News / International
Zimbabweans abroad set to demonstrate on Mugabe's 88th birthday
13 Feb 2012 at 10:54hrs | Views
Zimbabweans in the diaspora will use the occasion of President Robert Mugabe's 88th birthday to stage demonstrations in front of South African embassies in the United Sates, European capitals and South Africa, the Daily Nerws reported.
The demonstrations are aimed at trying to put pressure on Sadc appointed facilitator Jacob Zuma to force Mugabe and his coalition government partners to implement the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in full.
"We hereby call on all Zimbabweans based in the Diaspora and those in Zimbabwe to come out in their thousands and demand that President Robert Mugabe implement all the outstanding issues of the Global Political Agreement which he signed three years ago," Den Moyo, co-ordinator of the Free Zimbabwe Global Movement said in a statement released at the weekend.
Moyo said in some parts of the world the picketing has already started and will culminate in the big event on February 21, the day that Mugabe will be celebrating his 88th birthday party in Mutare.
"This is the first necessary step towards building a democracy and bringing our beloved Zimbabwe back on the path to peace, prosperity and reconciliation. But so far the South African diplomats have not told us whether His Excellency Zuma received our petitions which were signed by hundreds of demonstrators, nor have they told us what action he is now planning to take," Mayo added.
"What we do know is that he attended the African Union Summit a few days after our demonstration, but nothing was said about our issue, so we are going back again to the South African Embassies in USA, UK, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Canada and at the South African government building in Pretoria on February 21." Moyo said the demonstrations will not only end on February 21 but will go on "until we see concrete actions on the ground with respect to our demands."
"We will be demonstrating against this with mock birthday parties in front of all South-African Embassies, Consulate Missions, Union Buildings and Parliament in peaceful protests against misrule and endemic corruption, and demanding the implementation of reforms," said Moyo.
It is estimated that there are over five million Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, who fled Zimbabwe over the past 12 years due to deterioration in the human rights situation in the country and a shrinkage in job opportunities in the country.
Mugabe will next week celebrate his 88th birthday with a big bash which many Zanu PF members treat as an annual ritual not to be missed.
In the past the birthday party celebrations have been criticised as extravagant and insensitive in a country where millions of people struggle to make ends meet.
A fashion label that has gone crazy among Zanu PF supporters, Gushungo by the House of Gushungo will be officially launched during the birthday celebrations.
The 21st February Movement was established in 1986 to mark Mugabe's birthday.
Apart from the launch of the fashion label, a Miss 21st Movement pageant will also be held alongside the celebrations.
A football event known as the Bob Super Cup and a musical gala will put the curtain down to the festivities.
The demonstrations are aimed at trying to put pressure on Sadc appointed facilitator Jacob Zuma to force Mugabe and his coalition government partners to implement the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in full.
"We hereby call on all Zimbabweans based in the Diaspora and those in Zimbabwe to come out in their thousands and demand that President Robert Mugabe implement all the outstanding issues of the Global Political Agreement which he signed three years ago," Den Moyo, co-ordinator of the Free Zimbabwe Global Movement said in a statement released at the weekend.
Moyo said in some parts of the world the picketing has already started and will culminate in the big event on February 21, the day that Mugabe will be celebrating his 88th birthday party in Mutare.
"This is the first necessary step towards building a democracy and bringing our beloved Zimbabwe back on the path to peace, prosperity and reconciliation. But so far the South African diplomats have not told us whether His Excellency Zuma received our petitions which were signed by hundreds of demonstrators, nor have they told us what action he is now planning to take," Mayo added.
"What we do know is that he attended the African Union Summit a few days after our demonstration, but nothing was said about our issue, so we are going back again to the South African Embassies in USA, UK, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Canada and at the South African government building in Pretoria on February 21." Moyo said the demonstrations will not only end on February 21 but will go on "until we see concrete actions on the ground with respect to our demands."
"We will be demonstrating against this with mock birthday parties in front of all South-African Embassies, Consulate Missions, Union Buildings and Parliament in peaceful protests against misrule and endemic corruption, and demanding the implementation of reforms," said Moyo.
Mugabe will next week celebrate his 88th birthday with a big bash which many Zanu PF members treat as an annual ritual not to be missed.
In the past the birthday party celebrations have been criticised as extravagant and insensitive in a country where millions of people struggle to make ends meet.
A fashion label that has gone crazy among Zanu PF supporters, Gushungo by the House of Gushungo will be officially launched during the birthday celebrations.
The 21st February Movement was established in 1986 to mark Mugabe's birthday.
Apart from the launch of the fashion label, a Miss 21st Movement pageant will also be held alongside the celebrations.
A football event known as the Bob Super Cup and a musical gala will put the curtain down to the festivities.
Source - Daily Nerws
