Free-Zim youths to confront Zuma at London embassy

By Lance Guma
24 April 2007

The Free-Zim Youth group based in the United Kingdom plans to demonstrate against South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dhlamini Zuma, at that country’s high commission on Wednesday. This will be the second demonstration against Zuma following last year’s disruption of her address in London. Free-Zim leader Alois Mbawara told Newsreel Zuma issued what they felt was an ‘irresponsible’ statement when she said ‘South Africa cannot do magic in the Zimbabwe crisis’ and yet according to the youths Mbeki’s government is actually breathing life into Mugabe’s regime through its quiet diplomacy approach.

Zuma is in London to attend a 3-day regional consultative conference aimed at creating a partnership between the African continent and the African diaspora. On Wednesday she will address the African Caribbean and Diaspora concert at her country’s embassy and the youths say they plan to make their voice heard at the occasion. Last year in September Free-Zim embarrassed Zuma by constantly interrupting her address on reforms for the United Nations at the London School of Economics. Mbawara refused to disclose their tactics for Wednesday’s demonstration only saying it would be ‘loud diplomacy.’

The youths have also said they want to ensure Zimbabwe is not foisted with a manufactured political settlement and to avoid this all the stakeholders needed to be consulted. They also doubt Mbeki’s ability to ensure a free and fair platform for elections in 10 months time. Millions of Zimbabweans are still not able to vote and they say the Ministry of Home Affairs is not issuing new identity cards to deliberately block newly qualified youths from voting. Particularly concerning to the youths is that abuses and torture of activists continue unabated in Zimbabwe while the South African government remains silent. Zuma’s deputy Aziz Pahad confirmed this approach when he said they could not issue militant statements against Mugabe’s government.