UPDATE 13th July 2025
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}
PLUS take a gander at the ever growing Flickr Photo (and Video) Logs {Click the Link} which will grow even more over the next few days!
But below is a reprint from the agentcies article on the News Wires: See below:
UK-based Zimbabweans in protest walk despite threats from Mnangagwa’s regime_
THE streets of Leeds in the United Kingdom (UK) roared with the sound of resistance this Saturday as Zimbabwean nationals and solidarity groups marched 15 kilometres through the city in a protest against tyranny by President Emmerson Mnangagwa back home.
Organised by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), the demonstrations went ahead undeterred by recent threats from Mnangagwa’s government, with participants singing revolutionary songs and chanting calls for democratic change, standing defiant in the face of intimidation.
The walk came in the wake of chilling warnings from Zimbabwean authorities, who have vowed to apply the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Act (2023) against anyone—inside or outside Zimbabwe—who “tarnishes” the image of the so-called Second Republic. Despite this, participants in Leeds said they would not be silenced.
“We are not afraid,” said one marcher.
“We will continue to speak out against corruption, nepotism, and oppression.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) recently confirmed that Blessed Runesu “Bombshell” Geza, a leading figure in Zimbabwean demonstrations and stay-aways, is now on Interpol’s watchlist. But rather than deterring action, his listing appears to have further galvanised exiled Zimbabweans and international supporters.
The march saw enthusiastic participation from a broad coalition of groups, including members of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), ZAPU, Mthwakazi Republic Party, and others who joined ZHRO in calling for regime change. Under the blazing summer heat, the spirited crowd kept its energy high, drumming and singing all the way.
There was a roar and thunder in Leeds when drums were beaten by
Participants, Ettar Mhlanga and Patson Muzuwa, electrified the atmosphere with energetic drum beating thereby spurring the crowd in a determined move showing that the diaspora community is no longer willing to remain silent.
Among the organisers of the walk were, Pamela Magwizi, Mgcini Victor Hlophe, Regina Mahowo, Happiness Ncube, Phylis Melody Magejo, Josephine Jenje-Mudimbu and John Burke.
Coordinators Petty Ziramba, Patson Muzuwa, Mevis Mutsvangwa and Shepherd Yuda said the Leeds demonstration was part of a global wave of resistance.
In Canada, solidarity protests were led by activist Mellisa Tonderai Tagarira, while in the United States, 19-year-old Bethel Princess Chiyangwa led a demonstration alongside Panashe Vongai Trish Sivindani. In South Africa Jabulani Ndlovu lead a team of 40 people in their quest to be heard.
The protestors vowed to continue their campaign until real democratic reform is achieved in Zimbabwe.
“Fear is no longer an option. We will not stop until our country is free,” said one participant.
~Agencies
Good morning, friends, activists, and freedom fighters
Today, we gather here in Leeds, united in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, to raise our voices and our footsteps in the Walk for Freedom. This is not just a march; it is a movement—a cry for justice, a demand for accountability, and a reminder to the world that the people of Zimbabwe deserve to live in a nation where freedom, democracy, and human dignity are not just ideals, but realities.
For decades, Zimbabwe has suffered under a regime that silences dissent, rigs elections, and brutalizes its own citizens. Journalists like Blessed Mhlanga are imprisoned for speaking truth to power. Activists are abducted and murdered, like Tapfumanei Masaya, whose body was dumped on the streets of Harare for daring to campaign for change.
The Zimbabwean government claims to uphold democracy, yet it bans protests, arrests demonstrators, and deploys soldiers to crush dissent—just as we saw on March 31, 2025, when cities fell silent not in peace, but in fear.
Our walk today carries a clear message:
- Zimbabwe deserves free and fair elections—not the sham votes orchestrated by ZANU-PF and the compromised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) .
- Human rights must be protected—political prisoners must be freed, and state-sponsored violence must end.
- The diaspora must have a voice—Zimbabweans abroad must be allowed to vote and shape their nation’s future.
And let us remember—our fight is not just political, it is personal. For many of us, these walks are more than activism; they are healing. They remind us that we are not alone, that our voices matter, and that every step we take is a step toward liberation.
So today, as we walk through Meanwood Valley Trail, let every step be a defiance against tyranny. Let every chant echo the cries of those silenced back home. And let our presence here send a message to Mnangagwa’s regime: The world is watching. Zimbabwe will be free.
Join us. Walk with us. Fight with us.
Evy Kagandi
Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO)
“Good morning, comrades, friends, and allies,”
Today, we march not just with our feet, but with our hearts, our memories, and our unbreakable hope for Zimbabwe. We gather here in Leeds, thousands of miles from home, yet closer than ever to the struggle for justice. Because freedom knows no borders—and neither does our resistance.
For too long, Zimbabwe has been held hostage by a regime that rules with fear, not fairness. A regime that steals elections, silences critics, and turns the streets of Harare, Bulawayo, and Mutare into battlegrounds against its own people. We have seen the brutality—the midnight abductions, the tortured activists, the mothers who bury their children for daring to demand a better future.
But let me be clear: “we are not here to mourn. We are here to mobilize”
Our walk today is a defiance against the lies of Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF. They promised us a “new dawn,” but all they delivered was more darkness. They promised democracy, yet they ban opposition rallies, arrest journalists, and weaponize the courts against dissent. Just last month, soldiers were deployed to crush peaceful protests—proof that this regime fears the people more than the people fear them.
So what do we demand?
- “An end to state violence.” No more abductions. No more torture. No more lives lost to tyranny.
- “A truly independent electoral commission.” Zimbabweans deserve elections where votes are counted, not corrupted.
- “The right of the diaspora to vote.” Millions of us abroad are forced into exile by repression and economic collapse—yet we are still Zimbabweans. Our voices must be heard.
This walk is more than a protest—it’s a promise. A promise to those still in Zimbabwe, whispering their dissent behind closed doors: You are not alone. A promise to the prisoners of conscience, like Job Sikhala and all the nameless souls in Chikurubi: We will not forget you. And a promise to Mnangagwa and his enablers: Your time is running out.
So as we walk through Meanwood today, let every step shake the foundations of oppression. Let our chants be the drumbeat of change. And let this movement grow until it reaches every corner of Zimbabwe—until the chains are broken, and our people are free.
“Aluta continua! The struggle continues!”
“Forward ever, backward never!”
Dumisani Nyathi
“Thank you.”
Freedom Walk Report - July 12, 2025: By Genius K. Mamwadhu [Please note the word "PEACE" on this statue of Queen Victoria in Leeds]
The Call for Freedom
On July 12, 2025, Zimbabweans in the UK organized a Walk for Freedom with one clear message: ZANU-PF must go. As someone who worked in Zimbabwe, I have never been happy under the ruling party's governance. The corruption within ZANU-PF runs so deep that it seems the leaders are born with corruption in their blood—they simply don't care how much people are suffering.
The Reality of Rural Zimbabwe
- In rural areas, children cannot attend school due to lack of basic necessities:No money for school fees
- No shoes or uniforms to wear
- No educational resources Meanwhile, government leaders are busy buying expensive cars and private jets for themselves and their families.
Economic Devastation
There are no jobs in Zimbabwe. Even university graduates with degrees end up selling airtime on the streets just to survive. This is completely unfair—educated people should have opportunities, not be forced into informal trade just to make ends meet.
Healthcare Crisis
In hospitals, people are dying without medication or food. Basic necessities are impossible to obtain for ordinary citizens, while leaders enjoy wealth from gold and mineral resources with their families.
Our United Stand
As Zimbabweans in the UK, we declare: ZANU-PF must go. There is no place for you this time. We will continue walking for freedom until Zimbabwe receives the change it desperately needs.
Living in Fear
If you are an opposition member or supporter, you live your life in constant fear of the ruling party. They have killed opposition members and supporters simply for their political beliefs. Supporting the opposition literally puts your life in danger. The country's mineral wealth benefits only government officials while ordinary people suffer in poverty.
Democratic Suppression
In 2024, Zimbabwe authorities acted to undermine democratic processes, repressed civil society, and restricted political pluralism. We need our country back as Zimbabweans. The ruling ZANU-PF has maintained power through systematic intimidation. ZANU-PF supporters have engaged in widespread harassment, threats, and acts of violence, preventing opposition parties from staging rallies.
The 2023 Elections
The 2023 elections were particularly concerning, marked by threats, intimidation, repression, and violence against opposition members and supporters. ZANU-PF went as far as killing opposition supporters. It is extremely dangerous to be an opposition member in Zimbabwe—even door-to-door campaigning puts your life at risk. They don't want to see anyone in the wards representing the opposition.
Unity in the Diaspora
As Zimbabweans in the diaspora, we are united to walk for freedom until change comes to Zimbabwe. United we stand, divided we fall. There is no turning back now. People are suffering while leaders buy cars for their enjoyment. In the country, there is no medication, no food, no jobs. Let's stand together as one country for freedom.
Our Demands
ZANU-PF must go. We need:
- Jobs for our people
- Medication in our hospitals
- Food security
- An end to the suffering
The Exodus
Opposition members and supporters are fleeing the country in fear of these killers. ZANU-PF must go. We need Zimbabwe to be a better place for everyone, not just one family or government officials. Please, ZANU-PF, you must go.
This report represents the voice of Zimbabweans in the diaspora calling for democratic change and human dignity in their homeland.
For Victor Simon, the 12th July 2025 in Leeds for our Walk for Freedom was an inspiring, but also a traumatic experience. Shepherd Yuda was most forth coming with his experiences in his final months in Zimbabwe in the Election run-off period for the 2008 elections - as Yuda says
"a clear victory for MDC and Tsvangirai, Mugabe was completely beaten - in a Free and Fair Election"
However, what then transpired was the Zanu PF 'machine' which could not accept defeat, even as the clear 'Will of the Citizens' - so they planned and plotted. Rigged and intimidated, tortured and victimised those within MDC. They finally got hold of all the original ballot papers - and systematically took out most of the MDC votes - claiming them as "SPOILT" - to such an extent that the Election result was now "in need of a RUN-OFF" - However this was being videoed by Prison Officer, Shepherd Yuda!
It was this action that initiated a ruthless, unrelenting reign of beatings and torture of the most heinous kinds on Prison Officer Yuda. These Zanu PF animals tried for months to maim, kill, and break Shepherd Yuda. They failed - however Yuda managed to flee with the help of the UK, and to shine a bright light upon this clear voter manipulation, when the UK's Guardian Newspaper got hold of the video. Yuda's testimony was fascinating indeed. It affected all who were listening. Including Victor Simon - who has now expanded upon the events in an article on our sister website related to the diaspora right to vote! See his full AI supported article and Testimony here: "Repressed Memories". CLICK TO OPEN
Indeed it was only after this Walk for Freedom that Victor was able to piece together the events leading up to his parents being systematically tortured by so called 'Zanu PF Youths' - because his father was a chairman of a local MDC group in Epworth, Harare. His whole family fled to South Africa on 27th June 2008 - but the father passed on the 29th October 2008 and his mother shortly after on 24th March 2009. We assume from the effects of this torture.
Context for Victor Simon's Testimony: The event clearly had the atmosphere and purpose that could indeed trigger traumatic memories and encourage testimony. The report describes participants "singing revolutionary songs and chanting calls for democratic change" with "enthusiastic participation from a broad coalition of groups, including members of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), ZAPU, Mthwakazi Republic Party" “Bullets for Each of You”: State-Sponsored Violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 Elections | HRW.
During the Walk for Freedom in Leeds, when part of the group stopped off for some speeches regarding why we were there - from Evy Rimayi {born in Zimbabwe 1968 - so cognisant of the war of independence and the horrors subsequently perpetrated by the heartless Zanu PF.} This further added to Victor Simon's conflicting memories.
PHOTO: Evy is delivering her powerful speech {video available elsewhere} - with Victor Simon {in Yellow) and Shepherd Yuda {in Black} standing together.
The Meanwood Valley Trail
- 12th JULY 2025
- Starting point at the Statue of Henry Rowland Marsden - {Leeds City Mayor - 1875-76} (See History Link HERE)
- Those Parking may (and we stress MAY) find spaces off Raglan Road - especially the further away from the City Centre/University - see map.
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| Current Flyer - with approx postcode LS6 9DZ | Detailed OS Map pf area - with start of the Meanwood Valley Trail (green lozenge shapes) |
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| We should meet at this statue of Henry Rowland Marsden - Looking towards Raglan Road | We should meet at this statue of Henry Rowland Marsden {alternative view point - towards A660 and Universcity} |
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| Ariel View of Park {Hyde Park} with statue | Road Map View of Hyde Park between Woodhouse Lane and Raglan Road - Statue within circle |
Meanwood Vallet Trail details {click here}.
LIVE Scale Map of the Full ROUTE
Start time - but arrive EARLY please - aim for 9:15 to 10:00 AM (to Start at 10:00)
How long does it take to walk the Meanwood Valley Trail?
At a standard pace it can take around 2 hours. However the length of time it would take to walk the Meanwood Valley Trail really depends on how fast you walk it, and the time of year. It is worth considering the weather, as if it has been raining parts of the trail are very muddy. This will significantly slow the pace, and there will be lots of jumping from rock to rock. However, we would also suggest factoring in food and drink breaks. Scotland Wood is a great place for a food break. Sat amongst the trees with a sandwich can be quite peaceful.
Is the Meanwood Valley Trail Signposted?
The Meanwood Valley Rangers have done a great job in signposting almost the whole of the trail. Look out for the blue circular badge with a white owl on wooden posts. Usually paired with a green ‘Permissive Path’ badge and arrow.
For those Brave Enough!
John Burke, and anyone considering the Walk for Freedom over 9th-10th AUGUST {See Full details of that trek} should, with just one month to go - think about doing the full 11km AND returning to the starting STATUE! - being over 22km - but just for those fit enough with sensible walking boots!
