by Pythias Makonese and Gift Mawire
Zimbabwean exiles in UK gathered on Saturday evening at Zimbabwe Embassy in London for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of human rights activists who were abducted by Robert Mugabe regime.
Event organisers Sharon Moyo and Simbarashe Mutero , both members of the MDC Youth Assembly in UK and Ireland said the aim of the vigil was to commemorate State abducted activists such as Itai Dzamara and others who are not even on record.
Adding that the vigil will be an annual event , they also stressed that there is need to remember those still facing persecution under Mugabe’s draconian leadership.
“The lives of those abducted and the sufferings of those undergoing persecution from this rogue regime should not be in vain. We should form a united front as Zimbabweans so as to bring down Mugabe’s tyrannical regime”, said Mutero.
All those who turned up overwhelmingly shared a sense of gratitude to the activists who are being beaten, jailed, tortured and abducted for exercising their right to freely express themselves in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe Hypocrisy
“This is clearly hypocrisy of Mugabe when he calls out that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again yet we have been colonised in every sense by this deluded nonagenarian president” , said Moyo.
Under a theme , “To save Zimbabwe, Mugabe has to go ” gathered activists , attracted a sizeable number of the global community who passed through the candlelit vigil showing their support.
Nicholas and Katherine a couple from South Africa stressed that Mugabe’s removal from power has been long overdue and they commended the efforts of the activists both abroad and at home who are working tirelessly to remove this dictatorial government in Southern Africa.
Wendy, a Londoner pointed that Mugabe’s long life served his people as an ultimate stumbling block.
Another protesters said “We do not know how it feels to have a new president and said that the International community should see the gross human rights violations taking place in Zimbabwe.
The general feeling amongst the crowd was somber when one of the organizers Sharon Moyo burst into a mellow song “Senzenina,” which is translated into Shona as “tatadzeiko” in English meaning “what have we done to deserve this” She went on to state that “Zimbabweans have suffered long enough and deserves who stands and cares for its citizens”. This brought out a wave of emotion as protesters were remembering their families back home who are subjected to this corrupt government every day.
Rose Benton of the Zimbabwe Vigil said that the” event was a success as it was the opportune moment to conduct the event given the horrible events that have occurred in Zimbabwe the past year”. The Zimbabwean community did an amazing event to show gratitude to their fellow men and this was a step of future things to come to show Mugabe that we are undivided and his days in power are truly numbered and will serve as a memory in his books.
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