Parallel Universe – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary
The Zimbabwean diaspora was interested to hear from Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo that we are being used by Western countries to promote alarm, despondency and unrest in the motherland where all is ‘calm and peaceful’.
The Herald says Chombo’s remarks came in the wake of the Vigil’s demonstration at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London against the money-raising visit by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa which ended in humiliation for the Minister.
The Herald quotes Chombo as saying ’so-called asylum seekers should be working for nation building rather than fomenting hate messages against the government’.
Chombo blames Diaspora for protests in Zimbabwe
Chombo is cushioned by his vast wealth. He seems to be living in a parallel universe inhabited only by the Mugabe mafia.
Messy divorce exposes Minister Chombo’s mega riches
They appear to be too far gone to see that it is the state that they have created that promotes ‘alarm, despondency and unrest’ – a state that can charge a pastor with treason for wearing the Zimbabwe flag and working for nation building without hate.
Zimbabwean exiles were protesting outside the Embassy in London on Wednesday when we saw pictures of the crowds of lawyers who had turned up in court to offer their services free to Pastor Evan Mawarire. We were encouraged to read the reflections of Pastor Scott Marques who was among the many who gathered to support Pastor Evan (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/806-reflections-on-pastor-mawarires-court-case–wednesday-13th-july-2016).
Whatever the delusions of the dying regime, the bottom line is that it has run out of money. Once again the army has been told that they cannot be paid on time. Eddie Cross, the MDC-T MP, says the crunch appears to be imminent.
‘The regime has its back to the wall in Harare and I see no way out . . . The regime has falsified the financial position of the state and the IMF talks have collapsed leaving the regime in Harare totally reliant on the international community for emergency support.’
See: The Economic and Political Crisis in Zimbabwe – Eddie Cross
The Vigil believes this support must only come when the corrupt Mugabe regime steps down and allows real change.
Other points
- A meeting of the Zimbabwe Action Forum after the Vigil attended by about 40 people agreed that Zanu PF could not be entrusted with any foreign loans, which instead should go to a transitional authority. The meeting discussed a planned all-stakeholders’ conference to discuss the way forward, including calling on the UN to assist in establishing a transitional authority and supervising elections for a new government.
- Women at the Vigil ‘beat the pot’ in solidarity with women back home.
- For ROHR in Zimbabwe’s statement on the current civil action see: http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/statement-rohr-zimbabwe-14th-july-2016/ and for photos of ROHR activists outside Evan Mawarire’s court case see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72157668163195673.
- For reports on the two weekday demonstrations in support of Pastor Mawarire’s ‘Shutdown Zimbabwe’ campaign, see: http://zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/press-releases/804-enough-is-enough-media-release-from-the-zimbabwe-vigil–wednesday-13th-july-2016 and http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/805-standing-still-is-suicide-zimbabwe-vigil-protest-thursday-14th-july-2016.
- Thanks to those who came early to help set up: Mercy Bayipayi, Rashiwe Bayisayi, Mavis Chisvo, Sibongile Gumbo, Isabell Gwatidzo, Etines Kapiya, Fungayi Mabhunu, Phillip Mahlahla, Nancy Makurira, Rosemary Maponga, Cephas Maswoswa, Tarisai Matambanadzo, Edna Mdoka, Praisego Moyo, Eletha Mpofu, Eunice Mucherechedzo, Roseline Mukucha, Alfredy Mukuvare, Esther Munyira, Salani Mutseyami, Mduduzi Ndlovu, Sibusiso Ngwenya, Chipo Parirenyatwa, Eva Sanyahokwe, Michael Sirewu, Zenzo Siziba, Emmaculate Tshuma, Terence Utaumite and Elector Zvorwadza. Thanks to Roseline, Eunice and Tarisai for looking after the front table and to Phillip, Cephas, Mduduzi and Alfredy for putting up and taking down the banners. Thanks also to Elector Zvorwadza for contributing a hamper to the Reading fundraiser and to Chipo P for persuading sponsors to fund ROHR Leicester’s project to provide food aid for children in Hwange.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website. For videos of Vigils and other events, check the ROHR facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/www.rohrzimbabwe.org/videos?fref=photo.
FOR THE RECORD: 88 signed the register.
