News / Regional
Gwanda community embraces constitutional and human rights café's
21 Sep 2015 at 12:46hrs | Views
GWANDA - As the constitution of Zimbabwe matures by each day after it was resoundingly adopted in the referendum of 2012, rural communities still wait to get in-depth understanding and the realization of the important document.
"The people still do not understand what the constitution says about their rights. Most voted for it because their political leaders told them it was a good document", said one Village Head.
Over two hundred rural folks convened at Nhlamba Village which falls under ward 14 for the Victory Siyanqoba Human Rights and Constitutional Café. The Cafés seek to present chapter 2 of the constitution in Sotho and other local languages. Cllr Maphosa and four Village heads were in attendance.
Ward 14 youths and women have assembled a strong team of 50 talented people to dramatize Chapter 2 of the constitution. The act will be done in Sotho, the predominant language so that there is genuine and deep seated understanding of the fundamental human rights and will be staged at the "SETSO sa rona rural gala" at Ntepe business centre in March 2016 where at least ten thousand people are expected to attend and learn from creative conversation, developed by themselves telling their own stories the way they understand them.
Rural folks are usually left out on these important processes since they have no access to regular media like their urban counterparts. Gwanda South is worst affected as even cellphone network is as sporadic as the radio signal. The community is plagued by drought and hence investment on radio, cellphones and newspapers is a pipeline dream. There will be legal clinics in partnership with Abammeli Human Rights Network to further deepen constitutional understanding.
VST wishes to expand to all wards or rural Gwanda and spread to the depth of Matabeleland in its quest to raise awareness on the constitution and human rights. Resources currently limit the organization to 3 wards.
Victory Siyanqoa Trust is a youth community based organization which was established in 2009 to empower citizens on their rights and freedoms using theatre as a communication tool. The current project is supported by Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe. VST has conducted Eziko Theatre Cafes in Bulawayo and they just had their 120th session where they celebrated reach out of over 50 000 people in their communities.
"The people still do not understand what the constitution says about their rights. Most voted for it because their political leaders told them it was a good document", said one Village Head.
Over two hundred rural folks convened at Nhlamba Village which falls under ward 14 for the Victory Siyanqoba Human Rights and Constitutional Café. The Cafés seek to present chapter 2 of the constitution in Sotho and other local languages. Cllr Maphosa and four Village heads were in attendance.
Ward 14 youths and women have assembled a strong team of 50 talented people to dramatize Chapter 2 of the constitution. The act will be done in Sotho, the predominant language so that there is genuine and deep seated understanding of the fundamental human rights and will be staged at the "SETSO sa rona rural gala" at Ntepe business centre in March 2016 where at least ten thousand people are expected to attend and learn from creative conversation, developed by themselves telling their own stories the way they understand them.
Rural folks are usually left out on these important processes since they have no access to regular media like their urban counterparts. Gwanda South is worst affected as even cellphone network is as sporadic as the radio signal. The community is plagued by drought and hence investment on radio, cellphones and newspapers is a pipeline dream. There will be legal clinics in partnership with Abammeli Human Rights Network to further deepen constitutional understanding.
VST wishes to expand to all wards or rural Gwanda and spread to the depth of Matabeleland in its quest to raise awareness on the constitution and human rights. Resources currently limit the organization to 3 wards.
Victory Siyanqoa Trust is a youth community based organization which was established in 2009 to empower citizens on their rights and freedoms using theatre as a communication tool. The current project is supported by Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe. VST has conducted Eziko Theatre Cafes in Bulawayo and they just had their 120th session where they celebrated reach out of over 50 000 people in their communities.
Source - Byo24News
