Britain Zimbabwe Society 2025 Annual General Meeting

12.00 - 13.00 BZS 44th Annual General Meeting

Agenda

Welcome and Introduction by Chair

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of 43nd AGM held 19th October 2024 via ZOOM

3. Matters arising

4. Annual Report from Chair

5. Treasurer's Report and accounts

6. Secretaries' Reports including Membership Report

7. Other Reports (SKLA)

8. Motions for debate

9. Roll of Honour

10. Election of officers and Executive Committee Members

11. 2026 Programme

12. Any other business

13.00-13.30 Break

13.30 GUEST SPEAKERS

Keynote Speaker: Father Brian MacGarry on Community Organisations in Zimbabwe

Chaired by Dr Knox Chitiyo, President, BZS

Followed by Professor William Beinart speaking on The Background to The Rhodes Legacy, and the Zimbabwean Sculpture Exhibition currently on display in Oxford

Chaired by Professor Diana Jeater, BZS Executive

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

FATHER BRIAN MACGARRY

Father Brian MacGarry celebrated 50 years as a priest of the Society of Jesus in Zimbabwe in 2024. He joined the novitiate in 1959 and studied philosophy, theology and chemistry prior to his first posting to what was then Rhodesia. He taught science at St Ignatius College, Chishawasha, as part of his training and formation for the priesthood. He made his final vows in 1980, and moved to Silveira House where he did research into appropriate technology for the new country of Zimbabwe, developing solar ovens, methane gas digesters and equipment for fruit drying. In 2001, he moved to Harare, living and working at Zambuko House, a home for street children in Hatfield. Since 2006 he has been living at St Peter’s, Mbare, where he is much involved in the local community. Father Brian has been a close follower and commentator on current events and has published widely in a variety of magazines and booklets, including the BZS’s own quarterly magazine, Zimbabwe Review.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM BEINART

William Beinart is emeritus professor at the African Studies Centre, and St Antony' College, University of Oxford. After completing university at UCT and SOAS, he worked at the Universities of Bristol and Oxford. His research has largely covered southern African history, and particularly the rural Eastern Cape, but occasionally also Malawi, Zimbabwe and Kenya. In recent years he has focussed especially on environmental history and on land reform. Books include Twentieth-Century South Africa (2001), Environment and Empire (with Lotte Hughes, 2007), African Local Knowledge (with Karen Brown, 2013) and The Scientific Imagination in South Africa (with Saul Dubow, 2021). He served on the Oriel College commission on the Rhodes legacy and an examination of 'Cecil Rhodes: Racial Segregation in the Cape Colony and Violence in Zimbabwe' is on the College website and in the Journal of Southern African Studies. The small exhibition of Zimbabwean stone sculptures in Oxford in October/November 2025, organised with Richard Pantlin, and the focus of his talk, is an outcome of the student protests against the Rhodes statue at Oxford and Pantlin's submission to the commission.

Headline picture: The BZS Research Days in Oxford, June 2025 (Photo credit: Rori Masiane)

Minutes of Britain Zimbabwe Society 43rd Annual General

Meeting held at 12:00pm on 19 October 2024 via Zoom

PRESENT: Millus Palayiwa, Margaret Ling, Fortunate Hove, Rori Masiane, Pat Brickhill, Diana Jeater, Frances Owen, Algar Goredema Braid, Phillip Weiss, Pelagia Nyamayaro,

* Rose Hamilton (RH) and Francis Lembani (FL) joined meeting briefly

APOLOGIES: Knox Chitiyo, Rose Hamilton, Victor de Waal, John and Jan Addison, Joan Weir, Pat Bryden, Jenny Vaughan

1. Minutes

The minutes from the 42nd AGM, held via Zoom, were a true reflection of the meeting.

2. Matters Arising

None

3. Annual Report:

The Chair MP announced the change in format of the Annual Report. Individual reports make up the Annual Report. MP summarised the contents. The full Annual Report to be circulated after this meeting.

4. Treasures Report & Accounts (full report in Annual Report)

ML presented the Balance sheet and Income and Expenditure account (details in the Annual Report). Postal costs continue to increase. Finances in good shape in spite of declining BZS membership.

5. Secretaries Reports (full report in Annual Report)

a) Membership Report: ML reported 184 subscribing members. Next year a change in subscription will be tabled. ML encouraged members to receive the Review by email.

b) Review: JV sent apologies. She appealed for ideas and articles on issues relevant to

Zimbabwe for the Review from member or others (with relevant contact details).

c) Minute Secretary’s Report: A quiet year. Executive members encouraged to send Agenda items.

6. Other Reports (full report in Annual Report)

a) Social Media: PN reported it had been a busy year. She suggested new members are asked how they first heard about the BZS

b) SKLA/KSLA visit

MP welcomed Rose Hamilton (SKLA) and Francis Lembani (Kadoma SKLA) who joined the meeting via Zoom. FL explained the Kadoma Link is an umbrella organisation made up of different groups serving the Kadoma community. He and Jane Chigumira on a two week visit the UK and developing links. Football clubs in Stevenage and Kadoma will develop links..

FL said the visit to the UK had revealed how SKLA raised funds.

Francis is head of YMCA. Kadoma faces challenges around poverty, unemployment and youth empowerment. Entrepreneurship gives people skills required in the current situation in Zimbabwe.

7. Roll of Honour

The meeting remembered Gylyan Boiellie from Stevenage (also a member of the Stevenage Kadoma Link Association).

8. Other Reports (full report in Annual Report)

i) Voices from an Era of War: KC sent apologies. MP said this event had put BZS on the map. It was a good topic with good attendance. FH suggested the possibility of an event on Women and War. AGB said the event was part of a healing process

i) RD24: RM pointed out the relevance of topic given climate and weather issues in Zimbabwe. FH said she appreciated the accessibility of the event.

ii) BZS Book Festival: MP drew attention to Book Event report and offer Professor Brian Jones (amaBooks) made to interact and give advice to aspiring writers

9. Motions for Debate – none

10. Election of Office Bearers & Executive Committee Members

The current executive has one year left in office

11. AOB - none

12. 2025 Meeting Dates and dates of Events

Strategy Meeting – 25 January (Zoom)

Executive Meeting – 26 April (Zoom)

Research Day – 14 & 15 June (Oxford)

Executive Meeting – 26 July (Oxford venue t.b.c.)

Executive Meeting and AGM – 18 October (Zoom)