Expelled former Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo – free now to express his real opinion – described the ‘non-elective’ congress as a circus (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_w_zanu-pf-has-now-become-childs-play-gumbo-dailynews-live/ – Zanu PF has now become child’s play — Gumbo). It certainly had all the attributes: clowns, acrobats and bear baiting. Zanu PF, Gumbo added, had been hijacked by ‘vultures’.
Although the Vigil always rejoices in the repentance of a sinner, we believe the vultures have been there from the beginning. But we can celebrate the sudden enlightenment of Zanu PF’s thieves and gullible idiots who find themselves now hounded by drunken youths high on M’gabebanje.
The brainwashed masses – having driven down Dr Grace Mugabe Way to Robert Mugabe Square – were ecstatic at the Mugabe ‘praise and worship show’, revelling in the familiar anti-Western rhetoric and the lunatic fantasies of the senile tyrant: ‘I have been to Ghana, 1958 – 1960, and when you look at them now and compare their present situation to that which existed in the 1960s, no change. There might be more people yes. There may be one road from the airport that has been well done. That’s about all. No change.’ He added that most French colonies had remained dependent on their former coloniser (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-president-on-assassination%e2%80%a2-mujuru-engaged-mdc-t-nangas-%e2%80%a2-vp-misses-third-straight-indaba-the-herald/ – President on assassination).
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The people of Ghana, a former British not French colony, would no doubt be interested to see how they are described by the Zimbabwe liberation icon as Ghana is generally regarded as one of Africa’s success stories. (Even if Mugabe detects a shortage of roads . . .)
Mugabe’s detachment from reality was endorsed by the gushing praise from other liberation movements, such as the December 12 Movement from the United States represented by Comrade Coltrane Chimurenga who said members of his organisation considered themselves to be Zimbabweans because of their admiration for President Mugabe, whose star had risen across the world: ‘He always says the truth. We say no to factionalism. We say no to people who say the West is best: they are Judases’ (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-liberation-movements-express-solidarity-with-zanu-pf-the-herald/ – Liberation movements express solidarity with Zanu-PF).
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Well, now the congress is over, Emperor Mugabe can take his usual well-deserved holiday until his birthday celebrations in February while the purged leadership gets on with the goal of the congress: ‘Accelerated implementation of Zim-Asset’. But since this programme is completely vacuous, all it requires is a letter to Father Christmas. As for bread for the people, the Zanu PF leadership can enjoy their month-long festive break without troubling themselves about this. After all, surely this is a job for the despised West?
Other points
· Talking of vultures, Vigil supporter Dr Clifford Mashiri draws attention to Zanu PF’s pillaging of the war veterans’ compensation scheme in an article which can be found on our campaigns page under the title ‘Is this the missing list of shame’ (http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/632-zanu-pf-congress-2014-is-this-the-missing-list-of-shame).
· The Vigil was disappointed to see that the opposition failed to rally in support of the pro-democracy activists in Harare beaten up and abducted on Tuesday (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_w_amnesty-probe-abductions-beatings/ – Amnesty: Probe abductions, beatings). Tsvangirai said recently he would take to the streets. When?
· We were joined by festive groups of father Christmases passing down the Strand who joined in our dancing. Thanks to: Mavis Chisvo, Epiphania Phiri, Deborah Harry, Helen Rukambiro, Roda Majoni and Eunice Mucherechedzo who were there at the start of the Vigil to help set up.
· Should you be looking for any knitwear, the Zimbabwe Association has a market stall once a week and would welcome any referrals in its direction (http://zimbabweassociation.org.uk/about-za/projects-rukai/).
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.
FOR THE RECORD: 22 signed the register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
· Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 13th December from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
· Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 17th January from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a sign at street level. It's between a newsagent and Pizza Express. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
· Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF) meets regularly after the Vigil to discuss ways to help those back in Zimbabwe to fight oppression and achieve true democracy.
· Zimbabwe Yes We Can meeting. Saturday 31st January at 12 noon. Venue: The Theodore Bullfrog, 26-30 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HL.
· Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds monthly meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
· The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents us.
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2013 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/560-vigil-highlights-2013. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2013 Highlights page.
· Facebook pages:
– Vigil: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts
– ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515
– ROHR: https://www.facebook.co/pages/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights/301811392835
· SW Radio Africa’s website and sound archive is being hosted on www.archive.org. Go to their site and type in swradioafrica which will link you to snapshots of their site over the years and at the top of that page a link to their website where, under podcasts, you will find the audio.
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 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.
Post published in: News