Bristol MPs join Solidarity Demonstration on Democracy in Zimbabwe

bristol | protests | event notice Wednesday April 23, 2008 13:38 by Forward Maisokwadzo - Bristol Zimbabwe Association Forwardm17 at yahoo dot co dot uk 07919894900

TWO Bristol MPs will join a solidarity demonstration for democracy in Zimbabwe taking place in the City Centre this Saturday 26 April, 12 noon – 2pm.

Kerry McCarthy MP, Bristol East and Stephen Williams MP, Bristol west will join Zimbabweans living in Bristol and their friends and supporters who will gather in the City in solidarity with recent happenings in Zimbabwe.

Organised by the Bristol Zimbabwe Association (BZA) - a community organisation representing Zimbabweans in Bristol and surrounding areas of the City; along with the Bristol branch of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), Movement for Democratic Party Bristol branch and Zimbabwe Vigil Bristol Group, the demonstration support the call by human rights defenders both inside and outside Zimbabwe to end the violence and human rights abuses and to restore democracy in Zimbabwe.

“The recent increase of the number of people beaten and arrested causes great concern to many of us Zimbabweans here in Bristol and elsewhere. Our worries and fears are exacerbated by the confirmed reports that a Chinese ship carrying arms is destined for Zimbabwe,” said Forward Maisokwadzo, BZA Chairperson.

“Violence is on the increase in Zimbabwe. And the sinister truth behind this arms ship from China after Zimbabwe polls, substantiate suspicions that that officers begged for new weapons to indiscriminately brutalize and torture people for allegedly voting for the MDC.”

Zimbabweans in Bristol have been carrying out events like vigils, interviews and public explanation on recent news about the country. They also joined a strong demonstration outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London last week where around 350 people took part. This time BZA have decided to organize it here in the City.

The Ambling Band will also join the demonstrators. People will be signing a petition to support SADC's (Southern African Development Community) call for the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) to announce all the results of the recent election in Zimbabwe - including the Presidential election - immediately.

And also further call on SADC, The African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and the European Union (EU) to put pressure on Mugabe to end the violence and human rights violations.