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Zimbabwean Diaspora politics in Britain: insights from the Cathedral moment 2009

2012; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 50; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/14662043.2012.671606

1743-9094

Beacon Mbiba,

Migration and Labor Dynamics

Abstract Zimbabwe features highly in western media, in African scholarship and in political debates at international fora. However, little attention has been paid to Zimbabwean Diaspora politics as an aspect of the ongoing transformations and one whose analysis can help understand the multifaceted changes and challenges confronting the Zimbabwean community. Using a critical moment approach and drawing on key informant interviews, cyberspace materials and participant observations, this paper examines the nature of Zimbabwean Diaspora politics in Britain and how Zimbabweans are negotiating loss, change, identity and belonging in a turbulent globalising world. Keywords: Zimbabwean DiasporaBritainCathedralcritical momentDiaspora politicsidentity Acknowledgements The author would like to thank key informants who shared their insightful experiences on this topic and two anonymous referees for their valuable comments to first drafts of this article. Notes See 'Tsvangirai booed off stage in London', New Zimbabwe. Available at http://www.newzimbabwe.com/ (accessed 22 September 2010). Held at the pub Bell and Compass, 9–11 Villiers Street next to Charing Cross Railway Station. See 'Refugees Return to raided Church amid legal wrangles', Mail and Guardian, South Africa, 6 February 2008. Available at http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-02-06-refugees-return-to-raided-church-amid-legal-wrangles (accessed 26 March 2012). See 'Kunonga Fights Dirty in Harare', Church Times, Archives, Issue 7551, 30 November 2007. Available at http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/ (accessed 26 March 2012). See 'Zimbabwe's Turbulent Archbishop', BBC News, Tuesday, 17 April 2007. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6562815.st (accessed 26 March 2012). See 'Ex-archbishop Pius Ncube, opponent of Robert Mugabe, silenced by Vatican', The Sunday Times, 8 December 2008. Available at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5303941.ece (accessed 26 March 2012). Examples include 'Mr Brown, Allow Zimbabweans to Work and Pay Taxes', Zimbabwe Diaspora Demonstration, Downing Street, London, 13 January 2009 (also at Zimbabweans hold Demonstration at No. 10; View London.co.uk. Available at http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/news/zimbabweans-hold-demonstration-outside-downing-st-18965349.html (accessed 26 March 2012)); 'Zimbabwean Exiles March on the South Bank', Friday, 11 July 2008. London SE1 Community Website. Available at http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/3402 (accessed 26 March 2012). See 'Tsvangirai Seeks embassy Refuge', BBC News, Monday, 23 June 2008. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7469705.stm. (accessed 26 March 2012). Since then, some of his detractors give him the nickname 'VanTsvangson', one of many including 'Chamatama' (chubby chicks), Scarface; Chamagaro (plump buttocks) and Mr Boycott. See Sandra Nyaira 'Demo at Mau Mau's UK Shop', Daily News, 24 March 2003, Available at Zimbabwe Situation.com (accessed 18 October 2010); and 'Controversial Biti, but most rational Zimbabwean', Zimdiaspora. Available at http://www.zimdiaspora.com (accessed 18 October 2010). See 'Florence Chitauro in London', Zimbabwe Journalists, 14 December 2008. Available at http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com (accessed 18 October 2010); and Jamie Doward 'Key Mugabe ally is free to live in London: Former Minister flies to and from Zimbabwe', The Observer, Sunday, 14 December 2008. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/sep/01/politics.zimbabwe (accessed 18 October 2010). See 'Fair Deal: The Re-launch', Zimdailly.com, Tuesday, 15 July 2008. Available at www.zimbabwesituation.com/ (accessed 18 October 2010). See 'Caesar Zvayi deported from Botswana', The Zimbabwe Mail, 12 August 2008. Available at http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/9.html (accessed 26 March 2012). See 'Dr Magaisa analyses Tsvangirai Trip'. Available at http://nehandaradio.com/2009/06/30/ (accessed 29 October 2010). See 'Press Statement from ROHR', 24 June 2009. Available at http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/ROHR250609.htm (accessed 26 March 2012) and Gonda (2009 Gonda, V. (2009) Zim Vigil deny plotting disruption of Tsvangirai London meeting, SW Radio News. Available at http://www.swradioafrica.com/news220609/zimuk220609.htm (accessed 30 October 2010). [Google Scholar]). See Ruth Gledhill 'Tsvangirai to appeal for his people's return to Zimbabwe', The Times, 17 June 2009. Available at http://www.thetimesonline.co.uk/ (accessed 26 March 2012). Francis, Harare, Zimbabwe, 22 June 2009, posting on New Zimbabwe.com. Tatenda Jena from Leeds, UK posting on NewZimabwe.com, 22 June 2009. Get real … Noel Tafa, Harare, 22nd June 2009, posting on New Zimbabwe.com Irene Lewis, Hayes, Middlesex, posting on NewZimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009. Tapfuma Dongo, Rugby, posting on NewZimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009. See for example, 'Zimbabweans in the Diaspora lack knowledge of the situation back home' – Tsvangirai', The ZimDaily. Available at http://www.zimdaily.com/news/pm27.7250.html (accessed 29 June 2009). Zimbabwean protester outside Southwark Cathedral, 20 June 2009. See Alex Thompson, 'Zimbabwe's PM is Booed by Exiles', BBC Channel 4, Available at http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/zimbabweaposs+pm+is+booed+by+exiles/3222857.html (accessed 29 March 2012). Jack Mafa, London, posting on NewZimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009. Ticha Mufundisi, London, posting New Zimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009. PM, Slough, posting on New Zimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009. Mboko is a type of pumpkin, used in this sense to describe someone whose brain is 'thick' and cannot think for themselves. Trevor, United Kingdom, posting on New Zimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009. Karen UK, posting on New Zimbabwe.com, 22 June 2009.