home at 7 am for her long journey. She told us her asylum claim had been turned down. We are supporting an appeal. Her lawyer also came to the Vigil bearing cakes for our supporters. She said Juliet had received unkind treatment from the judge who questioned her motive in coming to the Vigil. To our minds she has been a faithful supporter and a genuine human rights activist, as well as a lovely person. It was disturbing to hear from Juliet that her 73-year-old sister in Matabeleland is eating only once in two days.
Next Saturday WOZA Solidarity UK is joining us and we are launching WOZA’s people’s charter in the UK. WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) consulted thousands of people in Zimbabwe at almost 300 meetings to find out what they want in a new Zimbabwe: the result is the people’s charter. WOZA is now asking Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to sign up to this charter.
The following Saturday, we have another launch. Viomak, the Zimbabwean protest singer, is releasing her second album “Happy 83rd Birthday President R G Mugabe (bones of a 30 year old)”. She will be singing a song from the album “Mangwanani Baba”. Viomak has invited the Zimbabwean Ambassador, Gabriel Machinga, to come to the Vigil to accept her birthday present to Mugabe.
Viomak has been to the Vigil several times despite living in Leeds. She is driven by a strong sense of moral purpose and says “As long as we neglect the welfare of the Zimbabweans who are suffering under Mugabe’s evil regime, we remain as immoral as the perpetrators of our suffering”. Viomak, a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe, also holds a master’s degree after studies in Canada and has been working on a doctorate in educational psychology.
For this week’s Vigil pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/
FOR THE RECORD: 65 signed the register.
FOR YOUR DIARY:
Saturday, 17th February – special Vigil with WOZA Solidarity UK to launch WOZA’s People’s Charter. Saturday, 24th February – Special Vigil to mark the release of Viomak’s Album “Happy 83rd Birthday President R G Mugabe (bones of a 30 year old)”. Saturday, 10th March, 1-4 pm – ACTSA rally for Zimbabwe in Trafalgar Square. The Vigil will be manned by a skeleton crew during the two hours the rally overlaps with the Vigil. Mass toyi-toyi to the Vigil planned at the end of the rally.
Post published in: Uncategorized