Thousands of Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom are expected to demonstrate against the forced removal of undocumented Zimbabweans at the Parliament Square in Central London on Wednesday July 18 at 12 noon.
This move comes after it came to light that Britain with the aid of the Zimbabwean Embassy in London had begun the deportation of Zimbabweans with the view that with the new dispensation the situation had changed.
Several Zimbabweans in UK detention centres have been visited by officials from the London Embassy who are said to have been interviewing them then preparing their travel documents to facilitate their deportation to the Southern African country Zimbabwe.
Britain colonised Zimbabwe many years ago and during the era there were many atrocities that took place, Zimbabwe came under British rule after having being defeated by the settlers. Zimbabweans are still affected by atrocities that took place, an example is the Mbari clan where I come from. The clan is currently being haunted by the attrocitiesthst took place on Mbari’s land. Mbari chieftainship has since been destroyed. Harare was named after Mbari my great grandfather who lived on the hill called Chihoka (Kopje) . Mbari looked after Harare from the Kopje where he could see Harare from an aerial view.
Most of the atocities which took place in Zimbabwe happened in Mbari’s territory ie Harare and part of Mazoe.
Mbari was married to the sister of Nyashanu, so the first muhera of buhera was seke, following an adulterous relationship with his fathers wife he fled and went to his aunt who was Mbari’s wife. Mbari was a spirit medium so he was consulted by many who sought his advice, people ended up saying tichambonoona harava ya seke isingarare (we are going to consult the old man of Seke the one who doesn’t sleep) that’s where the name Harare originated from.
Mbari clan in Zimbabwe convinced the Zimbabwean government to resuscitate our Mbari chieftainship.
When the British settlers commercialized Harare and part of Mazowe, they displaced our clan, today, the clan is living a destitution way of life in other chiefs territories hence our appeal for a resuscitation to our land.
Up to this date, many rituals have been done on more than 1000 graves of our relatives in Mazowe advising them that the country they died for is now liberated.
Up to this date we have appeased 1096 graves in Harare and part of Mazowe, Mbari clan members were brutally murdered during the 1st chimurenga war.
Because of the British invasion of Zimbabwe some of the consequences today are that the Mbari clan is living a destitution life yet they have a heritage to protect in Harare and part of Mazowe, so many people aged, young and defenceless were brutally gunned down by the settler regime, hence the appeal by Mbari clan to protect these sacred shrines.
Mbari died around 1870’s, his young brother Makombe Mbari was the chief of the area, whose homestead was destroyed on the 1st of March 1897 together with Chief Chinamora’s homestead.
The Mbari clan’s totem is gurundoro. Gurundoro came from guru rendoro because Mbari was the Paramount chief, and all the chiefs surrounding Harare and Mazowe were given land by Mbari hence he earned himself the Guru-Rendoro totem.
The capture of Nehanda and Kaguvi and the subsequent executions were all done in Mbari’s territory.
When Nehanda and other first Chimurenga war heroes were executed their heads were brought to England and currently lie in the Natural museum, Zimbabweans were calling for the return of those remains to Zimbabwean soil.
With this background of Zimbabwe’s history Zimbabweans im the UK are annoyed with forced removals especially at this point in time when Zimbabwe is in the process of rejoining the Commonwealth a move meant to improve relations between Britain and Zimbabwe.
It is the wish of every Zimbabwean to return home at some point but forced removals have serious effects on people’s lives. People need to prepare their return home especially after being away for so many years, others have no relatives, others have fallen out with their families, others have health , mental health problems and careful planning has to be done before returning home.
Zimbabwe’s economy is still down and will take several years to get back in track. There is a high level of unemployment and those already living in Zimbabwe are struggling to survive.
Zimbabwe’s government is expected to represent it’s people and tell the British government the econony is still down and there is no plan in place to accomodate the deportees who will need accomodation, food, healthcare and employment.
Coming up with a plan to allow undocumented Zimbabweans in the UK to work for a specified period while planning to return home is another possible solution to this crisis.
Problems which may arise in Zimbabwe with forced removals include increase in crime rate as desperate people fight for survival, increase in prostitution rates, mental health problems and many other problems. Zimbabwe is not in a position to handle such problems at the moment as they are in the processing of reviving the ailing economy.
There are no functional industries, no cash in banks, proliferation of highly educated vendors in the streets among others.
The demonstration will take place at Parliament Square. Parliament Square is a square at the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in central London.
For more details on the london demonstration contact: Grace on +44 7975 770197, Andrew 07421429338, Jeff 07450885879, Rumbi 07956949500, Pardon 07827089394
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