http://www.newzimbabwe.com
08/04/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
SIXTY percent of Harare residents have no access to
safe drinking water,
according to mayor Muchadeyi Masunda.
In a
report detailing the water situation in the capital, Masunda also added
that
raw sewerage is sometimes offloaded into Harare’s water sources due to
crumbling infrastructure.
“Only 40 percent of Harare residents have
access to safe drinking water
every day,” Masunda said in the report
published last week.
“Only 30 percent have access to safe water for
between three and five days
per week. 20 percent have access to between one
and two days per week; 10
percent rely on boreholes and unprotected wells;
40 percent of the
population lacks adequate sanitation,” said
Masunda.
He added that the failure of the sanitation system in Zimbabwe
had resulted
in the recording of nearly 100,000 cases of cholera in 2008 and
2009. The
mayor added that as of February 16 this year, 2,800 cases of
typhoid had
been reported in Harare, with two fatalities.
Diarrheal
diseases were also said to be prevalent in Harare’s high density
suburbs.
The mayor said US$15 million is required to rehabilitate the
Prince Edward
Water treatment plant; US$17 million for Motton Jaffray plant;
US$15 million
for the development and installation of a land information
management system
and a further US$20 million to upgrade and capacitate the
sewerage treatment
plants.
“In the medium term, US$95 million is
required for water works, besides the
implementation of the US$539 million
Kunzvi Dam project and the US$100
million Nyatsime dam project,” he added.
http://www.radiovop.com/
Harare, April 8,
2012 – Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) director Jestina Mukoko
has commended
government for finally swallowing its pride and initiating
steps to ratify
the United Nations (UN) convention against torture.
Mukoko was responding
to statements by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa
who told parliament this
past week he has since recommended to cabinet that
the country ratifies the
human rights based treaty.
Chinamasa went further to say the country will
soon specify torture as a
separate crime on its own that would see offenders
being charged and
possibly incarcerated.
“As civil society, it’s
something that we have been lobbying for over a long
time and when he begins
to speak about it, it means that the message has
been heard,” Mukoko said in
an interview with Radio VOP.
Mukoko, herself a victim of severe torture
in the hands of state agents in
2008, was quick to add that the government
should show enough spirit it will
not relegate the noble move to just a mere
signature.
The ZPP boss said government should go on to guarantee the
full respect of
the rights of prisoners especially political prisoners who
have borne the
brunt of worst forms of torture in the hands of the Mugabe
regime.
“It remains a totally different whether if eventually ratified,
issues
around torture would be handled in a different way,” Mukoko
said.
"As a country, we have very good policies. Where we have a big
problem is in
their implementation. It will remain with us as ZPP and as
civil society to
lobby more so that those who are supposed to implement this
would ensure
that citizens in the country are treated with dignity and
respect.”
The convention was adopted and opened for signatures,
ratification and
accession by the UN General Assembly Resolution 39/46 of
December 10 ,1984.
It came into force in June 1987.
Since then,
Zimbabwe has been dilly dallying on issues of its domestication.
The
country has a poor human rights record where pro-Mugabe security
officials
are always being accused of torturing prisoners in a bid to
extract
information from them.
Mugabe’s government has played it difficult on
matters of combating torture
within its security systems having 2009
abruptly deported UN special
rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak who had
entered the country at the
invitation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
http://www.bloomberg.com/
By Brian Latham - Apr
8, 2012 9:01 PM GMT+1000
Politically motivated violence directed
mainly at Zimbabwe’s Movement for
Democratic Change party rose in February,
the Zimbabwe Peace Project said in
an e- mailed statement
today.
About 800 cases of violence were recorded by the group, which
monitors human
rights in the southern African nation. The ZPP didn’t say how
many cases of
violence were recorded in January.
“The increase can be
directly related to rising political tension as a
result of the move to push
for elections this year,” the ZPP said.
President Robert Mugabe, who
leads the Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front party, has
repeatedly called for elections this year
to end a power sharing agreement
with the MDC in place since 2009.
Calls to Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo
weren’t answered when Bloomberg News
sought comment today.
MDC
spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said in a telephone interview from Harare
that
his party had received increased complaints of violence against MDC
supporters, as well as the withholding of emergency food
rations.
“Reports of violence continue, as well as the withholding of
food in
drought-stricken areas, and that’s a form of violence in itself,”
Mwonzora
said today.
Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and the MDC, led by Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have
shared power since 2009, when the Southern
African Development Community
said elections in 2008 didn’t meet regional
standards of fairness.
Presidential and parliamentary elections in March
2008 led to the murder of
about 200 MDC supporters, the party
says.
Under the SADC-brokered agreement now in place, Zimbabwe can’t hold
elections until a new constitution has been approved by a national
referendum.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
08/04/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
THE late Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika was
a “great son” of Africa,
President Robert Mugabe said on Saturday, hours
after his death was
confirmed following two days of denial or
silence.
Mugabe said Mutharika, who died of a heart attack after
collapsing on
Thursday, had “dedicated his professional and political career
to the cause
of Africa, all the time searching for innovative ways and
strategies for
improving the condition of its deprived and marginalised
peoples.”
“It is telling that the late departed who was also the outgoing
chairman of
the African Union, was due to host the continental body later
this year in
July, in spite of Malawi’s economic challenges. Africa will
miss its great
son,” Mugabe said in a statement.
Mutharika visited
Zimbabwe on February 2 this year, and Mugabe said the two
men “explored ways
of defending our economies and countries against illegal
sanctions imposed
on us by the West.”
Malawi's government on Saturday confirmed the president's
death at the age
of 78.
Vice President Joyce Banda was immediately
sworn-in as the new President in
line with the country's
constitution.
Malawian officials said wa Mutharika suffered a heart
attack at State House
at 11:15 am Thursday, and was pronounced dead upon
arrival at a military
hospital in South Africa the same day.
South
African President Jacob Zuma urged Malawian people to “remain calm”.
"We
are confident that Malawi's democratic institutions will ensure a
peaceful
and orderly transition," Zuma said in a statement.
"As the government and
the people of South Africa, we reach out in our
thoughts and prayers to the
people of Malawi during this difficult time of
mourning the death of
President Mutharika."
South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance said
Mutharika would be
remembered for bringing development to his
country.
"The president will be remembered for his guiding role in
bringing economic
growth and development to Malawi, for his leadership in
the African Union,
and for his commitment to a prosperous future for
Africa," DA leader Helen
Zille's chief of staff Geordin Hill-Lewis said in a
statement.
"His ethos and vision for the continent are best
summed up in his own call
for ‘Africa to develop Africa’.”
Banda, 62,
becomes the first female president in the SADC region.
The brief
swearing-in ceremony in Lilongwe, the capital, ended more than a
day of
uncertainty which led to speculation politicians were squabbling over
succession.
Banda had held on to her post of vice president despite
falling out with
Mutharika.
She will have to contend with powerful
enemies at home as she tries to lead
her country out of economic crisis and
repair relations with international
donors with whom Mutharika had
clashed.
Under the constitution, Ms Banda will serve out Mutharika's
term, which ends
in early 2014. Mutharika first won office in 2004 and was
re-elected in
2009.
The late president's party named his brother as
its president on Friday.
Banda takes over a country in which shortages of
sugar, fuel and other
commodities have created long, restive lines at shops
and service stations.
Mutharika, a former World Bank official once
heralded for his economic
stewardship, had in recent years been accused of
mismanagement and of
trampling on human rights. Anti-government
demonstrations across Malawi last
year were met with an unprecedented
security crackdown that resulted in at
least 19 deaths.
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com
By Staff Reporter 49 minutes
ago
Robert Mugabe affirmed his commitment to working with the Malawi
government
Robert Mugabe affirmed his commitment to working with the Malawi
government
THE office of the ailing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
has sent a
congratulatory message to the people of Malawi on the appointment
of Mrs
Joyce Hilda Mpila Banda as the country’s new President following the
death
of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
“On behalf of the government
and the people of Zimbabwe, allow me to extend
to you, [Mrs Banda]….the
government and people of Malawi, our heartfelt
congratulations on your
appointment as the President of the Republic of
Malawi,” said the President
in a statement.
He also appreciated the strong bilateral ties that exist
between the two
countries, adding that bilateral exchanges and trade between
the countries
have been growing in the past few years.
Mugabe who is
believed to be in intensive care in Singapore had the
statement issued by
his office affirming his commitment to working with the
Malawi government
towards enhancing economic ties.
Mrs Banda was sworn on Saturday as
President, replacing the late Wa
Mutharika.
Mrs Banda, who has been
Vice President since 2009, becomes Southern Africa's
first female head of
state after taking the oath before Parliament in the
Malawian Capital,
Lilongwe.
Meanwhile, Malawian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Professor Richard
Phoya has paid
tribute to Malawians for remaining calm and united, honouring
the
constitution at a time when every Malawian both at home and outside is
still
trying to come to terms with the death of President Wa
Mutharika.
In an interview at his Mandara residence in Harare, Ambassador
Phoya said
President Wa Mutharika’s body is still in South Africa, while his
government
is finalising the burial itinerary.
Professor Phoya
commended Malawians for remaining calm and accepting the
swearing in of Ms
Banda as the new head of state as stipulated in the
country’s
constitution.
He said speculation was already mounting that Malawi could
face a succession
crisis since Mrs Banda had been fired from the ruling
Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) and had formed the People’s
Party.
Ambassador Phoya said a book of condolences will be opened from
Tuesday the
10th to Friday the 13th at the Malawian Embassy at number 9/11
Duthie Road,
Alexandra Park, Harare.
The late Wa Mutharika, who
suffered a heart attack on Thursday, was elected
President of Malawi in 2004
and won a second term in 2009.
After collapsing on Thursday morning,
President Wa Mutharika was rushed to
Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe
before being airlifted to South Africa,
where he was pronounced
dead.
Malawi has since declared 10 days of mourning.
Burial
arrangements will be announced in due course.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/
06/04/2012 00:00:00
by
Newsday
THE absence of President Robert Mugabe, who flew to Singapore
last week for
a private visit, has paralysed state operations as crucial
meetings were
shelved amid widening fissures in the dysfunctional inclusive
government.
A Zanu PF special politburo meeting expected to chart the way
forward on the
constitution-making process failed to take place on
Wednesday, heightening
anxiety on whether the former ruling party will
remain in it or pull out.
With Zanu PF increasingly getting impatient
with the slow pace at which the
new governance charter is progressing,
expectations were that the meeting
would enable the party to take a
position.
The party has in recent weeks indicated they have lost faith in
the three
constitution drafters and threatened to withdraw from the
process.
Mugabes spokesperson George Charamba confirmed the veteran
leader is yet to
return, but did not say when. None other than Mugabe can
chair the
Politburo, the partys supreme decision-making body outside
congress.
He is not yet in the country. When he arrives, we will let you
know. We dont
divulge the Presidents travelling arrangements for security
reasons,
Charamba said.
The principals meeting between Mugabe, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara slated
for early in the week also
failed to take place and Cabinet similary failed
to convene on Tuesday.
As a result, Tsvangirai attempted to convene a
Council of Ministers meeting
on a day traditionally meant for Cabinet and
was snubbed by the Zanu PF
component in government.
Cracks in
government also widened after Indigenisation minister Saviour
Kasukuwere
issued a statement claiming the State had effectively taken over
all foreign
mining firms that have not complied with the indigenisation law
to dispose
51% shareholding to locals.
But, Tsvangirai said: “That issue has not
been discussed and agreed upon by
government. The Prime Minister wishes to
inform the public in general and
mining firms in particular that the
inclusive government has not sanctioned
the minister’s actions that are a
threat to investment in the industry.
“The minister’s statement poses a
real risk of creating anarchy in the
industry and the PM will take
corrective measures within the proper fora and
channels of Government,” he
said.
“The Prime Minister would like to inform mining entities
that, should anyone
or any institution be it private or public, attempt to
enforce minister
Kasukuwere’s pronouncements, they would be doing so
unlawfully and without
the mandate of the Inclusive Government.”
http://www.radiovop.com
Harare, April 8, 2012 - The
cash-strapped Government of Zimbabwe owes the
African Development Bank
(AfDB) US$510 million, the Minister of Finance,
Tendai Bit, has
confirmed.
The AfDB's Fragile States Facility (FSF) window is the Bank's
central
vehicle for arrears clearance and re-engagement, Biti said in
Harare.
He said: "As is the case with the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), the
AfDB’s precondition for eligibility in accessing financing under
this FSF
window is dependent upon fulfilment of several conditions including
respect
for the preferred creditor status of the AfDB," Biti said in
Harare.
He said given Zimbabwe's existing economic environment and in
particular,
the unsustainable balance of payments position, it would be
necessary for
the government to approach development partners for help to
pay off half of
the arrears to the AfDB.
Biti recently said the
government owes the World Bank US$807 million.
Zimbabwe qualifies for
arrears clearance support from the AfDB Group under
ADF-12 Replenishment
(2011-2013)," Biti said in Harare.
"Under ADF-12, US$528 million has been
set aside for arrears clearance for
eligible countries, which include
Zimbabwe," he said.
The payment deadline is September 2012.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Own Correspondent
Sunday, 08
April 2012 13:49
WITH an estimated 300 000 children dropping out of
schools due to financial
constraints last year alone, the minister of
Education, Sports, Art and
Culture David Coltart says it will be difficult
for Zimbabwe to meet the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Coltart
told the Weekend Post that it will be more difficult for the country
to meet
MDG number two which seeks to ensure that by 2015, all Zimbabwean
boys and
girls alike will be able to complete a full programme of primary
education.
Coltart said that while the situation at schools
countrywide remains fragile
due to underfunding, resettlement areas
presented the country with the
biggest headache.
“In most parts of
the country both rural and urban areas children are not
attending school,”
Coltart said.
“School dropout ratio is still very high. Last year we
estimated that at
least 300 000 children not covered by the Basic Education
Assistance Module
(Beam) could not attend school because they had no school
fees.”
Beam, which was established to cushion orphans and vulnerable
children (OVC)
by the government of national unity (GNU) has failed to reach
thousands of
children and the situation is worse at satellite schools which
are not
legally recognised by the government.
“The problem is
particularly acute in satellite schools because the
government did not plan
for these schools. They were established in response
to the land reform
programme,” said Coltart.
He added: “There are no buildings at the
schools, there are no teachers, in
fact there is no infrastructure at all.
At present, government simply does
not have the resources so it will be
difficult to meet the MDGs.”
Recently the Parliamentary thematic
committee on Millennium Development
Goals presented its findings after
visits to satellite schools and noted
that, “if no austerity measures are
taken to address challenges in the
education sector, particularly in
resettled areas, realisation of targets
for MDG Two by 2015 remain an
illusion for Zimbabwe.”
“For the past 10 years (since the land reform
programme) children in farming
communities have been condemned to such a
harsh learning environment and
until something miraculous or dramatic
happens, a dark cloud is cast over
their future prospects.”
While
President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party laud the land reform
programme
as a success story, the situation that was painted by the thematic
committee
was grim.
According to the committee schools are held under trees, or in
stripped and
ramshackle barns, while in some cases children learn seated on
logs, bricks
or on the floor.
There are 701 satellite schools in the
country against 4 989 established
schools.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
08/04/2012 00:00:00
by Staff
Reporter
KHAMI Prison is using "plastics and cardboard box material" as
doors and
handcuffs as locks, a shock report by MPs has revealed.
The
report, compiled by the Senate Thematic Committee on Human Rights, says
cells at one of the country’s largest detention facilities are frequently
flooded during the rainy season because of dilapidated roofing.
Prisoners
also sleep on the floor because there are no beds or mattresses.
Khami
Prison Complex on the outskirts of Bulawayo consists of four
penitentiaries:
Maximum, Medium, Remand and the women’s prison, Mlondolozi.
It holds over
2,000 of the country’s estimated 15,000 inmates.
In their report
published this week, the Senators said: “The Committee heard
that the
Zimbabwe Prison Services was failing to maintain the prison complex
particularly the infrastructure.
“For example, there were no locks on
some doors, some wooden doors had been
attacked by termites and were beyond
repair. Plastic and cardboard box
materials were put as doors.
“The
ablution facilities for Khami Remand were not functional and said to be
beyond repair. The situation was worsened by lack of adequate water to flush
the system. All this was blamed on the unavailability of
funds.
“Window panes were broken and needed to be repaired. Some roof
sheets were
blown away by winds resulting in rain leaking into the
cells.
“The Committee also heard that prisoners lie on the floor because
Zimbabwe
Prison Services was unable to provide beds or
mattresses.
“Within the prison, there are non-functional cells as locks
were tempered
with by prisoners who wanted to escape sometime in March 2011.
The Officer
in Charge told the Committee that A Hall had 14 while B Hall had
34
non-functional cells.
“The Committee also heard that Khami Remand
was not allocated funds to
purchase padlocks and to replace the wooden doors
that were damaged by
termites. The Officials felt this was too risky
considering that there were
fifteen prisoners on life sentences at Khami
Remand.”
The report said inmates are entitled to three blankets each, but had
two.
The senators said Khami Maximum hospital lacked important machinery
like
X-ray machines, a CD4 count machine and furniture. The prison has to
outsource when a prisoner needs such services which is costly and
compromises security.
Khami has an education department that teaches
Grade1 up to A’ Level and
there are professional teachers and some inmates
who were teachers before
incarceration who assist. But the lawmakers found
there was no crèche for
children accompanying female inmates.
“Prisoners
informed the committee that they were being served supper at 2PM
and by 7PM
they would be hungry,” the report added.
“On homosexuality, the Committee
heard that the prison had measures to
control any incidences of
homosexuality. The Officer in Charge informed the
Committee that offenders
are prosecuted.”
Khami Medium sits on 2,777 hectares of farmland and has
a herd of 430 dairy
and range cattle. The prison’s garden supplies
vegetables to prisons in the
whole Matabeleland region, but money generated
from farming was said to be
insufficient to purchase farm implements and
stock feed for cattle
http://uk.reuters.com/
By Nelson
Banya
HARARE | Sun Apr 8, 2012 10:26am BST
(Reuters) - Zimbabwe is
happy with a plan proposed by Anglo American
Platinum (AMSJ.J), the world's
top producer of the precious metal, to sell a
51 percent shareholding in its
Unki project to locals in terms of the
country's empowerment law, a minister
said on Sunday.
President Robert Mugabe is championing the law, which
requires all foreign
firms, including mines and banks, to sell majority
stakes to Zimbabweans.
Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, a
Mugabe ally, wrote in the
state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper that
Amplats had submitted its
proposals, detailing how it sought to comply with
the law.
"As implementers, the latest plan by Anglo Platinum Unki, is
reflective of
the positive co-operation we are now enjoying," Kasukuwere
wrote. "We are
happy with the 51 percent plan presented by July Ndlovu, the
Unki chairman."
On Thursday, Kasukuwere increased pressure on miners when
he issued a
statement declaring that the state now owned 51 percent of firms
that had
not complied with the local ownership laws.
His statement
was, however, quickly contradicted by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai,
Mugabe's partner in a shaky coalition, who said the minister had
no power to
expropriate mines.
The empowerment crusade is widely seen as a tactic by
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party
to raise cash for elections that may come this
year.
In his letter, Kasukuwere, a senior ZANU-PF official, also sought
to
highlight his party's difference with Tsvangirai's MDC over the
empowerment
policy.
Johannesburg-listed Impala Platinum (IMPJ.J), the
world's second-biggest
platinum producer, bowed to pressure last month to
surrender half its
Zimplats (ZIM.AX) unit, although details of the transfer
have not yet been
worked out.
Zimbabweans in the
diaspora were disappointed to hear of the death of Malawi’s President Mutharika.
Everyone had heard of the prophecy of TB Joshua that an aging leader in Southern
Africa was to pass on and people were building up their hopes – heightened when
Mugabe suddenly shot off to see his doctor in Singapore again.
Another
disappointment for us at the Vigil was the MDC’s Minister of Information
Technology Nelson Chamisa who apparently spoke at a recent function of Mugabe’s
‘visionary’ leadership. The Herald quotes him as saying ‘The President has
provided leadership from the cockpit and we are prepared to be the passengers .
. .’ He went on to say that Mugabe’s ‘wisdom’ makes sure the plane does not
crash.
We at the Vigil had
hoped to see some denial of this abject fawning from Chamisa – especially since
he was singing a different tune when he visited the UK recently as part of an
MDC delegation which urged the British government not to send home failed
Zimbabwean asylum seekers. Their appeal was made despite claiming that most
would like to go home and not have to do ‘cleaning’ work in Britain. We think
that if the MDC had more respect for cleaners Zimbabwe wouldn’t be in such a
mess.
The death of
Mutharika should make Zimbabweans reflect on what is going to happen when Mugabe
goes: no accepted successor and the likelihood of fierce infighting. It was sad
to note that Mutharika’s body was immediately dispatched to South Africa because
he had run down the economy to such an extent that the hospital had no
refrigerator to preserve it long enough for an autopsy (see: Malawi's President
Mutharika dead – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/06/us-malawi-president-idUSBRE83504E20120406).
Other
points
·
We have heard from
Downing Street that we can present our petition at 4.15 pm on Saturday
21st April. The petition calls for UN peacekeepers to be sent to
Zimbabwe for the elections. For more information about the petition check the
interview with Dennis Benton of the Vigil on SW Radio Africa’s Diaspora Diaries:
http://www.swradiaoafrica.com/podcasts/wordpress/?p=14473.
·
The Chairman of our
sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe, Ephraim Tapa, spoke
at the Vigil about the attempts to undermine the organization. He said the
Police had dropped the investigation into allegations of fraud against him after
concluding they were without foundation. Vigil Co-ordinator Rose Benton said
that ROHR was founded by the Vigil and people shouldn’t allow themselves to be
misled by those pursuing their own interests.
·
Vigil supporters were
saddened by the news that Father Bernard Elliott of the Jesuit Refugee Service
(JRS) has died. He often visited us at the Vigil (latterly with the help of his
zimmer frame) and we were always happy to see him. David Rhys
Jones of JRS said “There cannot be a
detention centre or prison housing refugees that he had not attended with
diligence, warmth, charm and patience for refugees (and not a little impatience
for ‘the system’).” There will be a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart
Church, Edge Hill, Wimbledon, London SW19 4LU at 12.30 pm,
Tuesday 17th April.
·
Sister Beverley led prayers for David Moyo who has been served with a
third deportation order. His mother and aunt were with us at the
Vigil.
·
Our Swazi friends
joined us after a passionate Vigil outside the Swaziland High Commission. They
said there is to be a mass demonstration on 12/13 April in Mbabane against the
excesses of King Mswati III. They feared there would be violence given the
intolerance of the regime. The Vigil noted an article in the UK’s Sun newspaper
that King Mswati has demanded a cow from every family as a 44th
birthday present. Since the average daily income in Swaziland is only around $2
this is a ludicrous demand. The Swazi Vigil gives warning to Mr Mswati III that
they will be waiting for him when he comes to London to pollute the Queen’s
birthday celebrations in June.
FOR THE
RECORD: signed the
register.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.
Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they
cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil
website.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·
ROHR North East
general meeting. Saturday 14th April
from 3 - 6 pm. Venue: Windmill Centre, Chester Place, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
NE8 1QB. For directions please contact Susan Ndlovu 07767024586, Tapiwa
Merrymore Semwayo 07722060246 or Colin Matongo
07865691347.
·
Fourth
21st Movement Free Zimbabwe Global Protest organized by the MDC
diaspora. Saturday 21st April. We meet at the Vigil at 2 pm
and move to the South African High Commission at 3 pm. On this day the Vigil
will also mark Zimbabwe’s 32nd Independence anniversary by presenting
our petition asking the UN to monitor the next Zimbabwean elections to 10
Downing Street at 4.15 pm.
·
Next Swaziland
Vigil. Saturday
21st April from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20
Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest
stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.
·
Canadian Perspectives
on Current Events in Zimbabwe. Tuesday
2nd May from 9 – 10 am. Venue:
Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE. Speaker: Lisa
Stadelbauer, Ambassador-Designate of Canada to Zimbabwe. Ambassador
Stadelbauer will offer her personal view of the current situation and prospects
for Zimbabwe. To apply email tcargill@chathamhouse.org.
·
Zimbabwe Action
Forum. Saturday
5th May from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first
floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same
road as the Vigil. 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 big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian
restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground:
Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
·
Two Gentlemen of
Verona Shona Production at the Globe
Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT. Dates /
Times: Wednesday 9
May, 2.30pm. Thursday 10 May, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 - £35 (700 £5 tickets
available) from 020 7401 9919 and www.shakespearesglobe.com. A two-man
Zimbabwean riot of love, friendship and betrayal. From Verona to Milan, via
Harare and Bulawayo, two great friends, Valentine and Proteus, vie for the love
of the same woman. In a triumphantly energetic ‘township’ style, Denton Chikura
and Tonderai Munyevu slip into all of the play’s fifteen characters – from
amorous suitors to sullen daughters, depressed servants and even a dog – in this
new, specially commissioned translation.
·
Zimbabwe Vigil
Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this
link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011.
Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights
page.
·
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. 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 the
views and opinions of ROHR.
·
ZBN
News. The Vigil
management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not
responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that
they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no
control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.
·
The Zim Vigil
band
(Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our
Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the
video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch
other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.
·
Vigil Facebook
page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
·
Vigil Myspace
page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.
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.
