Their control room goes live today. For their information and advice, please check: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/942-we-the-people-of-zimbabwe-anything-to-report-in-your-community-.
Zimbabwe Vigil Co-ordinators
The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 17.00 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.
WE THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE – anything to report in your community?
Information to look out for
Before Election Day
In your community are people being:
- Forced to do what they do not want to do
- Threatened with violence
- Beaten up and assaulted
In your community are there:
- Suspicious people moving in your area
- Any political bases
- Political parties not able to campaign freely
- People being given things during campaigns
- People threatening violence if a party does not win
On Election Day
In your community are people:
- Not able to get to polling stations freely
- Being questioned or asked to queue in a certain manner
- Being bussed to the polling station
- Being asked if and how they voted
- Noticing traditional leaders playing a role in elections
- Not being allowed to vote or not able to vote
At your polling station are there:
- ZEC officers and police who are not listening to people’s complaints
- Voting slips being used to vote
- Ballot papers outside the polling station
- People being assisted to vote
- Any suspicious movements around ballot boxes
- Any political bases
After Election Day
In your community are there:
- Delays in announcing and posting voting results at polling stations
- Any beatings and threats linked to election results
- People asking how you or anyone else voted
- Any political bases
- Any suspicious people moving around
Types of violation
- People being forced to do what they do not want to do – code green
- People being threatened with violence – code orange
- There has been violence – code red
- Electoral malpractices – forced to vote, queue, registration – code black
- All – code white
Telephone numbers to contact – all messages and calls to these numbers are FREE (at no cost to you)
- From any line, phone us on 08677 007 479
- If you use an Econet line, send a free SMS message to 08080240
- If you use a Net One line, send a free SMS message to 08010085
When you call tell us the colour code of the incident and where you are calling from. We will respond to all your messages and calls.
Safety and security tips
- You can take simple but important steps to protect yourself and help others at the same time. The first and more important one is always to have a plan to stay safe.
- The safety of your family is very important. You should take the time to talk with your family about any safety concerns.
- Your neighbours and your community can work together to keep each other safe. Together you should make a plan.
- Sometimes even though you have made a plan you might be in a dangerous situation.
- You always want to have some emergency items prepared in case there is an emergency and you have to leave your home.
- Sometimes people get hurt or sick and it is hard to get to a clinic. You can be a helper and call the members at the front for help.
- In a dangerous situation your property may be destroyed or stolen or your home may be damaged. You can take important steps to record what has happened.
- Sometimes violence happens and people get hurt or even killed. You can take important steps to record what has happened and share the information.
President Mnangagwa have devised other more subtle ways of rigging these elections other than using violence. There is no verified voters’ roll, for example, it will be interesting to know how many voters are denied the vote because their data is not in the polling station they expected!