The Super Vigil commemorates the first anniversary of the abduction of Itai Dzamara by demonstrating outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London
13th March 2016
On Friday 12th March 2016 scores of Zimbabwean Human Rights Activists resident in the UK converged at The Zimbabwe Embassy in London. This was to commemorate the first anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of prominent Zimbabwean human rights and political activist, Itai Dzamara and to demonstrate against the Zimbabwean Government for its obvious hand in the said abduction. In the same breath, the human rights activists demonstrated against the recent destruction of houses in urban areas, mainly in Harare, by the Zimbabwean government without due process.
The demonstration, which started around 14.30 hrs, was under the auspices of the Super Vigil, a disgruntlement induced off shoot of the Zimbabwe Vigil. Among the demonstrators were prominent human rights activists, namely, David Kadzutu, Peter Sidindi, Mary Muteyerwa, Paradzai Mapfumo, Bongani Nkomo, George Shambela, Bridget Mupotsa, Patricia Chikozha, Brenda Chavundura and Mduduzi Patrick Ndlovu.
Itai Dzamara, a journalist by profession, is mostly known for his Occupy Africa Unity Square movement and a sustained unequivocal campaign for the resignation of the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe. For being a perceived threat to the continued dictatorial rule of Robert Mugabe, Itai Dzamara was abducted on 9th March, 2015 in Glen View, Harare and has never been seen since then. The international community, Amnesty International, the European Union and the United Nations amongst them, joined in the condemnation of the abduction and in the demand for Itai Dzamara’s release, in vain for the past year.
The drumbeating and placard-wielding demonstrators drew the attention of the public through their energetic singing and dancing. The Super Vigil has vowed to continue with regular demonstrations at The Zimbabwe Embassy in London and in other major centres in the UK against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe with the hope of keeping the sorry plight of the oppressed Zimbabwean population in the focus of the international community.
The demonstrators dispersed at around 18.00 hrs
The Super Vigil draws its management mainly from members of two human rights organizations, namely, Zimbabweans Yes We Can and the original and authentic Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. Their Contacts are as follows;-
David Kadzutu +447876887397, Peter Sidindi +447867428959, Paradzai Mapfumo +447429654465, Mary Muteyerwa +447931453232, Panyika Karimanzira +447538534375
To view some of the pictures taken at the event, click here or follow link below.https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohr_zimbabwe__manchester/albums/72157665878289205
By: Shangoni WaHamisi
Information & Publicity Department
