<!-- saved from url=(0022)http://internet.e-mail --><HTML><!-- CREATION DATE: 30/3/2000 --><HEAD><TITLE>The Zimbabwe Situation</TITLE><META NAME="Description" CONTENT="The Zimbabwe Situation"><META NAME="Keywords" CONTENT="Zimbabwe News MDC ZANU mugabe human rights atrocities farmers starving population murder cruelty fuel crisis pf rhodesia mugabe latest best daily update farming farm black dictator starve economy ruin foreign tourism currency infrastructure shortage inflation future"><META NAME="Author" CONTENT="kdc"><META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="AceExpert"><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"><style type="text/css"><!--#TOC {margin: 0px;display: inline;border-style: none;}#TOC a.:link {color:blue;text-decoration:none}#TOC a:visited {color:#990099;text-decoration:none}#TOC a:hover {color:red;text-decoration:underline}#TOC a:active {color:green;text-decoration:underline}#TOC li.H1 {font: normal normal normal 14pt Comic Sans MS,verdana,georgia,arial;list-style-type: none;margin-left: 0px;}#TOC li.H2 {font: normal normal normal 12pt Comic Sans MS,verdana,georgia,arial;list-style-type: none;line-height:16px;margin-left: 10px;}#TOC li.H3 {font: normal normal normal 10pt verdana,Comic Sans MS,georgia,arial;list-style-type: none;line-height:16px;margin-left: 20px;}#TOC li.H4 {font: italic normal normal 10pt verdana,Comic Sans MS,georgia,arial;list-style-type: none;line-height:16px;margin-left: 30px;}#TOC li.H5 {font: italic normal normal 10pt verdana,Comic Sans MS,georgia,arial;list-style-type: none;line-height:16px;margin-left: 40px;}#TOC li.H6 {font: italic normal normal 10pt verdana,Comic Sans MS,georgia,arial;list-style-type: none;line-height:16px;margin-left: 50px;}--></style><script type="text/javascript"><!-- Begin/* This script and many more are available free online atThe JavaScript Source!! http://javascript.internet.comCreated by: Stephen Morley :: http://sbm.customer.netspace.net.au */var stateTOC = 'ON';function toggleTOC() {if (stateTOC == 'ON') {stateTOC = 'OFF'document.getElementById('TOC').style.display = "none";}else {stateTOC = 'ON'document.getElementById('TOC').style.display = "inline";}}function buildTOC() {/***************************************//* Get desired tags and store in array *//***************************************//* Define list of tags to include in tocEach valid tag must be bounded by spaces to satisfy the test below.The beginning & end '.'s merely stop leading &trailing whitespaces being removed.*/validTagList = '. 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For weeks police denied <BR>any knowledge of her whereabouts butstate attorneys this week conceded that <BR>security officials wereresponsible.<BR><BR>Mugabe, who has been in power since the country's 1980independence, reached <BR>a power-sharing agreement with the opposition inSeptember following a <BR>disputed presidential election.<BR><BR>But the dealhas been deadlocked over how to divide Cabinet posts, and <BR>opposition leaderMorgan Tsvangirai has warned he will pull out of the <BR>government if Mukokoand the other detainees are not released.<BR><BR>The opposition wants to controlthe Home Affairs Ministry, and thus be in <BR>charge of the police, saying thisis the only way of curbing the violence <BR>and intimidation against itssupporters. Mugabe says he will share control <BR>of the ministry with theopposition, but not give it up entirely.<BR><BR>In addition to the politicalparalysis, Zimbabwe is gripped by an economic <BR>crisis, with gallopinghyperinflation, mass unemployment and hunger. An <BR>epidemic of cholera blamedon the collapse in sanitation has killed nearly <BR>1,600 people since August,according to the World Health Organization.<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Zimbabwe courtdenies rights activist hospital treatment request </h2><p><A href="http://news.yahoo.com">http://news.yahoo.com</A><BR><BR>HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe'shigh court on Friday refused a request by a top <BR>rights activist detained onaccusations of plotting to overthrow the <BR>government to be taken to hospitalfor treatment after alleged torture -- <BR>contradicting an earlier order bythe same court.<BR><BR>"The judge (Alphius Chitakunye) made the incredible orderthat if she should <BR>be taken to hospital it would be for purposes ofexamination otherwise she <BR>would be treated in prison," Beatrice Mtetwa, thelawyer for rights <BR>campaigner Jestina Mukoko, toldreporters.<BR><BR>Chitakunye's order was contrary to an earlier order by afellow high court <BR>judge on December 24 that Mukoko and eight rights andopposition activists <BR>be released to hospital.<BR><BR>"The law has completelybroken down in Zimbabwe," Mtetwa said after the <BR>ruling on Friday. "(Even) ifwe go to another court we may well get a <BR>similar ruling."<BR><BR>The courtalso dismissed contempt of court charges against the police for <BR>defying thehigh court order to release Mukoko and the others to hospital, <BR>shesaid.<BR><BR>Mtetwa added that private doctors examined Mukoko last week andsaid she <BR>should be "immediately" admitted to an adequately-equipped hospitalafter it <BR>was concluded that she was tortured while in the custody ofsecurity forces.<BR><BR>A representative of the attorney-general, VirginiaMabhiza, said: "The <BR>proceedings are going ahead on Monday.<BR><BR>"The judgesaid she (Mukoko) remains in custody and can only go to hospital <BR>as and whenit's necessary for purposes of examinations."<BR><BR>Mukoko, a former statenewscaster now director of Zimbabwe Peace Project, a <BR>rights group which hasbeen documenting cases of political violence, was <BR>taken from her home onDecember 3 by a group of armed men and a woman who <BR>identified themselves aspolice.<BR><BR>Her whereabouts remained unknown despite court orders compellingthe police <BR>to search for her and she only appeared in court on December 24together <BR>with eight others, most of them opposition activists including acouple with <BR>a two-year old child.<BR><BR>They were charged with recruitingor goading other people to undergo <BR>military training in neighbouringBotswana aimed at toppling Mugabe's <BR>government.<BR><BR>On Monday, nine morepeople appeared in court including five who were <BR>accused of sabotage andbanditry. Two of them facing lesser charges were <BR>later freed.<BR><BR>Some ofthe activists are opposition supporters who disappeared in late <BR>October,with authorities repeatedly denying that they were in custody until <BR>theybegan appearing in court last week.<BR><BR>The case has highlighted Zimbabwe'sdeepening political crisis more than <BR>three months after Mugabe signed apower-sharing deal with opposition leader <BR>Morgan Tsvangirai.<BR><BR>Mukoko'sdetention raised particular alarm among international rights groups <BR>andwestern nations which have accused Mugabe's government of intimidation <BR>andharassment.<BR><BR>Their lawyers claim the activists were beaten after theirarrest, and a <BR>magistrate on Monday ordered authorities to allow doctors tovisit them in <BR>prison.<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Zimbabwe court dismisses contempt charges in Mukokocase </h2><p><A href="http://www.irishtimes.com">http://www.irishtimes.com</A><BR><BR>Friday,January 2, 2009, 16:22<BR><BR>Zimbabwe's High Court today dismissed contempt charges against policefor <BR>refusing to release a leading rights campaigner charged with plotting to<BR>oust president Robert Mugabe's government.<BR><BR>Lawyers for JestinaMukoko, who heads the Zimbabwe Peace Project, which <BR>documents politicalviolence, had filed contempt of court charges after <BR>police refused torelease her from detention, as ordered by a High Court <BR>Judge lastmonth.<BR><BR>Ms Mukoko - one of Mr Mugabe's most influential critics - and 15other <BR>mainly opposition activists have been charged with recruiting orattempting <BR>to recruit people to overthrow the government, banditry andbombing police <BR>stations.<BR><BR>Two others face lesser charges.<BR><BR>Thearrest of the activists, condemned by the opposition, has increased <BR>doubtsover implementation of a power-sharing agreement by Mr Mugabe and Mr<BR>Tsvangirai.<BR><BR>Police initially denied holding Ms Mukoko, who was seizedby gunmen from her <BR>home on December 3rd, and had treated her case as akidnapping. It later <BR>emerged Ms Mukoko was being held by state securityagents and police.<BR><BR>High Court Judge Alphius Chitakunye ruled that MsMukoko should remain in <BR>custody and refused to uphold an earlier rulingordering police to <BR>investigate and disclose the identities of herkidnappers, and where she had <BR>been held.<BR><BR>"The law has completelybroken down in Zimbabwe, if a High Court refuses to <BR>investigate an admittedkidnapping ... what else can we do except maybe to <BR>go to another court butthe result may only be the same," lawyer Beatrice <BR>Mtetwa told reportersafter the ruling.<BR><BR>State prosecutors, who had appealed the earlier HighCourt ruling ordering <BR>Mukoko be released, said they were happy with theruling.<BR><BR>Reuters<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Zimbabweactivists' lawyers: Rule of law "absolutely broken down" </h2><p><Ahref="http://www.monstersandcritics.com">http://www.monstersandcritics.com</A><BR><BR>Africa News<BR>Jan2, 2009, 14:13 GMT<BR><BR>Harare/Johannesburg - Lawyers defending a topZimbabwe human rights activist <BR>in the High Court in Harare on Friday saidthe rule of law has 'absolutely <BR>broken down' in the country.<BR><BR>Theircomments followed the court ruling that the government should not be <BR>forcedto disclose the identities of the state security agents who allegedly<BR>kidnapped and tortured Jestina Mukoko, the head of the Zimbabwe Peace<BR>Project (ZPP) last month.<BR><BR>Mukoko, facing charges of plotting againstPresident Robert Mugabe's <BR>government, had brought a High Court applicationto squash the criminal <BR>proceedings against her until her alleged kidnappersare brought to court.<BR><BR>Mukoko was abducted from her home in Norton outsideHarare at dawn on <BR>December 3. Her whereabouts remained unknown untilDecember 24, when she <BR>appeared in court. Police had initially denied thestate had anything to do <BR>with her disappearance and said they were treatingthe matter as a <BR>kidnapping.<BR><BR>Mukoko's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, onFriday said she was disappointed with <BR>Judge Alpheus Chitakunya's ruling.'The law has absolutely broken down in <BR>Zimbabwe, if a High Court can refuseto investigate an admitted kidnapping, <BR>refuses a patient a right to medicaltreatment to a place she can get <BR>treatment, what else can we say,' Mtetwatold journalists.<BR><BR>Mukoko was charged in court on December 24 withrecruiting people for <BR>banditry a crime that carries the death penalty inZimbabwe. She then sought <BR>the High Court order for an investigation into herkidnapping.<BR><BR>But on Friday, according to Mtetwa, 'The judge says theminister of state <BR>security is entitled to refuse to disclose the identity ofthe kidnappers if <BR>he deems that will jeopardize state security.<BR><BR>So ineffect the High Court of Zimbabwe has said that if you are unlawfully<BR>kidnapped by state security agents, the court cannot look into the legality<BR>of that if some government minister invokes state security as a reason for<BR>not disclosing the abductions, where they took place and who did them.'<BR><BR>Mukoko's lawyers had also requested that the court release her to aclinic <BR>for medical treatment after she was allegedly torture in detention.Mukoko <BR>was also allegedly denied access to medication for herallergies.<BR><BR>Mukoko is among 32 activists, mainly from the oppositionMovement for <BR>Democratic Change (MDC), that were kidnapped between Octoberand December <BR>and still being held in police custody despite a court orderclearing their <BR>release for medical treatment.<BR><BR>MDC leader MorganTsvangirai has threatened to pull of negotiations for a <BR>power-sharing dealhe signed with Mugabe in September if the harassment of <BR>his supporterscontinues.<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Rains couldworsen Zim cholera epidemic </h2><p><A href="http://www.iol.co.za">http://www.iol.co.za</A><BR><BR> <BR><BR> January 02 2009 at04:29PM<BR><BR>By Michael Georgy<BR><BR>Seasonal rains could worsen acholera epidemic in Zimbabwe that has already <BR>killed more than 1 600 people,a senior international Red Cross official <BR>said on Friday.<BR><BR>Theoutbreak has heightened the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, where <BR>PresidentRobert Mugabe and the opposition are deadlocked over a <BR>power-sharing dealand the veteran leader is resisting Western calls to step <BR>down.<BR><BR>TheWorld Health Organisation said this week that cholera had killed 1 608<BR>people of 30 365 reported cases and the infection rate showed no signs of<BR>slowing.<BR><BR>The disease has spread because of the collapse of health andsanitation <BR>systems.<BR><BR>Francoise Le Goff, head of southern Africanoperations of the International <BR>Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (ICRC), said the cholera <BR>risk was growing now Zimbabwe wasentering the rainy season.<BR><BR>"We are just preparing for the worst," said LeGoff, who had just returned <BR>from a trip to Zimbabwe, adding that if therains continue, the epidemic <BR>could last until March or April.<BR><BR>"Theworst could be heavy rains causing not only this cholera to spread, but<BR>floods," said Le Goff.<BR><BR>"It means that the water level will cover thefields, that the crops are <BR>destroyed, that people cannot travel or we cannothave access to the area."<BR><BR>The cholera crisis could multiply to 60 000cases and over 3 000 dead in the <BR>next three months, said Le Goff, citing WHOestimates.<BR><BR>The ICRC is the world's largest disaster reliefnetwork.<BR><BR>Zimbabweans are already suffering from hyper-inflation andsevere food, fuel <BR>and foreign currency shortages.<BR><BR>There is not enoughmoney to pay doctors and nurses or buy medicine in a <BR>country once seen asamong Africa's most promising.<BR><BR>Cholera, which causes severe diarrhoea anddehydration, has spread to all of <BR>Zimbabwe's 10 provinces.<BR><BR>Le Goffsaid the Red Cross was concentrating on moving treatment centres <BR>closer toareas hit by cholera, educating people on the disease and <BR>providing cleanwater and sanitation.<BR><BR>The economic crisis has deprived local authoritiesof badly needed resources <BR>needed to fight the disease.<BR><BR>Chronic fuelshortages have left Zimbabweans without transport.<BR><BR>Many have to travellong distances for treatment. Some never make it in <BR>time.<BR><BR>"If youneed to walk 50km (30 miles) to access a centre you will definitely <BR>havetime to lose your fluids before you arrive," said Le Goff.<BR><BR>"What we haveto make sure of is they have time to arrive and get the proper <BR>treatment." -Reuters<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Political deal will not stem choleradeaths - MDC </h2><p><P><SPAN class=reportbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN id=Body><TABLEstyle="BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(187,187,187) 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; BORDER-TOP: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; MARGIN: 2px 5px 8px 0px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; WIDTH: 120px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(187,187,187) 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(238,238,238)"cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 3px" align=right><IMGstyle="MARGIN-TOP: 3px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px"src="http://www.irinnews.org/images/2008/200812193.jpg"><BR><SPANclass=ImgCreditCaptionstyle="PADDING-RIGHT: 2px; MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 6.5pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; COLOR: rgb(153,153,153); FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Photo:<A style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,153)" href="http://www.who.int/"target=_blank>WHO/Paul Garwood</A> <Ahref="http://www.irinnews.org/PhotoDetail.aspx?ImageId=200812193"target=_blank><IMGstyle="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"src="http://www.irinnews.org/images//design/magnify.gif"align=absMiddle></A></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD class=ImgCreditCaption style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Cholerais still not under control, according toWHO</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>JOHANNESBURG, 2 January 2009 (IRIN) - NelsonChamisa, national spokesman of the main opposition Movement for DemocraticChange (MDC), has played down the ability of his party to quickly stem thenumber of cholera deaths, if it were to join the government immediately.<BR><BR>Chamisa said if the party signed the power-sharing deal on the table itwould still not "have any real power" to help address the humanitarian crisis.<BR><BR>As the cholera death toll crept near the 1,600 mark, clocking more than40 deaths in two days, according to the World Health Organisation, aid agenciesunderlined the need to end the months-long political uncertainty which has maderaising funds to help the country back on its feet difficult. <BR><BR>At least5.5 million people - over half the population - will need food aid in the firstquarter of 2009, according to the World Food Programme. <BR><BR>The foodsecurity situation, cholera and political problems are exacerbated byhyperinflation and widespread infrastructural collapse. <BR><BR><TABLEstyle="BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(51,102,153) 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; BORDER-TOP: rgb(51,102,153) 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; MARGIN: 2px 8px 8px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(51,102,153) 1px solid; WIDTH: 165px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(51,102,153) 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(170,187,220)"cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); FONT-FAMILY: tahoma; size: 12px" align=leftbgColor=#aabbdc><IMG height=18 alt="''"src="http://www.irinnews.org/images/design/quotopen.jpg" align=left border=0><Bstyle="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">If we become part of thegovernment now we will have no muscle. We are not yet empowered</B><IMGheight=18 alt="''" src="http://www.irinnews.org/images/design/quotclose.jpg"align=absMiddle border=0> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>A power-sharing dealbrokered by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) between the rulingZANU-PF and the MDC in September 2008 is deadlocked. <BR><BR>“The humanitariansituation is seriously affected by the political situation,” said GeorgesTadonki, head of the UN Office for the Coordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)in Zimbabwe. “The UN is working hard at all levels to reach a politicalsettlement, which has now become very urgent because of the cholera outbreak.”<BR><BR><STRONG>Power-sharing deal</STRONG> <BR><BR>SADC said the MDC must signthe power-sharing pact. “Then the MDC will be in a position to get the ballrolling to help the country out of the humanitarian crisis which now needsurgent attention,” said Thabo Masebe, spokesman for South African PresidentKgalema Motlanthe, who is also the SADC chairman. <BR><BR>Chamisa explained thatan amendment to the constitution which will bring into law the power-sharingdeal signed between President Robert Mugabe, leader of the ZANU-PF party; MorganTsvangirai, the MDC leader; and Arthur Mutambara, an MDC breakaway party, inSeptember 2008 will only become effective after it has been endorsed byparliament, which does not sit until 20 January. <BR><BR>“If we become part ofthe government now we will have no muscle. We are not yet empowered,” saidChamisa. “We do not want to become an accessory to a government which has notshown any genuine willingness to share power.” <BR><BR><STRONG>Abductions<BR></STRONG><BR>The recent abduction of MDC activists apparently by the statesecurity apparatus has also fuelled tensions. <BR><BR>“Tsvangirai has said thathe would ask his national council to vote to walk away from the deal if theabductions of our party members and activists do not cease and if all thoseseized by state agents have not been released by 1 January,” said Chamisa.<BR><BR>Jestina Mukoko, head of local rights group Zimbabwe Peace Project, whohad been reported missing since the beginning of December, and eight otheractivists, were charged last week with recruiting Zimbabweans to undergomilitary training to overthrow the Mugabe government. Despite a High Courtruling to release the activists, they remained in custody. <BR><BR>Reacting tothe failure to follow the ruling, Motlanthe’s spokesman Masebe said: “We aresaying the MDC must become part of the inclusive government.” <BR><BR>But at theheart of the MDC’s reluctance to sign the deal is also the allocation ofgovernors' posts and key ministries. <BR><BR>“All these issues can be resolvedwithin minutes if there is political willingness,” said Chamisa. “We want to beable to provide a real change in governance and not become part of a symbolicact.” <BR><BR></SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN class=reportbodystyle="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>[ENDS]</SPAN> </TD></TR><TR><TD><BR><SPANstyle="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: rgb(153,153,153); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONTcolor=#000000>[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the UnitedNations]</FONT> </SPAN></TD></TR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Zimgoes shopping in SA </h2><p><A href="http://business.iafrica.com">http://business.iafrica.com</A><BR><BR>Posted Wed, 31 Dec 2008<BR><BR>Zimbabweans have beenadvised to form groups and send members to South <BR>Africa to buy basiccommodities there, the state-controlled Herald newspaper <BR>reported onWednesday.<BR><BR>This should be done to counter exorbitant pricing byretailers in Zimbabwe, <BR>the country's Consumer Council (CCZ) told thenewspaper.<BR><BR>CCZ executive director Rosemary Siyachitema said people couldbuy more and <BR>save by going to South Africa, where the products were cheaper.She said <BR>that by forming groups and sending one member, people would reduce<BR>travelling costs.<BR><BR>Most retail shops were selling goods in foreigncurrency and refused to <BR>accept the Zimbabwe dollar, the Heraldreported.<BR><BR>"Although the government issued licences to selected shops tosell in <BR>foreign currency, the rest are doing it without thelicences.<BR><BR>"Small traders, including vegetable vendors, have also joinedthe bandwagon, <BR>making life difficult for the ordinary person who does nothave access to <BR>foreign currency." <BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>They Are Not White Farmers </h2><p><A href="http://hararetribune.com"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>http://hararetribune.com</FONT></A><b class=contentheading><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPANclass=createdate>Thursday, 01 January 2009 13:40 </SPAN><SPAN class=createby><Ahref="http://hararetribune.com/component/comprofiler/?task=userProfile&user=110">T.T. Tsanga</A> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></b><DIV class="article-tools clearfix"><DIV class=article-meta><P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></P><SPANstyle="FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>Two years ago, I ran into a </FONT><Ahref="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/299532802_3e5d245615.jpg?v=0"><FONTface=Arial size=2>new black farmer</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> who hadacquired a farm famous for producing huge groundnuts, mazambani. I wanted toknow if this new farmer was still growing the famous groundnuts. <BR><BR>"No,"he said. "I don't. We now grow flowers that </FONT><Ahref="http://www.zimdaily.com/news/gono27.6310.html"><FONT face=Arial size=2>weexport to Europe</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>. Eeh, how did you know thatfarm?" <BR><BR>“I did not know you are now growing flowers on that farm,” I saidwithout bothering to answer his question. It was startling. “Why flowers?”<BR><BR>“My friend, they can’t eat flowers. The labourers are thieves. If I growgroundnuts and other edible crops like maize, the labourers will steal the cropsto feed their families. Listen,” he said as he realized that I had been stunnedspeechless, “I am running a business not a charity.” <BR><BR>I knew the farm.The black farmer bought the farm from the commercial farmer with assistance froma government minister. One of my great grandmothers, an immigrant from Malawi,and my great grandfather, a Shona from Murehwa, met while working on a farmadjacent to the farm Mugabe’s black farmer now owned. Inevitably we had a lot ofrelatives who worked as farm labourers and my grandmother used to take me alongwhenever she visited our relatives. The visits were memorable. We had beans,salted and dried </FONT><Ahref="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bacalhau.htm"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>bakayawo fish</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, cultured milk, sugar,you name it. The “white” farmer was not an angel but he was kind enough to givehis labourers food. <BR><BR>Contrast that with his “black” successor who nowgrows flowers while his labourers starve. Since the labourers’ children cannoteat flowers, the poor kids have to </FONT><Ahref="http://www.newzimbabwe.com/blog/?p=294"><FONT face=Arial size=2>hunt forcrickets</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> and wild fruits to survive. That isMugabe’s land policy right there. It is a failure and people, the inordinatemajority of them black, are going to starve. Just like the heartless flowergrower put it, </FONT><Ahref="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-hunger24-pg,0,6321698.photogallery"><FONTface=Arial size=2>they can’t eat flowers</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>.Children </FONT><Ahref="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-hunger24-pg,0,6321698.photogallery?index=4"><FONTface=Arial size=2>digging up crickets</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> and</FONT><Ahref="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-hunger24-pg,0,6321698.photogallery?index=2"><FONTface=Arial size=2>gathering wild fruits</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> iswhat passes for black empowerment in ZANU-PF. It is this revolution that has tobe guarded, says Robert Mugabe. <BR><BR>Inevitably, I wanted to know if most ofthe farm workers were still under the employment of the new farmer.<BR><BR>“Manyasarande aye takaatandanisa! – We got rid of all the Nyasalanders!”he chortled as he congratulated himself for dismissing the labourers he hadinherited from the white farmer. Mugabe’s black farmer had deeply seatedcontempt for the black workers. To him, they were Malawian interlopers hence theuse of the profoundly derogatory Manyasarande</FONT></SPAN><SPANstyle="FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><FONT face=Arial size=2> colonial-eraepithet. </FONT></SPAN><SPANstyle="FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>Munyasarande is a loaded noun. It captures a terrible stereotype ofsomeone who is a permanent alien, a person incapable of assimilation into a newcultural environment and, therefore, irredeemably and hopelessly uncultured. Theoriginal immigrants are all dead and all their descendants are Zimbabwean, anywhich way you look at it. However, to this ignoramus Mugabe farmer, the"Nyasarande" traits are heritable like Adam’s sin. <BR><BR>I was furious. I haverelatives of Malawian extraction who are some of the most patriotic, honest,God-loving and ethically enterprising Zimbabweans. They have never been toMalawi and yet Mugabe’s goofball was dismissing them as gypsies. For all ofMugabe’s endless incantations about </FONT><Ahref="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01Hb3Xgf5rdHf/610x.jpg"><FONTface=Arial size=2>African Solutions for African Problems</FONT></A><FONTface=Arial size=2>, the attitude of this beneficiary of the ZANU-PF’scatastrophic land program had no iota of sympathy for a fellow black African.Some will say I should have known that Mugabe’s cronies are </FONT><Ahref="http://www.geocities.com/tsangatutankhamenshanga/forked-tongue.html"><FONTface=Arial size=2>as insincere as the man</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>himself. You will have to excuse my French, folks, I was pissed off big time!<BR><BR>The black farmer’s supremacist attitude encapsulates the mentality ofthe circle of lunatics that surrounds Mugabe. They are shameless bearers offalse witness and will blatantly lie if it gives them political and materialmileage. The ZANU-PF farmer's xenophobic characterization of the farm labourersfits the ZANU-PF modus operandi. <BR><BR>Like </FONT><Ahref="https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/may15_2004.html#link13"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>Munyaradzi Wasosa put it</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, when aleopard wants to eat its children it starts by accusing them of smelling likegoats. If anyone stands in the way of the Mugabe </FONT><Ahref="http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=4059"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>crime syndicate</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, nothing will keep thesupposed offender from a torrent of invective and, increasingly, abductions,torture and gruesome death. That is how the Stalinist-Maoists in ZANU-PFoperate. It comes straight from the playbook of Joe Stalin whereby youdehumanize and demonize your victims first and then rob them of their propertyand lives thereafter. <BR><BR>When ZANU-PF wants to give commercial farms asgifts or bribes to placate disgruntled party followers, Zimbabwean commercialfarmers are </FONT><Ahref="http://www.hararetribune.com/harare-city-zimbabwe/harare-news/1157-more-than-140-white-farmers-up-for-prosecution-in-zimbabwe.html"><FONTface=Arial size=2>attacked as white farmers</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>,a charge which is equivalent to calling the farmers unrepentant racists. How canall the farmers who used to produce enough food to feed the entire region beracists? Incredibly, the same land is now owned by Mugabe’s cronies, most ofwhom had never even cultivated a backyard garden of vegetables before receivingthe farms as payment for loyalty to Mugabe’s revolution. It is widely believedthat some of these new farmers keep the farms so they can get </FONT><Ahref="http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=1825"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>subsidized fuel</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, seeds and fertilizerthat are then sold on the black market. Farming requires constant andmonomaniacal attention. I have to wonder where someone like </FONT><Ahref="http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=8847"><FONT face=Arial size=2>SamuelMumbengegwi</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> gets the time to be both a viablecommercial farmer and a minister, even in a completely dysfunctional government.<BR><BR>The truth of the matter is that it is not just the commercial farmersthat have been demonized by the ZANU-PF Mafia. <BR></FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV><DIV class=article-content><P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></P><UL style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><LI><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><FONTface=Arial size=2>“</FONT><Ahref="http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/bhekinkosimoyo/2008/03/02/of-‘prostitutes’-frogs-‘puppets’-and-‘old-men’/"><FONTface=Arial size=2>Puppets and prostitutes</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>!”shouts Mugabe when blacks object to his disasterous policies;<BR></FONT></SPAN><LI><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><FONTface=Arial size=2>When Justin Mukoko decided to go and catalogue acts ofterrorism and theft of food aid perpetrated by ZANU-PF, she </FONT><Ahref="http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=9350"><FONT face=Arial size=2>gotcharged with terrorism</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> with the possibilityof get hanged if convicted in Mugabe’s </FONT><Ahref="http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=9350"><FONT face=Arial size=2>kangaroocourt</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>. What the colonialists </FONT><Ahref="http://www.assatashakur.org/forum/shoulders-our-freedom-fighters/19110-nehanda-ancient-revolutionary-spirit.html"><FONTface=Arial size=2>did</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> to </FONT><Ahref="http://www.geocities.com/tsangatutankhamenshanga/charwe.jpg"><FONTface=Arial size=2>Nehanda Nyakasikana</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, theZANU-PF nationalists want to do to </FONT><Ahref="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7805733.stm"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>Justina Mukoko</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>.<BR></FONT></SPAN><LI><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><FONTface=Arial size=2>People born and bred in Zimbabwe are quickly labelledforeigners / </FONT><Ahref="http://www.hararetribune.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/1360421/Black-farm-workers-are-new-victims-of-Mugabe.html"><FONTface=Arial size=2>Manyasarande</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> they </FONT><Ahref="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v27/n13/john01_.html"><FONT face=Arial size=2>pointedout</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> refuse to vote for the continuance ofMugabe’s ineptitude running of the country. The irony of it all is that thereare some </FONT><Ahref="http://www.zimdaily.com/news/chirikure27.6192.html"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>rumours, which are silly</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> in myopinion, to the effect that Mugabe himself has </FONT><Ahref="http://www.freemuse.org/sw25409.asp"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Malawian /Nyasarande blood</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> flowing in his veins. Whatwe know is that one of his nephews, </FONT><Ahref="http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral117.12534.html"><FONT face=Arialsize=2>Patrick Zhuwao</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, definitely has aChikunda name. Zhuwao is an indigenized Portuguese nameJoao.</FONT></SPAN></LI></UL><P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPANstyle="FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: georgia,palatino"><BR><FONT face=Arialsize=2>Comrade Mugabe may profess to hate the British but he seems to like apingthem at every opportunity. He tries to speak English like a Britisher. When itcomes to dividing and conquering, the man learnt a lot from his colonialmasters. <BR><BR>Criminals in ZANU-PF may have arrogated to themselves the rightto determine who is and who is not Zimbabwean but we do not have to ape them. Weneed to renounce ZANU-PF’s xenophobic lexicon once and for all. There are nowhite farmers, there are no Manyasarande, there are no Mandevere and there areno Maindiya. Their forebears might have come to present-day Zimbabwe fromdifferent parts of the world and at different times but that must not be thedefining character to their citizenship. These are Zimbabweans, pure and simple.Anyone who insists otherwise must be considered a criminal.</FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>President'sNew Year's message to the students </h2><p><Ahref="http://hararetribune.com">http://hararetribune.com</A><BR><BR>Friday, 02 January 2009 17:51<BR><BR>Wehave travelled a long journey together since our last Congress in January<BR>2008. We came out of our congress with crucial resolutions intended to<BR>assist in the resolution of the Zimbabwe's political crisis and hopefully<BR>the envisaged new dispensation would address the challenges we are facing as<BR>students in our various colleges.<BR>In 2008, we have endured by far themost difficult year for our people. We <BR>have endured the worst humanitariancrisis in post-independent Zimbabwe <BR>characterized by cholera, hunger andstarvation. Post March 29 election <BR>political violence, authored, sponsoredand perpetrated by Zanu PF, <BR>completely destroyed social cohesion and humandignity. Cash shortages only <BR>but worsened the already desperate situation inthe country.<BR><BR>Virtually no learning took place in our schools, collegesand universities. <BR>A generation has been wasted. The questions we continue toask ourselves is <BR>that what will happen to the school kids, college anduniversity students <BR>who have lost valuable learning time? What will be theconsequences of the <BR>current developments on our economy and country infuture?<BR><BR>Two events of great significance occurred in the past year. Theelection <BR>victory of March 29 and the September 15 Global Political Agreementare both <BR>historic and significant in the Renaissance of our country. Themistake we <BR>made by failing to claim our victory of the March election mustnever be <BR>repeated. Further, we must never make the mistake of allowing theGlobal <BR>Political Agreement to fall by the wayside. The Agreement, as flawedas it <BR>is, provides the only opportunity to take Zimbabwe back to her glorydays. <BR>The economy is bleeding, there is a desperate humanitarian crisis, the<BR>nation is deeply divided, and there is lack of confidence in the populace.<BR>Only through the implementation of this agreement can rescue the country. We<BR>are however aware of Zanu Pf' intransigence, which can be a hindrance to the<BR>successful implementation of the GPA. We must not allow Zanu Pf to detract<BR>us from achieving a better life for ourselves and our people.<BR><BR>Thestrong message we wish to convey to our political leaders at this <BR>juncture,is that put the interest of the people and the country first. The <BR>peoplehave been patient enough. If you intend to form the inclusive <BR>government,let that be now. If you have other ideas then let us know now.<BR><BR>Havingsaid that, we urge President Tsvangirai to come back and lead the <BR>countryout of the current mess. Your absence is being felt.<BR><BR>To my fellowstudents, parents and Zimbabweans in general, let us remain <BR>committed to thestruggle for a better Zimbabwe. let us all unite and work <BR>towards therenaissance of our country.<BR><BR>Wish Zimbabwe a better 2009,<BR><BR>On behalfof the Students' Union<BR><BR>Clever Bere<BR><BR>President<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>A letterfrom the diaspora </h2><p> <A href="http://www.cathybuckle.com">http://www.cathybuckle.com</A><BR><BR>2nd January 2009<BR><BR>Dear Friends.<BR>I know that I amnot alone in my anger and indignation at the continued <BR>imprisonment ofJestina Mukoko and the other abducted MDC activists on <BR>trumped up charges ofplotting to overthrow the regime in Harare via a <BR>military operation based,the State alleges, in Botswana. We had a few brief <BR>moments of relief at theend of 2008 that perhaps there was still justice in <BR>Zimbabwe after all. TheHigh Court had ordered the abductees' release to a <BR>hospital of their choiceand further ordered that they be accorded full <BR>access to their lawyers andvisits from relatives. Our relief at the good <BR>news was short-lived. Havingdenied that they had any knowledge of Jestina's <BR>whereabouts, the policefinally produced her and thirty two other activists <BR>who the appeared beforeMagistrate Misrod Guvamombe. What happened next <BR>could only happen inZimbabwe as the activists' lawyer, the courageous <BR>Beatrice Mtetwa commented," It's only in Zimbabwe that an inferior court <BR>can really implement a HighCourt order differently. The High Court made an <BR>order that was deliberatelysubverted by the state." The reason for <BR>Magistrate Guvamombe's decision todisobey Justice Omerjee's ruling was that <BR>the State had already filed anappeal against Omerjee's ruling. Wearing <BR>prison garb with shackles and legirons, the accused were paraded in court <BR>and then dispatched to ChikurubiMaximum Security Prison to await trial.<BR><BR>Thus 2009 began in Zimbabwe withyet another gross abuse of human rights, <BR>another travesty of justice thatmakes the Mugabe regime even more of a <BR>pariah state in the eyes of theworld. Shamefully South Africa and SADC <BR>continue to protect Mugabe, claimingthat even the arrest of activists need <BR>not be a bar to the implementation ofa Government of National Unity. Today <BR>we read that Police Chief Chihuri hasdeclared a ban on all political <BR>meetings, citing the security situation inthe country which he describes as <BR>'volatile'. The courts and the police havebecome totally complicit in the <BR>regime's increasingly desperate hold onpower. Any hope that Zimbabweans had <BR>that justice might ultimately prevailhas once again been cruelly dashed. <BR>With magistrates, judges and policesupporting the regime's every move, <BR>there seems little hope that 2009 willbe any better than the previous year <BR>for long-suffering Zimbabweans. Therains are falling but there is no sign <BR>of planting and without the NGO's tofeed the people, starvation looms while <BR>the cholera toll continues to mount.And Mugabe just sits back and allows it <BR>to happen, knowing that the worldwill not allow the people to starve. He <BR>has virtually abdicated allresponsibility for the people's welfare; his <BR>only focus now is on his ownsurvival and he will use every means to ensure <BR>it, assisted by the greed andavarice of his cronies whose own survival <BR>depends entirely on his staying inpower - as his does on their continued <BR>sycophantic support.<BR>I am readingHeidi Hollands' book Dinner with Mugabe at the moment and it <BR>makes anengrossing read. Holland's central purpose is to attempt to <BR>understandMugabe's psyche and disabuse the popular notion that he is a <BR>madman, anotherIdi Amin. She interviews all sorts of people, friends and <BR>enemies ofMugabe's, who throw light on his very complex personality and in <BR>the courseof her analysis she asks the question, 'Does it actually help to <BR>understandthe sort of man he is?' Understanding why Hitler was the way he <BR>was does notafter all make the murder of six million Jews any less <BR>shocking. Similarly,Gukukahundi and the massacre of 20-30 thousand Ndebele <BR>people or theterrible violence now meted out on innocent Zimbabweans for no <BR>reason otherthan their opposition to his rule is hardly excusable on the <BR>grounds thathis father left home when Mugabe was ten years old. More <BR>understandableperhaps is his supposed hatred of whites. What is not <BR>excusable is that theconfiscation of white-owned farms has caused such <BR>dreadful suffering to thevery people Mugabe claims to have liberated. Early <BR>childhood trauma hardlyexplains such an act of massive injustice. Perhaps <BR>the explanation is moreto do with the fact that Mugabe simply cannot <BR>tolerate opposition orcriticism whether it comes from inside his own party <BR>or from the MDC or thepopulace at large. Does it help to understand why <BR>Mugabe is like this? 'Byyour deeds shall you know them' says the Christian <BR>doctrine which Mugabeclaims to espouse. On that basis, history will not, I <BR>believe, judge himkindly and neither will the thousands of victims of his <BR>arrogance andcruelty.<BR>May 2009 be the year when the hope for change becomes reality forZimbabwe.<BR>Yours in the (continuing) struggle PH<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>18Most Horrible Things of 2008: Why 2009 is Zimbabwe’s year of Change orRebellion </h2><p><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>231Million Percent Inflation<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Withan official rate of 231 million percent as of October 2008, the sky is the limitfor Zimbabwe’s astronomical inflation. In Zimbabwe anything called official is alie! It is the highest inflation rate ever recorded since recording began. Asthat figure became official coming from the government’s Central StatisticalOffice (CSO), many economic experts disputed it arguing that inflation was wellover 5 quintillion percent. Regrettably there seems to be no end in sight tosolve the nation’s economic crisis given the paralysis that characterizescontemporary Zimbabwean politics. It is an economy whose wheels have all comeoff.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>‘Zimbabwe is Mine’(towreck!)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In addition tobeing a catalyst for the ongoing conundrum, Robert Mugabe is the CEO and authorof Zimbabwe’s tragedies. He brazenly claims that “Zimbabwe is mine”; thereforehe can do whatever he wants (as he has done over the past 28 years) regardlessof what the people of Zimbabwe want or vote for. Behaving weirdly did not starttoday; the nation is paying the price of an unchecked mental case. There is apattern; Mugabe has always been a </SPAN><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">maliciousschemer whose machinations do not serve the nation any good other thanperpetuating self-serving interests. The UN experts who described Mugabe as a“mad dictator” are correct just as US Department spokesperson Sean McCormacksuccinctly rebutted: </SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">"Well, last time the worldchecked, Zimbabwe belonged to the people of Zimbabwe." I could not agreemore!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Cholera<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Asof December 31 2008, official reports from the World Health Organization putZimbabwe’s Cholera’s death toll at 1 551 while new <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>infections have shot past 30 000. It is verydifficult to determine the exact number of deaths and infections given thecalamitous state of Zimbabwe’s health delivery system. <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bulk of the population also resides inrural communities where <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>most cases gounreported. Sadly, it is apparent that the cholera crisis has juststarted.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Chiadzwa Massacres<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>While barely reported, Chiadzwa massacres in late 2008 represented someof the most horrific scenes of the year. On a daily basis, Chiadzwa attractedthousands of impoverished yet enterprising Zimbabweans trying to eke out aliving by panning diamonds. Their only crime was tampering with the wealth that‘belongs’ to Mugabe and his kleptocrats. The military sprayed them with bulletsfrom helicopters. Victims were dumped in mass graves. At one point the DeputyMayor of Mutare, Admire Mukovera asked for “space for a mass grave for 78 peoplekilled” in Chiadzwa. While the actual number of the Chiadzwa massacres is anofficial secret as the area was completely sealed by government troops to avoidpublic access, journalists estimate them to be as high as 500.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Victims of Political Violence<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Morethan 600 died in cold-blooded murder yet their killers are out there, alive andwell. Here are a few reminders of Mugabe’s victims: Tonderai Ndira (the hero ofheroes) who was abducted by ten armed ‘Mugabe men’ and later bludgeoned to death(May 2008): Joshua Bakacheza, the MDC driver whose decomposed body was foundabandoned near a Beatrice farm (July 2008). Tabitha Marume who was shot andkilled by soldiers at Chiwetu Rest Camp (April 2008); Percy Muchiwa, a teacherin Guruve who was beaten to death (April 2008); Bigboy Zhuwawo and Tenos Manyimodied in Mashonaland Central <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>after beingattacked by Zanu PF militants (April 2008); Clemence Dube, an MDC polling agentwho was attacked in Poshai Village of Shurugwi; Sadly, the list is endless! Inaddition the 29 March nation-wide post election violence exacerbated <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the situation as more women were raped whileopposition members were tortured andkilled.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Stolen Election<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Theywere described as a ‘sham election’ by the US and the UK.<SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Having taken more than a month to announceown defeat, Mugabe and his men refused to concede defeat after the violent29-March 2008 elections. Instead they called for another round of elections,presided over by the military junta’s Joint Operations Command. It was anotherbloody campaign that culminated in MDC pulling out resulting in a solo contestby Zanu (PF). To this day Mugabe is an illegitimate President who said that hewas not going to give up “because of a mereX”.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Surge in State-SponsoredAbductions<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>While Justina Mukoko has come to personify the misery suffered by thosewho get clamped in the jaws of Mugabe’s terror, the story of many is stilluntold. Now we know that a total of 560 abductions took place in Zimbabwe sinceJanuary 2008. Of that number only 220 cases were closed because the remains ofthe murdered Zimbabweans were identified. The rest have not been accounted foras their whereabouts are still unknown. Zimbabwe still resembles a typical warzone.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Ghost Hospitals</SPAN></I><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Theclosure of all state-run hospitals was the epitome of the death of Zimbabwe’shealth delivery system. According to the World Health organization, medicalstaff stopped going to work because they were literally working for nothing asinflation rendered their meager salaries worthless. Just like supermarkets andshops with empty shelves in Zimbabwe, government bankruptcy did not sparehospitals which were left without any supplies, stuff, staff or materials.Recently, UN experts reported that "Zimbabwe's health system has completelycollapsed - it cannot control the cholera outbreak which is spreading throughoutthe country, with a daily increase in the deathtoll,".<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Ghost Schools<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">First it waspolitical violence that led to nationwide school closures as Mugabe’s violentpresidential <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>campaign of 2008 wantonly<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>targeted teachers and aid workers <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>accused of supporting the oppositionMDC.</SPAN><SPANstyle="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Now that </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Zimbabweis a basket case (as opposed to bread-basket country that it used to be), asevere shortage of maize has led to the closure of most schools in Zimbabwe asfar back as September. It is all part and parcel of a nationwide food crisisthat is also threatening to decimate half the population ofZimbabwe.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Banning of NGO’s<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>InJune 2008, President Mugabe banned all aid agencies that were carrying out fieldoperations in Zimbabwe at a time when the country was in dire need ofhumanitarian assistance. The aid agencies were accused of working in connivancewith the opposition party to effect a ‘regime change.’ Operations of hundreds ofnon-governmental organizations (NGOs) were paralyzed yet they played such apivotal role in providing water, food, shelter, health care and education formillions of people in the midst of the country's economic malaise. Over theyears, aid agencies have done a remarkable job in place of a diminishedgovernment. They helped to rebuild and sustain the country's health andeducation system. To this very day (after their reinstatement as the epidemicgot out of control) the NGO’s are largely accredited for averting a large-scalehumanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe, far greater than what has happened.<Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Revoked Knighthood and HonoraryDegrees<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><FONTsize=3><FONT faceibri>On June 25 2008, Queen Elizabeth II wasted no timecancelling and revoking the 1994 Knighthood bestowed on Mugabe (never mind thereasons surrounding the decision to bestow that honour in the first place).<SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Likewise, University of Massachusetts atAmherst stripped him of a chain of honorary degrees, a similar move made by theUniversity of Edinburgh the previous year.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><FONTsize=3><FONT faceibri>Lies, lies, lies<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It is no secretthat lack of sanitation and hygiene caused Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic contraryto the lies peddled by Mugabe’s regime that “Cholera is a calculated racistattack on Zimbabwe by the former colonial power so that they can invade thecountry,” <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mugabe’s Information Ministeralso<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>went on state television saying:“T</SPAN><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">hecholera epidemic in Zimbabwe is a serious biological, chemical war force, agenocidal onslaught, on the people of Zimbabwe by the British.” <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Asfar back as January 2007, the Associated Press reported about Zimbabwe’sNational Water Authority (ZINWA) issuing a deadly water contamination warningthat “a breakdown at a major sewage treatment plant had left it spewing 72mega-liters of raw sewage per day into a river that feeds into Lake Chivero,Harare’s main source of drinking water.”</SPAN></SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">On December 11 2008, Mugabe alsoshocked the world when he stated that “Cholera no longer exists”. <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The death toll doubled three weekslater.</SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"></SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>5.5million urgently need food<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>According to UN, Zimbabwe is sitting on time bomb liable to explodeanytime if nothing radical is done by the international community to immediatelysend food supplies into the country. In addition to erratic weather that causesdroughts, gross mismanagement of the nation’s food supply by Zimbabwe’s GrainMarketing Board (GMB) caused the crisis. On one hand Mugabe and his men continueto deride the International community whose leaders are the US and the UK whileon the other hand they desperately need theirhelp.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Shortage and Queues <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>In2007, they were used to shortages and queues of basic commodities such as milk,sugar, bread and meat as empty shelves became the order of the day. For thepeople of Zimbabwe 2008 was the peaking of a major economic crisis as they couldnot even access their worthless currency ‘sitting’ in the bank while losingvalue by the minute. Queuing and experiencing shortages is now a way of lifewhile the unavailability of bank notes ushered in great misery. As the year drewto a close (November 2008), uniformed soldiers went on a rampage rioting overcash shortages.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Treacherous Border Jumping by Women andChildren<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Images of Zimbabwean women with infants on their backs jumpingrazor-wire fences were a sorry sight that disturbed anyone with a conscience,let alone those of pregnant women and school kids navigating crocodile-infestedwaters of the Limpopo to cross into South Africa. It is not about the survivalof the fittest but about the survival of the needy, forced out of their belovedhomeland by political violence, poverty and hunger. The problems only startafter crossing the border!<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Xenophobic Attacks<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In March 2008,South Africa resembled a war zone as some of its citizens murdered over 60immigrants after unleashing violent attacks on foreigners, predominantlyZimbabweans. </SPAN><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">It isestimated that over 2 million Zimbabweans have found refuge in South Africahaving fled political violence. Others simply escaped the economic miserybrought about by Mugabe and his men. While other foreign nationals had theluxury of voluntarily returning to their countries, Zimbabweans have no choiceas long as Mugabe and his men continue to populate the corridors of usurpedpower in that country. Zimbabwe is not their usual home anymore; it is a placethat smacks of death.</SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Concocted Treason charges<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Sounds familiar? True. It is a tried and tested strategy to distractthe people of Zimbabwe from real issues of solving the people’s problems. In2008, the hapless Tendai Biti of the opposition MDC appeared in public for thefirst time extremely shackled (complete with leg irons) after a protractedincarceration facing treason charges. He still faces the concocted charges. InAugust 2005 Morgan Tsvangirai was finally acquitted of fabricated treasoncharges that dragged on forever. Representing the State, prosecutor FlorenceZiyambi declared: <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“The state iswithdrawing charges before plea”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Two-year old boy in jail<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">As the illegaldetentions and abductions were brought to light the last week of December 2008,another disturbing moment took center stage – an unfamiliar political detainee.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a two year old boy who is amongthe 23 ‘perceived enemies of state.’ <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Zimbabwean police shamelessly violated aruling by High </SPAN><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">CourtJudge Yunus Omarjee of December 27 which <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“ordered an unconditional release of 23opposition members -- including a 2-year-old boy.”according to CNN. Several newsorganizations have reported that the baby was also beaten up. </SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">How low can Mugabe’s governmentsink?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Bstyle="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>4Positive things<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Mugabe is cornered<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Whenhis government finally delivered Morgan Tsvangirai’s passport and a letter ofappointment as Prime Minister, it surely showed Mugabe’s desperation. Two weeksearlier, it was the same Mugabe who called Morgan Tsvangirai a “politicalprostitute”. <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Tightening of Screws by SADC<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Neighboring countries such as South Africa and Botswana that areimporting instability and cholera are increasingly becoming restless. They alsowant a GNU deal struck as soon as possible. <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pressure is up and a political deal is in theoffing.<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </I>The GNU deal is alive andwell!<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Break away of Zapu<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Thesplitting of Zapu and Zanu is healthy for Zimbabwe’s democracy.<SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While it adds to political pluralism, it isimperative for Zapu to move beyond regrouping to merely grieve overMatebeleland<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Holocaust of more thantwenty years ago or to rekindle tribal diatribes. Zimbabwe has changed. Youcannot have a party for a specific region or tribe and expect to lead a nation.Get me right, while the massacres of Matebeleland should not go unpunished,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Zapu must integrate itself intomainstream Zimbabwean politics and become nationally competitive. I do not wantto think that the goal is to position itself for political opportunism. <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Zimbabwean politics is replete with episodesof opportunism, just ask Arthur Mutambara or Jonathan Moyo <Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">. ( I wrote a piece on that on my blog <Ahref="http://www.nationalvision.wordpress.com/"><FONTcolor=#0000ff>www.nationalvision.wordpress.com</FONT></A>archives)<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><Istyle="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Youand Me<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Wecare deeply about the plight of the suffering people of Zimbabwe and we willmake a difference as we continue to press forchange.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>Mugabe must be focusing his energies on redoing the government ofnational unity agreement which he deceptively authored so that Zimbabwe can moveforward. With continued abductions, Zanu PF’s unflinching insistence onretaining control of Home Affairs (that ‘own’ the police) is worrisome. Most ofthose abductions are masterminded and spearheaded by the police. What will stopthem when Morgan Tsvangirai is a titular Prime Minister? Already Zanu PF hasDefence Ministry and the deadly partisan spies fall under its ministerialportfolios. People have to understand where Morgan Tsvangirai is comingfrom.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As for me, I will not set foot inZimbabwe until my President is President (sic)! Vangandiita kanyama kanyama(‘BBQ me’).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Theneed to extend Zimbabwe’s begging bowls internationally is increasing given thegargantuan problems facing the country in 2009. The poverty in Zimbabwe isdehumanizing! Mr President please do not continue to fart in public as thatscares away would-be helpers. Your flatulence problem is not terminal. Eatingless of that meal of pork and beans can solve it. <SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In 2009, please spare us that perennialvitriol.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Zimbabwe’smounting problems will never be solved by you and your Zanu (PF).</SPAN><SPANlang=EN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Your</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> diatribesserve Zimbabwe no good, but only aggravate the situation.</SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> <SPANlang=EN>Be reminded that at this stage, Zimbabwe requires more than just a merepolitical settlement. A comprehensive development strategy is required in orderto solve problems bedeviling an implodedeconomy.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><A name=1><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Theway 2008 ended is quite ominous. Although 2009 is agog with expectations of abetter life, new problems will dwarf existing ones if the government of nationalunity fails to succeed because of Mugabe. Simultaneously, Mugabe’s politicalfate is being sealed as the odds against him continue to mount while the socialtime bomb ticks even faster. Be reminded that continued political paralysis is azero-sum game.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></A></DIV><SPANstyle="mso-bookmark: 1"></SPAN><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONT faceibri>Itis in the best interests of all citizens of Zimbabwe to demand change in 2009,if not, Mugabe will continue to sleepwalk the nation to its grave. It is thepeople of Zimbabwean who are bearing the agony and brunt of a failed leadership,‘a tragic failure of leadership’ as stated by Nelson Mandela (who happens to beAfrica’s best politician ever!)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT size=3><FONTfaceibri>However it is comforting to note that for now Morgan Tsvangirai isZimbabwe’s last and best hope to get Zimbabwe back on the path of sanity. He hasalready treaded the treacherous politics of Zimbabwe with great honor,selflessness, grace and humility defying all appeasement attempts byMugabe.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><FONTsize=3><FONT faceibri>Dear God, for 2009 I have one request on behalf of thepeople of Zimbabwe:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please increaseRobert Gabriel Mugabe’s sensitivity to the plight of the suffering poor peopleof Zimbabwe. If possible, sneak in psychedelics into that State House in orderto reduce the amount of cruelty and violence within him. Transform hisdeclaration that “we have degrees in violence” into “we have degrees in peace,”for we know fully-well that Mugabe and his men do not want peace or politicalprogress, “kubvongodza muto kuseva kweakaguta.” The status quo benefits them.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN lang=ENstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"><FONTsize=3 faceibri>The people of Zimbabwe cannot afford another year of the samewith Mugabe at the helm of Zimbabwean politics.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>For 2009 the choices for the people of Zimbabwe are very simple:<SPANstyle="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Change, Riot or Rot!<BR></FONT></SPAN><SPANstyle="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><BR>Paul Mutuzu<BR>+1 972201 5554<BR><BR><EM>President and founder of the National Vision Institute(</EM><A href="http://www.nationalvision.wordpress.com/"target=_blank><EM>www.nationalvision.wordpress.com</EM></A><EM>), an independentnon-profit economic and political strategy think-tank focusing on Zimbabwe andSouthern Africa region. It offers policy initiatives and strategic insights infinding solutions to the challenges facing SouthernAfrica.</EM></o:p></SPAN></DIV></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2>Faceof Zimbabwe: 2009 </h2><p><Ahref="http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/2983#more-2983">http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/2983#more-2983</A><BR><BR>A friend of mine attacked the start of the new yearwith gusto. He went to a <BR>New Year's party where he did his level best to getas drunk as he possibly <BR>could. When I saw him the next day, he had ahangover of note. "I believe", <BR>he declared, "that all Zimbabweans should getthe worst hangover they <BR>possibly can on New Year's eve; that way they startthe year feeling sicker <BR>than the sickest of dogs and then they can try andtell themselves that <BR>things can only get better in 2009."<BR><BR>His Zimbohumour did make me laugh, but apart from that moment of mirth <BR>there is verylittle else that I find amusing about the start of the New <BR>Year inZimbabwe.<BR><BR>My 'Face of 2009' is already burned in my mind and the year hasbarely <BR>begun. It comes to me via an experience of a relative of mine, whichhe had <BR>while driving on an isolated stretch of road between twotowns.<BR><BR>He said he saw a child standing in the middle of nowhere cryingits heart <BR>out by the side of the road, trying to wave down cars. An adultsat crumpled <BR>in the dirt next to her.<BR><BR>When he stopped, he learnedthat the child was with her grandmother, and <BR>that the grandmother was veryvery sick. The small girl had been trying to <BR>help her Gogo to find a way toget to a clinic or hospital and they had <BR>walked through the bush for miles.When they reached the road, Gogo's legs <BR>gave out, and she could not find thestrength to stand up again and the <BR>child was too small to help her stand andkeep going. All she could do was <BR>sob, and try and wave down someone whowould stop and help her.<BR><BR>My relative helped Gogo into the car and droveher and her grandchild to the <BR>nearest hospital. He said they had a long wayto go and Gogo was silent all <BR>the way, very ill and every last bit ofstrength drained from her just <BR>trying to reach the road. The little girl, hesaid, sobbed the whole way <BR>there. He said she was crying in grief and fear,but that she also kept <BR>thanking him, her gratitude that he had stopped atall was heartbreaking.<BR><BR>He left them at the nearest clinic in the care ofdoctors and nurses who <BR>probably don't have the medicines they need to helpGogo, and I fear she <BR>will probably die. 'Happy New Year' to that tiny littlegirl? I think not.<BR><BR>There is no amount of alcohol on the world that cangive me a hangover <BR>headache that is strong enough to match the twisting painI get in my heart <BR>and stomach when I think about that little girl. Unlike ahangover, this <BR>pain will not pass and I can't tell myself that when it hasgone that 2009 <BR>can only get better. I know that there will be more of thesame.<BR><BR>I state the obvious when I say that in this millenium, in 2009, asmall <BR>child of primary school age should not be staggering through the bushin the <BR>middle of nowhere, entirely responsible for taking her dying Gogo to<BR>hospital. She should not be crying by the side of the road begging cars to<BR>stop and help her. Of course she should not. All reasonable people would<BR>agree with that but no one can reasonably find a way forward. The bottom<BR>line is that the problem this child had - her Gogo dying and needing care -<BR>was her problem alone.<BR><BR>Another friend of mine recently travelledthrough the rural areas, visiting <BR>quite a few remote places. She said thatshe only saw the very elderly and <BR>the very young, that all the ages inbetween were missing. We speculated <BR>that those of working ages - the mothersand fathers, the strongest - had <BR>either left for South Africa to try andsupport their families, or that they <BR>had died from AIDS relatedillnesses.<BR><BR>All reasonable people reasonably argue that the solution toZimbabwe's <BR>problems rests with Zimbabweans - it is us who must 'dosomething'. I wish <BR>those reasonable people would report that to that smallchild and her <BR>grandmother, who represent thousands more small children andtheir <BR>grandmothers in the rural areas, because that is one tidbit ofinformation <BR>that I don't have the heart to convey. When you face a nationthat is <BR>starving, desperately scrounging for survival, old and frail or veryyoung, <BR>sick with cholera and HIV/AIDS, I can't help wondering if that thesisis as <BR>reasonable as it seems at face value, or whether its just the worldpassing <BR>the buck.<BR><BR>For me, my New Year blog begins with a publicconfession and a promise.<BR><BR>My public confession is that I am sick to theback teeth of this struggle. I <BR>am so tired of it, and I want to give up andlet my life move on. I want my <BR>head to be filled with different thoughtsother than 'what can I do, what <BR>can I do..'<BR><BR>My promise is to a childI have never met: I promise before God that I will <BR>not give up, I promise tokeep going. I wish this promise meant something to <BR>this child, but the truthis it doesn't even scratch the surface of a grief <BR>she has that runs so deepit will forever define her life as an adult.<BR><BR>This entry waswritten by Hope on Friday, January 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 am<BR></p><HR><div align="right"><A HREF="#tocPos"><font color="#ff3300">Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP</font></A></div><h2> Zimbabwe:Hopes for a better 2009 </h2><p><A href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk">http://www.oxfam.org.uk</A><BR><BR>by Caroline Gluck in Harare.<BR><BR>As the midnightcountdown ended, cheers rang out and the crowd hugged and <BR>kissed friends andstrangers in the small jazz club bar in downtown Harare.<BR><BR>2008 was anespecially grim year in Zimbabwe - and prospects for the coming <BR>year seemlittle better. The fact that Zimbabweans were celebrating the new <BR>year atall might seem surprising. But many people, or at least those with <BR>somemoney living in the cities, were in the mood to party, if only for a <BR>nightand to forget their worries.<BR><BR>Zimbabwe is gripped by economic collapse.Hyperinflation, the worst in the <BR>world, has seen prices skyrocketing, makingit hard for many to access food <BR>and fuel. Last month, the country's centralbank introduced a 10 billion <BR>Zimbabwean dollar banknote, but its actualworth, about $10 US dollars on <BR>the black market, is rapidly decreasing dayby day. Most shops now only <BR>accept foreign currency not Zimbabweannotes.<BR><BR>On top of the economic meltdown - which has seen doctors,teachers, and most <BR>government staff staying away from work because their payin local <BR>Zimbabwean dollars won't even cover their crippling transport costs- is a <BR>serious and worsening humanitarian crisis.<BR><BR>A cholera outbreakin August has now affected more than 30,000 people, and <BR>claimed the lives ofmore than 1,600 people, with cases now being reported <BR>across every provincein the country.<BR><BR>Cholera is an easily preventable and treatablewater-borne disease. But its <BR>spread in Zimbabwe is being fuelled by thecollapse of health, sanitation <BR>and water services. There are limited medicalsupplies and many don't have <BR>access to clean drinking water or propersanitation. The onset of heavy <BR>rains this month is worsening an alreadyalarming situation.<BR><BR>A second humanitarian crisis, still under-reported,is worsening <BR>malnutrition and food shortages. There have been several yearsof failed <BR>harvests; a serious shortage of seeds and fertilisers; and drivinghunger is <BR>forcing many to eat seeds instead of planting them for next year'scrops.<BR><BR>The UN has warned that around five million people, more than halfof the <BR>population, will soon rely on food aid.<BR><BR>The country is alsofacing political deadlock. Efforts to form a <BR>power-sharing governmentbetween the ZANU-PF party of President Robert <BR>Mugabe, who has been in powersince 1980, and the opposition Movement for <BR>Democratic Change, hasstalled.<BR><BR>I got a sombre insight into many of the problems the country wasfacing as I <BR>visited Kadoma city in central Zimbabwe, about 180 kilometreswest of the <BR>capital, Harare.<BR><BR>Oxfam has been working in the area,drilling boreholes so that communities <BR>can access safe drinking water;distributing hygiene kits and undertaking <BR>health promotion work.<BR><BR>Thehealth authorities have reported nearly a thousand cholera cases since <BR>midNovember, with 29 deaths. Unofficial statistics put the figure even<BR>higher.<BR><BR>The cholera treatment centre - mainly consisting of makeshiftcanvas tents - <BR>was packed with 120 patients. And staff were workingflat-out.<BR>Two people had died that day; and I was shown a tent containing thewrapped <BR>corpses of seven bodies, several of which had lain there for severaldays <BR>and were swelling. Fuel shortages and rocketing prices meant that therewere <BR>no vehicles available to take the bodies to the localcemetery.<BR><BR>"Things aren't stabilising," said one nurse, "they're gettingworse. We're <BR>seeing more patients every day."<BR><BR>With early access totreatment - intravenous fluids and oral rehydration - <BR>patients can recoverquickly and be discharged within days.<BR><BR>But a visit to a nearby housingestate - described as a cholera 'timebomb' <BR>by a senior health official -made clear why the epidemic is sweeping across <BR>the country.<BR><BR>Thesewage system had broken down; and residents were disposing human and <BR>otherwaste in the narrow lanes around their homes.<BR><BR>Open sewers in KadomaCityChildren played alongside open sewers. There was <BR>no running water andthe community of around 1200 depended on water from a <BR>borehole Oxfam hadprovided.<BR>Those images haunted me as I sat in the jazz bar that night.Zimbabweans <BR>might have little to celebrate, other than surviving anotherdifficult year; <BR>but they are still pinning their hopes that the coming yearmight bring some <BR>change for the better.<BR><BR>This entry was postedon Friday, January 2nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm<BR></p><DIV ALIGN="right"><A HREF="#tocPos">Back to the Top</A><BR><A HREF="index.html">Back to Index</A></DIV><HR></font><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js"type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">_uacct = "UA-305360-1";urchinTracker();</script></BODY></HTML>