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
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- Written by: John Burke
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In early 2016 Rashiwe Bayisayi and myself started to explore walking routes from Brighton to London. It took quite some time and over 100 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways {all thanks to Ordnance Survey Map APPs}.
It was Rashi's idea to commemorate Zimbabwe's Hero's Day - {Second Monday in August} with something heroic in the UK. And a 100+ km 30 hour Walk seemed to fit that notion. So we set about planning. This was whilst we were a part of Ephraim Tapa's ROHR/Zimbabwe Vigil - which we were funding at that time {another long story!!}.
History and Development
The 2016 Walk proved far too arduous to be completed over the two days - which included an over-night camping experience in Edenbridge, Kent. Since in the morning very few of the exhausted walkers could be roused. Indeed several had to retire with injuries to muscles and giant blisters. {we still feel bad about that to this day}. See the link to some photos of that ROHR Walk - with the ROHR Walk T Shirts {several are still available!! - but the web links on those T Shirts, are now incorrect}. Click for PHOTOS Here - uploaded in 2025 but all originally from 12-13th August 2016}
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Over the years, and started back around 2015/6 Rashiwe - suggested a Walk for Freedom. Ever since many of us have partaken in an activity, which is free, inspirational {when in the Countryside} and a good, gentle form of exercise. The first step {excuse the pun} is to consult the maps - both online and off-line {paper-maps} to "plan to explore" - in the UK we are very fortunate to have the OS {Ordnance Survey} and an amazing amount of public footpaths and bridleways. More about the UK and its heritage of mapping: The name ORDNANCE SURVEY hints at how it all began. See more history later;
We have also encourages regional Walk for Freedom activities and are seeking support from the diaspora to look at organising more now we are in 2025. See More Articles HERE - 20th May 2023 and HERE for photo log of the Bolton Abbey Walk in 2022
Our first Walk for Freedom {as ZHRO - since we had tried a Walk to London in 2016 as ROHR} was on 21st August 2017. We took some time at the hills above Brighton - at the Public House, called the Devil's Dyke {near the geographic feature of the same name} See our Photo Album CLICK HERE - to open a new Window
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- Written by: John Burke
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Update After 20th May
Flickr Album for the 20th May Walk Click Here
Glorious day in the sunshine, and the trip through the Yorkshire Dales, via Barnard Castle was a delight. It was an early start for us all as the trip from Leeds to the 'Walk' itself was 2 hours and 90 miles to the North of Leeds. So we decided to set off around 7:00 AM Saturday morning, of the 20th may 2023. Monica, Qiniso, Knonzanani, and with John diving we did the 'pick-ups' around Leeds then headed for the M1/AI to the North!
It was a bright day, with some early morning mists being burnt off by the Sun. We drove to the famous "Scotch Corner" where the A66 meets the A1, and headed towards the Yorkshire Dales. A lovely drive indeed, and the scenery, as we turned off the A66 just got better with every twist and turn - and there were plenty of those! No road grid layouts in the UK! The breath-taking Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle that we passed, is clearly somewhere to visit at a later date.
Onward via, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin and out to the Bowlees Visitor Centre, just West of Newbiggin. They have a great car parking arrangement with simply voluntary donations, rather than a set fee. And its mostly under the shade of trees and next to a babbling brook/stream too! BUT NOTE - get there early {we arrived at 9:30am and had the pick of the parking spots}, but at 1:00 pm with was completely full, with cars parked all the way along the approach roads!
The actual Walk itself was excellent too, although we set off in the wrong direction to start, and had to rectify that with a walk trough some fields (still technically a footpath as indicated on the Ordnance Survey map I was trying to use. PLEASE NOTE: Little of Zero Mobile Signal in the area of the Bowlees Centre! So in future I need paper maps!!
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- Written by: John Burke
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UPDATE: 13th May 2023
Well it's that time of the year again, when Zimbabwens, and their faithful supporters, need to dust off their walking boots and get outside to stretch their legs in anticipation of the "Walk for Freedom"! Practice is extremly important if this year's potential participants are attempting to try the full-monty!
This year our provisional dates are as the flyer namely, 12-13th August 2023 - [OR POSSIBLY THE 5-6th AUGUST as it's another FULL MOON] - simply ideal for the night section by the Rivers before and after Guildford.
but please, do not let the provisional date stop you from readying yourself with some PRACTICE!! However, as indicated in previous years, the "Walk for Freedom" is in 'bite-sized' chunks. See later for all the chunks, their description and maps.
20th May the High Force Walk Link HERE
Same route as all the previous years {since 2017, with some minor revisions} - We did infact organise a Walk in 2016 under the guise of ROHR, with Rashiwe and myself both path-finding and participating! Although, we all "checked-out" at the camp site we had organised at Edenbridge around 11:30pm - but that's another story!
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- Written by: John Burke ZHRO
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This year's "reflections" dwell on the voting 'fiasco' in Zimbabwe and the failure of ZEC and Zanu PF to implement any of the recommendations offered by many Election Observers. 2023, what will happen this time - will the 'de facto' opposition party - the re-branded CCC, win again, with a simple majority, or will ZEC, again take weeks to "fiddle" [allegedly] the voting returns and numbers - backed up by a corrupt and "number blind" Judiciary?
As ZHRO, we have with the MyRight2Vote campaign and ROHR petitioned SADC, AU, FCDO and the BBC [on 20th July 2022 - see link to this HERE]. As a direct result we have an invitation to the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] on the 18th August at 14:00 - a discreet and confidential meeting to discuss from a purely Human Rights perspective - The Right to a Free and Fair Election - as defined in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
Wish us luck and further lobbying within the FCDO for the right to a free, fair and genuine election in Zimbabwe in 2023.
Our Flickr page of the 13-14th August is now available Click HERE there are more photos being added over this week.
Let's start our "reflections" with the comment from Rashiwe Bayisayi from last years as it's still highly relevant today.
"Walk for Freedom" started in 2016 as a symbol of solidarity with Zimbabweans 'back-home', and those within the diaspora. The 'Walk' symbolises the struggles we face at home and in 'Foreign Lands. Walking in the sun, rain, cold, day and night to give "awareness" to the British Public, and the World at large of what is happening in our Home Country. I call upon my fellow Country men and women to come and join the 'struggle' because united we stand and our 'plea' may reach all corners of the World. I trust that one day Freedom will come our way. I believe in our lifetime Human Rights will be respected, Freedom of speech will be recognised without fear of persecution.
- We are not going to stop until Zimbabwe is FREE. Let's "Walk for Freedom".
- #Walk for Freedom
- #Take2Zimbabwe
- Aluta Continua
by Rashiwe Bayisayi - Principal Walk Pathfinder, 2016 completion to Embassy, plus ZHRO 6 time completion medal winner.
It Was Too Hot!
What can we say - a high pressure over the Atlantic has caused hot air from the Sahara to be re-directed over the UK - especially the South Coast!
Joking aside, the plan {we did some considerable planning - see previous articles on this Walk Section} was to start early at 7:00am so that we would get to the Downs Link section {and the shade of the trees along that route} by 12:20 pm, as the temperatures were climbing. BUT - the best laid plans...of mice and men...{Robert Burns} So it is with some embarrassment that things went wrong immediately! We had some worries.
- 2022 W4F Update
- 26th July 2022 Bolton Abbey Estate
- 2nd July 2022 Practice Walk for Freedom
- August 2022 Walk for Freedom
- 18th September 2021 Pickering
- Walk for Freedom Reflections
- 2021 Walk for Freedom - Completed
- Walk for Freedom Update (2)
- Preparing for 2021 105km Walk
- 29-30th August 2020 Walk4Freedom
- 29th August 2020 Walk4Freedom
- Preparing for 2020 105km Walk
- 105km Achieved in 2019
- Preparing for 2019 105km Walk
- 105 km Achieved in 2018
- 2018 and another 105 km Walked
Subcategories
Walker Views Article Count: 10
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
