Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation

Walking for Activism: for fitness, for publicity; for a public reaction. But just to mingle in the wonderful British country-side and to enjoy the scenery

Details: Written by: Walk Route Masters; Published: 26 August 2021; Last Updated: 02 September 2021; Hits: 2882

2021 08 23 at 03.30.43 Given the harrowing circumsatnces of a change in Home Office policy and a decision [somewhere by someone] to forcibly remove 100 Zimbabweans every month - this aspect dwelt on the minds of all the walkers at sometime or another during the 30 hours on foot!

"Walk for Freedom" started in 2016 as a symbol of solidarity with Zimbabweans 'back-home', and those within the diaspora. The 'Walk' symbolises the struggles we face at home and in 'Foreign Lands. Walking in the sun, rain, cold, day and night to give "awareness" to the British Public, and the World at large of what is happening in our Home Country. I call upon my fellow Country men and women to come and join the 'struggle' because united we stand and our 'plea' may reach all courners of the World. I trust that one day Freedom will come our way. I beleive in our lifetime Human Rights will be respected, Freedom of speech will be recognised without fear of persecution.

We are not going to stop until Zimbabwe is FREE. Let's "Walk for Freedom".

#Walk for Freedom

#Take2Zimbabwe

Aluta Continua

by Rashiwe Bayisayi - Principal Walk Pathfinder and 5 time completion medal winner.

Walk For FREEDOM:

Walking for Freedom is also walking for justice. This movement “Walk For Freedom” is huge and it anchors all that which we all fight for. Thank you John and Rashiwe for being visionaries.

As I was walking, I could hear the sounds of freedom ringing around us. We walked in the rains, in the hill tops, in daylight, in darkness, over rough terrains, steep and we also saw the beauty of what we can achieve in unity.

Inside my heart I was singing “Let Freedom ring”

We want justice, good rule in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans Lives Matter: We are a worthy people, we are a people of value and we want our dignity to be respected by both British and Zimbabwe governments. Stop Deportations.

Read more: Walk for Freedom Reflections

Details: Written by: Walk Route Masters; Published: 23 August 2021; Last Updated: 27 August 2021; Hits: 2219

On the very early morning of [6:30AM] 21st August 2021, ZHRO members walked for the 5th time [at 65 miles each year, means that the have walked hundreds of miles in the UK] wearing ZHRO T shirts, flying Zimbabwean flags and handing out flyers spreading the message against deportation of Zimbabweans back to Zimbabwe where they fled because of political crisis and dictatorship induced violence.

The "Walk For Freedom" [#WalkforFreedom] was aimed to conveyed a message to inspire the British public to support the cause. Photo-logs of both days on this test of endurance can be found here: Saturday 21st August 2021 and here for Sunday 22nd August 2021. Twitter links also can be found here: Twitter Post

Much more prevalent as the main reason for leaving Zimbabwe were factors that are related to abductions, torture, rape and many other human rights abuses by ZANU PF leadership that has been going on for decades. It is indeed safe for people in the UK to protest against what they feel is against Human Rights abuses compared to Zimbabwe.

Details: Written by: Walk Route Masters; Published: 13 August 2021; Last Updated: 17 August 2021; Hits: 3610

Final times UPDATE: Tuesday 17th August 2021: We are now aware that a second forced removal flight has been scheduled to leave the UK on 25th August [or thereabouts] the Change Org Petition has made the position regarding these 'Political stunts' all the more unacceptable in the light of the US/UK failures in the emerging #Afghanistan humanitarian crisis.

We have to accept, here in the UK, that there is clear and evident political upheavals and discriminatory violence aimed at large sections of populations in nations such as Zimbabwe and now Afghanistan. The asylum status of these nationals cannot be extinguished by the UK Home Office en-masse. Each and every case is unique, and the legal status of each must be allowed the full protection of their legal rights to reside here in safety, and not be returned to their persecutors. Therefore the "Walk for Freedom" this year will be all the more relevant.

We are less than 4 days away and the crisis in #Afghanistan, the political upheaval in Zambia and the continue intransigence in Zimbabwe towards any of those opposing the Zanu PF party continues. [At the time of writing on Tuesday 17th August 2021]. These new issues cast a depression over this "Walk for Freedom" and we invite all those with a 'heart' to consider the plight of others, who are not so fortunate as themselves.

Original Post [15th August 2021]

The weather forecasts (so far) look good - cloudy - but no rain - ideal for a long walk. Keeping cool is part of the strategy - especially one's feet! Plenty of changes of socks and talcum powder.

This year we must welcome Daisy Motlogwa and her husband, Moses, as he was newly released from detention only this week. Daisy will be driving down from Newcastle to Brighton [346 miles distance and expected to take 5 hours and 30 minutes] on the Friday preceding the "Walk for Freedom" [Friday 20th August 2021]. She will be arriving with her 3 children too, and will stay overnight at a local activist's house in adjacent Hove.

Plenty of “local supporters” [Brighton and Hove residents] will be welcome, and some could join us to the Devil’s Dyke Public House - there we stop for photos and a song or two!!

The Walk for Freedom is a peaceful 'protest' walk that is used by ZHRO, to raise awareness to the British public of the plight of Zimbabweans, who are suffering under the brutal rule of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) Political Party. The Walk For Freedom was the Idea of Rashiwe Bayisayi [in 2016], who has already completes four such walks and this year she will start her fifth!.

Ben Tsikwa, Siplilen Birani, and Temba Ncube became the first male ZHRO members ever, to successfully complete the whole walk from Brighton to London.

“Zimbabweans are still suffering both in Zimbabwe and in the Diaspora. So we’ve got a road to go,” said Rashiwe Bayisayi last year when being interviewed. Parts of the ZHRO Vision 2021 walk will be on Twitter, Our Blogs and on ZHRO Facebook Live with more interviews are planned with those that completed the walk.

Download Ordinance Survey APP " OSOnline" to follow this mapped route, as stage 1 of the Walk for Freedom. Route Navigation over public footpaths from Brighton Pier to Christ's Hospital Railway Station

Walk Training

Training programme for those interested will be released in late April 2021 - Training will go ahead in spite of any future CV19 "Lockdowns" as we will be out in the open air the risks as such are infinitesimally small!. These will be 15-20km each over the next few months. These will increase to 30 plus km by the first week in August/Last Weeks in July in preparation for the main effort starting on Saturday 21^st August 2021. Arrive there around 5:30am in order for a prompt 6:30am start. Pictured just outside Christ's Hospital Railway Station some 40km from the starting point in Brighton.

For practice a small band walked from Hampton Court Rail Station, via Richmond Park 0n 16th March 2019, and finished at the Zimbabwe Embassy on The Strand, London. Certain individuals are conduction their own training programmes local to their homes.

Walk Route

Very much as 2017/18/19/20. Brighton Pier to Devil's Dyke. [see photo at top of Devil's Dyke and Flickr pages ] Dropping down to Henfield and the Downs Link. Then onto Christ's Hospital [Rail station photo above] just a short walk from the rendezvous location on the Downs Link. The long slog to Guildford [railway station meet], finally the night walk along the River Wey Navigation and, this year, into Hampton Court [Rail Station], London. This year the 21-22nd August was chosen due to there being a FULL MOON [and subject to a cloudless night sky] increase visibility during the night section next to the Rivers!

Details: Written by: Walk Route Masters; Published: 02 September 2020; Last Updated: 02 September 2020; Hits: 3525

Christ's Hospital 29th Aug 2020

"Walk for Freedom" How it worked out over the weekend

Four Zimbabwean Diasporans, who are members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), have successfully completed the ZHRO VISION 2020, "Walk for Freedom" and for #ZimbabweanLivesMatter, which started at day break, on Saturday the 29th of August 2020 at Brighton Pier, U.K. and ended over 29hrs later, at around noon some 100km distant on Sunday, 30th August 2020 at Hampton Court Train Station in London. 4 (four) Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) members completed the whole journey on foot - walking throughout the night.

The Walk For Freedom was the Idea of Rashiwe Bayisayi, who has this year successfully completed her fourth walk. Ben Tsikwa, Siplilen Birani, and Temba Ncube became the first male ZHRO members ever, to successfully complete the whole walk from Brighton to London.

Rashiwe Bayisayi, Sarah Bayisayi, Chipo Parirenyatwa, John Burke, Ben Tsikwa, Siplilen Birani, Hillary Chikomba, Temba Ncube, Thenjiwe Ncube and Silvanos Mudzvova all took part in the walk, with those previously mentioned above having successfully completed the walk.

Subcategories

Walker Views Article Count: 10

We have had so many written reactions from the people who have walked or have an opinions upon the walks and Walk for Freedom - thaty we need to create this new sub-directory

Page 6 of 8

Walk for Freedom Reflections

2021 Walk for Freedom - Completed

Walk for Freedom Update (2)

Preparing for 2021 105km Walk

Walk Training

29-30th August 2020 Walk4Freedom

"Walk for Freedom" How it worked out over the weekend

Subcategories

Walker Views Article Count: 10

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