Produce all skulls - Zimbabwe Vigil Diary
Sacked information minister Jonathan Moyo simply can’t get out of propaganda mode. From his lowly perch as just one of the education ministers, Moyo is reduced to tweeting that the Zanu PF government can’t concentrate on turning around the economy before the repatriation of the remains of First Chimurenga heroes from foreign museums.
The British government last year invited Zimbabwe to send experts for discussions in London on the return of any Zimbabwean human remains held in British museums. But historians say it is highly unlikely these include the skulls of any 19th century Zimbabwean freedom fighters.
So it could be a long search – which means, according to Moyo, farewell to any hopes of the economy receiving any attention for some time, though he did promise that when the government does finally get around to the matter the economy would bounce back ‘big time on the back of the irreversible indigenisation and empowerment bedrock’.
The Vigil can’t wait. We would love to bounce back home.
Moyo’s egregious remarks followed Mugabe’s usual crazy bluster at Zanu PF’s Heroes’ Day rally in Harare at which he accused Britain of displaying the beheaded skulls in a ‘history museum’.
Mugabe went on to extol the achievements of ZimAsset, which he maintained was ‘certainly yielding fruits’. He didn’t mention the 2.2 million jobs he is producing since the last elections, but said the government was delivering 313,368 urban housing units and serviced stands by December 2018.
The Vigil advises prospective foreign investors to examine closely what they are dealing with. They might note the outcome of the long negotiations with the Indian conglomerate Essar to revive Zisco Steel. A month ago industry minister Mike Bimha insisted that the troubled $750 million deal was going ahead. Now he has admitted it is dead.
The Vigil managed to capture pictures of Mugabe visiting the British Museum in search of skulls. He was accompanied by his pet lion Rhodes perching on his shoulder. The museum said it didn’t have the skulls he was looking for but it would no doubt welcome his own as soon as possible for display in the dinosaur room.
For our part, we urge Zanu PF to expand its search for skulls to include the 20,000 victims of Gukurahundi still haunting us today. And by the way where is Itai Dzamara?
Other points
· Thanks to Fungayi Mabhunu for playing the role of Mugabe in our mask and to Tendai Chadehumbe for accompanying him to the British Museum during the Vigil. Thanks to Patricial Masamba for looking after the Vigil in the absence of Mugabe and for being on the front table throughout the Vigil together with Sukoluhle Sibanda and Ivy Dangerembizi. Thanks also to those who arrived early to help set up: Mary Muteyerwa, Thulani and Percy Chagwiza, Sukoluhle, Ivy and Fungayi.
· Another weekday protest about Itai Dzamara’s abduction by the CIO five months ago is taking place on Tuesday 18th August. Meet at 10.30 am at McDonalds, Charing Cross for the protest outside the Embassy at 11 am.
· It is with some relief we greet the end of Mugabe’s time as SADC Chair. For a look at where he has taken the bankrupt organisation, see, for instance: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_w_sadc-tenure-exposes-mugabes-fading-legacy-the-zimbabwe-independent/.
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: 36 signed the register.
