LONDON - In the humid heat it was tempting to slope off from the Vigil and find a television to watch the second rugby test match between South Africa and the British Lions in Pretoria. (Pictured: Ephraim Tapa speaks to Vigil supporters.)But Vigil supporters were too fired up about another matter the silly allegations on some loud-mouthed Zimbabwean exile websites that the Vigil and ROHR were behind the booing of Morgan Tsvangirai when he spoke to the UK diaspora in Southwark Cathedral last week. Anyone looking at videos of the occasion will see that the angry response was prompted by Tsvangirais remarks. It was spontaneous and could not possibly have been planned.
What upset the Zimbabwean exiles at Southwark Cathedral was this type of half-truth being peddled by the MDC leadership. We are not convinced that everything is ok, that Mugabes grip on power is being loosened or that human rights violations and farm invasions are not happening.
Among the efforts to destabilise the Vigil, are predictable allegations of the misuse of money, most recently accusations of selling letters to support asylum claims. We have spelt out our policy before but here it is again:
1. We do not have membership fees.
2. We do not make any charge to committed supporters of the Vigil for letters.
3. To people who have come less than 10 times but more than five (out of 350!) there is a fee of 10 to cover administration expenses for a detailed letter.
4. To those who have come less than six times we are reluctant to say they are supporters, but will write a one-line letter confirming they have attended. We charge 20 to discourage this.
Now what happens to this money? No one draws a salary. Some of the money goes on administration expenses, some of it goes on fares and welfare expenditure for our supporters. The bulk goes to help ROHR and other Zimbabwean human rights causes as agreed by the finance committee and Vigil management team.
The role of the Vigil and ROHR was discussed extensively at our monthly forum held after the Vigil. Ephraim Tapa, President of ROHR, said the organisation was non-party political and was working with many partners on various platforms in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the UK.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/
FOR THE RECORD: 167 signed the register.
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