The Vigil has had a soft spot for the British newspaper the Guardian ever since its brave report justifying ‘Murambatsvina’. As the homes and businesses of some 700,000 of the poorest were trashed, the Guardian hailed it as visionary town planning. No doubt the Guardian also applauded Stalin’s gulags, Mao’s cultural revolution and Pol Pot’s skull harvesting.

The Guardian – described by a columnist in the British Sunday Times as ‘a small circulation north London newspaper’ – would have been less sanguine if the inhabitants of north London had been bulldozed without warning or compensation for the proposed high speed train line. This would, of course, have been an outrage. But Murambatsvina? Well that’s Africa, innit? It is this patronizing tone that enchants the Vigil as we read the Guardian’s latest musings on Zimbabwe. Why should we worry about the Guardian? Well, it sets the agenda for the BBC for one thing. Go into any BBC newsroom and you will see scribes  buried in the paper (after a brief glance at the topless ladies in the vulgar press). The Guardian is essential reading because it tells them what to think.

So what’s the Guardian’s current narrative on Mugabe? Misunderstood, demonized, rebel with a cause. An article by the British academic Ian Scoones on the Guardian Africa Network website (see: Zimbabwe: how the tide is turning – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/10/zimbabwe-mugabe-tide-turning) talks of ‘anecdotal evidence’ that Mugabe is ‘softening his clenched fist’. Well Professor Scoones knows all about anecdotal evidence as shown by his book on the alleged success of land reform. Not that his mention of ‘white capital seeking a reassertion of power’ is anecdotal of course.

The Guardian went further in the print edition with a full page on Zimbabwe by David Smith reporting from Harare. Here are the headlines: ‘Mugabe: at first a hero, then a villain – and finally the redeemed father of his nation?’, ‘West may see this year’s election as credible’, ‘Shift in attitudes following years of demonisation’. Smith’s talk of Mugabe as possibly ‘the redeemed father of his nation’ seems to the Vigil to sanitise a man who boasted of having degrees in violence.  Murambatsvina, Gukurahundi, murder, rape, torture? No Mugabe is just misunderstood. For the Guardian it seems to be ‘one equal light’. Mugabe might be not as nice as he should be but Tsvangirai on the other hand is a flop. How’s that for balance? Smith doesn’t ignore Mugabe’s crimes: the Vigil’s objection is that they don’t  seem to matter.

‘The following scenario, once unthinkable, is now just conceivable’, he writes: ‘The Zimbabwean president will retain power in this year's elections through fair means or foul; the poll will be relatively peaceful and deemed "credible" by the west; then sanctions will be lifted against Mugabe and his inner circle, ushering him back in from the cold.’ (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/may11_2013.html#Z13 – Robert Mugabe: from liberation hero to villain to redeemed father of a nation?).

Absolutely right.  But where we disagree is when Smith says ‘the fact that land reform’s consequences (are being) debated is a step towards making Mugabe’s legacy less unpalatable’. He goes on to quote the Zimbabwean writer Petina Gappah as saying "This idea of Mugabe as Hitler? He's extremely charming and intelligent’. Gappah obviously knows nothing of Hitler who was  admired by some British aristocrats such as Unity Mitford who commented on his charm. Perhaps Gappah has been reading the Herald: ‘When a nation is faced with food shortages owing to drought, the burden of providing food to the people falls on the broad shoulders of Government and it is for this reason that we commend President Mugabe for showing true leadership . . . ‘

The message from the Guardian is that the coming election must be accepted however flawed. The Vigil begs to disagree. We don’t think Mugabe is a jolly good fellow and believe that SADC should stand by the Global Political Agreement it foisted on the MDC. And if it doesn’t the MDC should refuse to take part in the promised charade.

Other points

·         Zanu PF has a number of scholarships available for British academics to visit one or two new farmers and write books about them.

·         Thanks to Charles Dumisani Ndlovu and Michelle Dube who were with us at the start of the Vigil. Thanks also to Mary Muteyerwa, Tendai Chadehumbe, Cleopas Chigaru and  Nkosikona Tshabangu who arrived early to help set up. Mary was in charge of the front table and Michelle the back table.

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: 44 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

•         ROHR Central London Branch meeting. Saturday 18th May from 12 – 1.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Contact Fungayi Mabhunu 07746552597. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.

•         Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 18th May from 6.30 – 9.30 pm.  Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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 Reading Relaunch. Saturday 25th May from 11 am – 5 pm. For more information please contact: Tawanda Dzimba 07880524278, Nicodimus Muganhu 07877386789.

•         Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2012 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/467-vigil-highlights-2012.  Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2012 Highlights page.

•         The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization 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.

•         Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

•         Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil...

•         Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.

The scale of the challenge facing the MDC is becoming ever clearer as Zanu PF puts into action its well-practiced plan to rig the vote with the arrogant confidence bred of three decades of stealing elections.

A corrupt voters’ roll and insuperable obstacles to voter registration, together with harassment of voter education, are merely the beginning (see: http://www.mdc.co.zw/index.php/news/42-rokstories/2348-zanu-pf-trying-to-rig-the-elections-through-the-voters-roll.html - Zanu PF trying to rig the elections through the voters roll).

We are now told by Mugabe’s handlers (straight from Orwell’s 1984) that security sector reforms were never on the agenda despite Article 13 (1) of the Global Political Agreement  which reads ‘State organs and institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties’.

With the unreformed hate-spewing Zanu PF media sinking from propaganda to outright lies, the Vigil this week was asked by a Malawian journalist for a comment on visiting President Joyce Banda’s alleged call for the lifting of ‘illegal’ sanctions on Zimbabwe. Here is what we said: ‘The Herald is a Zanu PF propaganda sheet and cannot be relied on to report anything honestly. But if President Banda did call for the lifting of ‘illegal’ sanctions she was just parroting Mugabe’s electioneering line that seeks to blame the West for Zimbabwe’s catastrophic economic decline. The sanctions are not illegal and were targeted at people involved in human rights abuses and their companies. Trade has continued and, anyway, most sanctions have now been suspended.’ We have since learnt Malawi has denied remarks in the Herald attributed to President Banda.

More serious than the propaganda onslaught, we believe, is Zanu PF’s total non-co-operation with the South African mediation effort (SA facilitation team faces another ZANU PF snub – see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/may2_2013.html#Z1). We believe the recidivist thugs fighting for control of Zanu PF must be brought to heel by President Zuma. We certainly don’t agree with the disparaging remarks about South Africans made by the Zambian Vice President Guy Scott.

But our confidence is somewhat shaken by a statement by the convenor of the South African facilitation team, Charles Nqakula, after Zanu PF negotiators again failed to turn up for a meeting.   ‘Representatives of the two MDC parties attended the meeting but Zanu PF representatives stayed away’, he said. ‘We did not hear from Zanu PF. Our effort at raising ministers Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche failed. The MDC parties we met yesterday (Tuesday) conveyed to us what they believe are the real reasons why Zanu PF did not attend the meeting of the negotiators,’ Nqakula said. ‘On our part we believe Zanu PF representatives must have had a plausible reason for staying away. We don’t believe their action was in any way an act of bad faith.’ (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/may3_2013.html#Z5 – Zanu PF plans to rig polls: Tsvangirai).

 The Vigil hopes Mr Nqakula was just being diplomatic and that the South Africans are working out ways of forcing Zanu PF to honour the GPA. There is no shortage of options. They’ve tried the carrot – now it’s time for the stick.

Eddie Cross, the MDC-T MP, says in his latest overview of the situation that he expects a landslide victory in the elections (see: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/comment/blogs/eddie-cross/65452/time-speeds-by.html - Time Speeds By). We are far away and less informed but the Vigil can’t imagine an MDC victory with:

·         A rigged voters’ roll

·         Obstacles to voter registration (except for Zanu PF and the military)

·         Intimidation of MDC voters

·         Corrupt electoral commission

·         Clampdown on civil society organisations

·         Politicised security forces

·         Biased judges

·         Unreformed media

·         Refusal to allow UN scrutiny

·         Limits on election observers

·         Total non-co-operation with SADC

Other points

·         More than 30 went on from the Vigil to the fortnightly meeting of the Zimbabwe Action Forum, which groups a variety of organisations including the Vigil, ROHR, Zimbabwe We Can, Zapu, MDC and on this occasion a representative of Simba Makoni’s party (Mavambo Kusile Dawn). Many people believed the elections had already been sewn up by Zanu PF. Frank Mamvura of Zimbabwe We Can said he had been on the Facebook page of the former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray, who had told him that change in Zimbabwe could only be brought about by those in the diaspora and it was necessary for them to organize.  Peter Sidindi, also of Zimbabwe We Can, said the Vigil was the only Zimbabwean organization that had not lost its way over the years. Rashiwe Bayipayi from Brighton encouraged us by saying great numbers were not essential for effective action. Two people had climbed up a tree in Brighton when it was threatened with removal and the tree was still there. It was agreed we should set up a Facebook page for the Zimbabwe Action Forum and with great efficiency Thandiwe Gwarumba set it up on her ipad during the meeting. Fungayi Mabhunu and Michelle Dube volunteered to be the administrators of the page. Michelle also agreed to minute the meeting. Several people (Tawanda Dzimba, Wellington Mukucha, Epiphania Phiri and Frank Mamvura) volunteered for a strategy team which would identify areas the Forum should be tackling, most notably fundraising.

·         Thanks to David Takundwa who was there at the start of the Vigil. He rigged up the tarpaulin between our maple trees during a sudden hail storm on an otherwise lovely spring day.

·         The Vigil was sorry to hear that supporter Iline Manhunzi was in hospital – people remember her for the tasty sadza she sold at the Vigil to fundraise for ROHR. We wish her a speedy recovery.

·         Activist Martin Chinyanga borrowed our Mugabe mask to stage an anti-Mugabe scenario which was filmed. See our photos and Martin's youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU7GvmqwyHk&feature=youtu.be.

·         The Vigil was interested to see Jan Raath’s criticism of the recent controversial book ‘Zimbabwe takes back its Land’. Raath, a seasoned Zimbabwean journalist, said the book was ‘jaw-droppingly wide of the truth’ (Max du Preez wrong about ‘Zimbabwe's flourishing farms’ –   http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=373778&sn=Detail&pid=71619).

FOR THE RECORD: 69 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

•         ROHR Birmingham Branch meeting. Saturday 11th May from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Venue: All Saints Centre, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath B14 7RA. For more information, contact: Zenzile Chabuka 07951418577, Anne Chikumba 07857528546, Petronella Mapara 07903644612, Jane Mary Mapfumo 07412310429, Pedzisai James 07428180518 and Tecla Bandawe 07450507650.

•         ROHR Southampton Branch meeting. Saturday 11th May from 12.30 – 4 pm. Venue: Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre off Broadlands Rd, Southampton SO16 3AY.  For more information contact: Wellington Mukucha 07450264733, Sally Mutseyami 07969029752, Manfred Mambo 07774538359 and Taylor Madondo.

•         ROHR Central London Branch meeting. Saturday 18th May from 12 – 1.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Contact Fungayi Mabhunu 07746552597. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.

•         Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 18th May from 6.30 – 9.30 pm.  Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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 Reading Relaunch. Saturday 25th May from 11 am – 5 pm. For more information please contact: Tawanda Dzimba 07880524278, Nicodimus Muganhu 07877386789.

•         Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2012 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/467-vigil-highlights-2012.  Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2012 Highlights page.

•         The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization 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.

•         Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

•         Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil...

•         Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.

‘Delay, deceive and destroy’ is how Welshman Ncube describes Zanu PF’s tactics as it fights to maintain Zimbabwe’s status as the third poorest country in the world. (Poor, that is, for the people – not the rulers. Indeed, for the Zanu PF mafia it is a land of ‘indigenised’ milk and honey.)

We at the Vigil were glad to hear Morgan Tsvangirai insist that reforms laid out in the GPA must be implemented before the elections (see: http://www.zimeye.org/?p=79494&cpage=1 – Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Performs U-turn on Elections). But the Vigil wants him to go further and spell out that, if the reforms are not made, he will not take part in the elections and be the donkey in a new Government of National Unity. (As Professor Ncube might put it, ‘the fourth D’.)

Mr Tsvangirai says he is to tour the region to seek support. The message the Vigil gets is that support is there – particularly from South Africa – but what is needed is the determination and courage he showed ten years ago. He must know that the region cannot allow another rigged election.

The Vigil believes that if SADC can help to level the electoral playing field and control Zanu PF intimidation there is little doubt that informed voters would not support a party that has destroyed the economy and shows no sign of changing its ways. As the economist Eric Bloch pointed out, foreign direct investment slumped to about $33 million in the first quarter of the year (see: http://www1.zimbabwesituation.com/apr27a_2013.html#Z17 – Massive slump in foreign investment). To put this in perspective, a single house in London is on the market for more than ten times this figure (see: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313036/The-250MILLION-home-London-house-set-UKs-expensive-property-sold-sale.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 – The £250MILLION home: London house set to become UK's most expensive property ever sold as it is put up for sale). Perhaps Mines Minister Mr M’puffed-up might be interested in buying it . . .

Other points

·         Thanks to Rose Maponga for mending our banners ‘End murder, rape and torture in Zimbabwe’ and ‘No to Mugabe, no to starvation’. We have had these banners since the start of the Vigil more than ten years ago and sadly they are as relevant as ever. We are also grateful to Rose for taking charge of the front table. Others who arrived early to help us put up the tarpaulin in the rain were Peter Sidindi, Nkosikona Tshabangu and Ishmael Makina. Thanks to Ishmael for looking after the back table.

·         Check: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUym9P64Rpg&feature=youtu.be to view Martin Chinyanga’s video of the Vigil on 20th April when we marked Independence Day.   

FOR THE RECORD: 40 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

•         Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 4th May from 6.30 – 9.30 pm.  Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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 Executive meeting. Saturday 4th May from 12 noon. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.

•         Vigil supporter Kudaushe (formerly of the Bundu Boys) Matimba’s band Harare is performing in a concert ‘Zimbabwe meets Congo’ on Saturday 4th May from 9 pm – 3 am. Venue: Bedroom Bar, 62-68 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY. Tickets: £6 advance, and £8 on the door. Special guest: DJ J P Kairo playing the best African urban music.

•         ROHR Birmingham Branch meeting. Saturday 11th May from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Venue: All Saints Centre, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath B14 7RA. For more information, contact: Zenzile Chabuka 07951418577, Anne Chikumba 07857528546, Petronella Mapara 07903644612, Jane Mary Mapfumo 07412310429, Pedzisai James 07428180518 and Tecla Bandawe 07450507650.

•         ROHR Southampton Branch meeting. Saturday 11th May from 12.30 – 4 pm. Venue: Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre off Broadlands Rd, Southampton SO16 3AY.  For more information contact: Wellington Mukucha 07450264733, Sally Mutseyami 07969029752, Manfred Mambo 07774538359 and Taylor Madondo.

•         ROHR Central London Branch meeting. Saturday 18th May from 12 – 1.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Contact Fungayi Mabhunu 07746552597. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.

•         ROHR Reading Relaunch. Saturday 25th May from 11 am – 5 pm. For more information please contact: Tawanda Dzimba 07880524278, Nicodimus Muganhu 07877386789.

•         Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2012 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/467-vigil-highlights-2012.  Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2012 Highlights page.

•         The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization 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.

•         Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

•         Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil...

•         Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.

Despite renewed pressure from SADC for the full implementation of the GPA, President Mugabe exuded confidence that he will win the elections he insisted should be held last year or the year before that at the latest. ‘You’d be surprised what little bags of diamonds can do’ he told the Vigil. ‘Just ask my friend Charles Taylor or for that matter. . .’

Waving a pistol at Vigil supporters, the President (played by Fungayi Mabhunu in our Mugabe mask) was making his annual appearance outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London to mark Independence Day. Carrying a poster reading ’33 years in power’, he was beset by Zimbabwean exiles with rival placards such as: 33 years of oppression, 33 years of looting, 33 years of suffering, 33 years of lawlessness, 33 years of violence and 33 years of rigged elections.

Mugabe assured us that the voters’ roll had been cleaned up. ‘Dead people have been taken off’ he said – but added under his breath ‘more of them will be added’.

Vigil supporters signed a letter to President Zuma drawing his attention to the moves underway for massive vote rigging (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/apr20a_2013.html#Z8 – Cabinet descends on chaotic RG’s office).

The letter reads:

‘We welcome the latest visit to Harare by the SADC facilitation team but caution South Africa against paying for the forthcoming elections there.

As Professor Welshman Ncube has pointed out, it is well within the capacity of Zanu PF to fund the elections if they are prepared to use their diamond revenue. Finance Minister Biti has made the same point, lamenting the loss of diamond revenue to the Treasury.

The UN, the US and the EU have all expressed willingness to fund the elections but their offers have been rejected by Zanu PF because it fears objective scrutiny. We believe that South Africa should also exercise due diligence in this matter.

With elections coming in the next six months, we call on the facilitation team to ensure that eligible voters in Zimbabwe are allowed to register and draw your attention to what is described as ‘calculated bias towards ensuring perceived Zanu PF voters register to vote, with simultaneous efforts being made in some quarters to prevent opposition party supporters from registering at all’ (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/apr19_2013.html#Z23 – Zimbabwe Election Watch: Issue 1).

The Zimbabwe Vigil has been protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London every Saturday for the past eleven years in support of human rights and free and fair elections.’

The letter was the Vigil’s contribution to the 16^th monthly Free Zimbabwe global protest. The theme this month is ‘Simuka, Phakama – stand up and be counted’.

Vigil founder member Ephraim Tapa stood up and spoke of the recent undercover visit he’d made to Zimbabwe. He said the three party leaders were congratulating themselves on the 33^rd anniversary of independence as if everything was ok. Everything was not ok, he said, and that is why we were gathered on the Strand demanding free and fair elections which would produce a credible result. He added that he had found a cowed nation and that he believed the result of the elections had already been decided.

Other points

·         It was a busy day for Ephraim who came to the Vigil after chairing a well-attended meeting of the Zimbabwe Yes We Can group of which he is President. After the Vigil, he joined us at the bi-monthly Zimbabwe Action Forum to speak about his time in Zimbabwe. He spoke of the daily hardships of the people living the ‘economy of the stomach’ and how when he visited people’s carefully kept homes in Harare their faces fell when he asked to use the toilet. Running water was sporadic and when it was available was full of sewage. He also spoke of his terror on the death trap of the Masvingo Road. Large lorries with swerving trailers resulted in cars being swept off the road. In contrast the road to Mutare (and the diamonds) was immaculate.

·         To our joy it was the warmest and sunniest day for seven long months. The dancing, singing and drumming reflected this.

·         We were happy to be joined by our good friend Mark Beacon and others from Action for Southern Africa, the successor to the Anti-apartheid Movement. Other visitors included a Pakistani lady, Ayesha Siddique Khan, who is studying human rights law in London and who said how important it was for oppressed people to stand together.

·         We are glad to let you know that our Swazi friend Tintswalo Ngobeni who was threatened with deportation is still in the UK. After our mailing on Thursday in which we called on the airline not to take her back, we were told that the deportation had been called off.

·         Grateful thanks to Rose Maponga who took away our weather-worn banners for repair and return next week.

FOR THE RECORD: 72 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·         ROHR Milton Keynes Branch Relaunch. Saturday 27^th April from 2 – 5.30 pm. Venue Coffee Hall Meeting Place (Coffee Hall Community Hall), 60 Garraways, Coffee Hall, Milton Keynes MK6 5E. For more information please contact: Casper Nyamakura (07577666912), Epiphania Phiri (07426 136 124) and William Muchayi (07826311731).

·         Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 4^th May from 6.30 – 9.30 pm.  Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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 Executive meeting. Saturday 4^th May from 12 noon. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.

·         ROHR Birmingham Branch meeting. Saturday 11^th May from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Venue: All Saints Centre, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath B14 7RA. For more information, contact: Zenzile Chabuka 07951418577, Anne Chikumba 07857528546, Petronella Mapara 07903644612, Jane Mary Mapfumo 07412310429, Pedzisai James 07428180518 and Tecla Bandawe 07450507650.

·         ROHR Southampton Branch meeting. Saturday 11^th May from 12.30 – 4 pm. Venue: Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre off Broadlands Rd, Southampton SO16 3AY.  For more information contact: Wellington Mukucha 07450264733, Sally Mutseyami 07969029752, Manfred Mambo 07774538359 and Taylor Madondo.

·         ROHR Central London Branch meeting. Saturday 18^th May from 12 – 1.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Contact Fungayi Mabhunu 07746552597. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.

·         ROHR Reading Relaunch. Saturday 25^th May from 11 am – 5 pm. For more information please contact: Tawanda Dzimba 07880524278, Nicodimus Muganhu 07877386789.

·         Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2012 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/467-vigil-highlights-2012.  Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2012 Highlights page.

·         The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization 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.

·         Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

·         Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil

·         Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.