Zimbabweans in America are preparing to voice their demands for a free Zimbabwe, as part of a global protest movement this weekend outside South African consulates and embassies

Zimbabweans and other concerned individuals are being urged to join in the global demonstration taking place from Friday across the world. South Africa will kick off the weekend protests with what is expected to be the largest gathering outside the South African foreign ministry in Pretoria.

On Saturday, more protests will get underway in Australia, the UK and the Netherlands, where people will be gathering at The Hague. Demonstrations are also planned in America and in Chicago, protesters will gather at the South African consulate (200 S Michigan Ave) at 11 am local time. In Washington DC, protesters will gather at the South Africa embassy (3400 International Drive NW) at 10am local time.

MDC-USA Chairman Den Moyo told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that the response to the planned protest "has been overwhelming," saying this "different approach to protesting the Zimbabwe issue is really being welcomed."

"To a lot of people this is a new approach that makes sense. When protests are staged at Zimbabwean embassies, they are manned by ZANU PF sympathisers, so people can't get their demands across," Moyo said.

Moyo meanwhile encouraged all Zimbabweans and others to take part in the weekend demos, which are set to be the start of a monthly call to action. He said the situation in Zimbabwe is deteriorating rapidly, saying "we are now in a do or die situation."

"The situation is so dangerous and the world needs to know what is happening. There is no better way to send the message to the world than Zimbabweans themselves standing together, united, speaking in one voice," Moyo said.

The protests have been organised by the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai and are targeting South Africa as the mediator in the ongoing political stalemate.

Protesters will be calling on the South African government to help solve the ongoing crisis as well as force ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe to honour the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Petitions with these and other demands will be handed over to embassy and consular staff during the demonstrations.