via IMF says no money for Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 12th September 2015 Sunday, 13 September 2015
The International Monetary Fund says that even if the Zimbabwean government makes economic reforms it will take at least three years before it can expect loans from international lenders.
The head of an IMF mission which has just visited Zimbabwe, Domenico Fanizza, said there were no quick and easy fixes to Zimbabwe’s economic problems and spoke of the need to deepen reforms. The IMF made it clear that Zimbabwe needed to create a friendly investment climate and mentioned in particular the need for clarity on the indigenisation policy. It added that the top priority was to reduce public sector employment costs.
Finance Minister Chinamasa has already said he wants to reduce the wage bill from more than 80% of government revenue to less than 40% in line with IMF recommendations, adding to the unemployment crisis (see: http://www.zimeye.com/imf-no-cash-to-zimbabwe-for-the-next-3-years/ and http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2015/09/11/zim-faces-tougher-times-ahead-imf/).
For his part, the European Ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe van Damme this week said Zimbabwe needed a return to the rule of law if it is to attract foreign investment. He said investors were looking for ‘predictability of the economic and financial environment’ based on a legal framework that respects the principles of accountability, transparency and non-discrimination (see: http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2015/09/11/zim-must-return-to-the-rule-of-law-eu-ambassador/).
The comment by the EU Ambassador and damning assessment by the IMF will be part of the message the Vigil will be presenting to any customers gullible enough to attend a Zanu PF fundraiser in London on 22nd September hosted by the international law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP (acting on behalf of the shadowy ZBN and CMG international media group).
Here is a letter we are sending to Stephenson Harwood;
‘We learn that you are facilitating a meeting to prop up the illegal regime of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. He has maintained his grip on power through rigged elections and the galvanising force in his regime is the looting of the country’s resources.
This is to advise you that we will be outside your office on 22nd September protesting against the visit by representatives of the regime. We note that among the three Mugabe ministers attending is Obert Mpofu. If you had performed due diligence you would be aware that he is said to be one of the most corrupt men in Zimbabwe. For details of his vast, unaccountable wealth see for instance: http://nehandaradio.com/2012/11/16/from-rags-to-riches-the-obert-mpofu-story/.
We will draw to the attention of prospective investors to observations by the IMF mission which has just visited Zimbabwe calling for clarity on the regime’s propensity to steal everything and the latest remarks by the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe urging Mugabe to bring back the rule of law and respect for property rights.’
The Vigil remembered civil rights activist Itai Dzamara on the 6-month anniversary of his abduction by government agents. A group of five or so Zimbabwean men came to the Vigil table and questioned us about our poster: ‘Who killed Itai Dzamara’. They demanded to know how we knew he had been killed. They also read our petition condemning Mugabe and threw it down without signing it. This is in keeping with iefforts to destabilise the Vigil by people who we suspect are paid by the CIO. We suppose it is to be expected with the increased activity in Zimbabwe of our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR).
Other points
· Ephraim Tapa and Rose Benton were interviewed by the International Business Times about the Vigil and the situation in Zimbabwe, see: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/focus-torture-rape-disappearances-rampant-zimbabwe-1519414.
· Thanks to those who came early to help set up: Esther Nyambi, Humphrey Dube, Michael Tinarwo, Livert Zhuwao and Fungayi Mabhunu. Thanks to Esther, Livert and Humphrey for looking after the front table throughout the Vigil.
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: 19 signed the register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
· Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 19th September from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. From the Vigil it’s about a ten 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.
· ROHR Reading branch general meeting and outreach. Saturday 19th September from 1130 am – 5 pm. Venue: RISC 35-39 London Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 4PS. For further enquiries contact: Nicodimus Muganhu (Chair) 07877386792, Shylette Chipangura (Secretary) 07828929806 and Deborah Harry (Treasurer) 07748723974.
· ROHR Southampton branch meeting. Saturday 19th September from 1 – 3 pm. Venue: Eastleigh Library, 1st Floor, Swan Centre, Eastleigh, SO50 5SF. Contact: Sally Mutseyami (Chair) 07448730581, Grace Rukure (Secretary) 07462103397 and Edward Mukuze (Info & Publicity Officer) 07463975108.
· ROHR Leicester branch meeting. Saturday 19th September 2015 from 1.30 – 5 pm. Venue: Methodist Church 10a Bishop Street, Town Hall Square, Leicester LE1 6AF. For more information please contact: Enniah Dube (Chair) 07403439707, Christopher Kamuzonde (Treasurer) 07449150041 and Moline Nyabonda (Information and Publicity) 079612505525.
· 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.
· Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 19th September from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
· Zimbabwe Yes We Can meeting. Saturday 26th September at 12 noon. Venue: The Theodore Bullfrog, 26-30 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HL.
· Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds monthly meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
· Zimbabwe Vigil’s 13th Anniversary and monthly Itai Dzamara protest. Saturday 10th October from 2 – 6 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. The protest is to mark seven months since Dzamara’s abduction by intelligence agents.
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2014 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/642-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2014. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2014 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/pages/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights/301811392835
· SW Radio Africa’s website and sound archive is being hosted on www.archive.org. Go to the site and type in swradioafrica which will link you to snapshots of their site over the years and at the top of that page a link to their website where, under podcasts, you will find the audio.
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