Mugabe’s govt wants monopoly of airwaves

Zim Online

by Tinotenda Kandi Wednesday 07 May 2008

HARARE – President Robert Mugabe’s government has demanded total monopoly of
state radio and television, as the administration leaves no stone unturned
in a bid to secure victory for the 84-year old leader in a tricky second
round presidential election.

Sources told ZimOnline that Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu ordered
the board of government-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) on Monday
to institute a review of all programming to include more programmes
demonising the opposition while extolling the virtues of Mugabe and his
ruling ZANU PF party.

Ndlovu told the board that he was giving them a “blank cheque” to dismiss
any manager, editor or journalist at ZBH who refused to conform or showed
questionable loyalty to Mugabe and ZANU PF, our sources said.

"He said ZANU PF lost because some senior ZBH officials sabotaged the ruling
party's campaign,” said a source, who attended Ndlovu’s meeting with the
board.

“He told the board to sniff out and purge senior journalists and executives
who appear sympathetic to Tsvangirai (Morgan, leader of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party).”

Zimbabwe holds a second presidential run-off poll at a yet unknown date
after Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a March 29 election but failed to garner
more than 50 percent of the vote required to win the presidency.

Ndlovu confirmed meeting the ZBH board but denied ordering the board to
ensure ZANU PF enjoyed monopoly of the airwaves. The Information Minister
said he only asked the board to have a "re-look into radio and television
political programming".

Ndlovu said: "I did not threaten to fire anyone, but of course anyone (at
ZBH) who feels aggrieved by our policy should leave and leave now.

"I instructed the board to review content on both radio and television. They
should include more programmes on the liberation struggle and they should
produce programmes that will make Zimbabweans appreciate that the MDC is
behind this country's suffering through sanctions imposed by Western
governments at Tsvangirai's behest."

Ndlovu’s meetings with the ZBH board came barely three days after Mugabe’s
press secretary George Charamba, ZANU PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa and
deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told editors of state radio,
television and newspapers to intensify a propaganda blitz in favour of the
government.

The ZBH, formally known as the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, operates
the country’s only radio and television stations while the government-owned
Zimpapers publishing house runs the largest newspaper empire in Zimbabwe.

The MDC – which has rejected official results released by the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission and insists Tsvangirai was cheated out of an outright
victory – has not said whether its leader would contest the second round
run-off election against Mugabe.

But the opposition party says Mugabe is determined to win the second ballot
at any cost and accuses the veteran leader of waging a campaign of violence
to intimidate Zimbabweans to vote for him in the run-off poll.

The opposition party says at least 20 of its supporters have been murdered
while another 5 000 have been displaced in the violence.

Mugabe’s government – which tightly controls the media and has closed four
independent newspapers while also arresting scores of journalists over the
past four years – often uses public-owned media institutions as its
propaganda mouthpieces. – ZimOnline

Four killed as South Africa probes Zim violence

Zim Online

by Jameson Mombe Wednesday 07 May 2008

JOHANNESBURG – An envoy of South African President Thabo Mbeki began on
Tuesday investigating political violence in Zimbabwe as the opposition said
four more of its members had been killed by militant supporters of the
ruling ZANU PF party.

South African Local Government Minister Sydney Mumafadi and a team officials
arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday night and were on Tuesday expected to begin
interviewing all political players on the violence that began almost
immediately after March 29 elections.

First secretary at the South African embassy in Harare, William Geerlings,
told the media: "They are already here and they are busy conducting
wide-ranging interviews. This is not going to be a selective process. They
are going to talk to all relevant players."

Mbeki is the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s mediator in
Zimbabwe and earlier this week promised South African church leaders he
would do everything to end violence in the country’s northern neighbour.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, Western
governments and human rights groups have accused Mugabe of unleashing state
security forces and ZANU PF militias against voters in a bid to scare them
to back him in an anticipated second round ballot against MDC leader Morgan
Tsvangirai.

MDC Member of Parliament for Mazowe Central, Shepherd Mushonga, said four
members of the party were killed last Sunday night by youth militia loyal to
ZANU PF.

The latest killings brings to 24 the total number of people that the MDC
claims have been murdered for supporting the opposition party.

The government however denies that its supporters and security forces are
committing violence and instead says it is the MDC that has carried out
political violence in a bid to tarnish Mugabe’s name.

Zimbabwe, also grappling with its worst ever economic recession and food
shortages, was plunged into political violence after the Tsvangirai and his
MDC defeated Mugabe and ZANU PF party in the March polls.

The MDC and a breakaway faction of the party won 109 seats in the 210-member
House of Assembly to end ZANU PF’s control of parliament that Mugabe’s party
had enjoyed since Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence from Britain.

ZANU PF won 97 seats while an independent candidate won a single seat.
By-elections will be held in three constituencies where voting could not
take place after the deaths of opposition candidates.

However, Zimbabwe must hold fresh presidential elections after the ZEC said
Tsvangirai won the first round vote but failed to win an outright majority
required to takeover the presidency from Mugabe.

Meanwhile British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called on Tuesday for
international observers to be sent to Zimbabwe immediately if the second
round of voting is to stand any chance of being legitimate.

"For a second round to be considered free and fair, there must at least be
an immediate end to violence and international observers must be put in
place now, well ahead of the vote itself," he said.

Miliband said he had "little faith" in the figures released five weeks after
the election by Zimbabwean authorities which gave Tsvangirai 47.9 percent of
the vote to 43.2 percent for Mugabe.

The authorities had been allowed to "contaminate" the results, Miliband
said. -- ZimOnline.

ZANU PF youths attack ZESN election observers

Zim Online

by Tendai Maponga Wednesday 07 May 2008

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s largest independent election monitoring group on Tuesday
said scores of its election observers were attacked and their homes burnt
down in Mashonaland East and Central provinces as political violence takes
its toll on the southern African nation.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) said suspected ruling ZANU PF
party youths were on the rampage, attacking everyone they suspected of
having worked as an observer during the March 29 elections that President
Robert Mugabe and his party lost to the opposition.

Police in the two provinces that are strongholds of ZANU PF had offered
little or no help at all to victims of political violence, ZESN director
Rinda Chipfunde said.

Chipfunde said: “ZANU PF youths have been on the rampage targeting and
physically beating up anyone thought to have observed the March 29
elections. A marauding band of at least 200 youths led by a war veteran
named Morris Muropa, related to one of the victims, have so far burnt the
huts of 4 observers.

“The continued targeting of observers by ZANU PF supporters in Mashonaland
East and Central, with little or no assistance from the police, is not just
worrying but contrary to the Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri’s
assertion of zero tolerance to politically motivated violence.”

Both Chihuri and police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena were not immediately
available for comment on the matter.

Zimbabwe, also grappling with its worst ever economic recession and food
shortages, was plunged into political violence after opposition leader
Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change party defeated
Mugabe and ZANU PF party in the March polls.

The MDC and a breakaway faction of the party won 109 seats in the 210-member
House of Assembly to end ZANU PF’s control of parliament that Mugabe’s party
had enjoyed since Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence from Britain.

ZANU PF won 97 seats while an independent candidate won a single seat.
By-elections will be held in three constituencies where voting could not
take place after the deaths of opposition candidates.

However, Zimbabwe must hold fresh presidential elections after the country’s
electoral commission said Tsvangirai won the first round vote but failed to
win an outright majority required to takeover the presidency from Mugabe.

The MDC, Western governments and human rights groups have accused Mugabe of
unleashing state security forces and ZANU PF militias against voters in a
bid to scare them to back him in the second round ballot.

The opposition party says at least 20 of its supporters have been murdered
while another 5 000 have been displaced in the violence.

The government however denies the allegation and instead says it is the MDC
that has carried out political violence in a bid to tarnish Mugabe’s name. –
ZimOnline.

Makoni to launch political party

Zim Online

by Cuthbert Nzou Wednesday 07 May 2008

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s former finance minister Simba Makoni is planning to
launch a political party in August after contesting last March’s
presidential election as an independent, sources told ZimOnline.

Makoni, a respected businessman and former diplomat, was expelled from the
ruling ZANU PF party for daring to challenge Mugabe in the March 29
presidential election in which he came a distant third.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party leader Morgan
Tsvangirai won the election but failed to take more than 50 percent of the
vote required to takeover the presidency from Mugabe. A run-off election
must be held between Tsvangirai and Mugabe to choose Zimbabwe’s next
president.

Sources said Makoni’s Mavambo/Kusile movement last month set up a steering
committee that was tasked to consult widely on the formation of a new
opposition political party before reporting its findings at the end of this
month.

Makoni’s spokesperson Denford Magora said provincial coordinators of the
former minister’s movement had reported that Zimbabweans were impatient for
a new alternative to the MDC and ZANU PF that have dominated the political
scene for the past decade.

Magora said: “Provincial coordinators reported that there is great
impatience amongst the people all over Zimbabwe for the movement to
transform itself into a proper political party. As a result, the process of
formalising the movement into a political party was kicked off during the
meeting (last month).”

However it was not clear whether Makoni would, in the meanwhile, support
Tsvangirai in the run-off election whose date is yet to be fixed but is
widely expected before August.

A faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara, which backed Makoni in the
March election, has thrown its weight behind Tsvangirai.

Political analysts say Tsvangirai stands a much better chanced of defeating
Mugabe in the second round election if all opposition forces rally behind
him.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Tsvangirai polled 1 195 562
votes or 47.9 percent of total valid votes cast to defeat Mugabe who polled
1 079 730 ballots or 43.2 percent of total votes cast in the March election.

Makoni took 207 470 votes or 8.3 percent of total ballots cast while another
independent candidate Langton Towungana polled 14 503 votes equal to 0.6
percent of total votes cast.

Tsvangirai would win with an overwhelming majority if all voters who backed
Makoni and Towungana in the first round poll voted for the MDC leader in the
second ballot. – ZimOnline.

MDC to refer poll dispute to SADC

Zim Online

by Patricia Mpofu Tuesday 06 May 2008

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s opposition said on Monday it would refer an election
dispute with President Robert Mugabe’s government to the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) which has mediated in the country’s political
crisis.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party remained non-committal about
whether it would participate in a second round presidential vote, saying it
did not see the need for a run-off poll because its leader Morgan Tsvangirai
won an outright victory against Mugabe in a March 29 ballot.

According to the ZEC Tsvangirai polled 1 195 562 votes or 47.9 percent of
total valid votes cast to defeat Mugabe who polled 1 079 730 ballots or 43.2
percent of total votes cast in the first round election. Two independent
candidates shared the remainder of valid votes cast.

Because Tsvangirai won but failed to take more than 50 percent of the vote,
a second ballot must be held between the MDC leader and Mugabe, according to
electoral laws.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the ZEC had to convince the opposition
party of the need for a run-off poll by allowing verification of results in
accordance with SADC guidelines on the holding of democratic elections.

Chamisa told ZimOnline: “We have resolved to get the matter to SADC because
we believe SADC guidelines and principles in the whole process leading to
the verification and announcement of the results were grossly violated.”

The MDC official spoke as deputy information minister Bright Matonga
announced that the government would forge ahead with the run-off election
and would not bow to any pre-conditions by the opposition.

Matonga said: "ZEC has constitutional mandate to run elections in the
country without taking orders or giving in to senseless conditions. The
run-off will take place on ZEC conditions, not from Tsvangirai who is
staring a heavy defeat to President Mugabe.”

Chamisa ruled out taking the election dispute to the Electoral Court saying
the court specifically established to hear election petitions was controlled
by Mugabe.

He said: “Going to court is tantamount to going to Mugabe’s bedroom seeking
justice. Hence, we have resolved to take the issue to SADC on failure by ZEC
to convince us that a run-off indeed is necessary.”

Analysts say Tsvangirai is most likely to defeat Mugabe in a second round
election if the poll was held in free and fair conditions. But they say
rising political violence against opposition supporters could intimidate
most especially in remote rural areas to support Mugabe out of fear of
victimisation.

The MDC, Western governments and human rights groups have accused Mugabe of
unleashing state security forces and ZANU PF militias against voters in a
bid to scare them to back him in the second round ballot.

The MDC says at least 20 of its supporters have been murdered while another
5 000 have been displaced in the violence which the opposition party has
described as a war by Mugabe against Zimbabweans.

But the opposition has little room to maneuver with virtually no hope that
SADC leaders would force Mugabe to recount votes as demanded by the MDC,
while on the other hand boycotting the presidential run-off ballot will
automatically hand victory to Mugabe. – ZimOnline

Zimbabwe on Course for Slaughter, War

OhMyNews

Death squads, snipers target key opposition party officials

Nicolas van der Leek

     Published 2008-05-07 06:55 (KST)

In the same way that Mugabe lay low during the days immediately after the
election, allowing post-election hype to fizzle, so too has attention waned
that was once sharply focused on a ship: the An Yue Jiang.

The Chinese ship carrying arms (including AK-47 rifles and three million
rounds of ammunition) for Zimbabwe was widely reported to have left the
South African port of Durban en route back to China, with no weapons
delivered.

In fact, the ship emerged on April 25 along the West Coast of Africa at the
Angolan port of Luanda.

While Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos promised to allow no
offloading of arms, this ignores a military agreement that has been in place
between Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe for at least a decade. In South
Africa's Mail & Guardian, it is reported that Mugabe's right-hand man and
other security officials delivered a "special message" to the Angolan
president during the last few days.

The Mail & Guardian also speculates that a flight by a Chinese air cargo
company, MK Air, "lodged a suspicious flying plan from Luanda that might
have allowed it time to divert to Zimbabwe." The flight between Luanda and
Entebbe (in Uganda) did not appear for 17 hours on radar.

Subsequently, reports have been filtering in of death squads roaming
Zimbabwe and "picking off" key opposition members.

Alarmingly, the opposition party in Zimbabwe, the MDC (Movement for
Democratic Change), released a statement referring to the mobilization of a
group of 18 "snipers," who they said had been allocated nearly a dozen Hilux
twin-cab vehicles in Chikurubi, Harare. The MDC even went so far as to
provide license plate numbers for these vehicles.

Zimbabwe's local The Standard has reported numerous MDC-related murders in
rural areas. The MDC believes that at least 20 of their activists have been
killed.

Given the unfolding events, and the tacit approval to date by the South
African government (including opposing a United Nations-backed delegation to
Zimbabwe), massive bloodletting is likely to gain momentum in the coming
weeks.

Incredibly, with the country experiencing what can only be described as
"death throes," Zimbabwe's dictator means to wrest power and maintain his
chokehold of power until the last gasp.

Phone police and complain about WOZA arrests

News update
5pm Tuesday 6th May

Two WOZA members spend a second night in police custody

The two WOZA members, Trust Moyo and Cynthia Ncube, who were detained
yesterday following a peaceful demonstration, are set to spend a second
night in police custody at Bulawayo Central Police Station. They have been
allowed access to their lawyers however and have been charged with
‘distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace’ – a charge
under the Public Order and Security Act (Section 19 1b) that has been
incorporated into the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act in Section
37 1(b).

It is hoped that both members will be taken to court tomorrow (Wednesday)
morning.

Trust was beaten by police on the street and also in a police vehicle.
Apparently they were driven out of town and driven through a busy area near
the army barracks, before being taken to Bulawayo Central. Eight police
officers were in this vehicle. It is not clear what injuries he has
sustained as a result of his beatings as he has not been allowed to receive
medical attention. It is also not clear how Cynthia has been treated since
her detention.

Three more members received medical treatment this morning. All three had
been struck by the police vehicle and sustained deep tissue bruising.

Please continue to call Bulawayo Central Police Station on +263 9 72515,
+263 9 61706 or +263 9 63061 to demand that these members be released and to
ask police why peaceful demonstrators who were calling for an end to
violence were beaten so badly.

News update
8am Tuesday 6th May

The whereabouts of all WOZA members arrested yesterday afternoon has been
established. Two members, one female and one male, spent the night at
Bulawayo Central Police Station whilst all other members were released by
late afternoon or early evening yesterday. Lawyers have not been allowed
access to the two members in Bulawayo Central and it is not clear what they
are being charged with or how they have been treated. Both are in good
spirits however and have been allowed food both last night and this morning.

Five of the other members arrested had been taken to the police post (a
tent) at Lobengula Street Mall whilst four had been taken to Drill Hall.
They were all searched and questioned at length about why they were in town.
After being held for hours, they were all finally released without charge.

59 members received medical attention but the number is expected to rise as
several more members have requested appointments this morning. Injuries
included deep tissue bruising caused by baton sticks and open wounds, mostly
on the knees from where members fell from either the beatings they received
or from being hit by the police vehicle that drove into the back of the
crowd.

Two people, one woman and one man, hit by the vehicle, fractured their
elbows, whilst another woman broke a finger from being hit by a baton stick.
It was also discovered that another woman who had been hit across the
stomach with a baton stick was actually pregnant, something she did not know
herself, but she and the baby are fine.

Part of the message being delivered yesterday reads…. “We call on the
uniformed forces to realise that there is no peace in the absence of
justice. When change comes, and it will come, WOZA will demand an audit of
all civil servants, including the uniformed forces.” The ‘audit’ continues
and the driver of ZRP 3039M and the officer in charge of Bulawayo Central,
Inspector Mabhari, have been added to the list of those who will face
justice. The latter was heard ordering the beatings.

Please call Bulawayo Central Police Station on +263 9 72515, +263 9 61706 or
+263 9 63061 and demand the immediate release of the two WOZA members.
Please also ask Inspector Mabhari why he ordered the beating of innocent
protestors and bystanders. You can also remind the officers that they are
unlikely to receive immunity from justice when democracy returns to Zimbabwe
but they have an opportunity to be remembered for the good they have done by
releasing members today and treating them fairly.

Breaking news from WOZA
Monday 5th May 2008

WOZA members beaten in Bulawayo today; at least 12 arrested

Members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise took to the streets of Bulawayo
today to call for an end to the politically motivated violence that has left
more than 20 people dead in the last few weeks. The protest is also part of
WOZA’s participation in the ‘make your vote count’ campaign. Ironically the
peaceful protestors were met with brutal violence by the Zimbabwe Republic
Police (ZRP). At least 59 have needed to seek medical attention for injuries
caused by baton sticks or being hit by a police vehicle.

The demonstrators had planned to deliver a demand to the High Court that the
Chief Election Officer declare Morgan Tsvangirai as president, as the
candidate that secured the greatest number of votes, rather than hold a
run-off which would only result in more violence.

The group of several hundred had just gathered and began to march when they
were violently set upon by two truckloads of riot police who viciously beat
people with their baton sticks.

Seven people were arrested after this first attempt, some several blocks
away. It is not clear where these seven people are as lawyers have not yet
been able to locate them.

An hour the determined members regrouped near St. Mary’s Cathedral and were
able to conduct a silent march for four blocks before being intercepted by
uniformed police officers one block from the High Court. A discussion took
place between the senior officer present and WOZA National Coordinator,
Jenni Williams, who was in the process of asking members to disperse
peacefully when two truckloads of riot police arrived and once again began
beating people.

Riot police from one vehicle disembarked and began indiscriminately beating
the crowd whilst a second police vehicle ZRP 3039 M deliberately drove into
the back of the crowd injuring many people. As well as the brutal assault on
the peaceful protestors, any women in the vicinity were also beaten.
Eyewitness accounts include seeing a completely innocent bystander be
slapped across the face by a uniformed police officer until she fell to the
ground, all the while protesting her innocence.

Amongst those injured was Jenni Williams, who was beaten with baton sticks,
both on the street and in a police vehicle (ZRP 2030M) when she was
temporarily arrested. She was later released but others were not so lucky.
At least four members were observed being arrested but once again lawyers
have not been able to ascertain their whereabouts as they were observed
being driven to a busy area near Brady Barracks.

There is concern as to the whereabouts of all those who were witnessed being
arrested and also as to how they are being treated.

It has also been reported that riot police have been beating any group of
women that they come across in town throughout the afternoon. Once again
displaying the violent and brutal behaviour that has become synonymous with
the ZANU PF regime.

As well as carrying demands for the Chief Elections Officer, WOZA also
demanded that the uniformed forces and war veterans refrain from further
violence, reminding them that the ‘chefs’ probably will be allowed to cut
deals, whilst they will be left to face the justice of the law and the anger
of the people.

In the week leading up to Mother’s Day, the peaceful protest was also
expected to demonstrate courage to Zimbabweans and show that ‘mothers’ are
speaking out and demanding that their vote count and be respected.

More information will be given when it becomes available.

Ends

For more information, please contact either Jenni Williams on +263 912 300
456 or +263 912 898 110, Magodonga Mahlangu on +263 912 363 668 or Annie
Sibanda on +263 912 898 112.

Copy of the flyer being distributed by WOZA whilst marching:
Still standing strong for our children
- a Mother’s Day message from WOZA

As Mothers Day draws near, we, the mothers of the nation, have examined our
existence and that of our children and decided that enough is enough. We are
deeply concerned about the current political impasse. The collapse of the
schooling and health systems need to be urgently addressed by a new
government but these issues are being ignored due to the election impasse.
We cannot keep on waiting however; our lives are at stake. We voted in peace
on 29 March but we are being punished for choosing to vote for a change.

Behind the fist
The ‘fist’ is the trademark of Robert Mugabe. We have seen how this fist
works. People in Matabeleland and Midlands, supporters of ZAPU, were killed
during Gukurahundi in the early 1980’s. Residents of Porta Farm also paid a
high price for Mugabe’s hatred of Ndabaningi Sithole. In 2000, Mugabe
launched violent land invasions to punish Zimbabweans who refused his
constitutional amendments, and we are still paying the price of hunger
today. In 2005, Operation Murambatsvina was designed to quell rising dissent
and support for the Movement for Democratic Change after the 31 March 2005
election. When he saw the true results of the March 29 election he launched
Operation MaVhoterapapi (where have you voted).

Mhosva haitongwi nekurwa – to use violence is to admit defeat

Recognising WOZA’s role as human rights defenders, we therefore call on
Robert Mugabe to immediately hand over power to the winner of the
presidential election, Morgan Tsvangirai. Mugabe as the leader of a
so-called ‘liberation war party’ has failed to deliver social justice. The
heroes who lie buried at Heroes Acres and in unmarked graves in surrounding
countries died for this ideal – one man one vote.

We do not want a presidential election run-off because this will result in
more violence as we campaign for the candidate of our choice. There can be
no free and fair environment in any district of the country at present with
violence as it is.

In preparation for the run off, it seems Zanu PF have made moves to ‘starve’
any supporters of the pro-democracy activists. WOZA members report being
unable to buy mealie meal if they do not produce a Zanu PF card. Many
supermarkets now form two queues one for Zanu PF members which is serviced
and another queue whose occupants go home empty handed.

We ask the real war veterans to help us stop the violence and speak out
against those perpetrating the violence in their name. We know ‘war veterans’
met villagers in Mukuwa, Matabeleland South and told them – “we are
declaring war”. Is this why they ordered weapons from China? To kill
ordinary Zimbabweans who simply want a better life and the full realisation
of the liberation war promises?

Induku kayakhi muzi - fighting does not build a home; war does not build a
nation

We call on the uniformed forces to realise that there is no peace in the
absence of justice. Respect that Zimbabweans have voted for change and
refrain from being used to perpetrate violence and to carry out injustices.
When change comes, and it will come, WOZA will demand an audit of all civil
servants, including the uniformed forces. We, your neighbours in our
communities, know you for the things that you do, both good and bad. We will
remember. Hear us loud and clear - your leaders may get ‘generous retirement
packages’ but you will be left to face the justice of the law and the anger
of the people.

When you see us in the streets, we come in peace with love in our hearts and
you have the choice to respond likewise and allow us to do our work as
mothers of the nation. Good actions will also be remembered and rewarded.

As mothers we advise that during this period, Zimbabweans must remain calm
but committed to making their vote count. This is a time for courage and
also a time for humility. It is in this spirit that we call on the Chief
Election Officer, Lovemore Sekeramayi, to use his powers under the 5th
Schedule of the Electoral Act, to declare the candidate with the ‘greatest
number of votes’ the winner forthwith. He knows who won fair and square and
should declare Morgan Tsvangirai the winner. Our lives depend on his courage
and sense of decency.

We also call on SADC, the African Union and United Nations to show their
solidarity for the people and respect that Zimbabweans have already chosen a
new president and that their vote should count. The current government are
trying to subvert the laws of the land and allowing Mugabe to stay in power
when he lost the election.

Change will come. The people’s voices will be heard and respected.
We just need to keep standing strong.

****************************

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

Inflation goes through the roof

Sokwanele

Last week Gono announced a new monetary policy. This week there is chaos.

I am not an economist so can only try to explain in my own layperson terms
what is currently going on. Maybe someone with a better understanding of
this can comment.

Gono’s monetary policy has given the banks authority to purchase foreign
currency at a rate determined by “demand and supply”. The banks are then to
remit the money at the end of each working day to the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ). The reason for this, I assume, is an attempt to gain control
of the blackmarket. The result is that they have basically re-legalized the
dealing of foreign currency by allowing the banks to trade in it.

The immediate impact is mindblowing.

The banks are now competing to receive the foreign currency brought in on
the streets and the rates are going beserk as each bank bids higher and
higher.

Yesterday they were trading at ZWD150 million to USD1 and by mid-morning
today the rate had already reached ZWD200 million to USD1. One street trader
has said that there is ‘total confusion’ in the market as the ‘blackmarket’
buyers and sellers try to determine an accurate rate to trade at. There is
already a crippling shortage of local currency at the banks – many people
have been queuing now for up to four days trying to withdraw their April
wages.

This will of course give the government many benefits – the money is sourced
and traded by the banks. There is no need for large amounts of Zim dollars
on the streets now as the banks themselves will be making the payouts. The
forex is sent directly to RBZ (Gono) at the end each day.

Christmas (for the elite as per usual) has come early!

And the bank continues to maintain their own ruling government exchange rate
of $30 000 / USD1 so they, the zpf stalwarts, can purchase this forex for
peanuts.

For ordinary citizens like myself the instant impact is a disaster.

Most of our food is purchased via blackmarket routes and with the rate
climbing higher and higher by the minute, so does the cost of living.

My salary is not determined by the rate that the foreign currency trades at.
I get paid in Zim dollars and purchase imported food in zim dollars that is
priced using the foreign currency rate of the day (so that shops can
restock). Higher rates translate to higher food prices (in-fact higher
prices of everything). Inflation is about to rocket into another dimension.

Maybe, just maybe, somehow, some way, the market will stabilize in a manner
that I do not understand.

I don’t trust this government and cannot see them honouring the use of the
foreign currency in the correct manner.

I guess time will tell.

And the small cherry to top this cake. Today the state newspapers report the
introduction of new bearer cheques - $100 million and $250 million dollar
notes.

The last notes introduced are now small change.

  Excerpts from the monetary policy – April 2008

  2.2.1 Foreign Currency Pricing

    a.. An interbank foreign exchange rate based on demand and supply is to
be introduced.
    b.. Everyday, each Bank is required to display the average exchange rate
for the previous day’s forex trades.
    c.. Sellers of foreign exchange (exporters, NGOs, Embassies, Diaspora
people, etc) are expected to sell their foreign currency at the ruling
interbank rate (the average price).

  2.2.4 RBZ Forex requirements

    a.. The RBZ will compete with banks for forex for Government
requirements if the portion surrendered to RBZ falls short of Government
needs.
    b.. Banks are required to on-sell forex to RBZ at the end of each day to
leave own position at maximum of USD 100,000.

This entry was written by Chipo on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

MDC Statement of the Rejection of Presidential Results

Sokwanele

5th May 2008 - Hon. Thokozani Khupe,MDC Vice-President

The MDC rejects the presidential figures that were announced yesterday by
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and we would like to reiterate that
President Morgan Tsvangirai won this election with a clear majority.

Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF should concede defeat following their defeat in
the 29 March 2008 elections.

We call upon SADC to assist in the verification of the results as we feel
that ZEC is in violation of the SADC resolutions.

We are convinced that the runoff is unnecessary considering the clear
mandate that the people of Zimbabwe showed when they voted for change,
dignity and jobs.

The MDC wishes to reiterate that this election was clearly won by the MDC
and President Tsvangirai. It is for that reason that in the unlikely event
of a runoff the MDC will once again romp to victory by even a bigger margin.

Zanu PF cannot and shall not win an election in Zimbabwe. In fact Zanu PF is
now history and permanently confined to opposition quarters of our country.

Elected officials

The MDC notes with concern the deliberate delays by Zanu PF to stop elected
officials being sworn in to execute their duties.

However, the MDC national executive has resolved that all MDC elected
members should start work by executing their duties of serving the people of
Zimbabwe.

The councilors should start their duties forthwith.

Political Violence

We have noted with concern the escalation of cases of violence, continued
militarization and vigilantation of our society, the reluctance by Zanu PF
to stop the use of brutal force on innocent Zimbabweans and the reluctance
by the police to arrest the perpetrators.

To date 20 MDC supporters have been killed by the Zanu PF militia while over
5 000 families have been displaced with over a 1 000 homes either burnt or
destroyed.

More than 2 000 MDC supporters have also been hospitalized across the
country and there is continued arrests and intimidation of our supporters
across the country.

The intimidation on the people of Zimbabwe has also been intensified with
Zanu PF setting up bases in rural and farming areas in order to torture the
people of Zimbabwe.

However, the MDC commits itself to rebuilding all the houses of the victims
who lost their homes. We wish to restore all destroyed property hence the
party is currently compiling data in all provinces for those who have been
affected by this violence in the hands of Zanu PF.

In order to end this violence we urge;

  1.. For the immediate withdrawal of the military from the villages
  2.. The disbanding of the Zanu PF youth militia
  3.. Zanu PF must stop its violence and murder
  4.. The Zimbabwe Republic Police officers should exercise their duties in
a professional and non-partisan manner.

This

SADC to fast track mediation process in Zimbabwe

SABC

May 06, 2008, 16:15

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is calling on the Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) to fast track its mediation in the
Zimbabwean political crisis and reach a peaceful solution.

Ki Moon has been reacting from the UN Headquarters in New York on the
eventual release of Zimbabwe's presidential election results after five
weeks of delay. The UN Chief expresses deep concern about what he calls the
rising political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe as that country gears
itself for a possible presidential electoral run-off.

After five long weeks, they have been announced. With the opposition party
now questioning the integrity of those outcomes and hesitant to participate
in a presidential run-off, the UN Chief now calls on the SADC leaders to
expedite their mediation. Ki Moon has expressed concern at the reported
political violence and increasing humanitarian situation in that country and
the inability of UN food agencies to deliver aid to poor people.

The UN Chief has also confirmed that he is currently engaged in
consultations with African leaders from the SADC region and the African
Union (AU) as a whole to determine a possible and practical UN involvement
in the anticipated presidential run-off in Zimbabwe.

Ban discussing UN help for Zimbabwe re-run

Reuters

Tue 6 May 2008, 6:11 GMT

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday
he was talking to African states about how the world body could help ensure
an election run-off in Zimbabwe is credible and voiced concern at growing
violence.

Zimbabwe's opposition MDC has yet to say whether its leader Morgan
Tsvangirai would contest a second round against President Robert Mugabe, but
has said one condition for doing so might be a U.N.-led observer mission.

The opposition rejects results showing Tsvangirai failed to beat Mugabe by a
big enough margin in the March 29 vote to avoid a run-off and accuses his
supporters of a campaign of violence.

But to pull out now would mean Mugabe automatically keeps a 28-year hold on
power in his ruined country.

Ban told reporters at U.N. headquarters he would discuss a possible U.N.
role in Zimbabwe with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who chairs the
African Union, and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who leads southern
Africa's regional bloc.

"I have been constantly following and monitoring the situation and
discussing how the United Nations and the African Union together can help
the Zimbabwean situation reach a very harmonious and credible way," he said
in New York.

He said U.N. monitors and sending a U.N. envoy to Zimbabwe were both
options.

"These are some ideas which I am going to discuss, what would be the
practical possible ways at this time," he said.

Regional countries might be ready to press Mugabe to accept U.N. monitors.
In the first round, observers from his Western critics were barred and the
main monitoring group was from the Southern African Development Community.

The regional grouping has faced criticism for a cautious diplomatic approach
to Zimbabwe in recent years, but showed signs of impatience with Mugabe as a
month-long delay to the election results fanned fears of widespread
bloodshed.

VIOLENCE

The opposition, Western governments and human rights groups accuse Mugabe of
unleashing militias to scare Zimbabweans into backing him in the run-off.
The government denies the allegation and says the MDC is behind political
violence.

The MDC says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed and more than
1,000 homes burnt or destroyed since the election.

"I am deeply concerned at reports of rising levels of violence and
intimidation within Zimbabwe," said Ban.

A union said teachers, who make up the bulk of polling officers, have been
targets of a violent campaign. The Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe
(PTUZ) said in a statement over 2,740 teachers had been targeted.

Tendai Chikowore, head of Zimbabwe's main teachers' union, the Zimbabwe
Teachers' Association (ZIMTA), said more and more teachers were victims of
the campaign.

No date has been set for a run-off yet. By law, the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) is supposed to set the date within 21 days of the result.
But it has the power to extend the period and political observers believe a
40-day period is likely.

Utoile Silaigwana, ZEC's deputy chief elections officer, would not be drawn
on whether it planned to extend the date.

"The commission will soon meet over this matter," he said.

MDC officials said party leaders were hammering out conditions they would
demand for Tsvangirai's participation in a second round -- including a
strong international observer mission and the speedy release of results.

The opposition says the month-long delay in announcing the last result
allowed the outcome to be rigged. The official result showed Tsvangirai won
47.9 percent of the vote to Mugabe's 43.2 percent.

UN Secretary-genl Concerned At Zimbabwe Unrest,Mulls Poll Monitors

nasdaq

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP)--U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon has expressed his concerns
about unrest in Zimbabwe and considered whether to dispatch monitors for the
as yet unscheduled run-off.

Ban said he was "deeply concerned" at the levels of violence and had been
consulting with African leaders about how to ensure the situation didn't
unravel further.

"I have been constantly following and monitoring the situation and
discussing how the U.N. and the African Union together can help the
Zimbabwean situation reach a very harmonious and credible way," he said.

"At the same time, I would urge the Zimbabwean authorities to take care of
all humanitarian situations caused by this political and violent situation
and I also hope that the African leaders - the African Union as well as
leaders of SADC (a 14-nation regional bloc) member states - will take due
efforts to bring an early and harmonious resolution of this issue," he said.

His comments came after Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union commission,
met with Mugabe in Harare. While officials initially refused all comment on
Monday's meeting, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's chief spokesman George
Charamba told the Herald the pair "exchanged notes."

Ping also met with electoral commission officials who were due to meet
Tuesday to discuss the date of a run-off.

As well as his first round reverse in the March presidential election,
Mugabe also saw ZANU-PF lose its majority in parliament for the first time
in 28 years.

Chief opposition spokesman Nelson Chamissa said the conditions weren't
conducive for a free election and appealed for international intervention.

"We are appealing to the international community to intervene as ZANU-PF has
shown a propensity to commit acts of violence and to dislike stability."

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  05-06-080657ET

Zimbabwe Anglicans face 'communist-style' persecution, says bishop

Episcopal Life

May 06, 2008
[Ecumenical News International, Harare] Anglican Bishop Sebastian Bakare of
the Diocese of Harare says members of his church fear persecution, as police
in Harare barred worshippers from attending church services at the city's
Anglican cathedral.

The action by armed police came after former Anglican Bishop Nolbert Kunonga
filed a claim in Zimbabwe's Supreme Court claiming control of church
property.

Witnesses told Ecumenical News International that police officers barred
them from entering the cathedral in central Harare on May 4 for their main
church service.

"There was supposed to be a baptism ceremony but it was called off after
police stopped them from entering the church yard," said a parishioner. "We
wanted to hold our church service as usual in the shed, but we were not
allowed even to use the that."

The cathedral is at the center of a fight between the Harare diocese of the
(Anglican) Church of the Province of Central Africa and Kunonga and his
self-styled Anglican Province of Zimbabwe. Kunonga was stripped of his
license as a priest in 2007 after he withdrew his diocese from the Anglican
Province of Central Africa over what he said was its failure to condemn the
ordination of homosexual bishops.

The latest twist to the church feud came a week after riot police broke up a
gathering of about 3,200 members of the Mothers' Union taking place in
Mbare, a high-density southern suburb of Harare.

Reports said that a truckload of police arrived as Ruth Bakare, the wife of
the Harare bishop, was addressing the women. Bakare continued to speak until
a second truckload arrived.

Bishop Bakare said the events were reminiscent of the persecution of
Christian in communist states. "The events of the past weekend have led me
to believe that there is a deliberate attempt to persecute Anglican
Christians in this diocese," the bishop said in a statement.

"At least 3,200 members of the Mothers' Union had gathered at St. Michael's
in Mbare to commemorate Mary's Day and they were chased away by riot police
under so-called directives from above," the bishop stated. "As a bishop of
the diocese I was reminded of Christian churches who were persecuted in
communist countries before the fall of the Iron Curtain."

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed the deployment of police at
the Harare cathedral, saying they were there to prevent clashes between the
factions.

Reports from other parishes in the Zimbabwe capital said worshippers were
only allowed into church buildings after supporters of Kunonga had held
their own services.

Zimbabwe's high court on May 2 ordered the two Anglican groups to share
church property. Kunonga immediately appealed against the ruling in the
Supreme Court claiming his province of Zimbabwe had the right to control the
church property.

The dismissed bishop is a renowned supporter of Zimbabwe's President Robert
Mugabe, who gave Kunonga a farm confiscated from a white farmer during land
seizures by the ruling party, which said it was redistributing land to black
people who form the vast majority of Zimbabwe's 12 million population. The
Zimbabwe government has seized land belonging to nearly all of Zimbabwe's
4,500 white commercial farmers since 2000.

AU foreign ministers to discuss Zimbabwe poll crisis

africasia

 ARUSHA, Tanzania, May 6 (AFP)

Foreign ministers from the African Union will Tuesday discuss Zimbabwe's
electoral crisis during a meeting in Tanzania's northern town of Arusha, the
Tanzanian foreign minister said.

The African Union Peace and Security Council will discuss "hot topics such
as Zimbabwe" at the two-day meeting starting Tuesday, Bernard Membe told
reporters.

The gathering, chiefly aimed at discussing ways to reform the AU Commission,
comes a day after commission chief Jean Ping held talks with Zimbabwean
President Robert on the country's electoral crisis.

The southern African country has been mired in a bitter dispute since March
29 polls.

Results released after five tense weeks indicate a run-off is needed between
Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, but
the opposition leader maintains he won outright in the first round.

Zimbabwe Election Monitoring Group Questions Presidential Results

VOA

By Carole Gombakomba
Washington
06 May 2008

While the ZANU-PF party of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has launched
its campaign for a presidential runoff election that has yet to be
scheduled, and in which first-round front-runner Morgan Tsvangirai has yet
to commit himself, the country's leading election monitoring group has
raised questions about first-round results.

ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira urged Mr. Mugabe’s supporters Tuesday
to get out the vote, and called on voters to refrain from violence.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said Friday that Mr. Mugabe received 43.2%
of first-round votes while Tsvangirai took 47.9%. Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change says Tsvangirai won the election outright, however, and
has questioned the need for a run-off though expressing confidence
Tsvangirai would win one.

But the Zimbabwe Election Support Network said Tuesday that it cannot
validate the election results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission,
saying there was no transparency in the verification, collation and
tabulation of the results, as party agents required by law to be present
were not invited to witness the process.

The independent observer group also appealed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police
and political parties to halt ongoing violence aimed at opposition
supporters in rural areas, and attacks on its election observers in Mount
Darwin East, Mashonaland Central.

The monitoring group said such attacks intensified after ZANU-PF held a
meeting on Sunday addressed by former soldier Siyamvuma Chikwasha. About 200
youths led by war veterans burned the huts of four local election observers,
confiscating their clothing and identification cards in the process, ZESN
said.

ZESN Chairman Noel Kututwa told reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7
for Zimbabwe that he is concerned that the climate of violence in Zimbabwe
is not conducive to holding a credible presidential run-off election.

Mutharika must not abet Mugabe

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 06 May 2008 12:12
Reminiscent of the movie "Blood Diamonds"; the Malawi Government has
decided to meddle in Zimbabwean internal affairs by sending its intelligence
officials to clear on Mugabe's behalf the contraband from China, in
Luanda-Angola, despite the international calls not to allow the ship
carrying the arms to offload anywhere in the world except in China, writes
Nyakuchena Ganda in the Nyasa Times.
Mutharika must be criticised for pursuing a grotesque foreign policy,
which is sacrificing Malawi's credibility in the international arena and
jeopardising the safety of Malawians living in Zimbabwe.

It is intriguing that while the President is advocating the rule of
law, dialogue and patience, he is at the same time behaving in a manner that
suggests that he is supporting Robert Mugabe's Adolf Hitler-like grip on the
nation of Zimbabwe.

Well if the president thinks that these virtues can apply in Zimbabwe,
he should also make the same effort to practice them here. For before we
even start talking about how other countries should handle their business we
should remove the huge planks in our eyes. Mutharika knows that.

It is unbelievable that Human Rights are again being trampled on in
Zimbabwe, where the dictatorial geriatric has unleashed an untold fear
campaign on his people and he is so far being allowed to get away with it.

The so-called "Chimurenga-Veterans" [ironically some of whom are as
young as 20 years old] are methodically pushing back the country to the era
of Ian Smith, when the ruthless colonial forces subjected the nationals to
so many traumas for aiding and abetting the genuine Chimurenga War
guerrillas.

The current serial molesters choose their victims indiscriminately;
their attacks serve a clear and sanitised philosophy; an astonishing package
of political values and objectives that are malevolent and extremely cold
blooded.

The will to oppress and intimidate the whole nation of Zimbabwe into
submission is unmistakable.

Therefore, Mutharika's cheap political advertising through his recent
Press Release is a desperate attempt at blunting the international ridicule
his government is experiencing now.

Isn't it true that our government's mediocre foreign policy is failing
dismally to respond to the disgraceful campaign of terror in Zimbabwe?

Again, we have seen the feeble attempts and headless chicken antics of
a government that does not care about Zimbabweans, trying to bogusly play
philanthropist just because the rest of the SADDC region is tightening the
screws on Robert Mugabe.

Some day in future, both Malawians and Zimbabweans will look at this
period of betrayal as the turning point in our history. We will remember a
once prosperous country driven to destitution by a sadistic Octogenarian.

We will have visions of a country crying for help from the
international community but literally abandoned to fend for itself by even
those short-sighted and selfish people who have in-laws and property in that
country.

We will remember the Malawian president who upon his arrival from Red
China, declared that Malawians had no business asking him why he was
supporting the rogue government in Zimbabwe, and later expelled lies at a
mass rally in Thyolo that it was the private traders selling maize to
ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe and not his disgraced 21st century "Maoist" government.

Is it not true that the government in Malawi has always had the
capacity to stop the export of maize abroad? Whom is Mutharika trying to
fool here by lying to the poor masses that he was not exporting their Maize
to Zimbabwe, when officials from the same government admitted having
received maize from this country?

It's lies, lies, lies, shameful lies and out-and-out treachery! Can
somebody please stop him from making a cartoon of his person this way?

The current situation in Zimbabwe is very exceptional for Malawi.
Moreover, the misfortune running through the Zimbabwean political blood
stream is likely to rear its ugly head, in Malawi, in May 2009, if we are
not watchful by making our leaders take responsibility of their actions and
what they say.

The post-election horror offensive in Zimbabwe and the Malawi
Government's indulgence in its nefarious activities in Luanda, Angola should
serve notice to Malawians that Mutharika has the propensity to "pull a
Mugabe" if not monitored closely. He may decide to recycle the same playbook
to cling to power.

It is not too late though for Bingu to reposition Malawi's doctrine of
contact and dialogue in our relations with peoples of the world. Mutharika
can support dialogue between the conflicting parties in Zimbabwe by serving
as a decent emissary. That will be far more award winning than his current
malice laden involvement in Zimbabwe's affairs

Disrupt 2010 soccer world cup

swradioafrica.com

 
I am sure that you have all the email addresses of various Zim support
groups throughout the world.
Please can you forward this to them.
I am trying to get organizations to help with the following:

Zimbabweans must disrupt 2010 Soccer World Cup.
“It has emerged that South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki told a delegation
of African church leaders that he unashamedly supports President Mugabe.”
This is nothing Zimbabweans don’t already know, we could have told them that
many years ago.
What we need to do is formulate a plan that will disrupt the build up to the
2010 soccer world cup and force FIFA to move the venue away from South
Africa. This is the first time ever that Africa has been given such a
prestigious event to host. It would be shameful for South Africa and in fact
the whole of Africa if the opportunity was lost because of Mbeki and SADC’s
continued support for Zimbabwe’s ruthless dictator.
Zimbabweans who are spread all over the world can help to achieve this by
demonstrating with placards denouncing the South Africa President.
Demonstrators should start running onto fields and disrupting important
matches that are being televised. This should include major club games and
internationals. Our people in South Africa need to organize themselves and
start the ball rolling in the very near future. We have already seen what an
impact the Tibetan demonstrations have had to the run up to the Olympics in
China.
The people of Zimbabwe voted for change, and with the help of Thabo Mbeki
and SADC, Robert Mugabe has subverted the will of the people.
It’s time that we Zimbabweans stood up and showed the world that we have had
enough!

We need to publicize this as much as possible so that Africa starts to take
note!

Freelance journalist’s case deferred

zimbabwejournalists.com

6th May 2008 23:05 GMT

By a Correspondent

HARARE - The case in which freelance journalist Frank Chikowore charged with
public violence together with other co-accused who include Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) director of information Luke Tamborinyoka was on 5
May 2008 deferred to 8 May 2008.

The case was deferred to allow a new prosecutor time to familiarise himself
with the case. Chikowore and his co-accused were on 2 May 2008 each granted
Z$5 billion bail and ordered to report to Harare Central Police’s Law and
Order Section twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays.

Prior to the granting of the bail, Chikowore and his co-accused had been
remanded in custody to 5 May 2008.

The charge against Chikowore and the other co-accused arises from the
torching of a bus in Harare ’s suburb of Warren Park on 15 April 2008.

New Life in Nigeria Yields Results for White Zimbabwean Farmers

By Sarah Simpson Shonga, Nigeria 06 May 2008

Simpson report - Download (MP3)
Simpson report - Listen (MP3)

In Nigeria, a small group of white Zimbabwean farmers have set up new commercial farming operations. The farmers lost their Zimbabwean land in President Robert Mugabe's controversial land resettlement program in the early 2000s. But leaders in Nigeria have since welcomed the white Zimbabweans, assisting their move to Nigeria in the hope that they can kick-start the country's stagnated agricultural sector. Sarah Simpson visited the Zimbabweans on their farms in Shonga, in Nigeria's central Kwara State.

Zimbabwean farmers Irvine Reid, left, and Sue Mactavish watch dairy cows from southern Africa settle in to their new homes in Shonga, Nigeria, 25 Apr 2008

In the blistering afternoon heat, under the shade of newly built cowsheds, Zimbabwean farmer Irvine Reid remembers how a Nigerian governor named Bukola Saraki sowed the seeds of his new life in West Africa.

"In the beginning, the governor of this state, that is Governor Saraki, he got hold of us and asked us to explore the possibilities in agriculture," he said.

The white farmers were still smarting from often violent land evictions carried out with the full backing of the Zimbabwean government. Trust was an issue.

"The farms were invaded - as everybody was. We were given 24 hours to leave. And we did not have much warning - that is what we had to do. We had to leave the farm," said Reid.

But Governor Saraki paid for the farmers to come on a look-see tour of Kwara State in a bid to woo them across the continent and promised land on 25-year leases with bank loans underwritten by the government.

Their plane landed in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos. The sprawling slum-chocked urban jungle did not impress the farmers, but the farm land on offer some 250 miles inland, did. Shonga had instant appeal.

Simpson: "How long did it take you to make up your mind?"

Reid: "Once we got here? About an hour."

Simpson: "Really?"

Reid: "Yeah, once we got through Lagos. Lagos was not attractive at all. But once we got out here onto the farms we saw the potential. The Niger River is just behind me, I can see it in the distance there. That is an endless source of water and that is why the farms are positioned here. That is why we came to this site."

Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa. But that vast wealth has done little to improve the lives of millions of Nigerians who toil as subsistence and small scale farmers. Improving agriculture is key to broad economic development in rural states like Kwara, says Governor Saraki.

"We have always said that to get the Nigerian economy going it has to be driven through agriculture - that has to be the focus," said Saraki.

Governor Saraki says the Zimbabwean farmers have essential skills that Nigeria's 140-million strong population can learn from. The benefits are already visible in Kwara, he says, and this will guarantee the projects continuation beyond the end of his tenure in three years time.

"I think the project has sold itself, it now has ownership - ownership within the country, ownership within the community and within the state. And I think that is what matters. When we started off there were a lot of people who did not believe in it. But by now there are 3,000 people employed in Shonga - they are the ones that are going to defend it," said Saraki.

Local farmers are happy to have 'the whites' around, they say. Young men can now earn a daily wage laboring for the Zimbabweans and still have enough time left over to tend their own farms. Many can now afford Chinese imported motorbikes and mobile phones, like Musa Mogadi.

"Everything is much better since the white man came to this area. Mr. Reid really tries to help the people that work for him. And since the white man came here everything is developed so we thank God for him," said Mogadi.

Though happy to be so welcome in Nigeria, where English colonialists never tried to own land and race relations have never been politicized, the white farmers closely follow events in Zimbabwe.

Opposition leaders accused 84-year-old President Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, of attempting to fix the results of recent elections. And there is now going to be a runoff election in the presidential race.

Whatever the final result is, farmers like Irvine Reid say they are in Nigeria for the long-haul.

"There is huge potential. There are many, many mouths to feed here. There is great potential and farming is a new venture for most people in the country," continued Reid. "And we are very excited to be part of it."

But while business keeps them in Nigeria, most like Paul Retzlaff say that Zimbabwe will always be home.

"Some people come from Europe, or Britain or whatever. That is where home is. But for me home is Zimbabwe," said Retzlaff. "But this is where I am settled."

Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai recently visited Nigeria to ask for help in resolving the disputed elections. But so far, Nigeria has declined to intervene.

Comments from Correspondents

At a time when Zimbabwe is uniquely in the international spotlight,
it is time for world opinion to ask Mugabe what he actually stands for.
This is a debate about functional democracy and a unique opportunity for
global opinion to uphold justice and the rule of law versus warlordism.
The Mugabe regime has represented itself as a functioning democracy, and
quite clearly this is a pack of lies.
Opinion is agreed that for a country's constitution to be credible and
functioning,
the institutions of state, the judiciary, media, the armed forces need to be
independent of political partisanship demonstrating the operation of a
system of checks and balances.
The judiciary are needed for the rule of law; the armed forces and police as
the backup
and for protecting territorial integrity; the media, so that reporting of
facts to the citizen is balanced.
Now that the Mugabe regime is attempting to control the thought life of its
citizens, where they place their cross on their ballot slip, the element of
voluntary consent that forms the basis of peaceful civil government has been
removed, and his personal character exposed as coercive, sadistic and
aggressive.
His values are inconsistent with a freedom fighter and his actions reveal
him to be a sadist, a psychopath and a paranoid.
He has obtained conditional stewardship of the land and people of Zimbabwe
but has not one humane principle in his bones that befits this
responsibility.  He is a living demonstration of Warlordism and Tyranny, the
thief of 150,000 SQ/ 390,000 square kilometres of territory and every soul on it.

----------- Will it ever end? Has such a thing ever happened anyway in the world and did
the situation somehow miraculously return to normal? Was Hitler's Nazi
comparable to the militia, was Amins atrocities this ravaging, is all
despotic rule this intolerant? And what if the tables are turned, how would
it feel? Are we suppose to forgive and forget, how will we coexist and
intermingle with our bloodthirst and intolerant fathers, mothers, brothers
and sisters. This act of madness, genocide is merely an expression
irrefutable lunacy. We will not let them sodomise our intelligence and
molest our conscience, we know the truth and we know who is responsible and
until such a time God knows what.

Where in the world is it possible for people to stage manage and act on
screen displaying their bare bottoms and backs swollen and laden with pass,
ribs broken, heads and sculls fractured, skin bruised and blistered, a whole
human body-one big wound bandaged from head to toe. Minors and not mindless
models and actors faking a swollen face with a black eye or two and just a
few burns on the back. How pragmatic is this accession by the despotic
regime to eat all the bread and blame it on the cat that does not exist. I
guess robust Robert, the not so bright Bright Matonga, the Magnanimously
idiotic Mnangagwa, the constantly wrong Constantine Chiwenga, the riotous
Elliot Manyika, the partisan Patrick Chinamasa and the cruel indeed Dydmus
Mutasa and their aides are not only protecting the gains of their 1st, 2nd,
3rd and I guess now the 4th Chimurenga but also their wealth and power at
the expense of the entire nation.

Where are these neocolonialism ghosts that they are constantly fighting is
it Tongogara, Chitepo and others? On the behalf the brutalized
countryman/woman of our nation brutalized for exercising their right I chose
to make it clear to you by reminding you that the 'ghost' that you are
fighting, killing, raping maiming and obliterating are nothing but the sons
and daughters of a Zimbabwe that you once liberated but yet again
recolonized, corrupted and destroyed.

We are in pain, we are bleeding and we are swollen from your beatings but in
God we trust and with the devil we hope you have a date in hell, perish well
my countryman for its your time and it will come to pass soon or later and I
guess then it will come to an end or maybe this is just another moment of
madness just like the Gukurahunde, Operation Murambatswina (clean the
filth), 2000 election violence and more.

Wake up from your slumber of social and democratic ignorance comrades, the
nation belongs not to your kith and kin but to the people of Zimbabwe young
and old and they have spoken and they will always express their will, which
will one day prevail. Zimbabweans will be free again to determine their own
destiny but the question now is, Will it ever end comrades? I need sincere
answers not lies and your mastery misinformation and propaganda? Will it end
Mr. RGM and when? is the run-off/run-around the solution?

babavabonzochaivochaivo