘Zimbabwe
  Emergency’ is
  based
  on
  our
  weekly
  diaries.
  It
  records
  how
  events
  in
  Zimbabwe
  have
  unfolded
  as
  seen
  by
  the
  diaspora
  in
  the
  UK.
  It
  chronicles
  the
  economic
  disintegration,
  violence,
  growing
  oppression
  and
  political
  manoeuvring
  –
  and
  the
  tragic
  human
  cost
  involved. It
  is
  available
  at
  the
  Vigil.
  All
  proceeds
  go
  to
  the
  Vigil
  and
  our
  sister
  organisation
  the
  Restoration
  of
  Human
  Rights
  in
  Zimbabwe’s
  work
  in
  Zimbabwe.
  The
  book
  is
  also
  available
  from
  Amazon.
• 
  Facebook
  pages:
   

Vigil : https ://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil

ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/

ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515

The
Vigil,
outside
the
Zimbabwe
Embassy,
429
Strand,
London
meets
regularly
on
Saturdays
from
14.00
to
17.00
to
protest
against
gross
violations
of
human
rights
in
Zimbabwe.
The
Vigil
which started
in
October
2002
will
continue
until
internationally-monitored,
free
and
fair
elections
are
held
in
Zimbabwe.

Post
published
in:

Featured

This
year’s
event
coincides
with
World
Tourism
Day,
making
it
a
significant
occasion
for
conservation
and
tourism
alike.
The
golf
day
will
see
128
players
competing
in
support
of
VFAPU’s
ongoing
efforts
to
combat
poaching
and
preserve
wildlife
in
the
Victoria
Falls
region.

This
year’s
event
holds
particular
importance
as
it
comes
just
a
few
months
before
Victoria
Falls
Safari
Lodge,
the
flagship
property
of
Africa
Albida
Tourism
(AAT)
and
a
founding
partner
of
VFAPU,
celebrates
its
30th
anniversary
on
14
December.
Additionally,
2024
marks
a
key
milestone
for
VFAPU,
as
it
will
be
25
years
since
the
unit
was
formed
in
1999
by
Victoria
Falls
Safari
Lodge
and
local
conservationist
Charles
Brightman.
Over
the
past
quarter-century,
VFAPU
has
played
a
critical
role
in
the
protection
of
wildlife
in
the
region,
making
this
golf
day
a
crucial
fundraiser
for
the
unit’s
continued
operations.

Ross
Kennedy,
director
of
AAT
and
a
Wildlife
Conservation
Coalition
(WCC)
board
member,
emphasised
the
importance
of
this
event,
saying,
“This
fundraising
golf
day
not
only
highlights
the
ongoing
battle
against
poaching
but
also
showcases
the
synergy
between
tourism
and
conservation.
As
we
approach
the
30th
anniversary
of
Victoria
Falls
Safari
Lodge,
it’s
important
to
remember
that
our
commitment
to
protecting
our
wildlife
remains
stronger
than
ever.
The
support
we
receive
through
initiatives
like
this
allows
VFAPU
to
continue
its
essential
work
on
the
ground.”

Nathan
Webb,
General
Manager
of
WCC,
which
was
formed
following
the
merger
of
VFAPU
and
The
Bhejane
Trust
in
2023,
added,
“The
Victoria
Falls
Anti-Poaching
Unit
has
made
significant
strides
in
protecting
our
wildlife,
but
the
fight
is
far
from
over.
Events
like
this
golf
day
are
crucial
for
raising
the
funds
needed
to
sustain
our
efforts
and
ensure
that
future
generations
can
enjoy
the
beauty
and
biodiversity
of
the
Victoria
Falls
region.”

The
fundraising
golf
day
which
offers
golf
enthusiasts
the
opportunity
to
help
conserve
Zimbabwe’s
wildlife
through
their
participation,
sponsorship
and
donations,
promises
to
be
a
memorable
event,
with
participants
not
only
enjoying
a
day
of
golf
but
also
contributing
to
a
cause
that
is
vital
to
the
preservation
of
Zimbabwe’s
natural
heritage.
The
event
will
include
lunch,
drinks
and
evening
snacks
as
well
as
a
host
of
incredible
prizes. 
All
proceeds
from
the
fundraiser
go
directly
to
VFAPU,
with
Africa
Albida
Tourism
bearing
all
the
administrative
costs
of
the
day.

Since
its
inception
VFAPU
has
arrested
over
1,030
hardened
poachers,
removed
over
39,000
wire
snares
and
rescued
and
treated
over
600
mammals
injured
in
snares. 

VFAPU
works
closely
with
the
Zimbabwe
Parks
and
Wildlife
Management
Authority,
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
and
Victoria
Falls
City
Council
and
has
15
scouts
patrolling
daily.
 
The
unit
relies
solely
on
donations
to
fund
its
operations. 

Post
published
in:

Business

ON
July
31,
a
chilling
tweet
from
the
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
(ZLHR)
left
me
physically
and
mentally
drained.

The
tweet
reported
the
abduction
of
three
pro-democracy
campaigners
—
Namatai
Kwekweza,
Robson
Chere
and
Samuel
Gwenzi
—
along
with
sound
engineer
and
artist
Vusumuzi
Moyo.

These
four
brave
souls,
en
route
to
a
conference
in
Victoria
Falls,
were
forcibly
removed
from
an
airplane
at
Robert
Gabriel
Mugabe
International
Airport
by
individuals
believed
to
be
state
security
agents.

The
tweet
stated,
“We
are
trying
to
ascertain
their
whereabouts
&
what
is
happening
to
them”.

This
triggered
painful
memories
of
July
2020,
when
Tawanda
Muchehiwa,
nephew
of
ZimLive
editor
and
investigative
journalist
Mduduzi
Mathuthu,
was
abducted
and
severely
assaulted
—
again,
allegedly
by
state
security
agents.

As
activists,
we
have
walked
this
treacherous
path
before,
our
minds
racing
between
worst-case
scenarios
and
fragile
hope.
We
cling
to
the
hope
that
our
fellow
advocates
for
a
democratic
Zimbabwe
will
emerge
unscathed,
that
the
state
—
on
the
cusp
of
hosting
the
44th
Southern
African
Development
Community
(Sadc)
Summit
—
will
at
least
maintain
a
facade
of
rationality
and
peace.

But
reality
is
harsh:
the
Zanu
PF-led
government
has
never
been
guided
by
reason.
It
does
exactly
what
you
think
it
shouldn’t.
As
the
late
Alex
Magaisa
once
said:
“Think
of
the
worst
thing
Zanu
can
do,
and
it
will
do
10
times
worse.”

This
rings
painfully
true
in
a
climate
where
the
state
brazenly
uses
violence
against
dissenting
voices,
crushing
any
citizen
perceived
as
a
threat
to
its
iron
grip
on
power.

In
this
climate
of
fear,
every
tweet,
every
call
from
an
unknown
number,
every
missing
person,
becomes
a
stark
reminder
of
the
unsafe
and
dangerous
tightrope
we
walk
in
pursuit
of
justice.

That
night,
I
found
it
impossible
to
sleep,
as
though
resting
was
a
betrayal
to
those
who
had
been
taken
and
a
denial
of
my
own
fears
for
the
safety
of
activists
across
Zimbabwe.

I
tossed
and
turned,
scrolling
through
X,
checking
reliable
news
sources
for
updates.
I
was
restless,
and
I
am
convinced
many
of
us
were.

At
11.42pm,
ZLHR
tweeted
that
its
lawyers
had
finally
gained
access
to
Kwekweza,
Chere,
Moyo
and
Gwenzi.
They
had
been
held
incommunicado
for
at
least
eight
hours.

Chere
was
visibly
tortured
and
in
severe
pain.
The
four
were
charged
with
“disorderly
conduct”,
allegedly
for
participating
in
a
demonstration
at
Rotten
Row
Magistrates
Court
when
Jameson
Timba
and
others
appeared
in
court.

They
were
set
to
spend
the
night
at
Harare
Central
Police
Station.
A
wave
of
relief
washed
over
me
knowing
they
were
alive,
but
I
could
not
shake
the
images
indelibly
printed
in
my
mind.

As
a
woman
human
rights
defender,
my
worst
fear
was
for
Kwekweza.
I
prayed
and
hoped
that
she
had
not
been
raped
or
sexually
violated.

The
next
morning,
we
all
woke
up
to
a
ghastly
image
of
Chere’s
backside
circulating
on
X.
His
buttocks
were
blue-black
from
the
beatings,
resembling
the
remains
of
a
charred
body
—
a
painful
and
horrifying
sight.
ZimLive,
an
online
media
house,
initially
shared
the
picture.

Chere,
the
secretary-general
of
the
Amalgamated
Rural
Teachers
Union
of
Zimbabwe
(ARTUZ),
which
advocates
for
pro-poor
education
and
labour
justice,
had
been
cruelly
tortured.
Yet
he
was
not
released
to
seek
medical
treatment,
raising
fears
that
if
he
does
not
receive
urgent
care,
his
kidney
could
fail.
We
saw
the
physical
damage,
but
the
emotional,
spiritual
and
mental
scars
remain
invisible.

I
wonder
if
Chere
will
ever
question
the
presence
of
God
in
all
this.
I
certainly
would.
Where
is
the
God
who
supposedly
makes
justice
roll
like
a
river?
Would
Chere
doubt
his
decision
to
be
an
activist
or
a
pro-democracy
campaigner?
Does
he
feel
defeated?

The
enormity
of
what
this
means
for
Zimbabweans
is
staggering:
getting
brutally
tortured
for
being
an
unarmed
activist.
Who
will
cover
Chere’s
medical
bills?
Who
will
bear
the
cost
of
the
trauma
he
will
endure
from
this
severe
torture?
Who
will
pay
for
the
meals
and
visits
to
Chikurubi
Maximum
Security
Prison
by
his
family
members?

The
Airport
4
—
Chere,
Kwekweza,
Gwenzi,
and
Moyo
—
and
their
families
will
carry
the
brunt
of
this
ordeal
for
the
rest
of
their
lives,
while
the
rest
of
us
continue
with
our
lives
as
if
nothing
happened.

We
have
done
this
before,
countless
times,
moving
on
and
leaving
many
activists
to
bear
the
costs
of
activism
alone.
The
state
responsible
for
their
abduction
will
deny
its
involvement
and
not
pay
a
cent
towards
their
physical
and
mental
health.

A
tweet
from
the
handle
Nkayi
Centre
claimed,
“All
those
activists
get
paid
whenever
they
get
arrested.”

This
widespread
misconception
underscores
a
painful
truth:
activism
in
an
oppressive
state
like
Zimbabwe
is
costly
in
ways
many
fail
to
understand.
It
is
not
about
financial
gain;
it
is
about
sacrifice
and
often
isolation.

The
person
behind
this
handle
is
not
alone
in
believing
state-sponsored
propaganda
that
activists
are
paid.
There
are
many
who
parrot
this
falsehood.

The
term
“Cashvists”
was
coined
to
describe
activists,
a
word
some
of
us
are
still
allergic
to
and
despise
because
it
undermines
the
agency
and
efforts
of
those
advocating
for
a
just
society.

Contrary
to
such
misguided
beliefs,
activism
is,
as
Kenyan
activist
Boniface
Mwangi
says,
simply
being
an
active
citizen.

Trevor
Ncube,
a
prominent
Zimbabwean
figure,
elaborates:
“Activism
is
an
engaged
citizenship,
a
caring
citizenship,
a
citizenship
that
exercises
its
constitutional
right
and
responsibility
to
oversee
the
government
of
the
day.”

As
I
reflect
on
the
events
of
this
weekend
—
the
abductions,
the
torture,
the
public
misunderstanding
—
I
grapple
with
a
haunting
question:
At
what
cost
does
this
engaged
citizenship
come?
And
more
importantly,
who
truly
bears
this
cost?

SOURCE:
This
article
was
first
published
in
the
Zimbabwe
Independent

Samkeliso
Tshuma
is
a
ZimRights
member
 and
the
Executive
Director
of
Girls
Table,
an
organization
that
focuses
on
empowering
young
women
and
girls.

Post
published
in:

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