for freedom and democracy to return to Harare. The South African Council of Churches (SACC) representative, who came to share the message of solidarity prayed for God to give MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai the much needed courage in these tempting times. “I am praying to you God so that you give courage to Morgan Tsvangirai so that he liberates Zimbabwe and its people scattered all over the world. “I am praying to you God so that you return Zimbabwe to its previous position, where food was abundant with your children enjoying every moment of life. Oh God, deal with Mugabe,” prayed Paster Peter Moyo of the SAAC. Pastor Moyo likened president Mugabe to the hard-hearted Egyptian Pharoah, who over many years oppressed the people of Israel. The Zimbabwe Pastors Forum (ZFP) President, Pastor Stephen Chiadzwa, was the main speaker as he preached peace, love of one another, forgiveness, unity among the Zimbabweans in the diaspora as well as urging them to put focus on God for total deliverance. He said God was the only answer to all the problems and sufferings his fellow countrymen were going through whilst in the foreign lands. – CAJ News.
Women now ‘battle-hardened’
JOHANNESBURG – The seven-women delegation from the Southern Africa Development Community who had been in South Africa for one week mobilisation mission to create regional awareness of the repressive regime in Zimbabwe have said their mission was a resounding success. Speaking after the hectic tour, the Secretary General for Women In Prayer Together for Zimbabwe, Grace Mugwidi said: “We managed to meet several organisations and they appreciate the problems we are facing in Zimbabwe. Some church women promised to come to Zimbabwe and give solidarity and contribute to our cause.” WITPZ is planning also to launch a chapter in South Africa for Zimbabwe women living in the diaspora so that they constantly pressurise regional leaders about the evils of the Mugabe regime. “Our colleagues in South Africa encouraged us to continue with the struggle and it was a worthwhile visit as some were not aware of the evils and crisis that is taking place on the ground in Zimbabwe. We are now battle-hardened for the struggle. People will come out from every corner to fight Mugabe’s evils,” said Mugwidi. – Zakeus Chibaya
‘Desktop’ activism ineffective
JOHANNESBURG – Most Zimbabwean civic society organisations based in South Africa are on the verge of collapse as they have been infiltrated by Central Intelligence Organisation agents and there is rampant mushrooming of dubious and briefcase organisations trying to divide and create confusion in the diaspora. There are more than 50 Zimbabwe organisations based in South Africa. Most of them are only involved in internet activism – yet very few Zimbabweans use the internet, even in the diaspora. In Johannesburg alone there are over 30 organisations competing for the same political space. The groups and their leaders rival each other bitterly. Presenting a paper at the South Africa Institute for International Affairs on Mobilising the Diaspora for Political Activism, Zimbabwe academic, James Muzondidya said there was a need to streamlining the organisations and to identify their common ground and goals. “The overwhelming use of internet to spread information and advance debate has proved to be the greatest weakness of Diaspora activism. While opening up the space for debate, cyber democracy has offered democracy to a minority and restricted the major debates to those with access to computers and internet,” he said. “The problems of Zimbabwe Diaspora activism are compounded by the fact that most of the existing Diaspora groups lack clear focus. Moreover, the excessive reliance on the internet to carry out political programmes, at the expense of other forms of activism, has reduced their activism to what critics have disparagingly described as desktop or keyboard activism,” said Muzondidya. Muzondidya noted the Movement for Democratic Change Johannesburg branch was best known for infighting rather than its ability to organise support. Joddy Kollapaden, the Chairman of South Africa Human Rights Commission said most of the groups were infiltrated by Mugabe intelligence agents. “The other problem is that the South African community does not appreciate the crisis in Zimbabwe and the environment in the country is not conducive for organisations to actively participate,” he said. – Own correspondent