Thu 26 Apr 2007
Cross-Posting: The Bearded Man - Wedenesday, 25th - Thursday, 26th April 2007
Posted by admin under Current CrisisHowzit
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
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.
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?
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
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-
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-
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-
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
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