From August 2016 to July 2017 ZHRO members Rashiwe Bayisayi and John Burke set about finding a practical walking route from Brighton to London. Some 100 miles of walking later; By utilising the old railway route, now called the Downs Link, that took us all the way to Guildford. From Guildford the River routes allowed us to get to Kempton Park and latterly Hampton Court. We have now completed 5 such walks 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 [these last three during "Lockdown"!]. We are now preparing for 2025 on 9-10th August [Full Moon (again) to aid the night section] and see preparation articles due soon and our Facebook Page too
Walking for Activism: for fitness, for publicity; for a public reaction. But just to mingle in the wonderful British country-side and to enjoy the scenery
105km Journey from Brighton Pier to Hampton Court Railway Station
Executive Summary
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) successfully completed its 2025 Walk for Freedom on 10th August 2025, covering 105 kilometres from Brighton Pier to Hampton Court Railway Station. Despite challenging terrain and forecasted hot weather conditions, a dedicated group of participants demonstrated remarkable determination and solidarity in walking for Zimbabwe's freedom, completing the arduous two-day journey that included an overnight section.
It was not just those that attended the physical event either, so many had offered their support for this 2025 'Walk for Freedom' in the preceeding weeks and months by statements, ideas, testimony and the recognition of the purpose of this event - which started as an idea in 2016.
The 105km journey as described below, really comes across as much more than just a physical challenge - it's a powerful statement of resolve from the Zimbabwean diaspora community.
Event Overview
Preparations: A big 'thank-you' has to be made to Melody and Josephine who initiated a training programme of local walk events (see previous articles)
Start: Brighton Pier, 6:00 AM Saturday 9th August 2025 Finish: Hampton Court Railway Station, 4:00 PM Sunday 10th August 2025
Distance: 105 kilometres
Duration: 34 hours (Walk continued by overnight walking)
Participants: - first names at various stages - and recorded in the ZHRO register in full, plus mobile, e-mail and their residential locations in the UK
Navigation Aids: OS Online - with route planned & recorded by John in addition, on the walk assisted by Moses, Henry and most effectively, Kelvin Mhlanga
Pre-Dawn Preparations
The commitment of our participants was evident from the earliest hours. While the official start time was set for 6:00 AM at Brighton Pier, Shamiso demonstrated extraordinary dedication by arriving at 5:10 AM to prepare. Even more remarkable was Ettar's journey - having taken a night bus and arriving at Brighton Bus Station by 2:20 AM, showing the lengths to which our community will go to stand for Zimbabwe's freedom. A few others had organised stay overs with friends. But most extraordinary were Moses, Daisy and Alwyn - who had made plans but were ruined by a flight cancellation - meaning an arrival into the UK on Friday in the early hours! Plus a run from Manchester Airport to Brighton!
WALK FOR FREEDOM 9-10 AUGUST 2025 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
We lift up our eyes and look into the distance, Latitude 17.9316 and longitude 25.8302. The Lozi Nation calls it Mosi-oa-Tunga (Thundering Smoke/Smoke that Rises/ Smoke that Thunders). The Tonga Nation calls it Shungu Namutitima (Boiling Water). The rest of the world knows this place as The Mighty Victoria Falls.
This is UNESCO’s One of the Seven Wonders of Nature. Lifted up so the whole world may take note of it.
It is the World’s largest falls with a width of 1,708 meters and a height of 108 meters. It has the World's largest sheet of falling water. The spray of the water rises up 400 meters and is visible from 50 km. Daily it has many rainbows and at night during a full moon it has a “Moonbow“ which is a rainbow at night, a “Luner Rainbow“.
This place is stranger than fiction, for those that levitate into the dark arts state that the waters that have not yet flown over the falls have a different spiritual quality than the waters that are now flowing over the falls. In this regard these waters are used for different purposes in their dark art.
Our gaze shifts to a silhouetted lone dancer next to a huge upside-down tree, the Baoba. This tree looks as if it has been uprooted and turned upside down with its roots in the air. It is a tree that can live for over three thousand years. Yes three thousand years! This place is cloaked in mystery, contradictions and unquantifiable forces.
The silhouetted dancer dances on his own to a single drum beat. The drum beat rhythm and tone immediately pulls at one’s heart to take note and to pay attention. The dance is a knee and feet dance with the upper body remaining ridged, like the Irish Traditional Dance. Every time the dances feet pound the ground, dust rises into the air. Today the dancer has been dancing for two hours non-stop. He is 86 years of age…..!!
The dancer dances and the drummer pounds the drum because they wish to take their spirits into the air, to levitate. They seek answers. They seek answers. They seek answers.
The question being asked is “How can it be that a place like this, a gift from The Almighty himself has failed to impact the world because of what the current Administration in Zimbabwe has done and continues to do!“
The people of this place and country are closely in touch with their inner self. They instinctively know that we do not just exist on this plane and in this realm only.
And so over 6,000 miles due north and a little west we arrived at the green and pleasant fields of the United Kingdom. The Royal House of Windsor has a new monarch, HRM Charles III. A biblical exodus of people from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom occurred and continues to happen. As they leave the entity that is not in tune with their spirits behind. Hundreds of thousands have arrived seeking refuge and sanctuary. Whilst many were brought in by The UK government to work in its Primary Health Care in the NHS.
These people are the people of the open areas, peoples of the plains, like many First Nation people are. In this regard in 2016 a small group got together and set themselves a challenge. That is, to walk 100 kilometres from Brighton to London, through the English countryside. This is not just a walk but rather it is a cathartic experience to assist these ancient people, to also spiritually levitate and seek out the same answers, being sought by the 86 year old silhouetted dancer at Mosi-oa-Tunga. Each step they take on this 100 Kilometer walk assists this process. We are now in 2025 and the 100 Kilometer walk is growing in participants.
Across the wind-brushed hills of Southern England this August, a quiet yet powerful act of defiance will unfold. Men and women, some exiled by violence, others by economic collapse, and many simply moved by solidarity, will walk 105 kilometres, from Brighton to Hampton Court. This will not be a festive march, but a solemn protest. They walk for justice. For remembrance. For a country they still love, even from afar.
This is the ZHRO Walk for Freedom, organised by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), a UK-based diaspora movement committed to exposing injustice in Zimbabwe. At the helm are Rashiwe & Sarah Bayisayi, Josephine Jenje, Melody Magejo, plus John Burke, tireless organisers whose names are becoming synonymous with principled solidarity. Under their leadership, Zimbabweans in the UK have built more than a protest movement, they’ve built a moral force the world can no longer ignore.
The 105km Walk for Freedom is the brainchild of Rashiwe Bayisayi, a committed Zimbabwean activist in her own right. It was her vision to turn the pain of exile into purposeful action, transforming footsteps into a statement. What began as a personal idea [post 2016 Play Reactions] quickly evolved, through her determination, into a powerful collective action for justice, remembrance, and solidarity.
I first worked with John Burke during my tenure as Chairman of ZAPU’s Europe Province. We collaborated on a petition campaign challenging the British government, then led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to reconsider its draconian stance on Zimbabwean asylum seekers. At the time, many Zimbabweans were trapped in a state of limbo, their lives stalled by a painfully slow and opaque asylum processing system. Our petition also criticised the UK government’s silence in the face of widespread condemnation of Zimbabwe’s 23–24 August 2023 elections. Despite damning assessments by election observers from the AU, SADC, COMESA, EU, US, Commonwealth, United Nations, civil society organisations, churches, and independent monitors, the British authorities failed to act or even acknowledge the legitimacy crisis unfolding in Zimbabwe.
The truth is, exile was never a choice for most Zimbabweans, it was survival. What began as a liberation movement against colonialism mutated into a brutal betrayal. Zimbabwe didn’t transition from war to peace, it simply changed uniforms. The warlords who led the struggle refused to disarm their minds. They traded guerrilla camps for government offices but brought the same weapons: violence, fear, and repression. Power became their ideology. They didn’t lead, they ruled. They didn’t build, they looted. Zimbabwe’s collapse into dictatorship wasn’t a mistake. It was the logical outcome of men who never knew democracy, only domination. They chose power over principle. Silence over justice. And blood over ballots.
As Zimbabwe celebrates Heroes Day Zimbweans must remember the unsung heroes Murdered by their own army on August 1 2018 20000 murdered by its own army during Gukurahundi madness All those that disappeared because of what they believed in Morgan Tsvangirai the father of democracy even in death we still remember you All those that were killed by Zanupf for the quest of a free Zimbabwe May your souls continue to torment the dictators until Zimbabwe is free
Zimbabwe is ruled and not governed Zimbabwe is occupied by a gangster, a mafia, a cartel that parades as a political party These man and women shoot and kill to remain in power These men and women are cowards who fear the will of the people
Several of our intrepid walkers have hit the presses with speeches, articles and reactions on Twitter etc. But most interestingly the Agencies in Zimbabwe have also catught our 'diaspora vibe'. That in itself has prompted the writing of a tongue-in-cheek review of the last 4-5 weeks in terms of wins for the diaspora and losses for the bumbling, oppressive, corrupt Zanu PF and their "script-writers" See later our link.
We were all treated to an ice cream by Patson, who negotiated a deal for all the Walkers, with the ice-cream van driver in Meanwood Park! See a great picture from Samuel on his Twitter account {Click Here to view}
We have had so many written reactions from the people who have walked or have an opinions upon the walks and Walk for Freedom - thaty we need to create this new sub-directory
ZHRO Walk for Freedom 2025 - Event Report
ZIMBABWE CRISIS
ENDURANCE FROM EXILE: A journey for Zimbabwe
UPDATE 13th July 2025
