Anti-Mugabe protests lined up ahead of EU Africa summit
By Lance Guma
03 December 2007

A few days after soothing his ego with a hired crowd of hungry villagers and urban residents, bullied into a show of support, Robert Mugabe will set foot in Portugal to be confronted by activists who have protested his tyranny in London for over 5 years. Tensions are already building ahead of the EU-Africa summit after UK based pressure group The Zimbabwe Vigil announced that it’s members will travel to Lisbon and protest Mugabe’s attendance. The group has been holding protests at Zimbabwe’s embassy in London, but this time around some of those activists will use their usual Saturday shift to protest right outside a venue that is hosting Mugabe.

The Zanu PF leader’s controversial attendance has resulted in British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pulling out of the summit. Several African countries have backed Mugabe’s participation, with some European countries saying this will create a sideshow and divert attention from important issues. Coordinator Rose Benton said Zim Vigil is linking up with a Portuguese human rights organisation to demonstrate at the summit itself. Portuguese police have already granted permission for the protest, on condition the activists remain 100 metres away from the venue. Benton said that on Saturday from 2-5 pm protesters will be singing and dancing to the sound of drums, while survivors of torture, rape and other abuses by the Mugabe regime will get the chance to tell their stories to the world media.

On Thursday, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), assisted by trade unions and the remaining Zim Vigil activists, have organised another protest at the Portuguese embassy in London. More protests are planned in Cardiff, this time organised by the Zimbabwean Development Support Association. In Harare the newly formed Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe will hold its own demonstration against Mugabe’s attendance at the summit. Details of the Harare demo have remained a guarded secret, given the repressive laws in place and the highhanded response of the police to perceived anti-government gatherings.