Save Zimbabwe demonstration in Cape Town
By Lance Guma
19 march 2007.

Students, activists and hundreds of informal traders under the Save Zimbabwe banner took to the streets of Cape Town, South Africa over the weekend protesting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. On Friday a rally was held at the University of Cape Town to mobilize students to put pressure on their leaders to take a stand against oppression in Zimbabwe. The students then joined a protest march in the Cape Town city centre with other civic groups and marched from the Grand Parade to the countrys parliament building. There the marchers gathered outside while various speakers took turns addressing them.

On Saturday, the Save Zimbabwe Campaign organised another protest in Cape Town. Hundreds of protesters carried Save Zimbabwe placards written in red paint as if to symbolize the blood being spilt in the crisis. A Zimbabwean activist Madalisto Mtine, who works for the Economic Justice Network in South Africa, told Newsreel that hundreds of mainly Zimbabwean informal traders on the streets of Cape Town joined in Saturdays demonstration resulting in huge numbers. Mtine says for a long time Cape Town had remained quiet in relation to Zimbabwean activism but that the city had suddenly found its voice.

Save Zimbabwe say they will build on the momentum of these successful marches and through the overwhelming support shown at the events will ensure that future protests and activities take place in Cape Town. Meanwhile the Zimbabwe National Students Union says Blessing Vava the Bulawayo Polytechnic SRC President was released Monday after being arrested last week Thursday. Hudson Hlatshwayo the Masvingo State University SRC Vice President is still in custody at Masvingo central police station. They were arrested under the ongoing crackdown by security forces in the country.