Vigil appeals to MPs to get Nyatsuro and wife expelled from the UK
The Vigil has written to two prominent British MPs to seek their support for the expulsion from the UK of a Nottingham GP Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica who have seized a farm in Zimbabwe.
The MPs are the former long-time cabinet minister Ken Clarke who represents the Conservative Party in Rushcliffe constituency, Nottingham, in which the Nyatsuros have a large and luxurious home and Vernon Coaker, a minister in the last Labour government who represents the neighbouring constituency of Gedling, in which the Nyatsuros run an NHS clinic.
Below is the letter we have sent them:
Zimbabwean exiles in the UK ask for your help as we continue our protest against Nottingham GP Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica who run a NHS clinic in Carlton, Nottingham.
They have violently seized a farm in Zimbabwe from a white Zimbabwean couple who bought it some 30 years ago with the approval of the Mugabe regime. Dr Nyatsuro claims he has been allocated the farm although he has lived in the UK for the past 15 years and is a British citizen.
You will be aware of the desperate situation in Zimbabwe, in particular the real prospect of starvation. The UN recently warned up to a third of the population are facing hunger.
The Zimbabwe Vigil which campaigns in the UK for human rights in Zimbabwe, along with our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe, has submitted a petition to the government calling for the revocation of the Nyatsuros’ British citizenship (see: http://zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/760-kick-out-zanu-pf-zimbabwe-vigil-diary-27th-february-2016).
The petition is currently being considered by the Home Office. We feel that the support of a former Conservative Lord Chancellor and a former Labour Home Office minister such as yourselves would add weight to our request.
On a broader front we are campaigning for the situation in Zimbabwe to be discussed in Parliament andhave enlisted the support of Kate Hoey MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe and, on the Conservative side, Alok Sharma MP for ReadingWest and others.
We have staged a number of demonstrations outside the Nyatsuros’ clinic which have received widespread publicity and plan to stage another demonstration there on 29th April to keep up the pressure on them to make up their minds between farming in Zimbabwe and doctoring in the UK.
Other Points
There is a letter on our campaigns page about the Nyatsuros which supporters can send to their own MPs (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/764-suggested-letter-to-your-mp).
One of our supporters Emmaculate Tshuma was picked up by the immigration authorities early on Wednesday morning. Emmaculate, who is only 18, was dragged out of bed and treated very roughly and is now in detention. There is a petition to the Home Secretary about how she was treated. To sign go to: https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-stop-the-deportation-of-emmaculate-to-zimbabwe?recruiter=52935447&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink.
A video about this is available here: ROHR Condemns the violent and unlawful detention of its UK member Emmaculate Tshuma. A collection was made for Emmaculate at the Vigil.
Zimbabweans await with baited breath the outcome of Mugabe’s visit to Japan. Not to hear what tea was served at his meeting with the Emperor but because the purpose of his journey is obviously to consult his doctors in Singapore for a second time in the past few weeks.
Quote of the week: ‘Zhuwao’s statement is the height of crass insanity and vindicates the PDP’s position that there are no genuine reformers in Zanu PF, but only looters and grabbers’ – People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume, speaking about the 1st April indigenisation deadline set by Mugabe’s nephew.
On a blustery wet Easter Saturday thanks to those who were there at the start to set up: Tatonga Gutah, Isabell Gwatidzo, Fungayi Mabhunu, Anna Mafunga, Michelle Makoni, Patricia Masamba, Eletha Mpofu, Roseline Mukucha, Fungisai Mupandira, Marlon Nyamakanga and Chipo Parirenyatwa. Thanks to Roseline, Isabell and Etines for looking after the front table and to Chipo for selling all the wristbands we had at the Vigil.
Thanks to the team who put up the tarpaulin and the high banners: Tatonga, Fungayi and Marlon. Thanks also to those who stayed till the end to help pack up: Rashiwe Bayisayi, Tafadzwa Buka, Percy Dube, Isabell Gwatidzo, Etines Kapiya, Fungayi Mabhunu, Anna Mafunga, Michelle Makoni, Patricia, Masamba, Lipi Mhlope, Eletha Mpofu, Roselyne Mubayina, Roseline Mukucha, Fungisai Mupandira, Beverley Mutandiro and Chipo Parirenyatwa.
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: 22 signed the register.
