Aylesbury LIFE because Learning Is For Everyone

I was privileged the day before yesterday, Saturday 24 May, to spend a few hours keeping vigil outside Zimbabwe House, London. But you know the end of the day I was free to return home to one of the safest towns in one of the safest counties in one of the safest countries in the world.

None of my relatives were missing nor beaten nor tortured nor killed merely for having voted "the wrong way". None of my political respresentatives, MP, MEPs, Councillors had been dragged from their beds to receive summary political violence merely on account of the fact that they are effective members of the opposition. There are no reports of local government officers and teachers in Aylesbury, England, becoming targets of humiliating public beatings, nor of torture, nor of killing merely for the "crime" of faithfully counting votes giving an overwhelming victory to the "wrong" party.

So yesterday, Stand Up For Zimbabwe Day, I was privileged again to worship in an anglican church as I have for most of my life. I wasn't
beaten as a member of the choir, nor beaten as I received communion, nor beaten for photographing police beating the innocent. I would have been welcome in Catholic, Methodist or presbyterian churches but that would not have been because all the Buckinghamshire Anglican churches had been shut by police.

I have freedom. To some extent my care for those who don't have the same freedom as myself is just "kind" because truly I don't have to count the cost in my everyday life. Having said all that my care is also the least I can do to say NO to those who may be taking advantage of their president's weakness to run their own agenda.

If you wish to check for yourself what has been happening in the name of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe you may find informative the report, Punishing Dissent, Silencing Citizens, written by the Solidarity Peace Trust. The Solidarity Peace Trust is a non-governmental organisation, registered in South Africa. The Trustees of the Solidarity Peace Trust are church leaders of Southern Africa, who are all committed to human rights, freedom and democracy in their region. The co-chairs of Solidarity Peace Trust are Archbishop Pius A Ncube (Catholic Archbishop
of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) and Bishop Rubin Phillip (Anglican Bishop of
KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa).

As I was writing this note it happened that the Anglican Church was effectively outlawed from Zimbabwe. In the process 80 people (mostly women) gathering for prayer were arrested -- and thankfully released shortly after. In this light the Open Pastoral letter from Revd Dr Allan Beosak (veteran anti-apartheid campaigner) to the Zimbabwean Churches is all the more pertinent.

For myself I count it a privilege to support the campaign for peace in Zimbabwe. This is what I hope to do.

• Pray for peace in Zimbabwe
• Write to powerful people in Zimbabwe.
• Write to more politicians -- and to the commercial sponsors of the World
  Cup
• To help others with the same aim, I envisage making here a note of useful information such as names and addresses.

Also, and I have made a small video (for which Viewer Discretion Is Advised -- there are pictures of extreme violence on young and old alike).

Now, if you dare to believe today's news it looks like Mugabe's party may be faltering.

You are welcome to support the peaceful people of Zimbabwe in your
prayers or more practically. Please leave a comment below or use the
contact form.