27April 2007

By Lance Guma

Once beaten twice shy seems to have been the approach of South African officials at the High Commission in London after they blocked access to the building to youths from the radical pressure group Free-Zim Youths UK. The group had planned a demonstration against South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Zuma over her recent statements that her country could not work magic in Zimbabwe. The youths also felt South Africa is largely sympathetic to the brutal regime of Robert Mugabe. The youths were forced instead to demonstrate outside the SA High Commission building, far from their intended target.

Zuma is in London to attend a 3-day regional consultative conference aimed at creating a partnership between the African continent and the African diaspora. On Wednesday she addressed the African Caribbean and Diaspora concert at her country’s embassy. Free-Zim had planned to make their presence felt. Last year in September they embarrassed her by constantly interrupting her address on reforms for the United Nations at the London School of Economics. Free-Zim leader Alois Mbawara told us security officials were posted on all the gates and the youths were clearly on some form of black list and denied access.

He told Newsreel they were labeled ‘gangsters’ by those manning the gates and asked to leave the venue. Only the intervention of British police confirmed that the youths had permission to hold the demonstration. The youths say they want to ensure Zimbabwe is not foisted with a manufactured political settlement and they doubt Mbeki’s ability to ensure a free and fair platform for elections in Zimbabwe. Worries have also been raised that millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora are still not able to vote and the Ministry of Home Affairs is not issuing new identity cards to deliberately block newly qualified youths from voting. Particularly concerning to the youths is that abuses and torture of activists continue unabated in Zimbabwe while the South African government remains silent. - SW Radio Africa.

Related stories

Zimbabwe Youth Movement formed.

Do you have a story? Then e-mail news@nehandaradio.com . If its a good one you might earn yourself money for the effort.

For general comments and feedback e-mail: editor@nehandaradio.com 

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.nehandaradio.com