via Appeal to MPs – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 26th March 2016 27 March 2016
The Vigil has written to two prominent British MPs to seek their support for the expulsion from the UK of a Nottingham GP Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica who have seized a farm in Zimbabwe.
The MPs are the former long-time cabinet minister Ken Clarke who represents the Conservative Party in Rushcliffe constituency, Nottingham, in which the Nyatsuros have a large and luxurious home and Vernon Coaker, a minister in the last Labour government who represents the neighbouring constituency of Gedling, in which the Nyatsuros run an NHS clinic. Below is the letter we have sent them:
Zimbabwean exiles in the UK ask for your help as we continue our protest against Nottingham GP Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica who run a NHS clinic in Carlton, Nottingham. They have violently seized a farm in Zimbabwe from a white Zimbabwean couple who bought it some 30 years ago with the approval of the Mugabe regime. Dr Nyatsuro claims he has been allocated the farm although he has lived in the UK for the past 15 years and is a British citizen.
You will be aware of the desperate situation in Zimbabwe, in particular the real prospect of starvation. The UN recently warned up to a third of the population are facing hunger.
The Zimbabwe Vigil which campaigns in the UK for human rights in Zimbabwe, along with our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe, has submitted a petition to the government calling for the revocation of the Nyatsuros’ British citizenship (see: http://zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/760-kick-out-zanu-pf-zimbabwe-vigil-diary-27th-february-2016).
The petition is currently being considered by the Home Office. We feel that the support of a former Conservative Lord Chancellor and a former Labour Home Office minister such as yourselves would add weight to our request.
On a broader front we are campaigning for the situation in Zimbabwe to be discussed in Parliament and have enlisted the support of Kate Hoey MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe and, on the Conservative side, Alok Sharma MP for Reading West and others.
We have staged a number of demonstrations outside the Nyatsuros’ clinic which have received widespread publicity and plan to stage another demonstration there on 29th April to keep up the pressure on them to make up their minds between farming in Zimbabwe and doctoring in the UK.
Other Points
· There is a letter on our campaigns page about the Nyatsuros which supporters can send to their own MPs (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/764-suggested-letter-to-your-mp).
· One of our supporters Emmaculate Tshuma was picked up by the immigration authorities early on Wednesday morning. Emmaculate, who is only 18, was dragged out of bed and treated very roughly and is now in detention. There is a petition to the Home Secretary about how she was treated. To sign go to: https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-stop-the-deportation-of-emmaculate-to-zimbabwe?recruiter=52935447&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink. A video about this is available here: ROHR Condemns the violent and unlawful detention of its UK member Emmaculate Tshuma. A collection was made for Emmaculate at the Vigil.
· Zimbabweans await with baited breath the outcome of Mugabe’s visit to Japan. Not to hear what tea was served at his meeting with the Emperor but because the purpose of his journey is obviously to consult his doctors in Singapore for a second time in the past few weeks.
· Quote of the week: ‘Zhuwao’s statement is the height of crass insanity and vindicates the PDP’s position that there are no genuine reformers in Zanu PF, but only looters and grabbers’ – People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume, speaking about the 1st April indigenisation deadline set by Mugabe’s nephew. See the article by Eddie Cross of the MDC T for an analysis of the lunacy involved: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-april-fools-day-the-zimbabwean/.
· On a blustery wet Easter Saturday thanks to those who were there at the start to set up: Tatonga Gutah, Isabell Gwatidzo, Fungayi Mabhunu, Anna Mafunga, Michelle Makoni, Patricia Masamba, Eletha Mpofu, Roseline Mukucha, Fungisai Mupandira, Marlon Nyamakanga and Chipo Parirenyatwa. Thanks to Roseline, Isabell and Etines for looking after the front table and to Chipo for selling all the wristbands we had at the Vigil. Thanks to the team who put up the tarpaulin and the high banners: Tatonga, Fungayi and Marlon. Thanks also to those who stayed till the end to help pack up: Rashiwe Bayisayi, Tafadzwa Buka, Percy Dube, Isabell Gwatidzo, Etines Kapiya, Fungayi Mabhunu, Anna Mafunga, Michelle Makoni, Patricia, Masamba, Lipi Mhlope, Eletha Mpofu, Roselyne Mubayina, Roseline Mukucha, Fungisai Mupandira, Beverley Mutandiro and Chipo Parirenyatwa.
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: 22 signed the register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
· ROHR International UK Chapter Training Day. Saturday 2nd April from 12 noon – 5 pm. Venue: The Salvation Army, Kildare Street, Leicester LE1 3FY. Directions: opposite the Peking Chinese Restaurant in the City Centre. Training covers outline of ROHR International, leadership skills and departmental operations. Contacts: Tino Mashonganyika 07463272078, Enniah Dube 07403439707 and Nicodimus Muganhu 07877386792.
· Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 2nd April from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
· Monthly Itai Dzamara protest Saturday 9th April from 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. The protest is to mark thirteen months since Dzamara’s abduction by intelligence agents.
· ROHR Coventry Relaunch. Saturday 9th April from 2 – 9 pm. Venue: Binley Private Members’ Club and Banqueting Suite, 50 Grange Avenue, Binley, West Midlands CV3 2ED. £10 a head for all you can eat buffet, children free. Contacts: Melody Magejo 07490913486, Gladys Muduve 07956 430115, Edward Murota 07979312148 and Sally Mutseyami 07448730581.
· ROHR Central London Branch ‘Mugabe must go’ protest’. Friday 15th April outside the Zimbabwe Embassy from 11 am to 1 pm. Please come and join Central London to make a big statement on the Friday before the 36th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Independence. 36 years of Mugabe – time to go!
· ROHR National Executive meeting. Saturday 16th April from 11 am to 1.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For directions see below.
· 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 Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 16th April from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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.
· Nottingham demonstration against farm looting Zimbabwean doctor. Friday 29th April from 12 noon – 3 pm. Venue: outside The Willows Medical Centre, Church Street, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 1RJ. The Vigil and ROHR are continuing the campaign to have Dr Nyatsuro’s British citizenship revoked. More information to follow.
· ROHR Birmingham Branch Independence Ball. Saturday 30th April from 3 pm till late. Venue: Centrala, 4 Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, Birmingham B5 5RT. African cuisine, £20 a head, children free. For more information, contact: Gladys Muduve 07956 430115, JaneMary Mapfumo 07412 310429 and Tecla Bandawe 07450507650.
· Play: ‘After Independence’. 4th – 28th May at the Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL. The play is by May Sumbwanyambe and tackles the issues of independence and government in Zimbabwe. More information is available here: http://www.arcolatheatre.com/event/after-independence/2016-05-04/. The producer has contacted the Vigil for our input and plans to visit us to discuss this.
· Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds monthly meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2015 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/746-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2015. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2015 Highlights page.
· Facebook pages:
Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil
ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515
ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835
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