Vice-President Mnangagwa is reported to have been discussing plans for a transitional government, including the MDC, to run Zimbabwe for five years after the impatiently awaited departure of Mugabe. Mnangagwa is said to be planning to compensate white farmers dispossessed by the land seizures and invite them to resume farming to revive the agricultural sector.
Source: White farmers to return? – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 9th September 2017
The discussions are reported to have involved army generals who are said to have softened their opposition to working with the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Reuters news agency says the reports draw on documents leaked from the Central Intelligence Organisation and information from politicians and diplomats.
Mugabe himself is implacably opposed to bringing back white farmers which would explain his recent increased criticism of the Vice-President. For its part, the MDC has confirmed that it received overtures from the Mnangagwa camp but the party is reported to be against joining any administration that is not the product of an election (see: http://www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2017/09/mnangagwa-plots-gnu-with-tsvangirai.html).
During the week Vigil activists protested outside the Zimbabwe Embassy against Grace Mugabe’s disgraceful behaviour. They attempted to deliver a letter to the Embassy on Tuesday but, although it was a weekday, the front door was closed. So they tried to deliver it to a side door but were told to put it in the post. It was sent recorded delivery and was signed for, according to Royal Mail, by the Embassy the next day. The letter reads:
To “Doctor” Grace Mugabe
Your violent and lawless behaviour has shamed and disgusted Zimbabweans worldwide. We list some international incidents in which you behaved disgracefully and embarrassed the country:
- Hong Kong 2009: British photographer Richard Jones was beaten and punched repeatedly by you while he was trying to photograph you. A Sunday Times (UK) correspondent, Michael Sheridan, who witnessed the event said: “The bodyguard grabbed Mr Jones, wrestled with him . . . then held him while Mrs Mugabe struck him in the face repeatedly. She was completely deranged, absolutely raging with anger”. He suffered cuts and bruises said to have been caused by the “diamond rings on her fingers”.
- Malaysia 2009: you assaulted staff at Kuala Lumpur airport when required to go through a check-in process, grabbing a member of security staff by the collar and bellowing that you were the wife of a President and could do whatever the hell you wanted to whenever you wanted to. Members of the Mugabe entourage had to plead with Malaysian authorities to stop you being arrested
- Dubai September 2016: once again you assaulted a journalist.
- Singapore August 2017: you assaulted reporters and threw their cellphones into a pond and were made to reimburse them before being released. You paid reporters in Singapore to try to prevent the incident making headlines. When it did, a member of your close protection unit was accused of leaking information and tortured and beaten. The Reuters offices in Harare were stormed by police and state security agents after a leak to their office was shared with Reuters in Singapore. Journalists at Reuters Zimbabwe were promised “severe consequences should any further leaks lead back to them”.
- Johannesburg August 2017: you assaulted Johannesburg model Gabriella Engels with an extension cord at a Sandton hotel. Ms Engels’ head was cut in three place. Your sons and security watched without intervening.
Other misdemeanours that have embarrassed and shamed Zimbabweans:
- Heartless eviction of occupants of Arnold farm, Mazowe. Police claiming to act on your behalf demolished homes, destroyed property and beat up those who resisted.
- Your efforts to establish a Mugabe dynasty including telling people to vote for Mugabe’s corpse if necessary.
- Fraudulently acquiring academic qualifications – a 2-month doctorate from the University of Zimbabwe.
- The drug and alcohol-fuelled antics of your out-of-control children.
The people of Zimbabwe urge you to seek anger-control and relational therapy. We can put you in touch with reputable practitioners in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Hong Kong and Johannesburg.
The Zimbabwe Vigil
Other points
- The UK Times columnist Matthew Parris has been having another lovely holiday in Zimbabwe – to escape what he describes as political madness in Britain. Parris, a former Conservative MP, writes beautifully about the chirruping of the frogs in the Gonarezhou national park and goes on to say: ‘the impression given in the British media that Zimbabwe has collapsed is wrong. The truth is more complicated, and awful uncertainties loom: but as a visitor you can expect a friendly welcome in a magnificent country.’ Indeed Mr Parris the truth is more complicated. There are many faults in the British media: one of them is that they hardly pay any attention to Zimbabwe. If you went to Zimbabwe to escape ‘political madness’, the British media should have warned you that you were going to a country where millions are starving and suffering under a brutal quasi-Marxist regime from which up to a quarter of the population have fled to South Africa and further abroad (see: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-get-away-from-it-all-in-zimbabwe-pxtgc8xs3).
- Thanks to those who arrived early to help set up: Marco Chikaura, Babula Gwatiringa, Josephine Jombe, Jonathan Kariwo, Fungayi Mabhunu, Junior Madzimure, Phillip Mahlahla, Alice Majola, Theodora Mandishaya, Audrey Marere, Nyarai Masango, Lawrence Mbamarwo, Roseline Mukucha, Margaret Munenge, Esther Munyira, Charles Mupawose and Elizabeth Sithole. Thanks to Roseline, Josephine and Rumbidzayi Sambana for looking after the front table, to Esther, Theodora and Alice for handing out flyers and selling wristbands and to Phillip, Charles, Jonathan, Babula, Junior, Alice, Theordora, Nyarai and Lawrence for putting up the banners.
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. Please be advised that any postings on this page are not posted by ROHR.
FOR THE RECORD: 32 signed the register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
- ROHR Central London branch meeting. Saturday 16th September from 11.30 am – 1.30 pm. Venue: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Contact: Daisy Fabian 07708653640, Maxmus Savanhu 07397809056, Sipho Ndlovu 07400566013.
- 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.
- Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 16th September from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
- ROHR Fundraising boat trip for ZimPAP. Saturday 23rd September after the Vigil. Tickets £50 to include a four hour boat ride and food. Wear white. Boarding from 5.30 pm. For tickets and information contact: Daizy 07708653640 and Heather 07716391800. Tickets are also available at the Vigil.
- Zimbabwe Action Forum 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 2016 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/843-zimbabwe-vigil-highlights-2016. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2016 Highlights page.
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