More than 100 Zimbabweans in Britain demonstrating against the economic decay back home on Tuesday forced Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa to sit in a taxi in London for more than an hour when he tried to leave a money-raising conference.
According to Zimbabwe Vigil coordinator and Restoration of Human Rights chairperson for Central London, Fungayi Mabhunu, the demonstrators blocked a taxi that tried to whisk Chinamasa away from the conference venue.
Mabhunu said the demonstrators demanded to know what happened to the $15 billion in diamond revenues, which President Mugabe said disappeared, and several other issues.
"We are telling the world that we have our $15 billion that disappeared. The Zimbabwean economy as you know it has collapsed and now they are trying to introduce the bond notes. These are the very same people who have damaged the economy," Mabhunu said.
He said they cannot let Chinamasa come to London and tell lies about the Zimbabwean economy while they look aside.
The minister and his team, which includes Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya, is visiting Europe. It has been meeting with business people and organisations discussing their interests to invest in Zimbabwe.
People’s Democratic Party president, Tendai Biti, is also attending the same meeting.
Mabhunu said the minister was clearly shaken by the peaceful demonstrations.
Economist Godfrey Kanyenze of the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe said he does not see Chinamasa reaping anything with his desperate attempt to try and find someone who can help his government.
