Chatham House demo against visiting Zimbabwe businessmen – Vigil

The Zimbabwe Vigil has sent out the following message.

Dear Supporters

As you may know, a delegation of Zimbabwean business leaders is to visit the UK. We have now learnt that they are to be in London on Tuesday 28^th and Wednesday 29^th January. They will have talks at the Foreign Office on Tuesday 28^th about sanctions and prospects for international investors in Zimbabwe. They are then to go on to a ‘private’ meeting at the Chatham House think tank, the Institute of International Affairs, on Tuesday afternoon. We quote the following from the Chatham House blurb: ‘With five consecutive years of positive growth, prospects for investment in Zimbabwe remain strong and as the dust from the election period settles the government is increasingly looking towards attracting international investors as a means of boosting further economic recovery in the country. This event will provide the opportunity to engage with a high level business delegation from Zimbabwe on the role of international investors in the improvement of Zimbabwe’s economic performance and international relations, and perspectives on the impacts of sanctions. The delegation will present their views on post-election developments in Zimbabwe and implications of the review of EU sanctions.’  

This meeting will be addressed by the head of the delegation, Charles Msipa, President of the Confederation of  Zimbabwe Industries and Managing Director of  Schweppes Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd.  The Vigil understands that  Mr Msipa is a member of the secret business committee of Zanu PF for which he mobilises funds. He played a big role in the farm invasions and is a close ally of former Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, the looter in chief of state diamonds. His enterprise knows no bounds: he was apparently  associated with the unhappy  Homelink housing development programme which some of you might have invested in . . .

We are planning a protest outside Chatham House to show that they are wrong in thinking the ‘dust’ from the election period is settling. Chatham house might not see it this way, but we know this delegation consists of  Zanu PF con men.

Please come and support the demonstration, which will be recorded as a Vigil attendance. It will be held from 4 – 5 pm on Tuesday 28^th January outside Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, London, SW1Y 4LE – nearest station: Piccadilly.

Please let us know if you are coming. Further details and directions will be sent on Sunday.

Zimbabwe 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