Don’t take him Germany – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

via Don’t take him Germany – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 28th December 2013 December 29, 2013

The Vigil is not surprised by reports that Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Germany, Tsvangirai’s relative Hebson Makuvise, has applied for asylum there. We know that the last thing he wants to do is to return to Zimbabwe and face allegations of fraud.

We at the Vigil had a memorable brush with Makuvise in January 2008 when he was Tsvangirai’s representative in the UK, helping to destroy the MDC here. He tried to take over the Vigil and we called the police to eject his gang of thugs. Vigil co-ordinator Rose Benton vividly recalls him waving his fist in her face while screaming ‘don’t call me a bully’. (see:http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/201-zimbabwe-vigil-diary-28th-november-2009).

During his 4 year tenure in Berlin Makuvise has perfected his German to the extent that he can fluently demand ‘Knete her’ (Give me money!) The Vigil is sending the following open letter to the German Embassy in London:

Dear Ambassador 

We hear that Zimbabwe’s outgoing Ambassador to Germany Hebson Makuvise has asked for asylum in Germany rather than return home to face possible fraud allegations. 

We at the Zimbabwe Vigil would recommend , from our own knowledge of this man’s conduct when he was in the UK, that Germany should deny his application. Our interest is that we would not welcome him being given papers which would potentially enable him to resume his poisonous mischief in the UK. 

We know that the Vigil also speaks for many Zimbabweans who have taken refuge in Germany. We would be happy to give you details of this thug’s history. 

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. 

Makuvise’s reported application emerged after it was announced that Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Australia, Jacqueline Zwambila, had asked for asylum there. She said that the July elections were stolen and she wouldn’t be safe back home.   Zimeye commented: ‘Both Makuvise and Zwambila are disliked by 90% of their party cadres who say their appointments were without merit, being regarded as cheap family appointments by Morgan Tsvangirai.’ (See: Tsvangirai’s Cousin, Ambassador Makuvise ‘Applies for Asylum in Germany’ – http://www.zimeye.org/tsvangirais-cousin-ambassador-makuvise-applies-for-asylum-in-germany/).

Whatever the squirmings of the recalled MDC ambassadors the most telling story for us in the diaspora was that if you googled Zimbabwe News on Christmas day you would find that the most widely reported story was ‘Zimbabweans face gloomy holidays’. Hopeless despair is what the outside world sees on the face of Zimbabweans. As the MDC MP Eddie Cross pointed out: This Zanu PF regime has virtually closed the doors on investment and ‘without investment there is no hope for anyone in Zimbabwe’.

In their Christmas message Zimbabwe’s Roman Catholic bishops lamented: ‘there are no visible prospects for improvement in the spheres of life in Zimbabwe that cry for restoration to give people hope for a better life.’ This is ‘despite the country being blessed with abundant natural resources and resilient, God-fearing and highly skilled people.’

(See: http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/mugabe-still-rules-but-zimbabwe-more-polarized-says-bishops-22646 – Top of Form

Mugabe still rules, but Zimbabwe ‘more polarized’ say bishops). The bishops went on: ’Our industrial sites carry the appearance of ghost towns because the once-vibrant manufacturing sector is now largely moribund. The dignity of our people has been severely eroded as they have become reduced to sellers of cheap goods and products at street corners in our cities in order to survive.’

The bishops urged re-engagement with the international community but, as the Vigil goes through its12th winter, we see  how the Mugabe regime continues to insult the donor countries.  We appeal to western embassies in Harare to urgently investigate new reports that food aid is being refused to opposition supporters (see: MDC-T supporters denied food and inputs in Mash East –https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_mdc-t-supporters-denied-food-and-inputs-in-mash-east/). This comes despite the announcement that the UK is pouring more money into feeding Zimbabwe (see: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46808&Cr=food+security&Cr1=#.UryRPI-Ya1s – New UN-United Kingdom partnership aims to boost food security in Zimbabwe).

On the last Vigil of 2013 we were grateful to David Kadzutu, Mary Muteyerwa, Danai Magidhi and Bridget Zhakata who were there at the start to help set up.

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: 21 signed the register. 

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

• ROHR Slough general meeting. Saturday 4th January 2014 from 10.30 am – 1 pm. Venue: Upton Lea Community Hall, Wexham Road, Slough SL1 5JW. Contact Grace Nyaumwe 07850284506 Patricia Masamba 07708116625.
• Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 11th January from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
• Zimbabwe Yes We Can meeting. Saturday 18th January from 12 noon. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. 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.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 18th January 2014 from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For directions see entry above.
• Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2012 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/467-vigil-highlights-2012. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2012 Highlights page.
• 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 the views and opinions of ROHR.
• Facebook pages:

–        Vigil: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts

–        ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515

–        ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights/301811392835

• Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE). For more information about this organisation, check: www.zunde.org.

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.