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Zimbabwe Situation

Final looting spree? – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 20th August 2016

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Source: Final looting spree? – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 20th August 2016 August 21, 2016

It looks like the Mugabe regime is preparing for a final looting spree to mop up the dollars remaining in the economy. Despite earlier denials the Reserve Bank Governor, John Mangudya, has now admitted that the bond notes piling up at the bank will be used to pay wages (see: http://allafrica.com/stories/201608191099.html).

The bond notes are expected to hit the streets in October when we will see the truth of the old adage ‘bad money drives out good’, leading once again to massive inflation and economic chaos.

It will be a windfall for the Mugabe cronies. But they should note the experience of the last Reserve Bank governor, Gideon Gono, who presided over the money-printing orgy until the Zim dollar became worthless. His Greystone Park house is to be auctioned on Friday over the non-payment of a $1.3 million debt.

Whether Mugabe himself really knows what is happening is doubtful. His physical condition is now so poor he has had to pull out of a trip to Ghana where he was to receive a Lifetime Africa Achievement Award – testament only to the ignorance of those who awarded it.

Probably Mugabe still believes in the fantasy world of the Herald, which said this week Zimbabwe is poised for an economic take-off – reminiscent of the Zambian space ship of a few years ago which ended up in the branches of the nearest tree.

The regime faces its biggest challenge so far if a massive protest in Harare planned by the combined opposition parties goes ahead on Friday. The riot police showed on Wednesday that they mean business when a demonstration in Harare against the introduction of bond notes ended with blood on the streets.

Pastor Evan Mawarire of ThisFlag movement saw the brutal face of the regime himself and fled the country. He said he had been warned to leave or be killed. His wife had been threatened with rape and its clear his children were also in danger.

Mawarire supporter, the prominent businessman and publisher Trevor Ncube says he also fears for his life after mysterious visits to his Harare home by suspected members of military intelligence (see: http://www.biznews.com/africa/2016/08/17/thisflag-pastor-hits-back-feared-life-self-imposed-us-exile/).

We at the Vigil have some information of our own about the police reign of terror. Here’s a redacted recent What’sapp message from a member of our sister organisation in Zimbabwe, Restoration of Human Rights. ’Hi guys. Thanx so much for the caring messages I got during my dice with state security over a nothing.  They tried to frame me on very silly allegations that I was inciting violence and causing public disorder. They authored very derogatory papers with my name, phone number and address at the bottom and threw them around at night. They were shockingly pasted on walls at ZANU PF offices and buildings around the offices. Was called to a CID office where there were CIOs as well. Was heavily abused verbally and threatened when they were profiling me. No charges were laid against me but was warned that they will come back for me when they are finalising their paperwork. Though a bit disturbed psychologically, that’s what they wanted, I am fine physically and unsafely at home and unmoved. The guys are cunning and very good at intimidating and threatening. Your messages and calls really raised my spirits and got me to realise that there is a bigger family out there.’

Other points

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