Our city Nottingham being a twin city of Harare Zimbabwean capital naturally we could not ignore the welfare and interests of Zimbabweans both abroad and in the UK, hence with the help of Refuge Forum and other human rights gurus formed the NZCN. So, as per our schedule, yesterday we successfully staged our protest or demonstration between the two crouching lion statues in front of the town house. We had well in advance spelt out our cause for the demo in our adverts on flyers, posters, website (www.nzcn.wordpress.com) and lastly BBC radio Nottingham just before the event. Our main purpose of the demo was to register our concern with the powers that be regarding the issue of forced removal or deportation of Zimbabweans regardless of their immigration status and whatever, the outcome of that day;s elections in Zimbabwe. Hence, fact that the opposition pulled out of the election could not compromise our cause but rather made it much stronger. We were saying even though our life conditions as asylum seekers, and failed asylum seekers are a struggle - travelling far to sign regularly whilst not allowed to work and with no free access to the health delivery system - we feel safer and a bit better off compared to early removal to Zimbabwe. Even other Zimbabweans outside this bracket we felt they that our homeland has been reduced to something worse than a pariah state and too should never be forced to return there. Since even the Prime Minister Gordon Brown described Mugabe as a . . ."criminal and discredited cabal", we were pleading our case with Brown that his government may employ a human face to the rehabilitation issue since most of us are causalities of Mugabe’s 28 years regime - left homeless, jobless and hopeless. Our plea was also that the Queen (whose recent guest Madiba clearly said the Zimbabwean was .."a tragic failure of leadership") may interfere and not only put a blanket cover of no deportation for Zimbabweans but also allow them to work and have it put in black and white. We believe organisations such as Red Cross International, International Organisation for Migration, No Borders, and others do back our cause as well. On that note it was and it still is our humble request on humanitarian ground that we be granted clemency to choose to settle and inter-grate in the UK or for those who feel otherwise, that the Voluntary Return package be reviewed upwards. We feel and know the thought of sudden return to the hell which Zimbabwe has been reduced to (no need to elaborate), is more than a nightmare to most if not all Zimbabweans. Hence, mercy, mercy, mercy is what we are asking for so that we may not fulfil the adage, ‘from the frying pan into the fire’.

The demo started spot on 4pm with participants holding placards and banners and Zimbabwean flag singing the old "Ishe Komborera Africa/Nkosi Sikelela Africa/God Bless Africa" anthem. The reason for singing that one instead of Zimbabwe;s current national anthem was to appeal to Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU) to take action concerning the Zimbabwean crisis. This was followed by a minute of silence to remember those lost their lives both the SA Xenophobia and the Zimbabwe run up to run-off violence (Zanuphobia).

Singing, drumming and dance punctuated with opposition MDC slogans like "A New Zimbabwe! A New Beginning!" "Gukula!" "Izenzo!" "Maitiro!" "Chinja!" "To Save Zimbabwe!" "Mugabe Must Go!" etc. Songs like "Zanu Yaora baba Zanu yaora", "Morgan maiwe Morgan" etc were sung accompanied with a mix of gofingo, kongonya, chibhanduru and free dance. Passersby watched and gazed at this interesting and unusual song and dance alien to the English culture. Some of the participants were wearing printed T-shirts (blue, white and black) carrying some of the above messages. There was quite fair race mix and some of the spectators joined in both the singing and dancing.

The first speaker, Shadreck Gandanzara who came all the way from Croydon, was introduced by the NZCN public relations officer, Innocent Chirawu. Joseph Nyamupingidza from St Albans was also supposed to speak on the occasion but had sent a last minute apology through NZCN chairperson, Regis Manyanya that he could not come.

Shadreck briefed the attendees of the situation at home as people were under coercion to vote in a one-man race election run-off which had been described other political leaders as a "sham". Shadreck said that he felt it his and obligation to do something about exercising his rights and that is why he had travelled that long journey to stand with us in that demo. One passer-by felt provoked by one of the participants anti-Mugabe service chiefs slogan and swirled round showing a clenched fist and saying a "Pamberi ne Zanu!" slogan fueling up more the the anti-Zanu slogans from the participants.

The Evening post was represented by their photographer and later on Caroline Lowbridge interviewed Regis on the phone about the event. BBC radio Nottingham broadcasted their interview with Innocent and Regis that same afternoon. The demo was closed around 6pm with a word of prayer from Innocent, who is also a born again and lay preacher. Regis reminded attendees of the meeting at the Sumac refugee centre later that evening.

SUMAC MEETING

People started tricking dribs and drabs around 6.30pm. They were chatting over some drinks and as we got closer to 8pm ladies in the Small World Kitchen started serving food to guest s at a donation of 3 pounds as stated on the flyer and posters. Around 8.30 the meeting by Regis Manyanya , the NZCN chairperson taking centre stage . he greeted the guests and welcomed them to event. He also gave them a brief summary of the night;s programme. He thanked the those who had attended the previous meeting for the contributions they had made part of which money had been used to purchase two mobile phones for NZCN.

Regis then reiterated on the purpose of the demo which had taken place in afternoon. He thanked all those who had stood up with us to support cause of our demo. Regis said that the main purpose of the demo was to register our concern with the powers that be regarding the issue of forced removal or deportation of Zimbabweans regardless of their immigration status and whatever, the outcome of that day;s elections in Zimbabwe. Hence, fact that the opposition pulled out of the election could not compromise our cause but rather made it much stronger. We were saying even though our life conditions as asylum seekers, and failed asylum seekers are a struggle - traveling far to sign regularly whilst not allowed to work and with no free access to the health delivery system - we feel safer and a bit better off compared to early removal to Zimbabwe, he said. Even other Zimbabweans outside this bracket we felt they that our homeland has been reduced to something worse than a pariah state and too should never be forced to return there. He said that we were and are still pleading with the British government may employ a human face to the rehabilitation issue since most of us are causalities of Mugabe’s 28 years regime - left homeless, jobless and hopeless. “Our plea was and still is also that Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth the 2nd may interfere and not only put a blanket cover of no deportation for Zimbabweans but also allow us to work and have it put in black and white. We believe organisations such as Red Cross International, International Organisation for Migration, No Borders, and others do back our cause as well”, he said. On that note it was and it still is our humble request on humanitarian ground that we be granted clemency and he stressed that no amount of money can attract a Zimbabwean to take as a voluntary return package to that country which has been reduced to the extent of now being even poorer than Rwanda or Somalia.

Regis then called Innocent Chirawu and introduced him as the NZCN public relations officer.

Innocent went to the front and congratulated all the guests for turning up for the occasion. He then said that he was going to describe the conditions in Zimbabwe between 1990 and 1999 which bred the sprouting up of the MDC. Innocent then presented detailed account of what was happening in Zimbabwe during that time. He talked about the drought levi which all workers had to sacrifice from their meager salaries. He said, however, the problem that the fund did not benefit those it was intended at all as some corrupt individuals within Mugabes government abused both levi and the little maize grain which was in the country. Non-governmental organisations had to chip in but the food they brought in was either made accessible to members of the ruling in party only some of who hoarded it in their shops and sold to the starving masses instead. It was also within that same period that the Economic Structural adjustment Programme (Esap) was introduced against all economic advice from various quarters. One of the conditions given Zimbabwe by the IMF was the reduction of the cabinet. This was not done and the cabinet was expanded instead. False assurances to the people continued to come from the finance ministry, for example, that the Esap was like an injection which would be painful at first but yield good results later. This never happened, if anything the rich became richer and the poor became even much poorer. Before the masses had recovered from the Esap trauma, under pressure after street protests by former guerillas who were demanding payment for their role in the 1970s liberation struggle, President Robert Mugabe ordered unbudgeted payouts for 50,000 of the war veterans on November 14, 1997 (The Black Friday). The zimdollar crashed severely like never before on that day. Since then, it’s been downhill all the way, with inflation the highest in the world at nearly 200,000 percent . As if this was not enough in 1998 again , against all economic sense and advice the Zimbabwean government sent troops to assist Kabila in 1998. Mugabe, lured by Congo’s rich natural resources and a desire to increase his own power and prestige in Africa, was the most ardent supporter of intervention on Kabila’s behalf. Kabila and Mugabe had signed a US$200 million contract involving corporations owned by Mugabe and cronies, and there were several reports in 1998 of numerous mining contracts being negotiated with companies under the control of the Mugabe and his cronies, some of who are still running businesses in that country today. Life became very hard for the masses, let alone the worker who continued to be taxed heavily and this was enough to prompt Morgan Tsvangirai, the then secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions to translate his empathy for the work and the suffering masses into a political party, which he registered as Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Innocent conclude his speech by saying he was sure the house could now understand better why Mugabe and his cronies hates the MDC and its supporters with a passion.

Regis introduced the next speaker as Timmy, (Timothy) whom he said represented some of us who were required by home office to regularly travel somewhere far to sign and are at the same time not allowed to work. Timmy then took over from there and described and narrated the difficulties, frustrations and anxieties that he experiences almost on a daily basis. He said besides what Regis had said, he came to the UK basically for political safety or security reasons. However, he said that because he like many other Zimbabweans is hardworking and peace-loving, he finds himself doing voluntary work like mentoring youths, etc and what he gets from it financially is nothing more than paid up travelling bus pass. he said it is his plea together with many other Zimbabweans in the same boat with him that the british government may grant him in black and white the right to stay in the UK and the right to be employed in field in which he is qualified. He said such a move would not only benefit himself of fellow Zimbabweans alone, but everyone else and the entire economy of this country as well.

The last speaker was introduced, again by Regis, as Mtombeni. After getting to the front Mtombeni did not say much except that he was one of those who were constantly worried about their future especially in this country which has now become their safe habour as they had to flee for their lives from Zimbabwe. He said he wishes his human rights would be respected regardless of the issue of borders.

QUESTION TIME

The house asked questions directed at the panel which consisted of Regis, Innocent, Timothy, Mtombeni, Mhazo and Faith (from NAWEF) As a general summary questions asked were mostly to do with the current Zimbabwean crisis and what should be possibly done to address it.

One of attendees asked if it was not time to send British soldiers to Zimbabwe. There were lots of conflicting views to question but the general consesus was that Britain should not do that because:

1. Zimbabwe was already in shambles, with almost sectors of economy already destroyed, therefore war would not be an option at all as it would make it difficult to restore if not irreparable.

2. Such a move would meet heavy resistance from citizens who were politicised to think the former coloniser wants to re-colonise the country - worse than Iraq scenario

3. So far most of civilians have already seen the worst in almost all aspects of life: starvation, poverty, disease, brutality and bloodshed, etc, so war would not be an option.

One of the attendees suggested a government of national unity would be the solution, but the question what would happen if Mugabe welcomes it only on his terms and Tsvangirai refuses a junior post, wanting the negotiations to be based on his terms as well. Some from the floor suggested an arms embargo be placed on Zimbabwe especially with China in mind or that China be warned and stopped from selling any ore arms to Zimbabwe, Sudan or any other African country where there is crisis.

The meeting ended around 10.30 pm. Regis thanked the guests once more coming and for their donations to NZCN as the bowl went round.

Innocent Chirawu is a refugee, former sub-editor of the Daily News which offices and printing press were bombed and banned in Zimbabwe. He did his PGCE @ Nottingham Trent Uni. and sometimes works part-time as a supply teacher in the UK.