Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 4th August 2007

s smell wafted from a nearby drain – reminiscent of the streams of sewage in Chitungweza. Unlike our suffering families in Zimbabwe we expect reality to return next week when Westminster Council hopefully complete their work. As it was, squeezed by the barriers, we nevertheless managed to put our case across to passers-by, along with singing, dancing and drumming, in a concentrated space despite the temperature being in the high 80s.
Part of what we try to do, with pictures and laminated newspaper reports, is TO show how serious the situation is in Zimbabwe. One of our supporters, Edwin Dube, testified at first hand to the decline of the Zimbabwean health service. He said his mother had died on Tuesday after being admitted to Harare Hospital last month when a cough developed into pneumonia. He said the hospital had been unable to offer her any real help beyond putting her on a drip and giving her mild painkillers. The family even had to organize a private ambulance to take her elsewhere for X-rays.
We were pleased to welcome 5 more people to the Vigil Co-ordinatng Team. They are Chipo Chayo who looks after the Vigil merchandise, Luka Phiri who advises on asylum issues, Moses Kandiyawo and Bie Tapa who will liaise with student and youth groups who want to become involved with the Vigil, and Sue Toft who manages the Vigil table.
For this week’s Vigil pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/
FOR THE RECORD: 99 signed the register.
FOR YOUR DIARY:
-Friday, 10th August 2007, 1 – 3 pm. The National Union of Students is joining with Zimbabwean youth organisations outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in a soldarity demostration with students in Zimbabwe.
-Saturday, 18th August 2007, 12 – 2.30 pm. Kate Hoey MP will be joining the Zimbabwe Solidarity Campaign at their Vigil outside City Hall, Belfast. All supporters welcome. As agreed with Ian Paisley Jnr, our Belfast friends are presenting a petition to Stormont on 10th September. They plan to do a presentation to the assembly members in the long gallery and then get as many members as possible to sign the petition in front of the press. They are trying to get some high profile campaigners along to raise the profile of the campaign.
-Saturday, 1st September 2007, 12 noon – 10 pm. Zimfest 2007 (food, sports, music). Venue: Prince Georges Playing Fields, Bushey Rd, Raynes Park, London, SW20 9NB. For more information, check; www.wezimbabwe.com.
-Weekend of 7- 9 September 2007. Friends in Yorkshire (including Albert Weidemann who came to the Vigil last week) are planning a weekend of events to highlight the suffering of Zimbabweans.