He told Vigil supporters that the movement wanted to encourage Zimbabweans in the diaspora to join the struggle to overcome the misrule of Zimbabwe.
Vigil co-ordinator Dumi Tutani, the Vigil’s representative to the new movement, reported on a meeting it held in Manchester on June 25, which was addressed by Betty Makoni of the Girl Child Network. She gained a lot of support for the abolition of some Zimbabwean customs disempowering women such as inheritance, lobola etc. The movement is having a meeting in Leicester next Saturday.
On Monday Vigil supporters provided the backbone for a protest by Action for Southern Africa against violence in Zimbabwe. The Embassy refused to accept 1,300 cards ACTSA had collected calling for an end to the violence. The Embassy (as usual!) was closed so we stuck one of the cards under the door signed ‘Zimbabwe Vigil’ and listing our address as ‘outside the Zimbabwe Embassy’.
Many supporters came fresh from a church service in London for Zimbabwean torture victims on Sunday, the UN international day in support of victims of torture.
Some of them told us of the harrowing scenes in the film ‘Hear Us’ which they had seen the previous night at the Frontline Club in West London. The film showed the injustices and brutality meted out to Zimbabwean women and was presented by Kudakwashe Chitsike of the Research and Advocacy Unit (Zimbabwe) who also fielded a question and answer session.
Following on from our diary last week in which we wrote about criticism of the Vigil from the Home Office, we have sent the following letter to Theresa May, the Home Secretary. ‘A solicitor acting for one of our supporters asked for our comment on a letter from the Home Office which maligned the Zimbabwe Vigil. You will see further information in our diary of 25th June 2011.
The Zimbabwe Vigil has been demonstrating every week outside the Zimbabwe Embassy since October 2002. We are frequently criticized by Mugabe supporters but were surprised to be attacked by the Home Office. We totally reject the implications and challenge the Home Office to substantiate this malicious slur.’
FOR THE RECORD: 63 signed the register.
Post published in: News