1994 a few months before the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the first democratically elected President of South Africa, the South African Broadcasting corporation ran some educational programmes about democracy, independence what it meant being free. I remember a an advert fronted by S'dumo a popular South African comedian that was teaching South Africans that although the government has changed little has changed in their day to day lives. Like for instance after Mandela's inauguration they would still wake up in their homes, continue to do what they were doing, going to work, kids going to school. It is on the same premise that MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai said that removing Mugabe would not necessarily mean that democracy would prevail in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe will go but it will take decades for the Zimbabwean society to rid themselves of Mugabe fostered environment of corruption, greed and selfishness. Its common knowledge that the delivery of basic services in Zimbabwe is dependent on your political allegiance and who you know. Even if Mugabe has gone the corruption culture is deeply interred in the edifices of the structures that MDC will inherit when they get to power. A mechanic at CMD (Government controlled motor vehicle repair service) drains petrol from a government vehicle and sells it on the black market leaving the tax payer to pick up the bill. A state security agent stationed at Harare Airport waves in goods imported by his friends without paying import duty preventing the government to earn money to use to improve people's lives. A policeman stops a driver on suspicion of drink-driving which is an offence in Zimbabwe, his suspicions are correct the guy is over the legal limit to drive instead of arresting him, he accepts a bribe to turn a blind eye again denying the government a chance to earn money through fines that in turn could be used to improve the police deliver better service for its citizens. A utility company ignores the official waiting list for anyone with a better colour of money, so a provision of land-line telephone depends if you are prepared to bribe. For many Zimbabweans stealing from the government is ok they view it a victim-less crime not knowing that delivery of service depends on it and that they the tax-payers are stealing from themselves.
A lot of people are concerned how MDC will turn out as a ruling party. History has shown us that a change of government in Africa does not necessarily usher democracy. Take Malawi after Banda, look at Zambia after Kaunda how MMD of Zambia succumbed to corruption and greed that they had fought to eliminate are things better under Mwanasa. Even the change of government has not improved the lives of people in Uganda ask Kizza Besigye like Morgan Tsvangirai had elections stolen from him by Museveni who has ruled Uganda for 22 years. Its been the same for Kenyans whose life has not improved by change of government. MDC is in a unique position, they can only learn from the mistakes in the region. As a party we should be able to take criticism without feeling threatened by the critics. MDC should also foster an environment that fosters democracy, freeing airwaves repealing repressive laws that endangers human rights and personal freedoms.
A massive re-education of people will be needed, it will need to imprinted on the minds of the police, army and civil servants that MDC led government will inherit that corruption and greed have no place in a new Zimbabwe and that anyone caught will feel the full wrath of law. As individuals Zimbabweans will need to rise above tribalism and chauvinistic attitudes to realise a first for Africa a truly democratic government.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Case of The Diaspora Vote
I fully support MDC party National Chairperson Mr Lovemore Moyo's call for the diaspora vote. Any election that Zimbabwe will stage will not be free and fair if the Zimbabweans that are based outside the country are not allowed to exercise their right to choose the next government. If the despotic regime of Robert Mugabe goes ahead without the vote of Zimbabweans based outside the country the result will be challenged as it will not be a true representation of the wish of people. There are provisions made by the illegal government of Robert Mugabe to enable soldiers and diplomatic staff based outside Zimbabwe to vote, the same provisions can be extended to cater for millions of Zimbabwe many whom have been forced by this regime to abandon their homes in search of refugee outside Zimbabwe. Already millions that are in exile feel helpless as events unfold in Zimbabwe, they watch from the sidelines unable to contribute to bring change in Zimbabwe. If we are allowed to vote it will mark our only notable contribution and bring the much needed change in Zimbabwe. While Moyo is spot on on the call for the diaspora vote a lot is needed from Zimbabweans if change is needed in Zimbabwe.
While those trapped in Zimbabwe continue to feel the brunt of the evil regime of Robert Mugabe, it bothers me that the majority of Zimbabweans in the diaspora remain apathetic to the situation in Zimbabwe. While there is notable activism to those that are dedicated to a new Zimbabwe, my comrades in the MDC, Free-Zim Youth, The London & Bristol Vigils, The Forum...amongst the few. Despite the noble and sometimes heroic efforts of those that still care about Zimbabwe, there are those that are here in the diaspora that cannot be bothered about Zimbabwe or its politics. Nobody knows the exact population of Zimbabwe but if estimates are correct then there are almost 4.5 million Zimbabweans living outside the country out of population of 13 million people. Of the 4.5 mill, 500 000 are estimated to be based in UK, and the rest divided amongst South Africa, US, Australia, New Zealand and others scattered in various parts of the world. A while ago Lance Guma of SW Radio Africa covered this issue arguing that Zimbabweans are found in droves at musical concerts but a few would turn for political meetings.
This apathy is not fueled by lack of information about the state of affairs in Zimbabwe, the internet is awash with Zimbabwean news sites, but rather on the short-term solutions to the economic crisis that has paralyzed Zimbabwe. Most Zimbabweans based in the UK feel as long as they are working they can sustain their families by remittances of foreign currency. Its a flawed view as it for starters a very selfish solution, its has short term gains as it cannot be sustained over a longer period of time. Its a false sense of security as it only addresses immediate cash needs, for instance you can send say £50 to your family, at today's exchange rate its equivalent to Z$22 250 000, it does not guarantee service, if your beloved falls sick they can afford the ambulance fee but what of if the service is unavailable as it is now in Zimbabwe you will have to rely on hiring a local cab again that depends whether they can get fuel. While it can be argued but never substantiated that the life will remarkedly improve as a result of remittances from abroad it fails to address issues such as lack of fuel, the scarcity of basic food like maize meal, flour, cooking oil, sugar, the collapse of the health sector, the dangers posed by water borne diseases, the breakdown of urban infrastructure. There are many websites offering free-view decoder that picks up extra channels without the need for satellite subscription for your beloved to escape the boredom of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's propaganda but with sporadic electricity supply in Zimbabwe the flat screen TV you send them and the M-Net subscription might not be enough, you will have to look into sending them a generator, but then again with chronic shortages of fuel the generator might not even run. Remittances are excellent if there is a vibrant economy, not when 90% of the population is unemployed, inflation at unprecedented 8000% the highest in the world, add the current artificial shortages of basic goods exacerbated by terror economics. So the idea that I'm fine as long as I sent money to Zimbabwe should be dispelled here and forwith.
Whatever comforts that one can enjoy in the diaspora home is always home. The fact that one day most of the people based outside Zimbabwe will want to go back home means that their contribution in bringing change in Zimbabwe should not only be limited to financial remittances. The atmosphere alone in most host countries should encourage more Zimbabweans to become political active, with the democratic freedoms we should be seeing an avalanche of activism. During apartheid the global Anti-Apartheid movement was a force to reckon with, it bothers me why with so many Zimbabweans in exile why we cannot emulate that and firmly put Zimbabwe case on the conscience of millions who in turn can lobby their governments to help bring change in Zimbabwe. While many arm-chair activists are quick to analyse and offer their punditry blaming Tsvangirai, saying MDC has failed, the question right now is not what others have done for you, what have you done for Zimbabwe?
While those trapped in Zimbabwe continue to feel the brunt of the evil regime of Robert Mugabe, it bothers me that the majority of Zimbabweans in the diaspora remain apathetic to the situation in Zimbabwe. While there is notable activism to those that are dedicated to a new Zimbabwe, my comrades in the MDC, Free-Zim Youth, The London & Bristol Vigils, The Forum...amongst the few. Despite the noble and sometimes heroic efforts of those that still care about Zimbabwe, there are those that are here in the diaspora that cannot be bothered about Zimbabwe or its politics. Nobody knows the exact population of Zimbabwe but if estimates are correct then there are almost 4.5 million Zimbabweans living outside the country out of population of 13 million people. Of the 4.5 mill, 500 000 are estimated to be based in UK, and the rest divided amongst South Africa, US, Australia, New Zealand and others scattered in various parts of the world. A while ago Lance Guma of SW Radio Africa covered this issue arguing that Zimbabweans are found in droves at musical concerts but a few would turn for political meetings.
This apathy is not fueled by lack of information about the state of affairs in Zimbabwe, the internet is awash with Zimbabwean news sites, but rather on the short-term solutions to the economic crisis that has paralyzed Zimbabwe. Most Zimbabweans based in the UK feel as long as they are working they can sustain their families by remittances of foreign currency. Its a flawed view as it for starters a very selfish solution, its has short term gains as it cannot be sustained over a longer period of time. Its a false sense of security as it only addresses immediate cash needs, for instance you can send say £50 to your family, at today's exchange rate its equivalent to Z$22 250 000, it does not guarantee service, if your beloved falls sick they can afford the ambulance fee but what of if the service is unavailable as it is now in Zimbabwe you will have to rely on hiring a local cab again that depends whether they can get fuel. While it can be argued but never substantiated that the life will remarkedly improve as a result of remittances from abroad it fails to address issues such as lack of fuel, the scarcity of basic food like maize meal, flour, cooking oil, sugar, the collapse of the health sector, the dangers posed by water borne diseases, the breakdown of urban infrastructure. There are many websites offering free-view decoder that picks up extra channels without the need for satellite subscription for your beloved to escape the boredom of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's propaganda but with sporadic electricity supply in Zimbabwe the flat screen TV you send them and the M-Net subscription might not be enough, you will have to look into sending them a generator, but then again with chronic shortages of fuel the generator might not even run. Remittances are excellent if there is a vibrant economy, not when 90% of the population is unemployed, inflation at unprecedented 8000% the highest in the world, add the current artificial shortages of basic goods exacerbated by terror economics. So the idea that I'm fine as long as I sent money to Zimbabwe should be dispelled here and forwith.
Whatever comforts that one can enjoy in the diaspora home is always home. The fact that one day most of the people based outside Zimbabwe will want to go back home means that their contribution in bringing change in Zimbabwe should not only be limited to financial remittances. The atmosphere alone in most host countries should encourage more Zimbabweans to become political active, with the democratic freedoms we should be seeing an avalanche of activism. During apartheid the global Anti-Apartheid movement was a force to reckon with, it bothers me why with so many Zimbabweans in exile why we cannot emulate that and firmly put Zimbabwe case on the conscience of millions who in turn can lobby their governments to help bring change in Zimbabwe. While many arm-chair activists are quick to analyse and offer their punditry blaming Tsvangirai, saying MDC has failed, the question right now is not what others have done for you, what have you done for Zimbabwe?
Friday, August 24, 2007
The 10 Most Dangerous Occupations In Zimbabwe Right Now
As we slide deeper and deeper into dictatorship as in all totalitarian regimes, persecution for fictitious offenses and sometimes legal activity can reach the height of absurdity. I have compiled a list of 10 most dangerous occupations/activities in Zimbabwe right now
10) Army Officer - Is sitting at number 10 and this will surprise you but when Mugabe was away on Malaysia for Christmas together with his wife and his personal banker Gideon Gono, the elite presidential unit that guards him staged an mini insurrection, it was brutally crashed 6 junior soldiers failed to return to their homes they had been murdered. Its not even the first time, Roy Choto and Gordon Chavhunduka were tortured in 1997 after writing about the killing of 23 junior army officers who had also plotted a coup while serving in Democratic Republic of Congo to prop Kabila's regime. Earlier this year we read reports of a coup which was again brutally crashed. While members of the army are the most rewarded in Zimbabwe to guarantee Mugabe safety the recent crackdown shows its not entirely safe to be a soldier in Zimbabwe
9) At number 9 is Membership of Mutambara's faction - Yes even though they are part of Zanu PF and Mugabe's secret police (the CIO) they are continuously harassed and roughed up(don't worry nothing major)as a smokescreen to fool the world that all opposition members are under siege, an extension of Zanu PF's grand plans to pre-rig next year's elections by dividing the vote and cause confusion. Mutambara's band of opportunistic politicians belatedly withdrew a chance to come back home to the real MDC and fight a common enemy instead of pre-occupying themselves with attacking Tsvangirai.
8) At number 8 is a classic case of being at right place at the wrong time. While this is not an occupation, it actually very dangerous position to find yourself into - Occupying Office Space at Harvest House - When Mugabe was summoned to Tanzania by SADC in March, he was looking for excuses that he could present in order to justify his barbaric reaction to a peaceful prayer meeting called by The Save Zimbabwe Coalition in which President Tsvangirai and more than 60 opposition activists were brutally assaulted and left for dead. So Mugabe's goons arrived at Harvest House on Sunday March 28 looking to recover "weapons of war" which they said were hidden at the MDC headquarters. They ransacked the building I wrote about it earlier in March, breaking furniture, computers stealing cash and valuables they even broke toilet cisterns. Now The MDC Headquarters is six-storey building with the MDC occupying the 5th and the 6th floor, the other floors are occupied by private tenants. Everyone who was in the building was ordered to get into police vehicles that were parked outside Harvest House, including private tenants and their clients. More than a 100 people were arrested as Mugabe went into overdrive in order to suppress the people of Zimbabwe and justify Zimbabwe's 3/11. Say supposedly you have a 10 year lease and given the chronic harassment that MDC activists are exposed to then you can expect similar raids interruption to your business and the possibility of being arrested, tortured or even be killed just for occupying the same office as The MDC. My thoughts exactly it happens only in Zimbabwe!
7. At number 7 are Lawyers Violence and threats against Zimbabwean lawyers by police and other officials have grown more common since March 11. Many of the lawyers representing those arrested at the protest have been attacked or threatened with violence. Those targeted include Beatrice Mtetwa, who is President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe and a prominent human rights lawyer. Mtetwa and her assistant were violently manhandled and threatened by police officers while serving court papers. Harrison Nkomo was threatened with arrest by a police assistant commissioner when he tried to serve court processes and notices. He was also assaulted with a baton by officers at a police station after inquiring about the whereabouts of arrested opposition leaders. Andrew Makoni was threatened with “disappearance” when serving papers at Harare police station. Tafadzwa Mugabe was threatened with assault and arrest when trying to assert his clients’ rights to leave the country to access medical treatment. And Dzimbabwe Chimbga was threatened by officials at the airport when returning to Harare and told to stop taking up cases involving opposition members. The increasing attack by the Zimbabwean government on the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ)is manifested in a recent article published in Zimbabwe’s The Sunday Mail on 6 August 2006 and another in the Zimbabwean Herald on 12 August 2006 which make plain the Zimbabwean government’s intention to clamp down on the Law Society, an independent and self-regulating professional body of Zimbabwean lawyers. The first article written by Tafataona Mahoso, chairman of the government-controlled Media and Information Commission, and titled, "Lawyers’ body fights for return of Rhodesia", accuses the LSZ of being sponsored by foreign powers. Mahoso writes that "the LSZ has consistently encouraged and worked with external forces and organisations opposed to Zimbabwe’s African land reclamation movement." The article by Mahoso is particularly sinister for its exhortation that Zimbabwe must "figure out what it wants Government to do with the LSZ", suggesting that government action against the LSZ is imminent, despite the fact that the law society’s independence and self-regulation is ensured by statute. The second article, titled "A Lawless Society", was written under the byline "Nathanial Manheru", which is the pseudonym of Mugabe’s current spokesman, George Charamba, widely tipped to be the country’s next Minister of Information. You can read an extensive report by Beatrice Mtetwa on how dangerous it has become to practice law in Zimbabwe
6. At number 6 are Doctors. Just like lawyers above, harassment and threatening doctors gathered pace in March after the violent crackdown on opposition activists where three activists died. Douglas Gwatidzo, a shy general practitioner who specializes in emergency care at Avenues Clinic in Harare, has been at the forefront of Doctors targeted by Mugabe's government for treating MDC patients. Gwatidzo is also The Chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, he witnessed harassment of doctors first hand when he treated victims of Mugabe's crackdown on opposition in March this year. Each patient was guarded by two armed riot police officers, Gwatidzo said, and they insisted on entering the cubicle where Tsvangirai was being treated. "They were very aggressive and threatening, and demanded to be present during medical examination," Gwatidzo recalled. But the doctor said no. "I will not examine any patient under duress," he told them. "If you truly believe he can disappear, you can take me instead." The police relented, though tensions at the clinic remained high as more than 133 policemen carrying batons, pistols and shields packed an emergency room filled with the battered protesters. Doctors are finding it increasingly difficult to practice.
5)At number 5 is membership to WOZA Activists belonging Women of Zimbabwe Arise most of them mothers with babies strapped on their backs while they protest have been the arrested, beaten, tortured countless number of times. Recently some of the 19 members were arrested while playing netball. You can read extensively here about their numerous runs in with the Zimbabwe's bloodthirsty police.
4) At number 4 is being a Pastor The Zimbabwean government has made it illegal for more than three people to congregate without police consent. It should then not surprises being a Pastor has become so dangerous in Zimbabwe as any of your congregations can be arrested for holding a public meeting without police consent. Last week 15 church pastors were arrested in Zimbabwe for holding prayer meetings.
3. At number 3 is a Journalist - this the 3rd most dangerous occupation in Zimbabwe today. Being a Journalist is enemy number one to any dictatorship more so in Zimbabwe. Instead of seeing your name in print, the only print will probably be your name on charge sheet facing up to 20 years or even death, or the only print will be the epitaph on your grave as what happened to Edward Chikomba a freelance TV cameraman formerly employed by Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation who was murdered by the Zimbabwean government for allegedly leaking footage of President Tsvangirai's head injuries to CNN. In on the 13th of September 2006, Mike Saburi, a cameraman with Reuters Television, was assaulted by police officers and jailed after he filmed the police beating people involved in a banned trade union march in the capital city of Harare. There is the issue of Access To Information and Protection of Privacy act a discredited piece of legislature meant to curtail the spread of information in Zimbabwe, the recently passed bill that will allow government to monitor every communication in Zimbabwe from emails to telephone conversations. Even journalists based outside Zimbabwe cannot escape the long arm of Mugabe's law, Abel Mutsakani was shot and left for dead for no apparent reason outside his home in Johannesburg South Africa, he is the editor of Zim Online. Recently an award winning photo-journalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi was threatened by the deranged wife of an army general Jocelyn Chiwenga while he accompanied President Tsvangirai on fact finding mission after Mugabe had forced the reduction of prices in foolish defiance of the natural order of supply and demand which determines the price if commodities.
2. Knocking on the door for top honours is a Businessman With 8000 businessman and senior company executives arrested since June 26 when Mugabe ordered business to slash prices by 50%.Gertrude Nyabadza was sentenced to 8 months in prison for overcharging in her business in Zimbabwe.The price clampdown is part of efforts to tame rampant official inflation of 7000 percent, the highest in the world. Independent estimates put real inflation at closer to 40,000 percent on the few goods still available and the International Monetary Fund has forecast it will reach 100,000 percent by the end of the year. The clampdown has led to acute shortages of maize meal, meat, bread and other staples that have left store shelves bare across the country, with producers and store owners arguing they can not afford to sell goods below the cost of production just simple economics 101 but Mugabe does not get it. Nyabadza was sentenced to a year in jail with four months suspended on condition no further offenses were committed. She was convicted Aug. 10 for overcharging on unspecified goods. A very conducive environment for entrepreneurship!
At number 1 is being a member of MDC while the Zimbabwean constitution guarantees freedom for political association thats not the truth because almost every member of MDC has been subjecting to arbitrary arrests, torture, abductions, some have died at the hands of the murderous Zimbabwean police. You can read Luke Tamborinyoka 's testimony part 1 here and part 2 here to have a glimpse of how hard life has become in Zimbabwe for ordinary MDC members.
10) Army Officer - Is sitting at number 10 and this will surprise you but when Mugabe was away on Malaysia for Christmas together with his wife and his personal banker Gideon Gono, the elite presidential unit that guards him staged an mini insurrection, it was brutally crashed 6 junior soldiers failed to return to their homes they had been murdered. Its not even the first time, Roy Choto and Gordon Chavhunduka were tortured in 1997 after writing about the killing of 23 junior army officers who had also plotted a coup while serving in Democratic Republic of Congo to prop Kabila's regime. Earlier this year we read reports of a coup which was again brutally crashed. While members of the army are the most rewarded in Zimbabwe to guarantee Mugabe safety the recent crackdown shows its not entirely safe to be a soldier in Zimbabwe
9) At number 9 is Membership of Mutambara's faction - Yes even though they are part of Zanu PF and Mugabe's secret police (the CIO) they are continuously harassed and roughed up(don't worry nothing major)as a smokescreen to fool the world that all opposition members are under siege, an extension of Zanu PF's grand plans to pre-rig next year's elections by dividing the vote and cause confusion. Mutambara's band of opportunistic politicians belatedly withdrew a chance to come back home to the real MDC and fight a common enemy instead of pre-occupying themselves with attacking Tsvangirai.
8) At number 8 is a classic case of being at right place at the wrong time. While this is not an occupation, it actually very dangerous position to find yourself into - Occupying Office Space at Harvest House - When Mugabe was summoned to Tanzania by SADC in March, he was looking for excuses that he could present in order to justify his barbaric reaction to a peaceful prayer meeting called by The Save Zimbabwe Coalition in which President Tsvangirai and more than 60 opposition activists were brutally assaulted and left for dead. So Mugabe's goons arrived at Harvest House on Sunday March 28 looking to recover "weapons of war" which they said were hidden at the MDC headquarters. They ransacked the building I wrote about it earlier in March, breaking furniture, computers stealing cash and valuables they even broke toilet cisterns. Now The MDC Headquarters is six-storey building with the MDC occupying the 5th and the 6th floor, the other floors are occupied by private tenants. Everyone who was in the building was ordered to get into police vehicles that were parked outside Harvest House, including private tenants and their clients. More than a 100 people were arrested as Mugabe went into overdrive in order to suppress the people of Zimbabwe and justify Zimbabwe's 3/11. Say supposedly you have a 10 year lease and given the chronic harassment that MDC activists are exposed to then you can expect similar raids interruption to your business and the possibility of being arrested, tortured or even be killed just for occupying the same office as The MDC. My thoughts exactly it happens only in Zimbabwe!
7. At number 7 are Lawyers Violence and threats against Zimbabwean lawyers by police and other officials have grown more common since March 11. Many of the lawyers representing those arrested at the protest have been attacked or threatened with violence. Those targeted include Beatrice Mtetwa, who is President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe and a prominent human rights lawyer. Mtetwa and her assistant were violently manhandled and threatened by police officers while serving court papers. Harrison Nkomo was threatened with arrest by a police assistant commissioner when he tried to serve court processes and notices. He was also assaulted with a baton by officers at a police station after inquiring about the whereabouts of arrested opposition leaders. Andrew Makoni was threatened with “disappearance” when serving papers at Harare police station. Tafadzwa Mugabe was threatened with assault and arrest when trying to assert his clients’ rights to leave the country to access medical treatment. And Dzimbabwe Chimbga was threatened by officials at the airport when returning to Harare and told to stop taking up cases involving opposition members. The increasing attack by the Zimbabwean government on the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ)is manifested in a recent article published in Zimbabwe’s The Sunday Mail on 6 August 2006 and another in the Zimbabwean Herald on 12 August 2006 which make plain the Zimbabwean government’s intention to clamp down on the Law Society, an independent and self-regulating professional body of Zimbabwean lawyers. The first article written by Tafataona Mahoso, chairman of the government-controlled Media and Information Commission, and titled, "Lawyers’ body fights for return of Rhodesia", accuses the LSZ of being sponsored by foreign powers. Mahoso writes that "the LSZ has consistently encouraged and worked with external forces and organisations opposed to Zimbabwe’s African land reclamation movement." The article by Mahoso is particularly sinister for its exhortation that Zimbabwe must "figure out what it wants Government to do with the LSZ", suggesting that government action against the LSZ is imminent, despite the fact that the law society’s independence and self-regulation is ensured by statute. The second article, titled "A Lawless Society", was written under the byline "Nathanial Manheru", which is the pseudonym of Mugabe’s current spokesman, George Charamba, widely tipped to be the country’s next Minister of Information. You can read an extensive report by Beatrice Mtetwa on how dangerous it has become to practice law in Zimbabwe
6. At number 6 are Doctors. Just like lawyers above, harassment and threatening doctors gathered pace in March after the violent crackdown on opposition activists where three activists died. Douglas Gwatidzo, a shy general practitioner who specializes in emergency care at Avenues Clinic in Harare, has been at the forefront of Doctors targeted by Mugabe's government for treating MDC patients. Gwatidzo is also The Chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, he witnessed harassment of doctors first hand when he treated victims of Mugabe's crackdown on opposition in March this year. Each patient was guarded by two armed riot police officers, Gwatidzo said, and they insisted on entering the cubicle where Tsvangirai was being treated. "They were very aggressive and threatening, and demanded to be present during medical examination," Gwatidzo recalled. But the doctor said no. "I will not examine any patient under duress," he told them. "If you truly believe he can disappear, you can take me instead." The police relented, though tensions at the clinic remained high as more than 133 policemen carrying batons, pistols and shields packed an emergency room filled with the battered protesters. Doctors are finding it increasingly difficult to practice.
5)At number 5 is membership to WOZA Activists belonging Women of Zimbabwe Arise most of them mothers with babies strapped on their backs while they protest have been the arrested, beaten, tortured countless number of times. Recently some of the 19 members were arrested while playing netball. You can read extensively here about their numerous runs in with the Zimbabwe's bloodthirsty police.
4) At number 4 is being a Pastor The Zimbabwean government has made it illegal for more than three people to congregate without police consent. It should then not surprises being a Pastor has become so dangerous in Zimbabwe as any of your congregations can be arrested for holding a public meeting without police consent. Last week 15 church pastors were arrested in Zimbabwe for holding prayer meetings.
3. At number 3 is a Journalist - this the 3rd most dangerous occupation in Zimbabwe today. Being a Journalist is enemy number one to any dictatorship more so in Zimbabwe. Instead of seeing your name in print, the only print will probably be your name on charge sheet facing up to 20 years or even death, or the only print will be the epitaph on your grave as what happened to Edward Chikomba a freelance TV cameraman formerly employed by Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation who was murdered by the Zimbabwean government for allegedly leaking footage of President Tsvangirai's head injuries to CNN. In on the 13th of September 2006, Mike Saburi, a cameraman with Reuters Television, was assaulted by police officers and jailed after he filmed the police beating people involved in a banned trade union march in the capital city of Harare. There is the issue of Access To Information and Protection of Privacy act a discredited piece of legislature meant to curtail the spread of information in Zimbabwe, the recently passed bill that will allow government to monitor every communication in Zimbabwe from emails to telephone conversations. Even journalists based outside Zimbabwe cannot escape the long arm of Mugabe's law, Abel Mutsakani was shot and left for dead for no apparent reason outside his home in Johannesburg South Africa, he is the editor of Zim Online. Recently an award winning photo-journalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi was threatened by the deranged wife of an army general Jocelyn Chiwenga while he accompanied President Tsvangirai on fact finding mission after Mugabe had forced the reduction of prices in foolish defiance of the natural order of supply and demand which determines the price if commodities.
2. Knocking on the door for top honours is a Businessman With 8000 businessman and senior company executives arrested since June 26 when Mugabe ordered business to slash prices by 50%.Gertrude Nyabadza was sentenced to 8 months in prison for overcharging in her business in Zimbabwe.The price clampdown is part of efforts to tame rampant official inflation of 7000 percent, the highest in the world. Independent estimates put real inflation at closer to 40,000 percent on the few goods still available and the International Monetary Fund has forecast it will reach 100,000 percent by the end of the year. The clampdown has led to acute shortages of maize meal, meat, bread and other staples that have left store shelves bare across the country, with producers and store owners arguing they can not afford to sell goods below the cost of production just simple economics 101 but Mugabe does not get it. Nyabadza was sentenced to a year in jail with four months suspended on condition no further offenses were committed. She was convicted Aug. 10 for overcharging on unspecified goods. A very conducive environment for entrepreneurship!
At number 1 is being a member of MDC while the Zimbabwean constitution guarantees freedom for political association thats not the truth because almost every member of MDC has been subjecting to arbitrary arrests, torture, abductions, some have died at the hands of the murderous Zimbabwean police. You can read Luke Tamborinyoka 's testimony part 1 here and part 2 here to have a glimpse of how hard life has become in Zimbabwe for ordinary MDC members.
Gono Refused Entry Into Britain
Thank you to the British government for refusing entry to Gono, Mugabe's personal banker who has been masterminding the propping up of the battered economy and regime through controversial policies like slashing three zeroes from the Zimbabwean currency in 2006 and the introduction of Zimbawe $200 000 note in a futile bid to curb the runaway inflation that experts peg at 40000% despite various reports saying its at 7000%.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
South Africa Can Do Something If They Want To
Contrary to what ANC says that South Africa cannot do anything about Zimbabwe, and the various diction ANC led government of South Africa employs to absolve themselves from the crisis in Zimbabwe, history shows they can do something its only that they are unwilling. They have the economic wherewithal and the political clout needed to bring change in Zimbabwe. Their main argument is flawed, that Zimbabweans have to solve their own crises.
To the outside world it gives a distorted view that the people of Zimbabwe are unwilling to solve their own problems yet the people of Zimbabwe are incapacitated by a brutal government and through repressive laws. What the ANC preaches is that Zimbabweans need to find a solution through dialogue, Zanu PF is unwilling to negotiate they have even failed to turn up for meetings brokered by Mbeki. Zanu PF also keeps throwing out key negotiations points even before the talks begin like the need for a new constitution that would have ensured that result of the proposed 2008 elections are free and fair, so how can we also talk when what we want to talk about is deemed unnecessary. Since Zanu PF holds power illegally in Zimbabwe they do not see the need to negotiate as stated by Chinamasa how then can Zimbabweans solve their own problems?
Lets look at what we could do in Zimbabwe if it was a free country, we would have won the 2000 parliamentary elections had Zanu PF not rigged it. Morgan Tsvangirai could be the President now had Mugabe not rigged the 2002 Presidential Elections. Murambatsvina would not have happened, basically if people of Zimbabwe could do something about their situation then we certainly could have done something about it long ago. The only reason that is stopping us is that in Zimbabwe we live under a dictatorship, were personal freedom is curtailed, where human rights are no longer respected, where freedom to express political opinion is a dream, there is no free press in Zimbabwe. Recently for Mbeki to be tasked by the lame SADC to broker talks between opposition in Zimbabwe and the illegal government of Robert Mugabe had come about because on the 11th of March this year Mugabe's partisan police murdered Gift Tandare a member of MDC (rest in peace) and beat more than 60 opposition leaders including Morgan Tsvangirai to pulp in ua barbaric reaction to opposition called prayer meeting in Harare. Now Mr Manuel tell s how under such circumstances we can we help ourselves?
History tells us what precipitated the Lancaster House conference that ushered Mugabe and Co into power were the sanctions that were imposed by apartheid regime on the Rhodesian government. Internationally, the then Rhodesian state was placed under official United Nations sanctions almost from the start of UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) in 1965. Apart from a few daredevil adventurers who broke the sanctions by aircraft missions across Africa, White ruled South Africa became the Rhodesians' main source of supplies, including the vital oil and petrol needed to keep the wheels of the army running. Pressure was then applied to the South African government to in turn exert pressure on Ian Smith. At one stage the beleaguered country had only three days fuel and ammunition left after the supply was cut off by the then South African Prime Minister, John Vorster, in an attempt to curry favor with the American government. Vorster had been promised a lifting of pressure on South Africa by Henry Kissinger, the then 'American' Secretary of State, in return for pressure being applied to the Rhodesian government. Foolishly, Vorster believed Kissinger, and applied pressure to Rhodesia, simply cutting off shipments of vital supplies and refusing to take Smith's calls when the later tried to find out what was going on. The same would happen today if South Africa were to hermetically seal the border with Zimbabwe, cut off the electricity, refuse to buy Zimbabwean produced goods then Zanu Pf might want to negotiate. For those that think sanctions would hurt ordinary Zimbabweans, think again because what is hurting ordinary Zimbabweans today is the dictatorship that rules Zimbabwe. Like the forced price controls that have led to the shortages of basic commodities like meat, sugar, bread and oil.
At the height of apartheid black South Africans called on the world in order to defeat apartheid and the world answered their call. Our call is the same today as it was for South Africans, whereas then the enemy was a white racist government now its black government but the questions and answers remain the same, this is a government that is starving its own people a government that murders its own citizens for belonging to an opposition party. ANC should be more revolted by Mugabe, if apartheid was understandable white supremacy over blacks, surely black on black apartheid is too much to stomach.
To the outside world it gives a distorted view that the people of Zimbabwe are unwilling to solve their own problems yet the people of Zimbabwe are incapacitated by a brutal government and through repressive laws. What the ANC preaches is that Zimbabweans need to find a solution through dialogue, Zanu PF is unwilling to negotiate they have even failed to turn up for meetings brokered by Mbeki. Zanu PF also keeps throwing out key negotiations points even before the talks begin like the need for a new constitution that would have ensured that result of the proposed 2008 elections are free and fair, so how can we also talk when what we want to talk about is deemed unnecessary. Since Zanu PF holds power illegally in Zimbabwe they do not see the need to negotiate as stated by Chinamasa how then can Zimbabweans solve their own problems?
Lets look at what we could do in Zimbabwe if it was a free country, we would have won the 2000 parliamentary elections had Zanu PF not rigged it. Morgan Tsvangirai could be the President now had Mugabe not rigged the 2002 Presidential Elections. Murambatsvina would not have happened, basically if people of Zimbabwe could do something about their situation then we certainly could have done something about it long ago. The only reason that is stopping us is that in Zimbabwe we live under a dictatorship, were personal freedom is curtailed, where human rights are no longer respected, where freedom to express political opinion is a dream, there is no free press in Zimbabwe. Recently for Mbeki to be tasked by the lame SADC to broker talks between opposition in Zimbabwe and the illegal government of Robert Mugabe had come about because on the 11th of March this year Mugabe's partisan police murdered Gift Tandare a member of MDC (rest in peace) and beat more than 60 opposition leaders including Morgan Tsvangirai to pulp in ua barbaric reaction to opposition called prayer meeting in Harare. Now Mr Manuel tell s how under such circumstances we can we help ourselves?
History tells us what precipitated the Lancaster House conference that ushered Mugabe and Co into power were the sanctions that were imposed by apartheid regime on the Rhodesian government. Internationally, the then Rhodesian state was placed under official United Nations sanctions almost from the start of UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) in 1965. Apart from a few daredevil adventurers who broke the sanctions by aircraft missions across Africa, White ruled South Africa became the Rhodesians' main source of supplies, including the vital oil and petrol needed to keep the wheels of the army running. Pressure was then applied to the South African government to in turn exert pressure on Ian Smith. At one stage the beleaguered country had only three days fuel and ammunition left after the supply was cut off by the then South African Prime Minister, John Vorster, in an attempt to curry favor with the American government. Vorster had been promised a lifting of pressure on South Africa by Henry Kissinger, the then 'American' Secretary of State, in return for pressure being applied to the Rhodesian government. Foolishly, Vorster believed Kissinger, and applied pressure to Rhodesia, simply cutting off shipments of vital supplies and refusing to take Smith's calls when the later tried to find out what was going on. The same would happen today if South Africa were to hermetically seal the border with Zimbabwe, cut off the electricity, refuse to buy Zimbabwean produced goods then Zanu Pf might want to negotiate. For those that think sanctions would hurt ordinary Zimbabweans, think again because what is hurting ordinary Zimbabweans today is the dictatorship that rules Zimbabwe. Like the forced price controls that have led to the shortages of basic commodities like meat, sugar, bread and oil.
At the height of apartheid black South Africans called on the world in order to defeat apartheid and the world answered their call. Our call is the same today as it was for South Africans, whereas then the enemy was a white racist government now its black government but the questions and answers remain the same, this is a government that is starving its own people a government that murders its own citizens for belonging to an opposition party. ANC should be more revolted by Mugabe, if apartheid was understandable white supremacy over blacks, surely black on black apartheid is too much to stomach.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Who Is My Brothers's Keeper
When Cain was asked by god where his brother was Abel, he replied with a question "Am I my brother's keeper?". He was trying to deny the fact that he had a responsibility for caring for his brother just as many of us today show little concern for our brothers. That fact is highlighted by Zimbabweans embittered by the policies led by the tyrannical regime of Robert Mugabe who get little or no help from the international community.
You might have read about the deaths of two people during a stampede for sugar in Bulawayo. They add to the list of victims of direct state-led violence and others who continue die everyday in Zimbabwe in undocumented cases as a direct result of Mugabe's policies. I do not know how many victims of either direct state-led violence or indirect victims of the policies pursued by Mugabe will it take for the international community to wake up from its slumber. We thought, the deaths of Talent Mabika & Tichaona Chiminya might make the international community act, but they sat fiddling their thumbs.Then Murambatsvina came and the damning UN report some of us prayed that this is it, there is no way the international community is going to ignore even a an official UN report but our hopes were dashed. Then Zimbabwe's 3/11 came more than 60 opposition leaders were brutally assaulted by the murderous Zimbabwean police, 3 people died,2 in police custody and one was shot by police still again despite the noise of condemnation that followed it wasn't enough for the international community to act.
Now in case reminiscent of Hotel Rwanda, the British government have drawn up a
As for our African brothers forget because the SADC meeting in Lusaka has come to a close and nothing has come of it. I never expected anything from the ineffective regional body like I explained on this blog sometime in March that SADC is a club of aging African dictators who hold their countries at ransom over dubious war credentials and protect their own. It was surprising to hear that
In other news today Australia will revoke 8 student visas held by children of Mugabe's senior government. We fully welcome that move, you cannot have a situation whereby they have destroyed education in Zimbabwe and they want to send their kids overseas looting foreign currency to fund their kids studies while the rest of the population have to make do with sub-standard education so thank you to the Australian government. More is needed by the international community, while the revoking of student visas for their kids will embarrass them its too little because by tomorrow these kids will have been enrolled at either Wits University in South Africa or in Malaysia for that matter. Which leaves the proverbial question Who Is My Brother's Keeper?
You might have read about the deaths of two people during a stampede for sugar in Bulawayo. They add to the list of victims of direct state-led violence and others who continue die everyday in Zimbabwe in undocumented cases as a direct result of Mugabe's policies. I do not know how many victims of either direct state-led violence or indirect victims of the policies pursued by Mugabe will it take for the international community to wake up from its slumber. We thought, the deaths of Talent Mabika & Tichaona Chiminya might make the international community act, but they sat fiddling their thumbs.Then Murambatsvina came and the damning UN report some of us prayed that this is it, there is no way the international community is going to ignore even a an official UN report but our hopes were dashed. Then Zimbabwe's 3/11 came more than 60 opposition leaders were brutally assaulted by the murderous Zimbabwean police, 3 people died,2 in police custody and one was shot by police still again despite the noise of condemnation that followed it wasn't enough for the international community to act.
Now in case reminiscent of Hotel Rwanda, the British government have drawn up a
contingency plan to pull out 22000 of its own citizens from Zimbabwe amidst worsening economic and political climateJust like in the movie, where a convoy from a French-led intervention force arrives at a 4 star hotel that was protecting foreigners from the genocide that engulfed Rwanda in 1994, only to evacuate foreign nationals, mostly whites and journalists who were guests there. Oliver the UN soldier played by Nick Nolte leaves the hotel with only four U.N. guards and shamefully tells Paul Rusesabagina played by Don Cheadle that no foreign help is coming to stop the slaughter because no one cares enough to intervene, as troops from both the intervention force and from some of the UNAMIR nations withdrew from Rwanda. Thats the line the British government has taken for Zimbabwe, they will take care of their own and the poor and disenfranchised of Zimbabwe have to cater for themselves.
As for our African brothers forget because the SADC meeting in Lusaka has come to a close and nothing has come of it. I never expected anything from the ineffective regional body like I explained on this blog sometime in March that SADC is a club of aging African dictators who hold their countries at ransom over dubious war credentials and protect their own. It was surprising to hear that
they danced and sang in jubilationI hear it was a show of unity, it just goes to show that they do not fully grasp the problems being faced by ordinary Zimbabweans today. Instead of observing a minute of silence to all the victims Mugabe's tyranny including the 15 year old boy killed by the government while stampeding for sugar they sang in jubilation. Tutu summed it all up nicely that
we Africans should hang our heads in shamebecause I mean seriously no sane person can greet a known demonic despot dancing singing in jubilation. You will hear of an economic rescue package which has been said to have strings of reform attached to it, though it remains to be seen if Mugabe will do anything about it. Mugabe has spurned the efforts of Mbeki to broker talks between him and MDC saying his country does not need talks with MDC while they are involved in violent acts. Which is the second time that Mugabe has lied to the SADC, you all know that Mugabe's case against Paul Madzore the MDC MP accused of petrol-bombing police stations collapsed last month when it was pointed out that, it was a fictitious crime. Our own fellow brothers cannot help us, who then will come to the rescue of Zimbabweans?
In other news today Australia will revoke 8 student visas held by children of Mugabe's senior government. We fully welcome that move, you cannot have a situation whereby they have destroyed education in Zimbabwe and they want to send their kids overseas looting foreign currency to fund their kids studies while the rest of the population have to make do with sub-standard education so thank you to the Australian government. More is needed by the international community, while the revoking of student visas for their kids will embarrass them its too little because by tomorrow these kids will have been enrolled at either Wits University in South Africa or in Malaysia for that matter. Which leaves the proverbial question Who Is My Brother's Keeper?
Mutambara A CIO Plant
The mechanisations employed by Mugabe's secret police the CIO to ensure Mugabe and his kloptocrats remain in power never cease to amaze you. Everyone was surprised when Arthur Mutambara decided to join the dissidents that had broken away from the main stream MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai. Most of his friends from his early days as President of SRC at University of Zimbabwe, like Enock Chikweche aka Munyaradzi Gwisai are still in the real MDC.
After Zimbabwe's 3/11 he came out saying
His declarations of intent to stand as a Presidential Candidate is meant to divide the vote and deliver victory to Mutambara's real masters CIO & Zanu PF. For evidence you need not look any further its in everything he has said before and yesterday in Lusaka to know that he has been planted by Zanu PF to confuse the electorate. It should then not surprise anyone that Mutambara has been like rabid dog attacking Morgan Tsvangirai of late for no apparent reason. Lets say he is right and Morgan is wrong why doesn't he just move on and start his presidential campaign and we will see if anyone sane will vote him.
After Zimbabwe's 3/11 he came out saying
I will not stand against Morgan Tsvangirai5 Months down the line he says he is ready to face Mugabe & Tsvangirai what has really changed. Mutambara got sucked into the grand plan that had been devised by Thabo Mbeki. Its no secret Mbeki met with Welshman Ncube prior to the break up of Zanu PF and advised him to break away from the main MDC. Both Mbeki & Ncube underestimated the support that Morgan Tsvangirai brings to the table. The idea was to marry Ncube with Zanu PF moderate and form a government of national unity. Once Ncube had broken away and found himself without support except for his own kith, like Sibanda, Nyathi, Misihairambwi Mushonga, he then called Arthur Mutambara and he came and took a position that had been promised to Gift Chimanikire.
His declarations of intent to stand as a Presidential Candidate is meant to divide the vote and deliver victory to Mutambara's real masters CIO & Zanu PF. For evidence you need not look any further its in everything he has said before and yesterday in Lusaka to know that he has been planted by Zanu PF to confuse the electorate. It should then not surprise anyone that Mutambara has been like rabid dog attacking Morgan Tsvangirai of late for no apparent reason. Lets say he is right and Morgan is wrong why doesn't he just move on and start his presidential campaign and we will see if anyone sane will vote him.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Mugabe Already Rigging The 2008 Elections
There is a general consensus amongst activists that Mugabe and his party Zanu PF will not give up their position easily. Even though they plan to rig the election as usual, they want to give the result a semblance legitimacy by polling the largest number of votes. Some of the stages of the plans have already been implemented, the events in the past 3 years have seemed random but believe you me they were neither random nor unplanned but part of a sophisticated plan to skew the result of the forthcoming elections in their favour.
Depopulating Zimbabwe
On 18th June 2005, the illegal Zimbabwean government started Operation Murambatsvina, (Shona for drive out filth) a plan authored by Mengistu a wanted criminal guilty of genocide that he oversaw as the leader of the military junta that ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987. Mengistu fled Ethiopia in 1991 and was granted asylum by the Zimbabwean government where he began work as a consultant to Mugabe's notorious secret police the CIO. It is while working for the CIO that Mengistu was approached by Mugabe who wanted to deal with "the problem of MDC in Zimbabwe's urban areas", Mengistu pointed out to the "slum dwellers" a derogatory term meant to describe Zimbabwe's informal housing mostly extensions of existing council houses as the source of problems if ever the people of Zimbabwe rise up against Mugabe. He offered to help Mugabe using the same methods he applied during the Red Terror Campaign in Ethiopia to suppress a rebellion led by the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Party (EPRP), where 1.5 million Ethiopians died. Mugabe took heed of Mengistu and started bulldozing and destroying structures that housed informal sector businesses and homes of more than 2 million people in a guise of urban cleanup. It was not an isolated event,neither was it an urban clean up because all the affected were urban dwellers, all MDC supporters who have consistently voted MDC in every election since 2000. Zanu PF promised to rehouse the affected but still today they are homeless making them ineligible to be added to the voters roll as electors . With 90% unemployment in Zimbabwe many of my country men and women are now engaged in small to medium scale enterprising so destroying that informal sector was meant to drive them out of town out of the country in search of economic survival. What Murambatsvina achieved is what it was meant to be: to depopulate the urban areas therefore rob MDC of the its core constituent. Immediately the playing field is not level, the displaced victims of Murambatsvina are no longer eligible to be added to the voters roll as they do not have a fixed abode.
Political Persecution
On the 11th March this year, Mugabe reacted barbarically to a Save Zimbabwe Coalition led prayer meeting by arresting and severely beating and torturing more than 60 opposition party leaders and civic leaders who had gathered in Highfields to pray for Zimbabwe. The images of battered opposition figures were broadcast world over, Mugabe danced as he arrived in Tanzania for the extra-ordinary meeting of SADC to discuss problems in Zimbabwe. The message was clear to all the activists fighting for democracy as to what extent this regime would do to cling on to power. If Morgan Tsvangirai a prominent leader of MDC can be beaten unconscious and Mrs Sekai Holland a 60 year old grandmother can have both her legs broken what then awaits an ordinary rank and file member of MDC, I shudder to think. Immediately after beating up opposition leaders Mugabe's government abducted and arrested 21 MDC members amongst them an MDC Member of Parliament and The MDC Director of Elections who were held without bail for 5 months over a manufactured story. How can MDC realistically participate in the forthcoming elections when the very machinery employed by the party to spearhead the election is incapacitated by the illegal government through arbitrary arrests and political persecution? There is now an informal curfew now in Zimbabwe, you cannot be seen after certain hours you have to account for your activities, neither can more than two people congregate without police consent.
Economic Sabotage
Sometime in June Mugabe's secret police the CIO started buying massive amounts of foreign currency on the open market using freshly printed currency. In the very same week the Zimbabwean dollar went from 1 is to 70 000 against the US dollar to 1 is to 400000. The business operators mainly retailers reacted to this by increasing prices to cover the cost of stock. Thats when the illegal government announced its operation Good Governance also known as Operation Slash Prices also known as Operation Deredza Mitengo in vernacular. Under orders secret forces were deployed at all business areas instructed to force business owners to slash prices. There was no legal basis for these instructions – just orders to go into firms on a systematic basis and order them to cut prices or else. Managers and owners were specifically targeted to intimidate them into compliance those that failed to comply were arrested and charged. In the past weeks you might have seen headlines such as these:
Trillions of dollars of stock values were slashed from prices, no rational basis for these price cuts were sought or offered. Suddenly businesses faced the situation where they could not restock, could not manufacture and sell for a profit as most of their established products were now being priced into the market at below cost. Fuel was priced at half its landed cost and overnight some Z$400 billion in stock values was lost as customers scrambled to buy cheap fuel at half price or less. All imports suddenly came to a halt. The prices of all staple foods was likewise set at half or less the cost of production and when stocks ran out there was nothing to sell. Everybody knows the truth here the slashing of prices was not meant to benefit the ordinary people as it was purported but meant to hoodwink the electorate into thinking that Zanu PF cares. What Mugabe continues to do is underestimate the intelligence of Zimbabwean electorate, thinking that come election time they will sallow whole his incendiary speeches, gone are the day when a politician promised a bridge to the African electorate and they cheered. This economic sabotage is two fold, one hoodwink the electorate, drive businesses out of profit, increase unemployment and force people to migrate. If you think the deluge of Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa everyday is an isolated event, then think again. The victims of Operation Slash Prices are again mostly urban dwellers who were employees of the businesses forced to operate beyond economic means now find themselves unemployed and have to leave Zimbabwe to survive. Another significant reduction of eligible voters many MDC supporters who could deliver the defeat that have been giving Mugabe since 2000.
Other Rigging Mechanisms Already In Place
Zanu PF continues impregnating the voters roll with phantom voters. Its the only party accessible to state media, from print to TV, with most private Newspapers outlawed the only source of news is the state owned newspapers and TV that continue to churn Zanu PF propaganda after propaganda. Also the enforced absence of International election monitors and observers render any result from the 2008 election not free not fair. The absence of a new constitution makes participating in these elections a mockery. As 2008 fast approaches Zanu PF is bound to get restless and come up with new ideas to effectively rig the forthcoming elections in their quest to remain in power at whatever cost.
Depopulating Zimbabwe
On 18th June 2005, the illegal Zimbabwean government started Operation Murambatsvina, (Shona for drive out filth) a plan authored by Mengistu a wanted criminal guilty of genocide that he oversaw as the leader of the military junta that ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987. Mengistu fled Ethiopia in 1991 and was granted asylum by the Zimbabwean government where he began work as a consultant to Mugabe's notorious secret police the CIO. It is while working for the CIO that Mengistu was approached by Mugabe who wanted to deal with "the problem of MDC in Zimbabwe's urban areas", Mengistu pointed out to the "slum dwellers" a derogatory term meant to describe Zimbabwe's informal housing mostly extensions of existing council houses as the source of problems if ever the people of Zimbabwe rise up against Mugabe. He offered to help Mugabe using the same methods he applied during the Red Terror Campaign in Ethiopia to suppress a rebellion led by the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Party (EPRP), where 1.5 million Ethiopians died. Mugabe took heed of Mengistu and started bulldozing and destroying structures that housed informal sector businesses and homes of more than 2 million people in a guise of urban cleanup. It was not an isolated event,neither was it an urban clean up because all the affected were urban dwellers, all MDC supporters who have consistently voted MDC in every election since 2000. Zanu PF promised to rehouse the affected but still today they are homeless making them ineligible to be added to the voters roll as electors . With 90% unemployment in Zimbabwe many of my country men and women are now engaged in small to medium scale enterprising so destroying that informal sector was meant to drive them out of town out of the country in search of economic survival. What Murambatsvina achieved is what it was meant to be: to depopulate the urban areas therefore rob MDC of the its core constituent. Immediately the playing field is not level, the displaced victims of Murambatsvina are no longer eligible to be added to the voters roll as they do not have a fixed abode.
Political Persecution
On the 11th March this year, Mugabe reacted barbarically to a Save Zimbabwe Coalition led prayer meeting by arresting and severely beating and torturing more than 60 opposition party leaders and civic leaders who had gathered in Highfields to pray for Zimbabwe. The images of battered opposition figures were broadcast world over, Mugabe danced as he arrived in Tanzania for the extra-ordinary meeting of SADC to discuss problems in Zimbabwe. The message was clear to all the activists fighting for democracy as to what extent this regime would do to cling on to power. If Morgan Tsvangirai a prominent leader of MDC can be beaten unconscious and Mrs Sekai Holland a 60 year old grandmother can have both her legs broken what then awaits an ordinary rank and file member of MDC, I shudder to think. Immediately after beating up opposition leaders Mugabe's government abducted and arrested 21 MDC members amongst them an MDC Member of Parliament and The MDC Director of Elections who were held without bail for 5 months over a manufactured story. How can MDC realistically participate in the forthcoming elections when the very machinery employed by the party to spearhead the election is incapacitated by the illegal government through arbitrary arrests and political persecution? There is now an informal curfew now in Zimbabwe, you cannot be seen after certain hours you have to account for your activities, neither can more than two people congregate without police consent.
Economic Sabotage
Sometime in June Mugabe's secret police the CIO started buying massive amounts of foreign currency on the open market using freshly printed currency. In the very same week the Zimbabwean dollar went from 1 is to 70 000 against the US dollar to 1 is to 400000. The business operators mainly retailers reacted to this by increasing prices to cover the cost of stock. Thats when the illegal government announced its operation Good Governance also known as Operation Slash Prices also known as Operation Deredza Mitengo in vernacular. Under orders secret forces were deployed at all business areas instructed to force business owners to slash prices. There was no legal basis for these instructions – just orders to go into firms on a systematic basis and order them to cut prices or else. Managers and owners were specifically targeted to intimidate them into compliance those that failed to comply were arrested and charged. In the past weeks you might have seen headlines such as these:
5000 Business Executives Arrested in Zimbabwe
Trillions of dollars of stock values were slashed from prices, no rational basis for these price cuts were sought or offered. Suddenly businesses faced the situation where they could not restock, could not manufacture and sell for a profit as most of their established products were now being priced into the market at below cost. Fuel was priced at half its landed cost and overnight some Z$400 billion in stock values was lost as customers scrambled to buy cheap fuel at half price or less. All imports suddenly came to a halt. The prices of all staple foods was likewise set at half or less the cost of production and when stocks ran out there was nothing to sell. Everybody knows the truth here the slashing of prices was not meant to benefit the ordinary people as it was purported but meant to hoodwink the electorate into thinking that Zanu PF cares. What Mugabe continues to do is underestimate the intelligence of Zimbabwean electorate, thinking that come election time they will sallow whole his incendiary speeches, gone are the day when a politician promised a bridge to the African electorate and they cheered. This economic sabotage is two fold, one hoodwink the electorate, drive businesses out of profit, increase unemployment and force people to migrate. If you think the deluge of Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa everyday is an isolated event, then think again. The victims of Operation Slash Prices are again mostly urban dwellers who were employees of the businesses forced to operate beyond economic means now find themselves unemployed and have to leave Zimbabwe to survive. Another significant reduction of eligible voters many MDC supporters who could deliver the defeat that have been giving Mugabe since 2000.
Other Rigging Mechanisms Already In Place
Zanu PF continues impregnating the voters roll with phantom voters. Its the only party accessible to state media, from print to TV, with most private Newspapers outlawed the only source of news is the state owned newspapers and TV that continue to churn Zanu PF propaganda after propaganda. Also the enforced absence of International election monitors and observers render any result from the 2008 election not free not fair. The absence of a new constitution makes participating in these elections a mockery. As 2008 fast approaches Zanu PF is bound to get restless and come up with new ideas to effectively rig the forthcoming elections in their quest to remain in power at whatever cost.
ZINASU Slams Mbeki During The Heroes Day Commeration In London
Watch the ZINASU organised demo which was a success where students from many UK universities joined London based Zimbabwean youth and MDC activists to slam Mbeki for his collusion in the denying Zimbabweans freedom.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Stop This Monster From Travelling To Portugal
The world that we live in sometimes beggars belief, Mugabe a demagogic dictator who policies of political patronage and kleptocrasy has destroyed the economy of Zimbabwe
is kissed and hugged(sic) at a poverty reduction summit. Its a paradox that he was actual invited to such a summit with his track record of ruining once the bread basket of Africa now 6.5 million people face starvation. He violently took over farms from white commercial farmers under the guise of land re-distribution and to appease his chief constituent the so called war veterans, only for his cronies to end up with the farms and destroy backbone of the economy and thus artificially create the current food shortages. In 2005 he destroyed homes and livelihoods of more than 3 million people again calling it urban cleanup when in actual fact it was depopulating of Zimbabwe's urban area dwellers who have been a bane to Zanu PF after consistently voting MDC in all the elections that took place in Zimbabwe since 2000. Unemployment stands at 90%, Zimbabwe's average mortality rate is the lowest in the world for a country not at war, 35 for men and 34 for women. He has continued printing money to placate restless soldiers and finance his political patronage to guarantee survival and protection exacerbating the hyper-inflation which is the highest in world at 22000%. This is is the same man that then gets hugged and kissed at a poverty reduction summit, that will remain the greatest ironies of today's world.
There is a proposed EU-African Union summit due to be held in Lisbon later this year another get together for legions of aid bureaucrats that travel the world in a whirl of per diems and poverty-eradication conferences which accomplish nothing. The Portuguese are desperate for the summit to go ahead. They know Mugabe should not attend but fear an African Union boycott if he is excluded. There is travel ban in place under the EU targeted personal sanctions that prevent Mugabe and his goons to travel within the EU. Twice he has made a mockery of the light travel ban, to attend UN meetings, he is expected to do it again. The other EU leaders should make it clear to the Portuguese government that they will not attend if Mugabe is allowed to attend. As for the African Union if they boycott the summit because of the exclusion of Mugabe then it just confirms the obvious that Africa is full of dictators who go out of their way to protect their own, just as they did at the extra-ordinary SADC summit in Tanzania earlier this year following the violent crackdown by a desperate regime trying to cling power at all cost. Maybe the cost of travel from various African countries might be used for noble purposes like provision of clean water, shelter and education.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Profits Before Human Rights
There are businesses in Zimbabwe that are benefiting from the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, they care less about human rights and the absence there of in Zimbabwe where anyone opposed to the dictator's regime can be abducted, arrested, charged with fictitious crimes, tortured or even be killed. These businesses do not care about ordinary Zimbabweans whose value of wages are eroded by the rampant inflation except the pornographic amounts of profit they are making at the back of Zimbabwean people's misery. While it cannot be denied that some businesses are providing a service to the people of Zimbabwe, but there are others that are operating only driven by profits oblivious to the suffering of Zimbabweans. I know that the primary objective of a business is to make profit for its owners, but as a matter of corporate social responsibility they should moral compass that guides these corporations in situations like Zimbabwe. During apartheid a lot multi-national conglomerates pulled out of South Africa as a moral statement against apartheid but in Zimbabwe the companies that are benefiting from the Zimbabwean crisis are mainly South African.
The major player whose influence and clout is felt in every sector of the Zimbabwean economy is Delta Corporation. Delta Corporation is a holding company who major shareholders are SA Breweries, OK South Africa, to be honest its a South African owned company which operates in Zimbabwe. It owns OK Zimbabwe, the largest retailer in Zimbabwe equivalent of Tesco in UK, it also brews under license popular South African beer brands such as Castle, Lion...etc, it also owns Zimbabwe Sun which is the largest owner and operator of hotels in Zimbabwe. Its the owner of Pelhams furniture stores in Zimbabwe add its bottling and distribution coca-cola in Zimbabwe. You just have to look at the financial statements which are free for anyone to see. I do not know any other company in the world today maybe except for Google that is making profits the way it is. On a nutshell Delta Corporation's EBITDA (Earnings Before Interests, Tax and Debt Armotisation) was up by 1828% from the previous year 2005, to Zimbabwe $13 524 million, operating income grew by 1800%, turnover also increased by 1200%, dividend per share increased by 700%.
I mentioned it before and I am going to say it again that the biggest gainer in the crisis in Zimbabwe is the South African economy. The brain drain, the missed opportunities for Zimbabwean retailers forced to halve prices by the dictator worsening the shortages of basic commodities forcing Zimbabwean to take their customer to neighbouring countries. Businesses in Messina the border town near the Zimbabwe/South African border have reported roaring trade.
We’ve had a 300% increase in sales since June, which is unprecedented, so we don’t want the good times to end,” he said. We really are laughing all the way to the bank
Kleptocrasy was going to bring Zimbabwe down but to add plutocrasy becomes a different type of equation. It distorts the picture that many people who advocate for change in Zimbabwe, that while the Mugabe's kleptocrats have something to gain by maintaining the status quo so does plutocrats who masquerade as business men such Delta Corporation CEO Joel Mutizwa, Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines President Marah Hativagone and Calisto Jokonya of Confederation of Zimbabwean Industries who have profits to loose if there is a regime change in Zimbabwe. These three met Mugabe and advised him that they have the solution to Zimbabwe's economic problems and that Mugabe should give them time like 90 days to turn around the economy which analysts say will take over 40 years to turn around. Yet everyone knows that the problem in Zimbabwe does not need an economist or a business executive to turn around it requires a political solution.
Moyo A Nutcase!
The one time critic of Zimbabwe, turned arse licker of Mugabe now self-proclaimed critic of Zanu PF Jonathan Moyo should be dismissed for an opportunist he is. His latest analysis (sic) that the mood in Zimbabwe favours Mugabe nor Tsvangirai is laughable. While all Zimbabweans except for the few benefiting from the kleptocrasy want Mugabe to go its not true that majority of Zimbabweans are tired of Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai is not the dictator, he is not the one printing money to fuel political patronage and inflation at the same time, he is not the one passing laws to intercept private communication. It baggers belief that anyone who wants to point at whats wrong with Zimbabwe today have to drag Tsvangirai's name in the issue he has not ruled Zimbabwe so in what way can he be the problem? He is the solution to Zimbabwe today. I also doubt the mental capacity of editors who continue to quote him as the authoritative opinion on Zimbabwe yet he nothing but snake oil salesman a failed politician. The author of one of the most repressive pieces of legislation that outlaws anyone without a license to practice as a journalist and people continue to print his bile as the truth when its nothing except the same propaganda he churned out as the minister of information.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Zimbabwe In The Blogsphere
I voted Sokwanele blog last year on awards for African Blogs which I was also featured. I think its encouraging to get recognition for our efforts as bloggers from Zimbabwe who do it not even for monetary gain but for the love of Zimbabwe. Cry Beloved Zimbabwe is being featured amongst other African blogs on African Path, which is an aggregator for news and opinion (mostly blogs) on the African continent. The site launched at the start of 2007 and features writers from all over Africa be sure to check it out. We have also been featured on blog newspaper as we continue to spread the message about the suffering of Zimbabwean people called The Issue. The Issue is a non-partisan blog newspaper that provides a window to an emerging world of diverse and informed opinions. They cull the blogosphere for its wise insights, probing analyses, and diverse perspectives, drawing together a borderless newspaper. By combining the democratization and diversity of new media with the format and editorial standards of traditional news, they hope to offer a hybrid news source that provides the best of both worlds be sure to check it out.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Half Baked Measures In Futile Effort To Curb Hyperinflation
Almost this time last year Gono Personal banker to the dictator Mugabe slashed three zeros from the country's currency and introduced new bank notes for the convenience of shoppers who had resorted to carrying rucksacks full of banknotes to buy ordinary groceries. They have done it gain this year instead of slashing three zeros again Gono will be introducing a new Z$200 000 bank note worth GBP 50p today in a futile bid to curb inflation. Zimbabwe is grappling with high inflation with officials figures putting at 5000% but the truth that its nearer 22000% and will reach an an unbelievable 100000% but according to former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christoper Dell inflation will reach 1.5 million% by year end.
The introduction of the new note will note ease inflation in an environment where business is forced to slash prices thereby exacerbating the shortages of goods which in turn increases inflation. These measures fail to address the core problem at the heart of Zimbabwe's economic meltdown which is a crisis of governance. Thats MDC's position which is eloquently said by Nelson Chamisa
Harare Water Shortage Looms
Harare could be facing water shortages despite the fact the dams supplying water to a city of 3.5 million inhabitants are 60% full in capacity. People have resorted to carrying their own water to work, those that are still employed by the government as they make sure that none of their buildings run out of water. This just comes after news that water will be available for only 7 hours in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city with a population of 1.5 million people.
The introduction of the new note will note ease inflation in an environment where business is forced to slash prices thereby exacerbating the shortages of goods which in turn increases inflation. These measures fail to address the core problem at the heart of Zimbabwe's economic meltdown which is a crisis of governance. Thats MDC's position which is eloquently said by Nelson Chamisa
... until we resolve the governance issue, we are not going to find any economic solution because we will be tinkering on just the cosmetics.We want to address the fundamental issue, and the marrow of the matter here is to deal with the politics of the country, restoring democratic rights, making sure that we give people fundamental freedom...
Harare Water Shortage Looms
Harare could be facing water shortages despite the fact the dams supplying water to a city of 3.5 million inhabitants are 60% full in capacity. People have resorted to carrying their own water to work, those that are still employed by the government as they make sure that none of their buildings run out of water. This just comes after news that water will be available for only 7 hours in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city with a population of 1.5 million people.
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