https://www.flickr.com/photos/
Thanks to those who came today: Dickson Chikwizo, Delice Gavazah, Jonathan Kariwo, Chantelle Manyande, Philip Maponga, Trish Matsikira, Ziwanai Mbanje, Mellisa Mbavarira, Noble Mwashita, Geraldine Takundwa, Ephraim Tapa and Tatenda Tsumba. Photos: https://www.flickr.
Zimbabwe continues to grapple with unbridled corruption, particularly within the circles of those linked to the State, ZANU PF and public institutions. This also includes workers of these bodies, such that corruption in Zimbabwe has reached endemic levels.
The sentencing on 08/12/2025 of Mike Chimombe and co-accused, Mpofu, to 25 and 22 years respectively for defrauding the state of USD 7.7 million mirrors Zimbabwe’s rotten moral and social fabric presided over by ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa.The crime involved the accused hatching a fictitious company, which they used to clandestinely win a state tender and claim payments for doing nothing.
This reminds us of the USD 5 million Gwanda solar project, the tender of which was awarded to Wicknell Chivhayo years back, with nothing being delivered to this date. Given that corruption permeates throughout the governing system, it is no wonder that the captured courts found him innocent. Today, Wicknell Chivhayo is known for gifting socialites with cars and cash in an apparent campaign for ZANU PF.
The Chimombe crime was conducted in a climate of this type of corruption, and one wonders how many such cases go without being detected or cannot simply be touched.
In their evidence, the state as represented by the tender authorities, ZINARA and ZIMRA, was in awe of the sophistication involved as they could not distinguish between their own documents and those fraudulently provided by Chimombe & Co on their way to win the tender and defraud the state. This underlines the fact that Zimbabwe presides over a system of corruption, and this is what’s killing the country.
We need new leaders to clean up the mess and save Zimbabwe.
For Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/
Events and Notices:
- Next Vigil meeting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Saturday 20th December from 2 – 5 pm. We meet on the first and third Saturdays of every month. On other Saturdays the virtual Vigil will run.
- The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation 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.
- The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe’s work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
- Facebook pages:
- Vigil : https ://www.facebook.
com/zimbabwevigil - ROHR: https://www.facebook.
com/Restoration-of-Human- Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe- International-370825706588551/ - ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum- ZAF/490257051027515
The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London meets regularly on Saturdays from 14.00 to 17.00 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.