PYD statement on International Human Rights Day

Platform for Youth Development (PYD) joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating the International Human Rights Day. On 10 December 1948 delegates from all over the world gathered in Paris and devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a declaration of this kind to help ensure that we prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people.

On that day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. The declaration proclaims a simple but powerful idea that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. In the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government but they a birthright of all people. The declaration does not matter from which country one lives in. Because one is human, therefore he/she has rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.

63 years down the line, some governments have not religiously accepted and enshrined the declaration into their local systems. Rampant abuse of human rights continues unabated. In Zimbabwe looks heading in the opposite direction, human rights defenders and civil society leaders have had to endure terrible times in prison on trumped up charges. The government is soldiering on with its disregard of the rights of all citizens as guided by the UDHR which Zimbabwe ratified.

The day marks an important chapter in the history of the world, it is indeed a day to honour and remember the works of human rights defenders and all those who died fighting for them. It is an important episode because it gives us time to remember human rights defenders across the world who continues to suffer harassment, torture, imprisonment and death because of their resolve to fight for human rights.

This year’s theme: Celebrate Human Rights resonates well with political developments witnessed especially in North African when technology played a pivotal role in displacing despotic and dictatorial rule in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. Social media has become a significant factor in the works of human rights defenders. The facebook, twitter, MySpace and many other tools have been very effective in coordinating events and activities and looks set to continue bringing results as new advancements are unleashed.

The day has come at a dark hour in Zimbabwe. Our hearts are saddened by the continued denial of freedom to the Glen View residents who were arrested on charges of murdering a police officer. We are worried on the fate of our media as the state has some kind of renewed their targeted onslaught of all media houses and personnel perceived to be against the establishment. Zimbabwe is approaching polls probably next year or 2013 and knowing the culture of violence and how the Inclusive government has failed to overturn and replace it with tolerance; we are heading for a more disastrous time for human rights defender and political activists.

Despite the gloomy picture, let’s not tire or be weakened by negative pointers. Let’s renew our commitments to fight for the respect of our human rights in Zimbabwe. The darkest hour is the hour before dawn and we should tie up our shoes and fight harder. Like any other country in the world, we Zimbabweans deserve a peaceful and democratic and tolerant society.

Human Rights belongs to everybody, let’s celebrate human rights.

PYD Statement on the World Aids Day

Platform for Youth Development (PYD) joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Aids Day. This is a day dedicated to bring awareness to those who have died from the disease and strides made in the fight against it. It is a day to reflect on progress made towards arresting the scourge that has brought more tears than joy in the world. Nevertheless it is a time to rejoice as we salute all the gallantry work aimed at ensuring increased access to treatment and prevention services. 

Zimbabwe has made considerable strides in reducing the prevalence rate from a massive 24% to 13% and still working hard towards achieving a single digit and subsequently 0% prevalence.

World Aids Day should therefore be an opportunity to learn about HIV and Aids. It should be a time to rekindle and rejuvenate our fight for the total eradication of the scourge from our society. It should be a day to join hands and heighten our quest for a lasting solution. Zimbabwe stands to benefit immensely from shared vision and goal of an HIV/AIDS free generation. Our unity of purpose will definitely achieve results.

The day is significant; it is a day to remind one another to take the fight to another level as we wage a spirited war against the disease that is continuously robbing us of productive and industrious manpower. We should never give up our fight, let’s continue to mobilize resources as we work towards getting to zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero Aids related deaths. We shall conquer and only if we are united and focused.

As a youth organization, we encourage young people to be responsible and practice safer sex methods to save their life. Let’s take a moment to look at ways of getting to Zero as the theme suggests. Let’s take some time to think of the world where people die not of HIV/AIDS but of other diseases. We should not allow people to die unnecessarily because of Aids.

We preach the gospel of abstinence to all young people who are not married. Abstinence from all sex related activities. Those who are married should be faithful to their partners. Sexual networks will only serve to reverse all the gains the country had achieved in the fight against the pandemic.

Let’s shun all forms of discrimination. Stigma will not help in this fight. People should be free to discuss and share about HIV without fear of being hate, or discriminated against. We need to move towards a situation where HIV positive is seen as a condition not as a passport to death. Moreover people should stop seeing HIV as a result of promiscuous behaviors.  

Together Yes We Can. Together we will get to Zero.

PYD Statement on the $11 million Youth Empowerment Fund

Platform for Youth Development Trust

Platform for Youth Development (PYD) applauds and welcomes the efforts of the Ministry of Youth, Indigenization and Empowerment and Old Mutual for the US$11 million dollars Youth Empowerment fund initiative. We believe the fund will go a long way in alleviating and rescuing young people from the jaws of poverty and unemployment. It has come at the most appropriate time when young people from universities and colleges dotted across the country and abroad continue to flood the job market.

It is our utmost belief that the fund will holistically transform the unproductive young people into industrious citizens who will contribute immensely to the economic development of Zimbabwe. We pray that the funds are disbursed in a transparent manner so that they benefit all young people regardless of political, religious, racial and ethnical affiliation. The fund has the capacity to renovate our Zimbabwean economy by creating vast employment opportunities.

The responsible authorities should work hard to ensure that the money does not benefit a few well connected and party cadres. It should be used to further the goal of empowering young people who have been desperately waiting for such a shot.

We appeal to the Ministry of Youth, Indigenization and Empowerment and Zimbabwe Youth Council to safeguard the book of professionalism, this initiative is critical in bolstering and taking on board young people to play part in economic development initiatives of the country.

Putting aside nepotism and corruption in the distribution of the fund will help in building corporate trust. The funds should be awarded on the merit of the submitted proposal not on party lines or willingness to pay bribe.

PYD’s main worry is the tendency by some beneficiaries who see this fund as freebies not to be returned. Similar initiatives have failed to work because the few beneficiaries disappeared after misusing the money.

We appeal to banks and institutions responsible for the disbursement of funds to relax certain collateral requirements so that ordinary youths can benefit. It defies logic to demand collateral security from young people who are still to make it in life. It is rather better to use the intended project as collateral security.

Lastly, we are glad that the funds have finally been availed. We have been helping a number of youths in preparing viable project proposals for consideration and we are hopeful that one or two will be successful. We will be officially submitting the proposals to the responsible authorities soon.

Inserted by PYD Information and Communications Department

Email: platformtrust@gmail.com, director.platformtrust@gmail.com

Blog: www.plaformtrust.blogspot.com

Cell: +263773010331, +263773011599

Madhuku's case postponed for the sixth time

PYD Director Claris Madhuku

The trial of PYD Director Claris Madhuku at the Chipinge Magistrate court today has been further postponed to 5 December 2011 after Magistrate Crispen Ngweshiwa and state prosecutors refused to preside
over the case.

The drama filled session saw the Public Prosecutors Last Goredema and Thembelami Dhliwayo disappearing with the case dockets leading the court to adjourn for close to an hour. The two later reappeared and refused to stand in for the state on the grounds that they were not the ones dealing with the case.  On the other hand Magistrate
Ngweshiwa refused to preside over the case arguing that Vuso Gapara was the one handling the case.

This led to the postponement of the case to 5 December to allow the court officials to put their house in order.

Madhuku’s defense lawyer, Langton Mhungu of Mhungu, Matutu, Kwirira and Associates demanded justice and finalization of the matter. He lambasted the state for its delaying tactics meant to persecute his client denying him his right to freedom. Madhuku was arrested on 14 April 2011 at Rimbi Township on charges of addressing a meeting without notifying the regulating authority. He has been visiting Chipinge Magistrate Court since then.

 Today’s appearance was his sixth since his arrest in April.

Madhuku had no kind words either; he blasted the tortoise manner in which the Chipinge Magistrate has been dealing with his case. They are doing this to persecute me for my leadership role in the Chisumbanje community- Macdom Investments land dispute.

Chisumbanje Villagers resist being cowed into submission by Green Fuel

The land dispute between Chisumbanje villagers and Green Fuel has taken a new twist with the company shelving aside peaceful negotiations for a more confrontational and forceful means of winning their battle. On Tuesday, 25 October 2011, villagers woke up to the sight of the Green Fuel representatives, Arex and a few handpicked headmen telling them in no uncertain terms to accept the company’s offer of what villagers referred to as shameless 0.3ha of land.

The company together with officials from ARDA continues to fly in the face of justice. On the fateful day in question, villagers were told to follow their traditional leadership to the prepared fields where each family was to be allocated 14 lines of land measuring 0.3ha. Reacting to this imposition, the bulk of village heads resisted against such an anti-people stance. Much to their dismay their resistance was met with intimidation and threats leading to some succumbing to the company’s demands.

Villagers are still confused as to the meaning and purpose of the imposition. Wedzerai Gwenzi, spokesperson of the villagers described the event as shocking. “No development is imposed, let them use force but the villagers will stick to community consensus. We will see the victor,” he said.

Those who refused to get the pieces of land argued that they were being cheated and therefore are awaiting the court verdict.

Trust between the villagers and the investor has deteriorated to alarming levels to the effect that the company will struggle to win support and confidence of the surrounding communities even after the dispute is over. The company together with misinformed sympathisers want the villagers to submit their livelihood to the chagrin of the selfish investor.

The relationship between Green Fuel, ARDA and the government of Zimbabwe remains shoddy and suspicious. There is no clear government position on the land deal and the continuous silence by the government is the stumbling block to the finalisation of the matter.

The company looks clueless in communicating with the surrounding communities and seems unwilling to address this disparity. This has led villagers to threaten disruptive actions if the company goes on with its superior tendencies.

The villagers have taken a step further by approaching the courts to have the matter adjudicated as the countless initiatives aimed at bringing a lasting solution to the matter have hit a brick wall.

The locals are even more confused on the role of the Minister of Agriculture; Dr Joseph Made in the matter. Dr Made is accused of corrupt relations and lack of handy information on the nitty-gritties of the matter as he failed to answer very simple questions when quizzed by the parliamentary portfolio committee on Agriculture, Water, Lands and Resettlement.

There is no economic justice when the company takes away over 5 hectares from a communal farmer in return for 14 lines of land. Most villagers’ survival is attached to their pieces of land and such an arrangement will impoverish the community as it takes away their source of livelihood. As the ploughing season gets on track, the villagers have resolved to go and till their land as a way to start up the confrontations.

Claris Madhuku, whose organisation (Platform for Youth Development) has been mandated to provide representation, bemoaned this sad approach by the company. “We are concerned with the manner in which the company is behaving despite our call for engagement,” Madhuku said.

It is becoming clear that Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant is yet another giant operation that seeks to blindly pursue profit by displacing communities. As far as PYD is concerned, this is an immoral way of doing business and therefore must be condemned by the whole world.

“We will remain calm and collected as we will use the villagers mandate to seek economic justice. I am very much convinced that we are doing the right thing to resist those foreigners who are stealing our land regardless of their political and economic power.

Information and Communication Department

Email: platformtrust@gmail.com, director.platformtrust@gmail.com

Cell: +263773010331

Violence erupts in Chipinge South

Political violence erupted in Chipinge South over the weekend with war veterans and Zanu PF functionaries running amok, beating MDC-T supporters attending party meeting at Garahwa Business centre.
The war veterans led by one Micah Jerera went to the business centre where the MDC-T Youth committee was addressing party supporters and disturbed proceedings leading to the clashes that resulted in the injury of MDC supporters. This resulted in two youth committee members Nyasha Madhodha and Forget Hlomani being arrested and detained for two nights at Chisumbanje Police Station.
The two who were thoroughly assaulted were rushed to St Peters Mission Hospital at Checheche Growth point. Wedzerai Gwenzi said that medical staff at the hospital refused to give medical attention to the injured members. Chipinge South vice chairperson, Wedzerai Gwenzi said that police followed up on the two at the hospital and took them to the police station where they were detained.
The war veterans and Zanu PF thugs led by one Micah Jerera are said to have disturbed a peaceful meeting and this is not the first time such an instance has happened. War veterans have since 2000 been known for taking the law into their hands without actions of the state security.
The incident has left villagers scared as they have been reawakened to the tragic memories of June 27 2008.
It is shocking that the injured victims were the ones arrested instead of the perpetrators. The two had to spend a night at Chisumbanje police station before they were released.

Discovery of diamonds in Manicaland brings more harm than good for the province

The discovery of diamonds presented great opportunity and hope for the Chiadzwa and Marange villagers as well as the generality of Zimbabweans. For a country still reeling from effects of an almost decade long economic meltdown this was a God given opportunity to turn around the economy.

In the midst of excitement, people from all corners of the country flooded Chiadzwa and Marange diamond fields to try and make a living. Foreigners could not be left out in the trepidation as they saw an opportunity to amass wealth. Faced with disorder and chaos in the fields, trigger-happy and overzealous state security agents moved in, mercilessly butchering innocent and vulnerable villagers desperately in search of livelihood. Apparently, the locals could no longer access the diamond areas as the deployed security officers went on a looting rampage creating syndicates only for their selfish and political gains. Though government reports and company spokespersons’ deny these allegations as inaccurate and untrue, evidence is abound and have been recorded by civic societies monitoring the process.
Three to four years down the lane Manicaland is still in its old state if not worse off. Locals have since been forcefully evacuated without adequate compensation to Arda Transau farm detaching them from what is rightfully their birth right. The trillion dollar question remains, what exactly is development and economic justice when the supposed beneficiaries are turned into biggest losers?
Is it not an open secret that numerous syndicates linking government officials and China’s are plundering what should benefit the majority of Zimbabweans?  With each passing day thousands of gems and carats are disappearing and being looted out of the country by known economic barons for their personal aggrandisement. We know very well how Obert Mpofu’s life has suddenly changed the moment he was appointment Minister of Mines in 2008. He is not alone in this game as many Zanu PF party heavy weights are linked in this mafia style syndicates. No one has ever taken a minute to ponder what is left for the young people who are the future of this country? A case in point is the well recorded clash between Finance Minister Tendai Biti and a minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu over the whereabouts of US$ 300 million proceeds from diamond sales. This episode is evidence that the precious stone in Manicaland is not being managed with transparency and neither is there accountability.

The behaviour by the resident Governor of Manicaland Christopher Mushohwe has also triggered concern. Whilst the expectation was that he would stand on the side of the people, the reality is that he has chosen to respect his belly.Mbada Diamonds, Canadile and other Chinese Investors operating in Chiadzwa and Marange are doing very little to service the communities in which they are doing business. The companies are at the forefront setting up dogs in a spirited effort to drown the voices of the poor villagers. People are literally starving, and company handouts of foodstuffs and exercise books are far away from justifying the millions of profits they are reaping from diamond sales each day.
The problem with Chiadzwa and Marange companies is taking precedence at Chisumbanje Ethanol Project where employment has been awarded to foreigners and outsiders at the expense of locals. This is clearly impoverishing Manicaland province which houses the minerals and projects but failing to improve her fortunes in practical terms. In Chisumbanje, the company management talks of employing six thousand locals, figures that only exists in the press. One wonders why our government fails to challenge this mischief against the peace loving people of Manicaland.Young people are getting irritated and impatient for being taken for granted by such unthankful foreign investors.
After the discovery of the minerals, it was predicted that Manicaland was poised for development only to discover that the actual diamond business was the privilege of Harare where the processing and trading is now being done. The building of the diamond processing in Harare is clear indicator that people of Manicaland are being taken for granted. Who can explain why the processing is not being done in Mutare or Chipinge. This decision flies in the face of decentralisation and economic sense.
In conclusion, it has become apparent that diamonds in Marange has failed to make economic impact in the Manicaland province despite Zimbabwe being ranked among the top seven diamond producing nations in the world. Zimbabwe now joins nations like Angola, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the discovery of diamond only attracted disastrous conflict as opposed to economic development.

Information and Communications Dept

Unfair labour practices high at Macdom Investments

Young people in Chipinge feels hard done by Green Fuel and its sister company Macdom Investments’ failure to provide the much needed employment opportunities, despite the company’s passionate promises to be the hub of employment in the district.

In spite of the expectations that the woes of young people and the general community will be solved it has come to pass that youths in Chipinge remain disadvantaged and excluded from the company’s catchment area. The desperate youths said they remain stuck in the corridors of poverty when they are supposed to be primary beneficiaries of the Ethanol project in terms of employment opportunities. Questions are being asked, as to whose interest the company is serving.

The youths have threatened massive demonstrations at the company offices to demand fulfilment of employment promises by the company. They complain that the company is employing people from other districts ahead of Chipinge. Nepotism and favouritism has reared its ugly head at the company as top managers are recruiting their relatives and friends into influential positions relegating a few locals to menial jobs.

Reports are rife that the few locals who have been employed in menial jobs are subjected to unfair labour practices. There is no job security as locals are hired and fired at the will of managers. PYD is reliably informed that in the month of August 2011 alone, 30 people were fired without compensation. This proceeded to the month of September where quite a number were also relieved of their duties without hearing. The matter is now before our lawyers and the National Employment Council. When asked for a comment PYD Director, Claris Madhuku said his organization had recorded very heart rending and emotional reports of colonialist and unfair labour practices the company was using against its workers.

A case in point is a one eyed security guard at the company who was fired by a senior white Manager only referred to as Doink. Doink is alleged to have said “ngaiende kumba kwayo aizooni nzimbe dzangu” (go home, you won’t be able to see my sugar cane).

Another villager Innocent Chikamhi was electrocuted while on duty and has not received professional medical attention and compensation despite the fact that he has suffered up to 70% disability. Such reports of injuries at work not getting adequate attention from the management are high at the company.

Young people in the whole district are unanimous that action has to be taken against the Investor. They are bitter and convinced the problem has to be resolved without delay as this will set a bad precedent in the country. This unanimous need for action came in a spat of meetings organised by PYD to commemorate the International Youth Day. Meetings in Chibuwe, Rimbi, Muumbe, Zamuchiya and Chikore reinforced the same issue that locals should be the direct and first beneficiary of any community project in the district.

PYD continues to represent Chipinge communities in development issues. Last week they highlighted the still pending horrible situation of livestock dying after drinking contaminated water from the Ethanol plant. The company constructed dams close to the community in Munepasi. The dams have become the latest threat to human life as they are constantly breaking and flooding the community drowning livestock and washing away huts and other properties.

Chisumbanje villagers furious over lack of consultation for Ethanol project

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

Lack of consultation infuriates Chisumbanje villagers

A week of drama has been experienced in Chisumbanje as over a thousand
villagers refused to be cowed by Macdom pvt ltd.The much publicised Ethanol
project hangs on a thread if the Macdom and ARDA remains stubborn by
imposing and defining the project as irreversible against basic
communication skills. A consultation meeting by the cabinet representative
on the 15th of August, as well as that by the company on the 18th of August
2011 has failed to break the impasse.

The company through their Human Resources Manager Mr. Zuze agreed that they
are responsible for the destruction of crops belonging to the residents
since 2008,” we are consulting with Agritex to establish the value of the
destroyed crops so that we start compensation” Zuze admitted. This statement
was made at a meeting at Chisumbanje on the 18th of August. More than one
thousand villagers including Chief Garahwa, Headman
Chisumbanje,Chinyamukwakwa and Matikwa attended.

In response to the admission by the company through Zuze,a resolution by the
villagers was made-
That there will be no talks/engagements with neither the company nor ARDA
concerning their land until farmers whose crops were destructed since 2008
have been compensated satisfactorily.

The villagers have since refuted instructions by the company spoken through
J.C Mundoma, the Chief Executive Officer of ARDA Chipinge. He provided dates
for the community to meet the company at their fields to establish their
hectrage.The villagers’ responded angrily for this imposition of dates when
in actual fact there was no background and proper communication as to the
purpose of the meetings. When Mundoma insisted on the project as
irreversible because the community was less important than government
interests a resolution was made for him and his JEPAC team.

That the villagers has lost confidence in the D.A Noel Mundeta and his
team(Mundoma included),therefore appeals for a fresh team, should there be
need for talks/engagements in this matter.
The community also raised concern that the intended consultations were bent
on dividing people as well as cheating them. The community sighted the
imposition of weak members who are not convincingly representative as much
as they are not familiar with community interests. To this effect a third
resolution was made.

That Platform for Youth Development Trust [PYD} will remain the
representative of the Chisumbanje, Chinyamukwakwa and Matikwa communities is
resolving this land dispute with Macdom pvt ltd with her sister companies.

Platform for Youth Development has been working with the villagers on this
matter since 2008.Since then, the company has been invading the truth by
claiming that PYD was not mandated and therefore not fit to be given a table
talk. It appears, they have not yet learnt the mathematics of community
projects.PYD has already engaged Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Bere
Brothers who have since filed a court application at the high court of
Zimbabwe to stop Macdom pvt ltd and her sister companies from encroaching
the boundaries they have since agreed with ARDA.

It is important to note that PYD is a pressure group that is community based
and well equipped to mediate in this dispute. Macdom management have failed
dismally to respect the community. In addition to handpicking war veterans
(only to abuse their titles), they use hate language and political rhetoric
to intimidate the community into submission. All their efforts having failed
they have again introduced fliers lambasting the director of PYD Mr Claris
Madhuku and one of the community strongmen Wedzerai Gwenzi. In their
laughable messages, they are claiming that these two men are organising the
community in pursuit of political power. Someone must advise them, that they
are dampening relations at the time they need them most.

”The allegations are baseless and nonsensical, am passionate about my
community and will break my bones in defence of genuine and community
empowering development”Madhuku said.

‘As far as i am concerned, Macdom and ARDA representatives risk
embarrassment of a generation if they continue being stubborn without bowing
down to consider talking. The community will do everything peaceful to
demand their rights against imposition of development. The community has no
problem with the plant operating within the 5 112 hectares where there is no
conflict, the problem comes when they start operating illegal by encroaching
into the community before there is a binding agreement” Madhuku fumed.

The court application is meant to inform the company and ARDA that the
community is determined and spirited to pursue justice. However the courts
are not the ONLY option available. The community is prepared to make history
of a monumental stature to display community power against imposition of the
so called development.

Platform for Youth Development is very much concerned that the company has
failed on the Indigenization and Land policies of the country. So far most
of our young people in the area lie idle despite the company claiming at the
international level that they are employing the community members. Over
eighty (80%) of the company’s work force is coming far away from Chisumbanje
and Chipinge. The community feels cheated and taken for granted by the
management who daily harasses employees.PYD has authoritative reports of
discrimination, harassment and bad labour practices at the company.ZCTU and
NEC must visit this place to protect workers’ rights with immediacy.

“If the Ethanol plant is to function without community interruptions, it was
recommended for the management to take their community relations seriously”Wedzerai
Gwenzi, spokesperson for the community said.
”How are we expected to simply accept a deal that displaces people without
taking concern of our cultural concerns and our fore fathers graves am a
traditional leader who gets power from the people” said Headmen, Forichi
Chisumbanje.

Facts available indicates that when Macdom Pvt Ltd entered into the
agreement, it was believed that ARDA would provide the 45 000 hectares but
it was latter realized that the ARDA only had 5 112 hectares hence the
decision to displace villagers to secure the deficit. It is a pity that ARDA
officials Macdom are taking advantage of the vulnerable villagers to dictate
to them what they want to do on their land without their consent. The
company officials connived with the District Administrator (D.A) who then
gave the directive to Chief Garahwa as if it was coming from the government.
It is important to expose those who are clandestinely involved in this deal.

Macdom is owned by a close Zanu (PF) ally Billy Rautenbach who is rumoured
to be one of the party’s financing partners. While the development of
bio-fuels is a desirable initiative especially in Zimbabwe, it however
leaves a lot to be desired as to how a responsible company could impose
itself to the people without any benefit to the locals. Platform for Youth
Development is working closely with the traditional leadership, councillors
and members of parliament in the three constituencies to be affected by the
project.

Rautenbach is not new to major financial scandals with a bad reputation in
both South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rautenbach was also
recently deported from the DRC after government officials established that
he was looting diamonds from the mineral rich country.