The Zimbabwean authorities have continued to ignore human rights provisions in the country’s 2013 Constitution. There has been no amendment of laws and legislation to bring them in line with the Constitution and Zimbabwe’s regional and international human rights obligations. State agents have increasingly resorted to the use of brute force, torture, abductions and arbitrary arrests as a means of intimidating, investigating and obtaining information or confessions from real or perceived offenders as well as to instil fear within the citizens of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is fast approaching a general election, which should occur in the next few months and historically Zimbabwean elections have been marred by violence and gross human rights violations.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) runs the Human Rights Defender’s (HRDs) Programme, whose main goal is

The HRDs Programme operates a 24-hour hotline and provides emergency legal support services and respond to distress calls from HRDs facing arbitrary arrests in violation of their rights, detained or where there is a threatening harm (of their rights) from state and non-state actors. The HRDs Programme handles 200 cases annually on average. The emergency legal support services ensures propriety by police in handling human rights cases and seeks to minimise chances of incidence of torture at the hands of police and other state agents.

ZLHR has successfully defended many human rights activists and amongst the most prominent clients is Pastor Evan Mawarire of the #ThisFlag movement, Pastor Patrick Mugadza, Patson Dzamara (brother of Itai Dzamara who was abducted and went missing in 2015) and pro-democracy campaigner Linda Masarira. ZLHR is a non-profit human rights organisation, whose objective is to foster a culture of human rights in Zimbabwe. In light of the above, I would humbly ask you to donate generously.

As a human rights activist, I have not only taken up the challenge of raising funds to help the running of the HRDs Programme. My passion and love for my country, Zimbabwe, has fuelled my resolve to seize the opportunity to make a difference by taking a necessary stand. I will cycle through 6 cities over 6 days including Cambridge, Colchester, Luton, Chelmsford, South End on Sea and London in Great Britain.