MDC UK call for big empowerment demo in January

The MDC in the UK and Ireland has called on Zimbabweans in the diaspora to join in a massive demonstration set for January to among other things demand the right to work for destitute Zimbabweans in the UK.

Fellow Zimbabweans,

As the situation in Zimbabwe gets worse and worse everyday, so is the situation for some of us in this country of plenty. Like the situation in Zimbabwe our motherland, we have been hoping and hoping everyday that change is coming, hoping that we will be given Access to Work, Skills Training and Work Placements but to no avail.

We can no longer standby and see our country being wiped away from mother earth, just as we can no longer allow ourselves to starve because we cannot be allowed to work. We can no longer allow Mugabe and Zanu pf to rule Zimbabwe illegally, just like we can no longer allow our education and skills to die a natural death.

We are a disciplined people who can study, work and make a difference in this country. We do not want to live on benefits as we are not used to handouts. Our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe need handouts because the country’s infrastructure has been completely destroyed by Matibili Mugabe and his junta.

We can no longer remain silent while our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe continue to die of murder, starvation and disease neither shall we remain silent when most of us are being forced into destitution and criminality by the UK government. We can no longer continue to listern to voices of support for our fight for change and the removal of the Mugabe regime.

We now demand ACTION from the International community to save lives in Zimbabwe and also demand ACTION to save Zimbabweans in the UK and IRELAND from destitution. We demand for empowerment from the British government so that we will be able to rebuild Zimbabwe. Our education and skills are being put to waste and yet we are the ones who will spearhead the rebuilding of our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time for us to unite. Let us stop preaching words of disunity and start fighting as one people. Together we shall bring CHANGE to the people in Zimbabwe and to our situation in this country. The British people through the London Citizens and the affiliated organisations are calling on their government to act now. We have a duty to support their call.

We are calling for a MOTHER of all DEMONSTRATIONS on Tuesday 13th January 2009 in London. Let us all meet at St Margaret Church Westminster Abbey at Parliament Square where we will procced to 10 Downing street and handover our CVs to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to demonstrate that we are able to work and are ready for further skills training in preparation of rebuilding Zimbabwe.

We are urging every Zimbabwean to attend. The programme begins at 10.00am and ends at 2.00pm. The Archbishop of York John Sentamu will be one of the may dignitaries to support our cause.

Finally, I kindly ask all our members to forward their CVs by 7th January 2009 to my email address [email protected] . Your CVs will be treated in strict confidence and handed over to the Prime Minister as a dossier; our seriousness on this subject will be judged by the number of CVs we will gather and also by the turnout on the day of demonstrations.

Thanking you for your co-operation in advance.

Fighting for Change.

Jaison Andrew Matewu, Organising Secretary, MDC UK & IRELAND.

Article published on Nehanda Radio on December 29, 2008.