London: second anniversary of Zimbabwe Vigil
The Vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London is marking its second anniversary with a demonstration this Saturday. Zimbabwean exiles and sympathisers from various parts of the UK will gather outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in the Strand from 12 noon to 6pm accompanied by drummers. The Saturday Vigil has been unbroken since 12th October 2002 - the only continuing protest against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. A highlight was the recent visit in support by a foremost critic of the Mugabe regime, Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo. The aim of the Vigil is to keep up international awareness of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, which has seen a quarter of the population forced into exile. It has done this mainly through a series of petitions, most notably one to the UN signed by more than 40,000 people requesting it to send representatives to investigate human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Other petitions on various Zimbabwean issues include ones to the European Union, the Commonwealth, Interpol and the international and English cricket authorities. A petition calling on President Mbeki of South Africa to use his influence to ensure free and fair elections in Zimbabwe signed by 22,000 people is to be presented to the South African High Commission in London. The Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand is diagonally opposite Charing Cross Station. For more information visit: www.zimvigil.co.uk