Lovemore Madhuku in St Andrews

Lovemore Madhuku (in the right of the image).

One of the leaders of Zimbabwean opposition movement will visit Scotland this week to deliver a keynote lecture to students.

Dr Lovemore Madhuku, Chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly of Zimbabwe and co-founder of the MDC opposition party, will be in St Andrews on Wednesday 14 April 2010 to address students at the University of St Andrews.

Dr Madhuku has been invited to Scotland by the St Andrews-based International Politics Association, an independent student society and prominent discussion forum.

The lecture “A People’s Hope: The Future of Zimbabwe” will be delivered a few days before Zimbabwe marks the 30th anniversary of its independence from Britain.

Dr Madhuku, one of the world’s foremost human rights activists, will focus on the wider themes of democracy, freedom and constitutionalism.

The lecture will take place in School 3, St Salvator’s College, University of St Andrews, North Street, at 7.30 p.m. Admission to the event is by ticket only and these may be purchased at £3 each by messaging [email protected] before 15.00 on Wednesday 14 April 2010.

“As Zimbabwe celebrates its 30th anniversary of independence from Britain this Saturday, now is very much the time to consider where it stands,” said Brandon Soeiro of the IPA.

“After a number of years where the country’s leadership has been shown to be a gross violator of human rights, hope should not be forgotten or ignored. By hosting one of Zimbabwe’s leading figures, a man who himself has suffered the barbarity of the Mugabe regime, we hope to highlight the promise that Zimbabwe still holds and to allow our community to engage in a deeply personal issue of international political consequence.

“In these trying times, we aspire to replace acrimony with debate and platitudes with substance.”

Founded in 1978, the IPA is widely considered to be at the forefront of student-run political discussion forums in the United Kingdom. Based in St Andrews, and organised entirely by students, it routinely hosts some of the world’s foremost minds, continuing a tradition of encouraging debate amongst both the student and local populations. Past guests have included: Hans Blix, FW de Klerk, and Michael Douglas.

ENDS

Issued by the University of St Andrews Press Office. Contact Niall Scott on 01334 462244 / 07711 223 062, email [email protected].