Source: ‘We are Zimbabwe’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 10th December 2016
‘L’etat c’est moi’ (I am the state) was a remark by King Louis XIV that reflected the despotic regime before the French Revolution, when the people lived in poverty, lorded over by a rich aristocracy.
Now we hear the same thing from the Zanu PF elite. ‘We are Zimbabwe’ was the response of Grace Mugabe’s son and son-in-law to protests when they illegally seized three properties in Harare. In effect: ‘you can do nothing about it. We can do whatever we want.’
Court documents about Grace’s purchase of a $1.3 million diamond ring last year – said to be a wedding anniversary present from Mugabe – showed the complete contempt with which the Mugabe mafia regard the rule of law.
The properties belonging to a Lebanese diamond dealer were seized in a dispute after Grace decided she didn’t want the ring after all. Perhaps the diamond was too small.
Among the questions we want an answer to are: how was Grace able to send the $1.3million to Dubai from her Harare bank despite exchange controls? When she decided she didn’t want the ring, how could she so confidently order the repayment to be deposited in a Dubai bank account rather than returned to Harare – when this amounted to illegal externalisation of money?
This episode will not amuse people queuing for hours outside banks trying to withdraw their own money to buy food. But it will show them why there are no dollars in circulation. Perhaps they must just accept that this is their fate under Zanu PF: there is no corruption or illegality by the masters if they own the state.
Other points
- The implications of Mugabe’s ownership of the state are spelt out in an article by MDC T MP Eddie Cross: ‘The threat of change to transformation’ (see: http://zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/834-the-threat-of-change-to-transformation).
- The determination of Zanu PF to maintain their hold on power at any cost is clear from remarks by psycho minister Josaya Hungwe that the army will make sure that Zanu PF wins the 2018 elections (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-zanu-pf-will-unleash-army-to-defend-mugabe-rule-hungwe/).
- People will no doubt be comforted by the Herald’s assurance that, despite the bond notes, Zimbabwe has ‘the strongest currency in Africa’ (see: http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/zimbabwe-has-the-strongest-currency-in-africa-state-media-20161207).
- They will no doubt also be reassured by the Herald’s assurance that ‘Zanu PF’s largest external district Zanu PF United Kingdom and Europe, has endorsed President Mugabe as the party’s sole candidate for the presidential election’ (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-diasporans-endorse-president-for-2018-polls/).
- We at the Vigil didn’t notice any Zanu PF cadres today when we observed twenty-one months since Zimbabwean activist Itai Dzamara was abducted and murdered by military intelligence for protesting against Mugabe and ZanU PF.
- Thanks to those who arrived early to help set up: Zodwa Bhebhe, Elizabeth Chakachaka, Daizy Fabian, Etines Kapiya, Fungayi Mabhunu, Phillip Mahlahla, Heather Makawa, Esther Munyira, Beverly Mutandiro, Sipho Ndlovu, Jennipher Sabe, Maxmus Savanhu, Ephraim Tapa and Portiah Tobaiwa. Thanks to Esther, Heather, Daizy and Cathrine Musa for looking after the front table, to Nomusa Dube for selling ‘Mugabe must go / has gone’ wristbands, to Cathrine, Beverly, Lloyd Mudzengerere and Angela Tapera for handing out flyers, to Phillip, Portia, Zodwa, Jennipher, Elizabeth, Lloyd, Sipho, Maxmus, Ephraim and Beverly for putting up the banners and to Phillip, Maxmus, Fungayi and Sipho for putting up the tarpaulin.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. The facebook page for our sister organisation, Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) (https://www.facebook.com/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights-301811392835) has been hijacked by destructive elements from a group calling itself ZHRO Zimbabwean HR Charity. Please be advised that any postings on this page are not posted by ROHR.
FOR THE RECORD: 38 signed the register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
- Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 24th December from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
- Monthly Prayer Vigil. Saturday 31st December from 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Contact Beverley Mutandiro (07412053415) with names of Zimbabwean pastors and prayer groups who might want to participate.
- Monthly Itai Dzamara protest Saturday 7th January.From 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. The protest is to mark twenty-two months since Itai’s abduction by intelligence agents.
- 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 us.
- 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.
- Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds 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.
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