ZHRO Calls on SADC
to
Stop Propping Up Dictators
ZHRO (Zimbabwe
human Rights Organisation) successfully held a planned peaceful Wednesday Vigil
protest at the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, on the 16th of October 2019.
This protest was a prequel to the next planned peaceful demonstration, that
is scheduled for the 25th of October 2019, to highlight the
continued plight of Zimbabweans suffering under the kleptocratic and cruel
ruling regime. The atmosphere was made
tense, by the constant heavy Police presence and the continued arrests made on
Extinction Rebellion protesters, under section 14 powers as published by the BBC,
CNN and ITV.
ZHRO 16 October 2019 by Sarah Bayisayi |
On arrival
at the Zimbabwe Embassy London, at 429 the Strand. Whilst setting up, the light talk was filled
with concern for those who are struggling in Zimbabwe under the despotic and
cruel ruling ZANU PF regime. Folk were
also discussing the events of next week Friday the 25th of October
2019. The plan by ZHRO leadership is to
join hands with other organisations and march to the Tanzanian Embassy, from
the Zimbabwe Embassy. The vigil started
off with a heartfelt prayer that was said by Molly Ngavaimbe on a sunny yet
cold Wednesday late morning.
The
singing was led by the two sisters Rashiwe and Sarah Bayisayi. During the Vigil, there was an extremely
heavier than normal police presence, caused by the continuing presence of
Extinction rebellion protesters. They
have been banned from protesting in London and were being arrested under
section 14 orders. ZHRO members were not
questioned at all by the police who now seem to be used to the Weekly
Vigil. At the end of the vigil, an
announcement was made on ZHRO’s Facebook page by Sarah Bayisayi who is in the
ZHRO organising team, Alfredy Mukuvare the Vice Chairman on ZHRO UK and Philip
Mahlahla the London Chairman of ZHRO, regarding the planned march and protest
scheduled for the 25th of October 2019.
In the
announcement, they said that ZHRO will be meeting as usual at 11am outside the
Zimbabwe Embassy in London. Those
gathered will them march starting at 12 midday towards the Tanzanian High Commission
and peacefully protest there for the rest of the day. The route which has not yet been confirmed,
will be formerly advised to all in due course.
The
organisers have advised that, there are folk from Scotland, Europe and the USA who
have intimated that they are attending, as they feel so strongly aggrieved with
the current situation in Zimbabwe. They
have advised that the worlds media will likely have their eyes on the Zimbabwe
diaspora community on this day. With
this in mind, they have rallied for as many people as possible to attend, so as
to send a clear message to SADC (Southern African Development Community) and
the ruling ZANU PF Regime, that the Diaspora community does not support the
lies that are being peddled by ZANU PF regarding the reason why Zimbabwe is in
such a dire state of Economic decline and thus the dearth of a number of basic
essential Human Rights, which are meant to be provided by the government.
In a
number of social media and standard media posts the Zimbabwean information
ministry has alleged that SADC Heads of State will be backing the removal of
sanctions on individuals and entities in Zimbabwe. This is effectively claiming that sanctions
are the main reason for the failing Zimbabwean economy and that, in effect
there aren’t any Human Rights abuses by ZANU PF using state resources and its proxies. The intentions of SADCC have been made clear
in section 15 of the communique of the SADCC 39th Summit of Heads of
State, dated 17-18 August 2019. It seems
clear that they have most likely been ill advised.
The main sanctions
that ZANU PF officials seem to be against, are the ZIDERA (Zimbabwe Democracy and
Economic Recovery Act) sanctions. The
facts are that, they were imposed on 141 entities and senior officials in the
Zimbabwe administration. They were
imposed over their violation of human rights, economic mismanagement and
wholesale kleptocracy within the ruling elite, who seem to be either so aloof
to the suffering of the most vulnerable in Zimbabwe, or not bothered at all how
many lose their lives due to their calamitous wrecking of such a rich and well
endowed country.
The
constant humbug that is excreted by some of those in the ZANU PF information
ministry is often pure, unfiltered baseless lies. Therefore, the planned peaceful protest will
be to highlight to the Head of SADC, President John Magufuli who is also the
President of Tanzania and the other SADC Heads of State that the ZANU PF regime
should not be let off the hook. The
sanctions must remain. If officials
under sanctions cannot trade with their ill-gotten gains, they should let the
normal Zimbabweans who are not under sanctions trade, or, they (those under
sanctions) need to lead the country to reform and thus they need to change the
way they run the country, simple.
The vigil
that was meant to be held on Wednesday 23 October 2019 has thus been officially
moved and ZHRO will thus meet on Friday 25th of October 2019. The arrests of members of extinction
rebellion, and their being banned from London should thus make it easier for
all to travel around London on the 25th of October. More announcements will be posted by ZHRO as
the day of the SADC protest draws nearer.
A Special
thank you goes to all who attended today.
To Rashiwe and Sarah Bayisayi who drove again this week following the
incidents of last week when they were so late to arrive. To Molly Ngavaimbe who was at the front table
for the majority of the vigil. To all
who attented as without you the vigil would not have been the same.
As per the
register those who attended were, Molly Ngavaimbe, Thabo Makuyana, StellaMandiranga, Ebson Chigwedere, Sarah Bayisayi, Bejamin Chigamba, Tapiwa Muskwe,
Alfredy Mukuvare, Rashiwe Bayisayi, Nehemiah Musonza. Phillip Mahlahla was present but did not sign the register.
In other
news it has been reported that ZANU PF is now seeking talks with MDC. Credible reports have made it clear that the
MDC leadership have refused to talk to ZANU PF, thus throwing pure freezing
liquid nitrogen over the idea of another GNU (Government of National
Unity). One therefore wonders if ZANU PF
have it in their conscience to be honourable and perform, as the Japanese
Samurai would put it, “a hara-kiri,” on their ruling Zimbabwe and let MDC take
over and fix the broken country.
By ZHRO
Team
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