Continuing anger at gold corruption in Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

Source: Continuing anger at gold corruption in Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 1st April 2023

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/52787867169/sizes/z/

The Vigil met outside the Embassy today. We held a protest against the gold smuggling and money laundering of Zimbabwe’s ruling party Zanu PF and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This has been exposed by the Qatar-based news organisation Al Jazeera which is broadcasting  a sensational television series exposing corruption involving gold in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe where the government have given a free hand to gangsters exploiting the country’s mineral wealth. You can see episode 1 and 2 on the following links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evWEuVR1XIs and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYIcCoYt9YE.

Our activists held posters saying: ‘Down with Zimbabwe’s criminal President Mnangagwa: gold smuggler, money launderer’ and ‘Down with Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu PF: a criminal mafia, gold smugglers, money launderers”.

Join the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), in collaboration with Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights and Lawyers for Lawyers, for a webinar on Monday 3 April 2023 at 1300 – 1400 BST titled ‘Zimbabwe civil society in peril: threats to the rule of law’. Register: www.ibanet.org/conference-details/CONF2379.

Thanks to those who came: Chido Makawa, Collen Chikore, Delice Gavazah, Edrick Edwards, Fulya Turkmen, Jonathan Kariwo, Kerin Mutero, Kudzai Chikowore, Locadia Meda, Mashama Mazise, Maud Bvumbe, Memory Mucherahowa, Patrick Chatukuta, Philip Maponga, Qondani Ndlovu, Rashiwe Bayisayi, Rose Benton and Tapiwa Muskwe. Special thanks to Kudzai and Locadia who kindly brought the Vigil paraphernalia by public transport. For photos. check: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72177720307204339.

For Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.

Events and Notices:

• Next Vigil meeting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Saturday 15^th April from 2 – 5 pm. We meet on the first and third Saturdays of every month. On other Saturdays the virtual Vigil will run.
• ROHR Fundraising Walk for a Free, Fair and Credible Election in Zimbabwe. Saturday 20^th May. ROHR UK chapter will embark on a 13-mile sponsored walk, starting at Leytonstone at 9 am and ending at the Vigil, to raise funds for voter registration mobilisation and education to ensure all eligible citizens exercise their right to vote without fear or manipulation.
• 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.
• The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe’s work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
• Facebook pages:  

Vigil : https ://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil

         ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/

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