'We demand human rights in Matabeleland South'

Prominent Matabeleland South social and political activists Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo says that Matabeleland South province human rights activists should not be called Human Rights Defenders but Human Rights Demanders due to the high violation of human rights in the province.

Speaking at the Zimrights Human Rights Defenders awards ceremony on Thursday at a Bulawayo Hotel, Fuzwayo, who was awarded with Matabeleland South Human Rights Defender of the year 2014 said that the province has not yet got to a stage where it can be said to be defending its rights but demanding them.

"If you know Matabeleland South you will certainly know that we are not yet at a stage to be called Human Rights Defenders but Human Rights Demanders," said Fuzwayo followed by a huge roar from the crowd.

Asked to elaborate on his statement on the side lines of the awards, Fuzwayo said;

"for one to be called a defender is because they will be defending something that they already have, since there is literally no respect for human rights in Matabeleland South, we can not be called defenders but demanders."

Fuzwayo cited incidents where people in Matabeleland South are deprived basic human rights like the right to shelter, food and water as government fails to attend to these in the various parts of the province.

"We have people in Mat South who are still in this day and age battling to get a discent roof over their head. Effects of operation Murambatswina are still felt and not addressed in the urban areas of the province," he said.

"Almost all the areas of the province suffer from serious water shortages in both urban and rural areas. Food aid is distributed on partisan line and access to health facilities is still a serious problem. Children still walk miles and miles to school where the quality of education delivered is very suspect," he added.

The Zimrights Human Rights Defenders Awards are an annual event organised by the country's Human Rights watchdog to award community based activists who fight against human rights abuses in their communities. Activists from all the country's ten provinces are awarded for their efforts together with other sector based achievers.

This year the toast of the event was the overall Human Rights Defender of the year award which was won Rebecca Chisamba popularly known as Amai Chisamba from her television program with the same name. Comical Buhera East legislator Joseph Chinotimba controversially won the people's choice Human Rights Defender of the year award and the male politician Human Rights Defender of the year. Jessie Majome of Harare East constituency won the Female Parliamentarian Human Rights Defender of the year.