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 and 2021 [these last two during "Lockdown"!]. We are now preparing for 2022 on 13-14th 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
Walk for Freedom was the last four year's themes - and agin ZHRO will keep this. Having had so many freedoms denied in Zimbabwe in 2019/20/21, this is particularly relevant, especially with the abduction in Zimbabwe of the three MDC Youth Leaders, Abduction of Journalists and now the attacks upon the provisions in the Zimbabwe Constitution; [Zimbabwe Updates.] See PROMO WALK DRONE VIDEO AS WELL for some "inspiration"!!
Please register on the Walk Facebook Platform your Interests and updates CLICK HERE
Walk Training
Training programme for those interested will be released in late April 2021 - Training will go ahead in spite of any future CV19 "Lockdowns" as we will be out in the open air the risks as such are infinitesimally small!. These will be 15-20km each over the next few months. These will increase to 30 plus km by the first week in August/Last Weeks in July in preparation for the main effort starting on Saturday 21st August 2021. Arrive there around 5:30am in order for a prompt 6:30am start. Pictured just outside Christ's Hospital Railway Station some 40km from the starting point in Brighton.
For practice a small band walked from Hampton Court Rail Station, via Richmond Park 0n 16th March 2019, and finished at the Zimbabwe Embassy on The Strand, London. Certain individuals are conduction their own training programmes local to their homes.
Walk Route
Very much as 2017/18/19/20. Brighton Pier to Devil's Dyke. [see photo at top of Devil's Dyke and Flickr pages ] Dropping down to Henfield and the Downs Link. Then onto Christ's Hospital [Rail station photo above] just a short walk from the rendezvous location on the Downs Link. The long slog to Guildford [railway station meet], finally the night walk along the River Wey Navigation and, this year, into Hampton Court [Rail Station], London. This year the 21-22nd August was chosen due to there being a FULL MOON [and subject to a cloudless night sky] increase visibility during the night section next to the Rivers!
"Walk for Freedom" How it worked out over the weekend
Four Zimbabwean Diasporans, who are members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), have successfully completed the ZHRO VISION 2020, "Walk for Freedom" and for #ZimbabweanLivesMatter, which started at day break, on Saturday the 29th of August 2020 at Brighton Pier, U.K. and ended over 29hrs later, at around noon some 100km distant on Sunday, 30th August 2020 at Hampton Court Train Station in London. 4 (four) Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) members completed the whole journey on foot - walking throughout the night.
The Walk for Freedom is a peaceful 'protest' walk that is used by ZHRO, to raise awareness to the British public of the plight of Zimbabweans, who are suffering under the brutal rule of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) Political Party.
The Walk For Freedom was the Idea of Rashiwe Bayisayi, who has this year successfully completed her fourth walk. Ben Tsikwa, Siplilen Birani, and Temba Ncube became the first male ZHRO members ever, to successfully complete the whole walk from Brighton to London.
Rashiwe Bayisayi, Sarah Bayisayi, Chipo Parirenyatwa, John Burke, Ben Tsikwa, Siplilen Birani, Hillary Chikomba, Temba Ncube, Thenjiwe Ncube and Silvanos Mudzvova all took part in the walk, with those previously mentioned above having successfully completed the walk.
ZHRO's Walk for Freedom and with the hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter currently trending we are appealing for Zimbabweans and their friends in the diaspora to support this annual event.
Having had so many freedoms denied in Zimbabwe in 2017-20, this is particularly relevant, especially with the abduction in Zimbabwe of the three MDC Youth Leaders [Zimbabwe Updates.], The arrests of Hopewell, Jacob Ngarivhume and others on "made-up" charges. Then there are the fake 'lockdowns' to both intimidate and imprison. In addition, More arrests occuring now.
Please register on the Walk Facebook Platform your Interests and updates CLICK HERE
Walk Training Has Passed!
In preparation for the main effort starting on Saturday 29th August 2020. Arrive there around 5:30am in order for a prompt 6:30am start. The route takes us to Hampton Court Rail Station.
For practice a small band walked from Devil's Dyke [Near Brighton] to Henfield, 11th August 2020, A short stretch of the actual route. However in walking back to their home this took over 30km and 9 hours in the baking heat of the South Coast!
Walk Route
Very much as 2017/18/19. Brighton Pier to Devil's Dyke. [see photo at top of Devil's Dyke and Flickr pages ] Dropping down to Henfield and the Downs Link. Then onto Christ's Hospital [Rail station] just a short walk from the rendezvous location on the Downs Link. The long slog to Guildford [railway station meet], fianlly the night walk along the River Wey Navigation and, this year, into Hampton Court [Rail Station], London.
Walk for Freedom was the last three year's themes - and agin ZHRO will keep this. Having had so many freedoms denied in Zimbabwe in 2019/20, this is particularly relevant, especially with the abduction in Zimbabwe of the three MDC Youth Leaders [Zimbabwe Updates.] See PROMO WALK DRONE VIDEO AS WELL
Please register on the Walk Facebook Platform your Interests and updates CLICK HERE
Walk Training
Training programme for those interested was released in March - [Now deferred until later in May due to CV19 Lockdown/Social distancing advice]. These will be 15-20km each over the next few months. These will increase to 30 plus km by the first week in August/Last Weeks in July in preparation for the main effort starting on Saturday 29th August 2020. Arrive there around 5:30am in order for a prompt 6:30am start. Pictured just outside Guildford - having left from the main Railway Station, the new route takes us to Hampton Court Rail Station.
For practice a small band walked from Hampton Court Rail Station, via Richmond Park 0n 16th March 2019, and finished at the Zimbabwe Embassy on The Strand, London.
Walk Route
Very much as 2017/18/19. Brighton Pier to Devil's Dyke. [see photo at top of Devil's Dyke and Flickr pages ] Dropping down to Henfield and the Downs Link. Then onto Christ's Hospital [Rail station] just a short walk from the rendezvous location on the Downs Link. The long slog to Guildford [railway station meet], fianlly the night walk along the River Wey Navigation and, this year, into Hampton Court [Rail Station], London.
The ZHRO walk for freedom started on Saturday 21st September 2019 at 6:30am at Brighton Pier. The end point was Hampton Court Train Station at 8:55am on Sunday 22nd September 2019. The first leg was started by Rashiwe Bayisayi and John Burke. They walked out of Brighton and up to the South Downs at Devil's Dyke [Photo: at the top] and then, all the way to Christ's Hospital Rail Station, where they took a break after the difficult 37 km stretch but, John Burke announced that he was pulling out with foot trouble.
The next leg was from Christ's Hospital Railway Station to Guildford Railway Station. This was done by, Rashiwe and Sarah Bayisayi, who stood-in for the retiring John Burke. This was the point at which, the walkers were met by, ZHRO Chairwoman, Chipochedenga Parirenyatwa. She was at Christ's Hospital Railway Station meeting point to help the walkers by being part of the support unit - with food, drink, massage and pep talk!