|
Vigil letter to the Home Office re ROHR clarification |
 |
 |
 |
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 21:10 |
|
I am writing this letter to clarify the situation regarding our sister organization the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR). It was set up in 2007 to be the Zimbabwe Vigil’s face on the ground in Zimbabwe. ROHR has now become well known and consequently there have been attempts to disrupt it – partly by government intelligence agents but also by elements seeking to cash in on promises of donor funds. The upshot is that there is a group purporting to represent ROHR who are likely to make approaches to you in connection with asylum matters who are not authentic representatives of the organisation. ROHR continues to be led by its founding President Ephraim Tapa, who is also a founder member of the Vigil. At a meeting of the ROHR Board of Trustees in Johannesburg on 21st – 22nd July 2011 Mr Tapa’s leadership of ROHR in Zimbabwe was confirmed. His ROHR position was reaffirmed at a meeting in London on 4th February 2012 at which a new ROHR UK Executive was elected. See our websites for more information (www.zimvigil.co.uk and www.rohrzimbabwe.org). Any other websites purporting to represent ROHR are not recognised by the Vigil. For you information, Mr Tapa was a former head of a Zimbabwean civil service union and fled to the UK in 2002 after torture. He is currently working as a probation officer in London and has won a London Probation Trust Changing Lives Award. |
|
LAST_UPDATED2 |
|
Mugabe’s birthday gifts – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 18th February 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Sunday, 19 February 2012 16:26 |
|
It was a special birthday party at the Vigil for Mugabe as he celebrated the easing of sanctions and news that Zanu PF is expected to sell India 11 million carats this year. That’s a lot of diamonds (see: Busted: Mugabe's criminal cabal selling diamonds at half price in looting spree – http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb17_2012.html#Z16). ‘A big thank you to Baroness Ashton,’ said Mugabe, referring to the EU’s foreign affairs chief, who was at the centre of both developments, helping Zanu PF get Kimberley Process approval to unload its blood diamonds and getting sanctions removed on many of his cronies – despite Mugabe making it clear he has no intention of allowing free and fair elections. The birthday boy – 88 on Tuesday -- was played by Vigil management team member Fungayi Mabhunu wearing our Mugabe mask and holding a candle in one hand and an empty water bottle in the other, representing Zimbabwe’s liquidity problems: no water and no money... He was given gifts labeled looted diamonds, sanctions eased, illiquidity and typhoid. Posters proclaimed ‘Mugabe’s 88th Birthday – vote for me or DIE’ and ‘Vote MDC and die’. We were joined by three Swazi ladies who told us they were to relaunch their Vigil outside the Swazi High Commission on Saturday 25th February. It will take place from 10 am – 1 pm every other week. The group included Jabulile Simelane, whose father (Paulos Majaji Simelane) was Commissioner of Police in Swaziland and was accused of plotting to kill the king and thrown into jail. She said all his relatives were being penalized, as indeed was everyone in Swaziland where there was ‘grinding poverty, hunger, no jobs, no medicine in hospitals, let alone sheets for hospital beds’. Jabulile said that the Swazi High Commission is London should be closed as it did nothing for Swazis except look after King Mswati’s children studying in the UK who were given £30,000 a month to spend while children at home had no books. She added that Swazis in the UK were to write to the Queen to protest at the invitation to King Mswati to her Jubilee celebrations in June. She said ‘I am sure that Her Majesty cannot know how monstrous Mswati is. Our people are starving but he has £16 billion in Qatar. He should go and stay there. Why is Mr Cameron not doing something about Mswati when he is acting against people like President Assad of Syria?’ Other points
· Vigil Co-ordinator Rose was encouraging people to support Tuesday’s Free Zimbabwe Global Protest (see Events and Notices) when she got a call from Patrick Chatakuta our supporter who was threatened with deportation. He is now out of detention and he phoned to thank the Vigil for our support. We are delighted he is free but sorry to report that another Vigil supporter, David Moyo, has been detained and given a deportation date of 1st March. More of this as we get more information.
· The Vigil was interested to see that Zimbabwe was the only African country to vote in favour of President Assad slaughtering his people (Zim votes against human rights in Syria – http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb18_2012.html#Z17).
· We were joined today by John Yohane of the Zimbabwe Watchmen. He was a great help in setting up the Vigil in the rain and sang and prayed with Vigil supporters.
· It was good to be reminded by a passer-by of a quotation attributed to Edmund Burke, an 18th century parliamentarian. He told us that ‘nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little’.
· Vigil supporters joined Martin Chinyanga in laying flowers at the Embassy door in honour of Zimbabwe’s murdered political activists. For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website. FOR THE RECORD: 47 signed the register. EVENTS AND NOTICES:
· New film ‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21st February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG. Please reply to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or leave a message on 020 7739 8226.
· Second Free Zimbabwe Global Protest organized by the MDC diaspora to put pressure on South Africa to do something about Zimbabwe. Tuesday 21st February from 12 noon to 4.30 pm. Meet at the Zimbabwe Embassy at 12 noon. Protesters will move to the South African High Commission at 2 pm. For more information contact Tonderai Samanyanga 07917 742 022.
· Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 3rd March from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
· ROHR North East general meeting. Saturday 10th March from 12 noon – 3 pm. Venue: Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1HH. 3 mins walk from Gateshead Interchange and Metro station before Police Station. Free parking available. For directions please contact Hazvineyi Choto 07424524910, Susan Ndlovu 07838872435 or Tapiwa Merrymore Semwayo 07722060246.
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011-. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.
· 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. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.
· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.
· The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.
· Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
· Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil. |
|
LAST_UPDATED2 |
|
|
‘Seized’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 11th February 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Sunday, 12 February 2012 21:10 |
|
A quick survey of the stalwarts braving the icy weather at the Vigil showed that virtually all those who have any resources are sending money home to support their families – a considerable sacrifice. We believe this is true of the diaspora as a whole. So the bank liquidity problems in Zimbabwe are of anxious interest. The Vigil was not reassured by comments by Welshman Ncube that the cabinet was ‘seized with’ the issue. ‘We spent well over two hours discussing it,’ he said (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb11a_2012.html#Z1 – Cabinet tackles liquidity crisis). Given that Mugabe alone can speak for more than two hours while asleep that didn’t impress us. Not that the ministers appear to have any answers since they are unlikely to accept the analysis of the devastated Zimbabwean economy submitted to an EU delegation visiting Bulawayo (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb8_2012.html#Z23). What gave us thought about Ncube’s comment was the use of the phrase ‘seized with’ .It has been pointed out to us that when this was last in general use in the UK a hundred or so years ago it meant ‘dealing with’. We fear Ncube has picked the phrase up from his relative President Zuma who for the past few years is said to have been ‘seized with’ the issue of Zimbabwe. Not much ‘dealing with’ there . . . It struck us, however, that the word ‘seized’ is singularly appropriate for Zimbabwe. Seizing seems to be what we are good at: seizing the farms, seizing the diamonds, seizing government revenue, seizing the national heritage, seizing the money itself. Well, we think the only seizure that would improve life for Zimbabweans would be a seizure of power from the rapacious gangsters in charge. Other points
· Representatives from the Jubilee debt campaign came and spoke to us about their demand for a debt audit in Zimbabwe to establish where the money went. They left us information material which will be available on the front table.
· Stella and Ellen of the Zimbabwe Association (ZA) came to invite Vigil supporters to a screening of a new film: ‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21st February from 2 – 5 pm. There will be a question and answer session with the director after the screening. For more details see Events and Notices section. Stella also spoke about ZA’s plans to hold a community day in May with sports and a talent show.
· We are pleased that our supporter Patrick Chatakuta was not sent home on Tuesday 7th February but he is still in detention and his solicitors are working to get him released.
· After our first Zimbabwe Action Forum last week, Vigil founder member Ephraim Tapa was interviewed for SW Radio Africa’s Diaspora Diaries on 7th February about how the diaspora can get involved in Zimbabwe’s democratic transition. To listen to the interview, check: http://www.2bctnd.net/swra_wp/?p=13494.
· The Vigil has written a letter to the Home Office to clarify the latest situation regarding our sister organization Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe. To read the letter, check: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/367-vigil-letter-to-the-home-office-re-rohr-clarification.
· A cheerful group of students dropped by and asked us to write a few words for a book ‘written by Britain’. Here was our entry ‘Britain gives people the freedom to be the voice of the voiceless unlike Zimbabwe’. For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website. FOR THE RECORD: 52 signed the register. EVENTS AND NOTICES:
· New film ‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21st February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG. Please reply to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or leave a message on 020 7739 8226.
· Second Free Zimbabwe Global Protest organized by the MDC diaspora to put pressure on South Africa to do something about Zimbabwe. Tuesday 21st February from 12 noon to 4.30 pm. Meet at the Zimbabwe Embassy at 12 noon. Protesters will move to the South African High Commission at 2 pm. For more information contact Tonderai Samanyanga 07917 742 022.
· Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 3rd March from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011-. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.
· 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. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.
· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.
· The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.
· Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
· Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil. |
|
LAST_UPDATED2 |
|
Launch of Zimbabwe Action Forum – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 4th February 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Sunday, 05 February 2012 16:10 |
|
Zimbabweans from several different groups met after the weekly Vigil to discuss ways the diaspora can help secure democracy at home. By the time some 40 activists emerged from the meeting London was blanketed in its first snow of the winter, greeting the newly-formed Zimbabwe Action Forum. Apart from Vigil supporters, the meeting was attended by representatives of The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR), the Zimbabwe We Can Movement, the MDC and ZAPU. It was agreed meetings would be held after the Vigil on the first Saturday of each month. Opening the forum, Ephraim Tapa, President of ROHR and the We Can Movement, said the purpose was to explore the way forward. Everyone was invited to come up with ideas for future discussion and possible action. There was no shortage of suggestions, ranging from the revolutionary to the humanitarian. One proposal was that we should prepare a dossier for the International Criminal Court. Speakers were angry that, despite the GPA, power remained in the hands of Mugabe and they feared that corruption was becoming universal so that – despite the country’s mineral wealth – Zimbabweans remained impoverished. Earlier, while the Vigil was underway, ROHR held a general meeting and expressed confidence in Ephraim Tapa as leader and elected a new UK Executive. The new office bearers are: Chair: Catherine Tshezi, Vice Chair: Wellington Muringai, Secretary: Portia Mwayera, Vice Secretary: Tapiwa Semwayo, Treasurer: Fungayi Mabhunu, Vice Treasurer: Bright Domingo, Organising Secretary: Chamunorwa Chisuko, Deputy Organising Secretary: Mary Ndoro, Information and Publicity: Nobuhle Mazula, Vice Information and Publicity: Huvandirwa Makaza, Fundraising Team: Ernest Zvoma, Tawanda Matemura, Naome Kakungowa, Georgina Makaza, Delline Mutendi, Co-ordinators: Jonathan Kariwoh, Rumbidzai Javani and Bright Domingo join existing co-ordinators: Collin Chitekwe, Rugare Chifungo and Lungile Ncube. Other points
· We are concerned about Vigil supporter Patrick Chatukuta who was detained on Thursday and is due to be deported on Tuesday. He is also chair of the MDC South East London Branch. We will be sending out a mailing of what you can do to help.
· Sight of a bitingly cold day was Lovemore Mukeyani dancing in a short-sleeved shirt.
· We were joined by members of the Zimbabwe Watchmen who led prayers with the Vigil’s Sister Beverly Mutandiro.
· Vigil supporters were encouraged at the apparently cool reception given to Mugabe at the AU summit. His self-serving rant against the AU for failing to support Gaddafi showed everyone how out of step he is. For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website. FOR THE RECORD: 72 signed the register. EVENTS AND NOTICES:
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011-. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.
· 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. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.
· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.
· The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.
· Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 3rd March from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
· Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
· Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil. . http://www.zimvigil.co.uk. |
|
LAST_UPDATED2 |
|
