EU’s policy stinks – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 31st May 2014

via EU’s policy stinks – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 31st May 2014 posted June 1, 2014

There was speculation at the Vigil that the eagerness of the EU to offer hundreds of millions of dollars to the Zanu PF regime may be linked to reports that Mugabe is to step down soon.

The London Sunday Times last week quoted sources close to the half-blind Mugabe as saying ill health had forced him to tell his confidantes that he couldn’t continue and wanted his replacement installed by the end of the year.

This was followed by a report that Mugabe is to call off the Zanu PF elective congress set for December which was expected to endorse Vice President Mujuru as his successor. EU ambassadors have made clear their fingers-clamped-to-the-nose preference for Mujuru as the less smelly face of Zanu PF.

Mugabe was said, however, to have been told by the Joint Operations Command to leave it to the military to manage a takeover by Mujuru’s rival, Justice Minister Mnangagwa (see: Mugabe to cancel Zanu PF succession congress – https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_mugabe-to-cancel-zanu-pf-succession-congress/).

The remaining EU sanctions against Mugabe and Grace are the only real impediments to the EU’s embrace of the Zanu PF mafia as an alternative to a military takeover in Zimbabwe. Mugabe’s departure would clear the way for the financial package for the unreformed regime scheduled to be discussed in November.

Finance Minister Chinamasa expressed confidence that the remaining targeted measures would be removed: “We have faith that the lapse of sanctions would, as promised by the European Union, pave way for normalisation of economic relations between Zimbabwe and the European Union”, he said. The EU Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia spoke excitedly of ‘re-engagement in action’ (see https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_eu-pledges-millions-to-zanu-pf-as-part-of-re-engagement/ – EU pledges millions to ZANU PF as part of re-engagement).

The stink of the compromised diplomatic community in Zimbabwe was overpowering at a Book Café meeting in Harare at which Zanu PF murderer and rapist Buhera MP Joseph Chinotimba was welcomed as a guest of honour (and apparently ‘brought the house down’ with his jokes). MDC T spokesman Douglas Mwonsara said: “The diplomatic community is forgetting that ZANU PF committed these horrendous crimes. We see them gracing these occasions as if everything is fine, and it is outrageous” (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_violence-leader-chinoz-embraced-as-book-cafe-guest-of-honour/ – Violence leader Chinoz embraced as Book Café ‘guest of honour’).

We at the Vigil are disgusted that the EU is selling out the people of Zimbabwe by ‘normalising’ relations with the Zanu PF murder machine. We will certainly not be taking up Minister Simon Khaya Moyo’s appeal to the diaspora to return home.

Vigil supporter Dr Clifford Mashiri has appealed to the EU not to release the money to the Zanu PF regime until it allows the diaspora vote (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/589-reply-to-mr-emmerson-mnangagwa-restorezimdiasporavote).

Other Points

• We are sad to see the Zimbabwe Situation website is to close (see: Zimbabwe Situation shutting down – 7 June 2014 – https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimbabwesituation-shutting-7-june-2014/). They have been a very valuable resource. The vigil cannot compensate for their loss but we propose to draw attention on our website to articles that have interested us in the past week.
• It was good to have with us Philip Maponga and Lindiwe Bare who were married last Sunday. They met at the Vigil on the day Tsvangirai married Elizabeth Macheka. Lindiwe came dressed as the bride Elizabeth and we randomly pulled Philip from the group to play Tsvangirai and married them there and then (see photos of that day onhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/sets/72157631543622832/). Little did we know we were ahead of ourselves. Several Vigil people were at the wedding and demonstrated how we dance, drum and sing. See videos of the wedding onhttp://new.livestream.com/accounts/7457438/events/3033493 and photos of the wedding onhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/sets/72157644531790249/.
• Thank you to Patricia Masamba, Danai Magidhi and Fungayi Mangunu who arrived early to help set up. 

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: 33 signed the register. 

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

• ROHR National Executive meeting. Saturday 7th June from 12 noon. (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE.) Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 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 Pizza Express. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 7th June from 6.15 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For direction see entry above.
• Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 14th June from 10 am to 1 pm outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.
• Zimbabwe Yes We Can meeting. Saturday 21st June at 12 noon. Venue: The Theodore Bullfrog, 26-30 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HL.
• ROHR Reading Branch general Meeting. Saturday 28th June from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: RISC 35-39 London St. Reading, Berkshire RG1 4PS. For further enquiries contact: Erick Eluwasi, the Information and Publicity Officer On: 07532021348
• Slough 28/6
• Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2013 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/560-vigil-highlights-2013. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2013 Highlights page.
• 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 the views and opinions of ROHR.
• Zimbabwe Yes We Can Movement holds monthly meetings in London as the political face of ROHR and the Vigil.
• The Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF) meets twice a month after the Vigil to discuss ways to help those back in Zimbabwe to fight oppression and achieve true democracy
• Facebook pages:

–        Vigil: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts

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

–        ROHR: https://www.facebook.co/pages/ROHR-Zimbabwe-Restoration-of-Human-Rights/301811392835

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.