200 Zimbabweans seek refuge at the American Embassy in Harare
We posted a blog eight days ago about refugees seeking shelter at the South African embassy.
News today is that about 200 people (at about 5pm) have walked to the American Embassy in Harare to seek refuge.
These were among the approximately 2,000 people who had sought safety at Harvest House, the MDC Headquarters in Harare, after feeling the violence in the rural areas.
Harvest House is an office block and not suited to accommodating so many people, so today people were given a little money and some food to enable them to return to their homes areas. Unfortunately, many of the people no longer have homes to return to, because their homes have been destroyed by Zanu PF thugs. Many more are simply too terrified to go back.
So they’ve headed to the American Embassy.
This incident has already hit the news:
Ambassador James McGee said embassy officials were working with humanitarian organizations to help find them accommodation.
Riot police were at the embassy, as well as people holding small bundles with their possessions. Police refused comment.
In the past the government has not allowed the International red Cross to establish refugee camps because it has claimed it does not have a refugee problem. How many people remember Robert Mugabe refusing to allow tents to be supplied to the homeless after Murambatsvina during 2005 because he said tents were not good enough, or some such drivel?
Shame on Mugabe and Zanu PF. Just look what you’ve done!
July 3rd, 2008 18:04
just in case you have not seen this http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_chance_for_peace/50.php
Any news on the Woza Ladies bail hearing today?
July 3rd, 2008 22:08
If the virtual and real global community fail in the Mission of Zimbabwe in bring back the lovely sealing of democracy the lesson can be, that our picture. I read the other day some one saying 15 generation… i am not to optimistic…
July 4th, 2008 00:04
Greetings from New Zealand. We have seen quite a bit on our news about the events continually unfolding in Zimbawe. I cannot imagine such a life, so offer my sympathy and respect for all citizens of your country seeking an end to the ‘madnes’…
Take care
Peter
July 4th, 2008 02:59
The Crisis Action group have done well in Germany. Latest is the blocking of Zimbabwe from a trade function.
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news030708/german030708.htm
their contact info:
Crisis Action org
http://www.crisisaction.org/en/contact.php
July 4th, 2008 05:30
Okunje soku beyond ukuyangisa
July 4th, 2008 07:01
Peace be with the reader.
Take courage, the time has come.
The harvest is ripe.
The Faithful Witness
July 4th, 2008 10:50
I just can’t get my head past the thought “…and in the middle of WINTER!”
Growing up in Harare/Salisbury, I used to enjoy the Winters, certainly more than the miserable polluted Johannesburg winters of more recent experience. There is so much beauty in a clear Zimbabwe Winter’s day…
We had a good house in Greendale with no draughts, we had blankets and quilts, electric heaters. We had “winter pyjamas” of warmer stuff and we wore thick jerseys mostly home knitted. On our way to school we wore stockings, scarves and gloves in addition to our jerseys and blazers.
And with all this, we still knew it was COLD. White frost on the grass in the morning, ice on the bird bath, sometimes a black frost; tender plants and young trees had to be wrapped in sacking or sometimes got a little kaya of their own with thatch. A bone chilling cold would set in as the sun went down.
Although Zimbabwe is in the tropics, the main cities of Harare and Bulawayo are at high altitude. This is what I can’t accept: that people including many small children and elderly people, are outdoors ALL NIGHT in below-zero conditions.
July 4th, 2008 14:08
I agree “in the middle of winter” and the nation has small babies and children, do they have to pay for all of this madness ?The elderly as well needs warmth and good food. Where are the people to come and take control of this nightmare ?This must end now, no more blood spilling please, we need to rebuild a once prosperous and still beautiful country that so many want to visit again.
July 4th, 2008 14:26
If the AU summit finished on Tuesday, why has Mugabe arrived back on Friday? Doesn’t he know there is a crisis going on in his country? What’s the story? Doing some duty free shopping or something?
July 4th, 2008 14:42
Someone has said that Zimbabwe will implode. Apparently it is promising to explode. Our president on arrival in Zimbabwe has warned neighbouring states not to provoke him. I wonder what he means.
Does he define words of caution and restraint from other SADC regional LEADERS as provocation? Is he demanding recognition as a president after being denounced as an election thief by the very SADC protocol to which he should be a signitory.
First of all, why did he hold the elections if wanted to win. He could have declared that in his state no elections are to be held. And guess what many people would be alive today. What a clumsy cling to a thin veil of legitimacy.
Has this man gone mad or high on a deception that he is invincible even to the SADC region? How big are his balls for him to think he can bully his own countrymen and the rest of the SADC region. Does his 1987 executive presidential powers sxtend to the SADC. What a truck load of ZANU pooh!!
July 4th, 2008 14:49
We used to make those sack blankets for the tomato plants too. Now people flee from their homes to beg for safety at foreign embassies, in our own country. We are a nation made homeless in our own country, a nation starved, maimed, raped and murdered by its own government.
July 4th, 2008 17:16
I wouldn’t worry about Zim going to war with it’s neighbours.
They are either too stupid to know the difference between right and wrong, or too gutless to do anything about it.
Eitherway - no war.
July 5th, 2008 00:05
I see lots of Chinese swarming Zim and giving military advice and training like the Cubans were doing in Angola and Mozambique.
I know there would be triggerhappy so -called war vets possibly 16 year olds etc who would fall for this and be the canon fodder for a would be long dead dictator then.
Chew on this folks!