The Zimbabwe Vigil

Outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London Every Saturday from 14.00 - 18.00 since October 2002

Zimbabwe Vigil Mission Satement: The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, London, will take place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights by the current regime in Zimbabwe. The Vigil will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe.

With Palestinian supporters flocking to a rally in Trafalgar Square, it was the drumming, singing and dancing which drew attention to us. Some people question whether the singing and dancing is appropriate and we explain it is part of our culture. Just because we are singing doesn’t mean we are happy at the awful situation at home.

The anger of the Palestinians, the determination of the Tibetans and the anxiety of the Burmese are shared by our anger, determination and anxiety.

We are increasingly contacted by people in other troubled parts of the world. Two Congolese exiles dropped by the Vigil and were keen to work with us. More support from the DRC came by email: "We are Congolese people. We support you against Mugabe. Africa is suffering with men like Mugabe, Kabila”. We are also in regular contact with Dr Tayeb, an activist for the suffering people in Cabinda. We met him during our protest in Lisbon last December.

We were pleased to have with us the musician John Law, a stalwart of the Zimbabwean rock scene of the 1980s and 1990s. His latest CD features tributes to Zimbabwe.

A welcome feature this week was the sadza and stew brought by supporters of our partner organisation, Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe. Last Sunday, ROHR activists held a protest outside the Catholic Cathedral in Birmingham and were given an audience with Archbishop Nichols who expressed his support. They are planning another protest in Slough - we will keep you informed as plans firm up.

Patson Muzuwa addressed the Vigil about the work of our coalition partner, the Zimbabwe Association (ZA), a support group for Zimbabwean refugees and asylum seekers. ZA has opened a women’s weekly drop-in centre in Finsbury Park, North London on Fridays (see ‘For Your Diary’ below for details).

We have heard from our friends in Scotland that they had another successful Vigil. Their efforts are a great encouragement to us all.

Vigil supporters Sue and Francesca Toft have interceded with the TUC over the detention of the President and Secretary General of the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions, Lovemore Matambo and Wellington Chibhebhe. Lovemore’s niece, Mercy Mwakipesile, is a regular attender at the Vigil. The TUC has written to the Zimbabwean Ambassador in London expressing its deep concern.

For latest Vigil pictures, see the link in the updates column.

FOR THE RECORD: 165 signed the register.

FOR YOUR DIARY:
* Fridays, 10.30 am – 4 pm. Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s Weekly Drop-in Centre at The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84 Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Come and share a traditional lunch of sadza, nyama and relish. Nearest underground: Finsbury Park. For more information, contact the Zimbabwe Association 020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).
* Saturday, 24th May 2008, 2 – 6 pm. Next Glasgow Vigil. Venue: Argyle Street Precinct. For more information contact: Ancilla Chifamba, 07770 291 150, Patrick Dzimba, 07990 724 137, Jonathan Chireka, 07504 724 471.
For archive diary Click here

WAKE UP WORLD! ZIMBABWE IS DYING!
The Zimbabwe Vigil started on 12th October 2002 to draw public attention to human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Since then it has met every week. The Observer newspaper describes it as the largest regular demonstration in London. It is not party political and welcomes supporters who agree with its mission statement: “The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, London, will take place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights by the current regime in Zimbabwe. The Vigil will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe.” The Vigil has run various petitions – notably one to the UN calling on the Security Council to investigate gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe signed by some 100,000 passers-by. It has also lobbied Parliament and staged many demonstrations – including at the Africa / Europe Summit in Lisbon last December.

WAKE UP WORLD! ZIMBABWE IS DYING!
The Zimbabwe Vigil calls on the United Nations and the African Union to halt the violence in Zimbabwe. In the past decade a quarter of the population has fled the country. You see some of them here. At least half of those remaining face starvation. Any dissent is stamped on and all elections are rigged. Zimbabwe leads the world: highest inflation rate, lowest life expectancy, most orphans per capita, fastest shrinking economy. The Vigil urges President Mbeki of South Africa to end his support of the Mugabe regime.
Email: zimbabwevigil@yahoo.co.uk; co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk
Website: www.zimvigil.co.uk
Post: Zimbabwe Vigil, PO Box 49834, London NW5 1UY
Vigil: Saturdays (14.00 – 18.00), Zimbabwe Embassy, Strand, London
For archive diary Click here

ROHR activists were at the Vigil in force to express their abhorrence of the violence being inflicted on opposition supporters. Stendrick briefed the Vigil on ROHR’s plans for actions on the ground in Zimbabwe. Ephraim Tapa, a founding member of the Vigil and also the founder of ROHR, is currently in Johannesburg at the invitation of South African activists who want to join up with the ROHR project.

To support our demonstration we displayed graphic images of the injuries inflicted by Mugabe’s terrorists. They stopped passers-by in their tracks and people lingered to study cartoons about Mugabe’s lunatic world.

The Vigil was galvanized by the singing of Ancilla Chifamba, now of the Glasgow Vigil. She had to relocate to Scotland and has helped launch a very successful Vigil in Glasgow. She came down with fellow Glasgow Vigil co-ordinator Patrick Dzimba and attended a Vigil team meeting to talk about the way forward.

For latest Vigil pictures, see the link in the updates column.

FOR THE RECORD: 160 signed the register.

FOR YOUR DIARY: Saturday, 10th May 2008, 2 – 6 pm. Next Glasgow Vigil. Venue: Argyle Street Precinct. For more information, contact: Ancilla Chifamba, 07770 291 150 and Patrick Dzimba, 07990 724 137.
For archive diary Click here

Protest against Mugabe’s post-election reign of terror

Zimbabwean exiles and supporters are to stage a demonstration outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London on Saturday, 3rd May, in protest at government instigated violence against supporters of the political opposition. The Africa Director of Human Rights Watch, Georgette Gagnon, said this week: ‘The army and its allies – ‘war-veterans’ and supporters of the ruling party ZANU-PF – are intensifying their brutal grip on wide swathes of rural Zimbabwe to ensure that a possible second round of presidential elections goes their way.’

The demonstration has been called by Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHRZim) in co-operation with its partner the Zimbabwe Vigil. The leader of ROHR, Stendrick Zvorwadza, who is visiting London, will speak about the situation. His deputy in Zimbabwe, Tichanzii Gandanga, was abducted on 22nd April and found in the bush 80 miles east of Harare two days later very badly injured. Apparently he was forced to lie down on the road and then his abductors drove over his legs four times. He is now receiving medical attention in secret in Harare, where the authorities are trying to track him down.

During the demonstration the following petition will be available for signature:
Petition to President Mbeki of South Africa
Exiled Zimbabweans and supporters urge you to stop supporting Mugabe and allow a peaceful transfer of power from the military regime to the Zimbabwean people. Our blood is on your door.

ROHR is an on- the- ground protest movement in Zimbabwe which was set up to give people the courage to stand up to oppression and fight for their human rights.

Event: Protest against Mugabe’s post-election reign of terror
Venue: Outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London WC2
Date / time: 2 pm – 6 pm, Saturday, 3rd May 2008
Photo Opportunities: Zimbabwean singing, dancing and drumming.
Interview Opportunities: Political activists, torture and rape victims.
Further information: Contact Vigil Co-ordinators Rose Benton (07970 996 003, 07932 193 467) and Dumi Tutani (07960 039 775) and for ROHR Stendrick Zvorwadza (07882 460 295, 07960 113 496)
For archive diary Click here

Vigil spokesman Ephraim Tapa expressed his admiration for the bravery of those confronting the regime. He said an injury to one was an injury to us all. Stendrick Zvorwadza of our partner organization Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) said change could only come about through people standing up for their rights. He said that his deputy in Zimbabwe Tichanzii Gandanga was abducted on Tuesday and found in the bush 80 miles East of Harare on Thursday very badly injured. Apparently he was forced to lie down on the road and then his abductors drove over his legs four times. He is now in hospital in Harare.

The Vigil and ROHR resolved that next week’s Vigil will be dedicated to our suffering, abused, starved and tortured brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. We will be their voice and will run a petition calling on President Mbeki to intervene to stop the violence because we believe that only South Africa can bring it to an end.

One of our supporters had a chilling experience at the Zimbabwe Embassy. She lost her Zimbabwean passport and had to visit the Embassy to get it replaced. She was thoroughly interrogated and shown a photograph of herself at the Vigil.

For latest Vigil pictures, see the link in the updates column.

FOR THE RECORD: 160 signed the register.

FOR YOUR DIARY:
* Wednesday, 30th April – Saturday, 10th May. “I will tell” a Christian film festival from Jericho Films (http://www.jerichofilms.com/festival08/festival.html). They are inviting Zimbabwe Vigil supporters to take part in discussion panels about 4 of the films: 3rd May – WORLD UNSEEN (High Holborn) a South African film about racism, relationships and politics. 7th May – ESCAPE FROM LUANDA (Greenwich) a story of the power of music in overcoming adversity after the civil war in Angol. 8th May – SON OF MAN (Mayfair) a South African re-interpretation of the story of Jesus against the backdrop of violence, racism and political abuse. 9th May – EZRA (Euston) a story about the experiences of a child soldier. If you wish to take part please contact Jenny on 07961 371 676, jenny.lee@jerichofilms.com.
* Saturday, 10th May 2008, 2 – 6 pm. Next Glasgow Vigil. Venue: Argyle Street Precinct. For more information, contact: Ancilla Chifamba, 07770 291 150 and Patrick Dzimba, 07990 724 137.
For archive diary Click here