campaign that will take him through three continents before he reaches Harare on Thursday this week.
Thomson Mabvundwe starts his journey today at the DFW Airport in Dallas as he launches his campaign that will see him through four countries.
The campaign will go through the USA, Britain, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
In an interview from his Dallas base yesterday, Mabvundwe said he will start the one-man demonstration for an hour in Dallas.
“I am travelling through London’s Heathrow Airport and on Wednesday I will be there from 12pm to 5pm,” he said.
Mabvundwe said he will then travel to South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport where he will continue the demonstration for another two hours before he heads for Harare.
The one man international campaign will end at the Harare International Airport at 2pm on Thursday.
Mr Mabvundwe said although the campaign was his own initiative he expects to work with Government to push this international campaign.
“I have been working with some colleagues especially Florence Zezai, an associate from Dallas, and she has been very supportive.”
He said Ms Zezai would also organise a demonstration at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
“We want to show the world that these sanctions have not affected Zanu-PF leaders on the list but the ordinary Zimbabwean.
“Even the people in rural areas have felt the effects. These sanctions are illegal and there is need for us in the Diaspora to join hands with President Mugabe to call for their immediate lifting,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Anti-sanctions Petition Campaign continues with many provinces mobilising people to append their signatures.
However, the campaign has met stiff resistance from the MDC-T led councils, which have stopped officials from using schools and other council facilities as signing centres.
Resistance has been reported in Bulawayo and Gweru.
Midlands Provincial Governor Jason Machaya has castigated Gweru City Council for denying Zimbabweans the use of council facilities as centres for signing the Anti-Sanctions Petition.
More than 200 000 people in the province have so far signed the petition.
Governor Machaya yesterday said it was clear that the MDC-T led council lacked patriotism and did not have people’s interests at heart.
Council last week barred Government from using all its facilities during the anti-sanctions campaign saying it was not a national programme.
Said Governor Machaya: “It is not surprising for this MDC led council to behave in such a manner. They are just confirming what has been done by their leadership. They boycotted the whole thing despite that this is an issue in the GPA whereby they should be participating.
“It simply shows lack of patriotism because this is the time we must form a united front to defeat the sanctions. It is a sign that these people do not want progress yet they are the ones who called for the imposition of sanctions on the country.”
He said this was an “insult” to residents who helped in the construction of these facilities.
“Council facilities were built by the people for the people and no one should disadvantage the community. There is no logic in barring the same people who built them. It’s an insult to residents as they should be open to everyone as long as the programme is lawful,” he said.
Sanctions, Governor Machaya said, were also hampering service delivery.
“They (council) are having difficulties in giving efficient service delivery as a result of sanctions and likewise officials should stand with the community in fighting them,” he said.
However, Governor Machaya said the petition had received an overwhelming response.
“Today (Monday) I have received another requisite of more than 200 000 while the initial 200 000 we sent out have been signed. People from as far as Gokwe, Chirumhanzu, Kwekwe, Zhombe, Mberengwa are ready to sign and we are going to grant them their wish,” he said.
Governor Machaya dismissed reports that people in the province were being forced to sign the petition while headmasters have reportedly been turned into “polling officers”.
“What else can an enemy say? They are always peddling falsehoods but people now know the reality and are ready to fight.
“No one is forced to sign and anyone who wishes to sign will do so without victimisation,” he said.
Gweru council officials declined to comment. In Beitibridge, hundreds of residents thronged the Dulibadzimu Stadium for the official launch of the campaign in the border town.
While MDC officials boycotted Ward 2 councillor Ms Patricia Ndlovu (MDC-T) attended the launch. Beitbridge constituency senator Tambudzani Mohadi led the proceedings. The district has received 27 000 petition forms as part of the 200 000 which were allocated to Matabeleland South province by Government.
A total of 33 centres will be used as signing centres across the district. Addressing the gathering, Senator Mohadi urged people to come out in their numbers and support the anti sanctions lobby.
“We must bear in mind that we lie in agricultural region five where livestock production is the main source of income and livelihood, this therefore means our businesses cannot prosper under these illegal sanctions,” she said.

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