Zimbabwean protesters clash with Mugabe’s rented supporters in Lisbon

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 December, 2007

There was chaos in Lisbon on Saturday as a group of pro-Mugabe protestors went head to head with Zimbabwean activists from the UK who had travelled to the venue of the E.U./Africa Summit to protest Robert Mugabe’s presence there. Our reporter Lance Guma who was at the scene, said the small group of Mugabe supporters appeared to be ‘rented’ Black Americans and Portuguese youth. They held placards supporting Mugabe and this upset activists, who are mostly from the Zimbabwe Vigil – a group that has protested at the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, every Saturday for 5 years.

Truckloads of riot police had to separate the two groups to avoid any physical confrontation. At the scene was Adella Chiminya, whose husband Tichaona Chiminya was a personal aide to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and was brutally murdered by ZANU-PF thugs while campaigning in Buhera.
The emotional Mrs Chiminya said she was shocked to see people who were not Zimbabwean, holding pro-Mugabe posters. She lashed out at the Mugabe supporters, shouting about how her husband was murdered and her children now have no father. Riot police had to physically move her away. Mrs.Chiminya told Newsreel that she hoped for an opportunity to tell Mugabe to his face about the grief he has caused her family.

Our reporter said there were journalists from all over the world covering the unfolding saga involving Mugabe’s controversial participation. E.U. officials decided to invite Mugabe after the issue of his attendance derailed the Summit for years, saying the event was not about Zimbabwe alone. A travel ban imposed by the Union was lifted to allow him to travel.

Activists from the Zimbabwe Vigil had presented a theatrical performance on Friday evening that parodied Robert Mugabe and the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Guma said the story revolved around the two dictators in bed together, while protestors outside their bedroom screamed at them to wake up to human rights. Guma said Mugabe has still not been sighted. More activities are planned by activists, as the heads of state meet at this summit in Lisbon.