‘The big freeze – don’t travel unless you have to’ was the warning broadcast on television news. Well, some of our supporters felt they HAD to travel to the Vigil and managed to get to the Embassy despite all difficulties.

The difficulties included our local Charing Cross train terminus being closed by snow.  The London underground tube service was severely disrupted with at least one line closed completely. As for buses, many were brought to a standstill by icy roads.   

Snow fell steadily in London during the morning and it was impossible to bring the Vigil paraphernalia by car. So for the first time ever we had to have a skeleton Vigil: no drums, tables etc – just the bare necessities, such as our banners reading: ‘No to Mugabe, No to Starvation’ and ‘End Murder, Rape and Starvation in Zimbabwe’.  

It started off as a bleak midwinter protest at the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe but, as more and more people turned up after their dreadful journeys, the Vigil became more like normal with singing and dancing, giving a defiant message to the world as Zanu PF thugs gear themselves up for another bloody stolen election.  

We were encouraged by the news that the International Criminal Court is seeking to prosecute six Kenyan leaders over election abuses. It gave us hope that justice would eventually prevail and that the world would come to recognise how the Zimbabwean people have been abused.  

The Vigil only started on time because of the presence of the following people: Regina Mugariri (who came down from Derby yesterday to make sure she could attend the Vigil), Eunice Mkhwanazi, Patrick Nyamwanza, Richard Mutsetse and Rose and Dennis Benton. Others who came  later because of long delays on their journeys were  Vigil stalwarts Godfrey Madzunga, Batson Chapata and Josephine Zhuga.  Others who made varyingly difficult journeys from all over the country to be with us were: Danmore Munyuki (who was a great help in selling the Zimbabwean newspaper), Mkhululi Bhebhe, Munashe Chakanetsa, Ashayi Chimuka, Ivy Dizha, Enock Dzonga, Bernard Hukwa, Nyasha Kadzunge, Moses Kandiyawo, Blessing Kanyuchi, Sipiwe Magoche, Loveness Maposa, Miracle Mhonda, Eunice Mkhwanazi, Trevor Munangi, Tafadzwa Joyce Murungweni, Lucia Ncube, Ndana Sanyanga, Moira Sibanda, Dumi Tutani, Wendy Ziyambi, Collette and Dr Tim of ZBN News. Throughout the afternoon we were getting messages from people trying to come but caught in impossible traffic jams, in particular Florence Lada from Birmingham and Sarudzayi Matambanadzo from Oxford.  

Other Points

1.       Two articles this week by friends of the Vigil have articulated what we are fighting for. We refer you to: Clifford Chitupa Mashiri’s mock address to the Zanu PF National Conference by a Zimbabwean Patriot (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/dec17_2010.html#Z18) and ‘robert Mugabe is the problem in Zimbabwe’ by Tanonoka Joseph Whande (see: http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/heart161210.htm).
2.       A reminder that we will not be meeting outside the Embassy on Christmas Day because there will be no public transport and central London will be deserted.  We will be holding a virtual Vigil by praying for Zimbabwe and singing the national anthem at 6 pm. We will meet as normal on New Year’s Day, Saturday 1^st January. 

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 THE RECORD:  29 signed the register. 

EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·       The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe.
·       ROHR Newcastle general meeting. Saturday 22^nd January from 2 – 6 pm. Venue: Warwick Court, Warwick Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1EY. 3 mins walk from the Gateshead Interchange opposite Gateshead Civic Centre and Gateshead Police Station. Free parking available. For directions please contact Susan Ndlovu 07767024586, Allen Chamboko 07500246416, Kuda Derera 07411337933, Rugare Chifungo (Coordinator) 07795070609 or P Chibanguza (Coordinator) 07908406069
·       Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
·       Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.
·       ‘Through the Darkness’, Judith Todd’s acclaimed account of the rise of Mugabe.  To receive a copy by post in the UK please email confirmation of your order and postal address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and 0send a cheque for £10 payable to “Budiriro Trust” to Emily Chadburn, 15 Burners Close, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0QA. All proceeds go to the Budiriro Trust which provides bursaries to needy A Level students in Zimbabwe
·       Workshops aiming to engage African men on HIV testing and other sexual health issues. Organised by the Terrence Higgins Trust (www.tht.org.uk). Please contact the co-ordinator Takudzwa Mukiwa ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) if you are interested in taking part.