21 August 2019 Vigil Planning

21 August 2019 Vigil Planning

Command and Control

The ZHRO Leadership has advised that ZHRO will be returning to the usual Wednesday Vigil Slot this week on Wednesday 21^st August 2019.  The leadership will no doubt have quite a few issues to deal with this week and going forward.

Mother and Daughter United We Stand

The success of the planned peaceful demonstration on the 16^th of August 2019 at the Zimbabwe Embassy at 429 The Strand, London, England, has been well received by the majority of the Zimbabwean diaspora community.  The lamentations of all Zimbabweans at home and abroad who support free speech, democracy, the right to peaceful protest, exemplary governance an independent Judiciary but most of all, peace, have been made ever clearer following the brutal crackdown, of Peaceful demonstrators, by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who work at the behest and specific instructions of the ruling party ZANU PF.

The matters they will have to deal with include but are not limited to, the anger that the people who attend feel towards the Zimbabwe Government since Friday the 16^th of August 2019 compared to the anguish they felt before.  With rousing speeches from a number of people in attendance, who are not the leaders of Civic and Political organisations, including self confessed independent Human Rights Activist, Salani Mutseyami, they showed their pain and anger at the events that had taken place in Zimabwe.  Especially the brutality faced by what looked like a Grand Mother in front of the Worlds media, without any shame or self control by the officers who descended on the crowds that had initially been sitting down and not looting, as falsely anticipated by the ZANU PF Led regime, who have full control of the State of Zimbabwe.  “They just stepped on her,” said Chinyanga (This is very sanitised, plenty more was said.  Please visit the Facebook pages of MDC Reading, ZHRO, Zimeye and others for the full videos). 

ZHRO London Chair speaking to Police

The anger was so great that some like “Chinyanga” threatened to close the Embassy whilst speaking to the Police.  On this point, ZHRO, ROHR and MDC were rather mute , however there is no doubt that, they will have to think long and hard about the management of the future Planned Demonstrations, Vigil Protests and likely actions of angry, normally peaceful people acting out of character.

In a rather ironic twist, when the UK Police were called to the Zimbabwe Embassy on the 16^th of August 2019, not one person was arrested or injured and no property was damaged.  This is in stark contrast to the events in Harare and the rest of Zimbabwe days before, including and after the 16^th of August 2019. 

In another rather weird situation, Mohammed Jamjoom a Presenter on Aljazeera News Network, mentioned that the Zimbabwean Governments spokesman pulled out minutes before the show aired on the 16^th of August 2019.  Chipo Dendere - Professor of African studies at Wellesley College

And Patricia K Chinyoka – Political Activist, Spokeswoman for The Movement for Democratic Change in the UK and Ireland were the guests on the show.  With Chipo Dendere highlighting the Zimbabwe Governments suspension of announcing any inflation numbers, “I think that suggests that things are Pretty Bad,” made it clear for all to understand the dire economic situation Zimbabwe is in.

When asked what the opposition is doing to address the situation in Zimbabwe visa vis Corruption, Patricia Chinyoka said, “the marches were meant to be part of the oppositions move towards addressing corruption, however, the marches have been handled with a Heavy hand by the ruling party”.  She also said, “We (MDC) are challenging the current Government to ensure that every body, every Minister, that is involved, that is implicated, in any corrupt activities, are brought to justice.  She then followed later saying, “Internally ourselves (MDC) any issues are dealt with, as would any organisation.

The Command and Control of the Human Rights Activists will have to be stepped up by the ZHRO leadership this Wednesday, as, for sure, The British Government, The Metropolitan police and even the United Nations will more than likely have an ear listening to what happens this Wednesday at 429 The Strand.

To find out more, 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 Thabo Makuyana