No to Mugabe’s poison – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary

The Zimbabwean diaspora turned out in force to present a petition to the Prime Minister’s official residence on Saturday disowning racist comments by Robert Mugabe.

The petition read: ‘Exiled Zimbabweans, supporters and friends,at the Vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, record our disgust at the anti-white rants of Zimbabwe’s illegitimate President Mugabe. We wish to affirm our unwavering support of Zimbabwe’s constitutional requirement for non-racism.’ 

We had not taken into account a big Gay Pride march which also converged on Whitehall and we had to battle down a route jam-packed with gaily-dressed people. 

Five Zimbabweans were allowed into 10 Downing Street to hand over the petition, which was launched at the Vigil a few weeks ago after Mugabe – speaking about the latest xenophobic violence in South Africa – said Africans should direct their anger at whites rather than fellow blacks.

As he put it: ‘I give poison not for you to swallow but to give to someone else . . .’ The remarks were made during a visit to SADC Headquarters in Botswana and were greeted with applause from the staff.

The petition had been signed by hundreds of people from all over the world who stopped by the Saturday Vigil in the past few weeks.

Here is the letter we addressed to Mr Cameron to explain the petition: 

‘Zimbabwean exiles in the UK wish to disown racist comments by our country’s illegitimate ruler Robert Mugabe, the current Chair of both the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. 

On a recent visit to the SADC headquarters in Botswana Mugabe referred to the latest xenophobic violence in South Africa and said Africans should direct their anger at whites rather than fellow blacks. 

The Zimbabwe Vigil and our associates Zimbabwe Yes We Can and the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe wish to assure you that Mugabe’s racist tirade does not represent the views of the Zimbabwean people. Indeed, his comment is anembarrassment to Zimbabweans forced by his misrule to seek the hospitality of other countries. 

We take this opportunity to also repudiate Mugabe’s anti-Western tirade at the AU summit in Johannesburg this month in which he accused the West of fanning wars in Africa so that it can exploit the continent’s natural resources. 

The Vigil believes that Mugabe should be arraigned before the International Criminal Court like Sudan’s President al Bashir who had to flee the AU summit after being threatened with arrest under an international warrant. AlthoughMugabe’s South African and other friends might refuse to arrest him, an indictment by the ICC would alleviate an intolerable burden on Zimbabwe’s finances by his incessant world travels. 

You will no doubt be aware of the continuing human rights violations in Zimbabwe highlighted tragically by the abduction in March of the activist Itai Dzamara. According to the latest rule of law index, Zimbabwe is ranked 100 out of 102 countries.

No doubt the British taxpayer will be asked to help the millions of Zimbabweans facing starvation because of the ruinous policies of Mugabe who, we believe, is helped to survive by the European Union’s policy of appeasement. 

It does not surprise us that a desperate refugee, apparently from Zimbabwe, has fallen from the sky to his death in London after an attempt to reach the safety of the UK by hiding in the undercarriage of an airliner from Johannesburg. 

We respectfully submit the enclosed petition: ‘Exiled Zimbabweans, supporters and friends, at the Vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, record our disgust at the anti-white rants of Zimbabwe’s illegitimate President Mugabe. We wish to affirm our unwavering support of Zimbabwe’s constitutional requirement for non-racism.’ 

We enclose a report by the Mike Campbell Foundation on racial discrimination in Zimbabwe.’ 

Other points

·       The 41-page report on racial discrimination in Zimbabwe referred to in the letter to Mr Cameron can be seen on this link: http://www.mikecampbellfoundation.com/page/racial-discrimination-in-zimbabwe.

The matter was drawn to the attention of the US Congress in an address thismonth by Ben Freeth, Mike Campbell’s son-in-law see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/697-ben-freeths-address-to-us-congress–2nd-june-2015).

He recalled the racially-inspired Gukurahundi genocide of the early 1980s and went on to ask: ‘What is it that caused the fastest shrinkingeconomy in the recorded history of the world in a peace time situation?’

·       Vigil supporters danced, drummed and sang across the road from 10 Downing Street while our 5petitioners went in to Downing Street to deliver the petition. They were: Mary Muteyerwa, Epiphania Phiri, Catherine Masinge, lazarus Matiyenga and Nobukhosi Moyo. Special thanks to Tryness Ncube and Ephraim Tapa and others who stayed behind to take care of the Vigil while the majority went to Downing Street.

·       Also thanks to Hilda Gwesele, Rody Majoni, Deborah Harry, and Danny Kadiki for fundraising for the Vigil.

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: 63 signed the register.