On a beautiful summer day they came from different parts of the country to stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters. From as far flung as Scotland they came. By air, by road, by train and on foot they made it to the beautiful and peaceful beach town of Southend-on-sea! That was the passion and zeal of the protesters against the United Kingdom Border Agency’s (UKBA) decision to resume deportations to Zimbabwe.
This demonstration was inspired by the incarceration of Josephine Chari who as I write is in detention at Yarlswood Detention Centre in Bedfordshire. She was taken in while complying with reporting conditions set by the Border Agency at the reporting centre in Southend-on-sea. The soft spoken, law abiding and humble Josephine is a known MDC supporter and like all other refugees whose cases have been thrown out by UKBA, face persecution, torture and abuse if returned to Zimababwe.
The protest at the Southend-on-sea Civic Centre started promptly at 2pm on 28 July 2011 initially, with an assemblage of about over fifty MDC party cadres. All protestors were welcomed by the Branch Chair, Mr Stanford Biti whose brother and Finance Minister Tendai Biti escaped a bomb blast in June. By 3pm the party had swelled to almost 200 strong crowd. They came with placards that left the immediate community without a doubt why they were gathered, to protest against the return of “failed” refugees back to the hands of the tyranny, Robert Gabriel Mugabe. Many residents of Southend-on-sea were appalled at the gruesome pictures of civilians including children that were victims of torture and abuse of Robert Mugabe’s government. In support of the protest, they signed a petition addressed to the Prime Minister against the deportations which will be presented to the relevant minister at a later date.
As with all protests, police officers uniformed and plain clothes were deployed to make sure that public order was maintained and seemed to enjoy the songs and dance that marked the protest. It was refreshing to see the police being friendly to protestors and letting people use their freedom of assembly in peace, in the end there was mutual respect.
The local media covered the protest.
This demonstration was inspired by the incarceration of Josephine Chari who as I write is in detention at Yarlswood Detention Centre in Bedfordshire. She was taken in while complying with reporting conditions set by the Border Agency at the reporting centre in Southend-on-sea. The soft spoken, law abiding and humble Josephine is a known MDC supporter and like all other refugees whose cases have been thrown out by UKBA, face persecution, torture and abuse if returned to Zimababwe.
The protest at the Southend-on-sea Civic Centre started promptly at 2pm on 28 July 2011 initially, with an assemblage of about over fifty MDC party cadres. All protestors were welcomed by the Branch Chair, Mr Stanford Biti whose brother and Finance Minister Tendai Biti escaped a bomb blast in June. By 3pm the party had swelled to almost 200 strong crowd. They came with placards that left the immediate community without a doubt why they were gathered, to protest against the return of “failed” refugees back to the hands of the tyranny, Robert Gabriel Mugabe. Many residents of Southend-on-sea were appalled at the gruesome pictures of civilians including children that were victims of torture and abuse of Robert Mugabe’s government. In support of the protest, they signed a petition addressed to the Prime Minister against the deportations which will be presented to the relevant minister at a later date.
As with all protests, police officers uniformed and plain clothes were deployed to make sure that public order was maintained and seemed to enjoy the songs and dance that marked the protest. It was refreshing to see the police being friendly to protestors and letting people use their freedom of assembly in peace, in the end there was mutual respect.
The local media covered the protest.
The South East District Executive was well represented as was the Women’s assembly and Youth Assembly. Of note were the District Chair - Mr Khama Matambanadzo, Vice Chair – Mr Washington Ali, Vice Secretary – Tendai Mhondiwa, Vincent Mashakada, District Treasurer, Women’s Assembly Vice Chair Gladys H Meck, Secretary Mauleen Machiri, Organising Secretary – Hlengwa Mahlangu and Audrey Charowa – Vice Secretary, District Youth Acting Chair, Mandla Ncube..
The District Chair, Khama Matambanadzo echoed the words of the Branch Chair, Mr Stanford Biti and pointed out that Josephine’s arrest amounted to an arrest of all Zimbabweans, he challenged the new Zimbabwe country guidance case dismissing it as a joke and called upon the coalition government to urgently review their position in light of the numerous cases of harassment, victimisation, false arrests and torture of innocent and peace loving Zimbabweans whose only crime is supporting the MDC. He pointed out that should the coalition government pursue the deportations and our colleagues returned to Zimbabwe end up victims of Mugabe’s suppressive mechanism, we shall hold this government culpable. He urged all Zimbabweans to remain united and speak against the resumption of the deportations with one voice, “Zimbabwe is another Libya South of the Equator”.
The occasion was also graced by none other the Provincial Women Assembly Vice Chair, who thanked all who had gathered in support of this worthy cause and reminded all of the important role of a mother at all times, happiness or turbulent quoting a Bible verse in Luke. David Kadzutu the South West District Organising Secretary was present, he informed the protestors that what the British government forgets is that it is not by accident that Zimbabweans head this way for political asylum, Cecil John Rhodes headed for then Rhodesia now Zimbabwe and was granted asylum on health compassionate grounds in 1890 when his health had deteriorated due to the British weather, thus the relationship dates back to the days of Lobengula, hence Cecil John Rhodes today lies on Zimbabwean soil in Matopo Hills.
We at Southend were deeply humbled by the show of support exhibited by almost all South East Branches and most of all Oxford Branch.
Thank you all!
Audrey Charowa
Vice Secretary
MDC South East District
