MARCH AND MARCH PROTEST AT ZIMBABWE EMBASSY FOR THE RELEASE OF ACTIVIST MBEDZI

After marching to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature on Thursday, leaders and supporters of fast-growing anti-illegal migration movement March and March staged a protest march at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Tshwane on Friday.

“We are picketing here at the Zimbabwean Embassy in protest against the Zimbabwean government’s unjust and inhumane detention of political activist and also chairperson of Zimbabwe’s National Democratic Working Group Bhekimpilo Mbedzi for planning a peaceful protest in that country,” said March and March National Spokesperson Sandile Dube.

He said the silence of the SADEC countries regarding the outrageous arrest of activist Mbedzi was concerning and must be addressed at the SADEC conference that will be held in Durban from 16 to 17 August this year.

Dube said March and March will be protesting at the said SADEC conference on 17 August so that the issue of illegal immigration as well as that of the detention of Mbedzi are given the attention that they deserve.

“March and March is for all South Africans and the government must stop dividing our people along tribal lines, and we have proved our non-tribalist stance during our march in Limpopo on Thursday, where we were joined by the people of that province comprising Bapedi, Ba-Tsonga, Ba-Vhenda and Amandebele,” he said.

Dube said March and March stands unequivocally and unapologetically for the following:

1.The immediate vacation of all illegal foreigners from South Africa with immediate effect.

2.Foreigners living in South Africa to go back to their countries and take a stand against their incompetent governments.

3.The township economy to be left in the hands of black South Africans and that Ethiopians, Somalians, Bangladeshi and Pakistanis must leave the Spaza Shop economic space.

National Organiser of Ayikhale Movement Ronald Monyai told Tshwane Talks at the picket that his organisation supports March and March all the way and that he has instructed his lawyers to take the government of Zinmbabwe to the International Criminal Court regarding human rights violations in that country.

“SADEC leaders are protecting one another but a revolution will unfold in Zimbabwe, and with our support a democratic dispensation will be ushered in Zimbabwe and it will stretch from Cape to Cairo,” he said.

“Long live the spirit of Thomas Sankara long live, long live the spirit of OR Tambo long live,” said an MK Party member who expressed his party’s support for the March and March picket st the Zimbabwean Embassy.

United South Africans representative Musa Hlongwa said it was embarrassing and shameful that they as black people have to demonstrate at the Zimbabwean Embassy to beg a black president like Mnangagwa to allow his own black people to be free in their own country.

“Mnangagwa it is time you got your boot off the people’s necks; the people of Zimbabwe must not be afraid to stand up against Mnangagwa and I saying to them that they must go back and fight; that they are destined to bring change in Zimbabwe and we are with them,” said Hlongwa.

An Operation Dudula representative told the marchers that she supports the idea of Zimbabweans going back to their own country so that South Africans can be free to sort out their own problems with the South African government.

International Coordinator of the Zimbabwean National Unity Council Michelle MUdzviti from Zimbabwe national unity council said the following:

“We want the Zimbabwean government to create a democratic space in our country; we want them to restore the right to peaceful protest because at the moment one is not allowed to disagree with the government without being violated and the root cause of our problems is that people are afraid to speak out; so we want the Zimbabwean government to give approval for a peaceful demonstration whereby people can march without fear.”

She acknowledged the fact that the government of Zinmbabwe is stubborn and won’t grant permission for demonstrations against it, but pointed out that with lots of pressure exerted on it as was the case with the South African apartheid regime, the Zimbabwean government will finally capitulate.

“We are very serious about restoring democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe and we are ready to take the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa to the International Criminal Court regarding human rights violations in our country,” she said.