The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
25 May 2004
PRESIDENT MORGAN
TSVANGIRAI’S TUESDAY MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF
Zimbabweans join the
rest of
We have nothing
further to show for the 41 years during which the continent progressively
experienced a rapid phase of decolonisation and the accompanying enjoyment of
the people’s sovereignty.
In
Poverty and
insecurity have already forced an estimated 3.5 million -- more than a third of
the nation’s adult population -- into exile where they live in near-slavery
conditions. There is too much poverty
and too little growth.
The picture is
unacceptable as it fits in the bigger African story of political
under-development, failed nation states and general civil
strife.
Africa Day offers us
an important occasion to reflect on the post-colonial state of our national
development. For us in
On Monday, the world
watched in disbelief the Sky News interview with Robert Mugabe in which
the desperate Zanu PF leader tried to paint a rosy picture of the situation in
Mugabe shut the door to all avenues for dialogue with the MDC. Despite his advanced age, he further closed off debate on his succession in his own party, thus compounding the confusion within Zanu PF about his retirement plans.
Mugabe put up a brave face, arguing that the contested 2002 Presidential election was legitimate because the African groups that observed the poll had given him the green light to assume power.
The world must have
been amazed to hear Mugabe attack Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize
winner and an indomitable fighter against apartheid. The use of such a violent
and intemperate language against his critics is typical Mugabe-speak. It smacks
of gross intolerance the people of
Tutu commands immense respect among Zimbabweans. He stood up to Mugabe and has criticised the Zanu PF regime for human rights and democratic abuses. It was unfortunate that Mugabe could sink so low as to describe such an international icon as an "an angry, evil and embittered little bishop".
While we have made
inroads in gaining the understanding and sympathy of the region, we believe
When Yoweri Museveni
assumed the presidency of
Museveni criticised the then OAU charter, in particular the clause the discouraged interference in the internal affairs of member states. He also took issue with what he called the “nationalistic camaraderie” among African heads of state and government, which led African leaders to offer blind solidarity to each other’s welfare at the expense of the people.
Much has been said
about the collapse of democracy and the erosion of basic human freedoms in
The challenge facing the continent stems from an apparent refusal to deal directly with post-colonial dictatorships. Having defeated the visible colonial oppression, Africans must now turn to black on black oppression.
Tiny elites who squander national resources and drive their citizens into the Diaspora at the slightest hint of opposition control nations on this continent. As a result, Africans all over the world are angry with their leaders. Africans know that despite their independence, freedom remains elusive. Corruption is endemic.
Only yesterday,
Mugabe boasted that he is building a personal mansion using timber and roofing
tiles from
We appeal to the AU to place the Zimbabwean crisis in its proper context. As Africans, the AU has a duty to put pressure on Mugabe and Zanu PF in order to allow Zimbabweans to take charge of their own destiny.
Without a
flourishing democracy, without the rule of law, without free and fair elections,
Other continents
look to
We urge
Mugabe’s
misrepresentation of the situation at home is a worrying point. To assume that
Our own research shows that the 1991-92 drought gave us a baseline figure for minimum consumption requirements for both our people and their livestock. During that time, the monthly sales of maize by the Grain Marketing Board peaked at 150 000 tonnes, equivalent to annual consumption of 1 800 000 tonnes of maize. In addition, the GMB was importing wheat and rice. Wheat sales stood at 480 000 per year while rice was 24 000 tonnes per year. That brought the total cereals requirement to 2 304 000 tonnes per year. This was 14 years ago.
At the beginning of
the current season, there were serious shortages of seed, fuel, fertilisers and
other inputs. Taking into account the failure of the early planted maize and the
late season problems for small grains, our central estimate is production of 600
000 tonnes of maize plus 100 000 tonnes of sorghum. Excluding any
strategic
stocks, this would imply a shortfall of 1 200 000
tonnes.
Mugabe was therefore
reckless in suggesting that
The obsession with
Prime Minister Tony Blair was predictable. Surprisingly, Mugabe still thinks the
solution to the Zimbabwean crisis rests with
From the Sky News
interview, it is clear Mugabe sees nothing wrong with the manner in which
Flawed elections are
a key source of
We have stated in the past that our electoral standards are a clear recipe for confrontation and perpetual contest. We have yet to raise the conduct of our elections to the SADC standards to secure a legitimate result.
Since 2000, we have
constantly condemned
As we approach an election in March, Zimbabweans remain resolute in their quest for freedom. We are preparing for those elections. All our programmes are directed at that election. We shall do everything in our power to enable Zimbabweans to enjoy our freedom.
We humbly ask
We are confident that the Mugabe regime will accede to reason and allow for a poll to be conducted on the minimum SADC standards necessary for the restoration of genuine, democratic elections.
The SADC norms and standards are an essential pre-requisite to the exercise of our fundamental human rights and must be in place well before Election Day in 2005. They include the following measures:
The restoration
of the rule of law. Mugabe must end all forms of political violence and
completely disband the youth militias. He must ensure that the police and
security forces are impartial in the conduct of their duties. In addition,
The restoration of Basic Freedoms and Rights. We are asking the regime to revoke those aspects of the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) that curtail personal freedoms of the people. The Public Media must be open to all political parties and individual politicians. Further, all Zimbabweans living outside the country must be allowed to vote.
The establishment of an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Elections are very crucial to any country. They are basic right with a potential to make or break a nation. We risk perpetuating our misery if we allow Zanu PF to continue playing games with our electoral system. Already, we are the laughing stock of the SADC region.
Because of our
previous experience, the management and implementation of our electoral process
cannot be left to Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede alone. Mudede has failed the
nation on numerous occasions. His record contains sufficient evidence to
disqualify him from handling another major election single-handedly unless
Mugabe and Zanu PF are not serious about the future of
The restoration of Public Confidence in the Electoral Process. This is a crucial matter. Zimbabweans are fast losing faith in elections because of mistrust. We need a clean and accurate voters roll. The roll must be freely available to interested persons and to all political parties. People must vote in a single day; the counting of votes must be done at the polling station immediately after voting ends. Violence must end.
The restoration of the Secrecy of the Ballot. Voting must take place in an atmosphere that ensures total secrecy. Our ballot boxes must change. We need to use translucent plastic ballot boxes of secure, single piece construction. The regime must stop abusing traditional leaders to coerce their subjects during elections.
Together, we shall win.
Morgan Tsvangirai
President
SOKWANELE
Enough is
Enough
ZIMBABWE
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE
DEMOCRACY
We have a fundamental right to freedom of
expression!
Sokwanele
Comment
25 May
2004
Sky News feature on Zimbabwe
Sky News is surely
to be congratulated on awarding a grand propaganda coup to one of the worlds
most vicious tyrants. Robert Gabriel
Mugabe who calls himself President of Zimbabwe and is no doubt effectively ruler
of that afflicted country after his partys
blatant rigging of the presidential election in 2002, was given one hour
of prime time on British television this week.
One hour for Mugabe and his cronies to duck and dive from the real issues
and to peddle their own obnoxious propaganda, which they did so plausibly one
might almost wonder if they believed it themselves .
Those of us who respect the
freedom of others to express views quite contrary to our own (and that certainly
does not include Robert Mugabe), do not
take issue with Sky News for interviewing Mugabe and his ZANU PF chefs What we do question however is the lack of
balance and fairness shown by Sky News in their reporting. Two points in
particular:
First, there was no evidence
that any attempt had been made to achieve balance by allowing the opposition MDC
an opportunity to respond. In all
fairness one would have expected Morgan Tsvangirai and perhaps one or two of his
lieutenants to be afforded the same air time as ZANU PF. By the same token was Sky News not under
some obligation to put the Mugabe interview into context, by reporting on the
situation in the ground in Zimbabwe today, at least including the violence and
lawlessness that continue, the famine that threatens and the ruthless
suppression of free speech in the land
? Or was it the price Sky News
was required to pay for the interview that the oppositions point of view was not
put, and that no local reporting was permitted? In which case was the price not too high
?
The second point, which
reinforces the first, is that within Zimbabwe there is effectively no freedom of
assembly or expression today. Dissent
has been crushed and the alternative point of view smothered under a mix of
repressive legislation, violence and intimidation. ZANU PF exercises total control of the
airwaves and of the state newspapers.
The only independent daily, the popular Daily News, was constantly
threatened, bombed twice and finally shut down.
Journalists and their papers are required to be licensed by a board
appointed by and answerable to none other than Mugabes own notorious spin
doctor, Jonathan Moyo. The BBC and other
international media houses have been banned from the country. Under such an intolerant and repressive
regime the obligation to balance any statements made by those in power with the
views of those denied a voice is surely all the greater. For Sky News to record interviews with Mugabe
and his cronies and not to afford an equal opportunity to those suffering under
his cruel tyranny is like if you can imagine such an outrage a British news team
visiting South Africa in the darkest days under Apartheid and giving P.W. Botha
an hour of prime time viewing while not even bothering to speak to any
representatives of the A.N.C.
The damage has been done and
the short telephone interview belatedly and hurriedly arranged by Sky News no
doubt under pressure from their own viewers - with the Secretary General of the
MDC, is not sufficient to restore the
balance. The only way to do that would
be to provide the same air time as that afforded to ZANU PF to the opposition in
Zimbabwe, including not only leaders of the MDC but human rights activists and
Church leaders such as Archbishop Pius Ncube, who have to deal with the victims
of Mugabes misrule on a daily basis.
When will Sky News do this
?
If you think they should why
dont you email the Sky News newsroom now and tell them
so?
http://ecustomeropinions.com/popup/survey.php?sid=331528484
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