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Zimbabwe Situation

No room for Zimbabweans – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

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Source: No room for Zimbabweans – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 27th August 2022

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/52316881125/sizes/m/

In the wake of an uproar over the hostile treatment of a Zimbabwean woman seeking treatment in a South African hospital, the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has appealed to South Africa to extend the approaching deadline for Zimbabweans to remain in the country.

He said: ‘Fellow Africans in South Africa, we note your frustrations and economic constraints. I kindly ask for your support to Zimbabweans in these trying times. Help us as we do our best to fix Zimbabwe for a prosperous future. In less than 400 days our pains, agonies and fights will be a thing of the past. We will win Zimbabwe for change.’

Chamisa called on South Africa to help Zimbabweans have credible elections. ‘We need free and fair elections to permanently resolve our politics and the economy. Many are not in your country out of mischief but on account of poor leadership, bad governance and deadening poverty. Zimbabweans mean no harm to you. After all, we are decent and great neighbours.’ (See: https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zim-opposition-leaders-begs-sa-to-bear-with-zimbabweans-for-only-400-more-days-b0e70a85-5bd8-46f4-9b84-caa9202e971e.)

Many South Africans had been embarrassed by the incident in which a senior South African health official Phophi Ramathuba accused the woman of abusing the South African medical system because she had been brought to South Africa for treatment after a car accident in Harare.

She told her: ‘You’re killing my health system’. She said President Mnangagwa did not contribute to South Africa’s health budget and that her country’s health system was not a charity. ‘”You are supposed to be with Mnangagwa, you know he doesn’t give me money to operate on you guys, and I’m operating with my limited budget.’

Among critics of Dr Ramathuba was Dr Angelique Coetzee of South Africa’s Solidarity Doctors Network who said the patient was a victim of politics between South Africa and Zimbabwe. ‘Even if they cross the border illegally to get health services, it’s not their fault. She wasn’t supposed to embarrass the patient in front of people.’ (See: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62677577.)

Civic society organisations have called on SADC to intervene because of the worrying situation in Zimbabwe where it said the democratic space continued to shrink as the country headed to next year’s elections. They called in a statement for SADC to immediately send an observer mission to Zimbabwe including civil society organisations (see: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/csos-demand-sadc-intervention-in-zimbabwe/).

Other points

  • Our virtual Vigil activists today were Joyce Mbairatsunga who kindly contributed to Vigil funds. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums     for today’s photos.
  • Due to unforeseen circumstances the Vigil will be unable to meet outside the Zimbabwe Embassy until Saturday 15th October when we will mark the 20th anniversary of the Vigil. Until then we will continue with the virtual Vigil.
  • 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 15th October from 2 – 5 pm when we will mark the 20th anniversary of the Zimbabwe Vigil.
  • 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

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