As election fever gathers momentum in Zimbabwe some sections of the population are quickly drawn back to memories of 2008 election thuggery.  Violence, which broke out in the 2008 during the presidential elections, left many families displaced and communities turning on each other. The most affected people were those who showed political allegiance to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Violence, destruction of property as well as the displacement of people unleashed under Operation Mavhoterapapi (how did you vote) left many people vulnerable and living in fear of victimization from local leadership especially in the rural communities. Local leadership in rural communities played a major role in coercing people to vote for ZANU PF in 2008 election or they risked losing their land.

Since the 2008 civil society has been working with local communities to come up with initiatives that promote reconciliation and national healing in areas where victims of political violence are still seeking redress and trying to overcome the horrendous acts. In an effort to use art as a tool in the engagement of communities in promoting human rights a local civic organization, Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT), has been working in rural Zimbabwe to get peoples views on elections.

At a function graced by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Senator Obert Gutu, Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust launched the Cries for Justice documentary. The documentary which is a reflection of the people of Zimbabwe’s quest for justice is based on narration from victims of the 2008 election violence and is part of ADZT’s work in the area of human rights.

In her speech, ADZT board member, Mrs Gladys Hlatshwayo reiterated that the documentary alone cannot change Zimbabwe’s situation but can contribute to making Zimbabwe a better place to live in.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister Obert Gutu highlighted that art has been used in Zimbabwe to criticize the government and speak on behalf of the voiceless and many artists have been blacklisted whilst others have gone into exile. Commenting on the progress of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill, the Minister told the gathering that the Bill would help to empower the Human Rights Commission to look at all transitional justice issues in Zimbabwe.

Join the biggest activist community in Zimbabwe! Get weekly email newsletters filled with civic and human rights information, notifications of events, news from the street, NGO job vacancies and most importantly, Inspiration … sign up by sending an email with “subscribe” in the title line to join [ at ] kubatana [ dot ] net

And don’t forget to visit www.kubatana.net to browse over 21 000 articles and connect to over 270 Zimbabwean NGOs.

Traveling for work in Kenya last month I got to visit one of Nairobi’s high density suburbs – Kayole. It’s a dense, organized, gritty, sprawling area with lots of colour, sadly little of which comes from nature’s green. All around is grey concrete or brown earth. Persuasive advertising, colourful clothes and bright smiles help to raise your spirits in the midst of the litter and poverty.

Housing in Kayole

Kids in Kayole suburb

Bleak school grounds in Kayole

Beauty Salon

Cake shop advertising

From Freedom Fone’s latest newsletter:

Reproductive Health Hotline runs on Freedom Fone in Kenya

June 2012 found our technical team in Nairobi, hosted by Women on Waves and partners, to train reproductive health activists on how to use Freedom Fone to complement their information services. The Aunty Jane Hotline was officially launched on 19 June to provide Kenyan women with reproductive health information in English and Swahili. The Aunty Jane Hotline will make use of Freedom Fone’s IVR, voicemail and SMS functionalities to share life saving reproductive health information, and to receive feedback and questions.

A comment from the streets on the lifting of sanctions:

The EU has decided to lift targeted sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his cronies? No doubt to become major players in the economic life of Zimbabwe, no doubt to vie with the Chinese in resource plunder. Right time 4 them but betrayal for Zimbabwe. Oil the Zanu-PF machine and what future 4 democracy with a rejuvenated gerontocracy. With friends like these… truly sad. – Samir

Sometimes (often) the behaviour of the Zimbabwe Republic Police force – traffic section – is beyond belief. Take yesterday evening for example. Traffic backed up to, and into the traffic lights at the corner of Glenara/Enterprise Roads. Is it an accident. NO! Is it a motorcade. NO! Is it a tree fallen over the road. NO!

It’s a police roadblock.

Do they rectify the situation when they see the congestion forming. NO!