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- Written by: John Burke
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Gukurahundi Genocide: Tragic Subject - Petition to the Prime Minister!
On Thursday 5th December 2024 we revisited the topic of the Gukurahundi Genocide, having previously done so on Thursday 19 July 2018 {CLICK FOR THE 2018 Petition} to the then Prime Minister Theresa May {CLICK FOR ARTICLE}- again in partnership with ZAPU members - who were the main "targets" of this heinous campaign. Ostensibly started in 1982 with the dismissal of Joshua Nkomo - from the fledgling Zimbabwe Government, upon the order of Robert Mugabe.
This time around, we congregated outside the newly "secured" Zimbabwe Embassy - they have got some grim looking metal security gated fabrications at the side and front entrances - to make the Embassy even less friendly or appealing to the Zimbabwean Diaspora - security concerns or Guilt? - we have to ask why these new gates - {photo on Flickr - click to see for yourself SIDE DOOR - 429 CORNER DOOR }.
True to form the guilty inside locked their doors - simply as we were there. Indeed they sent out a CIO to sit in his new BMW X6 to "observe us" - so we took their photos too - again on our Flickr Album of the day. {CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DAYS PHOTO ALBUM} Please note that due to technical constraints, the videos recorded today will take some considerable time to be 'compressed' in order to be displayed upon our Flickr Platform - so expect videos to be appearing by the weekend please.
We took some more photos with our "Zanu PF Must Go" banner and by 13:30 we sidled off towards Trafalgar Square and onto Whitehall. by 13:45 we were arranged opposite Downing Street - under the gaze of "Monty" at his commemorative statue. By the time we have said our hellos to the new supporters opposite Downing Street it was time to present our band of 6 petitioners to the Diplomatic Police Unit in control of Downing Street. Ronald T Mutumbi, was due to be the Organiser of the 6 of us today - but had unexpected problems with travel on the day - such a pity.
So we 6 lined up at the solid security gates {making the Zimbabwean Embassy gates looking a little flimsy!} at the entrance to Downing Street. Our Police Diplomatic Unit Escort - was a friendly as any tourist guide - calling us in by our first names! As some may know within those gates we have to go through Air Port Quality X-Ray machines to check all our bags, mobile phones or any metal objects.
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5th December 2024 at 14:00 to the Office of the UK Prime Minister,
Also by e-mail and post to The FCDO and the Commonwealth Secretariate in London.
Some may know this as the Gukurahundi Genocide - but the Shona word of 'Gukurahundi' cannot ever convey the horrors and 'pure psychotic outrage' conducted sometime from 1983 (approx.) to 1987 when - due to this violent and heartless pressure the leader of ZAPU at that time Dr Joshua Nkomo, reluctantly agreed to subsume ZAPU into the newly created ZANU PF - laughingly termed the "UNITY ACCORD".
A lesson in violence and deceit that still haunts Zimbabwe to this day - as well as being an ongoing strategy of the Zanu PF regime ever since - and now continued by the complicit (in the genocide} E D Mnangagwa.
But returning to the word "GUKURAHUNDI" - the literal meaning, which loosely translates to "the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains". However this can never represent the inhuman genocide which took place - instigated by Mugabe to enforce a one-party State.
The Beginnings
Identifying as a member or supporter of ZAPU became a death wish.
Under the then Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe, a caveat was promulgated, outlawing ZAPU and forfeiting all its properties to the State. Some of the properties belonged to ZPRA, the armed wing of ZAPU during the liberation struggle. Everything was seized and forfeited to the state. Dr Joshua Nkomo was persecuted and hounded into exile. His lieutenants, the late Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and the late Commander Lookout Masuku were thrown into Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on trumped up charges.
Just like in East Germany in 1990, it has been four decades of denial and deafening silence.
The Evidence Slowly Emerging {Still}
But now, the new light is being shed on these days of horror. Thousands of historical documents that appear to expose the perpetrators are now becoming available in a raft of foreign archival collections. The documents are wide-ranging and include, among others, diplomatic correspondence, intelligence assessments and raw intelligence garnered by spies recruited from within the Zimbabwean government. These papers—augmented by the testimony of Zimbabwean witnesses finding courage in old age—appear to substantiate what survivors and scholars have always suspected but never been able to validate: Mugabe, then Prime Minister, was the prime architect of mass killings that were well-planned and systematically executed.
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- Written by: Dickson Chikwizo CCC and ZHRO
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It was a big 'showdown' to the community {and the World}, that injustice is happening to a greater degree in Zimbabwe than ever before.
Myself, Tendai, Model, Simbarasche, Greatman and Kelvin {see photo} delivered the 24 page written petition to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer at 13:30 Thursday 24th October 2024 {and an additional copy was e-mailed to Robert Ison on the Zimbabwe Desk round the corner at the FCDO}
The hand over of our two petitions is sending a strong message that things are extremely serious in Zimbabwe.
The ladies group later in the day {at 14:30} handed over a petition looking at the terrible situation with maternal deaths {mortality} and childhood related fatalities. Three of the lady petitioners have already provided feedback on how they felt the day within the gates of Downing Street had meant for them.
- Phillis Melody {CLICK HERE to read her reaction}
- Josephine {CLICK HERE to read this report}
- Jane Mundangepfupfu's reaction is within the body of the write up of the 24th October 2024, as is further writing from Josephine Jenje-Mudimbu. That full report can be found at this link {CLICK HERE}
I have added some important and significant extracts from the full written petition regarding the Constitutional and other Injustices within Zimbabwe - as in my photo referred to previously. Please read the items below in italics:
"The Ongoing Constitutional Injustice in Zimbabwe.
From all sides, both within and without Zimbabwe, the Zanu PF regime is failing. They are failing to act as a government. However, their self-obsession and desire to maintain power – makes them more akin to a Mafia! Its not just us, listen to ZAPU President Michael Nkomo below;"
Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo has written today {23rd October 2024} on the ZAPU.ORG website a heart-felt & poignant message regarding the serious Maternal Death issues within Zimbabwe. {Michael is the son of the ZAPU leader at the time of Zimbawe's hard fought Indepence, Joshua Nkomo}.
“The disastrous reign of ZANU PF in Zimbabwe is now a regional crisis affecting the whole of SADC. Fearing peer review and the regional call for accountability, the rogue regime in Harare is now fomenting chaos by actively participating in the rigging of elections across the SADC region.”
“So ‘politically radioactive’ is ZANU PF that everything it touches turns to chaos.”
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- Written by: Basil Kamombe
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Mnangagwa's Chairmanship Sparks Controversy and Concern
The situation in Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa has raised significant concerns regarding human rights, governance, and the role of regional bodies like the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Since Mnangagwa took power in 2017, the country has experienced a series of violent events, including the military's involvement in elections, protests, and a broader crackdown on dissent.
SADC, established to promote development, peace, and security, appears to have been ineffective in addressing the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe. Critics argue that the organization has prioritized political alliances over the well-being of the citizens it is meant to serve.
This perception of SADC as a protective shield for leaders rather than a force for accountability has fuelled disillusionment among Zimbabweans.
In response to the dire situation, there is a call for the formation of a shadow diaspora government that can advocate for the rights and voices of Zimbabweans who feel silenced. Such a government could provide a platform for representation and push for international recognition, aiming to bring attention to the democratic crisis in Zimbabwe.
The emphasis on youth representation is also crucial, as the SADC region has a significant young population that can play a vital role in driving change. Mobilizing young leaders and activists could foster a new wave of advocacy for democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Overall, the need for accountability, effective governance, and genuine representation in Zimbabwe remains urgent, and the role of regional organizations like SADC will be critical in determining the future of the country.
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- Written by: Basil Kamombe, Moses Mbano and John Burke
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UPDATE: Demo and Petition confirmed by Diplomatic Police Unit for 14:00 on Thursday 30th May 2024.
**This will be subject to the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, calling for a General Election NOW CONFIRMED for 4th July 2024, and thus drastically increasing the 'activity' around 10 Downing Street including a "media circus" of reporters and photographers in the next week or so. Therefore we have also alerted the Zimbabwe Desk at the FCDO to receive the Petition as well.
AS ZIMBABWEANS BASED ACTIVISTS IN THE UK PLAN FOR A DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON, UK.
The Zimbabwean President must not sign the new law proposed; which is the PVO Private Voluntary Organisation Amendment Bill. #STOPPVOBILL
Responding to the PVO hearings which took place last week in Zimbabwe, Basil Kamombe a UK based Activist has condemned the violence which likely shows that a number of people present were bussed-in by Zanu-PF ‘elites’ and politicians. Cases of violence were recorded during the hearings.
“This bill is disastrous and especially a time where the Zimbabwean government is just passing laws that are shrinking the democratic space in Zimbabwe.”
How would something that likely benefit the country, but have a group of people singing
“Asingade ngaabude muZimbabwe” meaning if you don’t, want leave Zimbabwe or slogans like “tengesa uone mashura” (sellout and see what happens) it is the language of Zanu-PF and the language of violence to instil fear to those against the Bill,”
We managed to track down other Activists who have joined hands to organise a number of demonstrations in London including petitions for the international community to see the injustice of the constitution taking place in Zimbabwe. Greatman Makipa shared his concern on the impact of the PVO Bill on how it will be made difficult for Human Rights Organisations to be registered in Zimbabwe, ZHRO also expressed their concern as the support coming through for development fund in Zimbabwe is close to a billion dollars and Zimbabwe will likely lose all that funding because of this absurd law if it is passed, these organisations have been helping the lives of many Zimbabweans since the government does no little help to its own citizens.
Ronald Mutumbi also made his comment on how about 4 members of the CCC were arrested in Masvingo for disrupting PVO Bill hearings of which the Zanu-PF youth militia, who are the real culprits, are walking scot free. It is evident that the Bill itself is a ‘criminal’ bill to the Citizens who are already suffering in the hands of the regime. As part of the demonstration we have Human Rights Activists who will be joining in who shared their concern over the ongoing constitution injustice in Zimbabwe.
Like Michelle Nokuthaba Mpofu, Diana Machingauta, Tendai Christian Mapfumo, Xoliso Sithole, Simbarashe Jingo, who are based in the UK who are fearlessly speaking out against the regime which is endangering their lives. We also saw Job Sikhala was threatened last week with Zanu-PF government to charge him with the Patriotic Act after speaking at the Human Rights Summit in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Zimbabwe is at a crossroads. The weight of a stolen election, unprecedented corruption and the looting of public assets sits heavy on the shoulders of Zimbabweans who want and deserve better.
- This morning around 1 am { Dec 4, 2023} ,two armed men raided @HMBChambers the home of Tendai Biti Law, they abducted a security officer & later dumped him in Manavale. They asked him questions of a political nature which he, of course, could not respond to as it is not his line of work.
- We condemn the use of intimidation and security apparatus to violate rights of dissenting views. We hope the matter will be fully investigated by the police. No one should feel unsafe in Zim. We restate that Tendai Biti Law is a law firm not a political party office.
- Employees who work at Tendai Biti Law are professionals hired for their competencies and not for politics, they should not be dragged into any party politics or intimidated.
Earlier comments on 11th November 2023.
The environment in the world right now is toxic. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have pushed Zimbabwe to the bottom of the world's attention calendar. This has allowed the vampire state here to carry out brazen election fraud.
Not satisfied, the regime is now engaged in a malicious push to weaken our struggle, the progressive movement, through the illegal recall of elected public representatives. It is therefore shocking to hear, and read, a daily stream of abusive, malicious and defamatory claims that Professor Welshman Ncube and I, are colluding with the regime and its proxies to append a struggle that have occupied and consumed all our adult lives.
I do not speak for Prof Ncube, an honest and decent comrade who buried his dear mother on Friday, but as someone who has been in this struggle for as long as I have, one who has endured Zanu PF's jails and physical attacks by the same, it is heartbreaking, if not tragic, that many Cdes that have been with us on this journey are now given false labels and badges, Zanu PF wish they had coined first.
I don't believe in recalls. I have never been part of recalls. I will never be part of recalls. In my life, I have been recalled twice in 2015 and in 2021 through the pernicious use of section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
I know the pain of a recall. My family knows the pain of a recall. The people of Harare East know the pain a recall. With other MPs, such as Temba Mliswa, we unsuccessfully fought for the removal and repeal of section 129(1)(k). Like most Zimbabweans, I only get to read about the patently illegal recalls by Mr. Tshabangu in the newspapers.
Given what I and my family have given to this struggle, it saddens me that I have to state publicly that I will never be part of a project to weaken the democratic struggle in Zimbabwe.
I have been imprisoned and tortured for the change we all seek, and I have stood firm. I have never worked for Zanu PF, and I will die before I lend my hand to the illegitimate Zanu PF regime.
I had hoped to be a Member of Parliament. I have my reservations about the process that prevented this happening. I have my challenges and reservations about our identity, structural, strategic and procedural polity.
I am a democrat who believes in constitutionalism, the rule of law, transparency, openness and collective leadership.
I can never compromise on these core values.
However, no dispute nor differences is ever sufficient to place one at the service of Zanu PF.
I have a daily job at my law practice and that's where I have retreated to fight for Zimbabweans in that sphere of my influence. Additionally, I have progressive international engagements that require my full attention.
Fellow Zimbabweans, all this chatter and actions by the illegitimate regime and its proxies are an engineered distraction from the main prize: to free ourselves from this rapacious dictatorship. It has been a long and tortuous road; and victory is closer than the distance back to where we started.
Tendai Biti
11 November 2023