Once again the most active and notorious branch in the MDC UK (yes, we’d like to think no one hates Mnangagwa’s regime like we do) was on the demo trail last Saturday the 18th of January. This time we were campaigning against the intentional, systematic and downright satanic neglect of the health care system in Zimbabwe.
The demo was organised and hosted by the MDC Reading Branch. A lot of the big hitters from the South West were present and in full effect, namely Edgar Makuni (District Chairman), Model Pamire (Provincial Organising Secretary), Manya Mary Ndoro (Organising Secretary Provincial Women’s Assembly the party heroine whose defiance embarrassed the much feared Zim Foreign Minister and 2017 coup announcer Brigadier SB Moyo outside Chatham House London last year), Sipiwe Dube (District Secretary) and Iline Manhunzi (District Women Assembly Chair).
Demonstrators came from Branches in Slough, Portsmouth, Milton Keynes and some from from the South East. They braved the cold weather of the South West to show their disgust and anger at Mnangagwa, Chiwenga, SB Moyo and the rest of the dusty old men in Zanu who continue to pilfer away the country’s funds by going back and forth abroad to receive top notch medical care while many people are having to be ferried to hospital in a wheelbarrow to receive 18th century style care while lying on the floor of a dingy building.
Their views against the regime in Harare were quite vehement with placards carry messages like:
CHIWENGA, SB MOYO AND MNANGAGWA DONT CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF ZIMBABWEANS
MNANGAGWA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS, HE IS A CROCODILE
MNANGAGWA DOESNT CARE ABOUT HEALTH, ASK HIS UROLOGIST
SB MOYO DOESNT CARE ABOUT HEALTH, ASK HIS PROCTOLOGIST
WE WANT REGIME CHANGE IN ZIMBABWE
And a special thanks to our own Joyce Mbairatsunga and Plaxidia Mugonde from Slough Branch who prepared and distributed the literature and placards which got a few passers by chuckling and fascinated by the demo. A number of the passers by asked questions about the situation in Zimbabwe. All expressed their dismay at what Mnangagwa is doing. Many of them had thought he was better than Mugabe but Charles and the demonstrators exposed this mistruth to them to their astonishment. Many of the passers by then promised to raise this issue with friends, family and their local MP.
The demo also sought to raise funds for basic medical and hygienic apparatus such as surgical gloves, bandages, antiseptic creams and drips for the which will be donated to the one of the many impoverished and detached villages in the rural areas of Zimbabwe. This may not seem like a lot but it will make a huge difference in the lives of the people who will receive them. Think of the man with stage 4 pressure sores or woman with diabetic foot ulcers whose wounds are worsening by the day because shortages in bandages. And this was a common theme in the speeches made both at the demo and later on the Pakistani Community Centre where the fundraiser was held.
Branch Chairman Charles Marirakwenda have the opening speech to the demonstrators in which he described the direness of the health system in Zimbabwe and how Mnangagwa and his government are systematically carrying out a silent genocide by not funding health leaving many to die. This is being done on purpose and it’s another example of how cruel the regime is and emphasises the need for regime change in the country. The chairman then led the demonstrators on a long march to the Pakistani Community Centre where the fundraiser was being held.
‘Mnangagwa has failed the Zimbabwean population’ were the words from Organising Secretary Deborah Harry. ‘He needs to go to prison for what he is doing, that’s where he belongs’ roared Shylette Chipangura the Reading Branch Treasurer.
District Chairman Makuni reminded those in attendance that we should never take such a demo for granted because in Zimbabwe an even such as this would have ended in bloodshed inflicted by the regime in Harare on demonstrators.
Below are a selected few of the pictures from the day. For more, check in the Events Gallery.
Anna Chikoti Plaxidia Mugonde and Mary Ndoro
Joyce Mbairatsunga and Anna Chikoti Charles Marirakwenda and Rufaro Makaya Reading Branch Members
