RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 2010 Vol 23, Featured Articles
Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 4th September 2010
MOST of us at the Vigil have relatives or friends who have taken refuge in South Africa. This is hardly surprising given that an estimated 1 in 4 Zimbabweans have fled the Mugabe meltdown.
MOST of us at the Vigil have relatives or friends who have taken refuge in South Africa. This is hardly surprising given that an estimated 1 in 4 Zimbabweans have fled the Mugabe meltdown. We know of the hardships refugees in South Africa have suffered but we were shocked to hear that the Zuma government has now announced measures which could see many of them sent back to Zimbabwe at the end of the year (http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article638337.ece/End-of-the-line-for-illegal-Zim-nationals).
Explaining the decision, government spokesman Themba Maseko said ‘We believe that some form of stability has returned to Zimbabwe’. The Vigil believes that people sent home to poverty, starvation and abuse will not thank the schizophrenic MDC which has been telling two contradictory stories: complaining at home of victimisation while proclaiming to the outside world that things are getting better.
Take the case of Tsvangirai’s beautician Theresa Makone, promoted from make-up and hair-styling to the dizzying depths of co-minister of Home Affairs. Now she is trying to make the police look beautiful. The police, she told the Zimbabwe Independent, were now executing their duties in a professional manner. Continuing her cosmetic wizardry, she went on ‘I can assure you that everything has been looked at and there is no more hiding behind a finger of someone powerful. As I speak right now everything is being effected – all court orders are being implemented, work is being done as the country moves forward. We are doing our job . . . The Zimbabwe Republic Police is doing what it was mandated to do’ (see: http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27867-police-have-turned-over-new-leaf--makone-.html).
We are told that – now the World Cup is over – there is hardly a day in South Africa that passes without negative comments about Zimbabweans (http://www.swradioafrica.com/news030910/zumaput030910.htm). So it is not surprising that the government there grasps at MDC fantasies and looks to get rid of unwanted refugees despite the manifest failure of the interim government to end human rights abuses and revive the comatose economy.
We in the UK are also fearful of being dispatched to the mercies of this dysfunctional government and we urge South Africa to think again before sending Zimbabweans back to Mugabe. Our view is that Pretoria’s persistent failure to stand by its proclaimed democratic principles has betrayed Zimbabweans. We warn them that if they do not deal honestly with us South Africans will face the same fate as Zimbabweans. Can they seriously think that things are going alright in Zimbabwe when the regime has resumed jamming of outside broadcasts? (see: http://www.cathybuckle.com/index.php?id=7).
Other points
· The BBC rebroadcast a moving documentary about the plight of children in Zimbabwe: ’Zimbabwe’s forgotten children’. Many passers-by said they didn't realise how bad things were.
· Our partner organisation in Zimbabwe, Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR), is involved in a new peace building initiative launched on 31st August. It is to be spearheaded by ROHR and three other civil society organizations, Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and Victims Action Committee under the banner ‘You and I can make peace happen’. (See: http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/Latest-News-from-ROHR-in-Zimbabwe/).
· A benefactor has made available copies of Zimbabwean human rights activist Judith Todd’s acclaimed account of the rise of Mugabe ‘Through the Darkness’ (see review: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article2510767.ece). See our ‘Event and Notices’ section for how to obtain a copy. All proceeds will be donated to the Budiriro Trust, which provides bursaries to needy A Level students in Zimbabwe.
· Thanks to Anthony Webb-Martin who gave us an archive of past issues of the Zimbabwean. They were gratefully received by Vigil team member Patson Muzuwa. We are often asked for past copies of the newspaper.
· Our Swazi friend Thobile Gwebu is still in detention. We are helping to secure bail for her and hope she will be free soon.
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 earlier ZimVigil TV programmes check: http://www.zbnnews.com/home/firingline.
FOR THE RECORD: 163 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 Manchester general meeting. Saturday 11th September from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: The Salvation Army Citadel, 71 Grosvenor Road, Manchester, M13 9UB. ROHR Founder, National Chairperson and executive members present. Contact Fenny Nyatsanza 07886310005, P A Karimanzira 07538534375, Charter Madzivanyika 07747141835 or A Mungoyo on 07939913688
· Ministering to the Diaspora: a case study of Zimbabweans in Britain. Wednesday 15th September from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. Venue: Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, SS Philip & James Church, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HR. A conference to help identify unique needs, the services Christian organizations are offering and can offer (but are not), identifying what more needs to be done and how this might be achieved, and drawing up a co-ordinated action plan. For more information, contact: Clayton Peel, capeel@ocms.ac.uk or phone 01865 882 421.
· Vigil protest to mark the second anniversary of the signing of the Zimbabwean Global Political Agreement. Saturday 18th September from 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, London.
· ROHR Bristol demonstration. Saturday 18th September from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TX. ROHR President attending. Contact: Ronald Oputeri 07799893695, Bridgita Mubaiwa 07789084534, Emelia Sydney 07733816947,Cecelia Ndhlovu 07545118593, Agnes Chidhakwa 07838773268, P Mapfumo 07915926323.
· ROHR Derby general meeting. Saturday 18th September from 2 – 5.30 pm. Venue: St Augustine’s Church, Upper Dale Road, Derby DE23 8BP. ROHR National Executive present so those with questions here is your chance. Contact: Tsitsi Razawe 07773649330, Wonder Katurura 07858699224, P Chibanguza 07908406069 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070
· ROHR Stoke-on-Trent general meeting. Saturday 18th September from 2 – 6 pm. Venue: Christ Church, Tunstall High Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5XG. ROHR executive members present. For info contact David R Mugwira 07833943494, Maxwell Dube 07533349840, Pauline Mtema 07850462301, Faith Pemba 07780594852, P Chibanguza 07908406069/07534626040 or P Mapfumo on 07915926323/07932216070
· ROHR Yorkshire general meeting. Saturday 18th September from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Dock Green Inn, Ashley Rd, Leeds LS9 7AB. Contact Chinofunga Ndoga 07877993826, Prosper Mudamvanji 07897594874, Wonder Mubaiwa 07958758568,Donna Mugoni 07748828913 or R Chifungo 07795070609
· IOM Live Video Conference with Returnees in Zimbabwe. Wednesday 22nd September from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm. Venue: International Organisation for Migration, 21 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR. Attendance is free, but registration is required. To confirm your attendance or for more information about the event, please call 020 7808 1083 or email infouk@iom.int. Lunch will be provided.
· ROHR Coventry general meeting. Saturday 25th September from 1 – 5 pm. Venue: 90a Paynes Lane, Coventry CV1 5JH. ROHR National Executive and a well known lawyer present. Contact V.J Mujeye 07534034594, Matambanashe Sibanda 07886660392, Pauline Makuwere 07575265710, P. Mapfumo 07932216070/07915926323 or P Chibanguza 07908406069.
· Zimbabwe Vigil’s 8th Anniversary. Saturday 9th October from 2 – 6 pm.
· 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 account of the rise of Mugabe. To receive a copy by post in the UK please email your order and postal address to ngwenyasr@yahoo.co.uk and send a postal order or cheque for £10 payable to “Budiriro Trust” to Emily Chadburn, 15 Burners Close, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0QA.
· 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 (takudzwa.mukiwa@tht.org.uk) if you are interested in taking part.
Vigil Co-ordinators
The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, 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: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.
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