10-03-2007 For the second week in a row hundreds of Zimbabweans gathered at the Vigil to protest at the rapidly deteriorating situation back home. Everyone seemed to sense the time has come. This week the immediate draw was a rally in nearby Trafalgar Square organised by ACTSA (Action for Southern Africa, the successor to the Anti-apartheid Movement) to mark the role of women in the struggle for freedom and justice. The rally was supported by British trade unions and the main speaker was Lovemore Matombo, President of the ZCTU (Zimbabwe Comgress of Trade Unions). He said the worsening poverty in Zimbabwe was hurting women most of all and protecting women was protecting the nation.

The protest singer Viomak, who launched her latest CD at the Vigil two weeks ago, entertained the crowd between speeches by such people as Frances O’ Grady, Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, and Kate Hoey, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe.
At the close of the rally there was a mass toyi-toyi to the Vigil accompanied by the Vigil drums. Passers-by were bemused when over a hundred Vigil supporters danced and sang their way along the Strand. The Vice-President of the ZCTU, Lucia Matibenga, told the Vigil that, despite talk of divisions, various groups in Zimbabwe were working together under the Christian Alliance to campaign for change. She was warmly applauded when she declared “those not working for unity are working for Mugabe.People must work together now and set aside personal agendas”. When the Vigil finally broke up, we left the doorways of the Embassy carpeted in red carnations in tribute to the bravery of Zimbabwean women.

Thank to all those who were on the rota to keep the Vigil going during the rally – nobody forgot and everyone was on time to relieve the previous shift. Thanks to Patson, Dumi, Mercy and Doubt who gave the rally such an authentic Zimbabwean feeling. It was good to have the Bristol Vigil join us as well as supporters from Liverpool, Huddersfield, Leicester and many other places. Our faithful English supporter, Ian, has posted a short piece on today’s rally on the Indymedia website, check link: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364823.html?c=on#c168588.

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FOR THE RECORD: Attendance about 250 (could be more because the register was overwhelmed again).