Zimbabweans “mourning death of democracy” Event
Published:
May 08, 2011 12:25
by Tash [Alan Lodge] |
Neighbourhoods: nottingham
Saturday 7th May
Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network hosted 'Zimbabwean Day' in Nottingham.
The event was held at the : Goshen Community Centre, 164 Alfreton Road, Nottingham.
In a statement to The Zim Diaspora Regis Manyanya, Chairman of Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network [NZCN], said that Zimbabwe Day would be celebrated under the theme “mourning the death of democracy”.
Mr Manyanya said the theme was influenced by the tragic events in Zimbabwe which have seen thousands of Zimbabwe people murdered and persecuted by the Mugabe regime.
He said Zimbabwean day, popularly known as the Independence day, is supposed to be celebrated but in Nottingham the mood will be different as many Zimbabweans believe we are still living in bondage.
Taking you back to 1980 the then new Zimbabwean prime minister, Robert Mugabe, told us that "peace and stability was only going to be achieved when all of us, first as individuals and secondly as part of the whole Zimbabwean national community, feel a definite sense of individual security on the one hand and have an assurance of national peace and security on the other."
Mugabe went on to say "whether be it your social, colour line or political beliefs black or white join me in a new pledge to forget our grim past, forgive others and forget, join hands in a new amity, and together, as Zimbabweans, trample upon racialism, tribalism and regionalism and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate our society as we reinvigorate our economic machinery."
Barely three years after this speech the army was unleashed in Matabeleland and ever since then the people of Zimbabwe have not experienced any meaningful peace.
Regis Manyanya asks, "what peace? Is there justice in this world? Will some dictators be brought to justice one day, we wonder? There are still stories of Zimbabweans being subjected into slavery in some neighboring countries, some Zimbabweans are still languishing in detention for having had used a Malawian or South African passports to flee the regime in Zimbabwe."
“We have put up the show and invited distinguished speakers drawn from various professionals and politicians among Zimbabweans in the diaspora,” said Manyanya.
He said speakers were expected to explore various socio-economic and political challenges the country was facing. “The mood among Zimbabweans is that they don’t believe they are really free because of their situation back home."
"The failed promises made by Mr Mugabe when he took office in 1980, and the plunder of our rich country will be the main topics?” he said. “I am therefore inviting Zimbabweans from all different background, tribe, colour (black and white) to come and join us in this important talk by distinguished and remarkable speakers,”
Links to earlier events in Nottingham:
2008 Zimbabwean Asylum Rights Demo @ Speakers Corner, Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/03/395015.html
2008 Zimbabwe demo calling for release of election results
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/04/396975.html
2008 Full Circle Demo: From weapons to wars to refugees. Market Sq. Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414055.html
2009 Zimbabwe ‘Death of Democracy’ Gathering in Hyson Green, Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/427943.html
2009 Zimbabwe ‘Death of Democracy’ Gathering in Hyson Green [Feature]
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/04/428179.html
+++
Zimbabwe Association for information and asylum assistance:
Zimbabwe Association Ltd
Development House
56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4LT
0207 549 0355
info@zimbabweassociation.org.uk
Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network
The Zim Diaspora
Zimbabwe Civic Action Support Group. Campaigning for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Journalists Mark Press Freedom Day With Push for Open Airwaves
http://www.cadabrapress.com/?p=9871
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Contact email: tash@indymedia.org
Comments
this isnt so "black" or "white"
Published: May 15, 2011 02:04
by
mr grey
who says you have to be on mugabes side or the opposition, there are usually millions of non alligned social libertarian types not put into official or corporate figures,
which is what authoritarians in corporations want the silent majority etc not to vote,go figure
Latest articles feed
Unbelievable
Not that long ago, we had the UK (Labour) government telling us that Mugabe was killing his people. The same government was expelling Zimbabwean refugees back to their country. Zimbabweans had to go to court to stop them doing this. The UK government clearly did not believe their own story.
The problem with the Mugabe opposition is that they are far too comfortable working with the same whites who colonised the country. They NEVER criticism them for their racism - unless it is being 'soft on Mugabe'. They NEVER mention colonialism or neo-colonianism. The NEVER criticise the IMF. They see Mugabe as a bigger enemy than Western racism. One has to ask what their game is.