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Victims of ‘sovereignty’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 24th June 2017 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Sunday, 25 June 2017 15:07

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/35123679130/sizes/m/

As Zimbabwe embarks on the final lap before the next elections, all indications are that it will be a repetition of the stolen 2013 polls, nodded through by an acquiescent outside world with political correctness overriding blatant electoral manipulation by Mugabe’s Zanu PF.

Vice President Mnangagwa, speaking on a money-raising trip to South Africa, insisted that the elections would be free and fair, saying electoral reforms had been made to level the playing field, such as the introduction of biometric voter registration.

But this is belied by a report that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will still use the database set up by the notorious Israeli company Nikuv International which was accused by the opposition of helping Zanu PF rig the voters’ roll in the last elections.

Interestingly, the Chinese firm controversially awarded the tender to supply the BVR kits is said to be alarmed that its own reputation could be tarnished by the link (see: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/06/22/zec-nikuv-bvr-rigging-plot-exposed/).

Renewed support for the Zimbabwe status quo came from former South African president Thabo Mbeki, always pictured hand in hand with Mugabe. He said political leaders who had ‘outstayed their welcome’ must be shown the door – but only by their own people, adding that he would fight any South African who stood up to say Mugabe must go. ‘It’s none of your business’ he insisted.

This is the spurious ‘independence solidarity’ rhetoric which he and other antediluvian leaders have used to legitimise brutal undemocratic regimes – ignoring all evidence of oppression and happily sacrificing the welfare of the people on the altar of sovereignty.

 Other points

  • Plans for the peace walk to fundraise for the Zimbabwe Peace Actors’ Platform (ZimPAP) on Saturday 1st July were discussed. Sipho Ndlovu who recently cycled 324 miles to eight UK towns to raise funds for ZimPAP, has worked out the route for the walk. It will be mostly on pedestrian paths starting at Redbridge station on the Central line. The halfway point will be Victoria Park in Bow. The walkers will then continue to Holborn and from there walk to the Vigil. People were encouraged to get as much sponsorship as possible for the walk. ZimPAP aims to train 100,000 civilian peacekeepers to educate people in their local communities on their constitutional rights and to help overcome fear and intimidation leading up to and after the 2018 elections. The peacekeepers will also monitor incidents of violence and intimidation. Contributions can also be made to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/zimvigil-co-ordinator.
  • We were pleased to be joined by Vigil founder member Addley Nyamutaka with her son Mandla, one of the earliest Vigil babies. Addley was a victim of torture and, more than a decade later still suffers the consequences. We hope she will be able to attend a book launch we are thinking of holding soon to mark the publication of a journal of the Vigil.
  • Thanks to those who arrived early to help set up: Josephine Jombe, Jonathan Kariwo, Fungayi Mabhunu, Phillip Mahlahla, Chido Makawa, Michelle Makoni, Eletha Mpofu, Roseline Mukucha, Alfredy Mukuvare, Margaret Munenge, Charles Mupawose, Sipho Ndlovu, Michael Sirewu and Sharon Zimuto. Thanks to Roseline, Catherine Musa, Josephine and Pearl Shambare for looking after the front table, to Cathrine, Tawanda Chitate and Heather Makawa for handing out flyers and selling wristbands and to Alfredy, Phillip, Sipho, Michael and Michelle for putting up the banners. 

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. The facebook page for our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) (https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835) has been hijacked by destructive elements from a group calling itself ZHRO. Please be advised that any postings on this page are not posted by ROHR.

FOR THE RECORD: 29 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:
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Who needs wheels? – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 17th June 2017 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Sunday, 18 June 2017 15:15

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When it comes to straight talking Zimbabweans don’t have to look much further than the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene, who welcomed Mugabe to Mutare for a Zanu PF Youth Rally.

‘Some of you think I have taken weed’, she said. ‘Do I look like someone who took weed today?’ Mugabe said nothing. You could say he sat stoned-faced. Vice President Mnangagwa however, who was sitting next to him, must have had difficulty suppressing a smile.

Chimene, speaking as it were from on high, urged Mugabe to end the divisions in the party over the presidential succession. ‘We end up seeing crocodile smiles because of the divisions,’ she snorted.

Chimene proceeded to demonstrate that she was in full possession of her senses by accusing ministers in the province of looting large tracts of land, among other things. She went on: ‘If it means going down with you, we will fall together Comrade President’.

Mugabe, who is quite capable of falling down by himself, made no response to this offer. But he would hardly have been reassured by Chimene’s undertaking the previous week to Zanu PF Youth leaders preparing for the rally. She promised them they would have no trouble with police road blocks. ‘You said some vehicles do not have wheels, but I will make sure you will not be harassed.’

Who needs wheels when you have mbanje power.

Other points

 FOR THE RECORD: 54 signed the register.

 EVENTS AND NOTICES:
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Book about the Vigil – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 10th June 2017 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Sunday, 11 June 2017 15:37

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/35057717532/sizes/m/
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Supporters from the Zimbabwe Vigil’s earliest days, now scattered far and wide, were invited to join us to be photographed for the back cover of a book to be published soon about our protest.

The book’s introduction begins: ‘In the fifteenth year of the weekly Vigil under the windows of Zimbabwe House in London, we produce this journal in the hope that real change is in sight and the country can embrace a future free of the malignant Mugabe influence.’

The book, titled ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’, is based on the Vigil’s diaries which over the years have recorded how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. The diaries chronicle the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved.

The introduction cautions people of the dangers of further co-operation with Zanu PF’s divisive legacy. It says: ‘They say the leopard never changes its spots. Our fear is that, with the departure of Mugabe, the people of Zimbabwe may again have the Zanu PF leopard foisted on them in some form or other. For the likely results be warned by these pages.‘

All proceeds from the book will go to help the Vigil finance its work in Zimbabwe, which ranges from humanitarian aid to voter education. Much of this is carried out by the sister organisation the Vigil set up at home, the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe.

ROHR’s latest project is to help the Zimbabwe Peace Actors’ Platform (ZimPAP) which aims to train 100,000 civilian peacekeepers to overcome fear and intimidation, particularly in the rural areas, during next year’s elections.

On Friday about 150 ROHR supporters staged a peace march in the centre of Chitungwiza in defiance of an unconstitutional police attempt to stop them. ROHR President Ephraim Tapa told us that the police later raided the homes of several of the organisers and ordered them to report to the police on Monday. Legal representation is being obtained.

Ephraim said the police had earlier refused to allow a peace march planned in Harare at the end of May. He said ‘this is against the constitution which stipulates that people only have to notify the police about a demonstration, not get permission. It is the police who are being lawless and we must challenge this.’

Other points

  • Ephraim encouraged people to help raise sponsorship for a  walk on Saturday 1st July organised by Daizy Fabian to raise funds for ZimPAP.  The walkers  will cover 15 miles from Ilford planning to reach the Vigil by 2 pm.
  • A proof copy of the book was passed around at the the Vigil and aroused much interest – though not perhaps as much as the annual parade of more  than a hundred naked and semi-naked cyclists down the Strand past the Embassy. Fortunately for them the weather was bright and sunny this year.
  •  We managed to catch a picture of Mugabe next to the Ambassador’s car. He looked horrified at the cyclists.
  • Thanks to those who arrived early to help set up: Mavis Chisvo, Enock Dzonga, Jonathan Kariwo, Fungayi Mabhunu, Netsayi Makarichi, Rosemary Maponga, Margaret Munenge, Charles Mupawose, Mduduzi Ndlovu, Edmore Pedzisai, Rumbidzayi Sambana and Michael Sirewu. Thanks to Mavis, Catherine Musa and Netsayi for looking after the front table, to Rosemary, Enock and Rumbidzayi for handing out flyers and selling wristbands and to Mduduzi, Rumbidzayi, Fungayi, Jonathan, Edmore, Charles and Netsayi for putting up the banners. Thanks also to Nyarai Masvosva for the extra photos and to Fungayi for wearing our Mugabe mask. 

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. The facebook page for our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) (https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835) has been hijacked by destructive elements from a group calling itself ZHRO. Please be advised that any postings on this page are not posted by ROHR.

FOR THE RECORD: 29 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:
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Best educated idiots? – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 3rd June 2017 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Sunday, 04 June 2017 13:51

Zimbabweans love myths. One of the proofs is the popularity of the suave, sharply-dressed salesmen promising them everything they pray for. Like Mugabe. 

Here we bump into one of the great myths of our age: ‘Zimbabweans are the best-educated people in Africa’. If this was ever true it is surely impossible to claim this today with our run-down schools and malnourished pupils and our premier university’s two-month doctorate for Grace Mugabe.

This is not to say our people are stupid. Far from it.  Zanu PF is proof of this. Their well-oiled 2018 election strategy is already underway. It is felt everywhere. Mbare for instance is out of bounds to the MDC. Not that there is anything new in the strategy, but they have the intelligence to just go on repeating what works.

This is shown in the experience of our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe which was given the old run-around when they applied to the police for clearance for their constitutional right to stage a peaceful demonstration in Harare at the end of May. For weeks they were made to report to Harare Central to receive clearance only to be turned down at the last minute and threatened with arrest.

Activist Linda Masarira, a member of ROHR, has posted a facebook article titled ‘The election manual: how to rig an election in an Idiocracy’. It begins: ‘Have you noticed that the ruling party is not concerned about the 2018 election? Do you often wonder why? The answer is simple, they have the election bagged!' (See: https://www.facebook.com/lindatsungiriraimasarira/posts/712376948964776.)

The Vigil thinks the best hope for Zimbabwe is the ousting of Mugabe’s disciple President Zuma. His blatant corruption has eroded support for the ANC which may be forced to sack him. This would clear the way for a reformist South African president who would probably have little patience for genocidal geriatrics like Mugabe, whose latest anti-White rants about South Africa can only help this process (see: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/06/03/mugabe-speaks-out-against-white-capital-in-sa-and-zimbabwe_a_22123777/).

Vigil Co-ordinator Fungayi Mabhunu agrees with Linda Masarira’s conclusion that the answer to election rigging lies with the people. He said they must be empowered to overcome the fear instilled by Zanu PF. But he has little trust in opposition politicians who he believes only want to rejoin the gravy train. ‘The way forward must be a transitional authority to take over from Zanu PF, for which the Vigil is asking for UN support,’ he said.

Other points

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. The facebook page for our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) (https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835) has been hijacked by destructive elements from a group calling itself ZHRO. Please be advised that any postings on this page are not posted by ROHR.

FOR THE RECORD: 46 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:
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Rotten to the core – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 27th May 2017 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Sunday, 28 May 2017 13:26

Figures are important, particularly for Zimbabwe where they simply don’t add up. Let’s start with Mugabe’s trip to the Mexican resort of Cancun less than a week after he returned from seeing his doctors in Singapore. 

Mugabe travelled by chartered airliner with an entourage of three dozen people.  All of them received a daily allowance of at least $1,000. Some would have got considerably more, among them three cabinet ministers who would be obliged by the dignity of their office to stay in the best suites in the most expensive hotels. That will prove to Mugabe’s opponents that Zimbabwe is doing alright, won’t it?

Why were they in Mexico? One wonders if it was just for the expenses. The routine UN meeting on ‘disaster risk reduction’ was attended by only the odd head of state like Mugabe who, this time, was apparently denied his usual grand-standing opportunity. Mugabe is said to have left Mexico ‘not too pleased’ before the conference ended. His entourage was presumably ‘not too pleased’ at losing some per diems out of the millions of dollars in cash that Mugabe takes with him every time he moves (or is this cache only for his own expenses?).

Some more figures: last year Mugabe made more than 20 trips abroad, spending $36 million in ten months according to the finance ministry. This year has seen no slowdown.

Herald scribe Mabasa Sasa, who was one of the $1,000 a day fellow travellers, came up with a scoop: President Mugabe told the media on arrival home that ‘natural and manmade disasters that Zimbabwe has experienced in recent years have made Government wiser to the need to prepare for such exigencies’ – such as not building homes in waterways. He went on to report: ‘President Mugabe was welcomed at Harare International Airport by Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Cabinet ministers and other senior Government officials, and service chiefs.’ (See: http://www.herald.co.zw/zim-ups-disaster-mitigation-drive/.)

Vice-President Mnangagwa will no doubt have given Mugabe the happy news that the government had exceeded Zanu PF’s election promise of creating 2.2 million jobs. This is indeed news to the 90%+ of the population who are looking for work.

MDC T legislator Eddie Cross, in an article on corruption in Zimbabwe, says ‘I can think of 4 Ministers in Government whom I am prepared to say are honest and not involved in any material corruption – but the rest, 30 of them, are rotten to the core and do not miss an opportunity to make a margin on anything over which they have control.’

He continues: ‘The evidence of corruption on a massive and pervasive scale is everywhere – estates of homes that would look good on a Hollywood Boulevard. Ministers, earning a few thousand dollars a month, accumulating tens of millions of dollars of property, luxury cars with wives and girl friends swimming in luxuries of every kind. Even Mr Mugabe, who earns a very modest salary, has luxury homes in Harare, Zvimba, South Africa, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. The Head of a Medical Aid Society that provides medical cover to the Civil Service; steals US$35 million in three years, is fired and no further action is taken.’

Perhaps it’s time Mr Mugabe gave up his travels and paid some attention to what is going on at home.

Other points

  • The Vigil did not forget Africa Day. We remembered by ending the Vigil by singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica’ with special fervour.
  • We were joined by members of the MDC who asked us to publicise a protest about the diaspora vote on Wednesday 14th June. More details of this later.
  • Thanks to those who came early to help set up: Vimbayi Chambara, Joseph Chivayo, Daizy Fabian, Isabell Gwatidzo, Etines Kapiya, Fungayi Mabhunu, Phillip Mahlahla, Alice Majola, Chido Makawa, Heather Makawa, Theodora Mandishaya, Roseline Mukucha, Margaret Munenge, Esther Munyira, Charles Mupawose, Sipho Ndlovu, Tsitsi Ndoro, Casper Nyamakura, Emilia Nyamhandu, Rumbidzayi Sambana, Pearl Shambare and Rufaro Zondesa, Thanks to Roseline, Tsitsi and Pearl for looking after the front table, to Esther, Cephas, Faith Ndhlovu and Flemming Diza for handing out flyers and selling wristbands and to Phillip, Charles, Daizy, Margaret, Vimbayi and Isabell for putting up the banners. A special thank you to Nyarai Masvosva who brought sadza and stew to sell to raise funds for ROHR’s ZimPAP project and to Daizy and Margaret for selling and serving the food. Thanks also to Bev Mutandiro for bringing savoury snacks, bananas and fruit juice for us to share.  

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. The facebook page for our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) (https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835) has been hijacked by destructive elements from a group calling itself ZHRO. Please be advised that any postings on this page are not posted by ROHR.

FOR THE RECORD: 38 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

  • ROHR National Executive meeting. Saturday 3rd June from 11 am. Venue:  The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX.
  • 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 3rd June from 6.30 pm. Venue: The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. We will move to the RFH at the end of the Vigil at 6 pm.
  • 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.
  • Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 10th June from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
  • MDC demonstration on the Diaspora Vote. Wednesday 14th June outside the Zimbabwe Embassy London. Further details when we have them.
  • Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
  • Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2016 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/843-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2016. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2016 Highlights page.
  • Facebook pages:
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