Forward to the Stone Age – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

Mugabe is an appropriate choice as chairman of the African Union (AU). People at the Vigil thought that the ancient dictator, boots licked by cringing cronies, lording it over a cowed and impoverished people, certainly meets the job description. 

The AU used to be called the Organisation of African Unity until it became so discredited that the name was changed.

But as Zimbabweans know all too well, rebranding is just a means of continuing looting under another name. The unreformed organisation remains a club of paranoid megalomaniacs and kleptocrats, with the exceptions coerced into connivance.

So who could better fill the role of front man for Africa than Mugabe, ruler of the fourth worst economy in the world according to the Wall Street Journal. The AU deserves Mugabe. He will show the world the true face of African leadership.

With typical hypocrisy, the South African head of the AU Commission set out the aims of the Summit meeting: ‘Democracy, good governance and human rights’. Well they have found the man for the task. Prepare for a new African Renaissance: this one rebranded as the Stone Age.

Mugabe was lucky to escape stoning on his visit to Lusaka the other day when he was met by demonstrators chanting ‘Mugabe must go’. In full-damage limitation mode, the Herald was quick to dismiss the protesters as a ’handful’.  Look at the video to see how many people comprise a Herald handful (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z-yONT73Ho).

Other points

·         ‘Mugabe must go’ will be the theme of a demonstration by a coalition of Zimbabwean groups at the Vigil on Mugabe’s 91^st birthday – 21^st February. ‘It must be his last birthday in office’, said the organiser Makusha Mugabe of MDC T. See: https://docs.google.com/document/d/188a3Q3muK9F10XNTPha1qOpyABY_WsGiEGylR59N2Ps/edit?pli=1.

·         Joke of the week: the AU is not the only useless international organisation. You could add the EU with its re-engagement with Mugabe policy. But first prize must go the United Nations. It says unemployment is at 5.42% (see:http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2015/01/20/zimbabwe-unemployment-at-5.42-un – Zimbabwe unemployment at 5.42%: UN). Obviously,anyone selling two tomatoes (or digging their own grave) is counted as employed.

·         Thanks to Epiphania Phiri, Rachel Mudzimba and Eunice Mucherechedzo for helping to set up on a day when we were threatened with snow. Our hearts were lifted by a generous donation from an anonymous supporter.

·         You may be interested in two reports on recent visits to Zimbabwe, the first by the Australia-based Moses Chomboko of Zimbabweans United for Democracy (Zunde), which is joining us for the 21^st February protest (see:  https://nehandaradio.com/2015/01/23/zimbabwe-must-worse-somalia-admit-failure/). The other report is by Australian former government minister Peter Costello (see: Zimbabwean Diary –   http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/australia-diary/9422362/zimbabwean-diary/). He says he looks forward to visiting Mugabe in Heroes’ Acre.

·         The Zimbabwe Action Forum will meet after the Vigil on 7^th February and will discuss how to further a suggestion that there should be a UK parliamentary debate on Zimbabwe. We propose to put together a letter which supporters can send to the MPs to encourage them to support the debate in parliament. If you can’t come to the meeting you are welcome to email your input to co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk. The proposal for a parliamentary debate has gained a lot of traction.

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: 20 signed the register.