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Virtual President – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 9th October 2021 |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 10 October 2021 12:14 |
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/51568887122/sizes/m/ President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address was delivered virtually from the comfort of State House. Everything is going well, he said, the economy is flying. (As to where it’s flying, read on.) Zimbabwean exiles, gathered outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London to mark the nineteenth anniversary of the Vigil, were glad to be there in person today. We were not convinced by Mnangagwa’s virtual speech and were pleased to hear that the MDC T leader Douglas Mwonzora was critical, saying that Mnangagwa’s government had failed to address issues affecting the people. Mwonzora complained that Mnangagwa had not talked about electoral reforms: ‘He did not speak on issues of corruption. Zimbabwe is losing about US$3 billion per year because of illicit financial flows’, he added. In this virtual parliamentary fiasco, where the MDC of Nelson Chamisa has been virtually excluded, it was encouraging to hear someone raising the key questions of corruption and electoral reform (see: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/10/mnangagwa-speech-hot-air/). The massive leak of financial documents known as the Pandora Papers has exposed dodgy offshore transactions by powerful people all over the world. Among them of course are Zimbabweans. They include what NewZimbabwe describes as ‘massive diamond plunder’ by Mnangagwa’s relative Martin Rushwayo, deputy chief secretary to the president and cabinet. Apparently he set up an offshore shell company in the Seychelles to trade in diamonds while serving as defence secretary (see: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/massive-diamond-plunder-exposed-in-leak/). Mnangawa’s attempts to persuade the world that he is not just another tinpot dictator and Chinese lackey have failed, judging by the brush-off Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava received from the European Union’s Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen. The Commissioner insisted that Zimbabwe should fully implement political and economic reforms, including the recommendations made by the EU’s 2018 Observer Mission, before the next elections in 2023 (see: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/10/eu-demands-zim-reforms/). Other points - We had a good turnout at our nineteenth anniversary Vigil including Ephraim Tapa and Rose Benton who had been at the first Vigil in October 2002. There was a lot of interest from passers-by, drawn by the singing and drumming. They couldn’t help see our posters such as ‘Nineteen years of fighting for freedom for Zimbabweans’. It was stressed that we do not celebrate Vigil anniversaries - 19 years of human rights abuse and lack of democracy in Zimbabwe is not something to be celebrated. However we marked the occasion because we are proud of 19 years of committed protest against the oppression of the Zimbabwe people by the Zanu PF regime. Thanks to those who came today to help set up, look after the front table, hand out flyers and pack up at the end: Amina Matewele, Babula Gwatiringa, Casper Nyamakura, Dambudzo Marimira, Delice Gavazah, Dennis Benton, Ephraim Tapa, Esther Munyira, Jonathan Kariwo, Joyce Mbairatsunga, Kevin Wheeldon, Margaret Munenge, Mary Muteyerwa, Philip Maponga, Richard Munyama and Rose Benton, Photos of today’s Vigil can be accessed here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72157719984176898.
- The Zimbabwe Peace Project says a woman, Sharai Mukaro, was tortured and killed by the police in Chivhu, Mashonaland East. She was being interrogated accused of concealing money stolen by her sister (see: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/10/female-suspect-succumbs-to-police-torture/).
- The widow of Robert Mugabe is challenging a fine of five cows and two goats imposed by a traditional leader for allegedly burying her husband’s body improperly (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/1172-grace-mugabe-fined-five-cows-and-two-goats-for-improper-burial-of-zimbabwe-dictator).
- Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga, is not short of money. He hired two South African entertainers to perform at his lavish 50th birthday celebrations and was so pleased with their performance that he promised to pay then five times the agreed amount (see: https://iharare.com/top-zimbabwe-govt-official-pays-south-african-artists-5-times-their-bill/).
- Next Saturday (16th October) will be a virtual Vigil. For the moment we are meeting outside the Embassy every other week and our next gathering will be on 23rd October. On the alternate Saturdays we will continue with the virtual Vigil. To be recorded as participating in a virtual Vigil your photo, taken with a poster with a message reflecting the situation in Zimbabwe, must be taken at one of the actual Vigils. There will be a small charge to cover admin costs, the ongoing upkeep of the Vigil and our support for the human rights work of ROHR, our sister organisation in Zimbabwe. The photos will then be labelled with your name, uploaded on our website, Flickr site and Facebook pages.
- For all Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.
Events and Notices: - Virtual Vigil. Saturday 16th October.
- ROHR Bi-annual Conference. Saturday 23rd October. Among agenda items is 1) leadership renewal, 2) 2022 activity calendar, 3) immigration matters and 4) campaign strategy.
- The next Vigil. Saturday 23rd October from 2 – 5 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London.
- 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. 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.
- The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe's work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
- Facebook pages:
Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/ ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515 |
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Grace Mugabe fined five cows and two goats for improper burial of Zimbabwe dictator |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 10 October 2021 11:50 |
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/grace-mugabe-fined-five-cows-and-two-goats-for-improper-burial-of-zimbabwe-dictator-wmdhzwl6x Grace Mugabe fined five cows and two goats for improper burial of Zimbabwe dictator Fred Harter – 07/09/2021 The widow of the former Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe is challenging a fine of five cows and two goats imposed by a traditional leader for improperly burying her husband’s body. Grace Mugabe is also seeking to overturn an order, issued by the same leader in May, to exhume her husband’s body and rebury it at a purpose-built mausoleum in the capital, Harare. Mugabe, who died in September 2019 aged 95, was buried at his home village of Kutama, 55 miles west of Harare, following weeks of wrangling over where his remains should be laid to rest. President Mnangagwa had planned for Mugabe to be interred at Hero’s Acre, a national shrine, and members of the ruling Zanu-PF party claimed at the time that the late tyrant’s remains “belong to Zanu-PF first, not the family”. However, the Mugabe family said that he had wished to be buried at his ancestral home. They also claimed that Mugabe gave orders that Grace should watch over his body until it was buried out of fears that superstitious Zanu-PF members might use his remains “for rituals and witchcraft”. Since then, senior ruling party officials have repeatedly called for Mugabe to be dug up and reburied at the national site. Some sources have claimed that traditional elders have been offered cars and cash bribes to intervene in the dispute. Mugabe’s nephew has claimed the real reason Mnangagwa wants to exhume his predecessor’s body is to lay his hands on a mystical sceptre believed to have been buried with Mugabe, which “he [Mnangagwa] believes will give him the authority to be the leader of Zimbabwe”. After Chief Zvimba fined Grace five cows and two goats and ordered the exhumation in May, Mugabe’s children lodged an appeal against the decision. However, a magistrate upheld the traditional chief’s order last month, prompting Grace to step in with a fresh appeal to the High Court. Mugabe died in a private clinic in Singapore nearly two years after a military coup ended his 37-year rule. His downfall was prompted by a feud between Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe, 56, who many ruling party members believed exercised undue influence over her ailing husband. Mugabe was buried in a steel coffin topped with heavy rectangular blocks and his grave was filled in with concrete. A spokesman for his family said that they wanted to ensure that the casket was “tamper-proof” to prevent grave-robbers from digging it up. |
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Rest in Peace Pastor Albert (but first ‘the news’) – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 2nd October 2021 |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 03 October 2021 20:33 |
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/51543492215/sizes/c/ Although the 2023 elections are fast approaching, Zimbabwe has made little progress in implementing key electoral reforms to enable the smooth running of credible, free and fair elections. This was the conclusion of a report by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which expressed concern that the government had failed to implement proposals by various observer missions after the disputed 2018 elections, including a new legal framework to govern elections and enhance the independence of the Zimbabwe Election Commission. The Election Support Network said there had been no movement on many recommendations and noted that the lack of voter education and election observers ‘resulted in suspicious election results and rigging during the 2018 elections’. (See: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/no-progress-on-electoral-reforms-zesn/.) About 40 MDC Alliance supporters tried to enter the Zimbabwe Election Commission offices in Harare on Thursday where a meeting was taking place on preparations for the elections. 19 people were arrested including 10 journalists. The journalists were released without charge. The MDC Alliance has been excluded from the meetings, although all the other parties were allowed. The Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said: ‘The regime is panicking’. (See: https://guardian.ng/news/19-arrested-at-zimbabwe-pre-election-protest/.) Zanu PF has not only been resistant to reform but now condemns opposition leader Nelson Chamisa for seeking American assistance in training election agents in an attempt to at least make more difficult Zanu PF’s practised election-stealing mechanism. In a bizarre tweet the increasingly demented presidential spokesman George Charamba claimed the government had ‘received intelligence’ that two MDC Alliance officials had approached the US Embassy seeking help in the training and equipping of fifty election agents. Confirming the Vigil’s doubts that the government understands what intelligence is, Charamba called it ‘an unwarranted interference in a country’s political affairs’ and said that the US government was ‘skating on thin ice’. Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said there was no reason why Charamba should fret over issues of training of election agents as it was aimed at promoting free and fair elections. ‘Charamba is speaking from a museum. Why does he think that training of election agents is political interference? It is archaic. There is no interference in the training of election agents. He actually should be supporting it because it promotes free and fair elections. We cannot enjoy cheated elections. We need reforms that allow us to avoid disputed polls.’ (See: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/zim-us-in-fresh-diplomatic-row/.) An equally challenging problem is corruption. The Zimbabwe anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo says the major perpetrators of corruption were bigwigs but it was difficult for ordinary citizens to report them because of the absence of legislation protecting whistle blowers (see: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/graft-rife-among-bigwigs-zacc-chair/). Other Points: · With a heavy heart, the Vigil reports the death of Pastor Albert Chatindo who worked tirelessly for many years to help the destitute in the Bulawayo region. He was in poor health recently but appeared to be improving. Sadly he died on Thursday. The Vigil has long been a supporter of Pastor Albert and thanks the congregation of St Michael’s Church in Highgate London who have helped provide successive vehicles to enable Albert to carry out his Christian Mission to distribute food and bring hope to the most vulnerable. Condolences have been pouring in from far and wide. |  |
Here’s just one: ‘Albert the Lord saw the years you gave and gave and gave serving His people and your body was tired and hurting, our tears are flowing so much for our loss but Heaven has prepared such a wonderful place for you and your joy will be overflowing. Go well my brother we’ll miss you so much.’ Over the years we have felt it necessary not to identify Albert in our diaries in case he was victimised by Zanu PF. We are proud now to say we have supported him. We give particular thanks to his close supporters and pray they will be able to continue Albert’s work. - Today was a virtual Vigil. For the moment we are meeting outside the Embassy every other week and our next gathering will be on 9th October when we will mark the Vigil’s 19th anniversary. We hope that many of you will come. On the alternate Saturdays we will continue with the virtual Vigil. However, it was agreed that because we are now able to meet physically and the Vigil is about making the effort to join together in protest, it is not appropriate to continue the virtual Vigils in the same way as they were conducted when we weren’t able to meet. To be recorded as participating in a virtual Vigil your photo, taken with a poster with a message reflecting the situation in Zimbabwe, must be taken at one of the actual Vigils. There will be a small charge to cover admin costs, the ongoing upkeep of the Vigil and our support for the human rights work of ROHR, our sister organisation in Zimbabwe. The photos will then be labelled with your name, uploaded on our website, Flickr site and Facebook pages. For today’s photos, see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72157719997614665. Our virtual Vigil activists today were Anna Chikoti, Delice Gavazah, Babula Gwatiringa, Deborah Harry, Junior Madzimure, Philip Maponga, Dambudzo Marimira, Amina Matewele, Joyce Mbairatsunga, Dudzai Mukondorongwe and Casper Nyamakura who all kindly contributed to Vigil funds.
- For all Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.
Events and Notices: - The next Vigil and the Vigil’s 19th Anniversary. Saturday 9th October from 2 – 5 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London.
- ROHR Bi-annual Conference. Saturday 23rd October. Among agenda items is 1) leadership renewal, 2) 2022 activity calendar, 3) immigration matters and 4) campaign strategy.
- 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. 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.
- The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe's work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
- Facebook pages:
Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/ ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515 |
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Dirty tricks – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 25th September 2021 |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 30 September 2021 17:57 |
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/51519678066/sizes/m/ Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance has accused Zanu PF and the Central Intelligence Organisation of hi-jacking his party’s proposed new name and registering it under the name of an obscure politician Varaidzo Musungo. MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said: ‘We have witnessed an unprecedented attempt to decapacitate the main opposition by Zanu PF and its proxies. We expect more: the use of puppet political parties, the violation of democratic freedoms and the abuse of the legal system. Yet we remain unshaken.’ (See: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2021-09-21-trickery-will-not-stand-in-our-way-says-zim-opposition-party-with-a-big-idea/.) The latest Zanu PF move comes after the leader of the MDC T faction Douglas Mwonzora, who is favoured by the government, announced that he would contest the 2023 elections under the name of Chamisa’s MDC Alliance. Mwonzora is a leading figure in POLAD, a government body dismissed by Chamisa as a Zanu PF ‘cheerleaders’ club’. Chamisa’s party has recently been trying out their proposed new name Citizens’ Convergence for Change (CCC), along with ‘Chamisa Chete Chete’, a ChiShona phrase that means Chamisa only. Interestingly, the name was suggested by former Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo, now in exile, and a supporter of Chamisa. He said: ‘The hullabaloo over the purported registration of the Citizens Convergence for Change (CCC) is a farce which exposes the bizarre copycat politics that has gripped the jittery Zanu PF securocrats in the CIO who are dazed by the infectious power of CCC as rallying call for the unity of citizens across the political divide. What exposes the farce even more is that political parties in Zimbabwe are not subject to registration, and hence there’s no law for such registration and, in any event, ZEC is not a registrar of political parties. ‘For the avoidance of doubt, an idea belongs to whoever conceptualises it and uses it first and does so in public, in an organised and documented fashion. Only people from Mars do not know that CCC is the intellectual property of the MDC Alliance and has been in existence for far much longer than September 8, 2021 when the Zanu PF and CIO copycats plagiarised the idea.’ (See: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/zanu-pf-hijacks-chamisa-project/.) Chamisa’s supporters are confident they can win the next elections. The Vigil is more anxious, seeing the persistent attempts to rig elections in Africa and this week witnessing the rigged election in Russia, where President Putin was declared to have won an unlikely landslide victory in parliamentary elections. (See: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/1169-russian-election-2021-putins-united-russia-clings-on-to-supermajority). Many people believe that the opposition in Zimbabwe must, if necessary, boycott the next elections if they are not seen as free and fair. Other Points: - Zanu PF in the UK has been more subdued since their leader Nick Mangwana joined the Mnangagwa’s government as spokesman. But the comrades are still meeting and very excited at the possibility of Mnangagwa visiting the UK for the World Climate Conference in November. We doubt they will ask Mnangagwa why he has allowed careless deforestation in Zimbabwe and other abuses of the environment such as inappropriate development on wetlands. These are some of the points the Vigil will make if we can confront Mnangagwa at the Glasgow conference.
- Gold dealer Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya is obviously doing quite well. He paid US$10,000 for a $5 dollar copy of Zanu PF’s new political booklet at a dinner in Kwekwe attended by cabinet ministers. The wealthy gold merchant wasn’t even there, sending an aide to bid for the booklet at an auction (see: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/controversial-gold-buyer-splurges-us10k-on-zanu-pf-booklet/.)
- Today we met outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. For the moment we are meeting outside the Embassy every other week and our next gathering will be on 9th October 2021 – at this Vigil we will also mark our 19th anniversary. On the alternate Saturdays we will continue with the virtual Vigil. However, it was agreed that because we are now able to meet physically and the Vigil is about making the effort to join together in protest, it is not appropriate to continue the virtual Vigils in the same way as they were conducted when we weren’t able to meet. To be recorded as participating in a virtual Vigil your photo, taken with a poster with a message reflecting the situation in Zimbabwe, must be taken at one of the actual Vigils. There will be a small charge to cover admin costs, the ongoing upkeep of the Vigil and our support for the human rights work of ROHR, our sister organisation in Zimbabwe. The photos will then be labelled with your name, uploaded on our website, Flickr site and Facebook pages.
- Thanks to those who came early today to help set up: Patience Chimba, Delice Gavazah, Babula Gwatiringa, Deborah Harry, Junior Madzimure, Dambudzo Marimira, Amina Matewele, Joyce Mbairatsunga, Dudzai Mukondorongwe, Margaret Munenge, Casper Nyamakura and Kevin Wheeldon. Thanks to Deborah and Margaret for looking after the front table; to Kevin, Joyce , Babula and Junior for handing out flyers; to Delice and Margaret for drumming and to Casper and Jonathan Kariwo for photos. Others who attended were: Rose Benton, Anna Chikoti, Philip Maponga, Beverley Mutandiro and Ephraim Tapa. Photos of today’s Vigil can be accessed here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72157719913553236.
- ROHR met today. Thanks to Chido Makawa for taking the minutes. For photos of today’s ROHR meeting, check: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72157719920430377.
- For all Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.
Events and Notices: - The next Vigil and the Vigil’s 19th Anniversary. Saturday 9th October from 2 – 5 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London.
- ROHR Bi-annual Conference. Saturday 23rd October. Among agenda items is 1) leadership renewal, 2) 2022 activity calendar, 3) immigration matters and 4) campaign strategy.
- 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. 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.
- The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe's work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
- Facebook pages:
Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/ ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515 |
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