View source for From the Tardis to jail in Harare: actress's play crusade

{{article
| publication = London Evening Standard
| file = 2013-07-29 London Evening Standard.jpg
| px = 650
| height = 
| width = 
| date = 2013-07-29
| author = Joseph Watts
| pages = 24
| language = English 
| type = 
| description = 
| categories = 
| moreTitles = 
| morePublications = 
| moreDates = 
| text = 
A DR WHO actress has told how she was arrested and locked up by Robert Mugabe's security forces while campaigning during chaotic elections in Zimbabwe.

London-based Chipo Chung was supporting her mother's bid to become an independent senator in the country's 2008 elections when she was held. She spoke of her experience, which inspired her to write a play, as Zimbabwe prepares for Wednesday's presidential election amid concerns over vote-rigging and harassment of activists.

Chung told the Standard: "On the day of the 2008 election I ended up spending the night in jail. I was in a polling station and I had a camera on me and that wasn't allowed. It's every political activist's initiation in Zim.

"Having a camera on me was the rule that was broken. So I was arrested and that forms a part of the story of my play." The actress, who lives in Brixton, has been in Dr Who, Sherlock and Camelot on TV, and in movies The Loop and Sunshine.

She said: "The news leading up to 2008 was very distressing, talk of militias and brutality, and I had fears about what might happen to my mother. I thought if anything was going to happen it would be better to be there with her, so I got involved in the campaign and it was an incredibly inspiring experience. It was like the Obama campaign."

Chung was not mistreated in prison but the 2008 polls were mired in violence and opposition leaders accused Mr Mugabe's regime of harassment and intimidation. There were widespread claims the vote was fixed in his favour, with crisis talks leading to a coalition agreement with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. Chung said many Zimbabweans were now disillusioned, after the unity government failed to improve living standards: "In Zimbabwe, much like in this country, people are starting to feel politicians are all the same. In the same way people look at the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, people are saying they thought they were different but now see them as one group.

"However, the sense is that things will go smoother this time and I really hope there is less violence. I think there will be."

On returning to Britain, Chung helped start a peacebuilding organisation in Zimbabwe and wrote a play, Chasing The Moon. with the goal of widening people's perceptions of the country.

The piece, performed at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts earlier this month, sees her speak with other Zimbabweans based in London. She said: "When you go to Zimbabwe things are different to

Activist: London-based Chipo Chung was inspired to write a play

how people expect. In 2008 people's vision was that when you got off the plane you'd immediately get macheted. But that's absurd.

"You're much safer in Harare than in Johannesburg. Things look a lot better now than five years ago."

While the elections may not lead to a dramatic transformation, she believes evolutionary change is taking place. Others dispute this, such as journalist Dennis Benton, who left Zimbabwe with wife Rose in 1968. In 2002 they helped form Zimbabwe Vigil, which aims to demonstrate in London until fair elections take place in Harare.

He said: "2008 was rigged, 2013 will be. Security forces remain partial, the electoral commission is in the hands of Mugabe. It has been a shambles."

The group protests on Saturday afternoons outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in the Strand. A further protest will be held on election day.

}}