A small sign of big things to come?

Zimbabwe Today

The words of a government mouthpiece may betray a change of thinking at the
top

An article in today's (April 23) Herald, the state-run newspaper normally
considered to be the direct voice of the Zimbabwe government, appears to
concede that Zanu-PF cannot claim victory in the current elections, and
calls instead for a "transitional government of national unity."

It criticises leaders of Zanu-PF, and seems to suggest that for the first
time the government must accept the prospect of sharing power with the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The author of the article is Dr. Obediah Mukura Mazombwe, and much of his
piece rehearses the familiar arguments that blame all Zimbabwe's ills on the
West, particularly what he calls the "Anglo-American establishment."

But he goes on to say this: "Indeed the Zimbabwean situation is 'dire', but
not all is lost. Zimbabwe and Africa and the progressive international
community can turn it around."

He then apears to dismiss the prospect of a run-off election. "The current
socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe is not conducive, and the country's
political dynamics so distorted, that holding a free and fair election
run-off in the immediate term is literally impossible."

He goes on to suggest a new constitution for the country be written, with
the help of SADC and the "international community", to be adopted after a
national referendum.

Then, in co-operation with SADC and "invited" members of the international
community, fresh free and fair elections should be held. Meanwhile, he
maintains - and this is no surprise - that any government of national unity
should retain Robert Mugabe as President.

Then, unusually for a government mouthpiece, Dr. Mazombwe's article goes on
to criticise the leadership of both main political parties. With a possible
eye on the violence currently being wreaked by Mugabe's men across the
nation, he says this:

"The peace and independence of Zimbabwe, that it has enjoyed since
independence, is at great risk. Whilst the ruling party must stop behaving
like a wounded buffalo, the opposition party must stop its hysterica and
lapses into delusion.

"The ruling party, as the senior and more experienced organisation, both
nationally and internationally, needs to show greater self-restraint and
maturity..."

The criticisms of Morgan Tzvangirai and his MDC are swingeing, of course,
while those of Mugabe and his men remain mild. But the fact that they are
there at all is something to behold. And one wonders what the "wounded
buffalo" in State House makes of it.

Posted on Wednesday, 23 April 2008 at 08:10

Farmers on high alert as army unleashes terror campaign

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:44
BULAWAYO - Farmers in the Nymandhlovu area have received information
that a major onslaught on MDC supporters has been planned.
While a plan is in place for all areas who did not vote for Zanu (PF)
in the March 29 election, special attention is being given to the
Nymandhlovu area. The campaign is being overseen by the ruling party MP for
the Umgusa area, Obert Mpofu, who was closely implicated in the death of
MDC supporter Martin Olds in 2000.
Sources say Mpofu has a comprehensive list of MDC supporters. "An army
camp is being set up so that these supporters can be terrorised. All the
farmers in this area have been known to support the opposition and already
farm workers have been intimidated and prevented from coming to work," said
the source.
Mpofu has allegedly said he wants one man killed as soon as possible
so that a lesson is learnt by all people. The victim must be a known MDC
supporter .
Police officers in Nymandhlovu have been instructed to turn a blind
eye to "political matters". Meetings have been held to plan the run- up to
the re-run of the presidential election.
"There is a deliberate delaying tactic to the announcement of results
to give the army time to re-educate the people. When the results come out
then there will 21 days to get the environment conducive to elections," said
the source.
Albert Ncube and a cohort, known as "Nhliziyo," from Pumula township
who were both known to be involved in the murder of  Gloria Olds have been
"drafted back into the fray", said the source. In addition, a gang of people
have been drafted in from Pumula township with the promise of land, he said.
"This is all very bad, we are all on high alert," the source said.

Junta swaps ivory for arms

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:43
HARARE - Robert Mugabe's military junta has illegally sold more than
eight tonnes of ivory to China as part payment for a consignment of arms
supplies that provoked an international storm this week.
The Zimbabwean heard that the cash-strapped military junta had in
March this year flown to China ivory worth US$1 million as part payment for
thousands of AK rifles, shipped from Beijing around the same time.
The Geneva-based secretariat of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES), to which Zimbabwe belongs, had already begun
investigating the alleged illicit ivory sale which, if found true, could be
a serious breach of CITES rules.
Zimbabwe this week dismissed the allegations.

CIO rank and file want Mugabe to go

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:42
HARARE - Middle and junior-ranking officers of the Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO) have recommended that Robert Mugabe concede
defeat and step down.
However, the CIO's top directors, who report directly to the
President, were blocking this message from reaching him. The CIO officers
said several of their colleagues working on the "2008 elections assignment"
emphasized that intelligence reports suggest that Mugabe has lost support
even of his key allies in Zanu (PF), except a radical clique which is urging
him to fight another day, mainly because they were eager to protect their
wealth.
These include Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ignatius Chombo, Chris Mushowe,
Oppah Muchinguri, Kembo Mohadi, Elliot Manyika and Didymus Mutasa.
The Zimbabwean heard that all CIO provinces headed by provincial
intelligence officers (PIOs) have recommended that Mugabe step down to save
the country from further collapse.
This has been shot down by senior CIO chiefs Elisha Muzonzini,
director Internal; his deputy Alexander Kanengoni, and the deputy director
general Maynard Muzariri.
"Our major task as CIO officers is to report frankly and accurately to
our top bosses on what is happening on the ground," said one junior officer.
"Several of our officers have presented several reports to the chiefs but
they have no guts to tell mukuru to go, a move that has angered and
frustrated many junior officers."
Junior and middle ranking officers said they were also livid with the
purchase of luxury vehicles for the CIO chiefs. All directors and their
deputies have taken delivery of luxury cars, while the junior and middle
raking officers have been left wallowing in poverty, with inadequate pool
cars.
"The President used to interact a lot with lower ranking officers,
apart from his formal contacts with the directors," one middle-ranking
officer said. "But that suddenly stopped and he now relies on his favoured
officers who are badly advising him."
Discussion on succession has been banned in the spy agency, according
to our sources. Intelligence reports also suggest that the disillusionment
is also simmering in the rank-and-file of the army and police over mounting
economic hardships, amid reports the National Reaction Force is now relying
on robbery and looting during raids to sustain their families.
The CIO's intelligence officers, who are deployed to mingle and
interact with the ordinary people - the heart and soul of the organisation -
had in the past few months conducted an "intelligence census" which
supported the theory that "Zanu (PF) was deeply divided over Mugabe's
continued rule."

Security forces' joint operation in high-density suburbs

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:39
BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
The MDC has written to the defence forces chief and the police
commissioner complaining about the security forces' joint operation in
high –density suburbs. A local residents association has also called for
them to restrain the police and soldiers, who are beating up innocent
residents.
The Combined Harare Residents Association said it had received reports
of escalating State-sponsored post-election violence, with residents in most
wards complaining of beatings by the uniformed forces.
"Ten of our members have died, four of them in the last few days, due
to political violence perpetrated by ruling party supporters in the
aftermath of the elections," said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
"History is replete with evidence that violence as an instrument of
political coercion is ineffective and counter-productive," said CHRA's
Israel Mabhoho.
A police spokesman said people who felt they had been wronged or
unfairly treated during the operation should report to the police. The
police appeared to exonerate the army on allegations of high-handedness,
saying the police were fully responsible for the operation.
"All operations in Harare and elsewhere are police operations," he
said. "Members of the military or police committing any offences should be
reported at the nearest police station. They must not harass anyone but
suppress lawlessness."
People are convinced the beatings are being carried out as punishment
for voting overwhelmingly for the MDC in last month's controversial
election. The MDC won all but one seat in Harare and Chitungwiza.

MDC appeals to Red Cross

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:42
JOHANNESBURG - The MDC has made an impassioned plea for the
International Committee of the Red Cross to attend to the thousands of
Zimbabweans around the country who have beaten or tortured by Robert
Mugabe's vicious militia and police thugs since it became apparent that the
aged dictator lost the March 29 elections.
Tendai Biti, the party's secretary general, told a news conference
here this week that international humanitarian help was desperately needed
to save lives in Zimbabwe, where more than 10 defenceless civilians have
already been killed by rampaging armed, supporters of Zanu (PF).
"What is happening now is worse than what happened during the war of
liberation. We have to deal with thousands of refugees inside our country
and we call on the ICRC to come to our aid. There is a war going on inside
Zimbabwe today," said Biti.
He also appealed to various United Nations bodies to assist with the
increasing flood of internally displaced people.
Doctors without Borders has already established a camp in Musina (on
the border) to house and treat the thousands who are fleeing southwards from
the reign of terror.

Blood on their hands

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:38
It is now clear that the Chinese hurriedly sent to Zimbabwe deadly
arms of war to aide the Mugabe regime as soon as it became apparent that the
regime had lost the March elections. Why losers of an election would need
such a massive supply of weapons needs little imagination.
The delayed release of the presidential results and the fraudulently
engineered process of recounting occurred while the ship was steaming across
the Indian Ocean from China. We don't yet know if this is the only
consignment of weapons ordered, or what else is en route.
We condemn the Chinese government in the strongest terms for sending
arms to fuel such a clearly volatile situation. The people of Zimbabwe will
hold the Chinese government personally responsible for the injury and death
of any Zimbabwean following the supply of weapons to Mugabe's military
junta.
We urge Zimbabweans around the world to express their disgust at the
contempt for civilian life displayed by the Chinese government in aiding
Mugabe in this callous way. Zimbabweans should make known their anger and
disgust by joining Tibetans in their demonstrations against the holding of
the Olympics in Beijing.
We also urge them to boycott Chinese products. China's open disregard
for human rights, human lives and the international rule of law in their own
country, and their aiding and abetting the brutal Mugabe regime to do
likewise, is unacceptable in the 21st Century and the world must send
Beijing a clear signal to this effect.
Let us show the world that we will not allow China to fundraise to
build Olympic Stadia by selling arms to an illegal and tyrannical regime in
Africa so that it can enjoy the prestige of hosting the world games while
Zimbabweans die.
We call upon all friends of Zimbabwe to join us in our fight and to
stand beside us as we display our abhorrence of the Chinese actions in
Zimbabwe's desperate crisis.
There is no need for Zimbabwe to arm itself. Zimbabwe is not under
threat from any of its neighbours, nor is it at war with any other nation.
These arms can serve no other purpose other than to further repress the
people. In the weeks since the elections, more than 3000 families have
already been displaced and 10 opposition activists murdered.
We take our hats off to COSATU and its members in Durban for refusing
to offload this sinister cargo and we urge other unions in Africa to follow
their progressive lead. They have proved that they are true friends of
Zimbabwe and their actions were well calculated to preserve Zimbabwean
lives.
What is the critical number of deaths necessary to compel the world to
act? If we have learned anything from any previous African political
conflict it is that evil prevails while good men exercise quiet diplomacy

Mbeki scared of Mugabe

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:38
… traumatised by 1982 jail term
BY PINDAI DUBE
BULAWAYO
Former ZIPRA army commander, Ackim Ndlovu,  and intelligence security
chief, Dumiso Dabengwa, have said the reason why South African president
Thabo Mbeki is scared of Robert Mugabe is because he was once detained for
four months in Matabeleland together with several members of  the ANC who
were operating from  inside Zimbabwe.
Speaking to The Zimbabwean this week Ndlovu said there was no way
Mbeki could criticise Mugabe considering that he "was jailed at Khami Prison
in 1982 without trial for four months accused of supplying Zapu with arms
and he knows how evil the man is and he is sacred of him".
"I think Mbeki is still being traumatized by that incident and every
time he meets Mugabe he is sacred even to talk," said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu's sentiments were supported by former Zanu (PF) politburo
member Dumiso Dabengwa who was also in detention at the time.
"It's obvious Mbeki is still sacred of this old man after what he did
to him in the early 1980s. We were with him in jail," said Dabengwa.
After meeting Mugabe on his way to Lusaka to the SADC emergency
meeting called to prevent Zimbabwe's disputed elections from erupting into
war, Mbeki told reporters in Harare that the election stalemate was not a
crisis and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should be given time to release
the presidential results.

Sovereignty? Whose sovereignty?

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 22 April 2008 15:45
Fr. Oskar Wermter SJ
When the European powers had their "land grab" in Africa in the 19th
century, there was fierce competition between those proud nation states.
Each claimed "national sovereignty" as an absolute right in whose name each
occupied colonies on the empty continent.
The colonies became little replicas of the metropolitan powers,
enhancing their glory and might. In the name of this sovereignty the
colonial powers later fought each other in two 'World Wars', which turned
Europe into a slaughterhouse.
The African nations into which the colonies developed have proved very
docile pupils of their masters. Impoverished Zimbabwe treasures "national
sovereignty" as its most prized possession, together with "land", and claims
total power over its disenfranchised people on this basis.
Out of respect for "national sovereignty" African leaders avert their
eyes from the suffering of their brothers and sisters elsewhere, who are
beaten to bloody pulp by their tyrannical rulers.
What happened to the Pan-Africanism of the first generation of African
leaders?  The present generation pays only lip service to it since a real
Pan-African union would reduce the power of the nation states and lessen the
status of their leaders.
"National sovereignty" and "non-interference in the internal affairs
of sovereign nations" are sacred cows that must be called into question in
the name of the people who are the real owners of any sovereignty.
In our more and more open, globalised world there is a danger that
some powerful bullies push the smaller and weaker nations around. "National
sovereignty" might be considered necessary as a protection against such
aggression.
But even this danger is no reason to stick to the isolated nation
state. To the contrary, it should persuade us to join forces. Africa, split
up into 53 "sovereign nations", cannot withstand the pressure. Only a
brotherhood of nations in solidarity with all its suffering people can.
African leaders must begin to think big about the continent and little
about themselves; they must cease to take themselves so deadly seriously.
If "national sovereignty" and "non-interference" prevents the people
of Africa from coming to the aid of their oppressed, abused, starved
brothers and sisters then we must question the value of such concepts,
inherited from 19th century colonial powers, and redefine them according to
our present-day needs.
The real people of Africa, men, women and children, their welfare,
health, education, work and shelter, must be the centre and focus of all
political endeavours and the attention of statesmen.
The state (its authority, sovereignty, power) is there for the people.
People must no longer be sacrificed in orgies of blood and violence to
the state, turned into a man-eating idol.

Walking the only choice for many

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 22 April 2008 15:45
BY F. KWARANGE
Every day thousands of Zimbabweans take to the streets on their way to
work and then back home again. They walk in some cases for distances as long
as 25km because they cannot afford the transport costs that have been rising
on a weekly basis.
Edward, 27, stays in Epworth and is one of the few people who are
still in the light industries of Zimbabwe. He like his workmates wakes up as
early 5 a.m. to prepare to engage in a journey that has ceased to wear him
down.
I'm used to the walking because I have been doing it since 2003. If I
am to go to work by bus then I will be working for transport only. I do not
even get to eat lunch because it's very expensive.
The government fleet of buses is down and the few that are still
roadworthy have been diverted to carrying policemen and soldiers as Robert
Mugabe tries to come to grips with the poll results. The uniformed forces
are bused into town everyday in their droves.
"ZUPCO buses are cheaper but, there are no longer coming to our places
we only see them in town parked at police stations. The kombis are expensive
and they hike there rates willy nilly. I have resorted to cycling from my
home in Chitungwiza," says Moses, who wakes up as early as 4am to cover a
distance of 30km from the dormitory town were the majority of workers
reside.
Every morning people in groups with an assortment of regalia from work
suits to business suits dash to work. They share jokes and discuss politics.
The numbers thin as they pass the posh suburbs of Hillside. Some of the
trekkers, who are domestic workers, will have reached their workplaces.
"My boss used to give me bus fare, but he has since stopped because
the transport costs are now very expensive. My co-workers have since left,
but I have to persevere since my kids need to eat," said Thelma Moyo who
works in the industrial area of Graniteside.
Thelma earns less than $1.5billion. She is  mother of three and her
combined earnings with her husband's are still under the poverty datum line
of $1.5.
With a monthly inflation in excess of over 150% the poverty datum line
for an average family of six is likely to increase to over $3billion. This
is not augured by pay increases so many people will have to walk to save
something from their earnings that are corroded by inflation.
The government established an affordable rail facility, but the
location makes it difficult to use. "Its almost the same with walking
straight to work and going to the railway station in Ruwa," said Thelma.
The trains are also not reliable and one risks not going to work
altogether if one waits for the train. Apart from that, many people have
lost trust in rail transport because of accidents that have been regular in
the country rail network due to vandalism.
Places like Chitungwiza, where many people live, do not have a rail
line. The sign that proclaims its construction is rusty and one has to get
closer to read it . The sign was put in the '80s and up to date there is not
a sign that it will ever be constructed.
Many skilled workers have left the country for greener pastures, the
few that are still in the country are either part of the 85% who are
unemployed, or are those with the stamina to endure the economic meltdown.
Walking to work is one preferred method of saving the meagre remunerations.
The Southern African country that is teetering on the brink of
economic social and political oblivion is home to the region highest taxed
workers. Economist and trade unionist condemned the government review of the
tax threshold and described it as total madness. What the worker is left
with is not enough to cover transport costs, medication and basic needs.

SA cops arrest activist for being late!

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:37
On 17 April we protested outside of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU) meeting in Cape Town and handed over a memorandum demanding that
parliaments no longer label Mugabe as the president of Zimbabwe, but as a
presidential candidate. We also demanded that deportations from South Africa
be discontinued until the crisis is resolved.
It was a successful demonstration, with about 200 people, but most
importantly it was covered on by SABC news, Etv news, the Cape Times, the
Argus, the Daily Sun and lots of radio stations. The protest was peaceful
with no incidents. Shockingly, after the protest a policeman, who has
harrassed me before, arrested me. I would write a reason, but he really had
none. He could only claim I was 15 minutes late in finishing the protest.
I realised that I had now been arrested for the fourth time in six
months. I had successfully made myself a target for racist and xenophobic
police. I went through the routine – name, fingerprints, hand in all
belongings and take off shoe laces. I did not feel nervous, excited or even
slightly afraid, only bored. My mind started to wonder, while I went through
the routine, what was it like to be in Zimbabwe right now?
I was taken to my cell, a small room with a toilet, a tap, five beds
and 12 fellow inmates. I greeted everyone and went on to find out why they
were in jail and explained my own story. I then sat there, quietly,
struggling to understand the others. There five black men all speaking Xhosa
and seven Cape coloureds speaking Afrikaans. Every now and then an English
word was spoken. It was now six and dinner time, we queued and were served
spaghetti bolognaise on plastic plates, through the bars. I had become used
to the terrible smell of the toilets and could easily ignore it while I ate
the prison food. We ate with our hands, as we obviously were not allowed
spoons, knives or folks.
As I sat there eating I thought to myself, this food is not so bad. My
mind quickly wandered back to Zimbabwe and then it struck me. It was better
to be in jail in South Africa than to be poor in Zimbabwe. I had food,
water, toilet paper and probably decent health care. No matter what South
Africa does to be rid of us it will never stop Zimbabweans from seeking
basic survival.
I was released seven hours later, thanks to a human rights lawyer I
have learnt to love and respect, William Kerfoot. I appeared in court the
next morning where the charges were withdrawn, as police should never have
arrested me in the first place. I will most likely be suing for damages.
We will be having more protests, in the near future. Zimbabwe, we are
fighting for you. Now stay strong and don't let Mugabe corrupt you! Thank
you all for you text messages and calls, whenever I feel disheartened I seem
to receive another amazing text message!

COSATU slams Zanu (PF)

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:39
HARARE - Zanu (PF) was a clear example of a liberation movement gone
astray, and it was worth asking whether the country's independence needed to
be celebrated this year, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (COSATU) said this
week.
COSATU spoke as it mobilized the 300,000-strong South African
Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) to refuse to unload a weapons
ship laden with weapons of war because of concerns Robert Mugabe's military
junta might use them against opponents in the post-election stalemate.
"We are absolutely disgusted at the level at which human rights are
abused in Zimbabwe," Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said in a
statement issued in the wake of Zimbabwe's independence last Friday.
Vavi said the beating, torture and dehumanisation of President
Mugabe's political opponents was an embarrassment to what Zimbabweans fought
for.
He asked how the African Union (AU) planned to morally deal with the
situation in Zimbabwe, especially in light of purchases of arms of war by
the Mugabe regime to retain power.
Meanwhile South African government action that succeeded in blocking
an examination of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe by the United
Nations Security Council has been criticised at home and abroad.
Zimbabwe escaped international scrutiny over the delay in results
after South African President Thabo Mbeki made a "no action" motion on a UN
resolution calling for debate on the issue.
The draft resolution had expressed deep concern over continuing abuse
by the Zimbabwean government, including the hold-up in results, assaults,
torture, cases of rape and arbitrary arrests.
This week, SA opposition Democratic Alliance said it was "deeply
disturbed and shocked" to learn South Africa had led such a proposal.

Zim women’s group appeals to MaMbeki

Dispatch, SA

Apr 24 2008 2:41AM

2008/04/24

By SINO MAJANGAZA

A ZIMBABWEAN women’s organisation has written to President
Thabo Mbeki’s mother, Epainette Mbeki, asking her to convince her son about
the crisis in their country.

The open letter by the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) is a
response to Mbeki’s comments that “there is no crisis in Zimbabwe”.

The letter read in part: “Dear mother of Thabo ... We are
writing to you as mother of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe to ask for your
help. On Saturday April 12, your child ... came to Zimbabwe to meet Robert
Mugabe ... We want to comment about the word he used when he was leaving.

“He said there is no crisis in Zimbabwe. This has provoked
us ... Zimbabwe is in an economic, political and social crisis. We cannot
afford three meals a day .. . The political crisis has been worsened by the
recent election ... We have been annoyed by the refusal of Mugabe to release
the presidential results.

“MaThabo, please correct your son . ”

Jenni Williams, spokesperson of WOZA, said they wrote the
letter hoping that Ma-Mbeki would be able to talk “some sense to her son”.

“Daily life is so hard in Zimbabwe and mothers bear the
brunt,” she said.

Yesterday MaMbeki said she had not seen the letter. And
even if she had , she would not have responded.

The Inconvenient Truth about presidential poll