Challenge Mugabe to deliver – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

The Zimbabwean diaspora is puzzled that a month has passed since the stolen elections and a seemingly punch-drunk opposition has given no sign of a strategy to confront Mugabe, let alone stage demonstrations against Zanu PF’s blatant chicanery. 

We at the Vigil are sorry that the MDC did not decide to boycott parliament to make a powerful statement to the world about the election rigging – especially necessary since the puzzling withdrawal of the MDC’s legal challenge against the outcome.

We don’t think their presence can serve any useful purpose but we had no real hope that the honourable members would pass up the perks – even though it just lends legitimacy to Mugabe.

Well, here’s another suggestion for the MDC and one which we hope they will look at more favourably. Our suggestion is that the party returns to its roots: trade unionism and human rights. The new constitution the MDC has laboured so long over and welcomed so joyously must give room for this activism. The Labour Court President Custom Kachambwa thinks so. He says the constitution guarantees civil servants the right to strike.

Mugabe promised that civil servants and others would be given pay rises. We urge the MDC to support the legitimate demands of workers for this promise to be honoured. The MDC must also surely support Mugabe’s call for adequate inputs and finance for farmers, for the reinvigoration of industry, for the overhaul of water and electricity provision, for improved roads and transport….

No money to pay for this? The workers know that there is money from diamonds that Mugabe has at his disposal. By promising pay rises and other help, Mugabe has just invited them to apply for it. So we call on the MDC to get out there and get the civil servants, farmers, soldiers and business people to demand their rights.

The Vigil is inspired by the wise counsel of Papa Jukwa – father of Baba. He says Zanu PF’s decision to cancel municipal bills will be followed by the long-heralded revival of the Zimbabwean dollar. The Zanu PF insider says the currency will be backed by damages from the West awarded by Zimbabwe’s learned judges in compensation for the illegal sanctions which have cost Zimbabwe $42 billion or more. As a down payment, all properties of these vile countries will be seized without compensation. Our problems will be over at last.

Other points

• Following SADC’s rubber-stamping of Zimbabwe’s crooked elections we are introducing a new feature: SADC Watch. Here is a start. The son of Zambia’s President Sata is said to be one of the people behind the supply of closed circuit television equipment to the Zambian government at an inflated amount of $210 million instead of $13 million (see: http://www.zambianwatchdog.com/mulenga-sata-and-chinese-crooks-that-conned-govt-on-blocking-watchdog-now-to-supply-cctv/ – Mulenga Sata and Chinese crooks that conned govt on blocking Watchdog now to supply CCTV). Malawi’s President Banda is reported to have followed Mugabe’s lead and employed the shadowy Israeli company Nikuv to help steal the elections planned for next year (see: http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2013/08/30/banda-ropes-zim-nikuv/ – Banda ropes in Zim, Nikuv).

• Thanks to Joseph Chivayo who caught the 3.50 am coach from Derby to be with us before the start of the Vigil to help set up. Others who came early were Michelle Dube who took care of the register and merchandise sales and Rose Maponga who took up her usual post at the front table. 

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: 35 signed the register.