Next week the Vigil marks its 8^th anniversary protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. It will not be something to celebrate – in fact we will be wearing mourning bands for the occasion. 

The Vigil was started on 12^th October 2002 by a small group from the Central London Zimbabwe Forum principally at the suggestion of MDC stalwart Roy Bennett now the target of vindictive persecution by ZANU PF.  

The Vigil had to affirm its independence from the MDC when the UK and Ireland Executive was high-jacked by a group which has now been suspended by the Harare leadership following allegations of corruption.  (A report on the suspended executive has still not been published by Harare, presumably because it is too embarrassing.) 

In the early years our attendance – particularly in bleak winter weather – dipped to a handful.  But we always believed that one person and a banner could make a Vigil. Nowadays we draw an average of more than 150 people per week and many of them travel long distances to be with us. The Observer newspaper described the Vigil as the largest regular demonstration in London.  

The Vigil is not party-political and welcomes anyone who supports its mission statement: ‘The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe’. 

We have run various petitions – notably one to the UN calling for an investigation of human rights violations in Zimbabwe signed by some 100,000 passers-by. We have also lobbied Parliament and other bodies and staged many demonstrations.  We are currently running two petitions:
·    A petition to the UK government: We welcome the UK’s humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe but call on the UK government to withhold development aid until it is confident that the money will benefit the people rather than the corrupt Mugabe regime.
·    Petition to the UN Security Council: We call on the Security Council to ensure that the next elections in Zimbabwe are free and fair. We look to the United Nations to supervise the electoral process and the handover of power to a new government and believe peace-keeping troops will need to be in place before, during and after the polling. 

Both petitions have been signed by thousands of people passing by the Vigil (we do not run online petitions). From our understanding of the British government’s position we do not believe it is yet necessary to present the first petition. But we are making preparations to submit the petition to the Security Council given suggestions by both Mugabe and Tsvangirai that elections will be held next year.  

The Vigil has always argued that elections are the way forward and have watched with despair the misconceived preoccupation with a new constitution when what really matters are preparations for a free and fair election.  Mugabe is nothing if not consistent: he wins by violence, rigging, bribes, coercion, threats, propaganda etc. It has always worked so why should he change a winning strategy? (See: JAG open letter forum, Ben Freeth - Protecting Communities in Zimbabwe from Violence: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/sep18_2010.html
#Z17). Mr Freeth concludes that the MDC should go on an all-out campaign to call on international peace-keepers to protect the rural voters. The Vigil fully supports the Voice for Democracy’s call to immediately start putting in place structures to assure violence-free and fair elections (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/sep17_2010.html#Z17, ‘Silence of the Lambs’). 

Other points
·       Vigil team member Sue Toft arranged, at St Mary’s Church, Speldhurst, Kent, a showing of the film ‘Mugabe and the White African’ which documents the fight by white farmer Ben Freeth and his father-in-law to stop their Zimbabwean farm being taken by Mugabe’s regime. In the audience was Ben’s mother Claire Freeth. About 70 people attended and Sue reports that many were in tears.  Sue was interviewed by the local press (see: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/
won-t-stop-Mugabe-reign/article-2704389-detail/article.html).
·       One of our key activists attended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) video link with voluntary returnees in Zimbabwe on Wednesday 22^nd September. He reports as follows: The three featured returnees are all running their businesses and none of them has yet suffered any persecution or had their business taken away in the name of indigenisation. One is running a poultry farm and says he has to bribe the suppliers of chicks to fulfill his orders. Another returnee invested her IOM package in her father’s shop in a predominantly ZANU (PF) area – she has links to ZANU and has no reason to fear returning to Zimbabwe. She even said that she claimed asylum after being denied an extension of her student visa. In a way she abused the asylum system in UK. People like her are the ones who make lives of actual asylum seekers hard in the UK. The third returnee is operating a small scale farm which he claims belongs to his cousin who is US based. This returnee went in May and now he is running a farm. It seems he took voluntary return because he knew that he would be offered a farm. Only those with acquaintances in the top ZANU brass can acquire farms. The three were asked if the political situation had affected their daily business.  They said as long as you stay away from politics you will certainly not be in trouble with the authorities. But they all agreed that the situation politically has not yet improved as expected. The GPA is not working as promised. I am not sending out a message that Zimbabweans should not take the voluntary return offered by IOM. People who are politically involved need to consider their security if they decide to go. The IOM strongly said “we are not responsible for your safety in Zimbabwe”.  The destitution of some asylum seekers in the diaspora and domestic situations in Zimbabwe are reasons that might force an individual to take the package. The IOM claims hundreds of Zimbabweans have taken the package. It would be good if all the Zimbabweans who have returned home would give us a clear picture. The three chosen may have been staging the whole event to deceive Zimbabweans in the diaspora. Contact the IOM directly to see what they are offering and make an informed decision before deciding to go back to Zimbabwe voluntarily. For those with disputed nationality the IOM promises they will help with a Zimbabwean travel document if you can prove you are Zimbabwean.
·       This week has seen Jacob Zuma appealing to the EU to drop targeted sanctions. For reasons why the sanctions should not be dropped, check: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/
sep30_2010.html#Z18 – Opinion: Is the EU about to sacrifice Zim for Mugabe by Clifford Chitupa Mashiri.
·       We welcomed Josiah Sibanda and Mazwi Marshall Lujika who arrived in London at 2 am on the coach from Glasgow and were returning home at 11 pm in the evening. 

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:  156 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.
·       Zimbabwe Vigil’s 8^th Anniversary. Saturday 9^th October from 2 – 6 pm.
·       ROHR Liverpool Vigil. Saturday 9^th October from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Church Street (Outside Primark), Liverpool City Centre. For details please contact: Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Trywell Migeri 07956083758, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161. Future demonstration: 9^th October. Same time and venue.
·       ROHR Stevenage general meeting. Saturday 16^th October. Venue: Poplars Bandley Hill Community Centre, Magpie Crescent, Stevenage, Herts SG2 9RZ from 1.30 – 5.30. ROHR Executive present. Contact Jemitas Mare 07570191705, K Mashonganyika 07962383872 or P Mapfumo 07915926323, 07932216070 
·       ROHR Wolverhampton relaunch meeting. Date to be advised. Venue: Heath Town Community Centre, 208 Chevril Rise, Wolverhampton WV10 0HP. It's time for you to join in the Struggle for Peace, Justice and Freedom for Zimbabwe. Contact P Chibanguza 07908406069, P Nkomo 07817096594, P Dunduru 07958386718, D Mtendereki 07771708800 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.
·       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 send 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.  

Vigil supporters were interested to see that Morgan Tsvangirai has at last admitted the violent truth about the constitutional outrage programme, now nearly a year behind schedule, gobbling donor money and going nowhere.   

We at the Vigil are not surprised by Mr Tsvangirai’s comments. Nothing he says surprises us any more. His inconsistency can be relied upon just as can the consistency of Mugabe; Tsvangirai can be trusted to vacillate just as Mugabe can be sure to use violence to cling to power.  

We human rights activists, basking in the autumn sunshine outside Zimbabwe House, are caught between a sponge and a hard place. Ever since the formation of the ‘unity’ government the Vigil’s task has been particularly difficult simply because there has been no real ‘opposition’ party in Zimbabwe. ‘Why are you cluttering up the Strand?’ we are asked. ‘Your Mr Tsvangirai has tea every Monday with his friend Robert’.  

It’s been a challenge to answer this so we were relieved when the famous Zimbabwean helicopter inventor Daniel Chingoma announced the formation of the Zimbabwe Integrated Revolutionary Party (ZIRP) especially for intellectuals like us.  

Mr Chingoma said ‘there are no parties for intellectuals in Zimbabwe and that is why things are going down, especially the infrastructure. This is very bad and that is why I have formed my own party.’ (see: Chingoma’s toilet party set to fly like his chopper – http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/sep19a_2010.html#Z12). 

Mr Chingoma certainly has a revolutionary approach to political campaigning: ‘Since the ZBC TV and Radio only allow Zanu-PF to advertise I will do so in toilets. Everyone goes to the toilet and so I have decided to put up my posters in the toilets for both men and women’. 

The Vigil now understands the reason why Professor Mutambara has not been seen for the past month – preventing any progress in the GPA negotiations: he has been putting up intellectual posters in lavatories. 

At the Vigil we have huge reinforced plastic portable male urinals delivered by lorries when we pack up on Saturday evenings. We would be only too happy to display Mr Chingoma’s posters on them. 

As well as multi-brained Mutambara, another well-known ‘intellectual’ seems to have been attracted by the revolutionary Zimbabwe lavatory project. He is Beamish Branson, Britain’s billionaire Virgin chief, who is urging the world to invest in Zimbabwe. (Zimbabwe helicopters are the way forward – see: Richard Branson urges world to invest Zimbabwe, http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/sep22_2010.html#Z4). 

The Vigil is beguiled by the prospect of Branson leading his Virgins to save Zimbabwe. Surely he must know that Zimbabwe is ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, run by gangsters who enjoy impunity from prosecution and that there is no rule of law or respect for property? Welcome to the jewel of Africa, Mr Branson. 

Other points
·      During the week the Vigil sent the following message to the South American so-called Anglican cleric who invited Mugabe to Ecuador to receive an honorary doctorate. ‘Dear Revd Dr Walter Roberto Crespo: the Zimbabwe Vigil wishes to add our support to Genocide Watch in protest at your proposal to honour Robert Mugabe. We are exiled Zimbabweans who are have been protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London every Saturday for the past 8 years in protest at human rights abuses by the Mugabe regime and in support of free and fair elections which seem as far away as ever. Many of us are Anglicans who have been locked out of our churches in Zimbabwe by Mugabe. As an academic institution we would hope that you would do some research into the situation in Zimbabwe before honouring a despot. We would be only too happy to help you. As it is, your proposed action does you no credit within the Anglican community who have been praying day and night for the suffering people of Zimbabwe to be delivered from the hands of the murderous Mugabe regime. You will be aware of the Old Testament reading from last Sunday 'The harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved'. We have since learnt that Dr Crespo is a friend of the notorious Zimbabwean renegade Bishop Nolbert Kunonga. He has also been in jail for gun-running (see: http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/questions-over-anglican-honours-claim-for-robert-mugabe-the-church-of-england-newspaper-sept-3-2010-p-7/).
·       The Vigil is marking its 8^th anniversary on Saturday 9^th October. Please come and join us. More information to follow.
·       Congratulations to long-term supporters Agnes Zengeya on the birth of her baby last week.   

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:  141 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 Woking general meeting. Saturday 2^nd October 2010 from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Ravenswood Court, Hillview Road, Woking GU22 7NR. Contact: Isaac Mudzamiri 07774044873, Sithokozile Hlokana 07886203113 or P Mapfumo on 07915926323 / 07932216070.
·       Zimbabwe Vigil’s 8^th Anniversary. Saturday 9^th October from 2 – 6 pm.
·       ROHR Liverpool Vigil. Saturday 9^th October from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Church Street (Outside Primark), Liverpool City Centre. For details please contact: Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Trywell Migeri 07956083758, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161. Future demonstration: 9^th October. Same time and venue.
·       ROHR Stevenage general meeting. Saturday 16^th October. Venue: Poplars Bandley Hill Community Centre, Magpie Crescent, Stevenage, Herts SG2 9RZ from 1.30 – 5.30. ROHR Executive present. Contact Jemitas Mare 07570191705, K Mashonganyika 07962383872 or P Mapfumo 07915926323, 07932216070.
·       ROHR Wolverhampton relaunch meeting. Date to be advised. Venue: Heath Town Community Centre, 208 Chevril Rise, Wolverhampton WV10 0HP. It's time for you to join in the Struggle for Peace, Justice and Freedom for Zimbabwe. Contact P Chibanguza 07908406069, P Nkomo 07817096594, P Dunduru 07958386718, D Mtendereki 07771708800 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.  
·       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 send 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.