ZIMBABWE!

Dear Friends,


The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum is deeply concerned at the arrest and detention of two of our civil society colleagues in Zimbabwe from the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO). Ms Dadirai Chikwengo, the Chair of the NANGO Board and Mr Cephus Zinhumwe, the Chief Executive Officer of NANGO were arrested in Victoria Falls yesterday, 25.10.09 after participating in an NGO Directors' Summer School held in the town. Police charges against the two stemmed apparently from the statement issued by the Directors after the meeting calling for the intervention of SADC and the AU to ensure that the Global Political Agreement is fully implemented. It is alleged that they were arrested under the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Further information can be found in the two attached Press Statements issued by NANGO since these arrests took place.


Further to this, we attach here a MISA Zimbabwe Alert issued by our member organisation the Media Institute of Southern Africa which adds that the NANGO members are expected to appear in Court this afternoon


Today, 26.10.09 the 'Friends of Zimbabwe' (also known as 'the Fishmongers Group') comprising the main donors to Zimbabwe, met in Berlin for their bi-annual meeting. Today's meeting was the first time a civil society organisation was invited to address them. Our Co-ordinator, Tor-Hugne Olsen who also co-ordinates the Zimbabwe Europe Network (ZEN) addressed the donors and made recommendations to the meeting on behalf of ZEN. Please find attached the background paper and nine recommendations that were presented to the informal donor meeting today in Berlin. Our Co-ordinator, Tor Olsen, can be contacted in Berlin today on +49 1520 238 4918


On 21.10.09 the Swedish Presidency, on behalf of the Council of the European Union issued a declaration about their concern at the situation in Zimbabwe. The statement expresses concern at the 'insufficient delvelopments with regard to human rights and democracy, unresolved nominationation and appointment issues and continued politically motivated harassement of MDC members'. It encourages SADC and the AU as gauruntors of the GPA to call for the swift implementation of the GPA and the reform agenda. The statement can be read on line via the following web link. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/cfsp/110642.pdf





-- International Liaison Office
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4LT
Tel. +44-(0)20-7065 0945
Email: IntLO@hrforumzim.com
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The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has been in existence since January 1998 when non-governmental orgainsiations working in the field of human rights joined together to provide legal and psychological assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January 1998. The Forum consists of 16 Zimbabwean human rights organisations. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum operates a Research and Documentation Unit and offers legal services through the Public Interest Unit from the Headquarters in Harare, in addition to the information service that is offered internationally from the International Liaison Office. The International Liaison Office of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO in an effort to ensure the widest possible coverage for our reports, constantly updates and adds to the email addresses on our list using member organisations' contact lists or other sources. If you would like to have your name removed from the list, please send an email to zimhrforum@btconnect.com with the word 'unsubscribe' in the subject field.