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2022 Walk for Freedom
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- Written by: John Burke ZHRO
- Category: Diaspora
- Hits: 1578
In this update, made on the sombre anniversary of 1st August 2018 when Zimbabwe's Soldiers opened fire indiscriminately on unarmed civilians - who were quite correctly protesting about the rigging of the 2018 election, we must remind all Zimbabweans, the AU [African Union], SADC [Southern African Development Community] and the rest of the World, that there are currently NO Free and Fair Elections - nor has there been in practice since the 1980 [False] Independence. We will also repeat this item on our website that highlights the fact that there is a Military Cabal controlling Zimbabwe, the Zanu PF party. https://take2zimbabwe.com
So our WALK FOR FREEDOM is as relevant as ever on this 7th time we have planned this event [the first time was in August 2016 just prior to the formation of ZHRO in October 2016]. Our 'practice walks' this month in London and North Yorkshire, have tied-in with other events to do with campaigning for Free, Fair and Open Elections - as highlighted below:
"Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. . . . The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."
Article 21, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
As in previous year's we will attempt to predict our walking timetable for those who may wish to cheer us on, or join us for part of this well trodden route of ours. So we will publish maps, timetables, and for those with a 'tech savvy' outlook - live navigation links to the UK's Ordnance Survey Mapping software. The same as the organiser's on the day. {Due shortly} Now added below in yellow Highlighter.
This year we are actively seeking supporting donations so that we can [as we have done in every year previously] have a support team(s) to ferry the walkers, food, bandages, blister plasters etc., In addition as necessary, finally collect the "walking wounded" (!) - joking - but some of us have very delicate feet - and the stony footpaths can take their toll on those without practice, multiple pairs of socks {for keeping the feet cool}, good footwear, ankle support, blisters and cramps! Plus a bit of sympathy at times too!
So our donation PayPal button on this page would welcome your spontaneous generosity. Or this QR code using your phone.
Now those wishing to be at the start, we must emphasise that the walkers will hope to leave the Brighton Pier forecourt at 7:00am sharp. This is to facilitate the 8 miles to stand and take in the stunning beauty atop the "Devil's Dyke" hill within the South Downs.
As the organisation is very 'minimal' we cannot accommodate people leaving at different times - as each group would need navigational support - since so few have taken onboard the mapping software in the past. So for practical reasons, we start at one time, in a group, ideally keeping together. This will facilitate the taking of photos, Twitter, Facebook, ZHRO Live, Zim Eye Live and other media we will employ throughout the full 25-30 hours of the "Walk for Freedom"
This link is the most important, its the original detailed full route as plotted on the OS Online platform from Ordnance Survey UK. It is scaleable, in that it can be enlarged right down to individual footpath levels. If you have the OS App then you can navigate "live" in the field using your phone as a direction finder. 100km Route CLICK HERE
Timetable {Approximate}
| This timetable is AN APPROXIMATION for arriving and leaving times at the locations identified with Sat Nav Post Codes |
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Route Maps here - Along the full Walk for Freedom
| These Short Section Maps are designed to help those without Data Access "In the field" as it were. Please print off the section(s) you will be walking | |
| USE THESE LINKS Opposite TO OPEN THE MAPS in a new Window | Itemised Map Links |
| Brighton Start: BN2 1TW | Brighton and suburbs |
| Crossing the A27 | Cross A27 |
| Towards Devil's Dyke: BN1 8YJ {Public House} | Towards Devil'd Dyke |
| Fulking Villiage | Down to Fulking Villiage |
| Crossing the Vale | Crossing the Vale |
| On to Henfield: BN5 9PJ | On to Henfield |
| Joining the "Downs Link" [An old Railway Route to Guildford] | Joining the Downs Link |
| Partridge Green | Partridge Green |
| Christ's Hospital Railway Station: RH13 0ND | Christ's Hospital |
| Scaling the Hill over the "Bat Tunnel" | The BAT Tunnel |
| Approaching Guildford {Night Time} | Approaching Guildford |
| Central Guildford incl Railway Station Meet Point GU1 4UT | Guildford Area |
| Now with the River Wey Path | Leaving Guildford area |
| Keeping with the River Wey Navigation Path | River Wey Navigation |
| Under the M25 [into London!] | Under the M25 |
| Meeting with the River Thames Path | Joining Thames Navigation |
| Following the Thames Navigation footpath to Hampton Court | Hampton Court and Finish |
Ready for further Updates Here
Moreblessing's Heinous Murder
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- Written by: Tryness Ncube
- Category: Letters to the Editor(s)
- Hits: 1535
On the 24th of May 2022 Moreblessing Ali was forcibly taken into a car by an unknown man, believed to be part of the state securities apparatus. A few weeks later on the 11th June 2022, her body was found ripped apart. She had been butchered - this illustrates the deep psycosis prevalent within the Regime and its desperation to retain power - at any cost.
This terrible news reached the UK during our Release Moreblessing Ali demonstration outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Flickr Record of the day
This was the worst moment for CCC family and all the human rights organisation who tirelessly called for Moreblessing's safe return.
Job Sikhala was appointed by Moreblessing Ali's family to represent them in fighting for justice for Moreblessing. Job Sikhala as a human rights lawyer knew what to do and the steps to be taken. State Securities agents arrested Job Sikhala and he is still in custody at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. Why Job Sikhala was arrested in the first place? This is all of us still asking but we have no answers, but we believe ZANU PF has a hand in it as they have done it before.
Moreblessing Ali was a CCC supporter, in addition, Langelihle Dube also known as Mr Tuesday, has also been murdered. He was a strong CCC activists who made a name by campaigning for more people to come out in numbers to register to vote and to vote for change.
This is just to mention two of the many Opposition activitist that have been killed - and all these killings are orchestrated by ED Mnangagwa 's regime, ZANU PF.
In Zimbabwe it's a pity that no rule of law or human rights are adhered to. Opposition members and activitists are not allowed to voice their concerns. Now ZANU PF is blaming the western countries for supporting CCC and also blaming the west for the sanctions in Zimbabwe.
As a CCC and ZHRO activitist, I am calling more pressure on ZANU PF and ED Mnangagwa to be applied inall four corners of the world. Zimbabwe was once bread basket for Africa but today it is now the worst begger. As it is now we are calling for the world to do something about ED Mnangagwa and ZANU PF as no opposition activitist is either free or safe in Zimbabwe. I say: "FREE Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole".
COP26 Zanu PF vs Protesters - Who won?
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- Written by: John Burke
- Category: Civic and Legal Failings
- Hits: 2852
The mainstream media can now assess Zimbabwe's COP26 performance in a couple of words - Booze Cruise!
This tragedy for the population of Zimbabwe is a result of 41 years of oppression, mismanagement, corruption, looting and extreme human rights abuse [ abductions, torture and deaths]. The [illegal] Zanu PF regime in Zimbabwe, can trick and fool their own populations due to a captured State TV, Newspapers and other media - but this counted for nothing when on Sunday 31st October, on the pretext of a COP26 invitation, two thoughtless bozo's, proudly proclaimed that the "party has started".
Missing the point completely but used to lying in his public position as a spokesman [propaganda] in Zimbabwe, Nick Mangwana celebrated the booze buying duo as a positive event [at a Climate Conference no less?]. Not fully appreciating that social media was already full of [illegal] President E D Mnangagwa, with his 100 hangers-on in his private jet was hitting the Carbon Dioxide tonnage to arrive at this Climate Event. In this case the sh*t really did hit the fan! With International Coverage of this utter hypocrisy!
The Times - United Kingdom, Daily Mail Article, Metro Article, Scottish Sun, Celex s205, eminetra and Inews Article regarding Booze all covering this absurd display of childish excess [so far!]. UPDATE: It gets worse, the UK TV BBC Comedy Programme, "Have I Got News For You" on Thursday night on the 4th Novembebr 2021 Mocked the Zimbabwean Delegation with this video clip - Total International Mockery - a tragedy for the real Zimbabwe and their diaspora [click the text here to see it on our Twitter Account]. At least the iNEWS team gave a mention to the hundred of Zimbabwean [and other] Protesters outside who were extremely vocal [ with singing protest songs to music and drums] about the long list of failings of this [illegal] Zimbabwean Zanu PF Government [Junta or Cabal or Mafia are better descriptors]. To that list they now have Climate Ignorance and Self Aggrandisment !
On the Tuesday the 2nd November the protesters listened with incredulity to Mnangagwa's [scripted] speech. The News Channel "Zim Eye" captured to mood with a Live Video as Mnangagwa trotted out his platitudes and request for more money. He also shoe-horned into his talk on the Environment, with a complaint about the [Targeted] Sanctions [he claimed were on Zimbabwe, but in practice they are on the criminal individuals and corporations looting Zimbabwe]. The protest group were completely unimpressed.
The tragedy however, is that Zimbabwe needs so much support and assistance now. All entirely due to 41 years of corruption, mismanagement, human rights abuse and environmental ineptitude - allowing indiscriminate mining practices.
Zimbabwe is a disaster - all down to the Zanu PF regime. Even their pleas for Climate Change assistance - are hollow due to their Environmental ignorance. Funds sent by well-wishing agencies and other Governments have never been spent on alleviating damage caused, for instance, by Hurricane Ida. The degradation and deforestation allowed by Chinese Mining Organisations in Zimbabwe, clearly demonstrate an 'administration' devoid of any concept of soil erosion and mining pollution. These are not "Climate Emergencies, but a callous disregard for the duty of "Stewardship", the protection of "Mother Earth", Gaia and all other concepts to do with balance and harmony with Nature.
In complete contrast, and without a script, but from the heart Chief Ndiweni was being interviewed many times 
with the protest group [Video on Twitter courtesy of Valarie Karimakwenda], regarding the solutions to the clearly man-made [Zanu PF junta] crises in Zimbabwe. The sewage in the streets, the lack of available drinking water, the rationed electricity supply, the state capture of the Institutions and such like. In fact the Zimbabwean Government appear to have failed every single one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [UNSDG's] - Every one! As part of the protest consortia, we have produced a petition to Boris Johnson, which will be re-presented on Thursday November the 11th to 10 Downing Street, as evidence of the multitude of failings of this Zanu PF regime in its 41 year tenure CLICK HERE TO READ. This petition will be annexed with a critical write up of the performance of the Zimbabwe Zanu PF regime at COP26 - not a very good performance at all.
As a group we had sought to plea with Alok Sharma [President of COP26] and Vicky Ford; MP [and Minister for Africa], to permit Chief Ndiwendi to be allowed to speak at the COP26 meeting - not with the current President - as his knowledge and passion for the Zimbabwean Environment is without parallel. However we received no response to our e-mails.
Mnangagwa 'Totally Ignorant' says Hanke
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- Written by: John Burke
- Category: Civic and Legal Failings
- Hits: 2518
Steve Hanke is a professor of applied economics at The Johns Hopkins University and senior fellow at the Cato Institute. He is a columnist at Forbes and a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal. Over four decades Hanke has advised dozens of world leaders from Ronald Reagan to Indonesia’s Suharto on currency reforms, infrastructure development, privatization, and how to tame hyperinflation. You can follow him on twitter @steve_hanke.
United States (US) economist, Steve Hanke, says President Emmerson Mnangagwa is not only corrupt but "totally ignorant" when it comes to economic issues.
In a tweet, Hanke said the Zimbabwe dollar has depreciated by 93% against the United States dollar since the local currency was reintroduced in 2019. He said:
Corrupt @edmnangagwa brought back the Zimbabwean dollar 2yrs ago. Since then, the Zim dollar has depreciated by 93% against the mighty USD. President Ed is not only corrupt but, when it comes to economics, he is totally ignorant. https://twitter.com/steve_hanke/
This comes as the forex rate has plummeted on the black market, with the currency changing hands for up to Z$200 per US dollar, while the official rate is pegged at Z$90.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) – the largest representative body for local business, has warned that the country’s currency is in danger of collapsing as businesses resort to United States dollar transactions.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Hanke said threats by the Zimbabwean government to suspend businesses using black market rates will end in tears. He wrote:
"Zimbabwe's currency is in a "death spiral". Now, the corrupt government is threatening to suspend all businesses using black-market exchange rates to price goods. I’ve seen this movie before. It has a tragic ending."
Zimbabwean authorities have in recent weeks arrested scores of foreign traders accused of manipulating the volatile Zimbabwean dollar by trading on the black market.
But in a letter to its members, CZI said it had cautioned the government against clamping down on firms and traders. It said: The greatest risk facing the economy right now is an inappropriate policy response to the rising parallel market premium. Clamping down on informal exchange trading in the absence of a viable formal market will have catastrophic consequences for the economy.
"Every day I publish Hanke's #InflationSatellite. It's an interactive map that contains my accurate, up-to-date #Inflation measurements & black market (read: free market) data for 40+ countries. It is updated daily & currently contains data as of 10/13/21 Zimbabwe heading for the top od this unenviable chart with 98% Inflation - so far. Steve Hanke on Zimbabwe's Inflation Horror
In the midst of this attack on Mnangagwa's poor leadership, vision and past record of failure, the OCCRP have exposed yet more corruption in Zimbabwe - with apparent Government involvement.
More Corruption in Zimbabwe - Direct link to OCCRP Research
Steve Hanke on Twitter Yet More Zimbabwe Corruption
Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who is close to Zimbabwe’s president and his inner circle, leveraged his privileged access to fuel and mining markets to strike a lucrative partnership with commodities giant Trafigura. Sanctioned by the U.S. and U.K. for corruption, Tagwirei continued to do business by relocating his network to Mauritius.
Key Findings
- Tagwirei has earned at least $100 million in fees from a partnership with Swiss-based Trafigura. Together, they have profited extensively by dominating Zimbabwe’s fuel market since 2013.
- Trafigura quietly extended $1 billion in loans to the Zimbabwean government, at exorbitant interest rates.
- As controversy grew, Tagwirei moved his business network offshore to Mauritius, where he secured a new near-monopoly fuel deal with the government. He is still active in mining and fuel deals in Zimbabwe.
- Government officials appear on key company records and Tagwirei’s own correspondence, indicating that there might be more powerful people behind the network
The payments made to Tagwirei raise a red flag, according to Global Witness’s Natasha White.
“Red flags include the personal involvement of politically exposed individuals in such deals. It would be extremely concerning if payments have been made into a personal account of Tagwirei by Trafigura, whether or not he was sanctioned at the time,” she said.
https://www.zhro.org.uk/human-rights-uk/77-petition-to-stop-mnangagwa-going-to-cop26
This article explains the insensitive invitation and links to both an online petition to oppose Ed's visit and the physical petition hand over to Boris Johnson on the 21st October 2021, the UK Prime Minister to block Mnangagwa and his 70 strong "team" of hangers-on and "security staff" LOL
Petition to Stop Mnangagwa going to COP26
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- Written by: John Burke
- Category: Blog
- Hits: 7417
We have formally sought permission to deliver a written petition to 10 Downing Street, On the 21st October at 14:00; This petition will cover;
- Regarding the wholly inappropriate invitation extended by the British Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe [Presumably with an OK from the FCO, and possibly the UN - regarding COP26], to invite E D Mnangagwa, [illegally elected] President of Zimbabwe and an entourage of 70 – including 50 “Security Personnel” to the COP26 Climate Conference being held in Glasgow 31st October to 12th November 2021.
- On E D Mnangagwa’s Human Rights record, his political repression record and his non-existent Environmental record we wish to protest in writing this visitation of a despotic tyrant, guilty of Genocide, Murder, Rape and Torture, let alone the institutionalised corruption and looting of all resources to his name.
- We also object to E D Mnangagwa and Zanu PF [Zimbabwe and UK] appalling record for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as promoted by the United Nations [UNSDGs]. Such as, Failed Drinking Water Supplies, Failed Sewage Systems, Failed Electricity supply, Failed Road, Rail and Transport infrastructure and ongoing maintenance, Biased Judiciary, Failed voting system and administration, etc etc.
- Signatories and hand-over team: John C Burke, Tryness Ncube, Olive Ruzvidzo and Kingstone Jambawo - ZHRO; Edgar Makuni, Model Pamire and Shamiso Moyo - MDCA; Malvern Dengu, Nicolate Gwati and Panyika Anselm Karimanzira - ROHR Zimbabwe; Leo Ndlovu and Zakhele Maphosa - ZAPU and other free thinking Zimbabweans and Non-Zimbabweans.
We need to know which other groups, Lords. MP's or Individuals who are sympathetic to this petition and who are willing to lend their name(s) to this cause.
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