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Botswana’s President Ian Khama deserves the Nobel prize for doing the unthinkable: telling an African leader to step down because he has passed his sell-by date

The Herald’s reaction is that it is un-African for a fellow African president to criticise Mugabe. So it responds by calling President Khama ‘queer’. That really is ‘un-African’ . . . (see: http://www.herald.co.zw/khama-should-shut-up-on-zimbabwe/). 

The Vigil, on behalf of Zimbabweans, apologises to President Khama, who has helped to make his country an island of good governance and prosperity in an ocean of corruption and inefficiency.

President Khama will no doubt already know that Mugabe’s mouthpiece the Herald is like Pinocchio, the puppet in the children’s story whose nose grows longer every time he tells a lie. So he will not be surprised if the Herald’s nose is now so long as to stretch all the way to Botswana.

We believe the Herald would be a worthy winner of the Ig Nobel Prize awarded every year at Harvard university as an alternative to the Nobel Prize. After all,this year an award went to a team for their psychology paper ‘From Junior to Senior Pinocchio; a Cross-Sectional Life Span Investigation of Deception’. They were chosen for ‘asking a thousand liars how often they lie and for deciding whether to believe those answers’.

In fact, the Herald would qualify for two Ig Nobel awards. A second one went to Japanese researchers ‘for investigating whether things looked different when you bend over and view them between your legs’.

British Ambassador Catriona Laing might think that the Herald report on her remarks about the police’s handling of the Harare demonstrations came from between their correspondent’s legs (see: http://www.herald.co.zw/uk-backs-police-stance-on-illegal-demos/). So might the UN view the paper’s report of Mugabe’s ‘mega success’ at the recent New York meeting.

The Ig awards for the Herald would be suitable (and timely) – they carry a cash prize of a Zimbabwean ten trillion dollar note (see http://zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/821-love-rats-in-cheap-trousers-win-prize-for-weird-science).

Other points

• The Vigil’s petition is now on the petition parliament website: ‘Raise issue of persecution of political activists with Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. We ask the UK govt to raise the issue of persecution of activists with the Zimbabwe govt. The last election was hugely rigged. Misgovernance & corruption have destroyed the economy resulting in starvation & 90% unemployment. Civil unrest is growing & protesters refused bail & jailed without trial. Linda Masarira, locked up since 6 July on trumped-up charges, has health problems & is the mother of 5 children (youngest 2 yrs). Accused of inciting riots in the female section of Chikurubi prison on 10/9, she was moved to solitary confinement in the dangerous male section – we fear for her safety. Other activists are also still incarcerated, many needing medical care after violent treatment by the police. Both Gift Siziba’s hands are believed to be broken. This vicious persecution must stop.’ You can sign if you are resident in the UK. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/167277.
• The Matabeleland South Province of our sister organisation ROHR has been working hard to help the Matobo villagers who are being evicted from their homes to make way for an extension of an Agricultural and Rural Development Authority farm. At least 40 are in police custody after an attempted demonstration against the evictions (for ROHR statement and updates, see: http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/matobo-villagers-every-right-demonstrate-evictions/ and news story, see: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-regional-byo-96957.html).
• The next Zimbabwe Action Forum has been postponed to 8^th October at 6.15 pm. It will discuss a diaspora initiative on achieving a level playing field for free and fair elections in 2018. We are collecting ideas and you are welcome to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any. The feeling at the Vigil was that any interim authority should not include politicians.
• We are working on a history of the Vigil. Photos of the Vigil will be taken next week for the book. Please come and take part. Also photos from the earlier years of the Vigil (2002 – 2006) are no longer available. Anyone who has photos from this time please email them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We are looking particularly for photos of Archbishop Pius Ncube’s visit on 24^th July 2004 and Roy Bennett’s visit on 6^th August 2005.
• Thanks to those who came early to help set up: Shylette Chipangura, Munyaradzi Garikayi, Kevin Gondo, Isabell Gwatidzo, Josephine Jombe, Jonathan Kariwo, Fungayi Mabhunu, Honest Madondo, Emmanuel Magarira, Phillip Mahlahla, Marian Mangani, Jenniffer Maritsa, Shiella Matiza, Praisego Moyo, Bianca Mpawaenda, Roseline Mukucha, Alfredy Mukuvare, Tracy Mupeti, Cathrine Musa, Emilia Nyamhandu, Tawanda Rusape, Alice Shimika and Maureen and Douglas Tavengwa. Thanks to Roseline, Cathrine, Josephine and Praisego for helping at the front table, to Alfredy, Phillip, Kevin, Honest and Gift Moyo for putting up the banners and preparing the new tarpaulin for the next time it rains and to Bianca and Marian for handing out flyers.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. For videos of Vigils and other events, check the ROHR facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/www.rohrzimbabwe.org/videos?fref=photo.

FOR THE RECORD: 42 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

• ROHR Birmingham branch meeting. Tuesday 27^th September from 11 am – 2 pm. Venue: Strathallan Hotel, 225 Hagley Road, Birmingham B16 9RJ. Contact: Chair: Gladys Muduve 07956430115, Info & Publicity: Tecla Bandawe 074 50507650 and Organising Sec: Janemary Mapfumo 07412310429.
• Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 1^st October from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
• ROHR National Executive meeting. Saturday 8^th October from 12 noon. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For directions see below.
• 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 us.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 8^th October from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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 sign at street level. It's between a newsagent and a shop. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF) meets regularly after the Vigil to discuss ways to help those back in Zimbabwe to fight oppression and achievetrue democracy.
• Monthly Itai Dzamara protest Saturday 8^th October. From 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. The protest is to mark nineteen months since Dzamara’s abduction by intelligence agents.
• Zimbabwe Vigil's 14^th Anniversary. On Saturday 15^th October we will mark the Vigil’s 14^th anniversary.
• Mike Campbell Foundation Fifth anniversary: Taking Effective Steps to Fight Dictatorship – Restoring Justice, Restoring People.  Wednesday 26^th October at 6.30 pm. Venue: the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. For tickets: https://event.bookitbee.com/8186/mike-campbell-foundation-5-year-anniversary-event/.
• Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
• Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2015 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/746-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2015. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2015 Highlights page.
• Facebook pages:
  Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil
  ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515
  ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/11/robert-mugabe-unveils-new-statue-of-himself-as-zimbabwe-endures/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/29749575445/sizes/m/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/29457119460/sizes/m/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/29457750280/sizes/m/ 

The Zimbabwean opposition MP Eddie Cross says the international community is backing Vice-President Mnangagwa to take over from ‘walking corpse’ Mugabe in the next few months. Mr Cross was speaking at the UK Parliament on Thursday during a trip to Europe which also included talks in Germany. 

He said South Africa was backing a road map for change in Zimbabwe – a road map which had also been embraced by the US, the UK and European Union and even China. The plan envisaged the immediate retirement of Mugabe to be replaced by Mnangagwa who would be tasked with managing comprehensive reforms to ensure a level playing field allowing free and fair elections in 2018. Mr Cross said Mnangagwa had the support of the military and the principal power brokers in Zimbabwe.

He said financial support for Zimbabwe would be dependent on the reforms being implemented and the diaspora of 4.7 million being allowed to vote. All voting would be on the simple basis of an identification document. He added that he was confident MDC T would get 70% of the vote.

Ten Vigil supporters were at the meeting in a parliamentary committee room overlooking the Thames. They were pleased when Mr Cross mentioned the Vigil at the meeting, saying ‘we are really proud of you guys – how you have struggled all these years’.

Mr Cross was invited to attend the Vigil, where he was presented with a Vigil cap in appreciation of his long and courageous service to Zimbabwe. But Vigil supporters expressed their reservations about trusting Mnangagwa, who was implicated in the Gukuruhundi genocide of the 1980s. Mr Cross was told the Vigil’s view is that the United Nations should be asked to help set up a transitional authority, as outlined in our current petition: 

A petition to the UN Secretary-General: With mounting unrest in Zimbabwe, we urge you to appoint a Special Representative to prepare the ground for a UNTransitional Authority to take over from the failed Mugabe regime. We look to the Special Representative to initiate comprehensive negotiations so that the UN Transitional Authority can assume control of Zimbabwe’s administrative structures – foreign affairs, defence, security, finance and communications – to ensure a level playing field conducive for credible national elections.

The Vigil produced its own version of the  new Mugabe statue to demonstrate how the ‘walking corpse’ was still exercising his malignant influence – off on another tour leaving the country in flames after the scrapping of Chinamasa’s  latest attempt to satisfy the international financial world by reigning in government spending. 

A meeting of the Zimbabwe Action Forum after the Vigil voted overwhelmingly against Zanu-PF being given any controlling say in an interim authority. It invited the worldwide diaspora to send their ideas for the way forward to the Vigil so we could discuss them at our next forum on 1^st October with a view to coming forward with a common diaspora initiative. We have already received some ideas from Australia. Chairman Ephraim Tapa said we must be guided by the Vigil slogan ‘Zimbabwe in our hands’.

Other points

• On Friday 16^th September over 40 exiled Zimbabweans gathered at the Embassy to demand ‘Mugabe must go’ in support of protests back home. Flowers were laid at the door of the Embassy for Itai Dzamara who was abducted and disappeared 18 months ago.
• Today we demonstrated in support of the call from Zimbabweans in the USA for worldwide protest. They were targeting the United Nations in New York where Mugabe is expected to attend the UN General Assembly. Some of our messages: ‘Mugabe: Free political activists’, ‘Free Zimbabwe’, Vigil supports Zimbabwe protest’, Release Linda Masarira’, ‘Where is Itai Dzamara’ and ‘Mugabe must go’.
• We are sorry to report that our friend Humphrey Dube, a regular supporter, is in detention. We received a call on Friday night to say he reported to the Home Office and was detained and taken immediately to the airport to be deported. The call came two hours before his flight was due to leave. A special thanks to Ephraim Tapa and Fungayi Mabhunu who worked hard to stop this deportation. At the forum after the Vigil supporters were advised to talk to Vigil and ROHR personnel about difficulties with asylum matters so attempts at hasty deportation were less likely to happen.
• Thanks to those who came early to help set up: Rashiwe Bayisayi, Muchineripi Chigwedere, Farai Chiza, Piyo Choga, Flemming Diza, Daizy Fabian, Isabell Gwatidzo, Barbara Kachidza, Etines Kapiya, Jonathan Kariwo, Prosper Karuru, Fungayi Mabhunu, Honest Madondo, Phillip Mahlahla, Marian Mangani, Rosemary Maponga, Cephas Maswoswa, Edna Mdoka, Gladys Meck, Gift Moyo. Sharon Moyo, Eletha Mpofu, Roseline Mukucha, Alfredy Mukuvare, Garikayi Munyaradzi, Mandifusa Mushambadope, Vusumuzi Ncube, Mduduzi Ndlovu, Casper Nyamakura, Pretty Okechukwu, Chipo Parirenyatwa, Benjamin Semwayo, Michael Sirewu, Emmaculate Tshuma, Sharon Zimuto and Elector Zvorwadza. Thanks to Roseline and Sharon for looking after the front table, to Chipo P, Simbarashe and Cephas Maswoswa for selling ‘Mugabe must go / has gone’ wristbands and to Phillip, Alfredy, Piyo, Casper and Honest for putting up the high banners. Thanks also to Elector who sold green vegetables from her garden to raise funds for ROHR and to Fungayi for playing the part of Mugabe.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. For videos of Vigils and other events, check the ROHR facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/www.rohrzimbabwe.org/videos?fref=photo.

FOR THE RECORD: 65 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

• Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 1^st October from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
• ROHR National Executive meeting. Saturday 8th October from 12 noon. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For directions see below.
• 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 us.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 8th October from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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 sign at street level. It's between a newsagent and a shop. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF) meets regularly after the Vigil to discuss ways to help those back in Zimbabwe to fight oppression and achieve true democracy.
• Monthly Itai Dzamara protest Saturday 8^th October. From 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. The protest is to mark nineteen months since Dzamara’s abduction by intelligence agents.
• Mike Campbell Foundation Fifth anniversary: Taking Effective Steps to Fight Dictatorship – Restoring Justice, Restoring People.  Wednesday 26^th October at 6.30 pm. Venue: the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. For tickets: https://event.bookitbee.com/8186/mike-campbell-foundation-5-year-anniversary-event/.
• Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
• Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2015 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/746-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2015. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2015 Highlights page.
• Facebook pages:
  Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil
  ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515
  ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835