Political Science Student Raises Support for Human Rights Activist in Zimbabwe
A second-year Nipissing student, Johanna Fraser, has been working tirelessly to gather support for a human rights activist in Zimbabwe, Mr. Eddson Chakuma, and asks for your help in promoting democracy and labour rights in that country.The connection between Nipissing University and human rights activism in Zimbabwe originally arose out of a letter of solidarity to Mr. Chakuma from the Executive of the Nipissing University Faculty Association, in what was NUFA's answer to calls for support from labour and student activists and from Amnesty International.
Following on this contact, and as part of her work with the Nipissing University Peace Research Initiative (NUPRI), Ms. Fraser and Dr. Toivo Koivukoski, co-director of NUPRI, had the pleasure of interviewing Eddson Chakuma on the telephone prior to his July 18th trial in Zimbabwe on politically motivated charges.
Mr. Chakuma is one of 45 students arrested in February for gathering to watch and discuss video footage of the democratic uprisings in North Africa. Mr. Chakuma is one of the 6 Zimbabwean activists who up until July 18th were still being held on charges of Treason by the state of Zimbabwe. Their July 18th trial was concluded with the judge recusing himself due to his discomfort regarding the case, and with the state calling for the trial’s postponement until August 22nd 2011, with the charges against these activists changed to “Conspiracy to Cause Public Violence”. This is sad news for Mr. Chakuma who had hoped for the case’s dismissal. When arrested Chakuma was kept in a flea-ridden prison and tortured. Upon release he was greeted with a dismissal from his job for work time lost while in detention, and has since then been struggling to support his family.
During our interview on July 15th, Mr. Chakuma explained that he wants to start a Chicken Project as a means of sustainably supporting himself and his family by purchasing 500 baby chickens and feed to start a small farm. In support of Mr. Chakuma, NUPRI has begun a fundraiser with the intention of helping him to raise the funds necessary to complete this project and secure economic stability for him and his family.
Anyone who is interested in Eddson Chakuma’s case can visit our website, nupri.nipissingu.ca to listen to the interview and to donate.
You can follow updates on Eddson Chakuma's case (along with interviews with other peace activists) on:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/NUPRIPeaceAgent
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Agents-of-Peace/199190406764536
Blog:http://agentsofpeace.blogspot.com/2011/07/eddson-chakuma-case-postponed…