Produce all skulls – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

From his lowly perch as just one of the education ministers, Moyo is reduced to tweeting that the Zanu PF government can’t concentrate on turning around the economy before the repatriation of the remains of First Chimurenga heroes from foreign museums (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-nehandas-skull-first-before-economy-newsday-zimbabwe/).

The British government last year invited Zimbabwe to send experts for discussions in London on the return of any Zimbabwean human remains held in British museums. But historians say it is highly unlikely these include the skulls of any 19^th century Zimbabwean freedom fighters (see UK Times story on our campaigns page: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/710-mugabe-demands-return-of-freedom-fighters-skulls).

So it could be a long search – which means, according to Moyo, farewell to any hopes of the economy receiving any attention for some time, though he did promise that when the government does finally get around to the matter the economy would bounce back ‘big time on the back of the irreversible indigenisation and empowerment bedrock’. The Vigil can’t wait. We would love to bounce back home.

Moyo’s egregious remarks followed Mugabe’s usual crazy bluster at Zanu PF’s Heroes’ Day rally in Harare at which he accused Britain of displaying the beheaded skulls in a ‘history museum’.

Mugabe went on to extol the achievements of ZimAsset, which he maintained was ‘certainly yielding fruits’. He didn’t mention the 2.2 million jobs he is producing since the last elections, but said the government was delivering 313,368 urban housing units and serviced stands by December 2018 . . . (see: http://www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2015/08/as-foreign-investment-dries-up-mugabe.html).

The Vigil advises prospective foreign investors to examine closely what they are dealing with. They might note the outcome of the long negotiations with the Indian conglomerate Essar to revive Zisco Steel. A month ago industry minister Mike Bimha insisted that the troubled $750 million deal was going ahead. Now he has admitted it is dead (see: https://www.thezimbabwean.co/2015/08/bimha-makes-u-turn-on-zisco/). Perhaps the government could ask Essar to build313,368 urban housing units instead.

The Vigil managed to capture pictures of Mugabe visiting the British Museum in search of skulls. He was accompanied by his pet lion Rhodes perching on his shoulder. The museum said it didn’t have the skulls he was looking for but it would no doubt welcome his own as soon as possible for display in the dinosaur room. For our part, we urge Zanu PF to expand its search for skulls to include the 20,000 victims of Gukurahundi still haunting us today. And by the way where is Itai Dzamara?

Other points

• Thanks to Fungayi Mabhunu for playing the role of Mugabe in our mask and to Tendai Chadehumbe for accompanying him to the British Museum during the Vigil. Thanks to Patricial Masamba for looking after the Vigil in the absence of Mugabe and for being on the front table throughout the Vigil together with Sukoluhle Sibanda and Ivy Dangerembizi. Thanks also to those who arrived early to help set up: Mary Muteyerwa, Thulani and Percy Chagwiza, Sukoluhle, Ivy and Fungayi.
• Another weekday protest about Itai Dzamara’s abduction by the CIO five months ago is taking place on Tuesday 18^th August. Meet at 10.30 am at McDonalds, Charing Cross for the protest outside the Embassy at 11 am.
• It is with some relief we greet the end of Mugabe’s time as SADC Chair. For a look at where he has taken the bankrupt organisation, see, for instance: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_w_sadc-tenure-exposes-mugabes-fading-legacy-the-zimbabwe-independent/.

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: 36 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

• Itai Dzamara Protest, Tuesday 18^th August. Meet at 10.30 am at McDonalds, Charing Cross for the protest outside the Embassy at 11 am. For more information, contact: Lazarus Matiyenga 07793939444, Danny Kadiki 07718056631.
• ROHR Birmingham summer barbecue fundraiser. Saturday 22^nd August from 2 – 9 pm. Venue: Malaika House, 81 George Street, Lozells, Birmingham B19 1NS. Contact Tino 07463202078, Thandie 07503512308, Chamu 07832927609.
• Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 22^nd August from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
• Zimbabwe Yes We Can meeting. Saturday 29^thAugust July 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.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 5^th September from 6.15 pm. 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 an optician. 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.
• Vigil’s Monthly Itai Dzamara Protest. Saturday 12^th September from 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. The protest is to mark 6 months since Dzamara’s abduction by the CIO.
• 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 2014 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/642-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2014. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2014 Highlights page.
• Facebookpages:

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 the 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.