London anti-Zanu PF demo

The delegation was led by Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha and included leaders of some bankrupt parastatals.

Displaying posters reading: ‘Don’t fund Mugabe’, ‘51% tax on investment’, ‘Britain don’t invest with Mugabe’s govt of thieves’,   ‘Where is Itai Dzamara?’ and ‘Bring back Itai Dzamara’ we handed out the following flyer as people went into the building:

‘BEWARE

A friendly warning to anyone thinking of investing in Zimbabwe. 

For every £100 invested you can immediately lose £51 because of Mugabe’s indigenisation policy.

Despite talk of relaxing the opaque indigenisation rules, Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao has just been appointed the new Indigenisation Minister and insists he will push ahead with the programme ‘for black empowerment’. This requires white and foreign-owned businesses to cede a 51% stake to local black ‘businessmen’ ie Mugabe’s Zanu PF cronies.

For an overview of the financial situation in Zimbabwe see the article by Todd Moss and Jeffrey Smith published on the Center for Global Development website, see: http://www.cgdev.org/blog/washington-and-imf-shouldn%E2%80%99t-follow-zimbabwe-over-another-cliff. Todd Moss is a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for Africa. Jeffrey Smith is s an Africa specialist at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights.

They say‘Zimbabweans should not expect economic recovery while Mugabe’s heartless and economically illiterate junta remains in charge’.

So our message to you is: hold back on investment untilthere is a return to the rule of law in Zimbabwe.’

Stony-faced Zimbabwean delegates and officials refused to take the flyer but others read it with interest.

As the meeting got underway, they could not fail to hear us singing and dancing outside, punctuated with chants of ‘Down with Mugabe’. Draped on the railings across the road they could see our banners: ‘End murder, rape and torture in Zimbabwe’ and ‘No to Mugabe, no to starvation’.

The demonstrators gave a cheerful thumbs down when they were filmed by an obvious CIO agent.

Some of the people at the demonstration had got up as early as 4.30 am to join us on a wet day from places as far away as Southampton on the south coast and Birmingham in the Midlands. Thanks to: Abel Chikanya, Cecil Shumba, Chipo Kamhunga, Dennis Benton, Enniah Dube, Epiphania Phiri, Esther Nyambi, Eugenia Mushonga, Fungayi Mabhunu, Fungisai Mupandira, Hilda Gwesele, Humphrey Dube, John Machaya, Marjory Kunaka, Mary Ndoro, Mavis Chisvo, Mercy Chapepa, Michael Tinarwo, Paul Chipamhadze, Prue Glanfield, Rashiwe Bayisayi, Roda Majoni, Rose Benton, Sharon Moyo, Tarisai Murwira, Tino Mashonganyika, Tryness Ncube, Vimbai Bhanhire, Virginia Mutyambizi, Tania Machaya and Yvonne Makombe.

The demonstration was organised by the Zimbabwe Action Forum on behalf of the Zimbabwe Vigil and the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR). Another protest is planned for Wednesday outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London starting at 2.30 pm when the Zimbabwe delegation hopes to persuade the diaspora to prop them up financially.

For pictures of the protest check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.

FOR THE RECORD: 31 signed the register.

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.