'We will not be intimidated'

Dan Parkinson
BBC News

More than 300 people attended the MDC rally

Straining to be heard above fierce drumming, Zimbabweans at a rally in London spoke of their fury at the attack on opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

At the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) demonstration, held in the shadow of the Zimbabwean Embassy, many said they were now more determined than ever to overthrow President Robert Mugabe.

"If his idea was to scare us into submission by targeting Mr Tsvangirai than it has failed," said Jaison Matewu, 50.

"There is no doubt he was behind this. The music we are playing here is war music. It is aggressive and it shows how we feel. We are not going to back down.

"I have spoken to people in Zimbabwe and they feel like they have nothing to lose now. There will be an uprising.

"They are even organising in rural areas. The police and the army are going to be stretched. Things are going to be very difficult."

There is no doubt in our minds that the attack on Morgan was authorised by Mugabe Suzeet Kwenda

More than 300 MDC supporters, living in exile in the UK, met in a square outside the embassy to show their support for Mr Tsvangirai.

Bare trees were draped with the Zimbabwean flag and mock "wanted" posters bearing Mr Mugabe's face were put up.

The "reward" offered was "freedom for the people of Zimbabwe".

Drummers pounded out a relentless beat as MDC supporters danced and chanted.

The dancing stopped only briefly when those gathered stood with their hands thrust into the sky to sing the Zimbabwean nation anthem.

Drummers played traditional "war music" at the rally

Most brandished placards bearing slogans giving bleak facts about modern day Zimbabwe.

"Zimbabwe leads the world - the highest number of orphans per capita," one read.

The demonstration was organised in response to the attack on Mr Tsvangirai while in custody after his arrest at an MDC rally in Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Some of those gathered said they had first-hand experience of brutality in Zimbabwe.

Cuthbert Chisango, 38, left Zimbabwe in 2001 after he was attacked by eight men for being an MDC member.

'Desperate man'

"They beat my head repeatedly," he said.

"I know what it is like to be attacked. The reason they have attacked Morgan is they want to stop the opposition rallies.

"They have been beating supporters at the rallies but that has not stopped them taking place.

"This attack on the leadership was an attempt to make them feel pain in the hope it will stop them.

"It will not. It will only make them stronger."

Suzeet Kwenda said she thought Robert Mugabe was frightened

The main reason many thought Mr Tsvangirai had been attacked was that Mr Mugabe was frightened.

"This was the act of a desperate man. There is no doubt in our minds that the attack on Morgan was authorised by Mugabe," said Suzeet Kwenda, 43.

"He fears that the population is turning against him. I have a house near where the rally was and my neighbour told me police had blocked all the roads in the area.

"They are intimidating innocent people now. This is a big turning point. People will not stand for it."

Others at the rally said they were worried about friends and family back home who might be caught up in violent clashes.

Barbara Murray said South Africa should take action

Diana Dhlamini, 40, said her mother and father were still in Zimbabwe and could be targeted.

"It is really not a good situation over there," she said.

"I am very worried. There will be a backlash I'm sure and it could spread across the whole country.

"I think Mugabe has made a very big mistake. The whole world has seen what has happened to Morgan.

"We need governments to take action. I would like to see the British go in, even if it is to overthrow Mugabe by force."

MDC member Barbara Murray, 57, who left Zimbabwe six years ago to build political contacts in the UK, said she wanted South Africa to put pressure on Mr Mugabe.

"I think Mugabe fears Morgan will be Zimbabwe's Nelson Mandela," she said.

"South Africa says it can't do anything. But it has the most power over Zimbabwe. They could cut off electricity, stop giving Mugabe money, stop meeting him.

"That would put pressure on Mugabe and something needs to be done."