NGO’s warn of Zimbabwe’s run–off vote aftermath

SABC

May 29, 2008, 06:30

By Manelisi Dubase
Several NGOs and a former journalist from Zimbabwe are the latest to urge
the international community to send as many observers as possible to
Zimbabwe, to observe next month's presidential run-off vote.

They worry that an increase in violence during and after the run-off, could
lead to civil war. NGOs predict that the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) is likely to win, even in the midst of violence. But they say the
biggest challenge will be what happens afterwards.

Jamal Jafari of the Enough Project says: “the chances that the government
will step back and recognise the opposition led by Morgan Tsvangirai forming
the government are very slim.”

A former Zimbabwean journalist says unless the international community sends
more observers now, ZANU PF will not fail this time to steal a run-off.
Former Zimbabwean Journalist, Ray Choto says: "The general feeling on the
ground is that the opposition won the election and there was no need for
this run-off, something was done. If that is true again what guarantees are
in place that this thing is not going to happen again?."

Choto reiterated a general view that the situation on the ground is not
conducive to a free and fair election. But the Zimbabwean government
dismissed these allegations as a lot of propaganda.

However, the Zimbabwean embassy says Choto and the Washington-based NGOs are
mis-informed and are spreading lies.

Zimbabwe NGO’S Launch Rural Voter Confidence Outreach Program

VOA

By Peter Clottey
Washington, D.C.
29 May 2008

Civic groups and non-governmental organizations in Zimbabwe will begin an
outreach program today aimed at encouraging voters in rural areas ahead of
the presidential election run-off. The groups say their move is in response
to escalated violence in the areas, which they claim intimidates rural
voters from showing up at the polls. The main opposition Movement for
Democratic Change has often accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of using
violence to intimidate its rural partisans. But the government dismisses the
charges and accuses the MDC and civic groups of conniving with Zimbabwe’s
enemies to force a regime change. Gordon Moyo is the executive director of
the Bulawayo project, a non-governmental organization in Zimbabwe’s
commercial capital. He tells reporter Peter Clottey that there is a need to
restore voter confidence in the rural areas.

“The civic organizations together with frontline human rights defenders in
the country. We have rolled out a rural outreach program to go out into the
rural areas, which have been adversely affected by violence and displacement
by ZANU-PF immediately after the March 29 elections. Therefore, the civic
society organizations and front line defenders are saying lets go out to the
rural areas to give confidence to the rural voters to give them information
because there has been a lot of disinformation and misinformation about the
elections run-off,” Moyo pointed out.

He said there is need for the non-governmental groups to encourage rural
voters to take part in the election run-off after the recent escalation of
violence.

“We are going out to the rural areas and meeting the key stakeholders there
to show them that those people in the games are not invisible, but they are
ordinary people and they can be challenged when information is available,”
he said.

Moyo calls the move to embark on the rural outreach program well intended to
encourage residents to vote.

“We think we are going to impact very positively to the rural communities by
urging them to move forward, and that this is the last mile and that these
are hard times. And we are saying to them, look, the times are difficult.
But that these are not death sentence. They are birth pains. So we are
telling them to move forward and we believe that the people of Zimbabwe have
had enough of the challenges that they are facing. They have had enough of
dictatorship. They’ve had a enough of hunger and starvation, and they would
like to see their country moving forward,” Moyo noted.

He pledged that their outreach program would enlighten the rural voters
ahead of the run-off.

“We believe that this project is going to impact positively. It is going to
make a difference to the lives of the people. It is going to make a
difference to the elections come June 27,” he said.

Moyo described as shocking accusations leveled by the ruling ZANU-PF party
that the non-governmental organizations are agents of the west, working hard
to force a regime change.

“That is a pathological lie. The civic society organizations and NGO’s in
general in Zimbabwe are on the side of the victimized and not on the side of
the political parties. We are frontline human rights defenders. When people
are hungry, we condemn the policies that make people hungry. When people are
brutalized, we condemn the perpetrators. Whichever side perpetrates violence
is condemned. So, it is the guilty that say the civic society is against
them. It is because they are on the guilty side. They are the ones that are
perpetrating violence and civic organizations are against that,” Moyo
pointed out.

Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights commissioner has reportedly
condemned the violence that has gripped Zimbabwe since its March 29 election
and is calling for a full-scale investigation into the killings and attacks.
Louise Arbour says she is shocked and concerned about the brutal attacks
against political activists that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai claims
have led to more than 50 deaths.

Pro-Government War Veterans Force Locals to Remove Satellite Television Receivers From Their Homes in Matabeleland South

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Windhoek)

28 May 2008
Posted to the web 29 May 2008

As reports of acts of lawlessness and politically-motivated violence
continue to rock Zimbabwe, war veterans have reportedly ordered villagers in
Matabeleland South to remove satellite television receivers from their
homes.

According to "The Standard" newspaper of 25 May 2008, terrified villagers
told the privately-owned weekly that the war veterans had set up bases
throughout the province from which they were conducting all-night "political
re-orientation" vigils.

The war veterans ordered the villagers to remove the receivers on 21 May
because the broadcasts they were receiving were allegedly "misleading" them
into voting against Zanu PF. Most villagers in the area can only watch and
listen to South African and Botswana-based television and radio stations
because of the poor transmission signals of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation, the sole state broadcaster in Zimbabwe.

MISA-Zimbabwe notes with great concern that these reports come hard on the
heels of the torching of a truckload of 60,000 copies of "The Zimbabwean on
Sunday" weekly newspaper on 24 May by unknown assailants. The driver of the
truck, Christmas Ramabulana, a South African national, and distribution
assistant Tapfumaneyi Kancheta were severely assaulted by their attackers.

Ramabulana and Kancheta were stopped 67 km from Zimbabwe's southern town of
Masvingo and forced to drive along the Chivi-Mandamabwe road for 16 km
before turning into Mandamabwe Road, where the truck and its contents were
set alight. According to Wilf Mbanga, the publisher of "The Zimbabwean on
Sunday" and its partner publication "The Zimbabwean", the two media workers
were severely assaulted before being dumped in the bush.

A clear and consistent pattern of attacks on media and freedom of expression
rights is emerging in Zimbabwe amid the post-election violence and at a time
when preparations are on for the holding of the presidential election
run-off on 27 June.

For further information on the Ramabulana and Kancheta case, see:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94043

MDC sought army hand in 'power transition' - court told

New Zimbabwe

Last updated: 05/30/2008 01:22:01
TWO senior officials of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party approached army
commanders to arrange a “power transition” two days after Zimbabweans voted
in general elections on March 29, a court heard Tuesday.

Tichaona Augustos Mudzingwa, secretary for defence in the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and newly-elected MP Pearson Mungofa
are accused of “communicating falsehoods” and “causing disaffection among
the defence forces” prejudicial to the State.

Mungofa, the court heard, is believed to have skipped the country to escape
the charges.

Prosecutor Public Mpofu told the Harare Magistrates Court that Mudzingwa and
Mpofu went to the Zimbabwe National Army headquarters at KG VI in Harare on
March 31 where they sought an audience with Army Commander Lt General
Phillip Sibanda.

Quizzed about their mission by two duty army officers manning the reception,
a Harare magistrate heard, the two politicians said they wished to discuss
“power transition” with the army chief, claiming Morgan Tsvangirai had
defeated President Robert Mugabe with 62 percent of the national vote.

Official results of the elections which showed Tsvangirai with 47.9 of the
vote to Mugabe’s 43.2 percent were not announced until May 2. Tsvangirai’s
vote share was not enough to have him declared winner, and Zimbabweans will
vote again in a second round election on June 27.

Prosecutors charge that the two men told army officers Lieutenant Colonel
Lunga and Captain Owen Mudziviri that Tsvangirai was the
“president-in-waiting and that their visit was part of the party’s grand
transition strategy”.

Mudzingwa applied for bail, which was strongly opposed by the State. A
magistrate was due to give his ruling on the application before Friday.

Herald left with egg on the face

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com

May 29, 2008

By Our Correspondent

HARARE – The editors of the state-run Herald newspaper have been left with
egg on their faces after the paper reported, in an embarrassing case of
mistaken identity, that the United States ambassador to South Africa had
sneaked into Zimbabwe on clandestine business.

On Wednesday The Herald published a story in which a reporter named the US
ambassador to South Africa as Patrick Kelly Diskin and claimed he had
slipped into Zimbabwe through Botswana on an undisclosed mission, presumably
malicious.

While the US is officially represented in Pretoria, Diskin is not the
country’s official envoy.

Quoting unnamed sources at the Plumtree border post, The Herald claimed
Diskin was visiting his outspoken colleague James McGee, the US envoy to
Zimbabwe, in the capital “over confidential matters”. The report claimed the
visitor was scheduled to remain in Harare for two weeks.

To strengthen the story the newspaper published the alleged ambassador’s US
diplomatic passport number as well as the registration number of the vehicle
he used to cross the border.

The newspaper then quoted a government official as saying: “Whilst it is
normal for ambassadors to visit each other, we find the timing and the route
used very odd.”

But the unnamed government official’s vocal concerns were allayed within
hours of the newspaper hitting the streets.

A US embassy spokesperson in Harare promptly denied that Diskin was the US
ambassador to South Africa. The spokesman pointed out that the name of the
US ambassador to South Africa was, in fact, Eric Bost. He explained that
while US citizen Patrick Kelly Diskin did exist and was, indeed, also based
in Pretoria, he was only an official with the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) in its office in the South African
capital.

Diskin, had, indeed, arrived in Zimbabwe through the route described by the
source of The Herald, but he was on a routine visit to monitor the
implementation of food aid programmes currently being officially carried out
by USAID in Zimbabwe.

”Contrary to reports in The Herald, Patrick Diskin is actually the Regional
Food for Peace Program Coordinator at the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) office based in Pretoria, South Africa.
Diskin is on a routine visit to assist USAID/Zimbabwe in monitoring the
implementation of U.S. Government humanitarian food assistance programs,”
said Paul Engelstad, the public affairs officer at the US embassy.

Engelstad said USAID/Zimbabwe had provided US$171 million worth of food to
the most vulnerable individuals in 2007 through the World Food Program (WFP)
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the Consortium for the
Southern African Food Emergency (C-SAFE).

The Herald has recently embarked on a campaign to vilify US diplomats, in
particular McGee. He has been critical of the orgy of violence, mainly
against MDC supporters, which has erupted ahead of the presidential run-off
election which is scheduled for June 27 and which threatens to end President
Robert Mugabe’s 28-year-old increasingly authoritarian rule.

McGee was held by the police at a roadblock recently after he visited
rural-based victims of violence. Mugabe has since threatened to expel McGee.
Casting diplomatic etiquette to the wind, Mugabe went a step further and
branded US assistant secretary of State responsible for Africa, Jendayi
Fraser, as a ‘prostitute’.

Relations between Harare and Washington have been frosty since 2000 when
Mugabe and supporters of Zanu-PF mounted a violent campaign to seize white-
owned commercial farming estates for redistribution ostensibly among
landless black citizens. The major beneficiaries of the farm allocations
were party officials and selected card-holding supporters.

The government mounted at the same a violent crackdown on supporters of the
opposition movement for Democratic Change. The highlight of this campaign
was the arrest and assault while in police custody of MDC leader Morgan
Tsvangirai and a number of other leading opposition figures, including Dr
Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly.

Pictures of Tsvangirai and Madhuku, with heads and limbs swathed in
bandages, shocked the world.

The US and European Union member countries have imposed travel restrictions
on Mugabe and his lieutenants as an inducement to democratic governance in
Zimbabwe.

Real strength

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 20:36
Where is the real power now in Zimbabwe? Certainly there is 'power' in
the military. The Daily Telegraph of London reports an army officer
lecturing farmers, 'I do not accept failure. Magabe has to win. If he
doesn't win we will be back to war. Tsvangirai and the MDC will never rule
Zimbabwe.' This kind of incessant hectoring backed up by torture and deaths
(42 known ones) and with all its consequences of displaced people, is the
felt power in the land. And it is inducing a despair beyond the weariness we
already feel. This contradictory push - to hold an election, meaning an
opportunity to choose, while at the same time foreclosing any choice - is
just forcing people into a desert of empty prospects. More of the last eight
years simply means more of the last eight years while the quality and
quantity of the resources we live off diminish all the time.
But the real power doesn't actually reside with the agents of force.
They wield force temporarily and ephemerally. The real power is with the
people and the people are becoming more and more conscious of what is
happening. They are gathering more and more inner strength. Here is a
paragraph to ponder.
I have always loved the shy beauty of country people who have quietly
made their lives sacred. Their presence has the feel of unaffected
authenticity. Theirs is a spirituality that draws no attention to itself; it
is more beautiful than most institutional religious decorum or studied
spirituality. These people have often lived through great difficulty; but
their quiet and subtle lives never saw any need for brash declarations of
spirit; rather they exhibited the shyness that is natural to the soul
itself.
What these words of the poet John O'Donohue mean to me is that there
is a power in the soul of rural people that can only be trampled on for a
time. We may feel we are close to despair as all avenues of progress are
blocked one after the other - the election, the counting, the run off - but
there is an authenticity there that cannot be fooled or crushed and which
make any 'victory' temporary. There can be no contentment or lasting fruit
from a forced solution. It has never worked in the long history of
humankind. Ultimately the purveyors of the present violence are doomed to
failure and ignominy.
A few weeks ago we were waiting for the results. Now we know that
there are forces unleashed that will accept only one 'result.' So we are
into a new waiting mode; this time for the whole artificial structure (so
reminiscent of Rhodesia in the late 1970s) to implode. Pray that it may do
so soon and that the suffering and deaths may end quickly. Pray too for our
leaders. We wish them no ill but only that they may find the authenticity,
and eventually the peace of heart, to rise above self interest and reach for
the good of all the people.

Savage murder brings number killed to 45

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 20:42
BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
Another senior regional MDC official has been killed in Zimbabwe's
worsening post-election violence.
Shepherd Jani, MDC provincial treasurer for Mashonaland East and the
party's Senate candidate for Murehwa North was kidnapped last Thursday at
gunpoint. He was found dead in Goromonzi, his body savagely mutilated.
Jani was seized at home by four armed men driving a blue twin-cab
truck. Witnesses were able to identify the registration number.
Jani's death brings to 45 the number killed since political violence
flared after the March 29 elections.
Jani was abducted in broad daylight in full view of his MDC
colleagues, who attempted to stop the assailants. They were forced to back
off when the men threatened to shoot and kill them.
His mutilated body was retrieved by villagers in Goromonzi on Sunday,
just as MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was laying to rest another murdered MDC
activist, Tonderai Ndira in Harare.
Ndira's body was also found in Goromonz, more than a week after his
abduction, with his eyes gouged out and his tongue slashed.
On Wednesday last week, MDC activist Bhekithemba Nyathi (22) died in
Ntabayende Resettlement farming area in Esigodini, Matabeleland South. His
death was caused by injuries sustained after he was abducted, beaten and
tortured by a group of war veterans and Zanu (PF) militia members last
month.
Speaking to The Zimbabwean in Bulawayo, Nyathi's mother said Zanu (PF)
had cost her all her sons. Her other son, Bhekimpilo, fled to the United
Kingdom after war veterans threatened to kill him for supporting the MDC.
The MDC says 45 are to have been killed by the regime in the past two
months but also said more of its supporters were feared dead as their
whereabouts were not known.
The Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe demanded a full probe
into Jani's murder.
"We urge immediate investigation and the prosecution of the criminal
gangs that are targeting prominent community leaders to instil fear in the
whole electorate," CCDZ said in a statement. "The attacks against the civic
leaders are systematic and targeting opinion leaders within communities to
instil fear in the electorate and make it difficult for people to identify
with the MDC."
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said this week it was "greatly
disturbed by the escalating phenomenon of enforced disappearance of
political party members", adding the victims had been "abducted, severely
tortured and in a growing number of cases, extra-judicially executed," with
the corpses dumped in remote areas.
"The silence of President Robert Mugabe's regime over the incidents
indicated its complicity," the human rights lawyers said.

Kay moved to Mutoko prison

The Zimbabwean

Thursday, 29 May 2008 07:14
Harare - Newly elected MP, Iain Kay, arrested  and accused of
"inciting
violence" last week was yesterday  moved from cells where he was
awaiting a
hearing on June 4 to another prison hundreds of km away and in the
heart of
the post election violence.
 He was arrested in his home area, Marondera, 80 km south east of
Harare  and applied for, and was granted bail in the Marondera
Magistrate's
Court last Friday. The state appealed the bail decision and was given
until
June 4 to prove to the Harare High Court why he should not be granted
bail
ahead of his trial.
The state has, so far, been unable to provide a single item of
evidence that
Kay has done anything, or said anything to incite any violence and
about 95
percent of all the post election violence has been caused by members
of Zanu
PF including the security forces according to victims who have sought
medical treatment for their injuries.
        Yesterday, members of his family went  as usual to deliver him
food
- there is almost none available for prisoners  from the state - and
found
he had was in the process of being  moved to Mutoko Prison about 220
km
away. The first post election violence occurred in the Mutoko district
in
north eastern Zimbabwe, which had traditionally been a strong Zanu PF
area,
but where record numbers of voters decided not to vote for President
Robert
Mugabe in the presidential poll.
            Militias prowl the road to Mutoko and there are several
heavy
duty police road blocks along this road which is the main highway to
Nyamapanda, the northern border post with Mozambique.
        "There is no reason to move him, it's just petty spite," said
one of
Kay's friends yesterday. His wife Kerry is in the welfare department
of the
MDC which tracks missing, injured and killed party members.
        Soft spoken Iain Kay  is a fluent Shona speaker and  was
brutally
attacked and  forced off his farm in the Marondera area in 2002.
However he
was on record after the March elections telling people resettled on
white-owned farms in the Marondera district that none  would be forced
off
by an MDC government. He told them: "We will not behave like Zanu PF.
There
is plenty of land for everyone."
        However President Robert Mugabe and the state press claim that
hundreds of "Rhodesians" returned to Zimbabwe after the MDC won a
parliamentary majority threatening to take back their land.
        No proof has ever been produced that a single white farmer who
was
stripped of his land, house, and farming equipment did go back to look
at
their old homes, although the Herald newspaper has run pages and pages
of
comment and reports in the last few weeks.
        Threats that "Rhodesians" will return to take back the country
with
an MDC government,  is the rallying cry put out by Mugabe and the
central
plank of his re election campaign.
        He and Zanu PF claim that  former Rhodesian security forces,
now
mostly in their middle 60's are planning to invade Zimbabwe if MDC
leader
Morgan Tsvangirai wins the presidential re run on June 27,.
        He beat Mugabe in the first round but failed to win more than
50
percent of the vote and so now faces the run off at a time of
unprecedented
violence against opposition supporters.
        Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa did not answer his mobile
phone
yesterday.

Soldiers go on rampage

The Zimbabwean

Thursday, 29 May 2008 05:42
One dead in Murambinda as soldiers go on rampage.
Manicaland province was rocked by a fresh wave of violence on Saturday
as
armed soldiers and militias indiscriminately shot and beat up people
atMurambinda growth point, leaving one person dead and 31 hospitalised.
Acting with impunity, the soldiers and the militias, led by Zimbabwe
National Army Colonel Morgan Mzilikazi, had total disregard for human
life.All those seriously injured were taken to Murambinda hospital.
MDC MP elect for Makoni South, Pishai Muchauraya, said initial reports
suggest the soldiers wanted to flush out MDC supporters among the many
hundreds of people who were at the growth point. It's reported there
wasreluctance and resistance from individuals about taking orders from
themilitary.
'We are told many people resisted taking orders from the soldiers and
apparently this set off an ugly scene where they started firing
indiscriminately towards a group that was being vocal. One person was
shotand died on the spot while several others received bullet wounds,'
Muchauraya said.
The deceased has been identified as 25 year-old Taurai Matanda who
hailsfrom Gutu. The MDC has also been able to identify the killer.
Muchaurayanamed the soldier who fired the fatal shot as Private Svosve Mupindu.
'We have all the names of the leaders and those committing crimes
againsthumanity. What happened in Murambinda was total mayhem. Many more
peoplewere brutally attacked as one violent act led to another,' Muchauraya
said.The MP said this was a systematic approach adopted by Zanu-PF aimed at
destroying MDC structures in rural areas. He believed worse turmoil
andbloodshed might follow as Mugabe prepares to hold on to power at all
costsagainst Morgan Tsvangirai in the second round of the presidential poll
slated for the 27th June.
'Zanu-PF cannot fool us to say soldiers are not involved in the
violence. We     have them in the rural areas, dressed in complete army regalia and
heavilyarmed. We have all the evidence, the names, places and the nature of
theiroperations,' Muchauraya added.
SWRadio Africa

More counselors, village heads and MDC youth abducted

The Zimbabwean

Thursday, 29 May 2008 05:38

The abductions of political and civil activists have intensified in
the lastweek as ZANU-PF continues its campaign to destroy opposition
structures ahead of the presidential runoff. We have received reports that nearly
20people have been abducted since Friday.
The latest abduction was in Marondera, where it is reported that the
wife of Ian Kay's campaign manager, Mable Penisara, was abducted on Monday
night.Witnesses say she was taken away by armed thugs who had apparently
come forher husband. But it is believed Tonderai Penisara managed to escape.
Thethugs were wielding what looked like AK-47 rifles and pistols. Mable's
whereabouts are still not known. MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa
confirmedthe abduction and said this is the latest strategy by ZANU-PF to
dismantletheir structures ahead of the presidential runoff.
Ian Kay is the newly elected MDC MP for Marondera in Mashonaland East.
Hewas arrested last week Tuesday on trumped up charges and has not yet
appeared in court. There are also reports that Kay's Chairman, Mr
Bakaaiman, has been missing since last week Monday. A CIO operative named Sydney
Shumwayo was identified as one of those who abducted Bakaaiman.
We also received reports that Nehmiah Nhembera, the newly elected
Counsellorfor Musana village in Bindura South, plus 15 others, were abducted
lastFriday. The 15 included village heads Sabhuku Mabhena and Sabhuku
Chibaya.The rest were youth members from the area.
We got the report from another Sabhuku from Bindura South who managed
toescape, and he implicated Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri in the
abductions. He said Chihuri was at Musiwa Business Centre on Thursday
askinga lot questions about specific people. The abductions were then
carried outearly Friday morning.
The Sabhuku, who chose not to be identified, said the assailants went
doorto door late night around 1:00 AM forcing people out at gunpoint. He
believes it was done quietly because the youth members in Bindura have
beenvery successful in organising and defending themselves against
abductions.Our contact said the abductions were reported to the police at Bindura
Headquarters and they said they would investigate. So far nothing has
happened. He added that the abductions will not weaken the resolve of
theyouth in Bindura.
SWRadio Africa

Economic collapse stubs out tobacco industry

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 20:43
BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
Three weeks after Zimbabwe's annual tobacco auctions opened, a paltry
2,000 bales are going under the hammer each day compared to 18,000 bales
eight years, providing stark evidence of the accelerating economic collapse
under Robert Mugabe.
The bids of buyers and sellers echoed loudly across the six square
miles of the Tobacco Sales Floor in the Harare suburb of Willowvale as just
2,800 bales were sold on Monday. Before the crisis set in following the land
grab in 2000, 18,000 bales were routinely sold each day.
Tobacco is the mainstay of Zimbabwe's economy and once the largest
single export earner. After more than eight years of chaos that has seen the
invasion of 4,000 white-owned farms by squatters, tobacco production has
fallen sharply to 68.8 million kilos last year, generating around US$160m.
The decline, which industry figures blame on "official vandalism",
represents a loss to the nation of more than US$400m - disastrous for a tiny
economy already in free-fall. Buyers, sellers and their valuable produce
covered barely one third of the sales floor on Monday.
Philemon Mangena, Deputy Managing Director of the Tobacco Sales Floor,
said the delay in the opening of the floors due to a dispute over the
selling price had had a disastrous impact on the season but said it was
recovering.
But another official in the floors said: "Normally, by now, we would
be fully booked. The uncertainty is the worst."
As well as the invasion of their land by axe-waving squatters, tobacco
farmers have had to cope with fuel shortages.
The recent liberalisation of the exchange rate by the central bank has
had little impact on the tobacco season.
One buyer said: "A lot of these stumbling blocks have been
deliberately placed by the government. It's a miracle that we have a crop at
all, given all that has happened since the orgy of invasions sparked by the
election results."
Perhaps most disastrously of all, many of Zimbabwe's best tobacco
farms were among the 4,000 properties grabbed under the compulsory
acquisition programme by the government over the last eight years.
Banks have now refused to provide loans to the 300 remaining white
farmers over the uncertainty surrounding the latest land grab, which has
forced the remaining white landowners to end production. At least another 20
tobacco farmers have left Zimbabwe in the past two months.
Farmers suspect that the onslaught on the tobacco industry is part of
Mugabe's wider attack on the white minority.
He has pledged to end what he calls "white control" of the economy and
tobacco - largely grown by white farmers and sold to white buyers - has
always fed his paranoia.
By wrecking the formal economy, Mugabe could reinforce his grip on
power by creating a Zimbabwe where everyone was dependent on government
patronage.
One industry figure said: "This is official vandalism with a political
purpose."

Civic groups back MDC in bid for People's Charter

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 20:43
BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
Civic groups in Zimbabwe have resolved to endorse the candidacy of MDC
leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the presidential election run-off, saying this
was the only way to get their People's Charter adopted.
Civic society was however quick to point out that they would be
willing and able to take on Tsvangirai and his government if he reneges on
delivering once he gets into power.
"The reason we are saying lets rally behind Tsvangirai is that he
won't be as repressive as Mugabe; that's one thing we know," Dr Lovemore
Madhuku, head of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) said. "But I
will be the first person to look for more people to stage demos against him
if he gets into power and ignores issues of constitutional reform."
Madhuku said rallying behind Tsvangirai's candidacy in the June 27
presidential election run-off would help in pressing for the adoption of the
People's Charter.
The People's Charter, agreed to by more than 300 civic leaders at a
People's Convention on February 9, outlines the way in which the people of
Zimbabwe would want to be governed.
The Charter is meant to address the socio-economic and political
challenges that the country faces.

Black Caucus Resolution

The Zimbabwean

Thursday, 29 May 2008 06:03
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1230
Condemning post election violence in Zimbabwe and calling for a
peaceful resolution to the current political crisis.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 22, 2008
Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. LEE, Ms.
JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. DAVIS
of Illinois, Mr. RUSH, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. BISHOP of
Georgia, Mr. WATT, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr.
TOWNS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. NORTON, Ms. WATERS, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr.
HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. WYNN, Mr. FATTAH, Mr.
JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. MEEKS of New York,
Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. WATSON, Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. MEEK of Florida,
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin,
Ms. CLARKE, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. CARSON,
and Mr. AL GREEN of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
Condemning postelection violence in Zimbabwe and calling for a
peaceful resolution to the current political crisis.
Whereas the Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic Front
(ZANU-PF), led by President Robert Mugabe, has controlled Zimbabwe's
executive and legislative branches for 28 years;
Whereas over the past 8 years, ZANU-PF has suppressed political
dissidents and won elections and referendums through the use of vote
rigging, localized violence, harassment, and intimidation;
Whereas the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe has been
worsening since 2000, culminating in the current electoral crisis;
Whereas Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held in Zimbabwe
on March 29, 2008;
Whereas the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) released the results
for the 2008 presidential election 5 weeks after the contest took place,
announcing President Mugabe won 43.2 percent of the vote, while Morgan
Tsvangirai of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),
won 47.8 percent of the vote;
Whereas as the ZEC announced neither candidate won over 50 percent of
the vote, the 2 candidates have to compete in a runoff election;
Whereas the long delay in announcing the presidential election results
undermined the credibility of the ZEC;
Whereas the Zimbabwean people have indicated through the ballot box
that they want a change in leadership;
Whereas in the wake of the elections, President Mugabe has unleashed
security forces and militia against opposition supporters and members of
civil society;
Whereas over 900 people have been tortured and beaten, and 22 have
been confirmed dead;
Whereas government security forces raided the MDC party headquarters,
arresting 300 people, some of them children;
Whereas the offices of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network have been
raided and some of its employees detained;
Whereas security forces have attacked humanitarian organizations and
civil society groups;
Whereas the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development
Community (SADC) have been continually engaged in efforts to bring about an
end to the political crisis in Zimbabwe ;
Whereas the AU and SADC dispatched delegations to Harare, but have not
yet successfully compelled the Government of Zimbabwe to restore the rule of
law;
Whereas Zimbabwe's gross domestic product declined about 43 percent
between 2000 and 2007 and the unemployment rate is 80 percent;
Whereas Zimbabwe's inflation rate, at almost 165,000 percent, is the
highest in the world and has contributed significantly to the country's
economic collapse;
Whereas worsening economic conditions and commodity shortages have
caused at least 3,000,000 people to flee the country;
Whereas after the March 29, 2008, elections the opposition offered to
enter into a dialogue to bring about an end to the ensuing political crisis;
Whereas all parties must engage constructively towards peace and
reconciliation for the sake of the Zimbabwean people; and
Whereas the people of Zimbabwe deserve the assistance of the
international community in the restoration of fundamental human rights,
democratic freedom, and the rule of law: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on all security forces, informal militias, and individuals
to immediately cease attacks on and abuse of civilians;
(2) strongly condemns the orchestrated campaign of violence, torture,
and harassment conducted by the ruling party and its supporters and
sympathizers in the police and military against members of the opposition,
opposition parties, and all other civilians;
(3) supports an international arms embargo until the current political
situation has been resolved;
(4) encourages the government and opposition to begin a dialogue aimed
at establishing a government of national unity which would allow for the
restoration of democratic governance structures, and create an environment
conducive to a peaceful transition of power through free and fair elections;
(5) advocates for a mechanism such as a truth and reconciliation
commission through which to ensure accountability for all groups and
individuals who are found to have orchestrated or committed human rights
violations in the context of the elections;
(6) urges the United Nations, with the cooperation and support of the
African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to
dispatch a special envoy to Zimbabwe without delay, with a mandate to
monitor the runoff elections and the human rights situation, and to support
efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the political crisis;
(7) urges the international community, under the leadership of the
United Nations, AU, SADC, and the SADC Parliamentary Forum, to deploy teams
of credible persons to serve as monitors to ensure that the outcome of the
presidential runoff elections reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people;
(8) commends the people of Zimbabwe for their continued courage in the
face of systematic persecution, intimidation, and abuse, and commits to
providing continued humanitarian assistance until the economic crisis is
resolved;
(9) commends the recent actions taken by regional trade unions,
churches, activists, and civil society organizations in support of democracy
and respect for basic human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe , and
encourages these entities to maintain their activities; and
(10) stands in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe .
COSPONSORS(41), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:
(Sort: by date)
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 5/22/2008  Rep Brown, Corrine
[FL-3] - 5/22/2008
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 5/22/2008 Rep Carson, Andre
[IN-7] - 5/22/2008
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 5/22/2008Rep Clarke, Yvette D.
[NY-11] - 5/22/2008
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 5/22/2008   Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] -
5/22/2008
Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6] - 5/22/2008  Rep Conyers, John, Jr.
[MI-14] - 5/22/2008
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 5/22/2008Rep Davis, Artur
[AL-7] - 5/22/2008
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 5/22/2008  Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] -
5/22/2008
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 5/22/2008    Rep Green, Al [TX-9] -
5/22/2008
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 5/22/2008Rep Jackson, Jesse L.,
Jr. [IL-2] - 5/22/2008
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 5/22/2008     Rep Jefferson, William
J. [LA-2] - 5/22/2008
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 5/22/2008  Rep Johnson, Henry C.
"Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 5/22/2008
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 5/22/2008  Rep Kilpatrick,
Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 5/22/2008
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 5/22/2008     Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] -
5/22/2008
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 5/22/2008  Rep Meeks, Gregory W.
[NY-6] - 5/22/2008
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 5/22/2008Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes
[DC] - 5/22/2008
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 5/22/2008Rep Richardson, Laura
[CA-37] - 5/22/2008
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 5/22/2008   Rep Scott, David [GA-13] -
5/22/2008
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 5/22/2008 Rep Thompson, Bennie
G. [MS-2] - 5/22/2008
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 5/22/2008 Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] -
5/22/2008
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 5/22/2008  Rep Watt, Melvin L.
[NC-12] - 5/22/2008
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 5/22/2008
Pearl-Alice Marsh, Ph.D.
Majority Senior Professional Staff Member
House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Zimbabwe: Negotiating the transition

The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 10:08
KUNLE SOMORIN, writing in Leadership, Abuja, presents the report of
concerned African civil society coalition working on the resolution of the
political logjam that pitches ruling president Robert Mugabe against main
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Zimbabwe.

The 29 March 2008 elections have dramatically changed Zimbabwe's
political landscape. For the first time since independence in 1980, Robert
Mugabe ran second in the presidential voting, and the opposition - the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - won control of parliament. The MDC
went to the polls deeply divided, but Morgan Tsvangirai and his party
regained their authority by winning despite an uneven playing field. Instead
of allowing democracy to run its course, Mugabe has fought back by
withholding the presidential results for five weeks and launching a
countrywide crackdown.

Zimbabwe is in constitutional limbo: it has no elected president or
legally constituted cabinet, parliament has not been convened, and ZANU-PF
and the MDC are challenging half the parliamentary results in court. African
leaders, with support from the wider international community, must step in
to stop the violence and resolve the deepening political crisis, ideally by
facilitating an agreement establishing an MDC-led transitional government
that avoids the need for the run-off now scheduled for 27 June.

Military intransigence

While there is wide agreement in ZANU-PF that its survival now depends
on Mugabe's immediate exit, influential hardliners in the party and military
will not simply hand over power to the MDC. They and Mugabe likely
manipulated the presidential results to show a run-off was necessary and
have put in place a strategy to retain power through force. Since the
elections, there has been a sharp increase in state-sponsored violence, as
the security services and ZANU-PF militia have unleashed a campaign of
intimidation, torture and murder against opposition activists, journalists,
polling agents, public servants, civic leaders and ordinary citizens
suspected of voting for the MDC. The opposition says that at least 43 of its
members have been killed and thousands displaced in the violence. Zimbabwe's
transition to democracy is being held hostage.

If Mugabe manages to cling to the presidency through political
repression and manipulation, he will face a hostile parliament, growing
public discontent, mounting international pressure and increased isolation.
The consequences of his staying in office would be catastrophic, not least
that the economic decline would intensify, with more Zimbabweans fleeing
across borders, while inflation, unemployment and the resulting massive
suffering increase.

There has been a chorus of condemnation from Western leaders and
international and African civil society over the withholding of the results
and the rising violence. The UN Security Council discussed Zimbabwe, while
the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC)
called for release of the results and criticised the violence. However,
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has continued to shield Mugabe, not
backing away from his 12 April statement that there was no crisis in the
country. Other African leaders, led by SADC Chairman Levy Mwanawasa and AU
Chairman Jikaya Kikwete, seem prepared to take a more robust line. Since the
impact of outspoken, Western-driven diplomacy is likely to be limited,
African-led mediation, with concerted, wider international backing, gives
the best chance for a peaceful and definitive resolution to the crisis.

President Mbeki negotiated SADC-backed talks between ZANU-PF and the
MDC through January 2008, and he remains the regionally appointed mediator.
But his reluctance to criticise Mugabe or condemn the escalating violence
has badly undermined his credibility, particularly in the eyes of the
opposition. Further, his inability to turn a ZANU-PF/MDC agreement in
September 2007 into a lasting accord to resolve the crisis casts doubts upon
his effectiveness in the current environment. Nonetheless, South Africa
cannot simply be sidelined. A formula is needed that broadens the South
African-led SADC mediation, adding strong accountability and oversight
measures.

Mediaton Focus

That broadened mediation, supported by additional international
actors, should focus on two immediate objectives, which are not mutually
exclusive, as the end objective of each should be some form of government of
national unity, under MDC leadership:

" A negotiated settlement on a Tsvangirai-led transitional government.
The current levels of violence and intimidation preclude the possibility of
holding a credible run-off. The holding of a run-off by the Mugabe camp is a
ploy to stay in power, and it is highly unlikely that Mugabe would accept
the conditions for a free and fair run-off in which he would be
humiliatingly defeated. As ZANU-PF prepares for a second election, violence
is likely to escalate, prolonging the suffering of Zimbabwe's people. For
this reason, the first objective of the mediation should be to secure a
political agreement between the MDC and ZANU-PF that avoids the need for a
run-off and the accompanying risks of even greater violence. A negotiated
settlement could establish a Tsvangirai-led transitional government with
substantial participation by ZANU-PF stalwarts to implement agreed upon
constitutional reforms and hold free and fair elections under an agreed
timeframe.

Senior military commanders strongly opposed to the MDC have been
instrumental in preventing a democratic transition following the 29 March
election, and there is growing risk of a coup either before a run-off (in a
pre-emptive move to deny Tsvangirai victory) or after a Tsvangirai win.
Indeed, this is one reason why priority should be given to a negotiated
settlement ahead of a run-off. The mediation must accordingly address the
loyalty of the security services as a priority, including the handover of
military power in a transitional government arrangement.

Zimbabwe will need a transitional justice mechanism at some stage to
come to terms fully with and move beyond its long nightmare. Both national
reconciliation and the practical necessities of pulling the country out of
its immediate crisis require, however, that the agreement on a transitional
government contain guarantees for present political leaders and the security
forces. These would extend to Mugabe himself, but it is difficult to see him
having any formal role in the new political dispensation. The agreement will
need to be complemented by the regional and wider international community's
strong commitment to provide resources for reconstruction and recovery.

" A credible run-off. Even as it works to facilitate a negotiated
settlement on a transitional government, SADC mediators must work with
ZANU-PF and the MDC to delineate the basic requirements for a credible
run-off in the event the effort fails. Urgent steps would be needed to
guarantee a free and fair vote - even one in conditions as imperfect as for
the 29 March election. These include immediate cessation of violence and
intimidation; strong monitoring and organisational roles for SADC, the AU
and the UN; and massive deployment no later than roughly a month before the
poll of independent national and international observers, who must remain on
the ground until the results are announced. As with negotiations for a
transitional government, the mediation would need to address the modalities
for ensuring military loyalty to a new civilian government. Failure to do so
would risk a Tsvangirai victory leading to a military coup or martial law,
and the security services splitting along factional lines.

 On 16 May, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that the
run-off will take place on 27 June. This means that the AU and SADC must
start preparing immediately to dispatch large election observation missions
by no later than 1 June.

In the event that a run-off is held and Tsvangirai wins, he should
assume the presidency but move to form a unity government for at least the
initial period of his term. While his party controls parliament, ZANU-PF has
a near stranglehold over the security sector and state institutions and has
a strong influence over economic and social life. Tsvangirai and the MDC
will need to include ZANU-PF in their government if they are to govern
effectively.

In short, with or without a run-off, third-party African-led
negotiations are essential to help gain acceptance from the military for a
handover of power and establish the parameters for a transitional or unity
government. Some MDC supporters may consider the compromises involved an
affront to democracy, but they are necessary if the country's democracy is
to be stable and secure.

If Mugabe succeeds in retaining power by winning an election through
fraud and/or intimidation, appropriate regional and other international
action must be taken to deal with what would be a rogue regime. Examples of
such action would be declaring his government illegitimate; tightening
existing targeted sanctions on known hardliners; and establishing a Security
Council commission of inquiry to investigate reports of torture, murder and
widespread violations of human rights and to recommend appropriate
accountability mechanisms, perhaps including referral to international legal
authorities

Mugabe blames MDC for racist attacks in South Africa

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 20:42
BY TRACY SHOKO
HARARE
The military junta controlling Zimbabwe has blamed the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) for the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, accusing
the opposition party of fuelling anti-Zimbabwean sentiments there in a bid
to force people to return home and vote for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Fifty African immigrants - legal and illegal - are reported dead and
20,000 displaced   in racist attacks that began in the poor suburbs of
Johannesburg and spread to other cities.
Morgan Tsvangirai visited Zimbabwean victims of the attacks, and said
the political and economic crisis at home had driven Zimbabweans into South
Africa. He urged Zimbabweans to return home and vote.
According to the military junta, Tsvangirai's statement confirmed that
MDC "thugs" had taken advantage of the anti-immigrant violence to force
Zimbabweans home to vote on June 27.
"The MDC has exported the violence to South Africa to fuel
anti-Zimbabwe sentiments in that country and the region as a whole. The
timing of the attacks is also suspect," said Bright Matonga, former Deputy
Information Minister, in a telephone interview.
"The MDC is also recruiting the thugs, telling the thugs to target
Zimbabweans to force them to return home and vote for Tsvangirai. The MDC
knows it will lose the election and is resorting to desperate means…I am
talking from an informed position and the government has gathered
intelligence that the thugs, paid by the MDC, are saying this is not your
fault, it is the fault of Zanu (PF); go back home and vote to remove Zanu
(PF). The MDC is even arranging immediate transport to the victims and that
confirms our intelligence reports that the MDC is also behind the attacks."
South Africa's intelligence chief blamed forces inside and outside the
country of orchestrating xenophobic violence to destabilise South Africa
ahead of next year's general elections.

 

ZINASU Press Statement

The Zimbabwean

Thursday, 29 May 2008 06:00

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

As the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) 2007-08
academic year draws to an end, we note with grave concern the continued
deterioration of the education system in Zimbabwe. The 2007-08 academic year
has been characterized by a mass exodus of qualified personnel in search for
greener pastures in neighboring countries and abroad. It is so sad to note
that the National University of Science and Technology has managed yet again
to produce half baked graduates. Development at our institution has come to
a standstill. Poverty remains prevalent amongst the students' populace.

Of much greater concern is the continued victimization of students and
human rights defenders by state agents in Zimbabwe.This victimization has
even spread to the rural areas where an orgy of violence is being
perpetrated on the supporters and activists of the Movement For Democratic
Change party by the so-called war veterans and ZANU PF militia. It is quite
disturbing to note that there is a clique of individuals who still do not
realize the sanctity of human life.

We would like to unreservedly condemn these nefarious and satanic acts
by the self professed professors of violence. It is rather unfortunate that
those who purport to have liberated this country have become more oppressive
and repressive than the colonizers themselves. Robert Mugabe and his
bootlickers are just aggravating the economic meltdown by siphoning
resources meant for development towards the sponsoring of violence.

After 28 years of servitude under the regime of Robert Mugabe, the
people of Zimbabwe have clearly spoken and Mugabe has no right whatsoever to
subvert and subjugate the will of the people. We would also like to
encourage the people of Zimbabwe to remain resolute in this period of
Mugabe's madnesss as he is surely digging his grave as fast as he can. We
would also like to encourage the people of Zimbabwe to fearlessly go out and
vote on the 27th of June 2008 for the person that has their interests at
heart, someone who values life. We strongly and unapologetically believe
that person is Morgan Tsvangirai. A new Zimbabwe is before dawn.

"When evil people are in power, crime increases. But the righteous
will live to see the downfall of such people".
Proverbs 29 vs 16

Sheunesu Nyoni
NUST Students Union Secretary General

Information Department
Zimbabwe National Students Union
53 Hebert Chitepo Ave,
Harare, Zimbabwe,
+263912471673/ +263913010369
zinasu@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots,
you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.zinasu.org

Media repression in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean

Thursday, 29 May 2008 05:39

Charred newspaper truck remains

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists would like to condemn the abduction
and torture of two media workers while delivering copies of The Zimbabwean
on Sunday by unidentified gunmen on Saturday night.

The Union is equally appalled by the sadistic and crude disposition of
the gunmen who doused the delivery van and the newspapers with diesel before
setting them on fire.
The delivery truck which was carrying a consignment of 60 000
newspapers was carjacked 70 km from Masvingo town on its way from Beitbridge
border town by unidentified people wielding military issue AK 47 automatic
rifles.
According to information at hand, the gunmen commandeered the driver,
Christmas Ramabulana, a South African national and distribution assistant,
Tapfumaneyi Kancheta, a Zimbabwean to drive towards Chivi where the truck
and the newspapers were doused with diesel before being set on fire.
The two media workers were then beaten up and tortured by the armed
militia who abandoned them in the bush.
They managed to find their way to a local hospital where arrangements
were being made to get them to Harare.
The episode is a further indicator, as has been pointed out by The
Union that the run up to the Presidential election run off on June 27 has
witnessed an escalation of violence against journalists and media workers.
We call on authorities to sincerely investigate the matter in order to
bring the culprits to book.
The Zimbabwean on Sunday is a sister publication to The Zimbabwean
which are printed in South Africa and then shipped to Zimbabwe for sale.
The two publications and a host of online publications and radio
stations have flourished after the government shut down four newspapers and
hounded out private radio stations.
The closure of local media outlets has resulted in an influx of
foreign media products especially from South Africa, Botswana and the United
Kingdom, a situation which leaves Zimbabweans more informed about what
happens in other countries when they know very little about what is
happening in their own country.
We call on authorities to complete investigations connected to media
atrocities such as the bombing of The Daily News printing press, Voice of
The People offices and the murder of journalist, Edward Chikomba.

WITNESS-Photographing evil in S.Africa's townships