British opposition leader demands action on Zimbabwe

Mr Clegg criticized the softly softly' approach of former President
Mbeki and called on South Africa and China to stop supporting the
regime.  He was referring to their opposition to any action against
Mugabe by the Security Council. 

The Lib Dem leader paid tribute to the persistence of the Vigil and declared you will prevail in the end'.

Many prominent people have visited the Vigil over the past 6 years but
Mr Clegg was the first party leader to address supporters. He was
filmed by Channel 4 and we all gathered in our local pub, the Theodore
Bullfrog, after the Vigil to see the broadcast report.  It carried
horrendous pictures of the cholera epidemic as well. 

Despite Mr Clegg's hopes of a change of attitude by South Africa, the
Vigil remains skeptical.  Fungayi Mabhunu, of the Vigil Management
Team, attended a function at South Africa House on Friday and spoke to
the High Commissioner, Ms Lindiwe Mabuza.  Despite the world attention
on the Zimbabwean non-crisis', Ms Mabuza said it was an African
problem and the West should not stick its nose in (presumably so they
couldn't sniff something being swept under the carpet). The Vigil
expects that, if it follows her line, the forthcoming fact-finding
visit to Zimbabwe by a South African delegation will conclude that
everything in Zimbabwe is ok. After all South Africa has endorsed all
the rigged and violent elections in Zimbabwe for the past decade.

Our partners, the Zimbabwe Association, are to join us next week to
sing Christmas Carols. The Vigil's own carol day will be on 20th
December.  There will be more details of this next week and we promise
a big surprise. 

Some points:

•    Vigil supporter Simon Mambonga is speaking for a second time to
the Caribbean Labour Solidarity Group on Sunday, 7th December.

•    David Dinnell, a Zimbabwean who has written a play about Zimbabwe,
How to Cook a Country', came and talked about his play.  He is
planning to bring the whole cast next week.

•    Another visitor was Margaret Milort-Holland, a Zimbabwean living
(appropriately) in Holland. She thinks there should be protests at The
Hague (where we want Mugabe to stand trial) and will be sending us her
ideas about this.

It was a welcome change to have bright sunshine in place of the rain we have been having.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/

FOR THE RECORD: 104 signed the register.

 

FOR YOUR DIARY:

•    Central London Zimbabwe Forum. Monday 8th December at 7.30 pm.
Elliot Pfebve, former MDC candidate for Bindura, and Jabulani Brian
Zengeni, a lawyer, will be discussing Amendment 19 of the Constitution.
Venue: The Cole Room, Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth St, London SW1H 9BN
(020 7227 4900). Nearest station: St. James' Park.

•    Next Glasgow Vigil. Saturday, 20th December 2008, 2 – 6 pm. Venue:
Argyle Street Precinct. For more information contact: Patrick Dzimba,
07990 724 137, Tafadzwa Musemwa 07954 344 123 and Roggers Fatiya 07769
632 687

•    Zimbabwe Association's Women's Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays
10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue: The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84
Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Nearest underground:
Finsbury Park. For more information contact the Zimbabwe Association
020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Vigil co-ordinators

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes
place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross
violations of human rights by the current regime 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.