ZHRO WALK FOR FREEDOM 2019

ZHRO Walk For Freedom

The ZHRO leadership has advised that the Walk for Freedom 2019 will take place on the 10^th of August 2019.  The walk will be from Brighton to London.  It will be a 105km walk.  The destination will be Hampton Court Rail Station, however due to the plight of those in Zimbabwe the final destination might be changed from Hampton Court Rail station to the Zimbabwe Embassy at 429 the Strand London. 

Practice Walk, Hampton Court to Zim Embassy, 16-o3-19

The Freedom Walk is used by ZHRO to raise awareness to the British public of the plight of people who are in Zimbabwe.  These protest walks will take place every year until human rights are restored in Zimbabwe.  We need an accountable Government.  Not the ZANU PF Mafia Organisation.  Today, the Junta in Zimbabwe is rife with corruption, individuals who are bigger than institutions, leading to miss management of the economy which has led to it being comatosed and debilitatingly paralysed.  Zimbabwe’s economy now has over 100% inflation.  It was less than 10% inflation before Mugabe was removed less than 3 years ago.  There are now up to 16 hour power outages in a country that has so much sunlight and potential for solar power.  Recently in 2018, then in January and February of 2019, the army was deployed into the general unarmed citizenry, people were haphazardly shot and killed, catastrophically maimed and women were systematically raped.  The walk is to raise awareness of these and other horrible things that have happened and are happening in Zimbabwe.

The ZHRO team has been practicing for the walk.  The first practice day was on the 16^th of March 2019.  The “happy band of walkers,” as described by John Burke was comprised of Tinashe Aliseni, Molly Ngavaimbe, Charity Ndebele, Ashley Parewa, George Shambela, Oswald Mawodza and Mr John Burke. 

The second practice day was on the 16^th of June 2019.  Those involved in the practice walk were, Rashiwe Bayisayi, Margret Chisadza Madamombe, Reuben Waretsa, Tinashe Aliseni, Chipochedenga Parirenyatwa, George Shambela and John Burke.  “We walked as a group on the route.  It was great.  Chipo walked 18km in total as she had other engagements to attend to.  She was only meant to see us off, but she ended up walking quite some distance with us,” said Rashiwe Bayisayi. All mentioned above are active members of ZHRO which is a fervidly active human Rights Organisation.

Practice Walk, Guildford to Hampton Court, 16-06-2019

Whilst speaking at the ZHRO weekly vigil protest on the 19^th of June 2019, Rashiwe Bayisayi said, “We need the support of the public.  That’s why we have these T-shirts, they are white and they are written, Walk for Freedom.”  She then went on to speak with passion in her voice.  “We started this walk in 2016 and we are still going because Zimbabwe is not free.  Once I went of VOA (Voice of America) and they were asking me why I was doing it.  I said, I’m not gonna stop, until Zimbabwe is free.  So Zimbabwe is not free yet, so I will continue.  The suffer continues.”

Rashiwe Bayisayi then promoted the walk saying, “Those who want to come and join are welcome.  Those who want to come to the starting point to see them off you are welcome, those who want to join us, may join.  If you wish to meet us in the middle of the walk, we can tell you where you can meet us.  Those who want to come and finish with us, you are welcome.” 

“What I want to stress on everyone, is to Train.  Pleeeease.  Train, train and train, learn to walk long distances.  Climb the steps at train stations to build leg muscles.  We have a tendency as Zimbabweans to say, “Kumusha (at home), we used to walk and run all the time, do you know how many miles I used to walk?  Vakomana takafamba (People we used to walk) 20 years ago.  Saka (so) now we are just used to waking up eating, going to work, sitting down, getting home, eating then sleeping.  We hardly walk as much.  Please think of how you will feel after walking 105km, with no rest.  Last year, I walked the route in 25hrs and I am yearning to beat that time.” 

Thabo Makuyana then asked how the general public might financially support the walk.  “Last year we didn’t have sponsorship.  We did the walk to raise awareness.  The previous year, we did have sponsorship forms.  If we manage to print everything we need, there will be sponsorship forms this year.  Reashiwe Bayisayi responded.

Thabo Makuyana then asked, “On the day of the walk, are the local UK authorities going to be notified of our activities?  What we are doing is activism, we are outside the Zimbabwe embassy and security is of paramount importance.”  “Yes they will know and all the locations that we pass will also be notified.  We walk on our own, but the authorities will be able to mobilise quickly if called upon,” Rashiwe Bayisayi responded.

If you wish to donate to the walk for freedom please visit the link below.

http://www.zhro.org.uk/15-105km-walks

To find out more, to join ZHRO, attend one the weekly protest vigils or other events and to offer your support please contact.

Kingstone Jambawo                         079 048 61744

Sarah Bayisayi                                  078 772 87869

Phillip Mahlahla                               074 528 28229

By ZHRO Team