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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 09:53 |
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PRESS NOTICE – 18th February 2010 Exiled Zimbabweans in the UK are to demonstrate outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London on Saturday 20th February to mark the 86th birthday of President Mugabe this weekend. The demonstration is organised by the Zimbabwe Vigil which has been protesting outside the Embassy for more than 7 years in support of demands for free and fair elections. Zimbabwean human rights activist Fungayi Mabhunu, wearing a Mugabe mask, will be in attendance to receive presents, including a relaxation, announced this week, of the targeted sanctions by the European Union. He will be accompanied by Josephine Zhuga playing the role of Mugabe’s wife Grace. Vigil Co-ordinator Dumi Tutani said “People at home might take for granted the visionary leader who has done so much for so long to create a new Zimbabwe. But we in the diaspora continue to marvel at his achievements: poverty, murder, disease, starvation, torture, violence, ignorance, corruption . . . In short blighting the lives of millions. We will be handing Mr Mugabe birthday cards signed by our supporters expressing their real feelings for this tyrant.” Event: Mugabe’s birthday celebrations. Venue: outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London WC2.
Date: Saturday 20th February 2010
Programme:
2 – 6 pm Zimbabwean protest including singing, drumming, dancing.
4 pm – Tableau of Mugabe and his consort Grace receiving ‘presents’ and birthday cards from exiled Zimbabweans.
Contact: Rose Benton (07970 996 003, 07932 193 467), Fungayi Mabhunu (07743 662 046), Dumi Tutani (07535 632 717) |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 February 2010 09:59 )
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 06 October 2009 19:56 |
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PRESS NOTICE - 7th October 2009 Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe and his wife ‘Shopwell’ Grace will be visiting Harrods on Saturday 10th October to stock up on luxuries. Two members of the human rights organisation the Zimbabwe Vigil will impersonate the couple on the shopping expedition to illustrate what will happen if the sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies are lifted as demanded by Zimbabwe’s neighbours. Targeted sanctions prevent about 200 Zimbabweans travelling to the European Union but the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which brokered the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, has blamed sanctions for the country’s economic collapse. At the same time, SADC has refused to discuss complaints that Mugabe has failed to honour the agreement. The couple impersonating the Mugabes will return to the Vigil by rickshaw and present a petition to the European Union demanding punitative action against SADC. Vigil members representing SADC High Commissioners and Ambassadors will be there (wearing suitable masks) to welcome them in traditional posture – kneeling at Mugabe’s feet. Programme for the Day
2 – 6 pm Vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London WC2R 0JR
3 – 3.15 pm Mugabe (represented by Fungayi Mabhunu wearing a Mugabe mask) accompanied by his wife Grace (played by Gugu Tutani) outside the central Hans Crescent entrance to Harrods. They can be photographed with their shopping.
4 pm Mugabe and Grace arrive at Zimbabwe House by rickshaw with shopping and present petition to Mr Geoffrey Van Orden MEP for East of England (or representative) who will say a few words about Zimbabwe. The petition has been signed by thousands of people passing by the Vigil, which this month marks its 7th anniversary – the longest running large demonstration in London. The petition reads as follows: “A Petition to European Union Governments: We record our dismay at the failure of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help the desperate people of Zimbabwe at their time of trial. We urge the UK government and the European Union in general to suspend government to government aid to all 14 SADC countries until they abide by their joint commitment to uphold human rights in the region. We suggest that the money should instead be used to feed the starving in Zimbabwe.” Event: Mugabe’s Shopping Spree on Vigil’s 7th anniversary
Venue: Outside the Zimbabwe Embassy
Date: Saturday 10th October 2 – 6 pm
Photo Opportunities: Mugabe and Grace with their shopping. Mugabe presents petition to EU. Zimbabwean singing, dancing and drumming
Interview Opportunities: Political activists, torture and rape survivors
Further information: Rose Benton (07970 996 003), Dumi Tutani (07960 039 775), Ephraim Tapa (07940 793 090), Fungayi Mabhunu (07743 662 046), Dennis Benton (07932 193 467). Bribery Policy: Media representatives covering the event will be presented with Zimbabwean 100 trillion dollar notes. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 October 2009 18:07 )
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 22 September 2009 21:43 |
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Press notice 23rd September 2009 Two exiled Zimbabweans are to undertake a grueling 55 mile sponsored walk to London on Saturday, 26th September, to raise funds to help a Zimbabwean girl with a severe facial tumour come to the UK for urgent medical treatment. Luka Phiri and Dumi Tutani are members of the management team of the Zimbabwe Vigil, which has been demonstrating outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London for the past seven years in protest at human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Luka and Dumi are to set off from Brighton on the south coast at 5 am and are confident of reaching the Vigil that evening. The Zimbabwean girl, Taremeredzwa Nomatter Mapungwana, is supported by the Zimbabwean charity Girl Child Network (http://girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/) founded by Betty Makoni in 1998. There are plans for Tare to have an operation at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and Luka and Dumi are raising money to help meet her expenses in the UK. In July 1803 a Captain Robertson walked from Brighton to London and back in 45 hours. He repeated the feat in November of that year, covering the walk to London in 14 hours. Donations can also be deposited in the following bank account:
Bank: Lloyds TSB
Branch: Southend-On-Sea
Branch Code: 309784
Account Name: Girl Child Network Trust Fund UK
Account No.: 03872848
SWIFT Code: LOYDGB21100 For more information:
Luka Phiri 07951 293 766
Dumi Tutani 07960 039 775
For the Vigil: Rose Benton 07970 996 003 |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 September 2009 21:49 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 29 June 2009 22:31 |
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Re the Southwark message from the diaspora that all is not well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYsf9dsNIjM Statement from the Information & Publicity Department, MDC Pressroom – 29th June 2009. (http://www.swradioafrica.com/Documents/khyupe290609.pdf) Full text of Acting President, Hon Thokozani Khupe’s speech after MDC Ministers walked out of Mugabe’s “Cabinet” meeting "For a long time the MDC has made issue of the unequivocal lack of paradigm shift on the part of ZANU PF as an actor in the Transitional government. For a long time we have remained the polite and subservient Upholders of the GPA against clear evidence of the absence of a reliable & honest partner. At the epicenter of our disappointment has been the unwillingness of ZANU PF to timeously resolve the unfinished issues of the inclusive government under the GPA. In particular, despite five months of endless meetings amongst the Principals ,the central issues of the Reserve Bank Governor, The Attorney General, the Provincial Governors, the swearing in of Roy Bennett and the appointment of ambassadors remain unresolved as such the inclusive government is yet to be fully constituted. These issues continue to affect the health of the GPA. They are structural issues that are at the root of the GPA. Any breach of the same and any failure to resolve the same is fundamental .Part of the problem lies in the fact that ZANU PF has not woken up to the reality of the MDC as an equal partner in the agreement following the March 29 result .More importantly they have not accepted that in the constitution, the GPA, Mr Mugabe and President Tsvangirai are placed on par and that the former cannot do anything without the latter. Further evidence of the lack of a paradigm shift, is the deliberate refusal to convene the National Security council. The National Security Council became law in February 2009 and demands that the Security council meets once every month. Four months later, it has not met simply because a few elite securocrats do not recognise the authority of the new order. The lack of recognition of the fundamental principle of equality has given rise to a persistent and corrosive culture of unilateralism. That unilateralism includes unlawful redefinition of the mandate of ministries, executive appointments and a pervasive reproduction of a business-of-the old order mentality. The same unilateralism is being reflected in the nascent constitution making process where suddenly and contrary to the provisions of the GPA, the Kariba draft constitution is now being sought to be imposed lock stoke and barrel on the people of Zimbabwe. Over and above this we have protested at the persistent abuse of the rule of law, the cynical disrespect of the countrys’ laws and flagrant insensitivity to the multiplier effect of all acts of lawlessness. We remain concerned about the persistent victimization, arrest and violence against our MPs, activists, civil society members, and members of staff. We have remained abhorred by the continuous incidents of farm invasions and virile prosecution of farmers. We have remained abhorred at the selective application of the rule of law. Equally of concern is our disenchantment at the continued frustration of the democratisation agenda by ZANU-PF. Media reforms remain aborted whilst state media, in particular the Herald and ZBC continue to churn out vitriol and propaganda. Equally, there is no movement on key legislation on fundamental issues such as the promotion of freedom of speech, assembly and expression. This morning, we were advised that Cabinet had been shifted from its mandated day of Tuesday to Monday at 10am. Innocent and innocuous as this decision may be, the fact of the matter is that it underpins everything wrong about the present agreement. The decision seeks to deny the recognition of the Prime Minister as chair of Cabinet when the President is away. Mr Mugabe has indicated that he will not be present on Tuesday and hence the unilateral decision to move Cabinet forward to today. This reflects unilateralism, disrespect, contempt and refusal to recognise reality and the letter and spirit of the GPA, the reality of 29 March 2009 and the reality of now to the extent that Cabinet is held on Tuesday, we will not attend an informal unilateral meeting. However whilst we remain fundamentally committed to the GPA in the interests of our people, it is our constitutional right to consider disengagement. It is time that for Christ’s sake toxicity and insanity are removed from the GPA. It is time that the irreversibility of our change became a living reality not just to ZANU-PF but to the people of Zimbabwe at large. Thank you" |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 29 June 2009 22:58 )
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