Hundreds march in solidarity with suffering Zimbabweans

PRETORIA - Hundreds of activists took to the streets in Pretoria Sunday in a show of human solidarity with victims of political violence and human rights abuses in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Up to 500 demonstrators took part in the protest on the streets of Pretoria. Activists, mainly from the Treatment Action Campaign of South Africa, marched from Pretoria’s Town Hall to Union Building, the seat of government in South Africa to deliver a petition which demands immediate action by the South African government, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community to end systematic political violence in and guarantee a democratic transition of power in Zimbabwe.

The march was one of many events staged across Africa to launch a global call to action on Zimbabwe, called the Stand Up for Zimbabwe campaign.

The Stand Up For Zimbabwe Campaign originates with a group of southern Africa-based Non Governmental Organisations concerned for human rights and democracy in Zimbabwe.

The campaign is intended to reach out to and involve people from all over Africa and the world, asking them to call on their governments, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) to act decisively to end systematic political violence in Zimbabwe and resolve the country’s political crisis.

The campaign will be inaugurated today, the 25 of May, a day commemorated annually as Africa Day. A series of events are planned for this day throughout southern Africa and more events will be held over the following weeks.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Vigil in London on Saturday hosted its own Stand up for Zimbabwe campaign outside the Zimbabwe Embassy where protests have been staged for the past six to seven years over the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean exiles in the UK attended the “Stand Up for Zimbabwe” rally which is part of an international event to commemorate Africa Day during this week.