African and European intellectuals raise questions about Lisbon summit
As the EU-Africa Summit approaches protests against Zimbabwe President Mugabe’s attendence are raised in Europe and Africa.
A group of prominent writers, including Nobel Prize winners Gunter Grass and Nadine Gordimer, accused European and African leaders on Tuesday of political cowardice by failing to put the Zimbabwe and Darfur crises high on the agenda of the EU-Africa Summit. Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian Nobel literature laureate who signed the letter, said in a separate statement that the summit offered a chance to address both crises. “However, our leaders — by putting their own desire to avoid a confrontation ahead of the suffering of millions — are squandering this opportunity and doing us all a disservice,” Soyinka said to AP (AP and Reuters).
SW Radio Africa reports that protests are being planned in London, Lisbon and Harare. The UK based pressure group The Zimbabwe Vigil announced that it’s members will travel to Lisbon and protest Mugabe’s attendance outside the summit venue. On Thursday, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), assisted by trade unions and the remaining Zim Vigil activists, will protest at the Portuguese embassy in London. More protests are planned in Cardiff, this time organised by the Zimbabwean Development Support Association. In Harare the newly formed Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe will also hold a demonstration against Mugabe’s attendance.
In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe staged a march in the capital, Harare last Friday (30/11). One of the organisers, liberation war veteran leader Jabulani Sibanda, said the march was meant to show the world that Zimbabweans were united (BBC).
