The Zimbabwe Vigil and its sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) will be staging mock citizens’ arrests of Robert and Grace Mugabe, plus John Mangudya (Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) on Friday 12th August in Brighton for crimes against both the people and economy of Zimbabwe. Mugabe will be symbolically apprehended by human rights activist, Peter Tatchell, who unsuccessfully attempted to arrest Mugabe in 1999 and 2001. The three will be marched 110 km to London for trial at the Zimbabwe Vigil at 3 pm on Saturday 13thAugust.
The Brighton to London Walk is to ‘Mourn the Death of Democracy and Human Rights in Zimbabwe’. it was born of an idea by Rashiwe Bayisayi who was inspired by the play ‘After Independence’ written May Sumbwanyambe at the Arcola Theatre, Dalston, London. The Vigil and ROHR performed protest songs and dances to drumming at the Arcola Theatre after the performance on Africa Day, 25th May 2016.
The date of the walk was inspired by the Heroes’ Day celebrations in Zimbabwe. The idea of the arrests was added to underline Zimbabwe’s current problems of economic collapse and civil unrest.
Some 30 Zimbabwean exiles including victims of torture will start out from Brighton at 6 am on Friday taking their 3 ‘prisoners’ with them. The trial outside the Zimbabwe Embassy at 3 pm on Saturday will reflect an actual legal challenge against Mugabe in Zimbabwe brought by the #Tajamuka protest movement on Friday 5th August 2016.
The Walk will raise funds via sponsors and donors to help with the current plight of children in schools in Zimbabwe, to raise awareness for the Zimbabwean diaspora globally to challenge Mugabe and to provide legal protection to those bravely operating in Zimbabwe against the oppressive Zanu PF regime. If you wish to sponsor thisevent, contact details are below.
For more information, contact:
John Burke: 07886801609, john.b@zimrohr.org
Salani ‘Sally’ Mutseyami: 07448730581, salani.m@zimrohr.org.
Company names:
Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR),https://www.facebook.com/110kmzimbabwewalk/,http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/.
Zimbabwe Vigil: URL http://www.zimvigil.co.uk, co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk
Protest to support Linda Masarire
Thursday 11th August from 11 am – 2 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. ROHR activist Linda Masarire has been in custody on trumped up charges in a Zimbabwean prison for more than a month. She has a court date on 11th August and the Vigil and ROHR are gathering to support her. She is a mother of five including a two year old. She is a courageous human rights activist who memorably said ‘We are sick and tired of being sick and tired’. Please come and join us to support this courageous human rights activist.
The Zimbabwe 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.
The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) which was formed on 2007 is the Vigil’s sister organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK activelyfundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe.
