GOLD MAFIA EXPOSE and JOB SIKHALA INCARCERATION – ROHR ZIMBABWE AND OTHERS COMPELLED TO ACT

20^th 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, 18^th 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, 18^th 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, 18^th 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 20^th and 21^st 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, 19^th 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