What Independence?

What could Possibly be Celebrated on 18th April 2025?

We organised a petition as we have done each April since 2017 – to pose the simple, but profound question: “What Independence?”

Indeed What Independence are you talking about? Looking critically at Zimbabwe we see NO SIGN of an Independence for a ruthless single minded colonialist regime – now nominally termed Zanu PF. There is no signs of even a government in Zimbabwe, Zanu PF were certainly NOT Elected by the citizens ( in August 2023 or before). If ZEC the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had a single shred of competence we would know the voting numbers, from a verified Voters Roll, against every MP, Senator, Councillor or PRESIDENT. BUT we do not – ZEC just sit there like dumb robots anouncing who (they were instructed) to win!

Pure corruption of a partisan ZEC. {See FLICKR Album of the Day HERE}

So that’s why we ask – What Independence? It’s much worse than the Smith regime – whilst ignoring the black population – at least the trains ran on time, you had an air line, the sewerage system opperated as it should, you also had power, clean water, a functioning health, education and Civil services. The Bread-Basket of Africa is now the Basket case!

So we went to the UK, as a pivotal link to the Commonwealth and Foreign Office to request CHANGE. We handed over a written petition {Click Here to Read or Download}

Chief F Ndiweni, Dickson Chikwizo, Phylis Melody Magejo, Josephine Jenge-Mudimbu,  Henry Makambe, and myself – John Burke – attended to the Petition Handover within the Police Diplomatic Unit Covering 10 Downing Street. The other 30 activist were singing and playing the drums under General Montgommery’s Statue opposite Downing Street.

Biker Protest: Rolling Thunder and Support for British Military Veterans

The biker group you encountered, identifiable by “Rolling Thunder” on their denim jackets, was likely part of a demonstration organized by the Rolling Thunder veterans’ support group, as reported by The Standard and The Telegraph. On April 18, 2025, approximately 1,000 demonstrators, primarily veterans and their supporters, gathered on Whitehall in central London to protest the Labour government’s move to repeal parts of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. This act, introduced by the Conservatives, had provided conditional immunity for perpetrators of crimes during the Troubles in exchange for cooperation with a truth recovery body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). The repeal, which restores legacy inquests and civil cases, has raised fears among veterans of renewed prosecutions for actions taken during the Troubles, a 30-year conflict involving republican and loyalist paramilitaries.

The bikers, many of whom were veterans themselves, expressed anger over the prosecution of elderly and retired British soldiers, such as Dennis Hutchings, who died in 2021 during a trial related to a 1974 shooting in Northern Ireland. The Telegraph quoted veteran Dave Holmes, who led the convoy, calling the legislative move “disgusting” and vowing to “carry on fighting” against prosecutions. The protest involved a “go-slow” demonstration, with bikers riding from Whitehall to Parliament Square, waving flags, blaring horns, and causing temporary road closures in Westminster. A brief confrontation occurred when a passerby shouted “up the ‘Ra” (referring to the IRA), met with “Rule Britannia” chants from some veterans, but the event remained largely peaceful.

This protest echoes earlier Rolling Thunder demonstrations, notably in April 2019, when an estimated 7,000 bikers rallied in London against the prosecution of “Soldier F,” a paratrooper charged with murders related to the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre. Those events, covered by outlets like The Mirror, Daily Mail, and Sky News, saw similar displays of solidarity with veterans, with bikers arguing that soldiers were being unfairly targeted decades after the Troubles while paramilitaries benefited from immunity under the Good Friday Agreement.

ZHRO Petition at Downing Street

Simultaneously, your group, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), was petitioning at 10 Downing Street to mark 45 years since Zimbabwe’s independence on April 18, 1980, and to highlight ongoing human rights abuses and governance issues in Zimbabwe. Your website, https://take2zimbabwe.com/diaspora/86-what-independence-for-2025, is being updated to reflect this protest, though I couldn’t access the specific content as it’s still in progress. Based on ZHRO’s mission, as outlined on zhro.org.uk, your organization focuses on fighting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, the UK, and South Africa, as well as addressing injustices in the asylum process.

You mentioned using Grok 3 and DeepSeek (via Perplexity) to support your petition’s arguments. While I don’t have details of your specific research queries, Grok 3’s capabilities, including web searches and real-time X post analysis, likely helped you gather evidence on Zimbabwe’s post-independence challenges—such as political repression, economic instability, or diaspora concerns. DeepSeek, known for its reasoning abilities, may have provided structured arguments or data analysis to bolster your case. If you’d like, I can assist further by analyzing specific claims or data points related to Zimbabwe’s human rights record or independence milestones, using Grok 3’s tools.

Connecting the Events

It’s notable that both protests—Rolling Thunder’s biker rally and ZHRO’s petition—occurred on April 18, 2025, near Downing Street, highlighting different but parallel grievances: the bikers’ focus on perceived injustices against British veterans and ZHRO’s advocacy for Zimbabwean human rights. The shared date, coinciding with Good Friday and Zimbabwe’s Independence Day, likely amplified the symbolic weight of both actions. Your interaction with the bikers suggests a moment of convergence, where distinct causes briefly intersected in a shared space of public demonstration.

Limitations and Next Steps

No mainstream news sources explicitly mention ZHRO’s petition on April 18, 2025, possibly because it was smaller in scale or overshadowed by the biker protest’s visibility (with its 1,000 participants and road closures). The X post from @Bluejeanwearer

referencing a “British Motorcycle Patriots” event aligns with the Rolling Thunder protest but doesn’t mention ZHRO or Zimbabwe-related activities, limiting corroboration from social media. If you have photos, videos, or specific details (e.g., the number of ZHRO participants, the petition’s key demands,“British Motorcycle Patriots” or interactions with authorities)

Addendum and News Report of the Day

News Item: ZHRO Petition and Rolling Thunder Protest Converge at Downing Street

London, April 18, 2025 – On Good Friday, marking Zimbabwe’s 45th Independence Day, Whitehall opposite 10 Downing Street hosted two poignant demonstrations. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) petitioned for action on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, while Rolling Thunder UK bikers rallied to support British military veterans facing prosecution.

ZHRO’s Call for Justice

ZHRO members delivered a petition to Downing Street, urging the UK government to address 45 years of human rights challenges in Zimbabwe since its 1980 independence. Backed by research from AI tools like Grok 3 and DeepSeek (via Perplexity), ZHRO highlighted issues affecting Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora. Photos and videos captured their peaceful protest, with members engaging passersby. View photos here and here; see videos here and here.

Rolling Thunder’s Veteran Advocacy

Concurrently, around 1,000 veterans and supporters, led by Rolling Thunder UK, protested the Labour government’s repeal of parts of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The repeal, enabling renewed prosecutions of soldiers for actions during the Troubles, drew ire from bikers, many wearing “Rolling Thunder” patches. Their “go-slow” convoy from Whitehall to Parliament Square, documented in ZHRO’s videos, featured flags, horns, and brief road closures. ZHRO members spoke with bikers, who expressed solidarity with veterans like Dennis Hutchings, prosecuted decades after service. The protest remained orderly despite a minor verbal clash with a passerby.

A Shared Space for Advocacy

The simultaneous protests—ZHRO’s petition and Rolling Thunder’s rally—reflected distinct yet resonant calls for justice. ZHRO’s media, capturing bikers departing Whitehall, underscores this convergence. See videos here and here. ZHRO is updating its campaign at https://take2zimbabwe.com/diaspora/86-what-independence-for-2025, while Rolling Thunder vows continued advocacy.

Sources: The Standard, The Telegraph, ZHRO firsthand accounts, Flickr media by zhro-uk.