THE FIGHT FOR DIGNITY, EQUALITY, FREEDOM and JUSTICE: ¨Zimbabweans, as a people need right now, a concerted popular effort to demand human dignity...¨

ZIMBABWE RIGHT NOW: ¨...we use candles for light and firewood for cooking...¨

“Where after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home-so close and so small that they can not be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: the nighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world” Eleanor Roosevelt on the Universal declaration of human rights

¨This quote speaks to the essence of what Zimbabweans, as a people need right now, a concerted popular effort to demand human dignity and all that comes with it. We need food on our tables; decent wages and employment; a good education for our children; proper healthcare including affordable medication when we need it; roofs over our heads; reliable electricity supply; running and clean water; and proper working sewer systems.¨

¨These are things we should be demanding to see in a new constitution and as Eleanor Roosevelt said, without concerted citizen action, as Zimbabweans we will continue to look to ‘donors’ to assist us, yet we could solve our problems ourselves.¨ HERE

·  Thanks to Black Looks, sidebar
·  Thanks to by Rumbidzai Dube
·  Thanks to Eleanor Roosevelt

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE DEMONSTRATES A DEEP LEVEL OF SICKNESS: ¨Homophobe perpetrators of murder need help...¨

Free Gender – remembering our sisters who died because they dared to be free

Kwa-Thema Praying for homophobic victims.

¨...Noxolo Nogwaza, Nokuthula Radebe, Xolani, Gairly Nkosi, and Eudy Simelane all died by the hands of homophobes around Ekurhuleni. A prayer was held on Wednesday 11 May at the spot were 24 year old Nogwaza was killed two weeks ago in a horrific manner. In tears, Noxolo’s Aunt Nomalwe Dlomo thanked people for their support, she also asked Noxolo’s blood to “speak and reveal her killers”.

Relatives of the five victims of Gender Based Violence lit candles to honour their lives. The LGBTI community, various ANC members, human rights organisations, Pastors, Kwa-Thema residents and Executive Mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele attended the event to show solidarity in the fight against hate crime. Traditional incense was burned by traditional healers who appealed to those who’ve been killed to speak for themselves. Speaking to the media, Clr Gungubele said our constitution promotes tolerance and people have a right to be whoever they wish as enshrined in our constitution. “Noxolo’s murder is a demonstration of deepest level of sickness. Perpetrators need help but must face the might of the law. Unless society comes together and condemns this act, they risk being misunderstood as accepting” concluded Gungubele...¨
HERE

·  Thanks to Black Looks, sidebar
·  Thanks to Free Gender
·  Thanks to Sokari 
·  Thanks to Flickr Photo Sharing

ANTI-LGBTI VILENESS IN AFRICA ALERT: Lesbian brutally raped and stoned to death

The insanity of it all begins as righteous bigots and selective Scriptural perverts circle LGBTI victims -- first, with wicked words that quickly become crime/hate filled vicious acts of murder

¨Noxolo Nogwaza, a 24-year-old lesbian, was found dead in an alley in Kwa-Thema township, South Africa, on Easter Sunday morning. It is believed she was raped and murdered. Noxolo was a member of Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee (EPOC). The violent murders of lesbians Eudy Simelani and Girly “Sgelane” Nkosi and hate crimes towards LGBTIs in general prompted the formation of EPOC in July 2009...¨ please read it all HERE

·  Thanks to African Activist, sidebar
·  Thanks to Black Looks, sidebar