UK Asylum for £120, talk to ROHR Zim
Asylum, News — By admin on June 22, 2009 5:13 pmBy Brilliant Pongo
A Zimbabwean human rights pressure group Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is at the centre of an asylum storm in the United Kingdom after allegations that they are charging £120 annual subscriptions for ‘letters of activity’ to be used in asylum claims.
Led by expelled former MDC UK Chairman Ephraim Tapa, ROHR has a subscription policy of £10 per month but will not write any confirmation letters for anyone who has not been a member for one year. But pay the 12 month subscription in advance you can get the letter it is alleged.
Tapa runs the organisation from the UK where he does most of the fundraising while foot soldiers like Stanlic Zvorwadza and Edgar Chikuvire do most of the donkey work in Zimbabwe, participating in demonstrations here and there to build prominence and maintain visibility.
For an organisation ‘restoring human rights in Zimbabwe’ questions have been asked why ROHR is opening branches in every major UK city. Branches have been opened in Birmingham, Derby, Milton Keynes and recently West Bromwich. The natural question to ask is what are these members meant to be doing in the UK?
Nehanda Radio spoke to some propsective members of ROHR during the opening of the West Bromwich branch on the 6th of June this year and they expressed concern at the high subscription fees. They said they were not allowed to work in the UK and would struggle to raise the money demanded by the organisation.
Defending the subscriptions Tapa claimed they had a lot of financially demanding activities in Zimbabwe including fees for lawyers especially when they sued Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono last year for imposing cash withdrawal limits. He claimed they owed the lawyer US$17 000. A similar court application in the UK would cost around US$2000.
A UK Home Office spokesman told us they were aware of the controversy surrounding ROHR but were not at liberty to disclose their internal mechanism for dealing with faudulent asylum applications. Meanwhile the desperate asylum seeker is forced to fork out £120 from a group not really interested in human rights in Zimbabwe but making money.
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Tags: Ephraim Tapa, Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe, ROHR, Southwark Anglican Cathedral
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28 Comments
This letter business has been going on for a long time.It’s desperate times and anyone who is risking to help others get papers is doing the right thing.People should desist from exposing people who are helping others to get their stays.Kumba hakusi kuita.We should help each other as much as we can.
I also heard that MDC-T is doing the same.Actually Tapa learnt the trick from MDC-T.MDC-T also opened many branches which some people used to question too.MDC is a Zimbabwean party and some people were wondering why they needed branches out of Zimbabwe.
I think for networking purposes it’s good for both MDC and ROHR to have branches all over the world.That’s how organisations grow.
Is Tapa forcing anyone to pay these fees for letters of activity?I would like to assume that these desperate people approach ROHR for assistance.If they don’t need Tapa’s services I’m sure they are free not to approach him.If his organisation is helping people to get asylum then people have to pay to cover for costs.
Let’s help each other instead of exposing each other.
I think we all know that the MDC-T party sells membership cards in retrospect and letters confirming membership. This is not just true for Tapa’s organisation. I know many people who have bought various evidence from Rose Benton at Vigil. This is a huge business and Nehanda Radio should not act like they do not know that their friends in the MDC are doing the same. They have opened up a can of worms, that’s all I can say. They might not be able to deal with this in the next few days.
Tapa is right to assist fellow Zimbos. At least his fundraising is helping raise awareness of the Unity government gross human rights violations. Ndiyani asina kuba mari muMDC, Welshman used to sell letters from his Bulawayo MDC office, Sekai Holland akadya mari ye MDC Manchester Branch na Welshan the list is endless. Nehanda vakafa kare vanorwadziwa vakaziva kuti her name is being used for petty radio names.
instead of sharing ideas of how we can come together and fight the root fo the problem we zimbabweans are facing we are actually inviting the enemy to destroy us.
Excuse us Mazimba Makuhwa, when did Welshman sell letters from his Byo MDC Office and when did Sekai Holland still the MDC money? Now look, don’t you bring your ZANU dirty strategies of blame in order to justify your friend’s dirty behaviour. In fact, you are just tribalistic and nothing else, typical ZANU game. Look, we are far much ahead in politics and very seasoned that people of your callibre and level are better not responded to but just laughed at as you are just a laughing dirty stock. Forward with your devissive game but with true clean Zimbabweans you are not going to win. God bless all of you.
Tapa is taking advantage of desperate asylum seekers full stop. The letters he is writing for people I am told are not worth anything now. You go with a ROHR letter to the UK Home Office, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage.
Surely it cannot be true that a lawyer in Zim could be owed US$17,000, no one case can cost that much. In any case, was it so much of a priority issue which had to finish all the savings. Would have been better if they had shown that the money was being used to assist victims of political violence by assisting with their medical bills, medication and maybe food for people whose houses were destroyed during the violent campaign. Zimbabweans should learn to assist each other and avoid this thing of capitalising on the suffering of others. This business of selling evidence just has to stop, either you are a member or you are not.
people who were raped and their limbs were helped by ROHR i for one have proof what did MDC do for people ?in actual fact mdc is the worst if you are not known by the highrac you pay your money and their refuse to write a letter for you. some letters we still have them for proof and Makuvise was becoming hostile to pple after some of us warned him to stop ill treating Zimbabweans especial those who came from Bulawayo . He would tell you to go to MUTAMBARA COS HE WASNT SURE OF THE MATEBELE PPLE. LIKE TSVANGIRAIHEIS A TRIBALIST. People at home are happy with the work of ROHR do they pay money to get papers no. Stop lying Tapa started ROHR well in 2007 in may ,intending to help the victims of Mugabe he has been to BOTSWANA AND S-AFRICA TO SEE INJURED PPLE AND HE PAID FOR HIS TICKET HAS MDC DONE THAT NO. ITS pathetic to see some pple talking rubbish after what Morgen did. LAST YEAR he went to S-AFRICA AND TOLD PPLE TO GO AND VOTE INTSEAD AKAZOVANZVEENGA AND STAYED IN EMBASSES AND BOTSWANA .TSVANGIRAI IS A FAILOR HE SAY DONE THE UNREPAIRABLE DAMAGE.WE FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO STILL FOLLOW HIM GO ROHR GO ZAPU THATS FINE LEAVE HIM WITH HIS MASTER RG.
thats a lie i uased one of these papers and i got my stay,kusikufa ndekupi,hapana asingadi kurarama.mazimba hamuna kubatana you dont get this bullshit from other african countries.at least tapa is helping,you are snithes
Brilliant Pongo, what a name!!! You seem to have a problem with Tapa of ROHR. The letter has help 10 people I know including myself. When Tapa is helping the desperate Zim people what are you doing for us???
The reason why Zimbabwe has been in the doldrums all these years and more if you are not careful is pulling each other down. The people should pull together to build true democracy.Most people are ignorant of what ROHR stands for. Get those facts right before criticising.To nehanda Radio l say u r adisgrace to our suffering people in Zimbabwe. Do u have an editor at all. l thought there should be someone sane and mature to build bridges rather than perpetrate petty issues when real issues of life and death are bringing the country down under.
History will tell you were enemies of the assylum seekers and friends of adictator Robert Mugabe who wishes people to come and get killed by his thugs we ran away from.How about Chinos And Grace ane mwana ari Hong Kong, vave pa Uz here tidzoke? Rohr stands 4 good governance,Lt is also non political so if u love ur country [which u dont] restoration of human rights,and is this the organisation for people who want to rebuild the new zimbabwe on democratic foundation which value life,Rohr is willing to work with similar groups worldwide. Why cant we copy from the nigerians? They call each other brother. Mugabe has trully divided the nation he is the enemy not assylum seekers vamavekunyudza. Most of hem are genuine pliz.
TO HELL WITH YOU TSVANGIRAI BOOTLICKERS YOU THINK H OFFICE BUYS THIS CRAP. ITS YOU ZIMBOS WHO WRITE RUBBISH ABT TAPA .IKNOW 27 PEOPLE WHO GOT PAPERS COS HE HELPED THEM & WHAT HAS MDC DONE EVERY ONE IS DISGRUNTLED ABT MORGAN . GO ROHR GO VIGIL, GO WE YOU SUPPORT 200% THE WRITER IS EVEN STATING THAT STANRIC IS DOING THE DONKEY WORK .YES MORGAN EVEN PHONED ZVORWADZA LAST YEAR HE USED ROHR TO DEMONSTRATE SO THAT HE WOULD GET HIS PASSPORT THEY DID THAT IN GOOD FAITH TRUSTING THAT THEY THE ROHR STANDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. HAMUNYARI PPLE WERE CONCERNED HERE ABT THEIR WELFARE THEY ARE A VOICE OF THE VOICELESS . LET MT ENJOY HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH RG . COME ELECTION TIME MUCHANZVA BUTTER.WE ARE TELLING OUR PARENTS TO VOTE ZAPU.
Tapa is right,what ever he is doing he got it from the MDC T,it’s their culture,Morgan is the same as Mugabe i see no reason why a number of people continuously support a Mugabe made stooge.
He is enjoing each and every inch of the benefits we gave him by the time we voted him in power,had i known that he is a junior Mugabe i wasn’t going to waste my time voting for a stupid leader like him.No wonder why the WEST didn’t respect him.
What’s there in Zimbabwe for exiles????He has to stay in Zim other than wasting the little that the state has to talk shit.
Transparency you know nothing so hush it up. Around July/August 2000 Sekai Holland was the first high profile MDC member to come to the UK visiting MDC branches. She was later followed by Mhashu and the Late Jongwe. Holland made frequent visits between that period and she was known here in the UK as the international liaison person. Money was raised by the Manchester branch and was given to Holland and Welshman. Morgan is aware of this money so is Sibanda. This money disappeared and any attempts to ask for a break down of how it was used proved fruitless. No receipts of the expenditures were given even though they were told that the donors had asked for them. So for people like Transparency to waffle without knowing the true facts is wrong. MDC has a history of misappropriating funds and every one knows this. It’s only that most of the attention was on fighting Mugabe that is why all this was swept under. Also the problem that we have is if somebody says something negative about MDC they are immediately called names or labelled as a ZANU. To me this is devoid of foolishness and such people like Transparency should learn to accept that they are people that always hold opposing views and these people are entitled to them. Now that the MDC are part of the government, I think we are going to see their true colours in terms of being corrupt. I know for a fact that Holland has been let off on several occasions because she once threatened to spill it all.
The truth is some of the comments above are being submitted by Tapa’s people realizing their gravy train is drying up. But all asylum seekers in the UK should know that ROHR is being investigated by the Home Office and any letters you get from them will undermine your claim….Dont be fooled and part with your money.
I got my asylum papers after i joined ROHR and got supporting letters. Pamberi na Tapa, ROHR and Zimvigil. Pasi ne MDC and ZANU PF. Pasi na MT.
Truth hurts and even those that were claim to have been help by Tapa know that they had to pay a dear price i know a girl that say even sex is demanded for these letters by some of these guys in ROHR some of them carried this system on from their time ku MDC when TAPA was still chair….
the truth will come out and YES thank you Nehanda radio for having the courage to open this tin of worms hundreds have been abused sexually because they did not have the money
now where is the Human rights, we all know that there is no smoke without fire, open your eyes people (hanzi Tapa flew to RSA with his own money ha ha ha imari dzevanhu 17 000 US$ for a lawyer in Zim muchadyiwa makatarisa sematemba) WHY NOT JUST HELP THE ASYLUM SEEKERS FOR NO FEE?
HAKUNA CHE MAHARA POOR WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVING TO PAY WITH THEIR BODIES.
this has to be STOPED.
WIll NEHANDA RADIO START A CAMPAIGN TO CALL ON ALL THOSE ABUSED BY THIS SYSTEM TO COME OUT AND SHAME THESE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHS
MBAVA STEALLING FROM THE POOR
NYARAI VANHU IMI VE KU ROHR and all the others MURI VANHU VA KURU………
The truth is: The same people who sponsored the MDC are the same people who are sponsoring ROHR. The British Governement.
Tapa should be reported to the police and if he innocent he will be cleared. Tsvangirai does not his brains he is a fool. Last time he said people in uk were zanu pf. And ncube said mdc is not supporting asylum seekers they want people to go back to zim to vote. Send ur own kids if zim ok now Tsvangirai. Go fuck urself mr mt
Gentleman. You can say all you want. I can sense the voice of the MDC in some letters above, those who think MT is now a holy cow and cannot be heckled. You are totally lost.You must come to a ROHR meeting (for education purposes) and listen to PRESIDENT Tapa speak you will enjoy listening.The man does not ask anyone to join the organisation for any favour Immigration or otherwise. Zimbabweans, You are not united, ROHR reminds you that we are one people and as a result we should unite and guard our rights and wellbeing, one which is right to freedom of speech and association. I’m not surprised you are trying to deny to these rights to Ephraim Tapa and us members of ROHR. LAST WORD: We are in a free world and we reserve our right to freedom of association.ROHR IS HERE TO STAY.
UNITED WE STAND ,DIVIDED WE FALL,WAKE UP CHILDREN OF ZIMBABWE
Zvadiizve vana VeZimbaremawhe, Hush my people don’t say a word, Justice shall take its part, it is the hour of reckoning by the measure you use to judge others you shall be judged. Whether it’s ROHR,MDC,VIGIl, ZANU, ZAPU. No one is above the rule of law. The laws of gravity shall prevail, with anything, what goes up must come down. All you have to do is sit back and think uchazovepi kana tsuri yorira, yorira ichidaidza vakafa vachamuka. For those that had forgoten that its a “doggy dog” world there is a rude awakening. In this world no one does anything for nothing be it Morgan, Eph T, Rose B, or Bob they are all in it for something, now the question is who is using who. Are you using Morgan or is he using you, Tapa is he using you or you are using him. The big problem is the loser, cause no one wants to loose. The loser is usually the ill informed people or misinformed people, the gold diggers and those that want to reep were they did not sow (opportunist). Now in all this there is always the lamb of sacrifice, is it the Zimbabweans in the Diaspora or the Zimbabweans at home? It’s a vicious circle, it also leaves me to ask when the plane is taking off who shall be excess baggage. My thoughts are the Zimbos in the diaspora are not in a position to vote, so how useful are we, lest I not forget the money we sent home, it was usefull, whether it continues to be useful, someone can help me out on this one. On the other hand Zimbos at home are on the ground and seem to have more leverage because they are in a position to vote and influence change. Hence the begging bowl that is going around for Aid. So my friends if your shit is not tight watch the space, for those Zimbabweans that have chosen to stay out of the game, it’s business as usual, for those that were faking evidence and opened opportunist groups in the name of our heritage and trivialising the meaning of our true cause to liberate Zimbabwe then I say the time is coming for you to face the consequences. Nyika ndeyevanhu ahisi yemhunhu. If it is charity let it be charity that you engage in if it is business then let it be business. Open your eyes Zimbabweans,if you want to play the game make sure you play your cards right. If you are innocent don’t worry that’s why I say hush my people don’t say a word.
Netsai
Chemhuno
Pasi nemasubscriptions ari ahead of the year pamberi neROHR
Chokwadi chinorwadza…ndiyoka press freedom iri kurwirwa naana Tapa…hecho…
Diniwe, your words infact describe what nonsensical a person you are. You have rough edges and still you have not given us your full clear story about the names that you chose to use instead of defending this thuggery group of thieves: a group who survive on cheating unscrupulously and taking advantage of genuine suffering people fleeing known similar thuggery in Zimbabwe and you have the guts and ordercity to point a dirty finger to justify such activity and people like this man?? You are indeed a very good example of a ZANU propaganda. You learnt it very well and the indoctrination that you got serves you a typical example and a laughing stock!! You can talk and insult as much as you like dear as it is in your nature and calibre to do so, but the truth will alway remain the same. Read more from others who know better than you re: this organisation and learn what (ROHR) has done to some POOR people and then you can continue displaying your riff-rough journalistic skills of reporting issues that you cannot substantiate instead you keep saying “every body knows”. Say it and do not hide diniwe if you are telling the truth!! If Welshman and Sekai stole your money, come one, make an issue publically and then we will all respect you. It is only when you name names is deffence of your friend and then you do not substantiate when you will get this attack!! Your story leave a lot to desire or at the end of the day its only your opionion dear. We do have dirty Zimbabweans and some of them are definitely this organisation including its supporters. Dirty dirty dirty dirty and dirty!!!!! Talk but I tell you now, its even making it dirtier!!!! Admit the truth!!! Name the calprit and substantiate. Forward with the truth: Forward with the Zim Unity: Down with Tribalism, thuggery and evil, hatred and lies. Down with the spirit of insult and blame. We want to live in a clean Zim without dirty people.
I am sad to read what Dinhiwe proudly has stated in her note to justify the wrong doing that has been discovered of Tapa. If Ephraim did not charge such an amount as it has been alleged, honestly he deserves an apology and he must speak out – why is he quiet as we back home want to know the truth. But if he did charge £120 for such services per person, surely he deserves a prison sentence and here in Harare he has no room as we shall persure the matter. I personally belong to this good organsization myself and I have never known that there are such payments. So why would he go about spoiling the good name by charging such amounts?? However, this does not justify Dinhiwe to use other instances and even go to an extent to name names to answer or to clean Ephraim’s name. Dinhiwe, if for example, let us give you the benefit of the doubt and believe your story, are you then telling us Zimbaz that you are actually condoning what is being allegded of Ephraim??? I am asking you in good faith as I am trying to understand your point from what you have said publically to Transparency. May be you did not realize that once you mention a name you are then taxed with a toll order to justify your case, may be this is what Transparency is saying to you. I have not read anything said by Transparency but only pressing you hard for more truth. You guys in the UK are a waste of space. You fight over such issues? Come home and see whether you will have such time. Life is turf here guys. May be this is why some of our brothers and sister have gone abroad to become ruthless in order to make the ends meet but I can asure you that here in Harare, we are better than you in life skills and politics. We have aboned the dirty politics that was introduced by Mugabe and Nkomo and are looking forward to bringing a clean Zim for our children and grandchildren. We do not talk tribal anymore except for people who are in the diaspora who are immune to the hardships that we are going through here in Zim. Enjoy insulting each other publically but surely you can wise up and come up with better solution for our country. I love you all Zim-Brits.
Greetings to you Nehanda Radio.
Your article about ROHR and its subscriptions:
You raised concern over monthly subs and certain issues about yearly subs and letters issued to members. You also questioned why ROHR would want its presence in the UK. Your article signs off with your confirmation about informing the Home Office about ROHR and your findings.
I would like to congradulate you for a job foolishly done and how much you have exhausted efforts and resources to humilate and tear apart a human rights organization which represents and render support to victims of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
While their is some truth about the subscriptions members pay, I still do not understand how that becomes your problem as members join on the basis of what the organization stands for than being coerced. ROHR is for everybody, its not for asylum seekers only.
Your interest appear to be aggrivated by shear hurt and vileness. You seem to have problems with Mr Tapa and therefore anything he participates in or champions, you will question it. the platform you used to try to wipe him of the earth suports your endeavour. Is this the last of your attack on Mr Tapa and ROHR? In vain you wil continue to attack ROHR, and you will be surprised by the amount of good news we will bring you. Do you real thing Mr Tapa looses his sleep over you as much as you do over his life.
The fact is ROHR is growing and has presence not only in the UK, but also in other countries. We support democracy, freedom of affiliation and association. You need to carefully read between the lines before you commit your resources and efforts. We knew this would come and we are stronger than the criticism labelled at our organization.
There is nothing wrong in ROHR issuing letters to its members. Any organization that cares about its memebers issue supporting letters if need be. ROHR will continue to write supporting letters for its members should they need them.
Disguisingly, you appeared to empathize with the unemployed who join RHOR yet practically, you labelled them scummers who should be refused leave to remain in the UK which is why you informed the Home Office. What confuses me is that when you reported to the Home office, was this in their interest or in your own vile interest that they should not be granted leave to remain and in the end stay unemployed till heavens takes them away? Is it not their human rights to be able to work and move freely like you and your family do? is this not seemingly an astonishing level of wickednes? How does this profit you or Nehanda Radio.
In the interest of democracy and Human Rights, late me take this opportunity to thank Mr Tapa and all ROHR members for their unwhivering support for the victims of human rights in Zimbabwe. Together we will stand, until Zimbabwe respects human rights. We against abuses of human rights not Nehanda radio. We strive for democracy, role of law, and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe. We hope those at Nehanda will one day genuinely join us in our quest for the respect for Human rghts.
TA
Hi I got my papers thru ROHR, guys those who are writing a lot of nonsense are the ones who don`t want people to prosper, progress and lead a normal in life in UK including this nasty online nehandaradio. how much did u get from beind such a sell out nevarungu? I just got accepted to go 2 Uni 2 do Engineering if it was`t for ROHR I was`t going 2 uni or aford 2 pay more than £10 000 a year.ROHR don`t worry you have someone who is 100% behind you and I am still going to be an activist and help fellow Zimbos to get legitimate papers to stay in this country help fight for Human Rights. Is there anything wrong by making people pay some subsriptions? Even in your kind of profession you join a union which along with your ethos .So please leave a nice organisation help both peoples in UK and Zim.