In Recognition of AFRICA DAY - Sunday 25th MAY 2025: Updated
Today (Saturday 24th May 2025) we presented our Petition to the UK PM at Number 10 Downing Street at 14:00. This had been arranged (3 weeks ago) with the DSLO (Downing Street Liaison Office Police Unit). In addition, a copy will be e-mailed to the Zimbabwe Desk within the FCDO located in King Charles Street (Accessable via the arch opposite the front door to 10 Downing Street!)
6 Activists were cleared to enter the gates of Downing Street to handover at that 'famous' front door - with a letter box inscribed with the words "First Lord of the Treasury"Note However, due to train delays and other emergecies only 3.5 (three and one half!) entered the famous courtyard at Number 10!!
This article became 'LIVE' at 14:30 as planned, after we physically delivered the written petition, and the wriiten document can be read or downloaded at this LINK - Click Here to Read/Download
We have done this many times before as can be seen on this link to our summary of the last 33 months of activism and demonstrations 16 Events Not Out - as a nod to Zimbabwe's cricket team at Trent Bridge (May 22nd to Africa Day - 25th May 2025)
Diana Machingauta, Vengai Mutsawu, Tatenda Changambika, Tawanda Matangambiri, Mollin Muteto and Happiness Ncube, will be delivering the Petition to the Offices within 10 Downing Street. Tawanda will be filming the video log of the hand over and comments from all the petitioners about Africa Day, and how Zimbabwe is NOT an ideal representative of the real potential within the Continent!
However things did not go to plan - Tawanda, and Mollin got caught up in the train chaos today so could not arrive in time for the ID Checks at the Gates to Downing Street - they were only 10 minutes late - but the police are VERY strict! Very Strict indeed. Tatenda and Vengai both had family emergencies to contend with. So it was left to myself to take up one place plus Happiness's young daughter to fill in! - See the photo log.
Later today we will get a chance to review our activities and more details about the events as they unfolded. Further we will link to a new FLICKR Album {CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALBUM} of the days demo and Petition with all who attended. Further train chaos followed us - and I was delayed returning home by nearly 3 hours! Thus a more full write up will be finished tomorrow!
We were also ably supported by Dickson Chikwizo, Josephine Jenje, Spence Guzha (Southend CCC), Tamuka Diza (and we had a phone conversation with hisfather - Flemming Diza) and the glorious Tryness Ncube - plus Tawanda and Mollin. In addition we did catch the attention of the several hundred Union Jack waving protesters who were making their views known that they were not happy with Keir Starmer!
The First Lord of the Treasury is one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. This role is usually held by the Prime Minister.
Since the 17th century, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have collectively carried out duties that were previously held by the Lord High Treasurer (head of His Majesty’s Treasury).
The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury also include:
- the Second Lord of the Treasury - the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has most of the functional financial responsibilities
- Junior Lords Commissioners of the Treasury - other members of the government, usually government whips in the House of Commons
10 Downing Street is the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, and not of the Prime Minister.