Fri 20 Apr 2007
Howzit
If truth be told, I feel like death warmed up this morning… My cold/flu will not shift and I am struggling… And anyone out there wanna come do some ironing - it’s not easy trying to iron with one hand!
Enough already!
{UPDATE: 1120hrs - B just telephoned. All things being equal, she should be home on Monday. I certainly hope so!}
Foreign currency mid-rates updated.
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I found this video interview on Channel 4 news, via the SW Radio Africa site. It is an eye opener… Click on “Watch this report” on their news site.
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Sources said Kasrills’ visit was part of an initiative by South African President Thabo Mbeki to broker talks between the Zimbabwean government and opposition groups and find a democratic solution to the country’s deepening economic and political crisis. But ZimOnline has been unable to independently verify this.”
This is the first move that we have seen since Mbeki was appointed as a mediator to the Zimbabwean problem. No more “quiet diplomacy” - no more saying nothing.
But I feel that Mbeki’s work is cut out for him, with Mugabe making statements like he did at the independence ‘celebrations’ on Wednesday, when he stated that he will never hand power to Tsvangirai or the MDC.
Once again, we read of the Zimbabwean ministers showing their hatred and disdain for the independent press with Mutasa saying: “I can’t talk, I am in a meeting,” he said, before switching off his phone.”
One would think that the meeting wouldn’t last forever and the Zimbabwean government could clear a lot of queries by making an official statement - but they choose not to.
“On Thursday, South African government spokesman, Thembo Maseka called on the government, opposition and the people of Zimbabwe to take advantage of the “goodwill” shown by SADC leaders and move speedily towards finding a lasting solution to their country’s political crisis.
“The critical and urgent challenge facing all Zimbabweans is to take the necessary steps to create an environment that would be conducive for free and fair elections in 2008,” Maseka told journalists after a regular Cabinet meeting.”
The MDC has said that they welcome the South African mediation, but ZANU PF remain unmoved and silent.
“Meanwhile, Moletsi Mbeki, brother of the South African President, has called on Pretoria to take on a robust approach in its efforts to broker a solution to Zimbabwe’s crisis.
“I think the South African government needs to show a lot more energy in dissuading Zimbabwe’s ruling party ZANU PF from brutalising the opposition party,” he said.”
I’ll bet that he will be told to wind his neck in…
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In a statement issued on Wednesday on the eve of celebration to mark Zimbabwe’s 27 years of independence, White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said Washington would continue backing opposition and civic groups pushing for democratic and economic reform in Zimbabwe.”
The problem here being that this will do little more than to fuel Mugabe’s anger and he will order more violence and repression of the opposition in particular and the Zimbabwean people in general.
I am not saying that US should not back the opposition, but perhaps it could be done at a lower profile - one that will not precipitate more oppression.
“Zimbabweans understand that a return to freedom and prosperity requires a new direction. We support their efforts to achieve a new and true independence, free from tyranny and poverty.”
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As an ex-prosecutor in Zimbabwe, I have often wondered how long it would be before the ZANU PF powers started to pick on the people that do their jobs…
In Zimbabwe, we have seen a woman arrested for calling Mugabe “Hitler” - even though he calls himself “Hitler tenfold” - and now a prosecutor is arrested for attempting to do his job!
“His lawyer, Chris Ndlovu, said the crimes said to have been committed when Chikafu was an area prosecutor for the eastern Manicaland province were not only unfounded, but “meant to embarrass and victimise my client.”
Sadly politics delves deep in Zimbabwe, and my tenure as prosecutor in Gwanda in the mid-1980’s was brought to an abrupt end by the activities of the Fifth Brigade.
20+ years later it is still a practise of the Mugabe government who will stop at nothing to hang on to power, and strip the country of the people that actually do their jobs - and do them well!
“First they removed him from Mutare, where he had become a household name for prosecuting corrupt senior government officials. Why would a prosecutor need military training? They want to fix him.”
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“Hundreds of members from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) gathered at the Beitbridge border post on Thursday to demonstrate in solidarity with the workers in Zimbabwe. COSATU acting spokesperson Patrick Craven said this was the continuation of a campaign which was launched on April 3rd and 4th this year, during the mass action stay-away organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). He said hundreds of Zimbabweans living in South Africa had also turned out for the event and he hoped it would encourage many more to take part.“
I love this idea! A protest/demonstration that is on the international border. Not the best advert for Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, but a brilliant idea.
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And so, as the election date begins to draw nearer, we see the political interference begin with voter rolls and constituency boundaries - all being rigged to favour the ruling party.
The state’s Herald newspaper reported that the government has almost completed the alteration of boundaries for Harare Metropolitan Province, in preparation for the joint elections due in 2008. The Minister of Local government Ignatius Chombo said the new boundaries would be gazetted soon and a similar exercise would be undertaken in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and other cities and rural areas. The changes seek to increase the size of the electoral constituencies in Harare and Bulawayo, to include rural areas nearby.”
These boundaries are to be reworked so as to give the ZANU PF party the maximum advantage, given that many of the people who lived in MDC strongholds have been moved out forcibly as a direct result of Operation Murambatsvina.
All of Mugabe’s plans are coming home to roost - or so he thinks…
“What government has done here goes contrary to what was agreed to in Dar-es-Salaam at the SADC summit. The idea was for President Mbeki to level the playing field before conducting elections. And if already one party is setting the agenda and altering the odds then this raises suspicion.
If we look at the March 31st 2005 parliamentary elections, ZANU PF won only one seat in Harare and that was Harare South which was a newly created constituency which predominantly consisted of rural areas, especially commercial farms that had been resettled.”
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“At least 83 activists were arrested in Bulawayo on Thursday when the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise and Men of Zimbabwe Arise held sit-ins in eight local offices of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. At the time of broadcast WOZA leaders Jennie Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were in a car chase with law and order police who wanted to arrest them.
Speaking on the phone Mahlangu said they were trying to deliver food to some of the activists who are detained at Harare Central Police Station when the police cornered them. She said: “They (police) said we should follow them into the Central. They are now chasing us because we drove away from them and we are on the run. As I speak now you can hear the car. They are behind us.”
As if it was from a scene from a movie, Williams could be heard screaming and shouting at someone in the background while Mahlangu hurriedly explained: “She is driving and I am talking to you although I am supposed to be the navigator! I am supposed to see what is happening behind that’s why I was trying not to talk to you but you insisted. So we might be arrested while talking to you.”
She added: “We don’t know where we are headed but we are getting the hell out of here. We are trying to lose these guys.”
And these are WOZA activists - not MDC activists or people intent on political reform. These are brave women who only want the government to recognise the needs and wants of Zimbabwean women and to give them the rights accorded women elsewhere in the world.
WOZA have consistently rallied and demonstrated for woman in Zimbabwe to be afforded the rights as family leaders.
How can this translate to car chases?
“The WOZA activists had successfully delivered their protest messages to officials at the ZESA offices asking for a better service delivery. They had held simultaneous sit-ins in ZESA offices in Pumula, Mpopoma, Entumbane, Old Lobengula, Magwegwe, Nkulumane, Nketa 6 and Luveve.”
Forgive the pun - but more power to them…
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Just how much of this story is true I don’t know. Is it wishful thinking, or ZANU PF duplicity?
Party sources this week said Mugabe, fearing a major revolt by the two factions in his ruling ZANU PF party, which are both opposed to his continued stay in power, offered to leave office early but not before he contests the presidential poll next year.
This could explain a forthcoming constitutional amendment (No 18) enabling parliament to act as an electoral college in the event of the death or incapacity of an incumbent. It would thereby spare ZANU PF a presidential poll and allow Mugabe to preside over the installation of a successor of his own choice. The projected increase in the number of MPs and senators is designed to facilitate this process, observers said this week.”
In the event that Mugabe wins an election next year - and let’s be honest, it is going to be a close run thing, will he in actual fact, voluntarily stand down? And is it constitutionally correct for him to nominate his own successor?
Surely, if he is to stand down, that new Presidential elections should be held. People vote for the man, not for the position. What is Mugabe wanted an absolute monster to take his place? Would the voting public not have any say as to whether their man is the preferred candidate?
“It basically enables Mugabe to anoint his successor. He actually wants to go, but only in a manner of his choosing.”
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And there follows a conversation during which you will wonder at the logic used by ZANU PF - but it will explain an awful lot and shows the absolute contempt in which ZANU PF holds the people of Zimbabwe.
“Mugari: The leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, and his party members were thoroughly beaten for trying to attend a prayer meeting under the “Save Zimbabwe Campaign.” Was that an act of provocation too?
Mutasa: Yes, what Zimbabwe were they trying to save? We are the ones who renamed this country Zimbabwe. We fought for (the liberation of) this country and I don’t believe we need anyone to save it from anything. It has already been saved.”
Now you can agree with this comment if inflation of 1700% plus in acceptable - if unemployment of 80% is acceptable - if politically motivated beatings of opposition activists and their leaders is acceptable…
Zimbabwe needs to be saved - from the people who currently rule it!
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I’m sorry - you will probably get sick of this, but “Without Honour” is now available as a “Print On Demand” item through Lulu. The book costs £16.99 plus postage.
The book is also available as a pdf download at £6. Click on the graphic above to visit the vendor’s page.
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Take care.
‘debvhu
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