A Petitioners Perspective

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Written by: Phylis Melody Magejo

Published: 24 October 2024

Last Updated: 17 November 2024

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• Maternal Deaths
• Petition

On October 24, 2024, Zimbabwean human rights and political activists in the UK came together to deliver two petitions to Number 10 Downing Street. Activists were determined to spotlight the injustices happening in Zimbabwe and the alarming maternal mortality rated in the country.

I was privileged to be one of the activists participating in this demonstration. I felt a strong sense of purpose as we presented our petitions to the Prime Minister's Office . The first petition was calling for urgent international attention to the human rights violations that are rampant in Zimbabwe where voices have been quietened by Zanu PF. The second petition was about the maternal mortality rate that has critically gone high. Expectant mothers are dying, a situation that requires urgent action and support from the international world.

We have a link to the Petition itself {CLICK HERE} and an extract from it states:

Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo has written today {23^rd October 2024} on the ZAPU.ORG website a heart felt and poignant message regarding the serious Maternal Death issues within Zimbabwe.

“As for the populace in Zimbabwe, the greatest impact of ZANU PF misrule will remain in the form of terrifying maternal and infant mortality rates. Independently verified statistics on Zimbabwe's institutional maternity challenges paint a grim picture of a country precariously on the brink.”

• Institutional maternal mortality rate was 114 per 100,000 live births in 2023 compared to 107 in 2022, noting a concerning increase.
• Perinatal mortality rate (PMR) increased from 28.4 per 1000 births to 35.6 per 1000 births.
• Most perinatal deaths (75.3%) occurred at Kwekwe General Hospital situated at the centre of a gold-rich part of Zimbabwe.
• Hypertension contributed 59/333 (17.7%) to stillbirths while
• birth asphyxia accounted for 210/511 (41.1%) of early neonatal deaths (ENND) as at 20 September 2023.
• Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) in Zimbabwe was reported at 24.3 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.

At our Petition, our cry to the Prime Minister and his government was to help us with its influence to pressure Zanu PF government to answer the call of Zimbabwean Citizens and allow them to be led by a government of their choice. The high maternal mortality rate indicates the adverse failures that have affected affected citizens and communities.

An air of Hope and resilience filled the air as we sang and danced in one accord. The demand for justice and accountability amongst others was expressed in song and dance, as we demonstrated togetherness in our fight for the rights of Zimbabwean citizens and advocating for a future where every pregnant mother has a right to live.

16th August 2024 SADC Petition

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Written by: Basil Kamombe and John Burke

Published: 16 August 2024

Last Updated: 17 March 2025

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• SADC
• SADC President Failure

"THE CHARADE in ZIMBABWE"

Sub heading for this entire report

Dateline Friday 16th August 2024: Whitehall, London 12:00 noon

Zimbabweans started arriving opposite the gates to 10 Downing Street at around 12:00 {high noon!}, although due to travelling great distances a few were in London for 8:00am. [Read our Petition at this LINK.]

However, in the run up to the visitation by SADC tomorrow {17th August 2024} regarding the passing over of the {rotational}  SADC Chairmanship, ED Mnangagwa has gone full scale psychotic paranoia national white-wash programme! 

Roads that have not seen tarmac for decades, suddenly got a 'top-coat' {straight onto the sand in many cases so in a month or two - it will be a pot-holed obstacle course} - but hey, whenever have Zanu done a quality job? Verges were tidied up whilst others were painted! They even claimed they were going to build luxury apartment for the visiting SADC 'Heads of State' {alas these despite the Swiss 'expertise' are still unfinished - again typical Zanu PF bodge-up?

But the most unsettling aspect of this purely ceremonial SADC chairmanship, was the ruthless forward planning for months in advance by the psychotic ED and his band of paranoid sadistic CIO's, Police and Military personnel - press-ganged into detaining anybody and everybody they could think of who may/may not, possibly/maybe lead to ED being "embarrassed" about the nation he has plundered for so, so long. The insanity of Zanu paranoia should be a 'case-study' in future annals of political-psychology teachings.

The breath-taking hypocrisy of ED trying to polish a t**d of his own making.

But the degree of human suffering meted out by the psychotic Zanu PF machine, in these preceding months cannot be over emphasised. Abductions without due cause, torture, beatings detention without trials, without representation, for months on end. The Zanu PF regime is failing on every measure of an "administration" - worse, they cannot legally claim to be a Government - in part due to SADC's own SECOM findings!  Cheif Ndiweni made this exact point outside Number 10 Downing Street this afternoon. {Video Link to Follow}

But, let us not forget what other Election observers have said about the 23-24th August 2023 Zimbabwe Elections! A few will be cited further below. 

More telling, is the arrest of the Election Observers! Who were trying to validate and tabulate the actual votes! Typical Zanu PF "thinking" - lets put a stop to that and arrest them all! Zanu PF cannot even think as a government - their deep seated psychosis is so complete, that their 'knee-jerk' reactions, to arrest, capture and torture any and every form of "opposition" beit from anybody - even foreign observers.

The fraudulent ZEC and its entire administration has plenty to hide from the 'eyes' of the World's election observers.

In part 2 of this report we shall see the global headlines issued on the 16th August 2024 regarding this "CHARADE in ZIMBABWE"

Read more: 16th August 2024 SADC Petition

Petition to Sir Keir Starmer

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Written by: Basil Kamombe and John Burke

Published: 19 July 2024

Last Updated: 17 March 2025

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TO THE NEWLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT, fao Sir Keir Starmer; PRIME MINISTER OF THE UK

THE ONGOING CONSTITUTIONAL INJUSTICE, INCACERATION OF THE OPPOSITION MEMBERS ALIGNED TO ADVOCATE NELSON CHAMISA, AND ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

We, as the Zimbabwean diaspora, have written several petitions to the UK government {including the FCDO} and carried out various protests in the UK against the Zanu-PF regime in Zimbabwe. Which we feel have illegally and unconstitutionally declared itself as the elected government of Zimbabwe. With ED Mnangagwa as their {illegal} President!

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current President of Zimbabwe, has been accused of using various tactics to maintain power and suppress opposition, including:

1. Coercion and intimidation: Using security forces to silence political opponents and critics.
2. Propaganda and disinformation: Controlling state media to spread false information and propaganda.
3. Repression of dissent: Cracking down on protests and demonstrations, often with violence.
4. Patronage and clientelism: Rewarding loyalists with government positions and resources.
5. Electoral manipulation: Allegedly rigging elections to maintain power.
6. Divisive politics: Using ethnic and regional divisions to consolidate power.
7. Corruption and cronyism: Accused of enriching himself and allies through corrupt means.
8. Surveillance and infiltration: Infiltrating opposition parties and civil society organizations.
9. Lawfare: Using the legal system to silence opponents and critics.
10. Charm offensive: Presenting himself as a reformer and democrat to international audiences.

These tactics have been criticized by opposition parties, civil society, and international observers, who accuse Mnangagwa of undermining democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe.

Indeed, the failure to respect the voting intentions of the Zimbabwean people, in the {highly disputed} elections carried out over 23-24^th August 2023 – but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission {ZEC} have never declared the voting numbers to this date, they simply claimed that Mnangagwa had “won” with 54% of the total vote.

Read more: Petition to Sir Keir Starmer