Operation Take Back Zimbabwe: Zim Vigil Diary
On the eve of the 2nd Stakeholders’ Meeting on the new constitution, Zimbabweans exiled in the UK gathered outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London to underline our fears that this ludicrous process would again be hijacked by Zanu PF.
The gathering was part of the 10th round of monthly demonstrations by the Free Zimbabwe Global Diaspora 21st Movement. Previous protests were directed at SADC, regional players and the UN. The theme this month was ‘Operation Take Back Zimbabwe’ targeting Zimbabwe embassies (See: 21st Movement press release –
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1empt9LlblvSr8H1tsxgXrlUdppW1LoTTR3jhgbAYjSQ/edit
The following petition was drawn up on the spot and signed by participants, including many MDC members as well as Vigil and ROHR supporters, before being slipped under the Embassy’s front door.
‘Petition to Zimbabwe Embassy, London.
Zimbabweans exiled in the United Kingdom have gathered outside the Embassy today (Saturday 20th October 2012) to demand that the 2nd Stakeholders’ Meeting on the new constitution should be allowed to take place without sabotage by Zanu PF.
We deplore the upsurge in political violence and the arbitrary arrests of opposition members and warn you that we will continue our campaign until there are free and fair elections.
This demonstration is part of a global diaspora project ‘Operation Take Back Zimbabwe’ in which we are joined by brothers and sisters in the United States, South Africa and others round the world.’
Against a background of exuberant singing and dancing, we displayed the following posters: Independent Monitors for Copac Conference; No violence, No Arbitrary Arrests; Free Fair Peaceful Referendum; Free, Fair, Credible and Indisputable Elections; SADC JOMIC Monitors Where Are You?
UN, AU, Independent Monitors For Referendum; UN, AU, Independent Monitors For Elections; We Want A Clean Voters’ Roll; No Repeat of 2008 Ever Again; Fair Justice, Independent Judges Now; People’s Parliament Not Mugabe’s, Open It Now; Diamond Money For The People; and Chinamasa & Gumbo stop your nonsense.
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.
