Save Zimbabwe of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai. Zimbabwe police claimed that the prayer rally violated a government ban on political protests. In the resulting unrest one opposition activist, Gift Tandare, was shot dead by police. Save Zimbabwe Save Zimbabwe is a broad coalition of organizations spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (CA). Members include the Movement for Democratic Change and other opposition parties, church groups, civil rights groups and trade unions. The campaign's stated aims are for the restoration of democracy, human rights and legitimate government to Zimbabwe through providing early, free and fair elections under proper international supervision.
Robert Mugabe in power. Several Southern African states remonstrated with him at a summit in Harare in September 2001. In 2002, the British Commonwealth expelled Zimbabwe from among its ranks; Mugabe blamed this on anti-black racism, a view echoed by South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki favoured a policy of "quiet diplomacy" in dealing with Mugabe, and prevented the African Union (AU) from introducing sanctions against him. The Africa-Europe Summit, scheduled to take place in Lisbon in April 2003, was deferred repeatedly because African leaders refused to attend while Mugabe was banned; it eventually took place in 2007 with Mugabe in attendance.