PRESS NOTICE - 7^th October 2009 

Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe and his wife ‘Shopwell’ Grace will be visiting Harrods on Saturday 10^th October to stock up on luxuries. Two members of the human rights organisation the Zimbabwe Vigil will impersonate the couple on the shopping expedition to illustrate what will happen if the sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies are lifted as demanded by Zimbabwe’s neighbours.  

Targeted sanctions prevent about 200 Zimbabweans travelling to the European Union but the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which brokered the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, has blamed sanctions for the country’s economic collapse. At the same time, SADC has refused to discuss complaints that Mugabe has failed to honour the agreement. 

The couple impersonating the Mugabes will return to the Vigil by rickshaw and present a petition to the European Union demanding punitative action against SADC. Vigil members representing SADC High Commissioners and Ambassadors will be there (wearing suitable masks) to welcome them in traditional posture – kneeling at Mugabe’s feet. 

Programme for the Day
2 – 6 pm       Vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London WC2R 0JR
3 – 3.15 pm   Mugabe (represented by Fungayi Mabhunu wearing a Mugabe mask) accompanied by his wife Grace (played by Gugu Tutani) outside the central Hans Crescent entrance to Harrods. They can be photographed with their shopping.
4 pm             Mugabe and Grace arrive at Zimbabwe House by rickshaw with shopping and present petition to Mr Geoffrey Van Orden MEP for East of England (or representative) who will say a few words about Zimbabwe. 

The petition has been signed by thousands of people passing by the Vigil, which this month marks its 7^th anniversary – the longest running large demonstration in London.  The petition reads as follows: 

“A Petition to European Union Governments: We record our dismay at the failure of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help the desperate people of Zimbabwe at their time of trial.  We urge the UK government and the European Union in general to suspend government to government aid to all 14 SADC countries until they abide by their joint commitment to uphold human rights in the region. We suggest that the money should instead be used to feed the starving in Zimbabwe.” 

Event: Mugabe’s Shopping Spree on Vigil’s 7^th anniversary
Venue: Outside the Zimbabwe Embassy
Date: Saturday 10^th October 2 – 6 pm
Photo Opportunities: Mugabe and Grace with their shopping. Mugabe presents petition to EU.   Zimbabwean singing, dancing and drumming
Interview Opportunities: Political activists, torture and rape survivors
Further information: Rose Benton (07970 996 003), Dumi Tutani (07960 039 775), Ephraim Tapa (07940 793 090), Fungayi Mabhunu (07743 662 046), Dennis Benton (07932 193 467). 

Bribery Policy: Media representatives covering the event will be presented with Zimbabwean 100 trillion dollar notes.