Messages From Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Betrayed.
By Sandy Botha.

All the world leaders stood with pride,
On that day when Rhodesia died.
They congratulated themselves on a job well done,
As Zimbabwe was born with the rising sun.
And the drums beat so very loud,
As Mugabe addressed the eager crowd.
He said “we’ve won our freedom today”,
He said “I’m president and I’m here to stay”,
And he made wild promises about the way,
That Zimbabwe would change on it’s first day.
Towns were renamed and streets were too,
Every time an African leader passed through.
And the cheering of the crowd as they danced in delight,
As Mugabe lit the heroes acre light.
Mercedes were ordered they couldn’t have enough,
They knew they deserved them the fight had been tough,
The West would pay for them so they didn’t need to worry,
The aid was pouring in they had to spend it in a hurry.
Mugabe was important now, he’d even met the Queen,
And of the whole world there was little left unseen.
But still Mugabe felt ill at ease,
What if someone else his power did seize.
The Matabele leaders had to go first,
It was for their blood that Mugabe did thirst.
And the whites that remained were a thorn in his side,
What to do about them he needed to decide.
But what had actually changed in the ordinary mans lives?
As a future for their children they did strive.
Inflation had spiralled out of control,
And on these people it took its toll.

And when there was a rumbling of discontent,
It was always the army that in he sent,
He silenced the people who didn’t agree,
That he’d done a good job since Zimbabwe was free.
He had to find someone else to blame,
So he started his land seizure game,
So he’s kicked the white farmers off the land,
So many farms now idle they stand.
Farm workers jobs have all gone now,
And they wonder how they’ll make a living somehow.
And now as children starve and die,
The people of Zimbabwe hang their heads and cry.
Elections were held but what a farce,
The results were in before the first vote was cast.
And as food aid continues to pour in,
Mugabe commits the ultimate sin.
For as people get to the front of the queue,
They have to prove that to Mugabe they’re true.
For if they don’t have a ZANU PF card.
Then its empty handed that they leave the yard.
And the leaders of the world stand by and sigh,
As they see the people of Zimbabwe die.
Why can’t they admit that they made a mistake,
Why can’t they do something for Zimbabwe ‘s sake.
And I wonder what stories the old people tell,
Of the time before they were living in hell.
Of a time when work was plentiful,
And the children were happy and their bellies were full.
Of days before they lived under a dictator so cruel,
In the days before they fought for Majority Rule…

Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Howzit

I am very sorry to drop this all on you… With immediate effect, posting to this site will be put on hold as I have other priorities right now. My studies are swiftly approaching the taking of numerous examinations and I need to put my head down and do the graft.

I am not withdrawing completely, but am suspending operations on this page for the time being as I need to use the time elsewhere.

Hopefully you all will understand and appreciate the decision I have made.

Take care.

‘debvhu

The documentary, “Robert Mugabe… what happened?” directed by Simon Bright and produced by Michael Auret, had its World Premiere as the Opening Night film of the Encounters South Africa International Documentary Festival in Cape Town and went on to be the most watched film at the 2011 event, with additional screenings being added to accommodate the demand.

Billed as the definitive account of Mugabe’s life, it dramatically illustrates his successful liberation and development of the country but also his ruthless and cunning retention of power at all costs.

The film moves onto the Durban International Film Festival on the 23rd July then onto the Tri-Continental Film Festival in Johannesburg in September, with a limited theatrical run in South Africa, a UK premier and various international film festivals screenings scheduled for coming months.

Experts on Zimbabwe interviewed in the documentary include Trevor Ncube, Geoff Nyarota, Lovemore Maduku, Simba Makoni and the recently deceased Edgar Tekere in what was sadly his last ever interview.

Comments from audience members after premier at Encounters

“An amazing film, quite hard hitting… the title of the film is quite apt, what exactly happened to this revolutionary? Its very difficult for many  people who grew up in the apartheid era to reconcile the man that Mugabe is today with the hero that supported the liberation movements in South Africa and other countries. It’s a powerful film, and it’s quite sad as well to see what he’s doing to his people… It’s a film that more people need to see… maybe it’ll help South Africans understand why the Zimbabweans are in our country, like we were in their country when we needed help”

– Thabo Bopape, C-TV

“The filmmakers took the question that is on everybody’s mind around the world and made an entire film about it, which is something that I think a lot of people haven’t had the courage to do because to film in Zimbabwe is something where you’re risking your life just to go in there as a journalist. Throughout the film I was wondering how they got all those interviews without risking their lives although they probably did. I thought it was a really great look at the personal life of Mugabe, because you read articles about the destruction of Zimbabwe and it just doesn’t make any sense, so it was really interesting to get that inside look. I left the film with a lot more questions than I went in with, and that’s a good thing. I thought it was funny at times, really interesting, and a lot of great music”

– Laura Gamse, director.

President Mugabe says the ZANU PF 12th National People’s Conference slated for Bulawayo in December is the party’s last crucial meeting before national elections.

Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Harare International Airport yesterday from a visit to the Far East, the President said the conference was just as good as the party’s national congress.

“Yes, we are organising for the conference. It is a very important conference as we organise towards national elections. After that conference we will not have another conference before elections so it is an important conference -just as good as a congress.”

At congress, the party either elects new members of the Presidium and Politburo or endorses the current leadership.

Last year ZANU PF endorsed President Mugabe as the party’s candidate for national elections that were supposed to be held this year.

At the Bulawayo conference, sources said, ZANU PF is highly likely to endorse President Mugabe’s candidature for next year’s national elections.

President Mugabe, who is also the Head of State and Government and Commander in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said he also had an opportunity to see her daughter Bona who is studying in Hong Kong during his visit to the Far East.

Asked about how he felt during the two days that he has been away President Mugabe who was I jovial mood said:

“I go away for two days, resting seeing my daughter two days and you think I have been nostalgic about having left home. East, West, home, home, home is best.”

The ZANU PF conference which is expected to be attended by 6 000 delegates is going to be held from December 6 to 10.

ZANU PF secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday said preparations for Bulawayo watershed conference were on course.

The party had come up with a conference co-ordinating committee to deal with conference preparations.

“Preparations for the conference are now at an advanced stage and we are meeting every month to discuss issues to do with the conference.

“We met last Thursday as the conference co-ordinating committee chaired by the national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo,” he said.

Cde Gumbo said the party’s information sub-committee would agree on the theme of the conference in two weeks time.

The theme, he said, would be forwarded to the conference co-ordinating committee that would in turn submit it to the Politburo for consideration or approval.

“We also discussed on logistical issues like accommodation, transport, entertainment and health.”

Cde Gumbo said they were all out to make the conference a resounding success and said liberation movements from the region were expected to attend.

Early this month, ZANU PF trained its members drawn from all the country’s provinces on protocol as part of the conference preparations. Last year the party ZANU PF successfully held its 11th National People’s Congress in Mutare.

The conference resolved to forge ahead with the indigenisation programme meant to correct historical injustices caused by colonialism.

Government has since gazetted regulations on empowerment and companies have been submitting plans on how they intend to comply with the regulations that requires that 51 percent shareholding in companies with a minimum capitalisation of US$500000 be controlled by locals.

(Source)

President Mugabe is today expected to address the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly which opened at the UN Headquarters here yesterday. He attended the opening ceremony alongside other world leaders most of whom upheld the lobby for reforming the UN Security.

Zimbabwe is expected to advocate the democratisation of the 15-member organ and the expansion of the General Assembly’s scope. It is also supporting Palestine’s quest for full UN membership.

Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said the country was pushing for all regions of the world to be represented among the permanent members of the Security Council.

Africa, he said, was still eyeing two permanent seats.

“There is the reform of the United Nations, in general, and the Security Council, in particular. This is an on-going debate. We think pressure needs to be exerted to democratise the Security Council. At the moment, it only has 15 countries; so it should be expanded,” he said.

“The total membership of the UN is now 194 (including Palestine). We think a bigger council will, therefore, be more representative. Africa also believes the veto should be done away with. If it remains in place, then the permanent seats have to be reconsidered.

The General Assembly is big and, therefore, should be accorded more powers and responsibilities. We believe the proposed reforms must enable it to override some of the decisions of the Security Council. We can’t have 15 countries or, one country, making decisions for 194 nations.”

Addressing the General Assembly yesterday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff who became the first woman in UN history to open the general debate – said the proposed reforms were stalling.

She called for the inclusion of new permanent Security Council members and also expressed her country’s support for Palestinian membership.

“The proposed reform of the Security Council is now in its 18th year. It is no longer principled to postpone it. The world needs new permanent members, especially developing countries,” she said.

“Brazil is ready to co-operate with the youngest member of the UN. Like most countries, we believe the time has come for us to have Palestine represented as a full member.”

Equatorial Guinea President and African Union chair Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo also proposed the democratisation of all UN organs. He said Africa favoured peaceful conflict-resolution, adding that the continent had become susceptible to neo-colonialism.

“Africa is in favour of the peaceful resolution of conflict through dialogue and mediation. The use of force has never provided a solution to conflict,” he said.

“. . . Unfortunately, we can see that the UN is being used in a fraudulent manner. The use of force in conflict does not unify but brings division and destruction.”

Speaking before the general debate, UN secretary general Mr Ban Ki-moon said there was need to promote sustainable development. He also implored leaders to explore ways of addressing climate change and global health concerns, among other critical matters.

“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth these are one and the same fight.

“We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.

“We must make progress on climate change. We cannot burn our way to the future. We cannot pretend the danger does not exist – or dismiss it because it affects someone else.

Today, I call on you to reach a binding climate change agreement an agreement with more ambitious national and global emission targets. And we need action on the ground, now on cutting emissions and on adaptation.”

The UN General Assembly is expected to discuss several key issues including climate change, poverty eradication and proposals to reform the deliberative body. So far, Palestine’s bid to become the 194th member of the UN has remained highly contentious. Its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to make a formal request for statehood recognition.

However, US President Mr Barack Obama and his French counterpart, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, are reportedly planning to compel him to drop moves in this direction. The US has since said it will invoke its veto power if the matter were tabled before the Security Council. Progressive nations are, nonetheless, supporting Palestine.

Addressing the General Assembly yesterday, Mr Obama said: “Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians not us – who must reach an agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem.

I believed then and I believe now that the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own. But what I also said is that genuine peace can only be realised between Israelis and Palestinians themselves.”

(Source)

President Robert Mugabe is said to be seriously considering sacking Central bank chief Gideon Gono following a series of leaked documents from the US embassies by the whistle blower website WikiLeaks, The Zimbabwe Mail can reveals.

Zimbabwean strongman president Mugabe is said to have been given until 2013 to live, according to his family friend and close confidante Gideon Gono, the Central Bank Governor, who revealed the news in a meeting with the US ambassador in 2008.

The Zimbabwean government and Mugabe’s office was not immediately available for comment.

Mr Mugabe’s battle with the disease was revealed to James McGee, the former US Ambassador to Harare, by Gideon Gono, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, during a private meeting in June 2008.

Mr Gono is one of 87-year-old Mr Mugabe’s closest friends but was last year accused of having an affair with the president’s wife, Grace, who is 41 years his junior – something both parties denied.

This morning a number of Cabinet Ministers and Zanu PF officials mentioned in the leaked diplomatic cables have been summoned to President Mugabe’s office to explain the allegations and an emergency security taskforce has been set up to investigate the latest leaked cable documents.

We have also been told that Gono has been suspended from JOC with immediate effect for allegedly leaking highly classified information only availed to elite members in JOC, the Joint Operations Command and there is a likelihood of him arrested.

There is now fear within security agencies that the Central Bank Governor might flee the country or take refuge in one of the Western embassies as the net close-in on him.

JOC is the powerful secretive Joint Operations Command (JOC) centre which is manned by high ranking Zanu PF government officials and members of all security agencies and key State departments. Its role is now heavily enmeshed in the succession process in President Mugabe’s Zanu PF.

It is believed President Mugabe has informed his loyalists in JOC about his health problems and he has surrendered some of his daily State duties to the body which is chaired by the Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, the leading contender in the party’s succession battle.

There are mounting fears that were if Mugabe were to die in office; it could spark a violent power struggle between rival factions in the security forces and the party to take over power.

One of the two men seen as key in the struggle, Solomon Mujuru, a former army chief and husband of the current Vice President Joyce, was killed at a mysterious fire at his farm last month.

Last Sunday, Mr Gono and his family also escaped a fire at their farm in Harare, although police insist the two fires are not linked.

Speaking this weekend, Mr Mugabe said he wanted elections to be held in early 2012 and accused Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change, which shares power with Zanu PF in a shaky coalition, of “dilly-dallying” because they fear a defeat.

Gono also claimed credit for the dismissal from Zanu PF and government of former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and also told US embassy officials he would be happy to see Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa “wounded”, according to leaked US diplomatic cables.

Gono met former US ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell in December 2004 claiming to be a “messenger” from President Robert Mugabe who, the RBZ chief said, was keen to see an improvement in relations between the two countries.

During the 90-minute meeting, Gono is said to have claimed that Mugabe would soon dismiss Moyo and Chinamasa over their involvement in the Tsholotsho saga, adding the Zanu PF leader was also unhappy with Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and his then Foreign Affairs colleague, Stan Mudenge.

Gono predicted Moyo would be fired from his party and government positions, adding many in Zanu PF welcomed his demise.

“Gono predicted Mugabe would not include Moyo in the new (Zanu PF) politburo (adding that) without a politburo seat, Moyo could not plausibly continue as the government’s official spokesman. Gono confirmed that many in Zanu PF were fed up with Jonathan and his approach and supported his ouster,” Dell said.

Said Dell: “Gono also postulated that Chinamasa’s influence was waning and that Mugabe might exclude the Justice Minister from the new politburo, in part a result of Gono’s own efforts to undermine him (Chinamasa).

“The RBZ governor explained he had ‘no sympathy’ for Chinamasa after he turned down the UN Development Programme’s election assistance offer. Gono (said) that it was sometimes a good thing to see people like Chinamasa get ‘wounded’.

Also facing investigations and disciplinary action is the feisty Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Saviour Kasukuwere, amid reports that when he turned up for work this morning, he found the keys to his office changed.

Kasukuwere appeared to question the suitability of Mugabe during separate meetings with senior US government officials.

Kasukuwere allegedly met former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Tom McDonald in November 2000 and called for leadership renewal in Zanu-PF.

He said the leadership change was supposed to start to pave way for younger replacements, the cable reads.

“Kasukuwere, a youngish businessman with strong party ties, said that the land issue had been blown out of proportion and that farmland should not be taken away from white farmers by force. He also plainly stated that President Mugabe and his cronies must be phased out of their leadership role and some in his party had proposed that the two vice-presidents should step down as a first step,” WikiLeaks said.

This morning we have also been told by sources that Kasukuwere was battling to save his political career and when our reporter called him to seek explanation he threatened him and his family.

The Zimbabwe Mail is also in pursuit of information from impeccable sources in the military saying two military Generals Brigadier General Herbert Chingono, the Inspector General for the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), and Major General Fidelis Satuku, the ZDF Director General for Policy and Personnel, have been arrested at the Army Headquarters by members of the Military Police for the damning remarks they made during private meetings with Ambassador Charles Ray between January 5 and 6, 2010.

The pair allegedly said Chiwenga – a political commissar before Independence in 1980 — lacked military expertise and experience.

The defence forces chief was said to have only attended one mid-level training course, which he did not even complete.

“General Constantine Chiwenga is a political general who works hard, but who has very little practical military experience or expertise,” the cable reads.

“Given a choice between a military and a political issue, Chiwenga will always choose the political because he doesn’t know enough about the military to be comfortable discussing it.”

Chingono and Satuku also stressed Chiwenga’s political ambitions with Chingono noting: “He (Chiwenga) will be very disappointed if he does not get a political position when his tenure as defence chief ends.”

In social networks, the latest wikiLeaks revelations have gripped the nation and generated so much interest amongst Zimbabweans who have flocked to join the banter as to which party is more damaged, between the two rival camps; Zanu PF and the MDC-T. The consensus is that both are in serious danger of being engulfed into bitter feuding.

(Source)

Prostitutes here have accused the police of abuse, while Zimbabwe Lawyers of Human Rights (ZLHR) has condemned the law enforcement agencies for taking advantage of the women.

“The police beat us, pour water on us and deny us food for as long as five days,” a sex worker admitted. “We are in this not by choice but because of circumstances, and when the police see us on the streets they beat us up and take us to jail. Failure to pay fines often results in further harassment or even rape.”

A ZLHR representative said the police had no right to abuse their position. “The police have no right under the constitution or any law to take advantage of women and sexually abuse them because there are loitering or suspected to be loitering for the purpose of prostitution,” said ZLHR in a statement.

Police Assistant Commissioner, Wayne Bvudzijena, said that he would investigate the claims, but ZLHR said the perpetrators were unlikely to be charged.

“It is unfortunate to note that many women who have been raped and abused have not been able to access justice owing to an uncooperative police force that seeks to protect its own,” said ZLHR.

(Source)

Vigil supporter Josephine Chari of Southend has been detained by the UK Border Agency and told she has been booked on Kenyan Airways KQ101 to Nairobi leaving Heathrow at 20.00 on Thursday 21st July.

Her case is being addressed by the Zimbabwe Association and others. For our part, the Vigil believes that Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers should not be removed until the situation in Zimbabwe is safe for opponents of Mugabe and when they can make a living. As it is, there are constant reports of violence and human rights abuses from Zimbabwe.

Josephine has been a regular Vigil supporter. She is being deported when there is no guarantee of her safety, particularly as she is a person who has been visible as a Vigil activist. For the Vigil’s approach to this, here is part of our basic submission to the Home Office/UKBA:

In July 2010 an activist representing the Vigil and our partner organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe returned home on a visit. He was identified as a Vigil supporter and arrested, beaten up and tortured. He would still be there if it hadn’t been for our efforts to get him legal help and escape from Zimbabwe.

The Vigil does not know how any other individual would be treated if returned to Zimbabwe. But this incident shows that activism in the UK and attendance at the Vigil increases the risk of being known by the forces within Zimbabwe that still perpetrate violence against Mugabe opponents. We are a high-profile protest that has been under constant surveillance by intelligence operatives of the regime.

Our supporters are those who care enough about the human rights abuses in their country to attend our protests. Many of them make a considerable effort in terms of cost and long hours travelling to come because they see the right of freedom to protest, which is denied to those back home, as important in the campaign against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Our supporters are easy to identify because we are an on-the-street protest constantly photographed by the passing public (including unidentified people who do not join the protest and who our supporters confirm as Zimbabwean). Photos taken by ourselves appear on many photo and video websites which can be accessed by the Zimbabwe Central Intelligence Organisation.

This was demonstrated when one of our reports accompanied by a photo of one of our supporters appeared in the newspaper the Zimbabwean which is circulated in Zimbabwe as well as South Africa and the UK. Within days his family home in Zimbabwe was raided by the police who spoke angrily about Zimbabweans in the UK.

More recently, the funeral of the mother of a member of the Vigil management team was disrupted by Mugabe’s ZANU PF members because of his involvement with the Vigil – check: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/312-voice-of-british-caribbeans-ashamed-of-mugabe-zimbabwe-vigil-diary-4th-june-2011.

The UK government indicated last year that it was ending its moratorium on sending home failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers despite continuing evidence of political violence and the targeting of anti-Mugabe activists. The Vigil would be interested in hearing of anyone being sent back. As mentioned in our last diary another supporter has been given a date by which to leave.

You may want to phone Kenyan airways (0871 258 2179) to persuade them to refuse to take Josephine on the flight.

(Source)

Comment: I am not entirely convinced that publishing a photograph of the woman in question will assist her or her family upon return to Zimbabwe. Given that the article cites an example where someone’s picture was published in The Zimbabwean and the person’s family home was raided… TBM