24 June 2007

By Brilliant Pongo

Once in a while we get to meet as Zimbabweans in our hundreds and that is usually at music gigs, this week we met in Luton not for a music gig but an audience with Tsvangirai. Luton’s Lewsey community centre was abuzz with activity yesterday as hundreds of Zimbabweans from all over the UK thronged Luton for a Tsvangirai rally.

Tsvangirai who is part of the delegation of political, civic and church leaders on tour in Europe as part of an initiative to engage the international community on the situation in Zimbabwe under the Save Zimbabwe Campaign banner, found time to meet with his supporters in the UK at a rally organised by the MDC UK branch.

Hundreds of Zimbabweans overwhelmed the tiny Lewsey community centre hall leaving many to sit outside, they did not even get to see Mr Tsvangirai or hear what he had to say. Those who made it into the hall were uncomfortably pac cramped in the hall which had little ventilation, with the temperature high people were sweating in the heat. However the crowd patiently waited to hear Tsvangirai’s address and had to endure the long introductions and slogan chanting of all those who sat at the high table.

What the people had come to hear was Tsvangirai’s address however the MDC UK executive could not resist the opportunity to reintroduce themselves to a crowd that already knew who most of them were and perhaps show the president their slogan chanting abilities and of course for the likes of Ephraim Tapa  (MDC UK chairman) this was a relished opportunity given him to pontificate something which is now fast becoming a trademark Tapa style at any gathering. (Simply put in Shona they say Va Tapa vanorebesa munamato.)

Tsvangirai began by giving what he called a graphic illustration of the state of affairs in Zimbabwe in which he ran the crowd through the current foreign exchange rates of the Zimbabwean dollar versus the US dollar and the British Pound and then spoke of the escalating inflation rate in Zimbabwe he also spoke of the shrinking life expectancy in Zimbabwe which he said had dropped to 35 years. He then spoke of the need to keep the Zimbabwean issue on the international agenda and promised to deal with the land issue in what he called a proper and orderly fashion, Tsvangirai encouraged those in the UK in particular and those in the diasporas to recruit more people to join up in the membership of the MDC and the straggle to restore democracy to Zimbabwe

Lovemore Madhuku of the NCA was also given chance to speak and he spoke of the need to have a new constitution for Zimbabwe, this reporter had a chance to talk to him outside the meeting and asked if it was necessary to change a constitution that the people did not really understand, arguing that it is perhaps best to get the people of Zimbabwe to first understand the current constitution and then try to correct its short comings at the same time emphasizing the importance of a peoples constitution, citing examples of what Hugo Chavez of Venezuela who educated the Venezuelan people about the importance of a peoples constitution did.

However, Madhuku contended that what the NCA was doing was the best way forward he claimed that the NCA had spoken to the people on the ground in Zimbabwe and the way forward was to come up with a new constitution all together. But my argument remains if its just windows that need replacing on a house why destroy the whole structure is it not easier to just replace the window?   

Speaking to the people after the rally this reporter got a mixed reaction to Tsvangirai’s speech with some saying they were well pleased with Tsvangirai’s speech. However, Alois Mbawara and Wellington Chibanguza of the Free Zimbabwe Youth Movement said they were not impressed by Tsvangirai’s speech at all. “ He is not saying much at all, all he seems to be doing is dance round the real issues, he mentioned the land issue but we all know the MDC is not laying out how they will deal with that issue which is close to the hearts of the majority of Zimbabweans”. Argued Mbawara.

Sanderson Makombe who traveled from Wolverhampton was not amused by the choice of venue as he was one of those who could not get inside the building to hear what was said “ it was a waste of time for me I did not get to hear anything” However Zachariah Nhira an activist from Wolverhampton was well pleased with the way the meeting had gone “ President Tsvangirai has recharged my batteries and I am motivated to continue with the struggle to free Zimbabwe from the evil dictator” said Zachariah.

Colin Freeman (chief foreign correspondent) for The Sunday Telegraph  expressed to this reporter the lack of professionalism on the part of the information department of the MDC UK branch in deal with the press/media who were trying to cover the event. " we found it difficult to get in and even arrange to meet with Mr. Tsvangirai" said Freeman.

This reporter experienced harassment by the ill-trained green bomber like security personal that were drafted mostly from the MDC UK membership as he tried to go about his business. Journalist who had come to cover the event hustled their way to the front trying to position their equipment so they could record the proceedings. At the end of the rally even the better-positioned journalist failed to talk to Tsvangirai as he was rushed  away by his security personal.

Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.

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