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 8 such walks: 2017 to 2022 each year [whilst we did WALK4FREEDOM in 2020, 2021 and in 2022 during "Lockdown" the end result was we skipped 2023 and 2024 unfortunately]. So we re-started in 2025 and 2026. However we did do some regiaonal WALKS 4 FREEDOM in 2023 and see MAY 2023 - North Yorkshire but in 2023 and 2024 we did a record number of Petition Deliveries and Demos instead See ARTICLE
Also 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
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}
As a Zimbabwean Political and Human Rights activist. I'm a proud member of (ZHRO) Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation. I have been privileged to participate in series of powerful events across the UK. Most notably - Walk for Freedom in Blackburn on the 5th of April 2025. We had a another recent one, at the Tees Barrage in Stockton on Tees on the 3rd of May 2025.
These walks are a cry for justice, a demand for accountability and a reminder to the World that the people of of Zimbabwe deserves to live in a nation where freedom of speech, press and peaceful political participation are respected. These events are not just public demonstrations, but deeply personal journeys, for those of us who are fighting for a free Zimbabwe. Through these long walks we remember the pain and suffering our people continue to endure back home under a brutal and corrupt regime.
With each step, is a symbol of resistance, hope and of unwavering call for justice and democracy in Zimbabwe. Carrying banners, singing songs for freedom and engaging with the public, allows us to raise awareness and ensure that the plight of Zimbabweans is not forgotten. The message behind our walk is clear - ZIMBABWE DESERVES BETTER!
An intial circuit of the famous Tees Barrage on Saturday 3rd May, followed by a Walk to Elesewhere or Nowhere, as a Walk for Freedom! Josephine Jenge with support from Phylis Melody Magejo and Dickson Chikwizo have found this tour location central to Stockton. SEE FLYER - CLICK HERE AND SEE LARGE MAP - CLICK HERE OR Click on either image below to see larger version
will complete the write up of the 3rd May - after the event - obviously!
And here it is!! A really great day for all the 15 Walkers, their support, which included 2 Cleveland Police constables and the Local Aurhority Event's Team - to be accurate, it was because Josephine informed them of our planned walk - and we had given them sufficient information about our valid and respected purpose.
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
ENDURANCE FROM EXILE: A journey for Zimbabwe
UPDATE 13th July 2025
A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROUGH ACTIVISM AND HEALING.
