As the Mugabe regime intensifies its onslaught on civic society organisations, the Vigil is to appeal to President Zuma to insist on the implementation of the GPA reforms ahead of the elections.
We plan to deliver a petition to President Zuma via the South African High Commission in London during our Vigil next Saturday marking Mugabe’s 89th birthday when we will alert the world to the old man’s determination to steal yet another election.
The demonstration is part of the 21st Global Free Zimbabwe movement which has protested every month since January 2012. The letter to President Zuma reads:
‘Dear President Zuma
The Zimbabwe Vigil is disturbed at indications that you are prepared to allow elections to go ahead in Zimbabwe without the implementation of reforms provided for in the Global Political Agreement.
Lindiwe Zulu, spokesperson for the SADC facilitation team, is quoted by the Financial Gazette in Zimbabwe as saying that as long as the GPA partners make sure there will be no repeat of the mayhem of 2008 elections could go ahead
The Vigil believes the following reforms must be implemented before elections:
• Non-partisan security forces
• Honest voters’ roll
• Impartial electoral commission
• Foreign observers
• Open airwaves
• No hate speech
We think that, without reforms guaranteeing a level playing field, there is no hope of free and fair elections and urge you, as facilitator, to insist on these reforms.
The Zimbabwe Vigil has been protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London every Saturday for the past eleven years in support of human rights and free and fair elections.’
Our fears of a rigged election were supported by comments by President Khama of Botswana who said those responsible for the ‘brutality and intimidation’ of the last elections remain in place and ready to act.
‘I have not seen any evidence that they have changed their attitude towards trying to ensure that Zanu (PF) will emerge victorious’, he said, adding: ‘I think that they (Mugabe supporters) are still capable of trying to engage in intimidation, deploying the security services to bring that about . . . telling the people in the security services how they should vote. The potential for that is still there.’
The MDC T says voting is already being rigged, with soldiers and their wives being registered to vote while other people are being turned away.
At the same time Zanu PF’s grip on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is being tightened, with the departure of the new chairman Mutambanengwe – apparently forced out by Zanu PF. It leaves the organisation with the same officials who were in charge during the last rigged elections.
Other points
• Vigil supporter Wilbert Mukori has been urging us to campaign against the constitution but we felt our energies should be devoted to what is really important: free and fair elections. Indeed, we have been dismayed that so much time and money has been devoted to the ludicrous constitution at the expense of more vital things.
The Vigil has been copied into correspondence about this matter involving Dale Dore, Ben Freeth and Eddie Cross which you can see on our campaigns page (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/474-a-necessary-compromise-too-far. The dialogue is also covered on this link: JAG open letter forum – No. 827- Dated 14 February 2013 – http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb16_2013.html#Z25).
• The Vigil met earlier than usual today to support an Amnesty International protest on behalf of WOZA. The Vigil displayed a poster protesting at the brutal treatment of WOZA at their Valentine Day’s demonstrations in Harare and Bulawayo. Roses were laid on the doorstep of the Embassy.
• Vigil supporters discussed staging a protest outside the Belgian Embassy because of Belgium’s insistence on watering down EU sanctions to benefit the Antwerp diamond trade. People were shocked that Belgium was still ruthlessly pursuing its own interests after its abominable colonial behaviour in Africa.
• We were saddened to learn from Arnold Magwanyata of Zimbabwe We Can about the death of his two grand-daughters (14 and 10) of malaria –another tragedy caused by the looting of Zimbabwe’s resources resulting in the failure of health services.
• The ROHR / Vigil dance troupe had their first practice today and they enjoyed our new drum which boomed down the Strand.
• We have been asked if anyone wants an almost full set of copies of The Zimbabwean dating back to 2003. Please contact the Vigil if you are interested: [email protected].
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.
FOR THE RECORD: 56 signed the register.
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.
