Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

Dear Friends,

We are delighted to inform you about our two forthcoming events. This coming Saturday (26^th June) from 12.00 to 13.30 we warmly welcome you to join us for a service of solidarity with Zimbabwean victims/survivors of torture. The service takes place at the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church at 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EP. Please find further details on the flyer at the following link:

http://www.hrforumzim.com/save-the-date.png

We would like to remind everyone of our other event on July 1^st marking another date in our series of consultative workshops on Transitional Justice outreach to the Diaspora. The workshop will take place in Development House in London from 11.00 to 16.00. Due to space restrictions, this workshop can only cater for a limited amount of Zimbabwean participants based in London, whilst further workshops will take place in the regions beyond London. A flyer with further information and details of how to register can be accessed on the following link:

http://www.hrforumzim.com/workshop.png

Reports/statements issued by our member organisations in recent days include the following items:

The attached Newsflash issued on 21.06.2010 by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) reports on intimidation by police dressed in ordinary civilian clothing against ZimRights officers in Bulawayo. This harassment occurs at a time when the constitutional outreach process has begun.

Yesterday, (21.06.2010), ZimRights issued a further Newsflash (attached). It reports that funding partners of the constitutional outreach programme have committed to uphold their commitment to ensure that the outreach process is transparent, credible, democratic and peaceful.

Recent statements/reports on Zimbabwe by other civil society organizations and international bodies include the following:

Following the case concerning the CRD Director, Farai Muguwu, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition issued the Daily Catalyst of 21.06.2010. It reports that the High Court Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, dismissed Farai Muguwu's bail application on the grounds that police investigations are at a premature stage. The bulletin also includes a short summary of the situation concerning student leaders in custody.

Today, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition issued the Daily Catalyst as attached, with yet another update on Farai’s case. It reports that his bail application is set to be reviewed tomorrow (23.06.2010) following its dismissal earlier today (as above). The hearing is expected to commence early tomorrow morning. We will keep you posted.

Today Sokwanele published the latest edition of the Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch (ZIGWATCH) Issue 16 (as attached). The monitoring report notes that “the passage of another month has brought no change in the political stalemate facing the twenty month old Zimbabwean Global Political Agreement (GPA)”.

The bulletin brings to light the most controversial of all events this month with Robert Mugabe unilaterally appointing a new Supreme Court judge and four High Court judges without any consultation. There is also news on the arrest and conviction of commercial farmers by Police in the Inyathi region in Matabeleland despite formal written authority from the High Court to remain on their farms.

http://www.sokwanele.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/public_list/20100622043833

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) released the attached Ballot Update Issue 12 covering the period April and May 2010. It broadly captures the national political developments in the period and highlights a number of developments and concerns including delays and the neutrality and impartiality of the media amongst other things.

-- International Liaison Office
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum