Walk for Freedom 2026: 10 Years & Still Walking
Brighton Pier, 15–16 August 2026
Getting the ZHRO family to Brighton for the 10-year anniversary was, in itself, its own small odyssey. Participants converged from across the country — Leicester, Manchester, Stockton-on-Tees, Wolverhampton, Southampton, Oxfordshire, Chesterfield, Worthing, and beyond — a reminder of just how far the Walk for Freedom's reach has grown over a decade.
The logistics were compounded by a very practical challenge: distributing the full run of ZHRO 10 Year Walk for Freedom T-shirts, which had arrived by FedEx the previous Monday (10 August) — 23kg of them. A spreadsheet was set up to track sales (£15 per shirt) alongside separate contributions toward food and other costs (£25 each), so we could keep an accurate record of who'd paid, who still owed, and what had been banked.
The plan had been simple enough on paper: gather at Brighton Pier for 5:00am on Saturday 15th, setting off at 5:30am sharp. Reality, as ever, had other ideas.
Now we fully understand tha Mr Masimba Mavaza needs to keep his job with Zanu PF - so here is our 100% accurate, list of people taking part or supporting the 2026 - 10 year Anniversary walk: ready?
Rashiwe Bayisayi, Stanford Biti, John Burke, Francisca Chiduku, Justin Prince Chihurani, Dickson Chikwizo, Elizabeth Chitengo, Tanya Daka, Rosaline Dzidzwa, Anna Katsande, Shackleton Machingura, Phyllis M Magejo, Henry Makambe, Blessing T Makeyi, Genius K Mamwadhu, Mellisa Marewangepo, Panganai Mauzinyu, Mandy Mubaiwa, Roselyne Mubayiwa, Mary Blanton Mugabe, Felistas W Munemo, Felicia W Munemo, Patson Muruwa, Sindiso Ndlovu, Velisiwe Ndlovu, Chipo Parirenyatwa, Michelle Rwatiringa, Jambaya Samuel
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- Transport and accommodation hiccups meant several participants had a harder time than expected just getting to the start line.
- The T-shirts themselves were delayed — Sarah and Rashi, both doing heavy NHS shift work, overslept after a run of night shifts that had completely upended their normal sleep patterns. Entirely forgivable, if inconveniently timed — the shirts didn't arrive until around 6:30am.
- A surprise guest arrived just before the shirts did: Mr Stanford Biti, a senior officer within the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) and younger brother of Tendai Biti, CDF's founder. He'd called only two days earlier, on the Thursday, to ask if he could join — not a request anyone was going to turn down.
Special mention also goes to those who went the extra mile, literally:
- Blessing Tariro Makeyi, UK Chair of CDF and a ZHRO member in her own right, who made additional donations toward the Walk on top of her usual support.
- Patson Muzuwa, who drove all the way from Durham — detouring to collect three additional passengers along the way — an eight-hour journey before the walk had even begun.
All this before a single step of the walk itself had been taken.
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The First Leg: Brighton Pier to Devil's Dyke
Departure finally came at 7:00am, two hours behind schedule due to the morning's chaos. The planned timing had the group reaching Devil's Dyke Pub by 9:05am — 11.7km in, with a 30-minute rest before pushing on toward Henfield.
It was on this stretch that Blessing's two teenage daughters found the walk had other ideas for them. Game as they were to join the 10th anniversary walk, tiredness and hunger caught up with them after just 3km, and a taxi was called to get them back to their lodgings — a very human reminder that not every Walk for Freedom story ends at the finish line, and that's alright too.
We got to the Tesco at the top of West Way, Brighton. This provided Cold Coffee and Kefir for those who scoured the Local Tesco! And a sit down at this point - some 8km from the Pier - with a bit of a hill to climb. The next part across a small park and past the Soccer/Golf course (the holes were big enough to take a fotball - and much too big for a golf ball. We rhen crossed the A27 via a footbridge and then started the country walk - the breeze was great - sun was out but the cool wind was really helping. Many were helping themselves to the ample supply of Black berres festooning the brambles either side of the path!
For those who pressed on, the climb up to Devil's Dyke — rising to 217 metres, with views across the South Downs, the Weald, and on a clear day the Isle of Wight — delivered exactly the payoff it always does. The plateau behind the pub, with its sweeping 180-degree panorama, became an impromptu stage: singing broke out, and the walk's now-infamous African drum made its first appearance of the weekend, with Patson and Rashiwe trading turns on it against the backdrop of the Weald stretched out below.
However we actually arrived in stages - those that walked all the way were there by 11:00am on the Saturday! now 2 hours behind our carefully planned schedule - and not a hope in hell to spend a mere 30 minutes at this "Top of the World"!
It was then the singing started, then when the drum ans shakers arrived the tempo was upped even further - the others at Devil's Dyke were looking we had a degree of spectators indeed! {SEE VIDEO of FLICKR}
To get the full efects of the top of this Devil's Dyke, it is best to view our Flickr Pro album at the link below - it contains both Photos and a few short videos of singing, drumming and the general revillry we conducted in that place - clear skies provided an amazing view!
[FLICKR PHOTOS - Full Walk for Freedom Album - 15th and 16th August 2026 - CLICK HERE}
Standord Biti bought drinks - Orange juice (with slices of Lemon) and Cranberry too - by the pint!! So refreshing after some 14km (which included going back tp take with a;lthe stragglers) - most were picked up by Patson - he had driving duties to perform - or Taxi, which you heard about earlier.
The Henfield elite group including Dickson Chikwizo (now over pension age!) bravely took part in that stage - a big shout out to him!
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! -- To Be continued!! But as an interesting aside - at the bottom of the climb down from Devil's Dyke - and nearly in the villiage of FULKING (! That's its proper name) a passing 'enquirer' looking at all the Walk for Freedom T Shirts enquired why they were walking (for freedom) the generous old chap then thrust a £20 note into Panganai Mauzinyu and old Mr Chickwizo's hands! --- which he handed over to the organisers at Henfield. Well done that donor!
The arrival of the intrepid walkers at the The Railway pub in Henfield was quite a sight - the Landlady and staff were quite surprised at our appearance - evn though we had called into the premises several times over the last 10 years - but it appears that ownership and staff has changed too - as has the name of the Pub as well.
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This was a decent but level walk along the "Downs Link" (the old railway route, but closed by Beeching in the 1960's) plus mostly in the shade of the trees and bushes along bioth sides.
We ate well at the Green of the villiage of Christ's Hospital - food and drinks were ably delivered (in a fleet of cars) by Sarah Bayasayi, Rose Mubayiwa, and Mary Blantina Mugabe no less! After the food and drinks were feasted upon the remaining group unfurled some of the well used ZHRO Banners to promote the message of injustice and criminal behaviours within Zimbabwe!
But then the impromptu singing broke out - "A song for Africa" with excellent harmonies and counter-point provided by Patson. Wonderful. We had a small audience of the locals walking their dogs! We have this video on our Flickr Pro site {CLICK HERE to Access}
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The night walking section is always the hardest, slowest and risky. Whislt the walkers have head torches they need to keep them trained on the ground to prevent trips and falls. Rashiwe, Sarah, and Henry bravely set off from Christ's Hospital, using the tunnel under the tracks to access the Dows Link to Guildford.
The motor pool now consisting of John and Dickson, followed to meet the Walkers at Rudgwick, Cranleigh and finally Guildford. However things did not go to plan - exactly. Rudgewick was fine. John and Dickson parked up in Rudgwick next to the Downs Link, and by now it was dark. Catching a quick nap. Shortly the glow of the head torches came into view. The 3 arrived and took some water.
Next the drive to Cranleigh
Still under development - come back soon!
Still under development - come back soon!
