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Written by: BHM UK & ZEM plus end comment ZHRO

Published: 22 May 2023

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Africans in UK struggling to make ends meet

Africans in the UK are struggling to keep up with rent, food and electricity bills and this has resulted in most incurring debt and also seeking assistance from families back home. Despite contributing to the country’s economy, the majority do not qualify to receive financial assistance from the government as they don’t meet eligibility criteria such as income level, residency status and immigration status.

Even with the hardships, Africans are continuing to flock to the UK, and 2022 saw a huge increase in those seeking temporary work. Study migration post-pandemic has also contributed to the surge.

Enitan Kehinde, lead consultant and general manager at BHM UK {Black House Media UK https://bhmng.uk/col-report/ }, an African communications services company which sheds light on the financial struggles faced by the African immigrant community in the UK, said these individuals were also facing lack of job security and mounting debt. [Review full report or Download - CLICK HERE]

“Some have turned to family for financial support in recent times, while others admit to borrowing to pay for everyday needs. As the crisis bites deeper, several say they have had to cut down on essentials to survive.”

Kehinde added that petrol had become a luxury, with many unable to afford to fill up their cars.

“Some plan to reduce the use of power while others have had to miss meals so they could pay bills,” she said.

Lead researcher Robert Ekat said the grim situation has necessitated an urgent need for attention, which has informed BHM UK’s research. He said cultural or language barriers also made it difficult for African immigrants who could qualify to access and navigate the UK’s social welfare system.

Read more: Africans in UK Struggling

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Written by: John Burke

Published: 18 April 2023

Hits: 281

6:30am London; Several hardy and brave Zimbabweans from Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle arrive at Victoria Bus Station - most getting onboard at 23:50 on the 17th April - traveling overnight! 6-7 hours travel.

10:30am A good number of Zimbabweans, including some of the early birds above, congregate outside the UAE Embassy located in the prestigious address in 1-2 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1X 7EE - very plush, close to Harrods and Belgrave Square. This reflects the prestige of the UAE {Dubai} and its wealth - let's not forget that Dubai's success is recent in historical terms. The Persian Gulf War of 1990, in which Dubai as part of the UAE provided military aid to the coalition, unsettled the economy; however, in the mid-1990s this stabilised and many foreign trading communities moved their businesses to Dubai. Now Dubai is synonymous with wealth now. But has no more resouces than Zimbabwe.

Their approach to wealth and luxury has been ruthlessly exploited by the regime, the #GoldMafia has been drawn like moths to a flame, to Dubai.

By 12:00 noon the masses of Zimbabweans were camped out at the Zimbabwe Embassy at 429 The Strand, London. We passed around a register of those present, 66 people completed their details. but I know personally of 5-6 who did not get round to adding their names. Others, too have mentioned various missing personalities. Only time will tell. 

13:30: As a group a procession formed and we perambulated the short distace to the South African High Commission on Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP. Our group sang and chanted on the street outside. Chief Ndiweni and a few others ventured inside. They were met with a sympathetic ear - as the Petition was e-mailed to the SA Hign Commission in the morning of the 18th. One of the Counsellor's at the High Commission had received the petition with thatnks and the message, and circulated to His Excellency Jeremiah Nyamane MamaboloHigh Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other key staff.

Dear Chief Ndiweni

This serves to inform that the South African High Commission acknowledges receipt of the documentation handed over on 18 April 2023.

Your kind understanding is appreciated.

Our appreciation and the sympathetic responce at the High Commission was well recieved by all who had met there. We then continued along the edge of Trafalgar Square and onto Whitehall towards the entrance to Downing Street itself.

14:00: Much discussions and conversations centred upon the 43rd anniversary of the {not} Independence Day, and the task ahead to gain International recognition and condemnations as to the #GoldMafia exposition. This view was ably argued within 9 pages of the Petition itself. {Click Here to View or Download} The main body of the demonstrators now established an 'encampment' next to the statue of Lord Montgomery and proceeded with song, music and speeches.

At the same time the group of 6 petitioners were ID checked into the Downing Street security perimeter by the Metropolitain Diplomatic Unit - in their normal and friendly manner! This in itself is in stark contrast to the lowly and politically motivated 'police' in Zimbabwe. Inside the security net the 6 petitioner were entertained with a history lesson regarding the 800 year old architiectural heritage within the sight of 10 Downing Street itself.

The Petitioners then had time on their own to take photos and discuss their objectives. At the same time no overt police 'supervision' was percieved by those present. After a while the group knocked on that door - 10 Downing Street and handed over the petion to the staff member inside - indeed he was happy to be photographed with the petitioners as can be seen in the Flickr Album of the 18th April 2023 {Click Here} - Of note, and as at 6:30 am on today {19th April 2023} the Twitter Post of this handover has been viewed 20,900 times and still climbing. {see Tweet here}.

During the coming days we will upload personal accounts, opinions, thought and reactions from both those present and those affected by the lack of Independenc ein Zimbabwe.

Other external Views regarding the 43rd Anniversary.

Amnesty International Contrasts this 43rd Anniversary with the propaganda as spouted by the regime, under the international spotlight, of their "own-goal" of #GoldMafia

“Forty-three years after independence, authorities are yet to guarantee in practice the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly which are increasingly being threatened despite being guaranteed under the constitution and international law,” said Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa.

“The right to freedom of peaceful assembly has continuously been violated and undermined with the authorities refusing to give clearance for some of the main opposition party’s rallies, arresting and convicting peaceful protesters and using unnecessary and excessive force to stop protests.

“As Zimbabwe approaches elections later this year, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly have come under increasing attack. Dissenting voices are being criminalised, with some opposition activists put in lengthy pre-trial detentions.” said Flavia Mwangovya.   

Zimbabwe Economic Movement commentator Divine Mafa opines:

Another factor that contributes to support for dictators in Africa is the lack of strong democratic institutions. In many African countries, there are weak or non-existent institutions that are meant to provide a check on the power of the government. This includes a free press, independent judiciary, and effective opposition parties.

Without these institutions, there is little to prevent a dictator from consolidating power and suppressing dissent. Furthermore, some dictators have been able to use ethnic or tribal divisions to their advantage. By playing one group against another, they can weaken any opposition and maintain their hold on power. In some cases, dictators have even used violence against specific ethnic groups to intimidate others and consolidate their power.

One example of a dictator who used ethnic divisions to maintain power is Zimbabwe's former president, Robert Mugabe. Mugabe came to power in 1980 after leading the country to independence from British colonial rule. He was initially seen as a hero, but over time his regime became increasingly authoritarian and corrupt. One of Mugabe's key tactics was to play the Shona, his own ethnic group, against the Ndebele, a minority group in the country. In 1983, he launched a brutal campaign against the Ndebele that came to be known as the Gukurahundi.

Thousands of Ndebele were killed, and the campaign was used to intimidate and silence opposition groups. The legacy of the Gukurahundi still looms large in Zimbabwean politics, and many Zimbabweans continue to be divided along ethnic lines. Mugabe also used violence and intimidation to suppress opposition to his rule. He used state security forces to harass, arrest, and torture opposition leaders and activists. He also cracked down on the press, closing independent newspapers and harassing journalists who criticized his regime.

Despite these abuses, Mugabe continued to enjoy support from many Zimbabweans, particularly in rural areas where his policies had delivered some benefits, such as land reform. Many Zimbabweans saw Mugabe as a hero of the liberation struggle, and were willing to overlook his flaws in the belief that he was working to improve their lives. However, by the time Mugabe was forced to resign in 2017, Zimbabwe was in a dire state. The economy was in shambles, with hyperinflation and a shortage of basic goods.

Corruption was rampant, and the country had become an international pariah. Mugabe's legacy was one of repression, economic mismanagement, and political corruption. Since Mugabe's resignation, Zimbabwe has seen some political reforms, including the election of a new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in 2018. Mnangagwa has promised to bring about an era of political and economic reform, but progress has been slow. Zimbabwe still faces significant challenges, including widespread poverty, corruption, and political violence.

In conclusion, the support for dictators in Africa is a complex issue that is rooted in a variety of factors, including fear, poverty, lack of education, cultural factors, history, and the lack of strong democratic institutions. To build more democratic societies, African countries need to invest in education and civic engagement, build strong institutions that can provide a check on the power of the government, and work to heal ethnic and tribal divisions. Only through these efforts can Africa move beyond the legacy of dictatorship and build more prosperous and just societies for all its citizens. Divine Mafa:

Is ED A DICTATOR? The question of whether Emmerson Mnangagwa is a dictator or not is a subject of debate. Mnangagwa rose to power in Zimbabwe in 2017 after the ousting of long-time leader Robert Mugabe. Since then, his government has been accused of human rights abuses, including crackdowns on opposition parties and civil society groups, as well as media censorship.

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Written by: John Burke

Published: 02 April 2023

Hits: 274

Lovingly entitled, "Zanu PF Fool's Day"; the 1st April 2023 at the Zimbabwe Embassy was the initiation of the campaign to expose the criminality at the heart of the Zanu PF regime. The Zanu PF regime has held Zimbabwe, as a nation "hostage" for far too long - 43 years this April 18th in fact. [Full image log on ZHRO Flickr CLICK HERE ]

Those brave few present, coming from as far away as Manchester, Coventry, Northampton, Gosport and Littlehampton, were there to "represent" all Zimbabweans who have been utterly disenfranchised by the Zanu PF regime back in Zimbabwe. That's not to say that many more within the UK diaspora should have been present - and the 18th April 2023 Demonstration {at the Embassy} and Petition {to 10 Downing Street, home of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak} will prove the depth for feeling personified by #GoldMafia and other criminality by the regime.

The numbers attending will always be a big factor when presenting a proposal and petition to the British - they are very much 'swayed' by the numbers - as they perceive "Voter Recognition" of an event or situation, that must be acted upon. The same is very true for pushing for democratic and humanitarian action to be promoted by the British within their sphere of influence, at both the UK Embassy in Harare AND on the International Stage. Here in the United Kingdom the Zimbabwean Diaspora has huge potential to assist those trapped by the regime in Zimbabwe. It is up to the diaspora to stand up and be counter {as the expression goes} and in this case literally too!

In November 2017 - the 18th November in fact: CLICK HERE to remember that day, the Hopes and Dreams for a Democratic Zimbabwe were Born - but now those dreams are left in tatters, as the nightmare began on that day inside the regimes psychotic imagination. Fast forward to March 2023 and the pre-launch of the Gold Mafia {at that time without a title - but certainly about corruption} many were apprehensive, most about an expose, but within the regime -'concern'.

Now the regime has gone past "concern" now it's {initially} ignoring it, but now the propaganda psychopaths have decided to "question" 2 years of under-cover research and 'stings' and to de-legitimise #Gold Mafia.

But it's too late, the die has been cast, actions have been taken, the crimes are not just limited to within Zimbabwe. The blunder of the 'dunderheads' is that this "externalisation" of looting, money laundering and theft has enveloped the International Crime Agencies and Tax Authorities - and to a big part the "insult" to several sovereign nations who have found themselves a 'party' to criminality. Now this has opened the political ramifications. Already the Tax Authorities in the UK, Congressmen in the USA, are asking questions. Let alone the impacts politically in UK, USA, South Africa and the UAE. The latter are particularly discrete, and those involved in #GoldMafia could find themselves at-risk should they return. The USA, in particular are extremely sensitive to all aspects of money laundering of the USD {the $}, there are also 'questions' that have arisen about pallets of $100 Notes "lost" in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, who is to say that #GoldMafia are involved, but this dark-web of #GoldMafia has significant and very dark undertones.

So returning to the demonstration above, as merely a foretaste of a much larger outpouring of revulsion and disgust - on that cold and windy day. We salute the magnificent attendees and look forward very much to the much larger and far more promoted demonstration on Zanu PF Fool's Independence Day on the 18th April 2023 - 43 years of hurt for the vast majority, and the main part of the huge numbers of the Zimbabwean diaspora.

Be THERE 12:00 Noon Zimbabwe Embassy, Tuesday 18th April 2023 - take the day off work - you could be starting the move to democracy AND the Take 2 Zimbabwe {#Take2Zimbabwe} for INDEPENDENCE! Please note that there is a further idea of a presence at the UAE Embassy, 1-2 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1X 7EE; at 10:30am {then, moving back to the Zimbabwe Embassy by 11:30am, so to arrive at the Zimbabwe Embassy by 12 noon} - However, for those travelling a long way, such a time maybe 'problematic' {due to costly peak fare bus or train fares during a weekday} so the default position must be to get to the Zimbabwe Embassy by 12 noon.

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Written by: John Burke

Published: 20 March 2023

Hits: 302

A young man murdered after a house party that allegedly got out of hand has been named as Trust Junior Jordan Gangata from Zimbabwe.

Police were called to a house in Salisbury Grove, Armley, Leeds, at 2.48am yesterday morning (Sunday) over reports of a disturbance at a party. The ambulance service treated the 17-year-old who was reported to have been stabbed. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Detectives launched a murder enquiry and have appealed for anyone with dashcam, CCTV and phone footage to get in touch. Friends of his family have been expressing their condolences on social media.

Ha Mu wrote: "Words cannot explain how I feel. My heartfelt condolences baba namai Gangata."

And Aimee Francis said: "I am so sorry to hear your terrible news… my thoughts are with you and your family."

Detectives from West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are now treating his death as murder.

Det Chief Insp Alan Weekes said: "The loss of a young life in such sudden and violent circumstances is an absolute tragedy, and we are treating this incident very seriously and doing everything we can to identify those responsible. "We are continuing to support this young man's family at what is clearly an incredibly difficult time for them, and we are committed to getting them the answers they need as we progress our enquiries."

One neighbour told LeedsLive: "I live opposite the house where the tragedy happened. They are new houses and were only built a couple of months ago and this was the first party, I think, to be held there. The mood was fine, the music was a bit loud but everyone was enjoying themselves."

On Sunday morning the streets around Salisbury Grove were littered with the debris of the party with cans of laughing gas evident. Tonight, (Monday), a celebration of the young man's life will be held at 5pm at Hyde Park. Friends have been asked to dress in either blue or black and guests are asked to bring black and blue helium balloons for the send-off.