SADC Weasel Out Of The Zimbabwe Issue

Southern African Development Community is a regional body consisting of 12 Southern Africa countries formed in 1980, its ultimate goal is monetary and customs union, regional security and economic development. It saved its purpose during apartheid when the South Africa's closest neighbours vowed to reduce member states's dependence on apartheid South Africa to increase its isolation and force over changes. Over the years it has become an ineffectual body, a club of ageing African dictators who hold their own countries at ransom over dubious liberation war credentials. At a time when they were needed not to shirk on their responsibilities they ducked out of the very essential issue Zimbabwe's deteriorating state of affairs which is dragging the whole region down.

They met for an extra ordinary summit to discuss worsening political and economic situations in Zimbabwe and renewed violence in Congo. They have again failed the people of Zimbabwe by getting behind the despotic dictator who has single handedly destroyed Zimbabwe. They swallowed hole the lies and conspiracy theories that Mugabe cooked up for them. They were told that Zimbabwe's economic decline was due to sanctions, the same bared faced lie that Mugabe churns through his propaganda machinery to fellow Zimbabweans at home.

There are no sanctions against Zimbabwe, as a matter of fact right now Zimbabwe has a positive trade relationship with the United States and United Kingdom alike. Zimbabwe's trade with United States is worth $74 million a year in orders versus approximately $50 million a year. These numbers are small and will continue to shrink as the overall decline of Zimbabwe’s economy continues under the poor management of the Government.More and more companies are shutting down for lack of materials, lack of foreign exchange therefore the trade balance will be diminishing because the Zimbabwean economy is disappearing. Many Zimbabwean companies do business with the United States, leading exports include automobile windows, doors, sporting equipment, trade goes on in a variety of areas and there are more than 40 or 50 American companies represented, usually by local representatives right here in Harare that import goods from the United States. United States provides US$50 million in food assistance to Zimbabwe and another US$26 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The UK is one of the largest suppliers of goods and services to Zimbabwe and remains one of the largest investors. However UK exports and new investments show a downward trend owing to the current unstable economic and political situation. Trade has declined from UK exports of £78 million in 1998 to £34 million in 2002, while exports from Zimbabwe have declined from £123 million in 1998 to £86 million in 2002. Despite the political and economic differences, UK companies continue to show limited interest in this market. Trade Partners UK is ready to assist such companies. The UK remains Zimbabwe’s most favourable trading partner, with a significant deficit in Zimbabwe’s favour.

So for the SADC to come and ask for sanctions to be lifted on Zimbabwe is absurd given that there are no sanctions against Zimbabwe. The only sanctions that are imposed on Zimbabwe are personal sanctions which prevent Mugabe and his inner circle of flying to US and Europe to spend looted foreign currency while the UN has come out today saying more people face starvation this year in Zimbabwe. This was a chance for SADC to be firm on Mugabe and urge to restore the rule of law and stop victimising members of MDC and its supporters.

ZIMBABWE: Where a dollar won't buy you a banana

HARARE, 29 March 2007 (IRIN) - Poverty levels around the world are usually measured against the value of one United States (US) dollar a day, but calculating that value in Zimbabwe can be a nightmare; one US dollar is officially pegged at Zim$250, but in the parallel market it will buy Zim$25,000.

If you convert money at the official rate, then Zim$250 can only buy a sweet, which cannot sustain life anywhere; in Zimbabwe it is not even enough to buy a banana, which costs Zim$600 (US$0.02 at the parallel market exchange rate), nor is it enough for a one-way ticket to town by minibus-taxi, which can set you back by Zim$5,000 (US$0.20).

Economic Meltdown

Background to the Economic Crisis in Zimbabwe: By Eddie Cross

1. At Independence in 1980 we took over an economy battered by 15 years of armed conflict, mandatory UN sanctions and political isolation. Debt was small – about US$700 million or 17 per cent of GDP. The Zimbabwe dollar bought you two US dollars.

2. In the first two years of Independence the economy grew 24 per cent, this was followed by 15 years of steady growth – about 5 per cent per annum. Inflation was held at about 9 to 12 per cent per annum. The budget deficit was large at 8 to 9 per cent of GDP and by the year 1995 the national debt had reached US$5 billion or 60 per cent of GDP.

3. In 1997 the economy peaked at US$8,5 billion, exports at US$3,4 billion and employment at 1,4 million. At that stage we were: -

a. The largest exporter of tobacco in the world after the USA.

b. The sixth largest producer of gold.

c. The biggest market for South Africa in Africa.

d. The second largest economy in the region and with the third highest GDP per capita.

e. Life expectancy was about 60 years and we had a literacy rate of 85 per cent with 95 per cent of all children of school going age in school.

f. Inflation was 12 per cent.

g. The exchange rate was 12 to 1 against the US dollar.

4. In 1997 the State made several serious errors of judgment: -

a. They paid the war veterans nearly 300 million US dollars in war service gratuities without budgetary approval.

b. They sent 11 000 troops to the Congo where they spent 4 years and used nearly US$2 billion in scarce resources fighting a war to keep Kabila in power.

c. They pushed the budget deficit over 10 per cent of GDP and lost the support of the multilaterals.

5. In 2000 they began the farm invasions and in the process reduced commercial farm output by 80 per cent – with still no sign of recovery. These plus deficiencies in the electoral process led to a further loss of international standing and increased isolation. There was a near total collapse of confidence.

Today.

Zimbabwe today has an economy that has shrunk by half to just over US$4 billion, exports by two thirds to US$1,4 billion. Employment has declined by 45 per cent and industry by 60 per cent. Agricultural output this year will be 70 per cent down on the level achieved in 1997. Mining output is down and falling rapidly. Tourist arrivals have fallen from over 1,2 million in 1997 to less than 300 000 this year.

Life expectancy has halved, income per capita has also declined substantially. National population has fallen from an anticipated 16 or 17 million to just over 10 million today with 4 million Zimbabweans outside the country and some 2 to 3 million incremental deaths over and above normal mortality. 60 per cent of all children are not in school and all State controlled institutions are in dire straights.

For a country not at war or under sanctions, these are the most precipitous declines in economic and social welfare ever witnessed. They represent a calamitous state of affairs with no sign of any resumption of either stability or recovery. In fact the decline has accelerated in recent months very dramatically.

The US dollar is now trading at 20 million old Zimbabwe dollars to one in the open market compared to 1 to 2 in 1980 and 12 to 1 in 1997. Nothing tells you more about the collapse in the economy than that single statistic.

Why has this happened?

1. The Zimbabwe government has abandoned any pretext of fiscal and monetary discipline as the budget deficit is now at an astonishing 50 per cent of GDP. Sustainable deficits are thought to be about 3 per cent.

2. The government has abandoned the rule of law and has thrown caution to the winds in its delinquent behavior.

3. There has been a total collapse of confidence in the government and in the economy. Capital flight has reached unprecedented proportions of nearly 10 per cent of GDP per annum.

4. All sectors of the economy are in steep decline with no turn around in sight.

5. All the key State institutions are basically bankrupt and unable to undertake their roles as service providers.

6. Corruption has reached monumental proportions with the State and its agents consuming anything up to a third of total GDP on corrupt activities and expenditure including massive transfers of funds to external accounts.

7. A total loss of credibility as a State and a Government. We have become a regional embarrassment and an international pariah.

The final consequence of this series of events is that inflation is now over 3000 per cent per annum and the risk of Zimbabwe becoming another failed African State is increasing daily.

Eddie Cross

Harvest House Ransacked

When the murderous police of Zimbabwe descended on MDC Headquarters, Harvest House, they ransacked the building, breaking furniture, fixtures, destroying documents, they broke toilet seats and cisterns, they broke doors and several windows left offices of MDC officials strewn with papers, ripped telephone lines and took away computers. According to MDC's deputy secretary for Legal Affairs Jessie Majome the debris resembled a scene of bomb attack. Harvest House is a six-storey building in which the MDC occupies the two upper floors with the rest occupied by an assortment of tenants.
The police ordered everyone in the building, including tenants and their clients, to get into the police vehicles. While they were destroying the physical headquarters of MDC they also arrested more than a 100 people including MDC workers and activists who were all taken to Harare Central Police, Law & Order section were their passports were consficated they were beaten, tortured, denied access to lawyers, food and medical attention, they have since been admitted to hospital with serious injuries. The tortured activists are being charged with attempted murder linked to to the recent spate of petrol bomb attacks that the agents of government planted in order to dirty MDC's name. President Tsvangirai's aide Ian Makone is being charged with illegal possession of a firearm. Lawyers representing the accused are being denied access to their clients, when a crisis team went to see the activists arrested they were threatened with beatings by the state agents.

Its not clear why the illegal government of Robert Mugabe has gone into overdrive in its quest to suppress the people of Zimbabwe. One clear explanation is to hoodwink the regional leaders so tasked by the whole international community to exert pressure on Robert Mugabe by blaming the recent spate of bomb attacks on MDC its a gimmick by the illegal government of Robert Mugabe to transfuse the people at large into thinking that MDC is behind the recent spate of petrol bombs so at to justify his brutal crushing of MDC which is happening with impunity.

The Measure of Mugabe’s Men

But what exactly is this man called Mugabe? How do we recognize the brutal, directionless, evil, destructive, sick, insane, and murderous puppets of Robert Mugabe?

I know these are not new questions within the Zimbabwean community. This was also the same problem Zimbabweans faced during the Smith regime. Like Smith like Mugabe. When the true fallen leaders like Tongogara, Masuku, Ndabaningi Sithole, and Joshua Nkomo, just to name a few, teamed up with the evil Mugabe, they all saw diabolicalness within the man. Nonetheless, the great leaders recommended Robert Mugabe to lead our nation. Instead the madman holds the populace hostage. The Apostle Paul emphasizes in Timothy 3:1 that leaders must only be elected from a certain kind of men. Not the brand we see in Mugabe and his thuggish cronies.


Ironically, Mugabe does make sure that he chose a certain kind of men. Zanu PF’s brand must meet their chief’s requirements. These men and women of Mugabe, like Constable Oripa, operating from Mbare went through a process of brutality and torturous growth and development over a period of time. They have learned to reflect Robert Mugabe’s brutality in their total life style. They have adopted the kinds of attitudes and murderous behavioral patterns that are a blue print of P. Botha of South Africa. Mugabe never looks for men and women who have the gift of an elder, gift of administration, gift of helping others, and gift of leading a country. Rather, Mugabe looked for the following competencies which suit his evil agenda perfectly:


Mugabe promoted Musarashana Mabhunda because he is a Mugabe preacher in ZAOGA church. I really wonder if there are any Zimbabweans following a man like that? I don’t need to get any answer on this one. If the answer is yes, well, I have to study and learn which scriptures endorse and authorize such murderous leaders to influence innocent people. I know for sure they preach about Mugabe but how do they go back to Jesus Christ’s teaching after applauding Mugabe’s satanic regime? Mr. Mabhunda, I want to advise you, your colleagues, and your Chief Robert Mugabe to take a hint from the political climate and repent today. I am reflecting my writing here on the Zimbabwean situation which is known to be hopeless just because of Mugabe and his bunch of thugs.


How can an elder of church sanction thugs to brutally assault the people’s president, Morgan Tsvangirai? I am sick and tired of this madness of the dictatorial regime. How can an elder of a church sanction ZRP (killers) to assault the innocent and visionary. The elder of ZAOGA refuses to hand over the dead body of the national hero Gift Tandare to his family. This is insane and will never pass before you are judged by God, otherwise the people of Zimbabwe could eat you alive.


In my opinion, Thomsen Jangara of Harare South resembles Judas Iscariot . The man was the first to denounce the rights of Zimbabweans who were peacefully demonstrating in Highfield. Jangara’s orders made Highfield a ghost town. Jangara’s evil orders took the life of an MDC activist. Proverbs 28:5 is clear that evil men do not understand justice but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. This therefore, explains to me that Augustine Chihuri is hiding behind the finger. The man belongs to Johannes Masowe Sect. I understand he is influential in the church and of course, in this case, in an malicious way. What does the commissioner preach in the Johannes Masowe church when given the pulpit? Tear-gassing innocent Zimbabweans instead of protecting them? These men should not waste their time going to church. They are more than the word evil itself. The fact that there are some Zimbabwean churches supporting Mugabe through such leaders should be condemned today. Government leaders in churches are required by God to form a composite profile that is complete, comprehensive and beneficial to the people.


A man of Mugabe has the qualities of such like Jonathan Moyo, Phillip Chiyangwa, Enos Nkala, and now Joyce Mujuru. Joyce is running around all over now. Let us hear what Mbeki’s vice premier will do for amai Mujuru. What is going to happen between amai Mujuru and Mugabe? What is baba Mujuru going to do in case of things not going in favor of the wife? Mugabe’s games continue and he continues to toy with his pawns. They are all frustrated at the end of the day. Mugabe is evil and his games cannot be played even by Grace. If only our true first late mama Sally could be with us now. This is my warning or advice to all those who teamed up with evil Mugabe to repent now! Iyi iyambiro yangu kumhondi dzaMugabe nekuti nguva yapera.

Nickson Mada
MDC Chairperson Philadelphia Branch
USA

While SADC Is Pussyfooting Police In Zimbabwe Are Busy Assaulting Innocent People

The state machinery of the illegal government of Robert Mugabe consisting of police, the CIO (secret police), the Green Bombers (the militarised youth wing of Zanu PF), the army and the war veterans are all in a concerted effort beating up innocent people, some people are being abducted from their homes in the middle of the night, the trend is clearly emerging its not only members or supporters of MDC who are being assaulted, according to a researcher for Human Rights Watch, Tiseke Kasambala, the beatings are targeting members of the general public. Police are going door beating up people, stealing possessions and accusing families of supporting MDC. These beatings, arbitrary arrests of MDC officials, abductions, illegal detention and torture of innocent people is happening right under the eye of the SADC leaders who met in Tanzania yesterday for an extra-ordinary summit on the escalating situation in Zimbabwe. Read the harrowing reports of victims who were interviewd by Human Rights Watch.

If there is any further evidence needed to persuade the SADC leaders to act then this is it, they should demand that negotiations begin of an interim government based on the MDC's Road Map which was adopted by The Save Zimbabwe Coalition while the country deliberates on a new constitution which will pave way for an international supervised elections before a catastrophe happens.

THE PROBLEM OF AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT PAYS LIP SERVICE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION!

Reports reaching us from Harare are that the President of the Movement for Democratic Change, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has been arrested again. This follows the abduction of Last Maingehama, Emmanuel Chisvuura and many others whose whereabouts have still not been established.

This follows right on the heels of a SADC meeting that Robert Mugabe is slapping right in the middle of its face. It also follows comments from South Africa that they will not interfere when they are blaming the MDC for all the problems in Zimbabwe.Mainly it follows the vows of Robert Mugabe that he may actually kill the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

It now remains to be seen how far the international community can go with their
indifference. It remains to be seen how the International Community can afford to look for the umpteenth time a situation of genocide unfolding when they said Rwanda will never be repeated. Rwanda is being repeated in Zimbabwe, a country that has already committed genocide in Matabeleland and got away with it. It remains to be seen how the rich ignore the poor, how the West is interested in criticising Robert Mugabe but go on not to offer the victims of his oppresssion practical help by using all it takes to stop the country descending into chaos.

Surely the UK, the US and every member of the International Community has more to offer the oppressed than to say there shall emerge people in ZANU PF who will see sense and unite with MDC, when shall that be? How many Gift Tandares.....does it take the death of Morgan Tsvangirai for them to act? Even Saddam Hussein and Sudan did not go this far, they never tried to blatantly kill their opposition leaders in broad daylight.

But the International Community risks to see a backlash in their countries never seen before against anything to do with Robert Mugabe from an angry Zimbabwean Diaspora!

JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA

SECRETARY MDC UK AND IRELAND

Police Arrest & Detain MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai

The MDC president, Morgan Tsvangirai, and a number of party officials were this morning arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station. This happened at Harvest House the MDC headquarters in Harare just before President Tsvangirai was due to address a press conference at 12.00 noon. Dozens of officers surrounded the building in central Harare that houses the main office of the MDC, blocking nearby roads and preventing anyone from entering. An armoured vehicle and two empty buses were parked outside. The whereabouts of President Morgan Tsvangirai are still are unknown.

The arrest of Mr Tsvangirai by police comes just on the heels of state sponsored hit squads who abducted MDC Presidential Adviser Ian Makoni and his wife Theresa at gun point from their home along with the Mashonaland East Organising Secretary, Piniel Denga, their whereabouts are still unknown. Ian Makone and Tsvangirai were among opposition leaders arrested and assaulted while in police custody on March 11. The incident took place on Tuesday evening and the MDC members of parliament for Budiriro and Glen View, Amos Chisvuure and Paul Madzore ran away to escape the same raids. MDC Secretary for Local Government Last Maengahama, who was abducted on Tuesday after the memorial service of slain activist Gift Tandare, was found 250 kilometres outside Harare in Mutorashanga. He has been admitted to the Avenues Clinic with life threatening injuries. According to Maengahama all he remembered was being shoved into a Mitsubishi truck, being stripped naked and having his shirt and tie used to blindfold him. He was beaten all over the body with an unidentified object. Joshua Mukoyi from Kuwadzana who was abducted on Tuesday, beaten up and dumped in Darwendale has allegedly been abducted again and his whereabouts unknown. Mukoyi is 55 years old and father to two well-known MDC activists. Also arrested was Mrs Mejury Zenda, from (Mutambara faction) an elderly and ailing woman in her 60’s, she was arrested and detained on Tuesday. She is being held at Harare Central police station and being denied any food and access to legal represantatives and medical help. Yesterday the lawyers tried again to get access but were refused and threatened with arrest. She has not been charged with any crime no anything said to indicate why she is being held.

This clearly follows a pattern by the illegal government of Robert Mugabe on its deathbed as they try to effectively eliminate MDC leadership in a misguided thinking that by eliminating the leadership they can quell the delay the inevitable.Two weeks ago dozens of opposition members, including Tsvangirai, were arrested and reportedly beaten after an aborted prayer meeting that had been organised by The Save Zimbabwe coalition an umbrella body drawing opposition and civic organisations to remove the deranged despot and his illegal authoritarian government.

Mugabe is clearly defying international outrage, unperturbed on his way into a showdown with fellow African leaders. The 83-year-old dictator arrived in Dar es Salaam, while in Zimbabwe police began a new wave of arrests, abductions and assaults. Mugabe’s ferocious attack against his pro-democracy opponents is an apparently calculated snub to the increasing concerns of his neighbours. The diplomatic pressure had little effect in Zimbabwe, in the light of the current events in Zimbabwe.

MDC UK DEMO WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH 2007

You are all invited to the people's action on Wednesday 28 March 2007. Zimbabweans in the UK Diaspora will take part in a protest that is being led by MDC UK and Ireland outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in London.

Protesters will congregate at Trafalgar Square at 1000a.m on the day. They will then be led by the MDC UK and Ireland in their legitimate demands:

1. For the end of the Robert Mugabe dictatorship in Zimbabwe,
2. Restitution for the oppression that has been ongoing in our country,
3. Justice for the victims of the ZANU PF oppression
4. The advent of democracy as a complete package with a people driven Constitution and the building of strong institutions of democracy that will work towards a good climate for all inclusive, legitimate and acceptable elections to be held under the requisite international norms for elections and such elections being supervised by credible and agreeable members of the local, regional, continental and international communities.
5. The end to the situation in our country where there is complete and deliberate disregard for human rights of the citizens by the Government.
6. Above all the people will demonstrate to show they are still in power and completely in control of their collective destinies as the people of Zimbabwe. No amount of intimidation, Robert Mugabe's media-inspired bravado, fist throwing, the hiring of indisciplined and unemployable Angolan ill-trained ninja-cum police and the bashing of our leaders will ever cow us into submission.

WE HAVE TAKEN A PATH TO LIBERATE OURSELVES, WE ARE FOLLOWING IT TO FRUITION. TO ROBERT MUGABE: "HATISI KUZOKUITA MATANDIROTYA BODO; TIRI KUZOKUGAMHIDZANA...WE AS ZIMBABWEANS WILL GANG UP AGAINST THE ENEMY UNTIL HE IS FORCED TO LEAVE OUR COUNTRY ALONE! AND ROBERT MUGABE WILL LIVE TO SEE CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY NO DEMOCRACY ON HIS TERMS. DEMOCRACY ON OUR TERMS AS THE OPPRESSED FREEING THEMSELVES.

AS SAID BEFORE WE ARE MORE DETERMINED TO FREE OURSELVES THAN THE OPPRESSOR IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TO OPPRESS US!"

THE TIME IS NOW: "NGACHITSVE!"

JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
(SECRETARY MDC UK AND IRELAND)
07984254830/02077206614

CONTACTS FOR THE DEMO:
MR JAISON MATEWU
ORGANISING SECRETARY MDC UK AND IRELAND
07816619788

MR EDWARD NYAKUDYA
DEPUTY ORGANISING SECRETARY MDC UK AND IRELAND
07886022796

BOYCOTT BARCLAYS BANK

Are you bank rolling the supression of Zimbabwean people, do you do business with Barclays Bank? Its time to boycott Barclays Bank. Your bank deposits and insurance premiums may be indirectly responsible for the misery and starvation of our subjugated country.

Zimbabwe is bankrupt the economic collapse of Zimbabwe is well documented. Inflation is at a staggering 3000% and is expected to reach 5000%, unemployment at 90%, over 6 million people face starvation, the price of basic commodities rise by 24% every week, the salaries do not keep up, life expectancy is 34. Most Zimbabweans are living in extreme poverty, as their salaries are less than half the official poverty datum line pegged at around $1,5million. To prevent a total meltdown, Barclays Bank a British bank with subsidiaries in Zimbabwe and South Africa keeps propping up the illegal government of Robert Mugabe. In Zimbabwe, Barclays Bank provides £30-million to a state-sponsored agricultural "facility" aiming to sustain dubious land reforms that saw Mugabe seize white-owned farmland and drive more than 300 000 black workers from their homes. Any commercial bank operating in Zimbabwe must reinvest 40% of its profits in government bonds. Barclays has arranged finance facilities worth $110-million to Zimbabwean companies involved in tobacco, mining, sugar, manufacturing and the horticultural sectors. Last year Barclays bought South Africa's ABSA bank for more than £2-billion, making it one of the Mugabe government's biggest private financiers. ABSA, the Barclays Bank subsidiary in South Africa, is allegedly funding fuel supplies for the Zimbabwean government, which include jet fuel for military airplanes. This has been revealed by a British NGO called Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID), which monitors corporate ethics in third world development. According to (RAID) a US$35 million revolving fund made available to Zimbabwe by ABSA for emergency fuel supplies. That is why it makes sense to boycott Barclays Bank because your money be it savings, insurance or investments is being used by the illegal government of Robert Mugabe to oil the machinery that is suppressing the people of Zimbabwe and to sign this petition to force the Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC to de-invest in Zimbabwe and cease providing money to Mugabe while ordinary Zimbabweans starve.

Boycott 2010 World Cup If South African continues to ignore Human Rights Abuses in Zimbabwe

Apartheid was dismantled by efforts of many people from are around the world, the anti-apartheid movement, lobbying of various governments, giving shelter to ANC cadres in exile. Isolation of the pariah state of PW Botha accelerated the demise of apartheid equal important in the political and economic isolation of South African regime was the cultural boycott which included a blanket ban of South African music, arts, and sports. South Africa finds itself today liberated from the shackles of apartheid that without international and regional support there would be no story to tell. It also finds itself in a position to help Zimbabweans who are experiencing the most painful form of apartheid black on black suppression orchestrated by the illegal government of Robert Mugabe in its quest to remain in power. South Africa has over 6 years refused to even publicly rebuke Mugabe saying that they did not believe in megaphone diplomacy but quiet diplomacy. What it does to Mugabe is it shores up his position and he continues to act with impunity. Recently Mugabe imported Angolan soldiers to pacify his own people. He banned opposition rallies and demonstrations. He has also declared his intention to remain in office indefinitely. One might, by now, have expected to see South Africa call time on its strategy of 'quiet diplomacy' which has clearly failed. We call on all democracy loving people are around the world that wanted to travel to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010 to re-think their positions and make a moral stand just as South Africa asked of the world during apartheid and force the ANC led government of South Africa to cut off Zimbabwe completely, not just politically, but in every sense: imports, power supply, flights, the lot. Zimbabwe is reliant on South Africa for everything, and since ordinary Zimbabweans have nothing left to lose, the only people who will be hurt are Mugabe and his stooges. This is a workable option which will bring the regime to its knees in a matter of weeks. Even better, it has precedent. It's how those bad old boys of apartheid destabilised Ian Smith in the Rhodesia, and paved the way for democracy which was short lived in Zimbabwe in the first place

I have signed this petition please also sign it we are calling for a boycott of 2010 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.

Whats there to enjoy if Zimbabwe is not free and South Africa keeps propping a regime that oppresses its own citizens.

This Is The End For Mugabe He Has No Where To Run

Mugabe is trying to cling to power so he can die in office, you might ask what is the rationale, its easy if he dies in office he will also take with him to the grave over 50 000 deaths and 100 000s of political activist, beaten tortured at his orders just to keep him in power. If he dies in office he can not be arrested and tried for crimes he committed against the Zimbabwean people. Zanu PF loves Mugabe, the whole party is full of people who licks his arse, Mutasa, Msika, Skanyiso Ndlovu etal, if the economy had been stable and the political patronage was still free flowing then any Zanu PF candidate that who would inherit his position will have guaranteed him security and immunity to the crimes he committed and he is still committing in office.

Mugabe has clung to power before by use of force and political patronage, now the chickens have come home to roost, the economy which in the past has fueled the printing of money to placate restless soldiers is in tatters, 1,800 % inflation, unemployment at 90% and according to expert economic opinion by the end of the year, trading in Zimbabwe will revert back to barter trade, as the its currency looses 24% value every week and inflation will reach a staggering 5,000% by year end. On the monetary system rests the state: when a soldier or policeman is paid in worthless currency, he will take his gun, turn bandit and live off his fellow citizens. Plunging Zimbabwe into the darkness experienced 150,000 years ago when there was no modern day currency of money, though barter trade still exists today it can not carry a sophisticated economy such as Zimbabwe's. With the economy collapsing Mugabe's plans of getting a natural immunity through death in office for human rights crimes against his own people is in tatters he is also facing a revolt amongst his own kith and kin. The chief antagonist is Mujuru Solomon the so called "King Maker" a former Army general, attributed to the propping Mugabe during an after the post liberation war in which he was chief commander of Zanla forces the armed wing of Zanu PF, is restless as he sees his bludgeoning business empire (its rumoured he owns between 26 and 70 farms mostly obtained violently and illegal during the belated face saving disastrous, violent land grab ordered by Mugabe under the guise of land distribution) being threatened by the collapse of Zimbabwe which has been likened to a sinking Titanic by the Zambian President Levy Mwanasa.

Mugabe cannot afford to ignore Mujuru also known as Rex Nhonga his liberation war moniker.Where does Solomon Mujuru draw his power? Its common secret that without Solomon's active support, Mugabe would have been a nobody. Solomon and the late Josiah Tongogara led the Zanla forces when Mugabe languished in jail for 10 years from 1964. When he went to jail Mugabe had been a mere secretary for information in Zanu-PF, formed in 1963 as Zanu only, and then led by Ngabaningi Sithole. Mugabe unilaterally seized control of Zanu in 1975 after his rival, Herbert Chitepo, who had been anointed by Mugabe's predecessor, Sithole, to lead the party, while both Mugabe and Sithole languished in jail, was assassinated in a mysterious car bomb in Lusaka. Mugabe had slipped into Mozambique after his release from jail with the active support of Solomon Mujuru, who implored guerrillas, most of whom had never met Mugabe, to accept him as their leader. As a result Mugabe owes Mujuru an eternal favour. After Independence Mujuru was given the powerful post of army general which he retired from in 1990, he still wields considerable influence within the armed forces rank, all the former and the present army generals are from Chikomba District in Mashonaland East, Mujuru's rural hometown. Reports are also filtering in that Mujuru with the help of the army generals and the vast amoury at their disposal are training a private army in Zimbabwe and building up an arms cache to defend their ill gains.

Also standing in Mugabe's way of avoiding the fate of Saddam Hussein as capital punishment is still legal in Zimbabwe is Emmerson Mnangagwa the richest man in Zimbabwe today forget Mugabe, Chiyangwa, Mujuru.... Emerson has accumulated serious wealth. When Mugabe contemplated retirement Mnangagwa has always been the heir apparent from inception until his was named as a war criminal who looted Zaire's diamonds and stripped its rain forest of timber and then Joyce Mujuru was promoted over and above Mnangagwa a token female appointee but in essence a political pawn being used by her own husband and Mugabe to ensure his safety after exit.

At the height of Mugabe's fear is what happened to Charles Taylor who had fled Liberia and offered asylum by Nigeria. After intense lobbying from pressure groups such as The Campaign Against Impunity, a coalition made up of some 300 African and international civil society groups formed to ensure Nigeria's surrender of Charles Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Taylor has been accused of 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against the people of Sierra Leone by the Special Court. The crimes include killings, mutilations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, sexual slavery, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, abduction, and the use of forced labor by Sierra Leonean armed opposition groups. Also vivid in Mugabe's mind are the images of Saddam Hussein who like him had remained defiant right to the end but still was hanged, a shameful end to someone who was tipped to be the blue-eyed boy of Africa but nothing like that other than what Tutu described as a caricature of African dictators, a deranged, demagogic brutal dictator whose desperation to remain in office defies logic.

His unpopularity within Zanu PF is visible and palpable, amongst his own supporters are those asking why were opposition and civic leaders assaulted? Mugabe cannot even trust his own army to guard him having drafted Libyans to do it after The Presidential Guard Unit within the Zimbabwe's national army had fired shots at the State house in a mini insurrection which was brutally crushed by Mugabe's regime. Just as Tendai Biti said during a news conference post the brutal crushing of Save Zimbabwe Coalition's prayer meeting that its game over for Mugabe its end game indeed. This reminds me of a Shona song by a popular Zimbabwean band who lyrics translates to say

a lizard enjoying the sun knows there is a hole nearby, but if the hole is closed then it has to run into the mountains

Also similar to Fugees's Ready Or Not

ready or not you can't hide, I am gonna find you and take it slowly

The hole Mugabe thought he had build for himself is closing.

Another MDC Comrade Dies At The Hands Of The Murderous Police

30 year old Itai Manyeruke is the latest victim of police brutality at the hands of murderous Zimbabwean police. The death of Itai Manyeruke who was severely beaten by police on the 11th of March 2007 when the same police shot dead Gift Tandare another MDC activist. Manyeruke, who was abducted in Highfields during the Save Zimbabwe Campaign prayer rally, died on the 12th of March 2007. When the police realised they had murdered another MDC activist they stashed the body at the local mortuary, they did not even inform the relatives of Manyeruke. After his disappearance his family became concerned they started looking for him and he was discovered on the 20th of March. A post-mortem report revealed that the deceased suffered a painful death, staining many fractures on his spinal cord. He was be buried in Buhera yesterday.

Since the fateful Save Zimbabwe Prayer Meeting two MDC activists have be slain by the illegal government of Robert Mugabe, hundreds others have been injured and are receiving treatment of injuries suffered at the hands of Zimbabwe's murderous police taking orders from their political masters Mugabe, and his arse lickers Didymus Mutasa, Augustine Chihuri, and Happyton Bonyongwe.

Mrs Holland & Ms Kwinjeh Allowed To Leave Zimbabwe

Only after a court order did the dictatorial regime of Mugabe allow Mai Holland and Grace Kwinjeh to leave Zimbabwe in order to receive treatment in South Africa. Both suffered horrific injuries at the hand of murderous Zimbabwean police who brutally attacked over 50 opposition and civic leaders on their way to a prayer meeting organised by Save Zimbabwe Alliance. The two comrades were trying to leave for South Africa on a medical air rescue plane on Saturday when police stopped them, sparking international condemnation. The two comrades were taken briefly to a police station, they passports were confiscated and then placed under police guard at a Harare clinic.

Levy Mwanasa Breaking Ranks With Docile Southern African Leaders

He has likened the collapse of Zimbabwe to a sinking titanic, The Zambian President is the first leader from Southern Africa, Zimbabwe's neighbour on the north to directly criticise Mugabe. He also admitted that quiet diplomacy has failed to reign in blood thirsty Zanu PF. South Africa is again very silent on the issue despite calls by the international community to exert its influence.

Nelson Chamisa Beaten May Loose Eye

Nelson Chamisa the spokesperson for The Movement for Democratic Change was assaulted by Zimbabwe's secret police at Harare International Airport. He was pounced upon by 8 men as he was leaving for Belgium via London to attend a meeting of the European Union and Africa Caribbean and Pacific group in Brussels, who assaulted him with iron bars, it has been reported that he fractured his eye socket and may loose his eye. This beating of Nelson Chamisa MP comes just after a week when he together with MDC and civic leaders were arrested and tortured on their way to attend a prayer meeting.

It just confirms the obvious that Mugabe is operating with impunity with no regard to the rule of law. Grace Kwinjeh the Deputy Secretary For International Affairs together with Sekai Holland were barred from leaving Zimbabwe, their passports were confiscated they are now under police guard at Avenues Clinic. Mutambara was arrested as he tried to leave Zimbabwe for South Africa. Wayne Budzijena the Chief Murderer at the Zimbabwean police was quoted as saying that Mutambara will only be allowed to leave once he had appeared in court.

On Saturday, agents from Mugabe's secret police, the CIO, stole the body of Gift Tandare, an activist shot dead by police after the breakup of a peaceful prayer meeting last weekend. Mr Tandare's body was taken from a Harare morgue on Saturday where it was being prepared for burial. Authorities were concerned that his funeral would be a magnet for street protests.

The police also ignored a high court order to return Mr Tandare's body. Two lawyers, Otto Saki and Tafadzwa Mugabe, said high court judge Sam Kudya had ordered the police to produce the body, hand it over to his family and avoid interfering with his burial proceedings. The lawyers said that the court order was torn up and thrown in the bin by an assistant police commissioner when it was served.

Moeletsi Mbeki Paints A Gloom Picture For Zimbabwe

I watched Moeletsi Mbeki's interview on Sky News this morning and I am afraid the picture is bleak. He starts by pointing out that Zimbabwe is a landlocked country that if any pressure was needed then it can only be exerted by the neighbouring countries i.e South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. He then points out what he conceives as the primary reason for the neighbours for not exerting pressure on Zimbabwe is mostly because they fear that their support for MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai would send a wrong message for Africa's most industrialised region. Souther Africa being the most industrialised has more people working and this has given rise to trade unionism, the trade unions using their sheer size are becoming more and more political. He cites the case of Zambia where Kenneth Kaunda was ousted by a trade union leader after 27 years in power. Therefore African leaders are reluctant to be drawn into the issue of Zimbabwe for fear that they own labour movement might oust them from power one day. Mr Mbeki argues that the influx of refugees would not make a big policy change as he acknowledged that even in South Africa, COSATU the largest umbrella labour body in whole of Africa poses a threat to South Africa's ANC led government. COSATU is only civic body together with The Church Council of Souther Africa which issued a statement concerned by what was happening in Zimbabwe. On Human Rights day in South Africa it has promised to demonstrate against South Africa's quiet diplomacy and the illegal arrest and torture of Zimbabwean's opposition and civic leaders on their way to a prayer meeting.

Mbeki having lived in Zimbabwe when he was forced to flee apartheid was there when Mugabe ordered the massacre of more than 50 000 civilians to crush Joshua Nkomo's opposition Zapu PF which later merged with Mugabe's Zanu PF. He then uses this example to say that things will get worse before they get better in Zimbabwe. Asked about the fact that The MDC President feels that last Sunday's events were a tipping point, he answers that Morgan is an optimist. He says he knows Mugabe personally and know that he has an appetite for violence and will continue to exert brutal violence to stop regime change in Zimbabwe.

Mr Moeletsi Mbeki is a brother to South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, has a strong background in journalism, with a resume that includes a Nieman Fellowship and time at the BBC. He was a media consultant for the ANC in the '90s, and is currently the chairman of Endemol South Africa. He has always bee outspoken and differs on many things from his brother South Africa's president. He caused waves when he said: Africans Were Better Off During Colonial Times Than They Are Now

US Presidential Hopeful Derek Obama On Mugabe

WASHINGTON, DC - Mr President, the events of the last few days in Zimbabwe are outrageous and warrant universal condemnation. It is time for the government of Robert Mugabe to cease its repressive and divisive actions, and to allow Zimbabweans to pursue their hopes for legitimate political change and opportunity.

Since Sunday, the world has watched with horror and outrage as the Mugabe government has cracked down on legitimate opposition, detained fifty Zimbabweans attending a peaceful prayer meeting outside of Harare, and brutalised opposition leaders and ordinary citizens alike.

A protester was shot and killed. Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, has been badly beaten and suffered severe head injuries. Lovemore Madhuku, the leader of the National Constitutional Assembly, reportedly has a broken arm and numerous other wounds. Many of their colleagues in opposition remain in Harare hospitals.

The government has responded to the outrage prompted by these attacks on human rights and legitimate expression with characteristic bluster. Once again, we are told that the opposition is to blame.

Once again, we hear ominous warnings that the opposition is “set to pay a very heavy price, regardless of who they are.” Meanwhile, the true cause of the strife – President Mugabe’s disastrous rule – remains unaddressed. To the dismay even of his own party, he has declared his intention to run for a new term in office in 2008.

Mr President, these events are shocking, but sadly they do not come as a surprise. For years, it has been increasingly apparent that the Mugabe government is interested only in its own survival and enrichment, not the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe .

International observers – including the United States – concluded that the presidential election of 2002 and the parliamentary elections of 2005 were not free and fair.

The State Department reported just last week in its country report on human rights in Zimbabwe that: “The government engaged in the pervasive and systematic abuse of human rights. The ruling party’s dominant control and manipulation of the political process through intimidation and corruption effectively negated the right of citizens to change their government.”

Meanwhile, the government’s corruption and mismanagement has brought the Zimbabwean economy to the brink of ruin. Estimates place inflation at a world-high of 1 700 percent, and the IMF forecasts that this could pass 4 000 percent by the end of the year.

Unemployment stands at 80 percent. Poverty rates are soaring. Zimbabwe’s economy is shrinking faster than any other country in the world that is not at war.

I am heartened, though, that this political and economic deterioration has been met with growing calls for change.

Within Zimbabwe, the opposition to Mugabe is showing resilience and courage. Factions of Mugabe’s own party have indicated that they want a transition in 2008, and ordinary citizens are increasingly voicing their hopes for a new chapter.

Beyond Zimbabwe, frustration with the Mugabe government is mounting. The head of the African Union has expressed his embarrassment at the situation in Zimbabwe. South Africa and the Southern African Development Community, which have been slow to criticize Zimbabwe in the past, seem to be losing patience.

The United States, European Union, and the United Nations were swift in condemning this latest outrage, and have been consistent in their calls for change.

Mr. President, the United States must continue to stand strongly against the Mugabe government’s abuses of power in Zimbabwe . We must join with our European allies, the United Nations, and – most importantly – the countries and institutions of the region to press for positive change in Zimbabwe.

That means a peaceful democratic transition in 2008, and support for economic growth and opportunity – including the lifting of sanctions – once the dark cloud of Mugabe’s rule is lifted, and Zimbabweans are able again to reach for the new horizon they deserve.

I call on President Mugabe to immediately release all political detainees and repeal the ban on political rallies, to end the use of violence and torture in the jails, permit a free media and abide by the rule of law. His government must also urgently address the humanitarian crisis that has put the mass of his population in dire need of assistance.

Zimbabwe is a nation rich in history and rich in resources. Its talented people have known great hardship just as they have achieved great heights. When Robert Mugabe became president over a quarter century ago, there was great hope. Zimbabwe had emerged from British rule, claiming its freedom and its future for itself.

Sadly, the freedom and opportunity for which Zimbabweans fought have been eclipsed in the last decade by repression and uncertainty. Instead of peaceful self-determination, we see Zimbabweans intimidated and beaten in the streets.

Instead of the responsible management of Zimbabwe ’s state institutions, we see state-sanctioned corruption, violence and property seizures. Instead of economic self-sufficiency, we see what was once one of Africa ’s most promising economies in a free-fall.

Yet I am confident that the people of Zimbabwe will once again claim for themselves a better future. As they seek to hold their leaders accountable, as they try to rebuild their lives and their country, they must know that they have a strong and steady friend in the United States.

The events of the last few days – and the Mugabe regime – must belong to the past, and the United States must work with the international community to help all Zimbabweans forge a better future.

President Morgan Tsvangirai Released From Hospital

President Morgan Tsvangirai left hospital on Friday in a wheelchair after being treated for head injuries sustained at the hands of the security services. He was driven away from the private Avenues hospital in Harare with his wife Susan, without making any comment to reporters.

Still hospitalised is Mai Sekai Holland 63 she suffered a broken arm and a broken leg, you can read Jim Holland's progress on Amai Sekai Holland here. Also still in hospital is Grace Kwinjeh who had her ear almost severed, is still receiving treatment for the horrific attack.

Gift Tandare murdered by police will be buried in Harare on Monday after the chief in Mount Darwin ha refused his family permission to bury him because he is a member of MDC.

There Is No Pride In Silence - Sisonke Msimang

ON March 11, the Zimbabwean state began a blitz, capturing and torturing key church, civic and opposition leaders at a prayer meeting in Harare. They killed a young man named Gift Tandare. You will hear that Gift was a member of the MDC and this will surely be used as an excuse by some politicians not to act. The truth is that he was citizen, someone's son, somebody's brother. He was a member of the public who had a right to protest and to support whatever political party he chose. He was killed by the police as he sought to exercise these rights. Nothing can justify this. For years I have hung my head in shame about the Zimbabwe crisis.

Sisonke Msimang is an advocate on right to health issues in Africa and works as a Programme Manager for the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) he writes for Namibian

They Will Never Break My Spirit - Morgan Tsvangirai

MDC President writes in today's Independent that he will soldier on. Morgan Tsvangirai: They brutalised my flesh but will never break my spirit 'I never realised Mugabe and his criminal team would go this far. But I do not seek to be a martyr. Please help us to achieve change'

Hundreds of Zimbabweans Based In London Turn To Demonstrate Against Mugabe

Hundreds of Zimbabweans forced into exile by the callous regime of Mugabe turned in hundreds to demonstrate against police brutality, to also deliver a petition to the South African embassy in London that South Africa should act immediately on Zimbabwe. The ambassador tried to get the police to stop the March but we were given green light.

SOUTH AFRICA IS A DISGRACE

I am disgusted, completely utterly sickened by the attitude of South Africa. I do not know why they are against regime change in Zimbabwe? The latest ploy by South African ambassador to the UN is nauseating , its garbage diplomacy that should be laughed at rather than taken serious, if the incompetent United Nations does not refer the issue of Zimbabwe to the security council this time it will have failed then it will confirm the obvious that its not fit for purpose. The illegal arrest, detention, torture, denial of medical and legal attention to Zimbabwe's opposition figures is evidence enough without the UN listening to the deluded South African Ambassador to the UN. Images and videos of Morgan Tsvangirai's injuries have gone around the world, the list of injuries suffered by 64 opposition leaders that were arrested are beyond comprehension, its mind boggling that amidst such bare faced police torture and brutality you have people such as Dumisani Khumalo saying

We truly regret what's happening in Zimbabwe but it's not the matter that belongs to the Security Council,

Its not only poppycock diplomacy but its really sad and an insult to the lost life of Gift Tandare (rest in peace) shot by the murderous Zimbabwean police on Sunday 11 March, and to the those that were tortured by the murderous Zimbabwean police. Its preposterous especially coming from someone who should have experienced the police brutality during apartheid. The presidency of UN security council which South Africa holds at the moment will be passed over to Britain next month and believe me we in the MDC will intensely lobby the British ambassador to the UN to bring the issue of Zimbabwe to the security council where it rightfully belongs.

South Africa's quiet diplomacy has exploded in the faces of Mbeki and his government, even the silence of Mandela is the most deafening. Where in the past Mbeki has glossed over the human rights abuses by the tyranical regime of Robert Mugabe in the past while hawking NEPAD a Marshall Plan inspired revival of Africa, which fails its own bench marks:

WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF NEPAD?
# Good governance as a basic requirement for peace, security and sustainable political and socio-economic development

Archbishop Pius Ncube once asked why is Mbeki so scared of Mugabe? The question keeps arising, its not like Mugabe will kill Mbeki as easily as he has done to opponents, so why dose Mbeki do not exert the pressure we know he has over Mugabe?

Zimbabwe is practically broke, its a collapsed state, its owes its day to day existence to loans and secret barter agreements from South Africa mainly and recently China. In 2005 when it faced being booted from IMF for not paying back its debt, South Africa gave the Zimbabwean government an emergency SAR1 Billion as a loan, nobody know what the terms of the loan were. Immediately in June of the same year, Mugabe's government broke with no money for fuel bulldozed homes and livelihoods of over 2 million people under the guise of urban clean leaving them homeless and destitute. When in fact it was an exercise to depopulate the urban areas of MDC supporters who have been the bane of Zanu PF delivering defeat after defeat at elections, the dictator was following up recommendations of a convicted killer the exiled Mengistu who authored Murambatsvina as a proposal while working as a consultant within the dreaded secret police CIO. My point is noone knows for sure if the SAR1 Billion given to the dictatorship was used to pay back the IMF or if it was used to prop the same machinery the police, the army, green bombers the militarised wing of Zanu PF, and the very CIO. South Africa is complicit in human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, the electricity it supplies Zimbabwe are being used by the illegal regime of Mugabe to suppress the citizens of Zimbabwe.

Apartheid that has just ended seems like a distant memory to many people in the South African government. How quickly they have forgotten how they begged the world to isolate the regime of PW Botha. If the world had slept on calls to rally each other and force the South African government to negotiate and release Mandela from prison, then Dumisani Khumalo could have never been an ambassador to the UN, he probably be a garden boy which really suits him given his level of intellect. The international community including Zimbabwe helped to free South Africa from the shackles of apartheid. We suffered at the hands of Pretoria because our government haboured some ANC leaders, Zimbabwe was bombed, South African security forces operated with impunity illegal crossing into Zimbabwe to look ANC activists and probably assassinate them. Sharpville massacre wher 69 people were murdered by police is a drop in the ocean compared to the people that Mugabe is killing in Zimbabwe to day. If you go back to 1985 when he ordered the killing of more than 50 000 people in Matebeleland you might begin to understand that we are dealing with a monster who has instilled the same sadistic nature into the entire Zanu PF, add a thousand political opponents that have been killed in broad daylight others tortured and left for dead. Apartheid is easy to rationalise, a minority white population in rule who systematically discriminates against the majority black population, what one cannot understand is black on black apartheid such that is now is happening in Zimbabwe.

I am to think that the future government of MDC will have to rethink its relationship with South Africa in the light of its stance over the years. Its pointless to count it as a friend, as a matter of fact our whole foreign policy as regarding countries in Africa should be reviewed as a matter of urgency once we get Zimbabwe back, because frankly we can never be bottom buddies with a country like South Africa which fails to condone what is happening in Zimbabwe today! We also cannot be banded together with ineffectual SADC nor are we going to be passengers in a directionless continental body of dictators called African Union.

Demo Zimbabwean Embassy The Strand, London - Tomorrow 14 March

Join us tomorrow at the Zimbabwean Embassy, The Strand London between 1300 hours and 1700 hours as we demonstrate against the illegal arrest, detention and torture of Zimbabwean opposition leaders by the murderous Zimbabwean police. We will also be paying respect to murdered Chairperson of NCA Glen View constituency and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activist, Gift Tandare. He was shot dead by police during running battles with the police in Highfileds. The whereabouts of his corpse in still unknown.

Zimbabwe's Police Brutality In Images, Scenes In Highfield Prior To The Sunday Prayer Meeting, List Of Injuries According To ZDFHR

Images courtsey of Kubatana, SW Radio Africa & BBC

According to Zimbabwean Doctors for Human Rights, most of the injuries suffered by those tortured by the murderous Zimbabwean police was exacerbated by delay of seeking medical attention of the injured. All the detained were refused medical attention from the 11th of March 2007 until Tuesday 13th March when the court had issued an order. Of the 64 persons attended to 20 are currently admitted to hospital for treatment.

The Zimbabwean Doctors for Human Rights issued the list of injuries suffered

Injuries documented were consistent with beatings with blunt objects heavy enough to cause the following:

*
Fractures to hands, arms and legs in 5 individuals including Lovemore Madhuku with a fractured ulna. 3 of these, Elton Mangoma, Sekai Holland and Morgan Tsvangirai sustained multiple fractures.
*
Severe, extensive and multiple soft tissue injuries to the backs, shoulders, arms, buttocks and thighs of 14 individuals.
*
Head injuries to 3 individuals, Nelson Chamisa, Morgan Tsvangirai and Lovemore Madhuku with the latter two sustaining deep lacerations to the scalp.
*
A possibly ruptured bowel in 1 individual due to severe blunt trauma to the abdomen.
*
A split right ear lobe sustained by Grace Kwinjeh.

Prolonged detention without accessing medical treatment resulted in severe haemorrhage in Morgan Tsvangirai leading to severe anaemia which warranted a blood transfusion. Injuries sustained by Sekai Holland were also worsened by denial of timely access to medical treatment which led to an infection of deep soft tissue in her left leg. Denial of access to treatment in another individual suffering from hypertension lead to angina.

Further tests are currently being carried out to determine the fuller extent of injuries in several of those currently admitted. Some will require surgical procedures as part of their treatment. Sekai Holland has already undergone a surgical fixation of the fracture in her left ankle.

2 of the individuals hospitalised were admitted due to conditions resulting from poor conditions of detention with severe diarrhoea in 1 individual and extensive and severe flea bites in 1 individual.

In addition to those tortured during the course of their arrest, 2 individuals were shot while attending the funeral of Gift Tandare, who was shot dead on Sunday March 11 2007. The two individuals sustained gunshot wounds to the left ankle and right arm respectively. One sustained a shattered left ankle from the gunshot wound and is likely to require amputation from the left ankle downwards. The other individual primarily sustained shrapnel wounds early on Monday 12 March but however was shot again in the same arm on the evening of Monday 12 March upon his return to the funeral resulting in a open fracture to the arm, the severity of which may warrant amputation of that arm.

The Torturers Are Afraid

Taken from SW Radio Africa

Quote from activists tortured in police cells.

“The assaults on Sunday were so terrible and surreal. Like watching a movie except that one was part of the characters. Strangely if it were to happen again many of us would love to be in the front line again. They were hitting us but they were the ones afraid. Our wounds will heal but the scars on their souls are permanent and they will take them to hell.”

South Africa Is Complicit In Human Rights Abuses In Zimbabwe

The fact that South Africans cannot see nothing wrong even with surmounting evidence that MDC leaders have been tortured in custody means two things, they are complicit with the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and they are also heading the same way. Mandela once said it "the greatest question one has to ask is what did I do to help another human being in need" when he was invited to the British Labour Party in 2000 South Africans are intellectually challenged its no secret, most of them South African politicians waffle, there is little substance to what they say, most of the times its not their waffle which surprises me but the amount of waffle they are capable of producing. While the whole world over condemns the unlawful arrest, detention and torture of Zimbabwean political figures such MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai

A US state department spokesperson condemned the police response to the protest and said the US was shocked by reports of injuries suffered by opposition leaders.

The attacks "were an indication of the repressive nature of the Mugabe dictatorship", said the spokesperson, Tom Casey.

The European Union criticised the suppression of the demonstration and condemned "the ongoing violent suppression of the freedom of opinion and of assembly, as well as of other fundamental rights."

New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark was more outspoken.

"I think the arrest of Morgan Tsvangirai is disgraceful and confirms everything we know about Zimbabwe as in effect a dictatorship," Clark said.

South African trade unionists and opposition parties slammed the repression.

We have the Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Momoepa saying that Zimbabwe should solve its own problems, look Ronnie I know you are slow but I did not think you are this slow: The so called problems are not our own problems but problems for everyone who loves peace and democracy in the whole world just like what apartheid was. Its does not need a rocket scientist to see that Human Rights Abuses such as those happening in Zimbabwe, such as denial of the right to assemble, the right belong to a political party, the right to demonstrate, freedom of speech, safety from arbitrary and unlawful arrests, torture and the slaying of activists is not only an internal problem of Zimbabwe but its gross abuse of human rights that the forgetful South Africans were urging the world to do something about during apartheid.

Mbeki and Mugabe come from the same school of political thought, thats why democracy loving South Africans should be scared of ANC, it can turn out to be the same as corrupt Zanu PF that is trying to cling to power at all costs even if it means murdering innocent people and arbitrary arresting opposition leaders. If thats not the analysis then why does Mbeki keep propping up Mugabe so he can use the resources to suppress his own people. Many share my sentiments when I say we as Zimbabweans really do not need South Africa's help, we will see it through ourselves, innocent lives will be taken it may get worse but we will get through it be strong!.

Campaign For The Release of All Detained on Sunday 11 March 2007

Please call the thugs calling themselves police officers at the following police stations in Zimbabwe which are unlawfully detaining Zimbabwe;'s political leaders, its been reported that they have been tortured please register your displeasure and protest:


Avondale +263 4 336632 - Detaining: Arthur Mutambara - President MDC (Smaller runaway faction) Sekai Holland MDC MP
Braeside +263 4 742261 - Detaining Grace Kwinjeh MDC Deputy Secretary For International Affairs
Rhodesville +263 4 481111 / 495753 - Detaining Tendai Biti MDC Secretary General
Highlands + 263 4 495304 / 495340 / 495504 - Detaining Nelson Chamisa MDC Spokesperson, Mike Davies Harare Residents Association
Borrowdale +263 4 860 061/7 - Detaining Morgan Tsvangirai MDC President, Lovemore Madhuku Chairman NCA
Marlborough +263 4 301801/301802 Elton Mangoma MDC Deputy Treasurer, Morgan Changamire, Willas Madzimure (MP), Alois Dzvairo, Madock Chivasa, and Tsvangirai’s personal assistant William Bango. Also arrested were Gladys Hlatywayo, Manex Mawuya, Frank Chamunorwa, Linos Mushonga, Godfrey Gumbo, Clever Kafero.


The war that the Zimbabwean police have declared on the people of Zimbabwe is getting worse by the turn of the day. The murderous Zimbabwean police descended heavily at the wake of Gift Tandare whom they had previously murdered on Sunday 11 March 2006, 2 more innocent civilians were shot by soldiers near Tandare’s home where people had gathered to mourn with his family. The soldiers were going to work early Tuesday morning when they ran into mob of people coming from Mr Tandare's wake.

MDC Demands Immediate Release of Its Leaders - By Engineer Elias Mudzuri

President Tsvangirai, senior party officials arrested and brutally assaulted

The President of the Movement for Democratic Morgan Tsvangirai, his aides, civic leaders and several senior party officials have been arrested, detained without charge and severely assaulted at Machipisa police station in the Harare suburb of Highfield. Lawyers seeking to represent Mr.Tsvangirai and his colleagues were denied access and severely assaulted as well. A party activist, Mr. Gift Tandare was the earliest casualty. Information at hand indicates that Mr. Tandare was shot in cold blood and killed by the police. Police are now using live ammunition on innocent unarmed people.

The MDC President, senior party officials and civic leaders were arrested while on their way to a 'Save Zimbabwe' prayer meeting organized by the Christian Alliance at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare.

Senior MDC officials arrested include President Morgan Tsvangirai, secretary-general Tendai Biti, party spokesman Nelson Chamisa, secretary for policy and research, Sekai Holland, Kambuzuma MP, Willias Madzimure, the deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma, deputy secretary for International Relations Grace Kwinje and Gladys Hlatshwayo a youth executive member.

The regime has resorted to arresting forces of democratic change. The whole country is under siege from the forces of tyranny.

The regime has become vicious on all people demanding democratic change in Zimbabwe. The arrest of the MDC officials is a sign that the dictatorship is panicking over the people's collective demand for a new Zimbabwe. The regime today deployed over 1 000 armed police in Highfield to thwart a lawful civic gathering, a clear violation of the people's basic freedoms of assembly and association.

The MDC demands the immediate release of the party and other civic leaders. We demand that the regime makes democratic expression possible now. The nation is on a knife-edge and the people want bread on their tables and not bullets in their bellies. The regime has unnecessarily heightened political tensions by arbitrarily arresting and assaulting innocent citizens demanding change.

The party remains unwavering in its commitment to bring peaceful change in Zimbabwe. We remain alive to our national obligation to deliver change. We advise our supporters to remain calm in the face of open provocation by the police. Brutality against our leaders will not delay the hour of change which is now upon us. Every Zimbabwean must awaken to the reality that we are our own liberators. A New Zimbabwe is our mandate.


Engineer Elias Mudzuri
National Organising Secretary

President Tsvangirai Badly Beaten, Gift Tandare Rest In Peace

President Tsvangirai together with Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, Nelson Chamisa were badly tortured when they were arrested while en route to attend the Save Zimbabwe prayer meeting in Harare. "He is in bad shape, he is swollen very badly. He is bandaged on the head. You can not distinguish between the head and the face and he can't see properly," according to Innocent Chagonda, an attorney, spaeking to Reuters after visiting a Harare police station where Tsvangirai was being held. Chagonda did not speak to Tsvangirai because police were denying MDC leaders access to lawyers and medical attention. Apart from Tsvangirai, a host of other senior opposition figures were detained in police sweeps on Sunday, including four MDC lawmakers and Lovemore Madhuku, head of the National Constitutional Assembly. The arrests came amid a police crackdown on the Save Zimbabwe prayer meeting which was to have taken place in the township of Highfields, a traditional hotbed of opposition to Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party.

Rest In Peace Gift Tandare, a fallen soldier taken by the bloodthirsty regime of Mugabe shot dead by the murderous Zimbabwean police yesterday. Meanwhile the MDC in UK will be demonstrating against the illegal arrest and torture of MDC leaders in Zimbabwe on Wednesday at the Zimbabwean embassy at the Strand London, from 1400 hours to 1600 hours.