Mugabemobile!

Peep this disgusting report from Institute For War and Peace Reporting. A similar car to the one pictured is the one Mugabe uses.

Nothing Has Changed In Zimbabwe

Police in Zimbabwe have resorted to violence to break a demonstration by Women Of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). They were demonstrating in support of the UN campaign to stop domestic violence. Annie Sibanda, a WOZA spokeswoman, told a reporter that when the women began to read a charter on social justice, they were attacked. Ms. Sibanda said some of the women, including six with babies, spent two nights in jail. Altogether, forty women were detained for over forty-eight hours and denied medical treatment. Two women with serious injuries did not receive medical treatment until Friday evening. In a written statement, the U.S. State Department says the U.S. "condemns the Zimbabwean government's brutal reaction to this peaceful effort of Zimbabwean citizens to exercise their rights." The U.S., says the State Department, "call[s] for the immediate release of those still detained, for access to legal assistance, and for access to medical treatment for those who were injured.

You can begin to see the trend here, in September 2006, the army and the police used violence agin to break up the ZCTU led demonstrations. Its becoming normal for the Zanu PF led government to use organised state crime to supress peaceful demonstrations by its citizens. Both WOZa and ZCTU demonstrations were peaceful, but Zanu PF which has bankrupted Zimbabwe where every basic food commodity is scarce fears of a revolution so they will use force and violence to brow-beat citizens into accepting the status qou in Zimbabwe. They continue to arrest and detain opposition leaders and their supporters. They closed down an independent newspaper, showing just how unwilling they are even to accept criticism.

Reports are also coming that the Zanu PF led government cannot pay the army. It raises the spectre of a military coup as the worsening hunger in Zimbabwe knows no ally, the army and the police just like ordinary Zimbabweans have faced the brunt of the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe. Inlation is a staggerring 1099% the highest in the world. This means that on average goods and services normally purchased by households for final use in Zimbabwe are 12 times as expensive in November as they were a year before. Amongst the highest increases were paramedical services at 17653,7%, medical services at 3400,4% and domestic power, electricity, gas and other fuels at 2857,7%. Murerwa it has been learned when the CSO issued the figure on inflation had been directing the Reserve Bank Governor Gono to print money to pay for Zimbabwean run parastatals and grain import thereby fuelling the inlation. Zimbabwe’s economy is in its eighth year of recession after Mugabe’s failed land-reform programme cut agricultural output and export income. The central bank devalued the Zimbabwean dollar 60% against the US dollar on July 31 in an attempt to boost exports and ease the currency shortage. The devaluation pushed up import costs, while the central bank has printed money to pay its debts, further stoking inflation.

Mugabe has again come to the protection of Mengistu the exiled former leader of Ethopia Mengistu was found guilty in absentia on Tuesday of genocide after a 12-year trial in the capital, Addis Ababa. "Mengistu applied for asylum and we granted him... the position remains the same," Zimbabwean Information Minister Paul Mangwana told Reuters news agency. Mengistu and dozens of his officials could face the death penalty. Under his rule, thousands of suspected opponents to the regime were rounded up and executed and their bodies tossed on the streets - a campaign known as the Red Terror. After being ousted in 1991, the former leader fled to Zimbabwe, where his friend President Robert Mugabe gave him sanctuary. Mr Mugabe has always refused requests to extradite Mengistu to Ethiopia. "We have no control over the judiciary process in other countries but we are also a sovereign state and as I am talking now that position we made has not changed," Mr Mangwana said. He said that if there was a change in Zimbabwe's position it would be announced. "As of now he remains our guest and we will continue to accommodate him," he said. All bar one of the other 72 officials also on trial were found guilty of genocide at the trial in Addis Ababa. Thirty-four people were in court, 14 others have died during the lengthy process and 25, including Mengistu, were tried in absentia. Sentencing is expected on 28 December. Mengistu himself refuses to recognise the legal basis of the trial, accusing those who overthrew him of being mercenaries and colonisers.

What irks Zimbabweans the most including myself is the fact that when Mengistu was accepted in Zimbabwe he was employed by the dreaded CIO as a consultant. Confidential reports coming out of Zimbabwe suggest that he taught the CIO on how to deal with a possible insurrections. Its common secret that he authored the dreaded Murambtsvina, after identfying the overcrowded slum dwellers of Zimbabwe as a danger. He recommended that the houses be destroyed and urban centres to be depopulated of MDC members and supporters that have been a bane of the Zanu PF led government afater delivering defeat after defeat at already rigged elections. Now as 2.4 million people that were affected by murambatsvina are homeless without any source of income him Mengistu continues to live lavishly being supported by the Zimbabwean tax payers oblivious to the economic meltdown that grips Zimbabwe.

Resist Extension

By Nelson Chamisa

Robert Mugabe's latest ploy to extend his term of office to 2010 must be rejected by all patriotic Zimbabweans who want a new Zimbabwe charecterised by freedom, prosperity and democracy.The Zanu PF mouthpieces have now confirmed the people's suspicions that Mugabe's term, which expires in 2008, will be extended to allow him to continue ruining the country until 2010. This is unadulterated constitutional fraud. Presidential terms are six-year terms; even under the current defective Constitution and Zimbabweans demand to know on whose mandate Zanu PF seeks to extend an illegitimacy that will mete out further punishment to the people.

The MDC reiterates its position that only a new people-driven Constitution, and not piecemeal amendments by Zanu PF, is the panacea to the crisis of legitimacy and governance facing this regime. Mugabe should not be allowed to abuse a controversial and technical majority in Parliament to buy himself a safe exit. Mugabe is an illegitimate President whose incumbency is being challenged in court. He now wants to use his Parliamentary technical majority, which is being challenged through several electoral petitions that are yet to be heard, to buy himself a further two years in office.

Zimbabwe cannot have an illegitimate President, using an illegitimate technical majority to seek further tenancy at State House. The regime simply wants to buy more time to handle its contentious and divisive succession drama that has turned out to be a real-life soap opera. The MDC believes that seeking a further extension of his term through Parliament is tantamount to Zanu PF turning an internal succession squabble into a national crisis. Zanu PF is unelectable,leaderless, divided and candidateless. In short, Zanu PF is a party in crisis.

The MDC leadership, supporters and the people of Zimbabwe shall not allow a unilateral declaration of a Zanu PF-imposed coup on the wishes of the majority.
The country is bigger than Zanu PF. Zimbabwe belongs to all its people who are the ultimate authority in the governance of the country. Zanu PF must be stopped now if Zimbabwe is to be saved from the jaws of this tyranny. All democratic forces must demand a new, people-driven Constitution to form the basis of the legitimacy of those occupying the highest office in the land.

Zanu PF's latest antics only serve to confirm that Zimbabwe has become an absolute monarch ruled by power-hungry geriatrics bent on clinging to power at any cost. Zanu PF must not be allowed to sacrifice Zimbabwe on the altar of political expediency. Mugabe has confirmed that he is afraid of a free and fair electoral process and will take the slightest excuse to seek asylum in a controversial technical majority to run away from an imminent and inevitable people's verdict.

In their 70's and 80s, Zanu PF's leaders are overdue candidates for the fireside chair, telling folk stories to bemused children wondering how these people have lived for so long when they are presiding over a serious national crisis which has seen life expectancy tumbling down to a mere 34 years.

The MDC believes that all political parties, the churches, labour unions, students, civic groups and the generality of Zimbabweans must urgently demand that Zimbabwe adopts a people-driven Constitution that should lead to free and fair elections under international supervision.

We believe that Mugabe's time is nigh. We believe that all patriotic Zimbabweans must heed the clarion call to save our country. Zimbabweans are now tired of the outrageous antics of this regime.

We believe that is why the millions of Zimbabweans across the country and those in the Diaspora have resolved to engage in a mass-driven political process of democratic resistance of resistance to express the nation's aspirations for a New Zimbabwe.

Change demands action. Our country deserves better. A New Zimbabwe is inevitable.

Nelson Chamisa, MP

Secretary for Information and Publicity

Urgent Appeal - Threat To Jenni Williams

The 36 WOZA members arrested yesterday remain in police custody.
It has emerged that there have been threats to separate Jenni Williams
from the rest of the group in order to severely beat her or worse.
WOZA's lawyer has also been threatened with arrest, for "interfering with
the course of justice" whilst trying to attend to her clients.

You are requested to call Bulawayo Central Police Station and let them
know that the world is watching and will not tolerate further assaults
on WOZA members. Their numbers are +263 9 72515, 61706, 63061, 69860.

WOZA Jenni+Williams Zimbabwe Zimbabwean Women

Army Must Immediately Pullout Of Rural Matebleland - MDC UK & Ireland

Once again the government of Robert Mugabe has deployed its army into rural Matabeleland .

In scenes reminiscent of the start of the Gukurahundi campaign against the people of Matabeleland, members of the military (and propped by their handlers such as Sydney Sekeramayi), are in Matabeleland at the excuse of sovereignty. It is disturbing that one of the same ministers who were in charge of the “security” portfolio during the genocide in Matabeleland and the Midlands is seeing it very normal that the army is present in the same Tsholotsho area where the bloodiest campaign of the Gukurahundi era was held. The Army is accused of firing at night to intimidate villagers. It must be recorded that the memories of that barbaric campaign is still fresh in the minds of Ndebele people although the entire world has decided to sweep it under the carpet. Some of the people now left at the mercy of the army are victims of the previous campaign whose call for at least an apology have been ridiculed by the legitimating of the Genocide by one of ZANU PF’s senior leaders and spokesperson, Nathan Shamuyarira. Statements by Shamuyarira were followed by total silence from other senior figures from Mashonaland such as Robert Mugabe, Joice Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa etc making it clear that when Nathan Shamuyarira spoke he was indeed echoing their concerns.

When the Gukurahundi campaign started, it was under the disguise of helping commercial farmers and protecting the sovereignty of the country. The current campaign is under the guise of “Operation Maguta”, an operation no person in Matabeleland invited from the government. Senior political figures from Matabeleland such as Paul Themba Nyathi have been arrested under trumped-up charges. The crime of Paul Themba Nyathi, a war veteran and veteran human rights activist (one of the three founders of ZimRights), has been to tell members of the Zimbabwe National Army that they should refrain from beating their fathers and brothers and from raping their mothers and sisters, both legitimate words from a person who gave a lot for the freedom of his country. In the past people from the largely marginalised provinces of Matabeleland have complained peacefully by voting the Opposition. Their genuine concerns have been that they do not have water to survive, they have complained against the marginalisation of their languages as the government has deliberately destroyed languages such as Ndebele, Kalanga and Tonga by making sure they are not introduced in school curricula in Matabeleland and in the Ndebele speaking parts of the Midlands (the majority). People in Matabeleland have seen their culture eroded and another culture replacing it, they have been humiliated by being shown that they are indeed second-class citizens in their own country.
What is happening in Matabeleland now is a symptom of what has become of Zimbabwe . On 13 September this year (2006) labour leaders were rounded up, viciously beaten, taken to police custody and tormented for more than 48 hours. They had their clothes taken off and were made to appear inhuman by all standards. This was the reaction of the government to their organising of peaceful protests against rising costs of living and unfair wages, again both legitimate concerns of a labour leadership in a country that we all suffered much to free. On the occasion again their torment was ridiculed as self-inflicted harm by Didymus Mutasa, the Minister for State Security. Yesterday the same minister gave a statement that such or even worse action will be taken against future protesters.

The MDC UK and Ireland wishes to deplore in the loudest of terms this kind of attitude. As Zimbabweans we will no longer stand aside as our Ndebele and Kalanga brothers and sisters are butchered and genocides are committed under our noses. We resolve to join in the fight against repression in Matabeleland and walk the walk if need be. The era when people in Mashonaland, Masvingo and Manicaland regarded what happens in Matabeleland as an Ndebele thing is over, as Zimbabweans we are back to the spirit of the First and Second Chimurenga when the principle was common nationhood. In the same light we would like to warn the government and its thugs that our leaders are untouchable. Our mothers and sisters are untouchable. Our fathers and brothers are untouchable. We will not allow their continued humiliation and persecution. In urging the Government of Zimbabwe to pull their notorious army away from the peace-loving people of rural Matabeleland we want to remind them that Zimbabweans are capable of far worse things than they (the government) would have imagined. We are capable of exploring unseen heights to free ourselves. Yet we remain committed to our responsibilities as a people to give peace a chance, to let the souls of our fallen heroes rest in peace!

Our silence must never be seen as cowardice but just being responsible. Zimbabweans are not cowards, we are the same people who in 1684, led by Tombolaikona Tjimwango (Changamire Dombo) drove Portuguese imperialists away from our country, we are the same people who, led by Mzilikazi, challenged and fought against oppression from Shaka, we are the same people who led by Lobengula, fought against the British in the Anglo-Ndebele War, and led by Mbuya Nehanda and Mkwati fought in the First Chimurenga. We were led by Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, Josiah Tongogara, Hebert Chitepo and others to fight for our independence. Recently Zimbabwean soldiers took part in campaigns in Mozambique , Somalia and the DRC. We are the same people, we have the same blood. Robert Mugabe and his cronies do not hire people from other countries to be our soldiers, police and CIO. We are more than capable of doing far worse things than Didymus Mutasa could have imagined in his sleep. If he thinks we are lying “Ngaambozviedza awone chete!”

JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA, SECRETARY: FOR MDC UK AND IRELAND

Zimbabwean+Army Gukurahundi Ndebele MDC+UK+&+Ireland Matebeleland