Detention Watch from Zimbabwe Association

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom

LONDON - Breaking the silence at the 26 June Service in Support of Torture Victims last week were four brave people who stunned the congregation with their personal testimonies. A wave of goodwill and pledges of future support for them have been received from groups who were present. Many of those at the service, who showed their endurance and spirit by participating in the choir, exhibiting art work and assisting with the service, were themselves survivors of torture. The joining together of Zimbabweans and Sudanese in such an act of remembrance was very welcome and gives great hope for future solidarity.

Earlier on 26 June members of the ZA attended an event at the House of Lords hosted by Baroness D’Souza, to commemorate the victims of organised violence and torture in Zimbabwe. It was a privilege to listen to presentations by Arnold Tsunga and Ahmed Motala. The spirited question and answer session following these speakers left us all with a lot to think about.

After a hard week it was a treat to attend a performance of Qabuka on Friday evening. We laughed. We cried. The return of Patson, with an ever more outlandish fashion style, had the audience shaking in their seats. Qabuka is a show filled with sunshine and darkness, a performance that touches one’s nerves. Don’t miss it. It’s at the Oval House theatre near the Oval cricket ground (nearest underground Oval) on Tuesdays to Saturdays until 15 July.

Six more sessions of the Advice Line have been arranged on the dates given below. Use these opportunities to find solutions to the problems that have been plaguing you. As we requested in last week’s column, please will those who have already used this service let us have feedback on how useful they found it, and whether they have any suggestions that might improve it.

By the time this column comes out the AA hearing will be at an end, and we should have a date for the Judges’ ruling. Keep praying everyone for a positive outcome.

A sad end to the week was the departure from the UK of Katrina who has been with the ZA for five years. Although she’ll still be involved with ZA via the internet, we’ll miss her presence greatly. Our thanks for all she has done. We wish her well.

We can be contacted at the office on 020 7549 0355 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, messages may be left on the answer machine at other times, or by fax 020 7549 0356 or email: zimbabweassociation@yahoo.co.uk.

ADVICE LINE: Wednesday 2 – 5 pm
Asylum queries: 19 July, 15 August, 13 September
Support queries: 1 August, 30 August, 27 September