By Langelihle khoza
ADDRESS TO Help Zimbabwe Campaign
The Chairman, invited guests, friends and fellow Zimbabweans, Good Evening.
Before I go any further, I would like on behalf of all our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters including myself, to particularly express our gratitude, to the people of
We will never take your generosity for granted and will always remember and treasurer these moments even after our eventual return to
What prompted over 3 million ordinary people, leading ordinary lives in Zimbabwe, to turn their backs on their country and their jobs, lifestyle and loved ones in order to travel to all four corners of this earth was not an adventure but fear. Fear that one day you might be discovered in a shallow grave, a mortuary, a prison or a hospital if you are lucky. Most of these people did not wait to find out, but we do have a significant few amongst us who bear the scars and testimony to what I have alluded to.
The criminal regime of Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF has worked very hard and tirelessly, and for a number of years managed to hoodwink its own people, the SADC region,
Just as I speak, businesses are being bullied to operate at a loss in order to force them to shut shop, further worsening the unemployment and food shortages. Workers are forced to accept uneconomic wages whilst the regime is fuelling inflation through printing more and more money to buy foreign currency from the black market and sustain their lavish lifestyles. People are starving, have no medication in hospitals, no shelter and no hope for tomorrow. It indeed, is a sad situation which no normal person would inflict on another.
So if I may pose a simple question to all of us gathered here: Why have Zimbabweans of all persuasions, colour, tribe and creed deserted
It can not be business as usual for the rest of the world whilst
The brutality of Mugabe’s government is well documented and as you might have seen in the media. The man knows no limits or boundaries. He is law unto himself and will do anything to destroy all those he feels are a threat to his Government. In Mugabe’s world, political opponents are enemies of the state who have got to be exterminated by whatever means at his disposal.
So how did it all begin? It all began with the Matebeleland Genocide. 20 000 innocent people of the southern region were murdered maybe because they spoke a different language from his but definitely because they dared to support a man called Joshua Nkomo and the opposing political party ZAPU. Next on the line were the Zimbabwean WHITE farmers. Maybe partly because of their skin colour, but definitely because they dared support the MDC opposition. As if that was not enough, Mugabe has gone on to destroy homes for 700 000 innocent urban dwellers, driving them into destitution and abject poverty. Their crime, definitely, being their refusal to vote for him and his party in all elections and instead supporting the opposition candidates.
The economy is now in tatters and on auto-pilot with unemployment at over 80% and inflation at 100 000%. Public services are collapsing and the majority of people have been reduced to beggars. People are homeless and dying like flies whilst the rest of the world watches on the sidelines. Something really needs to be done to stop this horror movie.
- Now let us pose and reflect on what’s happening in
As Christians, we believe in the power of prayer and also that all peace loving people across the world have a moral obligation to support the voiceless and oppressed people of
We therefore, in our own small way, invite and encourage you all, to pray with us, lobby and express your solidarity with the people of
To the Zimbabweans in this country I say this to you: Please, please don’t abuse this country’s generosity and friendship in the way you conduct yourselves within the host communities. Show them that we are different from Mr Robert Mugabe and that all we want is to live in peace and harmony with our new neighbours, enlightening them of our plight and mobilising for their support to put pressure on their Government to assist in regime change in
Our Leaders back home have demonstrated a high level of maturity and maintained the high moral ground in the face of great adversity, even threats to their own lives and extreme provocation. We are cautiously hopeful, God willing, that the forthcoming elections might finally bring an end to 28 years of living hell in
The pressing issues for Zimbabweans outside the country are as follows:
- Fighting for peaceful, free and fair elections in
- Raising the profile of the
- Fighting for the granting of asylum to genuine victims of Mugabe’s rogue regime. This requires support from local communities and human rights bodies.
- Fighting for voting rights for Zimbabweans in the diaspora. It is best practice for normal democracies to allow citizens outside the country to also have a say in the democratic process
- Fighting for repeal of all draconian and oppressive legislation in
- Fighting for the establishment of new democratic constitution and institutions that accommodate and protects everyone, including minority interests.
- Advocating for setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission that will deal with all cases of genocide and human rights abuses in
It is those issues I have highlighted that I ask all Zimbabweans and friends here present to PRAY FOR, Also pray for all people of
Again thank you for giving me this platform to share with you our dreams and aspirations and God bless you all. Good night.
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