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- Written by: Catherine Lebadou, Human Rights Activist, CCC Manchester Branch
- Hits: 51
Disinformation and Distraction: The Curious Timing of a Zimbabwean Tragedy in the UK
A recent report from Gambakwe Media claims that eight Zimbabweans died in a car crash in the UK while returning from a graduation ceremony. However, the story has not been corroborated by any UK-based news outlets, raising concerns about its authenticity. Given the timing of this claim—coinciding with planned protests against Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa—it is worth examining whether this report serves as a distraction from critical human rights activism.
Auxillia Mnangagwa is scheduled to attend the First Ladies African Impact & Resilience (FLAIR) Summit in London. Her visit has sparked protests from exiled Zimbabweans, many of whom fled Zimbabwe due to ZANU-PF policies. Human rights activists in CCC argue that her presence at the summit is an insult to victims of state brutality, given her association with a government accused of human rights abuses and political repression.
At the same time, the UK government recently delisted sanctions against four Zimbabwean officials—Owen Ncube, Isaac Moyo, Godwin Matanga, and Anselem Sanyatwe—as well as the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI). These individuals had been sanctioned for intimidation, abduction, and violence against opposition figures. The timing of this decision has raised concerns among activists, particularly those aligned with the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), who may challenge the UK government’s move.
If the car crash story is indeed false, it could serve as a distraction aimed at disrupting opposition activism. The lack of coverage from UK-based media suggests it may not be credible. Gambakwe Media, the sole outlet reporting the incident, has been accused of ties to ZANU-PF, though its coverage includes both criticism and praise of the ruling party. This raises questions about whether the outlet is pushing a narrative to divert attention from the protests and the sanctions debate.
Disinformation is increasingly being weaponized to manipulate public discourse. The UK government has warned that misinformation and disinformation are being used to undermine democratic processes and activism. In this case, the lack of independent verification of the crash story suggests it may be part of a broader strategy to shift focus away from human rights concerns.
If activists are forced to respond to false narratives, their ability to mobilize effectively against Mnangagwa’s visit and the sanctions delisting could be weakened, but CCC activist remains determined and vigilant. This highlights the importance of independent verification and the need for journalists and activists to remain vigilant against attempts to manipulate public attention.
We are challenging disinformation that seeks to undermine advocacy efforts to ensure genuine human rights concerns remain at the forefront of public discourse. On the 25th of June, all roads lead to Learnado Royal Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London, E1 8GP (near Tower Bridge). Let's stop Auxilia Mnangagwa from attending the F.L.A.I.R. Summit.
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- Written by: Lloyd Shumbayaonda, Human Rights Activist and CCC Vice Treasurer, Manchester Branch
- Hits: 38
Condemnation of Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Role in Zimbabwe's Repression
Auxillia Mnangagwa, the First Lady of Zimbabwe, has become a symbol of the brutal regime under her husband, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Accusations of corruption, human rights abuses, and her alleged complicity in the country's collapse have triggered widespread condemnation. As such, her presence at international forums like the #FLAIR Summit must be questioned.
A regime that thrives on repression and exploitation has no place in global discourse on progress and human rights
Allegations of Human Rights Abuses
The First Lady’s role in Zimbabwe’s ongoing human rights violations cannot be ignored. The United States, in 2024, imposed sanctions on both Auxillia Mnangagwa and her husband, citing their involvement in corruption, abuse of power, and the systematic repression of opposition voices.
These sanctions underline the gravity of the situation, drawing attention to her role in perpetuating a regime responsible for abductions, arbitrary arrests, and widespread political violence.
Under the Mnangagwa administration, thousands of Zimbabweans have suffered from politically motivated kidnappings, torture, and detention. Critics allege that Auxillia Mnangagwa is part of the system that seeks to silence dissent through fear and intimidation. Her activities, whether directly or indirectly, contribute to a regime that has earned global censure for its ruthless tactics.
The Corruption Web: Family Ties and Financial Misdeeds
Beyond human rights abuses, the First Lady has also faced significant accusations regarding her financial dealings. Reports suggest that she and her sons are involved in large-scale looting of state resources, enriching themselves at the expense of ordinary Zimbabweans. As the country’s economy continues to deteriorate, with skyrocketing inflation, collapsing infrastructure, and a failing healthcare system, the Mnangagwa family’s accumulation of wealth appears to be driven by industrial looting and illegal activities.
The allegations surrounding the Mnangagwa family are not new. The United States has accused the First Lady and her relatives of engaging in corrupt activities, including smuggling precious minerals, which has further drained Zimbabwe’s already fragile economy. These activities have left millions of citizens trapped in poverty while a select few enrich themselves.
The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Allegations
Reports of Auxillia Mnangagwa’s alleged involvement with the notorious Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), the regime’s secret police, add another layer of controversy to her public image. While she has denied these claims, the legacy of the CIO under her husband's rule is marred by brutality, covert surveillance, and political repression. The CIO has been linked to orchestrating abductions, harassment of opposition figures, and quelling protests with violent force. Critics argue that Auxillia Mnangagwa’s connections to this institution paint her as complicit in Zimbabwe’s descent into authoritarianism.
Conclusion: A Call for Accountability
Auxillia Mnangagwa’s actions, both as First Lady and as a member of the ruling elite, have had a lasting negative impact on the people of Zimbabwe. The country’s descent into economic collapse, widespread human rights violations, and systemic corruption under her and her husband’s leadership cannot be overlooked. As Zimbabweans continue to suffer, the global community must hold figures like Auxillia Mnangagwa accountable.
Allowing her a platform at the #FLAIR Summit would not only legitimize her actions but also undermine the fight for justice and accountability in Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe deserve leaders who respect human rights, promote transparency, and work for the collective good—not individuals who profit from repression and plunder.
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- Written by: Mellisa Mbavarira
- Hits: 59
I speak today not out of convenience, but out of outrage.
Empowerment or Endorsement? Hosting Auxillia Mnangagwa at the FLAIR Summit Sends the Wrong Message to the people she’s representing. While Zimbabwean women suffer under her husband’s oppressive regime, honouring her isn’t empowerment — it’s complicity in our pain
- Zimbabwe’s healthcare system is in a state of collapse.
- Around 2,500 women die in childbirth every year due to a lack of basic medical resources. In January alone, nearly 300 newborns tragically died.
- The Sally Mugabe Hospital, still relies on a single maternity theatre built in 1977, during Ian Smith’s regime.
- Today, women are forced to give birth on filthy hospital floors, without proper care or equipment, while critical life-saving tools lie broken or completely absent.
Today I speak for the mothers who go to bed hungry so their children can eat.
I speak for the young girls whose futures are stolen by poverty, abuse, and silence.
I speak for every woman and child in Zimbabwe who has been abandoned by those who claim to lead.
Our so-called First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa — who drapes herself in gold and titles — has FAILED.
Failed to lead. Failed to serve. Failed to care.
She parades around as the “Mother of the Nation,” yet cannot lift a finger for the real mothers of Zimbabwe.
She is silent when women are raped, when girls are married off as children, when hospitals have no medicine, when girls miss school because they can’t afford pads.
What kind of mother ignores her crying children?
Forty-five years after so-called independence, some children in Zimbabwe are still learning in the open — under trees, in the dust, exposed to heat, rain, and neglect.
They remain forgotten, abandoned, and failed by a system that promised them a future
- While she sits in luxury, women are dying in childbirth.
- While she attends ceremonies, children are dropping out of school.
- While she speaks in slogans, we are living in pain
Instead of flying abroad and spending more resources, Auxillia Mnangagwa should stay in Zimbabwe and confront the crisis at home.
Hosting her at the FLAIR Summit sends the wrong message — one that ignores the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans.
We firmly oppose her participation at the FLAIR Summit
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- Written by: Nobukhosi Dube
- Hits: 87
Auxillia Mnangagwa's Visit To The UK Is An Insult To The Zimbabwean Women And A Mockery To The Human Rights.
The planned visit of the 1st Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, to the UK, for the FLAIR Summit in London on the (17th-18th June), has triggered anger and deep concern among Zimbabweans in diaspora and back home. We are demanding that the UK government should refuse her entry. Whilst she parades around with the banner of women's empowerment. (DOES SHE EVEN KNOW THE MEANING OF IT?)
Women in Zimbabwe are suffering and so are the young girls. The country's health system has crumbled to nothing. Hospitals and clinics have no electricity, no medication and no staff. This has become a national norm.
Across the country girls as young as 10 years old are being raped, abused and forced into early motherhood. In many cases perpetrators walk free due to the broken justice system. The government turns a blind eye. Auxillia as a woman and a mother has failed to protect all the vulnerable children in our country, instead they allow the culture of silence.
As a result, primary school dropout rates have gone high, especially among girls. Many are forced out of education due to pregnancy, poverty or early marriages. These girls lose their future while those in power continue to enrich themselves and travel abroad for luxury.
How can Auxillia be welcomed in the UK as a "top" speaker on women's issues? When in Zimbabwe she has never stood up for the abuse of children and letting their childhood be stolen under her watch.
We call on the UK government to listen to our plea as Zimbabweans, as her presence will give legitimacy to a regime that continues to violate basic human rights.
We will gather in London on the 17th of June and make our voices heard. We will march for the future and the rights of every child and women of our country who has been failed by this corrupt regime.
Auxilla doesn't promote any women's economic empowerment within the country. Women are giving birth on hard, ice cold concrete floors in hospitals. So which empowerment is she talking about. She doesn't protect women and girls from abuse and violence. There's no provision of support services for the victims of abuse and violence.
As the 1st lady she has never addressed the needs and priorities of women.
Auxillia Mnangagwa is not welcome in the UK.
Zimbabwe deserves better!!! Women and children have suffered enough.
#NoToAuxilliaMnangagwa #StopChildAbuse #FlAIRSummitUK #HumanRightsMatter #EmpowerAGirlChild #WomensEmpowerment
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- Written by: Shamiso Moyo
- Hits: 55
Auxilia in the Flair Summit
- Auxilia has been in zanupf 45 years
- Auxilia has been Ed’s wife more than 45years
- Auxilia was there when Ed commanded the massacre of 20000 civilians in gukurahundi deemed “moment of madness “
- What did she say or do? Nothing
Auxilia was there when a 15 year old girl was given out in marriage to a 70 year old and she died in childbirth and Auxilia said Nothing
Auxilia has stood by Ed during corruption, nepotism, abductions and torture of Zimbabweans and has said nothing
Auxilia is coming to the UK to the FLAIR summit to say Nothing
She is coming to England for a shopping spree at the tax payer’s expense with an entourage of friends and family
Auxilia has no shame she is the Chief Mafia. She does not care about Ed’s numerous children but only cares about her own children. She does not have the qualities of a good mother so even calling her First Lady she does not deserve it.
She cannot talk of empowerment; when she is not championing all Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans - especially Zimbabwean Women
