Messages From Zimbabwe

Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up. ~ Barbara Kingsolver

I was sent this with direct reference to another international politician, but felt the urge, the need to change it to suit…

1. Open a new file on your computer.

2. Name it “Robert Gabriel Mugabe”

3. Send it to the trash.

4. Empty the trash.

5. Your PC will ask you, “Do you really want to get rid of “Robert Gabriel Mugabe”

6. Smile and then firmly Click “Yes.”

7. Feel better.

PS: Next week we’ll do ZANU PF, POSA, AIPPA and the list goes on.

(…and the land Grab, and hyperinflation and oppression and intimidation and ballot rigging and…)

“If yesterday I fought you as an enemy, today you have become a friend and ally with the same national interest, loyalty rights and duties as myself. If yesterday you hated me, today you cannot avoid the love that binds you to me and me to you… If ever we look to the past, let us do so for the lessons the past has taught us, namely that oppression and racism are inequalities that must never find scope in our political and social system.”

The only white man you can trust is a dead white man.

A few months ago, ZimDaily brought to my attention the virtual world of Second Life, claiming that it could be a good resource for Zimbabwe, due to the massive amounts of money spent in the game. So far, I have found it an interesting place for activism, but a very unreliable platform, with a rich and ignorant population. I have spoken with over a thousand people (”avatars”) in this virtual land, and found some very terrifying statistics:

50% of people did not believe Zimbabwe was a nation. Around 75% believed that communism or anarchist principles could run a nation well. 90% got Zimbabwean inflation wrong by at least 2,000%.

Still, it can only get better from here. There is a small area of the world named Shona, which contains many artefacts which seem to express the ideals of the Shona population. No real mention of Zimbabwe, and no other African languages are named currently. Still, it is a technology which claims over a million people from a hundred nations or more. So perhaps it will become a better resource in the future. After all, a hundred people I spoke with knew the inflation rate, which is at least something.

8,222 miles from Bulawayo

Second Life Avatar: Economic Mip

{EDIT: Everyone has the right to comment and this one gave no offence, and highlighted the chance of a ‘virtual’ Zimbabwe, although the population would appear to be a bit on the ’slow’ side when it comes to information about their imagined land. I can live with it if you can…}

What upsets me a great deal is that Mugabe is going to get off the hook as far as Human Right Charges are concerned.

He has done so much damage to the human beings in Zimbabwe. I am certain that there are a great number of people who have been mentally scarred for life by him.

I was in Zimbabwe for the month of February this year, and it was so very noticable that everyone seemed so very low in spirits. It is no wonder of course!

Even if you were fortunate to have a job, if a child fell ill, it may not be possible to afford to get them to a Doctor, far less pay for his services, the drugs needed, or maybe even a hospital visit.  It was even getting difficult to afford to have a roof over their heads now.

In all their hardships, however, where a few were together I could still hear the laughter every now and again. A Hallmark of the Zimbabwean - bright, cheerful, smiling and friendly faces to greet you.

I have a very heavy heart at what has become of Zimbabwe.

I hope I am wrong, but I honestly can’t see life there ever becoming anywhere near as good as it used to be for most of the people. So very sad and a tragic loss.

Fiona
Scotland 

Zimbabwe is in a mess - that much is true. That the responsibility for that mess lies firmly at the feet of President Mugabe is also true.

The truth is not the problem. Despite what Mugabe says, his misgovernance has caused pain untold and misery unspeakable.

That he hangs on to power with almost a death grip is also true.

The solution to the problem is not necessarily just getting rid of Bob and his ilk, for that’s when the true work will begin. Oh, there will be work aplenty as the economy and the country’s infrastructure needs a minute going over by specialists, builders, economists, financiers and on top of all of that, the Zimbabwean people themselves.

That this will takes many years, many tears and huge amounts of sweat is not contended.

All the Zimbabwean people want is a secure homeland and a secure, safe future.

The immediate problem is not the rebuilding of the country, but the country easing the present President out of office - not into retirement where he will call the shots for a carefully selected successor - but out of power, with his ZANU PF party with him…

Mugabe should go - but that has to be achieved democratically - no other way.

The police and the army, and I’m sure that many members of the CIO are not as happy as the State mouthpiece would have us believe.

We need to have faith in those that stand directly in opposition and give them the support and assistance they need to make that stand permanent…

Foreign powers have little or no need to want to or even be remotely interested in a broken, landlocked country - so us Zimbabweans are going to have to do it themselves…

Take care.

‘debvhu

(Feel free to take up the baton and place your opinion on this page by emailing via gmail me here or at thebeardedman (at) ntlworld.com - I’ll moderate them and post them here for you! C’mon - join in - have your say!)

Howzit

I have given it much thought, and I believe that this page should be precisely what the title suggestion. Messages from Zimbabwe - or at least Messages from Zimbabweans.

So what I am going to do is to stop cross-posting with The Bearded Man blog - you can read that anyway on it’s own page - what I anticipate is people being able to submit their feeling, opinions and views to this page by email.

I will moderate the content and there will be three rules only:

1) No profanity.

2) No racism.

3) No incitement or call to arms.

Just a quiet page that will allow people to air their own side of the Zimbabwean crisis.

I do not envisage this to be a forum. There’s enough of those already.

To participate, all you have to do is drop me an email at thebeardedman (at) ntlworld.com and I will take care of the rest.

All I ask is that you sign off with a name that we can pronounce and that you give me some idea where you are in the world.

Who know, this could grow into something bigger than all of us.

Drop me a line whenever, wherever and let’s get people talking!

Take care.

‘debvhu

Howzit

Yesterday I received an email which talked exclusively about Gono’s address to business in Harare yesterday. No I’m not going to repeat it all, but even my brain, which struggles with all things financial, was able to register concern with some of the things that are going on.

There were two things that caught my untrained eye.

Firstly, was the money wasted on the presentation:

“I have just come in from the quarterly monetary statement by the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Gideon Gono. It was the first of these jamborees that I had attended and I was astonished to arrive to find the large City Hall filled to capacity and the car park crammed with so many luxury vehicles that I could not estimate attendance.

The hall was beautifully done out - individual tables, tea and snacks on arrival and departure. Flowers on every table and bottled water - the stuff on my table must have cost at least Z$500 000 plus the cost of table cloths and the linen covers for all the chairs. The total bill must come to many millions. Oh to be a banker!! Especially a State Banker.“

And the second was the promises that the government made, having failed the tobacco farmers last year:

“Tobacco growers would get the market price at the “official” exchange rate less 20 per cent paid into their FCA’s in hard currency plus a support price of Z$40 000 a kilogram or Z$267 a gram up to the maximum of Z$40 000 based on the price achieved in the auction. A kilogram of tobacco getting US$1.00 on the floors would get a support price of Z$26 700 a kilogram. With average prices expected to be about the US$2.10 level this suggests a tobacco exchange rate of Z$19300 to 1 against the dollar. The current market price for the dollar is about 25 000 to 1.

Tobacco growers who sold their crop last year were promised a special year end payout of Z$5 000 per kilogram. This was never paid but the Reserve Bank would honour this undertaking by paying out Z$85 per kilogram to last years growers (a third of one US cent or 0.0015 per cent of the price paid on the floors}. “We keep our promises” Gono said!!”

This is a very open, childish attempt to placate the few farmers that remain, and the ‘bonuses’ offered are pathetic. Imagine get one third of a US cent for each kilogram of tobacco sold last year! That is nothing less than an embarrassment!

-o00o-

Foreign currency mid-rates updated…

-o00o-

“Inflation in Zimbabwe reached a record 2,200% in March amid a deepening economic and political crisis in the southern African country.Both food and non-food contributed to the year-on-year inflation rate, said central bank Governor Gideon Gono.

The March data had been due for release earlier this month but had been delayed, fanning fears of further crippling price rises.”

This is a new world record. But it is not something that Mugabe should be proud of. He has systematically pulled the infrastructure of Zimbabwe to pieces, through greed and self importance, and now the economy is so bad that virtually no one can afford to buy food, milk or bread. Fuel is hugely expensive and people struggle just to get through each day.

I notice that there are fewer and fewer reports about the number of people dying of starvation and malnutrition - because the government will not allow the public to know the figures - but I am sure the population are aware of these things anyway.

“Mr Gono said secured interest rates would rise to 600%, up from 500%.

He said the Zimbabwean currency would remain at the existing exchange rate of 250 to the US dollar but offered a new rate for central bank purchases of foreign currency to help build a new “drought stabilisation fund”.

As soon as I see the government talking about funding something new, I have visions of the raised money being pilfered and robbed by the ruling party, ZANU PF.

-o00o-

More of the same.

“Zimbabwe’s annual inflation quickened to a record 2200 percent in March, in yet another signal that President Robert Mugabe’s government was losing the race against time to save the hemorrhaging economy from total collapse.”

And I will stand in here before Mugabe or one of his henchmen does and say that the state of the economy in Zimbabwe has nothing whatsoever to do with the travel sanctions in place against Mugabe and his band of thieves that say that they run the country, but, in actual fact RUIN it.

“Let me remind members of the public, the media in particular, that we have not devalued the Zimbabwe dollar but we have only introduced measures aimed at enhancing the generation of foreign exchange that are sector-specific.”

I have no real concept of the figures, but hope that the changes will start to reflect in the exchange rates, so that I can get a better idea of the changes myself.

“The applicable rate would remain at $250 to the greenback but the sellers would in addition receive a ‘mitigation factor’ of 60.

This means that all amounts arrived at by multiplying the exchange rate and the amount tendered would have to be multiplied by 60. For instance, every US$100 bill would now yield $1.5 million using the formula.”

Go figure.

-o00o-

“The European Parliament urged EU member nations Thursday to ensure sanctions against the regime of Zimbabwe’s authoritarian President Robert Mugabe are rigorously applied and no banned Zimbabweans attend a planned EU-Africa summit.

The European Union has ordered economic and political sanctions against Mugabe and top officials believed to be responsible for the violent crackdown on the country’s political opposition.”

Whether the full sanctions are applied or not, Mugabe will still claim that it is the sanctions that are responsible the country’s failings.

But it was the last sentence in this article that caught my eye:

“The EU is the most important international donor to Zimbabwe. It gave €193 million (US$263 million) to the country last year.”

Is the Mugabe government in a position, which I doubt, to give a full accounting of this money?

No? Never mind - I’m sure they’ll give you some more anyway…

-o00o-

“Two members of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) were allegedly beaten and forcibly detained at the ZANU PF district offices in Highfields on Wednesday. CHRA coordinator for Ward 26 Lloyd Kumwenda and another resident only identified as Dangazela were accused of wearing T-shirts with ‘inappropriate’ messages by a group of ZANU PF thugs. Kumwenda wore a CHRA T-Shirt inscribed ‘No to ZINWA’ – one of the Association’s key messages advocating for the return of water administration to the City of Harare. Dangazela on the other hand wore a T-Shirt with a labour union logo.According to CHRA: “They were taken to the ZANU PF offices at Machipisa and were ordered to roll in dirty water before being severely bashed underneath their feet and all over their bodies. The youths forced them to sing and chant ZANU PF songs and slogans. They passed out several times before they were released around 5pm.”

And there will be no investigations, no inquiry and as a result, no criminal charges will be preferred against the ruling party youth.

It’s simple - if you are anything to do with ZANU PF, then you have immunity from prosecution and therefore, the beating and assaults have increased.

ZANU PF went through a stage last month where the opposition party was called ‘terrorists’ and allegations were made as to the violent nature of the MDC and there are even people in jail, accused of receiving military training in South Africa!

But scroll back through the archives on the internet - not necessarily just this blog - but pages of all the big international newspapers and see who is really responsible for the violence in Zimbabwe.

M-U-G-A-B-E and his government. Okay - not him personally, but if someone is beaten on his orders, he is as guilty as the person that carried out the beating.

-o00o-

And whilst the ruling party youth lay into anyone they wish, “MDC Presidential aide Ian Makone was on Thursday denied bail by a Harare magistrate. This is the fourth time he’s been denied his freedom since he was arrested on 28th March.Makone, who appeared with other MDC activists facing different set of charges is himself being charged with allegedly recruiting and training insurgents, bandits, saboteurs or terrorists was remanded to the 11th of next month. All MDC members and activists deny the charges.”

This is sheer stupidity. Military training?

Here’s a clue: Look at the second word of the name of the opposition party.

Democratic - ‘government by the people or their elected representatives’ - not a government over the people that gets their own way by threats, intimidation and violence. And when they don’t get it, resort to untold public beatings and arrests, trumped up charges and human rights abuse.

“Jessie Majome, the party’s deputy secretary for legal affairs said they are not surprised their colleagues are being denied bail because the law in the country was now being used as an instrument of victimization and terror.

She said the whole state apparatus in the country was bearing down on the opposition like a well-oiled machine to persecute the regime’s opponents.”

-o00o-

This blog maybe does not reflect it, but I do try and be a perfectionist. That being said, at least my mistakes are not this stupid…

“Bungling British Home Office officials have threatened to deport a Zimbabwean journalist to IRAQ.

Genius Chitiyo, a former chief sub-editor of banned Daily News on Sunday applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in October last year.

But in a letter rejecting his asylum application, dated April 13, the Home Office threatened to send him to war-torn Iraq.“

How far removed (not geographically, but economically, internationally, and the situation on the ground) is Iraq from Zimbabwe?

But the article goes on to explain how a letter confirming his arrest by the ZRP has been disputed. What else do they need - a video tape of the process?

I am really amazed!

A Zimbabwean reporter applies for asylum in the UK and is threatened with deportation to Iraq! And evidence given about the treatment received in Zimbabwe is rejected out of hand.

I really begin to wonder about the veracity used by the relevant office when considering these cases. Rejection I can handle. But stupidity I have to draw the line at…

-o00o-

 Take care.

 ’debvhu

Howzit

B has told me to take the next couple of days easy. Not easy when you’re a task master like me. But I will abide by her wishes as I do understand what she is trying to achieve.

Among other things that I am trying to juggle, is the reworking of the banner for my friend Lore’s site, The Last Rhodesian, as well as probably the building of a new site for a colleague’s business.

It has also been suggested to me that the background of the main posting column could do with a change to something a little brighter - something in line with the colours engendered in the animal banner above and the orange/gold appearance… Anyone got any suggestions? I have had a good hard look at the CSS colour chart and am not really sold on the idea yet.

This is not something that I am going to change anytime soon - so for the foreseeable future at least, things will remain the same…

This posting will probably only go up on Thursday afternoon, but in a forlorn attempt to play ‘catch-up’:

-o00o-

WEDNESDAY, 25th APRIL 2007

“Acting Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa promised a new exchange rate to tobacco farmers while central bank chief Gideon Gono promised more as Zimbabwe’s government desperately begged reluctant growers to deliver tobacco to auction floor that opened on Tuesday.

Tobacco, which generated about US$400 million in foreign exchange at the peak of production in the late 1990s, is Zimbabwe’s single biggest export earner for hard cash starved Harare.”

Isn’t it amazing? The government chases all the commercial farmers off their land, many of them taken over by their own people - the vast majority more like - and now that they realise that they can be held to ransom by the few tobacco farmers remaining, want to play the nice guy.

What? And then once the sale is done, take the nice farmers’ land away from them?

What a cheek!

Chinamasa shows his lack of education by suggesting that the farmers ‘decapitate their heads’ if the government fails them - ‘decapitate’ means ‘behead’!

“The government values tobacco farming and its growers… we want an act of faith,” Chinamasa pleaded with the farmers. “We don’t want tobacco growers to be broke. In the following days we will announce and tell you how much we will pay. We will reward you handsomely. If we fail to meet our promise, decapitate our heads,” he said.”

While the Governor of “Bob’s Take-Away”, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said: “We are not going to do things that will drive our farmers off the land. As Governor I am still printing the money to pay you because it is too much.”

Right. Bucket loads of Zimbabwe’s useless bearer cheque currency is not the answer. And if they do not intend to do anything to drive the farmers off the land, then explain the ‘land grab’ - explain how the agricultural sector within Zimbabwe - once a huge beacon of hope for the region - is little less than the smoldering ashes of a fire long burned-out…

Whilst I am mildly curious as to what the government may put out on offer, I view any offer with suspicion and distrust as all the government is trying to do is to secure the foreign currency which it will then spend on further oppression and mismanagement of the country.

-o00o-

Why is it that anything which is seen by the Mugabe government as working against it, is translated as an attempt to depose him or unseat his government? Many of the things that his government deem negative are a natural progression in the fight to stay alive in business in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe’s embattled business leaders have rejected charges by President Robert Mugabe as hiking prices of basic commodities to undermine his government and instead blamed a depreciating local dollar and rising input costs for the latest round of price hikes.”

And how does this affect Bob himself? Very little, I would think. He just takes the shilling he needs from Mr Gono and buys what he needs - nay, wants, not necessarily needs (fighter jets?) - and carried on - the knock-on effect of the extra liquidity not noticed in the hallowed halls of power…

“Manufacturers and retailers have over the past few months hiked prices of nearly every commodity, pushing the cost of living beyond the reach of most Zimbabweans, a worrying development for Mugabe’s government that squares up against a resurgent opposition in key presidential and parliamentary elections next year. Addressing supporters during Zimbabwe’s 27th independence anniversary last week, Mugabe accused business of working with the opposition and his Western enemies and said firms were hiking prices unjustifiably to incite hatred against his government ahead of elections.”

Trust me. Zimbabweans don’t need to excuse of price hikes to hate Mugabe and his government…

-o00o-

-o00o-

They’ve taken the farms. They’ve chased the people away from the towns and cities. They have taken all the money - and a little bit more - and now they want free tickets to watch football matches!

Is this the sort of priority that Mugabe’s government has? Is watching a soccer match more important to them than doing the right thing and actually RUNNING the country - instead if RUINING it?

“The ruling ZANU PF party and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are once again at loggerheads after the party demanded hundreds of VIP privilege cards for access to matches for their senior members throughout the country, ZimOnline has gathered.”

I actually surprised that Zimbabwe has people prepared to run around for 90 minutes after a leather object filled with air - where do they get the energy?

ZANU PF has taken misgovernance to a whole new level with this demand…

“ZANU PF have been besieging us for the past two weeks demanding VIP cards to gain access to matches for free but like we have always done, there is no way we will mix politics with our football.”

In Zimbabwe, will they have much choice - in ZANU PF’s mind VIP stands for “Very Important Politician”! At the exclusivity of the ruling party - the hell with the consequences.

Mind you, you can see what this is…

This is ZANU PF raping what little good is left in the country - this is their final ‘hurrah’ before ZANU PF slides back into the mucky political slime that it came from…

-o00o-

THURSDAY, 26th APRIL 2007

“A Zimbabwean women’s pressure group on Wednesday accused police of severely assaulting 56 of its members who were arrested on Monday for protesting against frequent power cuts in Harare.

The demonstrators, who are members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) group, said they were made to lie on the floor at Harare central police station before they assaulted by 12 police officers.”

I am a huge admirer of WOZA and what they stand for. I think that their ability to just carry out protests without histrionics and public announcements first is hugely encouraging. Some political parties could take a leaf out of WOZA’s book on this.

But when the police treat any protest or demonstration as if it were a threat, a political rally or call to arms - and then to go the extra unspeakable step and assault these brave women, I think that the time has come for the people to speak out, stand up and be counted.

Easier said than done, I know.

“The injured protestors, who included 20 men, were receiving treatment at a private hospital in Harare.”

-o00o-

“The High Court on Wednesday postponed indefinitely the hearing into an application for bail for 13 members of the opposition who are accused of masterminding the petrol bombing of state institutions last month.“

Typical delaying tactics by Mugabe’s government. The other case that smells similar is that against the Mutare arms dealer Peter Hitschman, who remains in custody accused of conspiring to assassinate Mugabe at his birthday celebration in that town last year.

The Attorney-General doesn’t seem to think that the accused persons being left in custody is a problem.

“I do not think that it is fair to make a meal out of the matter. It is some logistical issues that we want straightened out first and will will inform the defence team (MDC lawyers) when we are ready to go to court,” said Gula-Ndebele.”

There was a time when I respected the AG - but of late I have seen his thinking queered by the ZANU PF line. How sad…

-o00o-

“Zimbabwe’s central bank governor will make an interim policy statement on Thursday, two months ahead of schedule, in an attempt to deal with a worsening economic crisis, state media said on Wednesday.The central bank, which has failed to stem soaring inflation in the economically strapped southern African nation, traditionally makes policy statements in January and July.

Business owners hope that Gono will devalue the Zimbabwean (if you can call it that) currency against the US - held falsely at Z$250:US1… I have figures for the exchange rates against the major currencies since January this year, and the market needs some sort of change to enable any changes within Zimbabwe to be positive.

But I will not pretend I understand the fiscal rules and regulations - that I leave to the financial gurus…

-o00o-

“President Robert Mugabe’s private helicopter reportedly crashed towards the end of February and sources say the aged leader plans to spend huge amounts of foreign currency to purchase another one ahead of next year’s elections campaign.

The Zimbabwean has spent the past three weeks investigating information supplied by highly-placed sources that the president’s white Cougar helicopter crashed just outside Harare but without claiming any casualties. It is reported that there were some injuries.”

Throwing good money after bad.

Why should he, as President of the country be allowed to use State monies to purchase a helicopter which he is then going to use in affairs that have nothing to do with his office, but more with his clinging to power? Surely a Presidential chopper should be only used for things Presidential?

“It crashed just before the end of February whilst on a test run just outside Harare and there was swift action to quickly remove the wreckage,” a source involved in the running of affairs at the base said. “The assessment by technicians proved that it was a write-off but I am not in a position to be aware of efforts to replace it.”

Why Mugabe deems it necessary to hide the wreckage is beyond me. Accidents happen - like the people of Zimbabwe believing he could run the country…

-o00o-
-o00o-

“President Robert Mugabe is said to have indicated that he will anoint neither of the current aspiring candidates, Vice President Joice Mujuru and minister Emmerson Mnangagwa if he wins next year’s elections. Mugabe calmed the storm that rocked ZANU (PF) recently over his controversial refusal to step down a allow for the choosing of another candidate to contest next year’s elections by promising to step down after the elections, which he is confident he will win, and appoint someone to take over. However sources close to him told The Zimbabwean that Mugabe recently indicated that he no longer trusted Mujuru or Mnangagwa and wanted to appoint an entirely different person, without giving any pointers.“

OK. So who then is in the running for taking over from Mugabe?

“A senior ZANU (PF) official belonging to the Mujuru faction said Mugabe could now be favouring state security minister, Didymus Mutasa. “He has lately endeared himself more to Mutasa and John Nkomo but it is a foregone conclusion that the latter won’t be anointed his successor because of his tribal originations, leaving Mutasa the likely successor in that case,” the source said.”

I object loudly that Mugabe should be given the sole choice as to who his successor should be. Surely this is a decision for the voters to make - not one man. By his making the decision, he would, in essence, continue to rule from beyond his time in office.

Do the people of Zimbabwe see any change in the power frame if Mugabe’s Minister of Threats were anointed as king?

-o00o-

“Manicaland magistrates have refused to preside over the case of a prominent prosecutor who alleges that he is being persecuted for prosecuting Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

A magistrate had to be brought in from Masvingo to handle the case in which Manicaland area prosecutor Levison Chikafu is accused of soliciting for a bribe from a murder suspect. Chikafu was granted $500 000 bail at Mutare magistrates court late on Tuesday. He will appear again in court on June 12.”

I don’t understand this one bit. Chikafu prosecuted Chinamasa. He did so under orders because it is not the prosecutor’s choice as to who is charged and with what. He was doing his job.

And now is paying for it. That no one else has got the conjones to do their jobs, then not much has been learned in 27 years of independence, has it? Except how to intimidate, bully and chose small, easy targets…

“Yesterday, Chinamasa’s lawyer, James Mutizwa, refused to comment on Chikafu’s claims that he was being victimised for prosecuting the Minister.”

-o00o-

Look at the cops. Really proud of themselves aren’t they?
It’s amazing how many people will do what you tell them to -
if you have a weapon at your disposal…

“Lovemore Machengedzera is an opposition MDC activist. That’s his real name. Unusually for this column I can give it, because, as MDC youth treasurer, he is a seasoned target for Mugabe’s hit men. Twice before he suffered at their hands. The third time came last month. Here is a literally blow-by-blow account of how it feels to be picked up by a Zimbabwe government goon squad. Lovemore tells his story exclusively to The First Post: 

“I was leaving my home on March 31, around midday. It was a Friday. As I was getting into my car a white Nissan Sunny passed by, and I vaguely recognised it as a car I had seen following me earlier in the day.

“As I began to drive off, a Mitsubishi double-cab pulled in front of me, blocking my way. Then the Sunny pulled up behind me. I was blocked in.

“My passenger door was jerked open, and a man in dark shades climbed in. He pointed a handgun at me, then hit me in the face. Then he lowered his gun to nestle the barrel in my groin.

Read on using the link.

As a friend of mine says, how long will this go on until either a civil war begins or a foreign power intervenes to stop this reign of violence and decay?

“Switch off your phone. Close the windows. Follow the double-cab,” he ordered. I did as he said. We drove directly to Harare Central Police Station.

“I was not officially arrested. My belongings - my cellphone, passport, some money - were taken from me, but not recorded. I was thrown into a filthy cell. During this time whenever I protested I was beaten with batons and fists. They hit me all over, but their favourite targets were the soles of my feet, my buttocks and my groin. Twice I lost consciousness.”

-o00o-

I know my wife asked me to stay away for a couple of days whilst I recharged my batteries. And I have tried to accede to her request - but it’s hard when you have a moral obligation.

I am still suffering with sinus problem and I feel like I’ve been kicked in the head by one of Mugabe’s goons, but I am on the mend. A good thing too, as I do not want to have the procedure on Monday delayed any longer - I’ve waited 6 months already.

Anyway - there it is - a posting for yesterday and today.

Take care.

‘debvhu