Zimbabwe News

The Movement for Democratic change, Zimbabwe's main opposition party had barely announced its list of 120 candidates on Saturday (June 3) when horrific tales of gang rape, beatings, murder, disappearances and the burning of homes and vehicles reached MDC offices.

In the Mutaga area there have been nine reports of women being raped by so-called war veterans supporting Zanu-PF. In one instance the wife of a senior MDC official was attacked in her bedroom by seven men claiming to be Zanu-PF supporters to "punish her for selling MDC cards."

She was held down at each arm and each leg by four men, a fifth man sat on her neck and pummelled her while they took turns beating her and her husband claims she was raped. They beat her so severely that she can barely walk and her skin is navy with bruises. Sekai Holland, the MDC candidate for the area said: "the woman now walks around telling people
she is no longer a person."

When the woman's husband, Mr Chinyerere (39) went to report the attack to the police, they allegedly told him they had no time to help him. The attackers later beat him up with rocks. When Chinyerere went to report the assault on himself, the police again allegedly said they could not assist, according to Holland. On Sunday night Mr Chinyerere was taken off a bus
and beaten savagely, he is not expected to live. Holland has reported the incidents to Willard Sande, the officer in charge at Mataga but no arrests have yet taken place.

Another man, Elton Shoko, who on Thursday reported the abduction of his wife two days before by so-called war vets has been arrested by police. The whereabouts of his wife is still not known and his children are without adult care. The homes of two further MDC supporters - Tongiso Mutsungi and Goodwill Shoko - were razed on Sunday night in Mberengwa; and Z$135 000 stolen from Holland. Her campaign manager, Thandi Mukariti whose bookshop was looted and stoned last week has disappeared, "she phoned for us to fetch her on Friday, the car sent for her was attacked and burnt and we have not seen nor heard from Thandi since."

An angry, but determined Holland said: "I am going to campaign face to face with Zanu-PF, if it means I am going to die then it tells what is happening in Zimbabwe."

MDC president, Morgan Tsvangirai said he was distressed by the acute levels of violence against supporters, in particular the rape and abduction of women. There is also a growing refugee problem in Zimbabwe with various agencies estimating that up to 10 000 people may have been displaced by land invasions and violence. "On Sunday I was in Mutase where 100 people have been displaced by atacks on their homes, I managed to find tents for them, but they have no blankets and it is bitterly cold in that area. People are showing exceptional bravery and commitment in their quest to bring in a new government.

"The MDC has demonstrated that it has a credible alternative programme with the leadership and competence to lead the country. However, public perceptions are that we have unlimited resources, but we are desperate for every necessaity whether photocopiers, transport or volunteers. The challenge is for people in Zimbabwe and wellwishers inside and outside the country to help our support centres not only with office equipment and resources, but assistance for displaced and severely traumatised people.

"Mutase as an example, is an area of some 100km across with poor roads, there is no way an organiser can cover that area on a bicycle. The support centre there does not even have a telephone. In Chikomba, the constituency Zanu-PF war veterans leader, Hitler Chenjerai Hunzi is contesting, teachers have been beaten up and constituents. The MDC candidate, Peter Kaunda faces a tough battle. It is a totally rural area, with poor roads and infrastructure, people are very frightened in that area and need reassurance,'' Tsvangirai said.

In the main MDC support centre in Harare, the mainly volunteer staff range from economists to engineers, journalists, farmers and academics, many of whom have worked without pay for months. The office is shared with an architect's firm. There are only two operative telephone lines, a single photocopier, one fax machine, a single printer to serve four computers - "and very energetic, hardworking, optimistic people," Morgan Tsvangirai said.

"This election will be won through the bravery and powerful commitment of Zimbabweans to bring about peaceful, democratic change regardless of the obstacles. But the cost of this change is already very high, Mugabe's actions have been nothing short of treasonous to his own people."

COMMENT ON THE UNITED NATIONS PULLING OUT OF THE ZIMBABWEAN ELECTION PROCESS

"The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Anan, by withdrawing United Nations participation in the Zimbabwean election has confirmed what the Movement for Democratic Change has been saying all along - this election process is fundamentally flawed, the goalposts keep shifting, as recently as this week government introduced new laws around elections, the voters rolls are a shambles, there can be no free and fair elections in Zimbabwe at present. Zimbabweans are on their own, literally," MDC president, Morgan Tsanvgirai said upon being informed of the UN decision.

Secretary General Anan made his decision known to other election observer teams who are monitoring the elections in Zimbabwe on Friday afternoon. The shocked teams were locked in discussions for three hours late on Friday afternoon. The United Nations was invited into Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe to co-ordinate the various international observer teams.

Tsvangirai noted: "for any electoral process to receive the stamp of moral authority of the international community, it needs recognition from the United Nations - for an African secretary general of the United Nations to show his displeasure in this way is a serious commentary, by an African representing the international community on the actions of an African despot. The time for despots in Africa have gone.

"We hope that the other foreign observers will remain here. However, the onus of responsibility on them is more serious. We know that many have been nervous about going into areas of violence, but we have to remind them and urge them to bear witness to the appalling human rights violations taking place in Zimbabwe at present. We call on them to give our people the sense of security that is necessary for them to take a step taken for granted in other nations, but which will be a supreme act of bravery in Zimbabwe - for voters to feel free to cast their vote and finally rid this land of it suffering."

"Elections cannot be free and fair when there are war veterans on farms which have become concentration camps for our people. Where people are forced into re-education pogroms and made to stay awake all night," Movement for Democratic Change president, Morgan Tsvangirai said today.

Tsvangirai was reacting to comments by President Robert Mugabe that war veterans will remain on farms "until the land issue has been resolved." The MDC believes Mugabe's comments will lead to another round of land invasions including the occupation of farms, seizure of houses and land belonging to MDC supporters.

"We can't have a free and fair election when people are held hostage in this country. By his statement Mugabe has unilaterally nationalised the farms. He has devalued all land in this country - what are the implications for agriculture, the land, the banks? "People know that such a statement will lead to more violence and further destroy any potential for the safety of the electorate. Mugabe is allowing these land invaders to act like outlaws, it is the responsibility of this government to call people to order, but instead Mugabe is behaving like a gangster.

"This is not the image of Africa we want to project. Zimbabwean people are by nature peaceful, but the image Mugabe is projecting of our nation is one that shames Zimbabwe.

"Voters are being told that ZanuPF has a small microscopic machine that can monitor their vote, and that if they do not vote ZanuPF retribution will be taken against them. This is nonsense, but it frightens people. At some farms co-called war veterans are saying they will accompany voters to the polling station, this intimidation cannot be allowed. Farm workers have become prisoners. "Regardless of threats of physical violence made against them by the war veterans it is essential that international observers examine conditions on the farms and villages."

Tsvangirai called on the international community to assist Zimbabweans begin a programme of assisting in the rehabilitation of millions of traumatised people after the elections. "The trauma is deep, in some villages all the homes have been destroyed - and yet the people aredetermined to vote. Even under these appalling conditions people continue to canvass for, and support, and campaign for the MDC. I have such admiration for the brave, peace-loving people of Zimbabwe who areresisting the tyranny ZanuPF has unleashed on this land," Tsvangirai said.

WEDNESDAY, June 14, 10am at Quality Hotel, Leopold Takawira St, Harare: PRESS CONFERENCE, Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC leadership - Defence and Police Policies; Foreign Policy; the Tobacco Industry; constituency evaluations; violence report; candidates profiles, other matters

MONDAY, June 12: Meeting of MDC officials with monitoring andobservation teams from EU, Commonwealth, SADC, etc... Sheraton Hotel, Harare

DIARY: Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC President... rallies and functions to be led by Tsvangirai and/or other key MDC leaders: Tsvangirai will also do occasional walkabouts or visits to those affected by violence, please let us have your phone numbers in Zimbabwe so we can contact you urgently when this takes place:

HARARE: Sunday, 11 June: 2pm rally led by Learnmore Jongwe, at Kuwadzana shopping centre

Sunday, 11 June: 2pm rally led by Tendai Biti at the open landopposite Donnybrook Parkway, Arturius road (tel. Bill Searle 091220541 for details)

This very active area has a wide range of constituency activities ranging from house meetings to rallies, to visits to old age homes. For events in Bulawayo South contact JOSPHAT TSHUMA : 091-232395 or SIMON SPOONER : 091-202319 ... a few activites:

SATURDAY 10 morning from 9am 6 June: flat bed 7 ton trailer to shopping centres, Watrerford area and townships - singing, bands, handing out pamphlets, candidates

June 10, 2.30pm, Waterford area - JOINT RALLY MDC candidates, David Coltart and Welshman Ncube - brassbands, campaign bus, contact Coltart coltart.telconet.co.zw

Sunday, 11 June, 9am: Kulumani - Kusele shops - Gibson Sibanda and Dave Coltart 14h00: Nketa hall 16h00: Barhan Green hall

Wednesday, 14 June at 6.30pm, Large City Hall: Welshman Ncube (MDC sec-gen), David Coltart (head legal committee); Thokozani Khupe (woman candidate)

HARARE, JUNE 18th - MAJOR RALLY addressed by MORGAN TSVANGIRAI at Zimbabwe grounds

MDC leader, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI will vote in his home constituency Buhera at 10am on June 24.

Is your name on the voter's roll? You have until June 13 to check and to make any changes or appeals

MDC REVEALS JOB CREATION STRATEGY ... ONGOING INSTABILITY WILL SEE ZIMBABWE SHED A FURTHER 100 000 JOBS BEFORE THE JUNE ELECTION

300 000 Zimbabweans will have lost their jobs by the time voters cast their ballot on June 24 and 25. A sagging economy, Afro-pessimism among investors, corruption and mismanagement of the fiscus, land invasions and growing violence in rural areas will see the present levels of joblessness soar from 200 000 people without work to 300 000 by the time of the election according to the Movement for Democratic Change economic experts.

They say 54 000 jobs will disappear in the commercial and industrial sector as factories and other businesses close, and around 150 000 jobs have been lost in the agricultural sector due to land invasions and political instability in rural areas. And yet Zimbabwe has the potential to be a developmental conduit from mineral rich southern Africa to the forests and mines of central Africa and beyond, and from the tourist firendly plains of east Africa to the wealthy oil fields of western sub-Saharan Africa.

Under ZANU-PF jobs in the formal economy stagnated at just over 1 million for 20 years. In 1980, those people represented a fifth of the population, today they are only a tenth. An estimated Z$40bn has been siphoned off into the pockets of the corrupt. Inflation has risen, the currency has devalued, shortages are common, the state of hospitals are parlous and the tourism industry, which held such promise for much needed foreign exchangeand the creation of thousands of jobs has sunk to nothing with the presentcrisis and no potential for improving - unless the MDC come to power.

The MDC believes it is critical to restore the rule of law, and legalprocesses within the criminal justice system have to be reinforced. The MDC is committed to a Land Commission that will see rapid land reforms, the distribution of idle land and farms planted with crops that ensure maximum returns to farmers. The MDC will also introduce methods toensure rapid access to local, regional and foreign markets to further extend productivity, profitability and maximum employment in farming andrural areas. There is still sufficient time for planting to commence to ensure good crops in 2001, and to diminish the food shortages that are expected to be felt from September this year, if an MDC government does not get into power and investor confidence fails to return.

There is huge potential in forestry projects and the MDC will implement a major forestation project, which in turn will require the skills of hundreds of young people to plant and maintain plantations.

The MDC plans to sink Z$10billion into housing in the first 18 months that it is in power through secondary mortgage markets - and will build at least 200 000 core units within that time. MDC economists say this creates a mutliplier effect of some Z$60billion of new investment in the domestic economy - through the purchase of bricks, construction materials and other housing needs - and will in turn create at least 20 000 new jobs.

Telecommunications need to be privatised. This in turn will lead to the development of a high tech industry which is a natural generator of jobs in Zimbabwe's relatively well-eduated, literate populace. An MDC government will undertake this task and put in place a regulator to ensure that the needs of consumers are protected. We believe Zimbabwe has the potential to become a regional leader in the field of telecommunications and information technology.

Within 30 days of coming to power the MDC will present a new budget to parliament. This budget statement will set out the new government's vision for the future. We have to review the tax structure andoverhaul the budget, with a particular emphasis on equity and privatisation and lightening the heavy tax burden on ordinary folk. Provision will be made for incentives to participate in the privatisation process and to encourage exports. While the key objective of an MDC administration will be to restore macro-economic stability and to resolve shortages, funding for both education and health serive will be comprehensively reviewed to ensure delivery of these essential services. Given the very large inflows of resources likely to take place after an MDC victory at the polls and the restoration of the rule of law, the government will ensure that strategic investments such as the Tokwe Makorsi Dam and the Gwaai Shangani dam and pipeline to Bulawayo will be undertaken and will create as many as 100 000 new jobs in urban and rural areas.

INVESTOR FRIENDLY

By creating a friendly and transparent environment for investors, within a sound economy in a regional free market we believe that foreign direct investment will return and increase and that those skilled Zimbabweans who left the country to seek work elsewhere will return to help build the country.

Some Incidents of Violence reported by noon - or incapacity to canvass voters, 8 June 2000

Each day victims of political violence find their way to the Movement for Democratic Change offices, they sit in chairs their heads bandaged, pus or blood seeping through. Some stand because they have been beaten so severely they cannot sit, their children fidget next to them. When they lift their tops their bodies are crisscrossed with lacerations, bruises sit like large navy puddles on their skin. Four men sit at a table, absolutely numbed, their clothes smart but creased - their homes were burnt down at the weekend.

ZanuPF this week began calling for an end to the beatings and violence but their supporters and war veterans - who have in instances also begun beating ZanuPF officials - have not yet heard them. Or perhaps this is a situation ZanuPF can no longer control, without asking for the forces of law and order to perform their duty, which they are loathe to do.

Moses Nyarota (32) the campaign manager for Didymus Munhenzva (38), the candidate for the MDC in Marondera East was yesterday morning (June 7) walking along Third street, Marondera when he was seized by ZanuPF supporters who leapt from a municipal vehicle. They then took him to the police and laid an assault charge against Nyarota. His mother said police with CIO and the CID came to his home and searched it and removed MDC pamphlets. "His face was very swollen and he had difficulty keeping his balance," his mother said. She asked for police to take him for medical care, but says they said that was not their task. After the MDC sent a lawyer to the police station on Thursday morning, police allowed his mother to take him to hospital. Nyarota is a widower with two children, the children are presently in the care of his elderly mother.

Three MDC supporters, a student nurse at Marondera hospital, Thomas Bhiri (28) is in Marondera hospital after being dragged from a lecture room at the hospital and placed in a municipal vehicle, according to eyewitnesses. When a hospital guard tried to stop the abductors he too was beaten up. Bhiri says he was taken to ZanuPF headquarters where a cloth was tied around his face and he was beaten with iron bars and sticks. He sustained a broken leg and extensive lacerations. He is at present in Marondera Hospital.

Eyewitnesses saw Farai Mutendeudzwa (30), yesterday being abducted from Marondera saw mills by unidentified people.

Wellington Taruvinga was yesterday abducted from his workplace. MAPCO, in Marondera. He was taken to the provincial headquarters of ZanuPF in Marondera where he too had his face covered and he was beaten. He lost some teeth and sustained lacerations and bruising.

Candidate Didymus Munhenzva said he was now "too frightened to return to the area in case I too, get beaten up or killed."

MDC candidate, Richard Chadya, Hungwe East said he was being severely restricted from campaigning in an areas that had seen killings and severe intimidation. "Our strategy is door to door campaigning. If we call people to bigger meetings they fear that they will get attacked." Nontheless, he said MDC support was strong in his constituency.

Mfanaidza Hove of Mberengwa West Constituency gave examples of intimidation in his area recently. "Mr R Gambiza, the constituency co-ordinating committee: deputy chairman of Zibwi was abducted and beaten up, he has now fled to Bulawayo. He was responsible for organising meetings, rallies in four area - Zimbwi, Rengwe, Vutika, Mupandashango, Mawari and Mnene with an estimated population of 12 000 people - approximately 40% of whom are registered voters. Mr O Siwela and Mr T Moyo, both youth wing members were also abducted and assaulted.

"Teachers at Chegato Secondary School, Mnene Secondary school, Maringambizi Secondary School and others have been abducted and assaulted. The school library at Maringabizi was also burnt down.

Ms T Shumba of Zibwi, a women's wing activitst and Lenny Sibanda, a youth activist have also fled their homes. "The homes have been burnt down of Mr Bodo (Chief Mazivofa's right hand man) has now fled to Zvishavana, and that of Mr P Chakarisa, a teacher at Rusvinge school. In Mberengwa East there have ben more brutal assaults, shops destroyed, houses burnt down and a lot of people have fled their homes. "There is a semipermanent roadblock between Mberengwa District Office and my home at Zimbwi (about 36 km). War veterans have been deployed in the entire constituency to prevent campaign work. My last rally was on 23 April, since then I have not been able to visit the constituency. I am unable to contact my campaign team there or to distribute campaign material. My opponents Zanu-PF have a distinct advantage over me as a result of lawlessness which is alleged to be caused by them and their supporters. The police at Mberengwa have been largely ineffective in that they are either unable or unwilling (or both) to bring law and order by arresting those responsible. At this rate it is impossible to campaign freely with a view to participating in a free and fair election."

A BBC television crew following Peter Kaunda, candidate in the constituency of Chikomba - the same as that of war veteran leader, HunziChenjerai in the rural areas north of Harare was forced off the road by police officers and warned to leave the area.

The election countdown to the most hotly contested elections in Zimbawe's history has begun. The fate, not only of Zimbabweans but of every individual living in Southern Africa hinges on these elections.

A ZanuPF victory will see currency depreciations and markets weaken across the sub-region. "Zimbabwe has been a model in the region with a peaceful, law-abiding populace who have worked hard to develop their land despite having some warring neighbours and a corrupt internal admistration", Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change president noted.

"15 000 observers are expected in Zimbabwe for the elections and this week we began training 15 000 polling agents. However, the exercise of manning polls is costly - it will cost at least £350 000. At this stage the MDC does not have the money to pay polling agents, this is a desperatesituation - we need to ensure the loyalty of people to the process andpay them for the long hours they will spend at polling stations. There will be around 5 000 polling stations in Zimbabwe. The Movement for Democratic Change is training two election agents plus a reserve to monitor voting in each constituencies - in other words: 15 000 polling agents nationwide. They have been assisted in the training of these agents - an exercise that ends on June 13 by the US-based National Democratic Institute.

This process too, has seen intimidation take place, In an instance yesterday, (June 8), as an example, five polling agents were travelling to Harare on a bus from Muzarabani. A twincab vehicle pulled in front of the bus forcing it to stop, men in ZanuPF tshirts leapt out and dragged the five MDC polling agents off the bus, including Muzarabani MDC candidate, Peter Mukorera. They began beating the men. Murokrera and Arthur Gumzense managed to escape, and saw their three colleagues, Martin Nuchirikuenda and Shaam Haritiri, and Sam Cambizi thrown into the truck by their assailants before speeding off. The incident was reported to Assistant Inspector Musuka at the Concession police station at 5.10pm yesterday, no further word has been heard about the men.

Despite the fact that the election process is underway, government continues to change Electoral legislation. The most recent change came on Monday when they issued a new stipulation that electoral observers and agents must be registered to enter polling areas. Observers and agents will not be allowed into vote counting areas. This has meant that 100 European Union observers who were due to begin monitoring exercises yesterday are sitting in luxury hotel rooms while government delays the accreditation process.

MDC president, Morgan Tsvangiria said they were very concerned to hear about delays in monitors going into rural areas: "It has come to our attention that government apparently discussed in a cabinet meeting last Monday how to slow observers in fulfilling their mandate to observe the run up to the election and the election itself. We have increasing reportsof people being abducted and beaten, houses burnt, their granries and crops destroyed, women raped ...and yet there are only a handful of international observers, who are cuatious about going into dangerous areas and cannot possibly hope to cover the length and breadth of this vast country."

At present the European Union have 100 observers in Zimbabwe. A further 150 are expected - and they too will have to go through a profoundly slow accreditation process. A small group of Commonwealth observers are in the country and expect 40 more observers. The US-based National Democratic Institute has 12 observers already deployed and 30 members of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum are in Harare, with a SA delegation.

"Thousands of young people are being disenfranchised because of failures to include their names on the voters roll. In Bulawayo alone, the Movement for Democratic Change knows of 10 000 voters who registered recently who cannot find their names on the voters roll," Movement for Democratic Change president, Morgan Tsvangirai noted this week. "This is a chilling revelation. ZanuPF have realised they will not win theelection and stopping people from voting is their desperate attempt to reduce voter turnouts and manipulate polls," Tsvangirai said. "We are receiving increasing reports from whites and young black people -
mostly aged 20 to 28 - that they are not on the voters roll. We had a massive re-registration that began in February and contiued to April. When people went to register they were not given receipts to prove they had registered, they were told not to worry because people would be given an opportunity to re-register and go on a supplementary voters roll if there were problems. They have deliberately left off thousands of young people, precisely the sort of people who are the MDC's most ardent supporters," Tsvangirai said.

MDC legal head David Coltart said this highlighted problems that became apparent early in the process when the government noted that Harare had 5 000 less voters than in previous elections, despite demographic data that shows Harare receives an influx of 50 000 new urban residents each year. "The MDC has set up hotlines where Zimbabwe citizens can ifnorm us about their nonappearancenace on the voters roll. If necessary we will bring a class action in the High Court against government," Coltart noted.

Peter Kaunda was born on April 5, 1964 and educated at Chishawasha mission, 24km east of Harare at Goromonzi. He completed his schooling at Wedza at Mount St Mary's Mission. Kaunda then obtained an agricultural diploma and a certificate in tobacco farming. Over the years he has worked as farm manager on seven different estates, most recently at Honeyfield Estates in Selous - before becoming involved fulltime in the fledgling Movement for Democratic Change.

He has worked with the Catholic Youth Council on its regional council for 10 years. He has worked with NGOs including the Ford Foundation co-ordinating aid activities such as those involved around selfreliance and nutrition in communal farming. And, has for many years worked with those affected and infected by and with the AIDS virus. "I am particularly concerned about issues that affect young people, they cannot find jobs, and become so depressed which leads to high levels of promiscuity, and of course puts them at serious risk of contracting HIV."

He is married to Loice (33), and they have three children - two girls aged eight and 10, and a little boy aged two.

The tall, amiable Election Director for MDC, Paul Nyathi was born on August 17, 1946 in Mayezane in Gwanda. The 17th son of peasant farmers, Nyathi's father had nine wives and 36 children, which has given Nyathi definite views on polygamy which is still prevalent in some areas of Zimbabwe: "I grew up in a harmonious family, but polygamy is a dysfunctional system that has no place in a modern society." Nyathi has long been married to Petronella - a development consultant - with whom he has five children.

Nyathi began his career as a primary school teacher. He became a member of ZAPU and was appointed a provincial leader before being jailed for three years in Wha Wha prison, Gweru for recruiting people to train as freedom fighters, "which in those days was a hanging offence." During that time he studied for a Bachelor of Arts through the University of South Africa by correspondence. When he came out of prison in 1979 he was appointed to ZAPU's central committee. a position he held until 1987 when the Unity Accord came into place.

In 1980, he travelled to the then Soviet Union where he spent a year studying centralised economic development in Moscow. When he came back he lectured in co-operative development at Mashiyo Kushingo agricultural college for a year. In 1982 Nyathi joined the Zimbabwe Project Trust as a project officer promoting co-operative development. Seven years later he became the education director of ZPT; three years after that he was appointed ZPT's deputy director and for the past eight years has been its director.

An expert on demobilisation, Nyathi has worked as an adviser on the subject for the Ministry of Defence. The United Nations Development Programme has sent him to Somaliland on more than one occasion to use his expertise in demobilisation, and last year spent 40 days in Tajikstan for the UNDP.

The two men who Nyathi says have had the greatest impact on him have been Nelson Mandela and Joshua Nkomo. "Even though I did not always agree with Nelson Mandela's policies, I admired his resilience and tolerance. Joshua Nkomo had a profound influence on me as a youngster. I respected his emphasis on nation building. He was very brave in an environment where it would have been very easy to be divided on the basis of ethnicity and
tribe.

"Zimbabwe's strength lies in its diversity and in uniting that diversity as a tool for powerful, productive change."

Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the Movement for Democratic Change has called on the Zimbabwe government to take action to halt an escalation in violent attacks on opposition supporters and candidates. "I regret that my prophecies of increased intimidation and violent attacks against candidates and opposition supporters are proving to be true, I call on all committed to peace to ensure these cowardly attacks end," he said.

The Midlands and Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe have become key flashpoints as election tensions rise; Movement for Democratic Change candidates are being threatened in 95 of 120 constituencies, beatings are esclating and houses and vehicles destroyed among its supporters.

Movement for Democratic Change candidate, Valentine Ziswa of Mokoni North, 149km from Harare, close to Mutare, today pleaded for international observer assistance following increasing threats and violence against him and his family and farm by ZANU-PF supporters. Ziswa (52) who is standing against Zanu-PF's Didymus Mutasa, Secretary for Administration said that for three consecutive weeks on weekends ZanuPF people had come onto his farm, "they run around our farmstall which is a few yards from the house, chanting and threatening us. On the first weekend there were 35, then 65, last weekend more than 300 came with eight tractors and trailers forcibly taken from other farmers and three lorries and rushed into the shop. The police fortunately arrived in time.

"They have warned that this weekend they will take my farm and kill me if I resist," the father of three young sons said.

Beatings and the burning of homesteads have dramatically increased in the area recently. Five people were hospitalised yesterday after being badly bearen in Nyanga near Headlands. In one incident a petrol bomb was thrown into a home, an eight year old little girl ran out and was beaten over the head with knobkieries by attackers, and so was her father, Forward Kaphiuya who ran out of the burning house after her. Both were hospitalised. The child's terror-stricken mother has fled the area.

In Honde Valley, in Manicaland in the eastern Highlands close to the Mozambique border 18 houses were burnt down on Monday. A 20-year-old woman, Sekai Mandeya was beaten up by ZanuPF youths and had to be hospitalised. 38 ZanuPF supporters have been arrested in connection violence and intimidation in the area. MDC Mutasa candidate, Eve Masaiti had to flee her home in the Honde Valley during violent attacks on Monday and sleep overnight in the bush. She was rescued later by MDC supporters. More than 50 people are now homeless and have no food or clothes. During attacks the identification documents of those attacked were seized and burnt preventing them from voting in the elections on June 24 and June 25. The candidate is today assessing damage with a Commonwealth team in the area.

MDC candidate, Sekai Holland (52) who was briefly detained earlier in the week had a meeting she was addressing of women on the subject "Women in Politics" broken up yesterday by ZanuPF thugs. Police intervened and arrested 10 MDC women at the meeting, no ZanuPF people were arrested. War veterans have systematically been destroying the property of MDC supporters in Matanga - where Holland is at present.

Yesterday the butcher store of Zenzo Hove, was destroyed; the bookstore of Thandi Mukarati (Holland's campaign manager) was looted and stoned; Holland's campagin agent, Mugeza Holly had his vehicle destroyed when it was macheted; and five more buildingsincluding two houses, one belonging to a teacher were looted and burned.

Zimbabwe - Have hope!!

From:

Public Eye _

The future of whites in Zimbabwe: Well done Roy!

Masipula Sithole

IN his book, Politics in Rhodesia: White Power in an African State published some 27 years ago, the American scholar Larry Bowman made a subtle observation about "liberal/right" wing strategic thought in white politics in colonial Rhodesia:

"Extreme care must be taken," he said, "to distinguish between rhetoric and actual differences," noting that:

"White political rhetoric obscures reality and suggests differences on racial questions where none existed. White conflict was invariably over tactical variations on the same theme - how to structure relations internally with Africans . . . On the question of permanent white control and destruction of the nationalist movement, there was only one choice."

Thus, Bowman would want us to see white Rhodesians as having what psychologists call a "group mind" and not to distinguish between a Todd (Garfield) and a Smith (Ian). A Todd and a Smith is the "same difference".

In a candid essay, White Under Black (1983), University of Zimbabwe Professor Marshall Murphree made five observations about race relations in this country that are worth repeating as we stop to reflect on events as they unfold today. He observed that:

-As a group, whites share, with an emergent black elite, a privileged economic status which places them far above the bulk of the population;

-Privileged elites do not abandon their privileges lightly, and prejudice, although more mutable, has a tenacity and irrationality which tends to worsen in the face of change to the unknown - in this case, black rule;

-Racially visible social and economic elites without political power are in a dangerous position - vulnerable to the constant danger that political elites may choose to operationalise race for political and economic purposes, a technique in which blacks have been well schooled by whites;

-The new black governments have a stake in their white minorities since their skills are a resource they can ill-afford to lose. They also have a stake in establishing a reputation for competency - in this case, in terms of their international image; and

-Whites have been aware of their utility, the utility of their skills, but fear that black governments may view their presence only in instrumental, not intrinsic, terms. If this is the case they are potentially expendable when their skills are no longer needed.

These observations are very pertinent to our troubled times.

In Bowman's "group mind" formulation, a Sam Levy and an Eddie Cross, hapana mutsauko; it's the "same difference".

In the contemporary setting, this is precisely what Professor Jonathan Moyo means when he says: "Nothing good for Africans can come out of a white man"!

The Murphree observation seems to be "spot-on"; it is what we have observed since independence; it is what we are observing today in the most vulgar manner.

But there is a third observation.

Not that he comes from my home area, but certainly such a principled stand deserves notice and recognition. I mean the stand taken by a white farmer, Roy Bennett of Chimanimani.

He has not been paraded and flushed all over the place like other farmers, denouncing their membership and support for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Rather, Bennett has reaffirmed his support for the movement.

It's not really the fact that he reaffirmed his support for the MDC per se that deserves notice and recognition, but the manner he took the stand.

Bennett's farm in Chimanimani has been occupied by "war vets" for quite some time now. To be allowed to return to the farm, the war vets say Bennett must renounce his support and membership of the MDC. (And perhaps slaughter three "mombis!" and ferry five tractor-loads of his farm workers to ZANU PF rallies every weekend!).

He refuses, saying that he is willing to give up the farm in favour of remaining with the MDC. All he wants now is police protection in order to go to the farm, collect his belongings and bid his workforce goodbye.

Bennett is the MDC candidate for the Chimanimani constituency in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and says he will remain a candidate until the elections, come what may!

(Incidentally, Chimanimani is the area where the first white settler farmer was killed in 1964 by the ZANU "Crocodile Group" led by the late William Ndangana).

Is the stand that Bennett has taken "tactical" (in Bowman's formulation) or there is an issue of "principle" involved here?

Not that he has nowhere to go; he could have joined the "chicken run" queue to New Zealand or Australia. But no; he chooses to stay, forfeiting his farm for the party of his choice.

What a lesson to all of us, black and white.

Here is one man, albeit a white man, who has placed his fortune in the hope that one day the "rule of law" and "good governance" will return to our land. Above all, Bennett is upholding a cherished principle and value, "freedom of association", at its darkest hour.

Have we, as blacks, viewed the white man's presence "only in instrumental, not intrinsic, terms" and now he is "expendable", we are ready to dispose of him (in Murphree's formulation)?

Varume tapindwa neiko? What has gotten into us?

What we are doing will soon backfire. Certainly our ancestors don't approve of what we are doing in the name of hunger for land. The sooner we stop the better.

Next week we consider: Who is being deceived: MDC kana kuti ZANU PF?

Meanwhile I predict that some day, citizen Roy Bennett of Zimbabwe will be given an award, perhaps an international award.

Well done Roy!

-Masipula Sithole is a professor of political science at the University of Zimbabwe.