The award is in recognition of outstanding and principled behaviour by selfless individuals championing transparency and the national good. Tshuma and 50 other youths from across the political divide staged a protest march for jobs in Harare on August 18 in a bid to submit a petition to President Robert Mugabe via Parliament. This followed the lapsed time of a year after Mugabe had promised the jobs, without any fulfilment of the promise on the ground. Instead the economy was in free fall with thousands of workers losing their jobs every month.
The protest march was brutally disrupted by armed riot police, leaving scores of protestors seriously injured. Six of them were arrested and detained for 23 days at Harare Remand Prison. They were denied medical treatment. Tshuma sustained bruises on the thigh and serious damage to his ear.
“The protest was peaceful and constitutional as it was composed of youth from across the political divide demanding jobs as provided in the constitution,” said Tshuma. “Our intention was to petition the Head of State and remind him that the promised jobs were not forthcoming and instead the plight of the youth had worsened as a result of the struggling economy.”
The youths are being charged for staging an unauthorised demonstration resulting in obstruction of free movement of traffic and people. The crime attracts a maximum 10 years in prison if they are found guilty.
According to Tshuma, the march started peacefully from Town House only to be intercepted by police after passing the old Zimex Mall, as they headed for the parliament buildings. Some of the police officers were in civilian clothes. The bleeding youths later appeared before the courts and were granted bail, which was immediately opposed by the state. Lawyers for Human Rights appealed and successfully won the release of the youths on $300 bail each. Since September 9 the youths have appeared in court for further remand on September 17 and November 12. They are set to appear again on December 3. Human rights lawyer, Obey Shava, from Muchadehama and Associates Law Firm is representing the accused youths.
Giraffe Heroes Zimbabwe was launched with the purpose of encouraging Zimbabweans to ‘stick their necks out’ for the common good and to give them tools to succeed.
This follows similar groups launched over the last three years in India, Sierra Leone and Egypt.
Terry Mutsvanga, Giraffe Heroes Zimbabwe chairperson, said: “The awards are given to individuals for standing up against injustice or doing something positive for the country.” To date the award has been given to Farai Magawu (Director, Centre for Natural Resource Governance), Betty Makoni (Founder, The Girl Child Network), Melanie Chiponda (Coordinator, Chiadzva Community Development Trust), Dorosa Mubvumbi (Mutoko woman who has fought for women’s space in predominately male fields such as politics), Tasara Wamambo (Director Tokwe-Mukosi People’s Rehabilitation and Resettlement).
Tshuma biog
Danmore Tshuma was born in 1980 in Mberengwa. He did his secondary education at Chabwira Secondary and Chegato High School, followed by a BA Gen degree degree at the University of Zimbabwe. He taught at Matapo Mission for two years and is now studying for a Communications and Journalism diploma at the Christian College of Southern Africa in Harare.
Post published in: News