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Call
to boycott South Africa "Zimbabwean exiles and human rights campaigners in the UK are to launch a campaign on 4th July to boycott South African products because of President Mbeki’s support of the Mugabe regime. The campaign is organised by the Zimbabwe Vigil, which has been demonstrating outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London every Saturday for nearly three years in support of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. South African fruit is to be trampled into the pavement and South African wine poured down the gutter at a demonstration outside the Guildhall in the City of London. The occasion is a one-day meeting there organised by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. NEPAD, as it is known, is largely a Mbeki idea and is aimed at boosting investment and aid in Africa. In return it promises good governance. A Vigil spokesperson said, "We have been debating the question of a boycott against South Africa for some time because of President Mbeki’s connivance with the horrors going on in Zimbabwe. We wanted to draw on the resonance of the anti-apartheid protest but were worried that our problem with Mbeki’s policy might be seen as an attack on our brothers and sisters in South Africa. But the recent sale of South African military equipment to Zimbabwe was the last straw and everyone said ‘what else can we do?’ "We decided that the NEPAD meeting was an opportunity to embarrass President Mbeki who will be visiting the UK that week. South Africa holds the fate of Zimbabwe in its hands and Zimbabweans are angry that South Africa has again accepted rigged elections in Zimbabwe and are appalled at the treatment of Zimbabwean exiles fleeing to South Africa. Our hearts were torn by seeing a video of 30 blind Zimbabweans living in one room in Johannesburg." The demonstration will be followed by the presentation of a petition to Downing Street demanding that Britain does nothing to legitimise the Mugabe regime and to press South Africa to allow democracy in Zimbabwe. The NEPAD meeting at the Guildhall is to report by video link to the African Union Summit in Tripoli beginning on the same day. It is also to report to the Summit being held later that week in Scotland of G8, the group of leading industrial countries. " This is designed to be a media event and we hope that as many people as possible will turn up to embarrass Mbeki. The demonstration will be from11 am to 2 pm with the ceremonial trashing of South African products to take place at 1 pm when the streets should be thronged with people taking their lunch break. Discussions are under way to get some noteworthy person with us. The venue is the junction of King Street and Gresham Street opposite the entrance to the Guildhall, nearest tube: Bank and follow directions to Guildhall. Other nearby tube stations are Mansion House and Moorgate. We would remind you that the Vigil is hosting two events next weekend. On Saturday, 25th June, we will be joined by WEZIMBABWE, an organization set up to help Zimbabweans. We will be helping them raise funds for their "Operation Murambatsvina Emergency Appeal". Check www.wezimbabwe.org for how to make donations. On Sunday, 26th June, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum will be commemorating the UN international day in support of victims of torture. There will be a special service (see attached) from 2 – 4 pm for Zimbabwean torture victims at St. Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, Covent Garden. After the service the group will walk to the Vigil with flowers and a special Vigil will be held for the torture victims from 4 – 6 pm. Please let us know if there is any help you can give us with these events. Vigil co-ordinators Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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