Date: 21 January 2009
Place: Central Methodist Mission, Cnr Pritchard and Small Street, Johannesburg. Secure parking is available on the Cnr of Von Weiligh and Jeppe Street.
Time: 11 am
Speakers:     Graća Machel – Member of The Elders and wife of Nelson Mandela
                   Kumi Naidoo – Honorary president of CIVICUS
Nomboniso Gasa – Chair of the South African Gender Commission
Bishop Paul Verryn of the Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg
Louisa Zonda – Consultant and former CEO of the Human Rights Commission
Pastor Mugabe – Board member of the Zimbabwean National Pastors Conference and member of the Christian Alliance.
Makoma Lekalakala – Steering committee member of Ceasefire and member of several women's and community based organisations.
Sipho Theys- Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum
The launch of the movement aims galvanise the solidarity and support of the people and organisations in Southern Africa, and to provide a range of opportunities to offer solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. Several civil society groups in Zimbabwe have welcomed and pledged their support for this initiative and we envisage a collective passage forward in aspiring to assist the democratic journey for Zimbabweans through inspiration and action.
The first action of the movement will be a fast. High profile South African leaders and individuals will be fasting in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.
Some of the support already galvanised include:
Among them are Moeletsi Mbeki, Chairperson of Endemol, Sipho Theys from the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum, Piers Pigou – Director of SAHA, Elinor Sisulu – Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Selvan Chetty – Solidarity Peace Trust, and Yasmin Sooka – Foundation for Human Rights.
Individuals like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ivor Jenkins of IDASA and Hugh Lewin, director of SACST will be fasting one day a week, every Wednesday. Other participants, including Kumi Naidoo and Nomboniso Gasa will be fasting for up to 21 consecutive days whilst residing at the Central Methodist Mission. Rev Priscilla Everson, Anglican Priest in the JHB Diocesse, Bishop Paul Verryn of the Central Methodist church.Â
The fast will continue for a period of 3 months unless meaningful and tangible gains towards the demands put forward are met.
Fasting has been chosen to symbolise the hunger and discomfort faced by millions of Zimbabweans every day in varying forms of severity.
The organisations and individuals included in this press invitation are not the summation of support; rather due to a limit of space we could not list everyone.
Please RSVP or for further information contact Emily Wellman at ewellman@idasa.org.za or on 072 236 2712.
The website for this movement is www.savezimbabwenow.com It will be completed in time for the launch on Wednesday morning, but please feel free to watch it develop.
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