UK group to demonstrate for Diaspora vote

The non-profit organisation – 1 Million Zimbabwean Voices, which has offices in England and Wales, argues that voting is a persons fundamental right and wants the Zimbabweans who fled both an economic rot and political mayhem in their country during the past decade to be allowed to participate in their countrys next elections. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais MDC also wants Zimbabwean exiles to vote, but President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) are fighting to prevent that, arguing that they cannot campaign in Europe and America as part of travel restrictions they were slapped with following their gross human rights abuses.

The organisation also wants the International community to support it in ensuring that elections in Zimbabwe are held in an environment of peace, stability and freedom. We seek to be given the right to choose freely to replace our leaders with a government of our choice and to be counted as Zimbabweans regardless of our colour, creed, location, tribe or culture, said the organisation in a statement. Zimbabweans want the right to vote without fear of violence or destruction of property. We want a Government that is subject to the people, and an army and police that are non-political. That is all we have ever wanted, and it is this conflict between the wishes of the Zimbabwean people and the interests of a small group of politicians that has been the root problem in Zimbabwe.

The peaceful demonstration will be held at Richmond Place in London from 10am to 3pm, during which the organisations leader, Barbara Nyagomo, is expected to present a petition with their demands to British authorities at No 10 Downing Street. Copies of the same petition will also be presented at the same time to various other Governments, International Agencies, Organisations and Pressure Groups. As its broader aim, the organisation aims to gather 1 million Zimbabweans across the world to shout with one voice against the continued slide of Zimbabwe towards the precipice. It is regrettable that the situation in Zimbabwe has gone to this stage, but it will be even more deplorable if we do not act immediately, 1 Million Zimbabwean Voices said.

It is currently estimated that more than 4,5 million Zimbabweans live out of their country and are spread throughout the world, without the right to claim Zimbabwean Nationality, and no right to vote in any political elections held in Zimbabwe. The reason for this is simple. The Government knows that it cannot manipulate and control its people outside of its borders, and if it were to give us our constitutional right, we would change the seat of power in our nation in a moment at a general election. The Organisation also denounced the continued suffering, intimidation and human rights abuses caused by Mugabe and his party in Zimbabwe. Scores of Zimbabweans of all walks of life have been beaten, bullied, intimidated or even killed if they speak out against the ruling regime. Crimes against humanity are common place in election years, and election campaigns are fraught with corruption and rigging, from ghost voters, to people being forced to vote for the ruling party under threat of brutality.