20th April 2023
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe activists were,
like most right-thinking Zimbabweans, riled by the extent of the looting of
Zimbabwe's natural resources (including Gold, Diamonds and Ivory), money
laundering and corruption, as exposed by the recent 4-episode expose by Al
Jazeera in March and April 2023.
We were compelled to act.
We set about planning specific actions aimed at petitioning
the governments whose citizens and institutions were implicated in the Gold
Mafia rot and bringing the rot to the international limelight.
ROHR Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter set up a planning committee to come
up with an action plan which included mobilising for and organising specific
actions.
The planning committee comprised Nicolate Gwati (Chairperson
of the UK Chapter), Lilian Nleya (Organising Secretary of the UK Chapter),
Alvina Chibhamu (Secretary of the UK Chapter), Vongayi Mufara (Secretary for
Information & Publicity and Spokesperson – UK Chapter), Panyika Karimanzira
(Board Member and Spokesperson – ROHR Zimbabwe) and Racqueline Changunda.
ROHR Zimbabwe was then approached by other prominent human
rights activists who were also thinking of similar action, whereupon the idea
of an All-Group Planning Committee was born and agreed upon.
Consequently, the All-Group Planning Committee comprising UK-based
Zimbabwe-focused human rights groups and activists was set up to agree, organise
and coordinate the planned actions.
Each group deployed some of its members to this All-Group
Planning Committee.
The All-Group Planning Committee comprised members from ROHR
Zimbabwe, ZHRO, Change Radio and prominent individual activists.
ROHR Zimbabwe delegated Nicolate Gwati, Lilian Nleya,
Vongayi Mufara, Racqueline Changunda and Panyika Karimanzira to the All-Group
Planning Committee.
Other members of the All-Group Planning Committee included
Patricia Chinyoka, Washington Ali, Stanford Biti, John Burke, Mary Ndoro, Maud
Bvumbe, Gladys Meck, Barbara Tanyanyiwa and Makomborero Haruzivishe.
The Action
United Arab Emirates Embassy, London
We started at the United Arab Emirates Embassy, 1-2
Grosvenor Cres, London SW1X 7EE on the morning of Tuesday, 18th
April, 2023, where we demonstrated and delivered a petition asking the UAE
government to acknowledge,
respond and act upon the revelations of the Gold Mafia documentary, which
highlights Zimbabwe’s gold dealings in Dubai where proceeds are exported using
Zimbabwe’s diplomatic status via Prophet Uebert (Angel) Mudzanire, Simon
Rudland and Howard "Howie" Baker through Aulion Global trading
registered in UAE.
ROHR Zimbabwe members who participated on this occasion
include Paradzai Mapfumo, Edineth Mtengwa, Malvern Dengu, Maruwiza Nkhambala,
Velisiwe Ndlovu, Panyika Karimanzira, Xoliso Sithole, Racqueline Changunda,
Olivia Chamboko, Vongayi Mufara, Sheilla Mironga, Margret Tashayawedu and Malvern
Dengu,
Other notable activists who attended this demo include, Patricia
Chinyoka of Change Radio, Washington Ali, Masunda Mbengo, Thomas Machingauta, Khonzanani
Mlambo and Josephine Sipiwe Jenje Mudimbu.
For pictures and videos taken at this event, click here.
Zimbabwe Embassy, London
Our next port of call, the same morning of Tuesday, 18th
April, 2023, was the Zimbabwe Embassy, Zimbabwe House, 429 Strand, London
WC2R 0JR. Here we demonstrated, demanding the Zimbabwean government to
investigate the shenanigans exposed by the Gold Mafia expose as well as to
release the incarcerated Job Sikhala and all political prisoners, to stop
lawfare, state capture, and corruption and demanded that President Emmerson
Mnangagwa step down.
ROHR Zimbabwe members who
participated on this occasion include Paradzai Mapfumo, Edineth Mtengwa,
Malvern Dengu, Maruwiza Nkhambala, Velisiwe Ndlovu, Panyika Karimanzira, Xoliso
Sithole, Racqueline Changunda, Olivia Chamboko, Vongayi Mufara, Sheilla
Mironga, Margret Tashayawedu, Maruwiza Nkhambala, Phylis Melody Magejo, Marian
Mangani, Pythias Makonese, Praisego Munzhedzi Moyo, Lindah Chenyama, Mercy
Netsai Gomo, Emmaculate Tshuma and Garikai Mukarati.
Other notable
activists who attended this demo include, Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni, Patricia Chinyoka of
Change Radio, Washington Ali, Masunda Mbengo, Thomas Machingauta, Khonzanani
Mlambo, Josephine Sipiwe Jenje Mudimbu, Olive Ruvimbo Ruzvidzo, Mary Ndoro, Hellena
Gusinyu, Moses Chikwekwete Mbano, Model Pamire and John Burke.
For pictures and videos taken at this event, click here.
South
African High Commission, London
From there,
we proceeded to the South African High Commission, South Africa House, Trafalgar Square,
London WC2N 5DP.
Here we demonstrated and delivered a petition requesting the
South African government to acknowledge,
respond and act upon the revelations of the Gold Mafia documentary, which
highlights Zimbabwe’s gold dealings in Dubai where proceeds are laundered using
Zimbabwe’s Simon Ruland who owns Gold leaf Tobacco in SA, Mahomed Khan who owns Asset Management PKSA
and SALT associates, Howard Baker who owns Rappa Refinery and the Two SA banks
Standard Bank and ABSA that are mentioned in the documentary as having
facilitated opening of accounts to facilitate money laundering.
ROHR Zimbabwe members who participated on this occasion
include Paradzai Mapfumo, Edineth Mtengwa, Malvern Dengu, Maruwiza Nkhambala,
Velisiwe Ndlovu, Panyika Karimanzira, Xoliso Sithole, Racqueline Changunda,
Olivia Chamboko, Vongayi Mufara, Sheilla Mironga, Margret Tashayawedu, Maruwiza
Nkhambala, Phylis Melody Magejo, Marian Mangani, Pythias Makonese, Praisego
Munzhedzi Moyo, Lindah Chenyama, Mercy Netsai Gomo, Emmaculate Tshuma and Garikai
Mukarati.
Other notable activists who attended this demo include,
Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix
Ndiweni, Patricia Chinyoka of Change Radio, Washington Ali, Masunda Mbengo,
Thomas Machingauta, Khonzanani Mlambo, Josephine Sipiwe Jenje Mudimbu, Olive
Ruvimbo Ruzvidzo, Mary Ndoro, Hellena Gusinyu, Moses Chikwekwete Mbano, Model
Pamire and John Burke.
For pictures and videos taken at this event, click here.
British Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street,
London
Our last port of call for the day, was in the afternoon, Tuesday,
18th April, 2023, at the British Prime Minister’s Office, 10
Downing Street, London SW1A 2AB.
Here we demonstrated and delivered a petition to the British
Prime Minister’s Office asking the British government to:-
·
Investigate
Uebert (Angel) Madzanire businesses and Spirit Embassy church ministry.
·
Engage
the UAE Ambassador to the UK to respond to the allegations made in the Gold
Mafia documentary, which highlights Zimbabwe’s gold sold in Dubai with proceeds
exported using Zimbabwe’s diplomatic status via Prophet Uebert (Angel)
Mudzanire, (Presidential
Envoy and Ambassador at large to Europe and the Americas for Zimbabwe).
·
Engage
London Stock Exchange (LSE) to investigate investment dealings with the
Zimbabwe government (Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli is
visiting and meeting investors on 20th and 21st April
and is being hosted by LSE.)
ROHR Zimbabwe members who participated on this occasion
include Paradzai Mapfumo, Edineth Mtengwa, Malvern Dengu, Maruwiza Nkhambala,
Velisiwe Ndlovu, Panyika Karimanzira, Xoliso Sithole, Racqueline Changunda,
Olivia Chamboko, Vongayi Mufara, Sheilla Mironga, Margret Tashayawedu, Maruwiza
Nkhambala, Phylis Melody Magejo, Marian Mangani, Pythias Makonese, Praisego
Munzhedzi Moyo, Lindah Chenyama, Mercy Netsai Gomo, Emmaculate Tshuma and Garikai
Mukarati.
Other notable activists who attended this demo include,
Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix
Ndiweni, Patricia Chinyoka of Change Radio, Washington Ali, Masunda Mbengo,
Thomas Machingauta, Khonzanani Mlambo, Josephine Sipiwe Jenje Mudimbu, Olive
Ruvimbo Ruzvidzo, Mary Ndoro, Hellena Gusinyu, Moses Chikwekwete Mbano, Model
Pamire, Barbara Tanyanyiwa, Deborah Jandles and John Burke.
For pictures and videos taken at this event, click here.
Parliament
Square, Westminster, London
Wednesday, 19th
April 2023, was the second successive day of action for us.
We held a
vigil at Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1A 2AA.
We were appealing to the UK Parliamentarians, particularly
the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Zimbabwe, which was in session, to look into the
matter of the continued incarceration of Job Sikhala, the Zimbabwean opposition
party parliamentarian who has been held in Chikurubi Maximum Prison for 309
days on trumped up charges and denied bail on numerous occasions.
His crime was to represent the family of murdered activist
Moreblessing Ali.
ROHR Zimbabwe members who participated on this occasion
include, Nicolate Gwati, Vongayi Mufara, Michelle Nokuthaba Mpofu, Emmaculate
Tshuma, Edineth Mtengwa, Panyika Karimanzira, Racqueline Farai Changunda and Malvern
Dengu.
Other notable activists who attended this demo include, Patricia
Chinyoka of Change Radio, Washington Ali, Stanford Biti, Makomborero
Haruzivishe and John Burke.
We were also joined by some UK parliamentarians, including the
Chairperson of the APPG for Zimbabwe, Navendu Mishra, the Co-Chairperson of the
APPG for Zimbabwe, Load Jonny Oates, Vice Chairperson of the APPG for Zimbabwe,
Rachel Hopkins and Baroness Kate Hoey.
For pictures and videos taken at this event, click here.
By Information & Publicity Team
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
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