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Being counted – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 17th January 2015 |
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Written by Administrator |
Sunday, 18 January 2015 14:27 |
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/16116821038/sizes/m/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/16278534146/sizes/m/
Zimbabweans came out in the cold in London in support of the protesters who have been campaigning in Africa Unity Square since last October. The Harare protesters, led by journalist Itai Dzamara, are demanding that Mugabe step down and allow an interim administration to prepare fresh elections to rescue the country as chaos threatens amid reports of mysterious deaths in the ruling circle.
On a biting mid-winter day, Vigil supporters were joined outside the Zimbabwe Embassy by UK members of the Occupy Africa Unity Square movement (OAUS).
In a message to the gathering, Itai Dzamara said that a new Zimbabwe was within reach. He told us: ‘As you brave the cold weather of London to stand up and be counted . . . your protest today is not in vain’. He added: ‘Colleagues in other parts of the world are also seriously committed and more protests will follow your sterling effort today in other countries.’ (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/646-a-message-from-itai-dzamara).
The message was read by Tendai Kwari, leader of OAUS-UK. He told Vigil supporters that he wanted to see more and more people joining the OAUS protests in Harare. ‘The regime is collapsing’, he said ‘They cannot kill us all’.
Tendai 2pushed a copy of an OAUS letter (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/647-protest-over-failure-of-government) to Mugabe under the Embassy door. Other copies are being posted to the Embassy and to Mugabe’s office.
Mr Dzamara has been beaten up and arrested during his demonstrations but is not deterred. The Vigil applauds his example and we agree with the comment by the former student leader Freeman Chari that if the 100 or so NGO and human rights organisations in Harare were each to supply just one member to join Itai Dzamara at the OAUS demonstrations Zimbabwe would be free (see: http://nehandaradio.com/2014/11/07/police-savagely-beat-protester-itai-dzamara/ – Police savagely beat protester Itai Dzamara). Who knows, they might even get donor funding and then they might be joined by the MDC . . .
Other points · A meeting of the Zimbabwe Action Forum after the Vigil encouraged people to attend a parliamentary meeting arranged by ROHR Reading Branch on Monday 19th January – details below. Also raised was the possibility of challenging through the UN Dr Grace’s illegal evictions to expand her empire. · Following the emergence in public of a white group of Mugabe followers, we were interested to note the following in the January newsletter from Ben Freeth’s organisation: ‘On the Colletts’ farm in West Nicholson invaders are trying to get them off their conservancy despite huge support from the local people, the chiefs and the war veterans in the area for them to stay . . . It appears that their neighbour Ken Drummond, a ZANU-PF supporter, wants to extend his empire and is giving the invaders his vehicles etc. to cause mayhem.’ · Thanks to those who came early to help set up: Helen Rukambiro, Eunice Mucherechedzo, Mavis Chisvo, Rachel Mudzimba, Paul Fusire, Muchineripi Chigwedere, Fungayi Mabhunu, Tendai Kwari and David Mbinga.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.
FOR THE RECORD: 51 signed the register.
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