A leaflet from the party’s UK office said ‘special guests are to include filmmaker (sic) Roy Agyemang, Professor George Shire, Dr David Matsanga and Pailine Long’ and entertainment would be provided by ‘Pro-Zanu (PF) DJs’. It advised guests: ‘Dress Code: Adorn yourself dapperly’.
The Vigil knows there are many Zanu (PF) supporters in the UK. Some of us live cheek by jowl with them. Indeed, we have tangled with ‘Professor’ George Shire many times over the years as he spouts Zanu (PF) propaganda while pretending to be an objective academic.
The celebratory party coincided with the predictably distorted story in the Herald, which said: ‘The British Government has given Zanu (PF) UK branch the green light to operate freely in that country after years of acrimonious relations that saw many cadres being threatened with deportation and loss of jobs as London pursued the illegal regime change agenda here’.
The Herald claimed that British Foreign and Commonwealth Under Secretary of State, Mark Simmonds, ‘announced’ in a statement that Zanu (PF) ‘were now free to operate in the UK without hindrances’ – as if this was a new development. In fact Simmonds was simply restating the obvious in a democratic country – that there was ‘no bar on your activities here in the UK, provided you do not contravene UK law, as is the case for any political party.’
What certainly hasn’t changed is that Zanu (PF) supporters continue to claim asylum in the UK on the fraudulent basis of political persecution at home. The Vigil will continue to expose those who do this. We believe they should be sent home to pressure NoPresident Mugabe to clear up the mess, which has made it unpleasant for even Zanu (PF) people to live in. Unsurprisingly, Vigil supporters did not go on to the Zanu (PF) celebrations but if you want to know how the party went you could phone the Zanu (PF) organisers listed on their leaflet: Nick 07894578061, Glorianne 07961092044, Marshall 07828068585, Davison 079608108793. Tell them we’ve passed their numbers on to the Home Office.
Instead we gathered for our bi-monthly Zimbabwe Action Forum to discuss the planned All-Stakeholders’ Conference for the Zimbabwe Diaspora on the way forward following the stolen elections. It was agreed that it would be held on Thursday 24th October at the Theatre in Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG.
There was considerable disquiet expressed at the resurgence of Zanu (PF) confidence in the UK following the easing of sanctions on the Zimbabwe Diamond Mining Corporation. We were dismayed that the UK government seemed to have no understanding of the effect on morale this would have, coming on top of the bogus elections.
Post published in: Africa News