Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) protests Mugabe invite to EU/Africa summit

By Henry Makiwa
6 December 2007

A London-based human rights and pro-democracy organisation on Thursday demonstrated outside the Portuguese embassy to protest Robert Mugabe’s attendance at the EU-Africa summit at the weekend.

Members of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) braved London’s wet weather to register their displeasure at Mugabe’s expected presence at the Lisbon summit that starts Friday. Placard carrying activists chanting protest songs brought business to a standstill at the Portuguese mission in London, accusing the European Union of being lenient on Mugabe.

ACTSA questioned why European leaders had strayed from the “common position on Zimbabwe” which restricts Mugabe and members of his government from travelling to Europe due to their gross human rights violations. The organisation also argues that stiffer measures should in fact be enforced on Mugabe’s regime, as the situation has not improved but worsened since the travel ban was first imposed.

ACTSA’s campaigns officer, Simon Chase, said they had “hammered the point home” with their demonstration.

Chase said: “We saw the officers and workers at the embassy coming out and looking on as we protested, and we knew the point had been made. We had a very loud crowd of about 50 activists here, most of them of either English or Zimbabwean origin. Many more are already in Lisbon.

“We are most concerned with the inconsistency on the part of the EU. It is very disappointing that they have allowed Mugabe to attend the summit. It will only lend legitimacy to his regime and grant him the platform for his destructive propaganda, rather than an opportunity for engagement of world leaders,” Chase added.

ACTSA says it is planning more demonstrations in Lisbon, London, Cardiff and Johannesburg at the weekend, in protest at Mugabe’s attendance at the EU-Africa summit.