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Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 8th May 2010

Sunday, 09 May 2010 15:58

Vigil supporters – like everyone else here – have been closely following the UK’s general elections, which left none of the three main parties with an overall majority in Parliament. A bit like Zimbabwe? Surprisingly, Zimbabweans have the right to vote in parliamentary elections here (though citizens of even EC countries can’t). The loophole for Zimbabweans is that the British government has yet to update the legislation which allows Commonwealth citizens to vote – even though Mugabe took us out of the Commonwealth in December 2003!

Many Vigil supporters voted and some even campaigned for the rival parties. We were interested in the different attitudes towards immigration, which became a main issue in the election campaign. Up to half a million people a year have apparently been settling in the UK in recent years leading to fears of being “swamped”. There are, by all accounts, more Zimbabweans in the UK than there ever were British people in Zimbabwe.

The immigration question was at the heart of a meeting in London on the Monday before the elections. It was attended by many Vigil supporters. All three party leaders answered for their policies. Vigil people were particularly keen to see Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats, who has come to the Vigil. One of the questions raised was about the welfare of children detained with their parents in immigration centres and there were promises to look into this. Despite the unity government, Zimbabweans make up one of the biggest groups of asylum seekers in the UK.

The whole exercise had much to teach us about how to resolve differences. But it made us depressed about the situation in Zimbabwe where a defeated President has refused to surrender power and the former opposition seems increasingly schizophrenic. Vigil supporters wondered how else to interpret Tsvangirai’s recent comments at the meeting in Dar es Salaam of the World Economic Forum on Africa. He was reported as saying that, given the chance again, he wouldn’t have joined the coalition government but went on to maintain that Zimbabwe’s political crisis ‘no longer exists’. At the same time he admitted that, even though the principals had received a report on the SADC-facilitated talks weeks ago, they had not yet met to discuss it.

Well we – on an surprisingly cold day for May but thankful that the threatened rain failed to materialise – have just about given up on the interim government. We are settling down in the UK and its becoming ever more difficult to think of going back. New elections, free and fair, as soon as possible are what we want.

It lifted our spirits to welcome back Father Bernard, a Jesuit priest who has helped so many of us. He unfortunately has dislocated his shoulder and had to use a walking frame. We pray for his early recovery.

The Vigil has had an email from James Chidakwa, friend and fellow activist of Tonderai Ndira who was brutally murdered two years ago in Zimbabwe. Tonderai was abducted on 13^th May 2008 and his body was identified in the morgue on 22^nd May. In a BBC report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7416933.stm), his brother describes Tonderia’s body: "His jaw was shattered, his knuckles broken, a bullet hole below his heart, many many stab wounds and a large hole at the back of his head which seemed to have been caused by a hammer." Other reports state that he had been shot in the heart, with multiple stab wounds, his eyes gouged, his tongue cut out, and his neck, skull, jaw and knuckles broken. James has let us know they will be holding a commemoration for Tonderai on 14 / 15 May. The Vigil joins with Tonderai’s family and friends in remembering and honouring this brave activist. There will also be a memorial in London, check our ‘Events and Notices’ section.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. For the latest ZimVigil TV programme check the link at the top of the home page of our website. For earlier ZimVigil TV programmes check: http://www.zbnnews.com/home/firingline.

FOR THE RECORD: 147 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·       Tonderai Ndira Memorial. Tuesday 11^th May from 6.30 – 11 pm. Venue: Inn on the Green, 3-5 Thorpe Close, London W10 5XL. For more details and RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/p.
phpi=100000726715549&k=Z6E3Y5PYSY6BZFMJWDXXYVWTQ6BAX53FU3GV&oid=
106630222713433.
·       ROHR Harlow general meeting. Saturday 15^th May from 1.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: Perry Road, Harlow CM18 7NP. Substantive committee to be elected and ROHR President and ROHR Executive present. Contact: L Kashangura 07506481334, Blessing Office 07759884633, Bothwell Nyemba 07725208657, Grace Kachingwe 07529524965 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070
·       ROHR Cambridge fundraising event. Saturday 22^nd May from 4 – 10 pm. Venue: Arbury Community Centre, Campkin Road, Cambridge CB4 2LD. African music, food and drinks hobho. Entrance fee £10 including food. Contact: Jospheth Hapazari 07782398725, Locadia Mugari 07501304116, Sibusisiwe Bafana 07765268622, Percy Marimba 07894670271 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070
·       R0HR North London General Meeting. Saturday 22nd May from 1:30-5:30. Venue: Tottenham Chances, 399 High Road London N17 6QN. Closest Tube -Seven Sisters. From Seven Sisters towards Tottenham three stops on buses 123,149,256,349,341 and 476, ROHR Executive and Guest Speakers in attendance. Fundraising raffle and draw. Contact Bekithemba Nyahwa 07534905348, Nobuhle Ndlovu 07949588597, Wellington Chinombe 07529290157, Chipo Denenga 07960761122, P Mapfumo 07915926323.
·       ROHR West Bromwich Branch fundraising event. Saturday 29th May from 1 – 11pm. Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Whitehall Rd, West Bromwich B70 0HF. Admission £8.00 including food and drink. Contact: Pamela Dunduru 07958386718, Diana Mtendereki 07768682961, Peter Nkomo 07817096594, Godwin Kativu 07576994816 or P Chibanguza 07908406069
·       ROHR Northampton General Meeting. Saturday 5^th June at 2 pm. Venue: Carey Memorial Baptist Church, King Street, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8QL. ROHR Executive members present and Guest Speakers. Contact: Marshall Rusike 07833787775, Wadzanayi Mpandawana 07717795574, Gladys Milanzi 07846 448 711, Norian Chindowa 07954379426, Sherry Ngaseke 07869295544 Or P Mapfumo 07915 926 323 / 07932 216 070.
·       OTIENO by Trevor Michael Georges. A contemporary reworking of Shakespeare's Othello, set against the continuing deprivation of present-day Zimbabwe. From Tuesday 25^th May – Saturday 12^th June at 7.30 pm, matinees 3 pm. Venue: Southwark Playhouse, Shipwright Yard (Corner of Tooley St. & Bermondsey St.), London SE1 2TF. For tickets ring 020 7407 0234 or book online here.
·       Swaziland Vigil. Saturdays from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. For more information check: www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.
·       Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays 10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue: The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84 Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Nearest underground: Finsbury Park. For more information contact the Zimbabwe Association 020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).
·       Strategic Internship for Zimbabweans organised by Citizens for Sanctuary which is trying to secure work placements for qualified Zimbabweans with refugee status or asylum seekers. For information: http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/pages/Strategic.html or contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
·    Motherland ENT’s videos of the Vigil 24/04/2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvwikOhO3Fk & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7qqXJ7jfVY.

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 1st May 2010

Sunday, 02 May 2010 14:21

The Vigil marked May Day by supporting an appeal from Amnesty International for the Zimbabwean authorities to stop intimidating and harassing human rights activists. People at the Vigil carried placards reading: ‘May Day Appeal - End Human Rights Abuses in Zimbabwe’, ‘May Day Appeal - Protect Human Rights Activists in Zimbabwe’ and ‘Vigil Supports Oppressed Trade Unionists in Zimbabwe’.

Amnesty International official Shane Enright said: "It's so important that people around the world stand in solidarity with the brave human rights and trade union activists in Zimbabwe this May Day. Our message to the police and security services is that we are watching you and will call you to account, however long it takes."

It seems that it will take longer than expected given South Africa’s failure so far to get Mugabe to comply with the GPA, and Arthur ‘dimwit’ Mutambara’s declared intention to avoid any elections which will return him to academic obscurity.

May Day is traditionally a workers’ celebration and thousands of demonstrators converging on Trafalgar Square passed by the Vigil. Some of them shouted ‘Down with Mugabe’. It was a difficult Vigil because it flooded down with rain half way through. We had to act fast to stop our petitions being soaked. (By the way these are what our current petitions say: ‘A petition to the UK government: We welcome the UK’s humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe but call on the UK government to withhold development aid until it is confident that the money will benefit the people rather than the corrupt Mugabe regime’. And ‘Petition to the UN Security Council: We call on the Security Council to ensure that the next elections in Zimbabwe are free and fair. We look to the United Nations to supervise the electoral process and the handover of power to a new government and believe peace-keeping troops will need to be in place before, during and after the polling.’)

Traffic holdups because of the May Day demonstrations were a problem. The car carrying our paraphernalia was forced on many detours back and forth across the Thames and eventually could get no closer than half a mile from the Embassy. A group of Vigilites had to go and fetch the Vigil tables, posters, banners, tarpaulin, drums, merchandise (Vigil tshirts and Zimbabwean flags), petitions, flags and Zimbabwean newspapers. Even though the paraphernalia was delivered late the Vigil started on time because a big group of supporters in their Vigil tshirts reading ‘Zimbabwe in our hands’ and ‘Zimbabwe Vigil, Zimbabwe House, London – Saturdays until freedom comes’ were there at 2 pm.

The May Day demonstrations were mostly in support of labour solidarity around the world but here is a random sample of flyers from other participants: ’European week of action against the deportation machine’, ‘Why we need justice for domestic workers’, ‘Support the revolution in Nepal’, ‘Oppose the crumbling British imperialist state!’, etc.

A couple of points
· Despite the hubbub of May Day, people at the Vigil could clearly hear a song bird in one of our maple trees. We only saw one bird but we presume it is building a nest.
· Mathias Makozhombwe of Motherland ENT has posted two new videos of the Vigil on Youtube. Check our ‘Events and Notices’ Section for the links.

FOR THE RECORD: 173 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·       London Citizens and Citizens UK pre-election assembly with David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown. Monday 3^rd May from 3 – 5 pm. Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1H 9NH. On the agenda is the Sanctuary Pledge (calling for an end to child detention and more support for people seeking sanctuary), Strangers into Citizens and the Living Wage. For tickets contact Eunita Masolo, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , phone: 07949 736 222. The organizers would like a big turn-out of Zimbabweans.
·       ROHR Woking Branch 1st Anniversary Party. Saturday 8^th May from 3 – 10 pm. Venue: St Pauls Church Hall, Oriental Road, Woking GU22 7BD. Raffle for two hampers. Tickets £6 adults £3.00 kids which includes entry and meal. Contact: Mr Mudzamiri 07774044873, Jermaine 07908522992, Sithokozile 07886203113 or P Mapfumo 07915326323/07932216070.
·       ROHR Liverpool Demonstration. Saturday 8^th May from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Church Street (Outside Primark) Liverpool City Centre. For details please contact: Desire Chimuka 07917733711, Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Trywell Migeri 07956083758. Next demonstration on Saturday 22^nd May. Same venue and time.
·       ROHR Brighton Zimbabwean Community Family Fun Evening. Saturday 8th May from 4 – 10.30 pm. Venue: Leonards Church Hall, Glebe Villas, Hove. Nearest train station: Portslade. For directions please contact Elizabeth Masoka 07545458436, Jane Mugwagwa 07833301145, Wellington Mamvura 07956870547, Patience Chiguta 07780667422 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/ 07932216070. Lots of entertainment, food, raffle and disco – free entry.
·       ROHR Harlow general meeting. Saturday 15^th May from 1.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: Perry Road, Harlow CM18 7NP. Substantive committee to be elected and ROHR President and ROHR Executive present. Contact: L Kashangura 07506481334, Blessing Office 07759884633, Bothwell Nyemba 07725208657, Grace Kachingwe 07529524965 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070
·       ROHR Cambridge fundraising event. Saturday 22^nd May from 4 – 10 pm. Venue: Arbury Community Centre, Campkin Road, Cambridge CB4 2LD. African music, food and drinks hobho. Entrance fee £10 including food. Contact: Jospheth Hapazari 07782398725, Locadia Mugari 07501304116, Sibusisiwe Bafana 07765268622, Percy Marimba 07894670271 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070
·       R0HR North London General Meeting. Saturday 22nd May from 1:30-5:30. Venue: Tottenham Chances, 399 High Road London N17 6QN. Closest Tube -Seven Sisters. From Seven Sisters towards Tottenham three stops on buses 123,149,256,349,341 and 476, ROHR Executive and Guest Speakers in attendance. Fundraising raffle and draw. Contact Bekithemba Nyahwa 07534905348, Nobuhle Ndlovu 07949588597, Wellington Chinombe 07529290157, Chipo Denenga 07960761122, P Mapfumo 07915926323.
·       ROHR West Bromwich Branch fundraising event. Saturday 29th May from 1 – 11pm. Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Whitehall Rd, West Bromwich B70 0HF. Admission £8.00 including food and drink. Contact: Pamela Dunduru 07958386718, Diana Mtendereki 07768682961, Peter Nkomo 07817096594, Godwin Kativu 07576994816 or P Chibanguza 07908406069
·       ROHR Northampton General Meeting. Saturday 5^th June at 2 pm. Venue: Carey Memorial Baptist Church, King Street, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8QL. ROHR Executive members present and Guest Speakers. Contact: Marshall Rusike 07833787775,Wadzanayi Mpandawana 07717795574, Gladys Milanzi 07846 448 711, Norian Chindowa 07954379426, Sherry Ngaseke 07869295544 Or P Mapfumo 07915 926 323 / 07932 216 070.
·       OTIENO by Trevor Michael Georges. A contemporary reworking of Shakespeare's Othello, set against the continuing deprivation of present-day Zimbabwe. From Tuesday 25^th May – Saturday 12^th June at 7.30 pm, matinees 3 pm. Venue: Southwark Playhouse, Shipwright Yard (Corner of Tooley St. & Bermondsey St.), London SE1 2TF. For tickets ring 020 7407 0234 or book online here.
·       Swaziland Vigil. Saturdays from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. For more information check: www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.
·       Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays 10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue: The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84 Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Nearest underground: Finsbury Park. For more information contact the Zimbabwe Association 020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).
·       Strategic Internship for Zimbabweans organised by Citizens for Sanctuary which is trying to secure work placements for qualified Zimbabweans with refugee status or asylum seekers. For information: http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/pages/Strategic.html or contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
·       For Motherland ENT’s videos of the Vigil on 24/04/2009, check: http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=lvwikOhO3Fk and http://www.youtube.com/watchv=u7qqXJ7jfVY.

Zimbabwean Independence 30th Anniversary – ‘Lights for Freedom’ Demonstration

Thursday, 15 April 2010 23:28

PRESS NOTICE – 15th April 2010

Zimbabwean exiles are to lay 30 candles outside the South African High Commission in London on Saturday 17th April to mark the 30th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Independence.

The demonstrators will carry the candles from the nearby Zimbabwe Embassy to symbolise their hopes for South African help in achieving true independence.

South Africa’s President Zuma is the mediator appointed by the regional body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to try to resolve the deadlock in Zimbabwe between the two partners in the coalition government, President Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

After his last visit to Harare in March President Zuma said that both sides had agreed on the way forward but it has emerged that President Mugabe has once again reneged on his promises and there has been no progress.

Leading Zimbabwean activist Ephraim Tapa said it was time to call an end to the charade and new elections should be held. Mr Tapa said Mugabe would undoubtedly employ violence again and an international peace-keeping force was essential to ensure that this was prevented. He added that all surveys had shown that Mugabe’s Zanu-PF would be roundly defeated in fair elections and there was no point in delaying them since Mugabe had no intention of abiding by any agreements he had made.

The demonstration has been organised by the Zimbabwe Vigil which has been protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London for the past 8 years in support of demands for free and fair elections.

The Vigil expects to be joined by Lovemore Matombo – President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Irene Petras – Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and Gabriel Shumba – Executive Director of Zimbabwe Exiles Forum.

Date:               Saturday 17th April 2010 from 2 – 6 pm.
Programme: From 4 pm 10 groups of 3 people each carrying a candle will leave the     Zimbabwe Embassy at 3 minute intervals to walk to the nearby South African High Commission in Trafalgar Square.
Contact:         Rose Benton    (07970 996 003 / 07932 193 467)
                        Dumi Tutani     (07535 632 717)
                        Ephraim Tapa (07940 793 090 / 07877 153 659)

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