Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

The Vigil made the front page of the Zimbabwe Herald this week (see below).  We are mentioned in the Herald’s interview with Hebson Makuvise, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Germany.  He reportedly says of activists in the UK "Every Saturday they gather at the Zimbabwean Embassy in the UK playing drums denouncing President Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and the inclusive Government. They are then given some money by tourists who visit the embassy in the name of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe.”  He said he has tried without success to dissuade the activists from carrying out such activities.  

The Vigil’s take on...

Senator David Coltart, the Zimbabwean Minister for Education, was given a friendly reception when he came to the Vigil at the end of his visit to London – a welcome that turned to cheers when he put on our bracelet ‘Mugabe Must Go’.  

Surrounded by Vigil supporters, he said ‘I know that many of you are very sceptical about this inclusive government. But I want to let you know that there is a group working very hard to make it work.  Don’t write it off. But you do need to continue the Vigil because things are by no means right yet. ...

Vigil supporters were sceptical about the decision by the Kimberley Process at their meeting in Russia to allow the fraudulent Zimbabwean mining authorities to sell diamonds from Chiadzwa. The fact that Zimbabwe is blessed with such mineral wealth is a cause for rejoicing but we have no faith that Mines Minister Obert Mpuffed-up will honour any agreement.  The bloated minister has proved himself a liar and a cheat. 

The sale of diamonds will further strengthen Zanu PF gangsters such as Mpuffed-up and make them even more resistant to democratic change. Supporters thought that diamonds were likely to finance Zanu PF youth...

The immortal Dr Pangloss was a character in Voltaire’s novel Candide – immortal not least because he is now working for the British Foreign Office. Pangloss was super-optimistic. Amid the chaos of the Lisbon earthquake 250 years ago he could still maintain ‘All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds’.  

This appears to be the attitude of the Foreign Office towards the chaos in Zimbabwe. It sees steady progress (although at a ‘glacial speed’). There are good things happening, we are told. In fact we should jolly well think of going back to enjoy them. 

A different picture...

The Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister, Thokozani Khupe, has spurned opportunities to meet the Vigil during her week long visit to London beginning on Sunday 4^th July. This does not surprise us. We suspect we are seen as a noisy embarrassment by the MDC leadership as they burrow deeper into the fertile ground of Zimbabwean government corruption.  

We couldn’t fail to notice that the first thing that Tsvangirai’s new Minister for Home Affairs, Theresa Makone, did on taking office was to rush to the police to intercede on behalf of a Zanu PF thug, the son of genocidal maniac Mutasa: http://www.swradioafrica.com/news020710/mutasa020710.htm....