he saw what we were about, he said Brilliant .
We salute the brave souls who kept the Vigil going through the dark, cold hours, including the Vigil child, Tinotenda. She was there at 2 am wrapped in a blanket on her mothers back to hear Washington Ali, Chair of the MDC-UK District, who stressed the need for unity in the struggle for change. He went on to say that the MDC in the UK was supporting the partys leader in saying the Senate elections should not be contested. The elections were pre-determined because of the skewed electoral playing field. We should be concentrating on bread and butter issues particularly the humanitarian crisis caused by Murambatsvina.
Ephraim Tapa, Chair of Central London MDC, said we should not be distracted by personalities: the MDC would solve its internal differences and tackle the personality who really mattered: Comrade Mugabe (PhD Edinburgh now in dispute). He said the Senate project was illegitimate and rejected the argument that by not participating the MDC was ceding democratic space. Our energies should be going into finding other ways to achieve change. It was evident that the grass roots in Zimbabwe were against participating in the Senate elections.
Those who arrived for the normal Vigil were inspired by the determination and spirit of those who had seen through the night and yet were still singing and dancing. They could even handle a US camera crew in the afternoon. The group did a great piece to camera, speaking passionately about the suffering back home.
We thought we would have low numbers after the all-nighter for the daytime Vigil but the passion continued. We had supporters from all over the UK: Dunfermline, Rochdale, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester plus many from London and South East England. Our non-Zimbabwean friend, Hugh, was very welcome with his offer of pizza and coffee and it was lovely to have our English school girl supporter, Francesca, and her mother coming to donate to the Vigil money she had made from selling Make Mugabe History wristbands.
We were cheered by news that the US has greatly extended its targeted sanctions against Mugabes cronies and are confident the EU will follow suit. Lord Triesman, Minister for Africa, told the Vigil this month that the Zimbabwe situation must be addressed by concerted international action. Slowly, slowly, catchee monkey may not be to everyones taste, but the noose is closing relentlessly round Mugabes throat.
FOR THE RECORD: we had 40 supporters overnight and another 50 supporters during the day.
FOR YOUR DIARY: Mondays 7.30 pm, Zimbabwe Forum, Upstairs at the Theodore Bullfrog pub, 28 John Adam Street, London WC2
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