Mugabe vows early elections if unity govt fails

http://news.yahoo.com

Fri Dec 5, 7:21 am ET

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe brandished the threat of
fresh elections in a bid to force through a stalled power-sharing deal as
the United States called for him to quit.

As a cholera epidemic in the crisis-wracked country worsened, a defiant
Mugabe lashed the opposition Movement for Democratic for refusing to join a
national unity government in which he would remain as president.

Neighbouring South Africa meanwhile said it was time for an end to
"political point-scoring" while US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said
the negotiations being conducted by Mugabe with the MDC were a "sham".

"It is well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave," said Rice during a brief
visit to Copenhagen. "I think that is now obvious."

In an address on Thursday night, Mugabe showed he was in no mood to bow to
MDC demands to hand over control of the key interior ministry, saying he
would call early elections if the two sides could not work together.

"We agreed to give them (the MDC) 13 ministries while we share the ministry
of home affairs, but if the arrangement fails to work in the next
one-and-a-half to two years, then we would go for elections," Mugabe was
quoted as saying by The Herald, a government newspaper.

Zimbabwe has been in political limbo since elections in March when the
opposition wrested control of parliament from Mugabe's party and MDC leader
Morgan Tsvangirai pushed Mugabe into second place in a presidential poll.

But Tsvangirai pulled out of a run-off poll in June after dozens of his
supporters were killed in attacks blamed on Mugabe supporters.

The two rivals signed an agreement in September to share power, but it has
yet to be implemented after fierce disagreements over who should control key
ministries.

Tsvangirai says he wants to join a unity government but Mugabe must give up
the interior ministry after keeping hold of the defence ministry.

In comments made to his ZANU-PF party's politburo and reported by The
Herald, Mugabe accused the MDC of trying to destroy the power-sharing
agreement.

"The MDC should say no if they do not want to be part of the inclusive
government," said Mugabe, 84, who has ruled the former British colony since
independence in 1980.

While Tsvangirai and Mugabe at loggerheads, the country has been steadily
collapsing amid an inflation rate last put at 231 million percent.

With the government now unable to afford the chemicals needed to ensure a
clean water supply, a cholera epidemic has swept across the country and even
crossed the border into South Africa.

In its latest bulletin on Friday, the UN's Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs said the outbreak had now claimed 575 lives with a
total of 12,700 cases.

The capital Harare is the worst-hit district with 179 deaths and 6,448 cases
as of December 4, it said in a statement.

South Africa, whose former president Thabo Mbeki has been trying to mediate
between ZANU-PF and the MDC, said it was sending a high-level delegation to
Zimbabwe to assess how it can provide assistance.

Government spokesman Themba Maseko said the crisis had reached such levels
that "the time for political point scoring is over."

"I would be extremely surprised if the outbreak of cholera, the death of
innocent Zimbabweans as a result of a failure of politicans to reach an
agreement does not spur them to more urgent action."

South Africa has expressed confidence a draft amendment to the constitution
paving the way toward a new government will be signed in a matter of days.

"Chances are the principals will sign this amendment as soon as possible and
that parliament will be convened as soon as possible ... and that the way
will be clear for a representative governmentt to be established as soon as
possible," Maseko told reporters in Cape Town.

Despite being harshly critical of Mugabe's government, the former colonial
power Britain has announced a 10-million-pound (14.7-million-dollar,
11.5-million-euro) emergency aid package.

The United States also said it was providing 600,000 dollars to help fight
the cholera outbreak while the International Committee of the Red Cross said
over 13 tonnes of medical supplies has arrived in Harare.

Rice: 'It's well past time' for Zimbabwe's Mugabe to leave office

http://www.chicagotribune.com

  By ANNE GEARAN | AP Military Writer
  9:05 AM CST, December 5, 2008
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday
that it is "well past time" for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to leave
office as evidenced by the nation's calamitous cholera epidemic and health
care crisis.

Rice said the country experienced "a sham election," followed by a sham
sharing of power. Speaking in the Danish capital Friday, she said the
current outbreak of cholera in the country should be a sign to the
international community that it is time to stand up to Mugabe.

"If this is not evidence to the international community to stand up for what
is right, I don't know what would be. And frankly the nations of the region
have to do it," she said. The nations in southern Africa have the most to
lose and need to take the lead, she said.

Zimbabwe declared a national emergency over a cholera epidemic and the
collapse of its health care system, and state media reported Thursday the
government is seeking more international help to pay for food and drugs to
combat the crisis.

"It's well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave, that's now obvious," she
said. "There has been a sham election, there was a sham power-sharing. We
are now seeing the humanitarian toll."

Rice said "we are seeing not only the political and economic toll that is
being taken on the people of Zimbabwe but the toll in the humanitarian
dimension as the cholera epidemic has broken out. It is time for the
international nations to push Mr. Mugabe out."

She said the United States "will always do anything and everything it can to
help innocent people who are suffering. We are not going to deny assistance
to people who are in need because of Mugabe."

The U.S. Agency for International Development has said it would provide an
additional $600,000 to help combat the cholera outbreak. This assistance is
in addition to the $4 million water, sanitation, and hygiene emergency
program USAID is already implementing in Zimbabwe.

The failure of the southern African nation's health care system is one of
the most devastating effects of the country's overall economic collapse.

Facing the highest inflation in the world, Zimbabweans are struggling just
to eat and find clean drinking water. The United Nations says the number of
suspected cholera cases in Zimbabwe since August has climbed above 12,600,
with 570 deaths, because of a lack of water treatment and broken sewage
pipes. Besides shortages of food and other basics, even cash is scarce.

Cholera is an infectious intestinal disease that is contracted by consuming
contaminated food or water. Its symptoms include severe diarrhea.

Rice's comments on Zimbabwe came during an appearance with Denmark's Prime
Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Rice is making a tour of various cities
overseas as her tour in the job of secretary of state comes to a close.

Rice expressed "deep regret" for the deaths of two Danish soldiers who were
killed in Afghanistan on Thursday, adding that nothing of value is won
without sacrifice. "Afghanistan must never be allowed again to be a safe
haven for terrorists," Rice said. She said a review being done by the Bush
administration and its NATO allies of the mission in Afghanistan is nearly
complete.

"It is under way. It is, very frankly, almost completed," she said. "It is
being reviewed by the principals of the National Security Council and it is
going to be discussed with our friends. And at that point I expect that some
elements of it will be made public in some way."

Some have called for more troops in Afghanistan, a sentiment backed Friday
by Danish leader Fogh Rasmussen.

"We have to make sure that the mission will be a success," he said. We must
prevail and we need more troops."

___

Associated Press writer Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this
report.

Tutu: Mugabe should be toppled and indicted in The Hague

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Africa News
Dec 5, 2008, 12:22 GMT

Amsterdam/Copenhagen - The international community should be prepared to
intervene military in Zimbabwe and indict Robert Mugabe if he refuses to
meet the world's demands and step down, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu
told Dutch media.

Speaking in the late night Dutch current affairs programme NOVA on Thursday,
the bishop, aged 77, said the Zimbabwean president must be forced out of
power as soon as possible.

'The point is that we should stop the suffering of so many people,' said the
1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was in the Netherlands to award the 2008
Childrens' World Peace Prize.

The bishop said the current state of Zimbabwe and the deplorable situation
of its people has made him change his strategy concerning Mugabe.

Tutu said that previously 'I myself felt that Mugabe should be given a soft
landing. I then said he should be tempted with a carrot: 'If you step down,
we will not bring you to (the International Criminal Court in) The Hague.''

The Netherlands-based International Criminal Court (ICC) is a court of last
resort for serious crimes of international concern, including genocide,
crimes against humanity and war crimes.

'Today I think the world must say (to Mugabe): 'Look, you have been
responsible for gross violations and you are going to face indictment in The
Hague - unless you step down.'

'He has destroyed a wonderful country. Zimbabwe has become an empty basket.
The country needs help,' Tutu added, saying that African countries should
play an important role in the process of forcing Mugabe out of power.

'The world should bring him to The Hague and this should also include
African countries as well as the European Union. If necessary, it should
happen by force, by the African Union, (the South African Development
Community) SADC, and the European Union. They have got that capacity.'

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday called for
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to step down, citing the recent cholera
outbreak as an example of his failed government.

Describing Mugabe's departure was 'long overdue,' Rice called elections that
had brought Mugabe to power a 'sham.'

After a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in
Copenhagen, Rice urged the international community, especially Zimbabwe's
southern African neighbours, to help break the political impasse over a
power-sharing government between Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Miliband backs African calls for end of Mugabe

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

December 5, 2008

Nico Hines
David Miliband and Condoleezza Rice called for the end of Robert Mugabe's
Zimbabwean regime today as they tried to shore up growing support within
Africa for the removal of the veteran president.

A cholera epidemic, which has killed at least 570, has highlighted the
deterioration of Zimbabwe's infrastructure and the inability of the
power-sharing government to deal with it.

Yesterday, African leaders made the rare decision to speak out against Mr
Mugabe, one of the continent's liberation heroes. Archbishop Desmond Tutu
called for military regime change if necessary while Raila Odinga, the
Kenyan prime minister, demanded that African governments work together to
topple him.

Mr Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, was quick to pledge his support to those
voices. He said: "Zimbabwe's neighbours, regional powers, African leaders
and the parties in Zimbabwe should know that there is massive international
support for any collective effort to bring a real change to Zimbabwe: change
that gives the people of Zimbabwe the government they need, deserve and
voted for."

Harare has been convulsed by violence this week as frustration grows at
faltering supplies of water, food and medication. The Zimbabwean government
has been forced make a rare public admission that it is unable to cope with
the crisis, yesterday the health minister conceded that foreign help was
needed to revive the medical system.

Mr Miliband said: "Around the world people are watching with horror the
worsening situation in Zimbabwe. World leaders are debating what can be done
to alleviate suffering in the face of a Government seemingly so determined
to bring misery on its own people

"The deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe is a further illustration of the
misrule of Zimbabwe's rogue government. The economy is in free-fall.
Education and health systems have failed. Public infrastructure is in
terminal decline and the government is unwilling and unable to look after
its own people."

Dr Rice, the US Secretary of State, joined the international condemnation
and urged collective action.

"It's well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave, that's now obvious. There
has been a sham election, there was a sham power-sharing. We are now seeing
the humanitarian toll," she said.

"We are seeing not only the political and economic toll that is being taken
on the people of Zimbabwe but the toll in the humanitarian dimension as the
cholera epidemic has broken out. It is time for the international nations to
push Mr Mugabe out."

Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international
help to combat a cholera outbreak that has infected at least 12,700 people,
according to the United Nations.

The country has an official inflation rate of 231 million per cent but
inflation is seen much higher with prices doubling every 24 hours. Basic
foods are often unobtainable and the currency is worthless.

The cholera cases have been fuelled by the collapse of the water system,
which has forced residents to drink from contaminated wells and streams.

South Africa said it would send a team of senior government officials to
Zimbabwe next week to assess the food crisis and investigate what aid is
needed as the disease begins to spread to neighbouring countries.

Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana have reported cases and thousands of
Zimbabweans are believed to cross the border, often illegally, into South
Africa each day. A cholera centre has been set up in the South African
border town of Musina.

Zimbabwe does not have the funds to pay doctors and nurses or buy medicine
and Oxfam estimates at least 300,000 people weakened by lack of food are in
danger from the epidemic.

Africa's inaction on Zimbabwe a sad chapter in history

http://www.eastandard.net

East African Standard Editorial

Updated 2 hr(s) 20 min(s) ago
Where is the voice of Africa when Zimbabwe, which President Robert Mugabe
has turned into a pigsty, is falling and human misery painful and
incomprehensible?

Where is the conscience of the continent when cholera is sweeping
Zimbabweans to an early grave, with hundreds presumed dead?

Where else on earth have we seen a leader subdue his people, subject them to
the life of a leech bled to fatten a heifer, as the rest of the world just
watches? Zimbabwe is not Somalia or Afghanistan where other factors are at
play. It is a home to some of the most peaceful members of the African
household.

We revisit Zimbabwe's woes not just because of the misery of life in the
southern state but the picture of primitivity and ignominy she gives Africa
as the sea of artificial poverty and factory of disease.

Many have warned Zimbabwe is a time bomb, and when it shall implode the
world will be slandered and shamed. This week the soldiers left the barracks
to loot shops.

Tension is high and the rope of patience could snap before the mid-December
return to the negotiating table by the parties struggling to piece together
a joint government. Mugabe still holds onto the choicest and most succulent
parts of the kill he stole in a re-run in which he ran against himself. Here
are the meltdown figures, which Mugabe readily blames on economic blockade
by the West, as condensed by Reuters this week:

Inflation reached 231 million per cent a year in July. Economists think it
is now much higher and say prices are doubling daily.

Gross Domestic Product has fallen every year since 2000, down 10.4 per cent
in 2003 alone. Zimbabwe has the world's fastest shrinking economy for a
country not at war, according to the World Bank.

Falling life expectancy

An estimated 83 per cent of the population was living on below $2 a day by
2005. Since then, the situation has only worsened.

Unemployment is estimated at over 90 per cent. Well over three million
Zimbabweans are thought to have fled, in search of work and food.

Average life expectancy fell from 63 years in 1990 to 40.9 years in 2005,
according to UN figures.

The official death toll from a cholera epidemic since August is at least
565, with more than 12,500 infected.

The shop shelves are empty and the water taps were switched off in Harare
this week, ostensibly to hold back the spread of cholera. Hospitals and
schools are in paralysis. Electricity is almost non-existent. Reuters penned
down its worst fear this week even as Mugabe continued with his belligerence
and bellicose posture: "But as the weeks and months glide by there is hardly
any Zimbabwe left to govern or unite."

The shame with Zimbabwe is that half of Africa has left it to its fate, and
the other half has chosen the traditional approach - not to 'meddle' in the
affairs of another state. In between are the middle-grounders who see it as
a regional matter and so are better handled by the Southern African
Development Community through its point man, former South African President
Thambo Mbeki.

The world through the UN has condemned, but concentrated on humanitarian
effort, even as it becomes clear its military presence gets inevitable by
the day. The African Union is sitting on its laurels, praying it is a bad
dream that would go away if we wish it away.

Africa has let down Zimbabwe and whichever way it goes, our inaction will
haunt us for many years to come and will be a sad chapter in history.

South Africa still reluctant to hold Mugabe accountable

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
05 December 2008

South Africa has called for an end to 'political squabbling' in Zimbabwe,
and says it will pressure all political parties to sign the constitutional
amendment. This call has been criticized by observers as failing to
appreciate the problems facing the country. Political commentator Bekithemba
Mhlanga told Newsreel that in order for the right solutions to be prescribed
a correct defining of the problem was necessary. In this case it is
incorrect to blame the MDC together with ZANU PF, for the political crisis.

Mhlanga said the MDC won the elections in March and the problem Zimbabwe
faces is ZANU PF's intransigence in refusing to accept a democratic result.
He said the MDC as victors were actually magnanimous in doing a deal with a
party that had no legal standing to be in government, on the back of a
violent, discredited one man presidential run-off in June. He called on
South Africa and other like minded people to focus their pressure on Mugabe
and ZANU PF as the people responsible for crisis. The MDC have absolutely no
control over what is happening, as is clear from the fact that 18 activists
have recently been abducted and are still missing.

Zimbabweans are battling with a cholera and anthrax outbreak, starvation,
water cuts, power cuts, cash shortages and unprecedented political
repression which has led to the arresting, beating up and murder of
opposition activists. All this has resulted from Mugabe trying to sustain
his illegitimate hold on power. Botswana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Phandu
Skelemani, made it clear in a BBC interview that privately African leaders
criticize Mugabe, but always balk at doing so publicly or in an open meeting
in his presence.

But this week has seen a ratcheting up of pressure from US Secretary of
State Condoleeza Rice, Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Archbishop
Desmond Tutu and others who want Mugabe to be pushed out. This is in stark
contrast to South Africa, who still believe a power sharing deal will work
and seem to suggest that the signing of constitutional amendment 19 will
solve everything. The MDC have repeatedly stated that the allocation of
cabinet portfolios, appointment of ambassadors, permanent secretaries,
provincial governors and the role of the newly formed National Security
Council all have to be resolved.
Meanwhile civil society groups have demanded that SADC and the African
Union, who are guarantors of the power sharing deal, ensure the immediate
cessation of the new wave of arrests, abductions and assaults on citizens
and political activists. In a joint letter addressed to South African
President Kgalema Motlanthe as SADC Chairperson and Tanzanian President
Jakaya Kikwete as the head of the African Union, the groups said the
crackdown made a mockery of the deal signed in September.

'US cannot dictate to Zim'

http://www.iol.co.za

    December 05 2008 at 02:45PM

Harare - Zimbabwe's government on Friday slammed US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice's call for President Robert Mugabe to step down, saying it
was not for Washington to "dictate" to the African nation.

"Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and cannot be dictated to by some secretary
of state of another country no matter how big," said Information Minister
Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

"Zimbabweans are the ones who can tell Mugabe to leave office through a
constitutional means," he said.

Rice made her comments Friday during a brief visit to Copenhagen.

"It is well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave," she said. "I think that
is now obvious.

"If this is not evident for the international community, that it is time to
stand up for what is right, I don't know what would be," she said.

But Ndlovu said the leadership of a sovereign state "cannot be determined by
any other country except by the people of that country."

Zimbabwe has been in political limbo since elections in March when the
opposition wrested control of parliament from Mugabe's party and opposition
leader Morgan Tsvangirai pushed the veteran leader into second place in a
presidential poll.

Tsvangirai pulled out of a run-off election in June, however, ensuring
victory for Mugabe, after dozens of opposition supporters were killed in
attacks blamed on Mugabe supporters.

A power-sharing deal between the ruling Zanu-PF and opposition MDC, signed
in Harare on September 15, is yet to be implemented as political leaders
struggle to reach agreement on the distribution of ministries. - AFP

Top SA officials to assess Zimbabwe situation

http://www.sabcnews.com/

December 05 2008,
6:02:00

Faced with a deepening humanitarian crisis on its northern border,
South Africa is dispatching top officials to Zimbabwe on a fact finding
mission. Director-General in the presidency, Rev. Frank Chikane, and his
team leave for Harare this weekend. The aim is to determine the kind of
intervention needed to help its neighbour. The SADC secretariat has also
been invited to join.

"The purpose of the visit is to assess the situation on the ground, to
determine the level of assistance required and to consult with
representatives of the various stakeholders in Zimbabwe on how a
multi-stakeholder distribution and monitoring mechanism could be set up,"
says government spokesperson, Themba Maseko.

After the mission, the team will make recommendations to the
ministerial task team set up by President Kgalema Motlanthe next week. The
President and ministers will then decide on the humanitarian aid that will
be provided by the South African government to the people of Zimbabwe.

South Africa is already helping Zimbabweans who have crossed the
border to Musina, At least R500 000 worth of medical supplies have been made
available through the World Health Organisation. South African companies
have also pledged more than R700 000 worth of donations. The SA Military
Health Services will also deploy its personnel to Musina to relieve pressure
off the public health services.

Dramatic humanitarian and health crisis
The European Union (EU) is also sending a team of experts to Zimbabwe
this weekend to assess the what it calls the "dramatic" humanitarian and
health crisis in that country. The bloc has also stipulated that over R100
million in Aid be used specifically for health related services. Based on
the team's assessment, the bloc may make millions of euro's available in
emergency aid. Meanwhile, funds have been diverted to boost basic health
related services.

On Monday the bloc's foreign ministers will meet to review the
targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe. Two months ago calls went out for them
to be lifted but now its expected that they will be maintained and more than
likely expanded. United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has held
an urgent discussion with Motlanthe as part of UN efforts to intervene in
the situation in that country. In a telephonic conversation, Ban Ki Moon
stressed the need for the speedy resolution of the political impasse and to
halt the spiralling humanitarian crisis.

The UN says donor countries and aid agencies are showing a lot of
generosity to Zimbabwe and have made pledges to send more food and medical
supplies to help the desperate Zimbabweans.

High Court judges play hide & seek games in Mukoko abduction case

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
5 December 2008

The Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, Jestina Mukoko, was kidnapped
from her Norton house on Wednesday morning but has not been found, despite
human rights lawyers combing various police stations in and around Harare.

Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has been trying since Thursday to file an urgent High
Court application, to force police commissioner Augustine Chihuri to release
the prominent rights activist, but the courts are clearly reluctant to deal
with the matter.

Mtetwa told SW Radio Africa that one judge after another - all female -
declined to hear the matter, giving flimsy excuses. "All of them are women
and this is the week when we are trying to enter 16 days of violence against
women and you would have thought women judges would want to stand up and be
counted as being part of this activism but no, no, no they haven't."

She said three female judges either haven't turned up to court to hear the
case or have announced that they were on leave and could not hear the case.
The defense team said they tried to accost one of the judges in the car park
on Friday, only to be told that the matter would be heard Monday.

This is despite the fact that there were already some male judges at the
High Court who could have been assigned to hear the matter urgently, but
that didn't happen. Mtetwa was told that the male judges were either off
duty or not based in Harare.

Mtetwa said she is extremely frustrated and this is the second illegal
abduction case she has had to deal with where the judiciary played games.
She said the last case was in April when MDC activist Tonderai Ndira was
abducted and the courts played the same games. Ndira was later found
murdered.

The outspoken rights lawyer added: "If any proof is required to demonstrate
that the rule of law has completely, completely broken down in Zimbabwe -
this is the case."

Another lawyer Otto Saki went with a team of legal practitioners to police
stations within and outside Harare such as Nyabhira and as far away as
Chinhoyi on Friday in search of Mukoko.

He said the feeling now was that she is not being held in an official police
station.  The rights lawyer ruled out criminal activities saying the
individuals who abducted Mukoko at 5am from her home produced a firearm and
introduced themselves to Mukoko's gardener and son as police officers.

Saki said: "If they were criminals I am yet to hear of criminals who only
take a half dressed woman and leave household goods and other property."

He said there has also been a pattern in the last few days of field officers
from the Zimbabwe Peace Project being harassed and arrested. On Thursday
Pascal Gonzo from the ZPP offices in Nyanga was briefly arrested and
released after being interrogated about ZPP operations.

The group has over the years documented human rights violations perpetrated
in Zimbabwe.

In a related issue, several MDC activists and a two year old baby are still
missing, a month after they were kidnapped in the Zvimba area. Two other
activists were abducted last week in Harare and Norton. They are also still
missing.

15 NCA demonstrators to spend weekend behind bars

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
05 December 2008

15 people who took part in Thursday's peaceful demonstration led by the
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) will spend the weekend behind bars -
after they were denied court rights on Friday.

The group was part of an estimated 1000 people that took to the streets in
the central business district of Harare on Thursday afternoon for a peaceful
demonstration calling for, among other things, the desperate humanitarian
crisis in the country to be immediately addressed.

The NCA has called on the public to protest weekly until a resolution to the
political crisis engulfing Zimbabwe is found and implemented. The protests
call for a transitional authority, not a government, to immediately address
the humanitarian crisis and as well as facilitate the writing of a
people-driven democratic constitution.

But the past two mass actions have been marred by a violent crackdown on the
demonstrators, who have faced arrest and beatings at the hands of police,
and Thursday's march was no different. Riot police launched a full scale
attack on the group of protesters, firing tear gas into the crowd and
beating them with batons. At least 22 people were seriously injured,
including one man who was savagely beaten in the back of a pick up truck
used by police to haul many demonstrators away.

The group's spokesman, Madock Chivasa, told Newsreel on Friday that 15
people are still being detained at the Harare Central Police Station. He
explained that the group of detainees have not yet been charged and have
been denied court rights, with police refusing to escort them to the city's
Magistrates Court.

"We are very disappointed with the police's brutality and
 unprofessionalism," Chivasa said. "The police are punishing our members by
keeping them behind bars over the weekend because they are NCA."

Chivasa emphasised that the demonstrations will continue "until our demands
have been heard", and renewed the group's call for the public to join the
demonstrations.

"We invite all Zimbabweans to join these protests and continue struggling
for the positive change that will see this country emerge from its current
disastrous state," Chivasa said.

Meanwhile at least 40 people remain in police custody after the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) held demonstrations across the country on
Wednesday.  The police are holding 32 people in Gweru, seven in Bulawayo and
unconfirmed numbers in Chinoyi - all without charge. The workers were
arrested on Wednesday when riot police used force to break up the peaceful
protest over the massive cash crisis in the country.

Those arrested in Kariba, Harare and Karoi have all been released, but those
in Gweru, Bulawayo and Chinoyi are still being detained. Police are
apparently refusing to release them in a deliberate attempt to keep them in
custody over the weekend

Where is Zim rights activist?

http://www.iol.co.za

    December 05 2008 at 02:48PM

The whereabouts of a Zimbabwean human rights activist allegedly
kidnapped earlier this week must be made known, the SA Council of Churches
said on Friday.

Jestina Mukoko was kidnapped, allegedly by a group of men dressed in
civilian clothes from her home in Norton on the outskirts of Harare in the
early hours of Wednesday, said SACC general secretary Eddie Makue in a
statement.

"Her teenaged son watched helplessly as the men, who reportedly
identified themselves as officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, wrestled
her into an unmarked silver Mazda 323 Familia and sped off into the night.

"Mukoko has not been seen since."

Mukoko was a journalist heading the Zimbabwe Peace Project - a civil
society organisation monitoring human rights abuses as part of involvement
in local peace building.

She had now been missing for more than 48 hours.

"We are outraged by her abduction and by the persistently high levels
of political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe."

Makue said it was particularly distressing that the abduction of a
woman, clothed only in a nightdress, occurred during the 16 days of activism
against violence against women.

The SACC and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa said
Zimbabwean authorities, the Southern African Development Community and the
African Union needed to establish Mukoko's whereabouts and safety.

If she had been arrested, the state should reveal what charges she
faced and give her access to lawyers and family.

If she had been kidnapped, security forces should secure her release
and arrest those responsible.

"We demand further the immediate and unconditional release of all
individuals who are being illegally held by the state authorities in
Zimbabwe and the cessation of purges, violence and organised torture by the
current establishment and its security agents," said Makue. - Sapa

EU considering more Zimbabwe sanctions: envoys

Reuters

Fri 5 Dec 2008, 12:10 GMT

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union plans more sanctions on Zimbabwe
next week unless there is progress in ending political deadlock before a
meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers, EU diplomats said.

The 27-nation bloc has prepared a list of 11 Zimbabwean officials to be
added next Monday or Tuesday to the list of over 100 officials, including
President Robert Mugabe, who cannot travel to the EU, two diplomats said.

One other official would be deleted from that blacklist, they said.

One diplomat said the plan was for the EU Council to adopt the additional
sanctions on Monday, but that could be postponed if there was progress on
the ground by then.

"All the documents are being prepared ... pending a flash of light in
Zimbabwe," a second diplomat said, adding that those to be added to the
sanctions list were responsible for violence in the southern African
country.

On-off power-sharing talks between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC have made little progress since
they reached a deal in September seen as the best hope of pulling Zimbabwe
back from economic collapse.

A spreading cholera outbreak has added to Zimbabwe's woes.

Critics blame the economic crisis on Mugabe's policies, such as seizing
white-owned farms to give to black Zimbabweans. The 84-year-old leader, in
power since independence from Britain, blames sanctions from Western
countries.

The diplomats said the final decision would be taken by EU foreign ministers
on Monday or Tuesday -- and not by EU envoys ahead of the meeting, as is
often the case -- to allow the bloc to take account of any progress in
Zimbabwe.

"If we have to put more pressure we will put more pressure," a third EU
diplomat said.

A draft statement prepared for Monday's EU foreign ministers' meeting also
says that the EU is deeply concerned by the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe and
urges full access to humanitarian aid for all of the country's population.

Targeted Sanctions - Why Not The Judges and Magistrates

http://changezimbabwe.com


Written by Gerald Shire
Friday, 05 December 2008

      State propaganda recently celebrated members of the public being
abducted at gunpoint and forced to fill gullies left by diamond "miners"
with their bare hare hands as a form of justice

      For all the cases that were brought to court but never found
justice because the judiciary is complicity in the Mugabe regime's
dictatorship, Gerald Shire opines most of the judges and magistrates
involved in burying cases, postponing others forever and making judgements
to protect the state should also be sanctioned.

      The escalated paranoia in the desperate Zanu PF circles about
sanctions is indicative that they are increasingly having the desired
effect.

      The EU and the US have mooted that even further sanctions are in
the pipeline if the Mugabe regime remains intransigent in the face of
reality.

      Zanu PF are still adamant that they will not change because they
well know what will happen to them and their plunder when they inevitably
lose their grip on ransacking opportunities and power.

      Whilst there are many accountable factions responsible for the
demise of Zimbabwe, the Judiciary ranks high in the order of actively
enabling the ongoing tyranny in Zimbabwe.

      Zanu PF acolytes endlessly recycle the same old self-generated
myths about the "evil" west and blame them for the endless spiral towards
their own crafted national implosion. A hallmark of the Zanu PF culture is
that they care for none but themselves.

       Ironically they are shameless and thankless about the billions
of US$ Aid funds that have been poured into the country. Most know (except
certain woolly-minded donors) that a Zanu PF clique creams off about 36% of
this forex (via Gono enablement) to stoke their own survival and
self-aggrandizing looting programs.

      Their favorite but over-used rants include :- "illegal
 sanctions"; agrarian reform; sovereign state; racists; solidarity; total
emancipation and liberation of the nation; empowerment; the yoke of
colonialism, 'settlerism' and neocolonialism; regime change; puppets;
agrarian reform; sell-outs; "Zanu PF styled democracy" and boringly much
much more.

      One has to wonder if the despairing Zanu PF comrades actually
believe their own propagandist claptrap because anyone with an IQ over 50
points knows that these are typical Zanu PF lies and futile propaganda.

      Of course South African marxist solidarity comrades like "lame
duck" Thabo Mbeki, the intellectually under-developed Aziz Goolam Hoosein
Pahad and the incoherent Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma subscribe to these
blatant lies because they are also well-proven to be major abettors of
Mugabism, global retrogression and tyranny.

      The Mugabe chefs and their cohorts know exactly why they have
been listed on these sanctions schedules compiled by numerous first world
civilized nations, yet they continue to wail.

       They also know that there is nothing illegal about them, as a
now seriously embarrassed Senator Aguy Georgias recent found out.

      In essence, being a designated person or entity is as a
consequence of the existence of adequate evidence that justifies the
listing.

      Over the years targeted sanctions lists have been crafted by
various leading cultured nations such as the USA, Australia, the EU, New
Zealand and more recently Canada.

      A consolidation of these already published enumerations produces
a schedule of several hundred names and entities.

      Of course, there are thousands more State/Zanu PF enabled
maleficent criminals that will need to be held accountable for their evil
actions in due time.

       To be listed on a sanctions schedule indicates that there are
reasonable grounds to believe that they are connected with the Zanu PF
Government of Zimbabwe or persons or entities engaged in activities that
seriously undermine democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law
in Zimbabwe.

      Being on such a list is analogous to being on an Interpol or
Americas Most Wanted Criminal list.

      It is like having an international criminal record for a
lifetime. Conduct that typically qualifies for listing includes Zanu PF
proxies and politicians who have seen fit to contemptuously sponsor or
ignore selective intimidation and state-sponsored violence, violation of
human and property rights, flouting of electoral regulations, justice, law
and order, the principles of good governance and of genuine democracy, and
resort to naught but endless vituperative, vitriolic outpourings against
those that do not meekly accept those politicians' belief in an omnipotent
right to entrench themselves in near perpetuity, to exercise excessive power
over the peoples that they dominate, cannot reasonably be contested.

      The sanctions take various forms but often include components
such as investment curtailment, travel rights restrictions, banning arms
exports, freezing the assets of many miscreants including top Zimbabwean
officials, banning Zimbabwean aircraft from flying over or landing in
certain countries, prohibition on the provision of technical or financial
assistance or services relating to arms and related material, including the
provision, transfer or communication of technical data, to Zimbabwe or any
person in Zimbabwe.

      Another form or dimension of sanctions is sensible and entirely
voluntary.

      Who would want to invest in a despotic state criminalized
country where nothing is secure.

      Of course there are those that actually do invest who are either
plain stupid, or are involved with back-hands and grand corruption.

      Monitoring of the actions of many judicial individuals reveals
polarized, incompetent, biased, patronised racist looters in the so-called
judicial system are major role players in propping up and benefiting from
the tyrannical regime.

      One judge once proclaimed that it would enforce the respect of
human rights.

      Another judge, after many years, still does not know the meaning
of "a reasonable period of time".

      They all turn a blind eye to Contempt of Court when their
party-faithful comrades and militia agents are the offenders.

      They have no shame in accepting externally provided humanitarian
aid funds, converted to bribes to solidify their ongoing support for the
tyrannical regime.

       None of them would ever qualify for employment in a first world
democratic nation.

      It was once properly said that Zanu PF MP's were Mugabe, wives.
The suggestion now is that the Judiciary have long been his whores.

      After looking at some of their judgement and activities there is
every reason why the following should be added to the sanctions list:

      1.Andrew Kumire

      2.Andrew Mutema

      3. Antoinette (Antonia) Gwavava

      4.Ben Hlatshwayo

      5.Benjamin Paradza

       6.Bharat (Barat) Patel

      7.Bharat Tateo

      8.Charles Hungwe

      9. Charles Nyatanga

      10.     Chinembiri Bhunu

       11.     Elizabeth Gwaunza

      12.     Farai Mutamangira

      13.     Felicia (Felicious) Chatukuta

      14.     Florence Ziyambi

      15.     Francis Bere

      16.     George Chiweshe

       17.     George Smith

      18.     Gloria Takundwa

      19.     Godfrey Guwa Chidyausiku

       20.     Herbert Malaba

      21.     Herbert Mandeya

      22.     Jeremiah Mutsindikwa

       23.     Johannes Tomana

      24.     Joseph Musakwa

      25.     Lawrence Kamocha

      26.     Lilian Kudya

      27.     Luke Malaba

      28.     Maphios (Misheck) Cheda

      29.     Mary Gowora

      30.     Mishrod Guvamombe

      31.     Musaiona Shotgame

      32.     N. Mutsonziwa

       33.     Never Katiyo

      34.     Nicholas Ndou

       35.     November Muchiya

      36.     Paddington Garwe

      37.     Prince Machaya

      38.     Rita Makarau

      39.     Rosemary Dube

      40.     Samuel Kudya

      41.     Simpson Mutambanengwe

       42.     Sobusa Gula-Ndebele

      43.     Steven Musona

      44.     Susan Mavangira

      45.     Tadius (Tedious / Tedias) (Tedias) Karwi

      46.     Tapiwa Godzi

      47.     Tendayi Uchena

      48.     Vernanda Ziyambi

      49.     William Bhil

       50.     Yunus Omerjee

      "Gerald Shire is the pen name of a political
researcher/consultant who has previously worked in first world countries and
is currently based abroad being a refugee and a victim of Robert Mugabe's
regime of thuggery, evil and plundering."

      Last Updated ( Friday, 05 December 2008 )

New bank notes trigger massive price increases

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
5 December 2008

The introduction of higher denomination bank notes by the Reserve Bank this
week has triggered massive price increases, amid reports the new Z$100
million weekly cash withdrawal limit can only buy one kilogram of beef.

An irate MDC MP for Glen View, Paul Madzore, said new measures being
implemented by central bank chief Gideon Gono are just making things worse
instead of halting the cash crisis.

Gono earlier this week introduced Z$10 million, $50 million and $100 million
banknotes. But retailers responded to the introduction of the new notes by
increasing prices of basic goods and commodities, which shot up by an
average 500 percent.

But all economists will tell you that just printing money does nothing
except increase inflation. 'Its now become a game where each time the
central bank introduces new notes, almost all retailers take advantage of
the situation to exploit consumers through relentless price increases. This
is a fight Gono has clearly lost,' Madzore said.

The legislator was speaking to us outside a bank where he had been queuing
since morning. He said the money that people can withdraw on a single day is
not even enough to buy a 10kg bag of maize meal.

'Look, this problem can only be solved by Robert Mugabe stepping down. There
is no other magic formula that they can use now to remedy the situation.
This situation is now irreversible it needs a political solution to stop the
rot,' Madzore said.

The central bank had originally announced that withdrawal limits for
individuals would be increased to Z$100 million per week, while companies
can withdraw Z$50 million. Previously individuals were allowed to withdraw
Z$500 000 daily and companies Z$1 million.

But after a meeting between Gono and leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions, it was agreed the new withdrawal limit will go up to $500
million for individuals on December 12. There was no relief for companies
though who remain limited to Z$50 Million.

But Madzore doubted that the personal withdrawal increases would change
anything.  He said with the economy in free fall and inflation at dizzying
levels, the cash withdrawal limits will still spark price increases.

Announcing the bank changes Gono has said that a week after the 12th
December, workers could withdraw up to $10 billion per month against
presentation of a pay-slip. But this pay slip had to be endorsed at the bank
to prevent abuse of the facility through repeated withdrawals. It was not
clear what he meant by this.

He also said that early next year, all workers would be able to fully encash
their salaries, without any limit, upon presentation of a bona-fide
verifiable
pay-slip, which would be checked and stamped at the bank.

Many observers feel that Gono's statements were merely to placate the ZCTU
and stop further protests, but that nothing will actually change in the
future.

Zimbabwe has to be the only country in the world where people are starving
to death, with their money locked up in a bank and not available to them.

Zimbabwe cholera epidemic claims 575 lives: UN

http://news.yahoo.com

GENEVA (AFP) - Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak has killed 575 people with a
total of 12,700 suspected cases in the poverty-wracked country, according to
latest figures released by the United Nations on Friday.

The capital Harare was the worst-hit district with 179 deaths and 6,448
suspected cases as of December 4, the UN's Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

"The entire health system is collapsing, there are no more doctors, no
nurses, no specialists," said OCHA spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

Many health workers are on strike because they have not been paid or have
simply deserted hospitals and health centres as the crisis grows, she told
journalists.

"As a result, we do not know the exact scale of this epidemic because the
figures we have are those collected by the health centres that are still
functioning, but many are not functioning any more and thus there are many
cases which are unknown," Byrs said.

The World Health Organisation said it was the worst outbreak of cholera in
the country since a 1992 epidemic which killed 3,000 people, and there were
no signs it was slowing down.

The United Nations Children's Fund meanwhile called on donors to urgently
provide funds to enable relief operations, saying that none of the nine
million dollars UNICEF was appealing for in Zimbabwe had yet been provided.

"The total UN budget for Zimbabwe for 2008 has gone up to 502 million
dollars from 394 million, and it is clear that the 2009 appeal for 550
million dollars will have to be revised upwards," said UNICEF spokeswoman
Veronique Taveau.

Aid agencies face enormous logistical challenges quite apart from the
collapsing health care system as Zimbabwe's once-wealthy economy plunges
ever further into the abyss, OCHA's Byrs said.

"We don't have simple things like fuel, plates, knives, forks," she said.

"Humanitarian workers also need protection equipment such as overalls,
gloves, masks, and rubber boots," Byrs added.

Zimbabwe's government pleaded on Thursday for international help and
declared a national emergency over the cholera epidemic after previously
insisting there was no undue cause for alarm.

In unusually frank remarks from Zimbabwe's government, the state-run Herald
newspaper said Thursday the cholera outbreak and the breakdown of the health
system were national emergencies and appealed for international aid.

"Our central hospitals are literally not functioning," Health Minister David
Parirenyatwa said in the paper.

Britain, Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler, announced a 10-million-pound
(14.7-million-dollar, 11.5-million-euro) emergency aid package to provide
life-saving assistance and respond to the escalation of cholera.

South Africa also said it would send a team to Zimbabwe to assess how it can
aid its neighbour, on top of already providing medical assistance at the
border town of Musina and donating 500,000 rand (48,000 US dollars) worth of
medical supplies via the World Health Organisation.

Zimbabwean “government” must account for anti-Cholera resources

05 December 2008

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is dismayed by the failure of the Zimbabwean de facto government and its parastatals` to account for the funds which were designated for the control of cholera and provision of clean water to the residents of Harare. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe allocated large sums of money (R18 million) and vehicles to ZINWA, towards the production and supply of water and sewer reticulation in the city, some three weeks ago, but up to date nothing substantial has been seen on the ground; the cholera infested areas are still without water, raw sewage is still abundantly flowing through the residential areas and homes while burst sewer is still largely unattended and the cholera scourge is on the rise.

The “government” declared Cholera, a national emergency on Wednesday 03 December 2008, a decision which had been long overdue; they did so as a capitulation gesture and to open up for help from donor agencies and the international community. The beleaguered de facto government which also has a recent record of misappropriating funds designated for fighting HIV/AIDS, has soiled hands and must show clean hands before it takes more  resources meant to fight Cholera or for any other program. The “government’ has shown its caliber to the whole world and no-one can remain guessing anymore; the Zimbabwean disaster is not a natural one but that of insensitive and irresponsible governance.

Zimbabweans affected and infected with cholera are direly in need of international help as there is no internal capacity to deal with the current Cholera scourge which requires a functional health delivery system, adequate and clean water supply, a generally healthy environment. On a long term basis, Zimbabweans need a sustainable water and sewer management framework to avoid a disaster of the current cholera outbreak’s kind. Be that as it may; Zimbabwe desperately need a transparent, accountable, honest and sensitive leadership.

Meanwhile, the cholera scourge is unrelenting as it continues to claim more lives in Harare, across the country and rapidly sprawling beyond the Zimbabwean boarders. While there are reports that the UN Aid Agencies have stepped up efforts to fight cholera in Zimbabwe; CHRA still fears that the aid directed towards  fighting Cholera might be usurped by the authorities and find way to bankrolling some of the dishonest and insensitive de facto government’s populist projects.

CHRA demands transparent, accountable and responsible leadership; Harare residents and Zimbabweans deserve better.

“Let’s Stop Cholera. Stop irresponsible leadership now!”

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)

145 Robert Mugabe Way

Exploration House, Third Floor

Harare

ceo@chra.co.zw

www.chra.co.zw

 Landline: 00263- 4- 705114

Zambia turns Zimbabweans back at border

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=8378

December 5, 2008

By Munyaradzi Mutizwa

THE Zambian government on Friday said many Zimbabweans trying to enter
Zambia through the Victoria Falls border had been turned back after being
screened for cholera by health authorities.

Immigration department spokesperson, Mulako Mbangweta confirmed the
development but could not give figures as the screening was being handled by
a multi-sectoral cholera task force.

Mbangweta, however, said the health officials were at the border checking on
people who were entering the country and only those certified to be
cholera-free were being allowed entry.

More than 560 people have died of cholera in Zimbabwe and the government
there has declared the epidemic a national disaster.

Ms Mbangweta said the screening process had continued to ensure the disease
was kept out of Zambia.

"Our immigration officers at the border have confirmed that health officials
have been stationed at there to check on those entering the country and
depending on what the health authorities say, some people are being turned
back," she said.

A cholera task force source at the border said several people had been
denied entry into Zambia. The source also said the frequency of one crossing
the border had been reduced to twice a week to avert the spread of the
disease to the border town of Livingstone, just across the Zambezi from the
Zimbabwean border town of Victoria Falls.

The source said in its tightened screening measures to ensure that cholera
did not spread to Zambia, the task force was also confiscating any
uncertified food and destroying it.

"The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe is serious and we are not taking any
chances," he said.

He said some of the goods confiscated by the team included game meat and
fruit that Zimbabwean nationals bring for sale in Zambia.

He said the situation could have been more threatening if the neighbouring
Victoria Falls town had been severely hit by the disease, but it was
concentrated in the capital, Harare, and surrounding areas.

Other measures intensified to thwart the spread of the disease included
thorough hand washing by both the travelling public and the officers manning
the check point.

Many Zimbabweans cross into Zambia to sell wares that include various
foodstuffs.

Tell Mugabe to Go, Anglican Primate Asks AU

Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)

5 December 2008

Cape Town - The African Union should declare publicly that Mugabe's rule is
illegitimate and that he must step aside, the head of the Anglican Church in
the region has said.

The AU should work speedily with the United Nations to set up a transitional
government to take control in Zimbabwe, the primate of the Anglican Church
of Southern Africa Archbishop Thabo Makgoba added.

At the same time, the archbishop of Cape Town severely criticized the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) for its "disgraceful" silence
over the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe. The SADC, he said in a statement, has
failed and is morally bankrupt.

"I am deeply pained by the terrible deterioration, disease and despair we
are seeing in Zimbabwe," the archbishop said, adding that there is "total
collapse of governance in Zimbabwe, of which we see new evidence daily."

"But the silence of SADC leaders in general is disgraceful. Why throughout
this crisis have we seen no evidence of public leadership from King Mswati
III, chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security
Co-operation?

"He should not only be taking high-profile action on Zimbabwe, but needs to
show that peace and democracy are possible in his own country.

"Are SADC's leaders not moved by the terrible human suffering in Zimbabwe?
Where is their ubuntu? Must people be massacred in Zimbabwe's streets before
SADC will take firm, decisive and public action? Will they, even then?

"No, SADC has failed and is morally bankrupt. President Mugabe has
demonstrated again and again that he will not share power. He is no longer
fit to rule."

Former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu said Mugabe must resign
or be sent to The Hague for the "gross violations" he has committed. The
Nobel Prize winner told Dutch television that Mugabe should be removed by
force if he refuses to go. He had ruined "a wonderful country", turning a
"bread-basket" into a "basket case".
On Thursday, Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga said African governments
should oust Zimbabwe's leader. "Power-sharing is dead in Zimbabwe and will
not work with a dictator who does not really believe in power-sharing."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said it is "well past time" for
Mugabe to go, saying a "sham election" has been followed by a "sham process
of power-sharing talks".

NCA Protest violently disrupted by riot police

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Friday, 05 December 2008

600 members of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) were joined
by hundreds of onlookers in a protest that shook the central business
district of Harare this afternoon.
The demonstrators continued their march despite police attacks which
included the firing of tear gas and the use of police dogs.  After enduring
several minutes of such intimidation, a violent attack by riot police
disrupted the demonstration and scattered protestors throughout the city.

In a tense environment with a visible police presence, NCA members
began the demonstration at the corner of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Leopold
Takawira Street.  After they rushed onto the street, they raised banners and
placards demanding a transitional government and a people-driven
constitution.  As the protest moved up Mandela towards Parliament, NCA
members distributed flyers outlining NCA's three-point plan for achieving
democracy and national recovery.  Hundreds of civilians left the pavements
and bank queues to join the protest, doubling the size of the crowd.

After crossing Julius Nyerere, riot police fired tear gas in front of
the march and rushed at the protestors with attack dogs.  The demonstrators,
unable to proceed, reversed their course and marched back the way they had
come.  When they reached Takawira Street, truckloads of riot police
descended on the protestors, firing canisters of tear gas and striking
people with batons.  Soldiers and other onlookers cheered the demonstrators
as they dispersed down side streets.

In the hour that followed, small groups of NCA members regrouped and
continued to march and chant slogans.  These groups were chased through the
city and attacked by heavily armed riot police, who continued to fire tear
gas.

NCA staff is still trying to ascertain the whereabouts of several of
its members.  Two men were grabbed by riot police and are currently
unaccounted for.  One of these men was savagely beaten in the back of a
pickup before being taken away.  Several other NCA members are currently
missing.  NCA staff are using the appropriate channels to account for these
individuals.

The brutal suppression of today's demonstration reflects a pattern of
excessive police violence directed at NCA and other organizations engaged in
peaceful protests.  These actions reflect the desperation of the current
regime to silence dissenting voices and impose their will on the People of
Zimbabwe.

The NCA will not be discouraged by the harassment, intimidation and
violence meted out on its members and those supporting democratic reform in
Zimbabwe.  The organization will continue its campaign of peaceful
demonstrations next week.  The NCA invites all Zimbabweans to join these
protests and continue struggling for the positive change that will see this
country emerge from its current disastrous state.

NCA Information and Publicity Department

USAID Increases Assistance for Zimbabwe Cholera Outbreak

USAID Increases Assistance for Zimbabwe Cholera Outbreak
Washington, DC - The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $600,000 to
help combat the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe.  This assistance is in
addition to the $4 million water, sanitation, and hygiene emergency program
USAID is already implementing in Zimbabwe.
"Before cholera was widespread, USAID was working alongside the
international community to prepare for the possibility of an outbreak in
Zimbabwe.  We began building contingencies into our ongoing emergency
programs, and we are increasing our assistance to help combat the spread of
the disease," said USAID administrator Henrietta H. Fore.  "The United
States is committed to helping the people of Zimbabwe."
USAID has also deployed a team of experts to Zimbabwe to focus on water,
sanitation, and hygiene and public health interventions.  The team,
including an expert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
will provide technical assistance and recommendations for further U.S.
assistance.
This recent contribution brings the total United States humanitarian
assistance to Zimbabwe's food and health crisis to more than $220 million
since October 2007.  The U.S. is the leading food donor, providing the
majority of all international food aid distributed in Zimbabwe through
non-governmental organizations and the World Food Program.
In addition, the U.S. contributed over $30 million last year for HIV/AIDS
programs, in addition to paying for 33 percent of the Global Fund's
multilateral programs.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance
programs, please visit:
www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development,
have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50
years.
# # #
Issued on December 4th by U.S. Agency for International Development Press
Office, 202-712-4320, Public Information: 202-712-4810, Website:
http://www.usaid.gov

Wade to intervene in the Zimbabwean crisis

http://www.sabcnews.com

December 03 2008, 5:13:00

Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade says he plans to speak to all parties
involved in the Zimbabwe crisis to ensure a government of national unity
representative of all parties are formed as soon as possible. This follows a
meeting with MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai where he called on the African
Union (AU) to become involved in the crisis, which has been mediated so far
by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) led by former President
Mbeki.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister in waiting, Tsvangirai, visited Senegal in a
trip to seek advice and support from Wade and the AU. This was his second
visit to Senegal in a matter of months. Tsvangirai insists that SADC has
failed and wants Africa to step in and Senegal seems keen to assist.

Previous attempts by Wade to intervene were spurned by Robert Mugabe.
Analysts, however, say AU mediation has also not been successful. Political
analyst Bheki Moyo says, "It is highly unlikely that the AU is going to make
any impact. In fact, one could say that they failed."

"Soldier looting. There is so much chaos. If they were really serious
about the situation they would have made serious efforts to stop the crisis
both from political to economical perspective."

The MDC says negotiators from the three feuding parties are due to
meet again in two weeks to try to break the political impasse.

SA govt to offer humanitarian assistance to ordinary Zimbabweans

http://www.sabcnews.com

December 16 2008, 12:39:00

The South African government has given the assurance that the
humanitarian assistance it plans on giving Zimbabwe will be to the sole
benefit of ordinary Zimbabweans that have been hard hit by the recent food
shortages and general economic meltdown.

Government Spokesperson Themba Maseko says they have been in
consultation with all the political parties in Zimbabwe. He says they have
been given the assurance that the humanitarian aid will not go into the
pockets of senior party officials.

A high-level government team will start talks with all the
stakeholders in Zimbabwe to determine what humanitarian assistance South
Africa can give that country.  Besides a political impasse and economic
meltdown, Zimbabwe has been hit by a food shortage and cholera outbreak,
which has claimed at least 600 lives.

The team, led by Presidential Director-General, Frank Chikane, will
also include representatives from the Southern African Development Community
Secretariat. On their return from Zimbabwe, the team will make
recommendations to a ministerial team that will be convened by President
Kgalema Motlanthe.

In the meantime, Motlanthe and the ministers of the presidency,
foreign affairs, finance, agriculture and land affairs will meet next week
to decide on the extent of the humanitarian aid that will be provided to
Zimbabwe.

'Put lives before politics'

http://news.iafrica.com

Article By:
Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:10
South Africa has called for an end to political squabbling between
Zimbabwe's feuding political leaders amid growing international concern
about the devastation being wrought by a cholera crisis.

The government said the situation across its border, where massive food
shortages were being compounded by a cholera outbreak which has killed 565
people, was at crisis levels and "the time for political point scoring is
over."

Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said South Africa was sending a team
to assess how it could provide aid to Zimbabwe, which made a rare appeal for
international aid after declaring the cholera outbreak a national emergency.

He said Zimbabweans were "dying in the streets" as the country's leaders
failed to reach agreement on the formation of a unity government almost nine
months after an election left the country in political limbo.

"The time for action is now and we believe the Zimbabwean government is on
board and wants help from the international community," he said, expressing
hope the fresh crisis would help solve the political deadlock.

"I would be extremely surprised if the outbreak of cholera, the death of
innocent Zimbabweans as a result of a failure of politicians to reach an
agreement does not spur them to more urgent action."

Mugabe threatens early elections

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe remained intransigient Friday, threatening
to call early elections if the power-sharing agreement failed to work within
the next two years as the international community stepped up its criticism
of him.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on the veteran leader to step
down, saying power-sharing talks with the opposition were a "sham process."

"It is well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave," said Rice during a brief
visit to Copenhagen. "I think that is now obvious.

"If this is not evident for the international community, that it is time to
stand up for what is right, I don't know what would be."

Foreign ministers from the European Union also plan to beef up sanctions
against Zimbabwe, adding 10 names to its list of 168 members of the Zimbabwe
regime who are banned from entering EU nations and whose European assets
have been frozen.

A draft text seen by AFP said the EU would stress "its deep concern at the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, particularly as a result
of the cholera epidemic and the continuing violence against supporters of
the (opposition) Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)."

As the United States and foremr colonial power Britain prepared hefty aid
packages to rescue Zimbabwe from a food and humanitarian crisis, South
Africa said it was key that aid be distributed in a non-partisan manner.

"Our interest as a government is to make sure any aid we give on behalf of
the people of South Africa is given not to party officials, not to political
parties, but to ordinary Zimbabweans," said Maseko.

Maseko urged parties to "put all political differences aside" as Rice
expressed hope the cholera outbreak would lead neighbouring countries to
pressure Zimbabwe into a speedy political solution.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga also told the BBC on Thursday that it was
time for Mugabe to go.

"It's time for African governments to take decisive action to push him out
of power," Odinga said.

"Power-sharing is dead in Zimbabwe and will not work with a dictator who
does not really believe in power-sharing," he said.

AFP

MDC calls on region continent SADC, AU to act on abductions

The MDC calls upon region continent and internationSADC and the African
Union and inter at large to impress upon Zanu PF to reveal the whereabouts
of 16 detained MDC activists including a two-year old baby as well as that
of human rights defender, Jestina Mukoko.

It is now 36 days since the predawn arrests of 15 MDC supporters in Banket,
but Zanu PF, through the Zimbabwe Republic Police has been defying court
orders to release the victims. Early yesterday, Zanu PF went a step further
when suspected in an unmarked vehicle abducted Mukoko, the director of the
Zimbabwe Peace Project, from her Norton home.

Mukoko and ZPP are well known for their brave stance of highlighting the
brutality and deaths that were brought upon the MDC supporters by Zanu PF
militia and state security agents in the run up to the June 27 presidential
run-off.

Over 200MDC supporters were murdered by the regime while thousands had to
seek medical attention following brutal attacks by Zanu PF thugs or had
their homes and property destroyed.

We call upon the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman,
President Kgalema Motlanthe and the African Union (AU) chairman, President
Jakaya Kikwete, to urgently intervene and make sure that the MDC activists
and Mukoko are released before any further harm is done to them.

We fear for the lives of these people. Zanu PF's brutal acts are a violation
of the Global Political Agreement which guarantees individual freedoms and
human rights. The AU and SADC, as the guarantors of the transitional
arrangement, should at least speak out against these sad acts of brutality
and thuggery.

We respect SADC and the AU as they have always stood by the side of the
people of Zimbabwe. We are certain that they will not let us down in these
dark times when Zanu PF has chosen to brutalise and illegally detain
innocent people of Zimbabwe.

In the case of Zimbabwe, the caretaker government led by president-elect Mr.
Robert Mugabe has clearly abrogated the duty and functions to protect the
citizens.

In spite Mumbai in India it is the terrorists that are the centre of
abductions and threats of citizens but in Zimbabwe it is the Zanu PF
caretaker government that is involved terrorising the citizens.

Under the circumstances where the security of the people is threatened the
necessary statutes and mechanisms should be triggered to safeguard the
people's rights.

MDC Information and Publicity

Plea for aid exposes regime's dire situation

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au

Catherine Philp | December 06, 2008
ANALYSIS: Zimbabwe's plea for international help to halt a cholera epidemic
is the most serious official admission yet of how grave the crisis has
become.

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa has called on foreign donors to send
millions in emergency aid funds, with the unprecedented instruction to send
the money through UN channels, denying government officials their chance to
profit.

Most of Zimbabwe's foreign aid is channelled through the state-controlled
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which the Governor has systematically looted on
behalf of President Robert Mugabe and his cronies.

The concession from Mr Parirenyatwa, a senior member of the Mugabe inner
circle, is a sign the Government is "desperate and broke", one international
donor official said.

But those who hope the cry for international help will open a chink in the
regime's political armour are being optimistic, the official added.

Mugabe has long maintained the fiction his country's dire situation is the
fault of foreign sanctions -- so successfully, in fact, that many abroad are
unaware of the extent of international aid operations already there. Mugabe
has been more than happy to take Western aid dollars for years, not least
because of the millions he and his cronies have made looting aid funds from
the Reserve Bank. But the economic and political environment that has seen
Zimbabwe's infrastructure crumble has compromised the impact of foreign aid
on the lives of the people.

The greatest assault on the work of aid organisations was the months-long
ban on field work during this year's election crisis, which halted programs
across the country and contributed to the breakdown in health systems that
made the cholera outbreak so hard to handle.

When the Government took over food distribution, there was widespread
testimony of supplies being denied to opposition supporters and channeled to
the army and ruling ZANU-PF party militias instead. The danger is that
Mugabe finds a way to politicise the cholera crisis too, by taking credit
for solving it, particularly with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai out of
the country.

Mr Tsvangirai is seen by many as the key to reversing Zimbabwe's decline,
with foreign governments lining up to plough millions of dollars in
investment and development into a Tsvangirai government.

Mugabe's concern is not so much for his own people as it is for surrounding
African countries who, tired of the messy overspill of Zimbabwe's multiple
crises, may be moved to stronger action to force him to go. Proving he can
work with foreign donors to contain the cholera crisis, which even now is
spilling over the border into South Africa, will ease pressure on his
neighbours to act.

What Mugabe cannot now reverse, diplomats and analysts agree, is Zimbabwe's
catastrophic economic slide. It is that crisis that is leading to the first
and most dangerous signs of disorder, with soldiers rioting in Harare
streets after they were unable to draw their wages because banks had run out
of money.

Harare residents were shocked by the sight, not merely because of the rarity
of public disorder, but because the rioters were soldiers, part of the state
machinery Mugabe has long relied on to put down dissent.

Half of Zimbabwe's army is on semi-permanent leave, with the Government
unable even to feed them, and finding the funds to pay the remainder is
growing ever harder. Relying on their loyalty is no longer a given. "People
are beginning to talk about the c-word again," the official said, referring
to a military coup.

The Times

Botswana to close its Harare embassy

Photo:

Farewell Harare

GABORONE, 5 December 2008 (IRIN) - Botswana will close its embassy in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, within the next few weeks a senior diplomat told IRIN.

It was unclear whether Botswana's decision to close its diplomatic mission in Harare would also lead to the severing of diplomatic ties with President Robert Mugabe's government, but the decision comes a few weeks after the country's foreign minister called on the region to isolate Zimbabwe.

Botswana's foreign minister, Phandu Skelemani, said in a recent radio interview that if neighbouring countries closed their borders with the landlocked country, President Robert Mugabe's 28-year rule would end in a week.

President Ian Khama of Botswana has been one of Mugabe's staunchest critics, even though both countries are among the 14 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

"If no petrol went in for a week, he can't last," Skelemani said. He expressed little confidence in the SADC mediation process being led by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, and said the SADC should "own up" and admit it had failed.

Zimbabwe is suffering repeated body blows: a cholera epidemic has claimed more than 550 lives since August, nearly half the population requires emergency food aid according to the UN, and the country has an annual inflation rate of 231 million percent. The situation is expected to get worse before it gets better.

Calls for military force

Former Archbishop and Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu has called for the use of military force if Mugabe does not step down. "If they say to him, 'step down' and he refuses, they must go in ... militarily," Tutu said in an interview with a Dutch television programme on 4 December.

"I think now the world must say, 'Look, you have been responsible; with your cohorts, you have been responsible for gross violations, and you are going to face indictment in The Hague [seat of the International Criminal Court in Holland] unless you step down'," Tutu said.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the leader of a South African opposition party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, and a former Deputy President of South Africa, said in his weekly newsletter that Zimbabwe's collapse had "miserably exposed" the SADC's ineffectiveness.

"There is either a solution or there is not! There is, in my book, no such thing as a "made in Africa" solution. Zimbabwe either holds 'free and fair elections' like those recently held in America, or it does not," he said.

There is a humanitarian disaster of Biblical proportions emerging with the cholera outbreak

"Zimbabwe either adheres to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (to which it is a signatory) or it does not. It happens to do neither and no amount of pontificating about 'African solutions' can disguise that fact," Buthelezi wrote.

"Her [Zimbabwe's] people are starving, the hyperinflation is running sky high, there is a humanitarian disaster of Biblical proportions emerging with the cholera outbreak, and the country is, for all intents and purposes, not being governed."

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called for Mugabe's removal during an interview with the BBC on 4 December. "Power-sharing is dead in Zimbabwe and will not work with a dictator who does not really believe in power-sharing. It's time for African governments to take decisive action to push him out of power."

A power-sharing deal between Zimbabwe's political parties was signed in September after Mugabe lost the parliamentary election but narrowly won the presidency in an unopposed run-off. The negotiations over the division of portfolios have deadlocked.

In breach

http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/buckle011208.htm

Dear Family and Friends,

A few days ago I had no choice but to travel past the farm my husband and I
legally bought in 1990 but which was grabbed from us by a mob of government
supporters 10 years later in 2000. In the eight years since then I've never
had any official written communication from the government of Zimbabwe about
the farm - not even a letter informing me of the state acquisition of the
property. I've never been offered or received any compensation for the
assets seized. I am not talking about the land itself but about the
improvements on it including workers' houses, farm buildings, a dairy, spray
race, tobacco barns, trading store, dams, borehole, water pumps and pipes,
an electricity transformer and scores of kilometres of fencing. Nor has the
government of Zimbabwe given any compensation for our home on the farm or
for all the fixtures and fittings that were in place in our fully functional
house. Nothing has been given to any of the men and women who worked for us
on the farm either - not land, money, homes, jobs or pensions.

Believe it or not, this lack of official paperwork concerning the seizure of
the farm and then the non payment of any compensation at all, is something
that the vast majority of Zimbabweans are not aware of. Mostly we just don't
talk about the farms anymore, its become a topic of shame, embarrassment,
disgust, contempt.

What I saw this week as I drove past the farm to which I hold the Title
Deeds, filled me with deep sadness at the widespread destruction. All the
fencing has gone - many kilometres of it. Thousands of trees planted for
poles and timber have been chopped down. All the contours which protected
the land from erosion have gone. The roofing on the dairy has gone. The
workers houses - made of brick and cement - have all been smashed down into
piles of rubble. The tin roof sheets have gone. The metal door and window
frames have gone. The borehole pump, motor and pipes have gone. The roofing
on the tobacco barns has gone. The farm store which used to sell groceries,
fresh produce and milk has been turned into a beer hall. The state of the
farm dams and the main farmhouse is unknown, this is a no-go area. The local
people call it The Jambanja Place and they speak scornfully of the people on
the farm as the Jambanja People. (The word Jambanja has many connotations
but mostly it means a violent struggle)

It's been eight years since Zanu PF put us into a perpetual state of
jambanja and now Zimbabwe is completely stricken. A lethal cocktail of
hunger, disease, super hyper inflation, infrastructural collapse, brain
drain and emigration is decimating our population and crippling our country.

This week a ruling was made by SADC in the test case of 78 white Zimbabwean
farmers trying to keep their land. Judge Louis Mondlane, President of the
SADC Tribunal said that the Zimbabwe government "is in breach of the SADC
treaty with regards to discrimination." We wait to see if these are just
words and if SADC hold any sway when it comes to dealing with one of their
own breaking 15 nation treaties. While we wait ever more Zimbabweans have no
choice this Christmas but to flood into neighbouring countries in search of
food, medicines, and work.

I will be taking a break for a while but wish all Zimbabweans, wherever you
are in the world, a blessed, peaceful, healthy Christmas. 2009 will be
better! Until next year, thanks for reading,

love cathy.

A letter from the diaspora

http://www.cathybuckle.com

5th December 2008
Dear Friends.
Come January 2009 there will be an African American in the White House.
Africa's response to this momentous development has been more than a little
ambivalent. In Zimbabwe, for example, apart from the standard letter of
congratulations from one so-called Head of State to the new President elect
I have not read or heard anything that suggests that the political elite are
aware of the possible implications for Africa of Obama's election. Perhaps
Zimbabwe's 'Big Men' are too worried about what it will mean for their own
narrow self-interests as Zimbabwe slides even further into complete
meltdown. Developments this last week have provoked inches of international
media coverage about how the end must be near for Mugabe with rioting
soldiers on the streets for three days and running battles between police
and soldiers. Echoing this view, a British friend of mine commented
excitedly that the end could not be far off for the dictator. When a
dictator cannot pay his army this must mean that he is in great danger of
being overthrown, she argued. But in Zimbabwe things are never what they
seem. I tried to explain that it was the failure of Gideon Gono's pernicious
limit on bank withdrawals that was causing the problem; the money is there
but the soldiers can't get at it. Their anger boiled over into looting and
violence but despite all the journalists' assumptions of Mugabe's imminent
collapse, I for one, am not convinced that the soldiers' action was really a
manifestation of anti-Mugabe sentiments. Nothing is ever quite what it seems
to be in Zimbabwe; to the outsider the latest developments may look like the
death throes of the regime but we have been here so many times before and
always the crisis has been defused either with state violence or pay
increases. And the demonstrators, tired and beaten go home to lick their
wounds and - sometimes - live to fight another day. The difference this time
is I believe that Zimbabwe's financial collapse has never been so sharp and
so country-wide in its effects. The sight of Gideon Gono's new notes
emphasises that very point for me. A friend just arrived from home showed me
the new 100 Million Dollar note and it was like looking at the make-believe
money that my children used to play with. Zimbabwe has become totally unreal
and what is clear is that Mugabe, Gono and all the other Big Men learn
nothing from the past. They go on making the same mistakes over and over
again. Knocking ten noughts of the currency is Gideon Gono's answer to
inflation, yet despite repeating the 'noughts' exercise twice now, inflation
soars every time he does it. Prices go up through the roof and into the
stratosphere. The reappointed Gono and his master Mugabe learn nothing from
their own mistakes.

That brings me back to president-elect Obama. His cabinet appointments have
been made to widespread approval and what it shows Africa and the world is
that he is not going to surround himself with 'Yes' men and women. He wants
a cabinet of people who will challenge him, men and women of different
opinions in the belief that stronger and more effective government will
result if a leader is surrounded by people who will challenge him. He is
learning from past presidents of the United States and in particular from
President Abraham Lincoln whose biography Obama has been studying. What
Limcoln did was to include all shades of opinion in his government, even
potential rivals. So Obama has chosen to surround himself by highly
intelligent people who will challenge his decisions. The test now will be to
see if Obama has the vital qualities of leadership that enable him to know
when, after listening to all the different opinions, he will be able to say,
'This is how it will be done.' With such a man in the White House - and an
African American too - there is hope that the world will be a better place.
Africa and the world may well have much to learn from his example. Dictators
like Mugabe should be afraid, very afraid, that the end may indeed be very
near for men like them.
Yours in the (continuing)struggle PH.

Africa's shame

http://www.businessday.co.za/

05 December 2008

Zimbabwe. I have nothing else to add. Books have been written, poems
rendered and songs sung about Zimbabwe.

The dream is gone. Children have stopped playing. Hospitals are graveyards.
Water no longer gives life, but takes it. Tears have dried up. It is easier
to die than to cry.

What will I say when future generations ask what I did to stop the rot?
Where was I, as people starved?

The pain of helplessness is paralysing. I am shamed to call myself an
African. Africa is supposed to be defined by uBuntu, not human destruction
and greed. If Robert Mugabe is the son of Africa, what is Nelson Mandela?
What kind of leader will subject his people to such atrocities? Is he fit to
be called a human being?

What has happened to the spirit of humanity - the ability to show kindness
to others?

It is a twisted irony that Mugabe goes to church every Sunday as his victims
continue to die .

Hope failed them. All that is left are the ruins of despair. Zimbabwe,
Africa's shame!

Dr Lucas Ntyintyane
Cresta

A glance at the state of democracy in Africa

http://www.philly.com/

Posted on Fri, Dec. 5, 2008

The Associated Press

Political scientists define a mature democracy as a country that has had two
peaceful transfers of power from one democratically elected head of state to
another. By that definition, only a handful of Africa's 54 nations can be
classified as full-fledged democracies.

Examples of countries that satisfy the litmus test; those that almost do;
and those that have a long way to go:

BENIN Yes. In 1991, Benin's election brings Nicephore Soglo to power,
marking first successful transfer of power in Africa from dictatorship to
democracy. He hands over power to Mathieu Kerekou who wins elections in 1996
and 2001, who hands over power in 2006 to democratically elected Yayi Boni.

BOTSWANA Yes. One of the most stable African nations. First general
elections held in 1966. Since then, the country has had three peaceful
transfers of power and numerous elections.

KENYA No. High hopes accompanied this East African country's first
democratic change of presidents in 2002, but its next election, held last
December, led to claims of rigging and triggered fierce ethnic clashes.

MAURITANIA No. Foreign investment poured into Mauritania after last year's
first democratic election in over 20 years. But 1 1/2 years later, military
generals declared a coup d'etat, placing President Sidi Ould Cheikh
Abdallahi under house arrest.

ZIMBABWE No. One of the continent's abject failures. President Robert Mugabe
has ruled since 1987. He is accused of rigging the 2002 election.
Intimidation of voters led opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to drop out
of the presidential contest. He is believed to have won the presidential
polls, perhaps even a clear majority.