Life in Zimbabwe

Last night the Zimbabwe currency was trading at about Zim$200-million dollars to US$1

Zim observers question presidential results

Mail and Guardian

Harare, Zimbabwe

06 May 2008 06:45

      An independent Zimbabwean election monitoring group expressed
doubt on Tuesday over the credibility of the results of the presidential
election and accused the ruling Zanu-PF party of attacking observers.

      The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) was the first
observer group to publicly question the results, which showed opposition
leader Morgan Tsvangirai had failed to beat President Robert Mugabe by
enough to avoid a second round run-off.

      The observer group, made up of 38 non-governmental
organisations, said a one-month delay in announcing results of the March 29
polls undermined the impartiality of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC).

       "ZESN cannot substantiate ZEC figures as the network is not
aware of the chain of custody of the ballot materials during the
aforementioned period," ZESN said in a statement.

      "In addition, the delay to announce the results was a major
concern, not only to ZESN but the general public as well and this obviously
undermined the impartiality, credibility and transparency of ZEC."

      The official results, announced on Friday, gave Movement for
Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai 47,9% of the vote to President Robert
Mugabe's 43,2%.

      The opposition says Tsvangirai won the election outright and has
ended Mugabe's 28 year rule over the once prosperous country whose economy
is now in ruins.

      ZESN accused ruling party members of beating observers and
called on police to stop the attacks.

      "Youths from Zanu-PF have been on the rampage targeting and
physically beating up anyone thought to have observed the March 29
election," it said. - Reuters

Zimbabwe faces new election delay

Yahoo News

by Fanuel Jongwe 1 hour, 40 minutes ago

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe's top electoral official signalled Tuesday possible
further delays to the country's presidential election, saying a run-off poll
may not take place within a scheduled three-week deadline.

"We are looking at our state of preparedness and only after that will we be
able to say when we are ready and be able to set the polling date," head of
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) George Chiweshe told AFP after a
meeting of the body.

The country's laws state that a run-off between President Robert Mugabe and
challenger Morgan Tsvangirai should be held within 21 days of the
publication of results of the first round, which finally happened last
Friday.

"But if the 21 days are not enough we have powers to extend," said Chiweshe,
in a hint that the three-week deadline might not be respected.

Sources close to the ZEC and political observers say the election is
unlikely to take place in May, with some suggesting it could be organised in
July.

Zimbabweans held a first round of presidential elections on March 29 amid
reports of a violent crackdown on supporters of Tsvangirai and the results
were released only last Friday after a five-week delay.

They showed that Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan
Tsvangirai beat Mugabe, who has been in power since the country's
independence in 1980, but fell short of an overall majority.

The MDC, which is convinced Tsvangirai passed the 50-percent threshold, has
also still to declare whether it would take part in a run-off although a
boycott would hand victory on a plate to Mugabe.

Amid international pressure to allow election observers for the run-off and
widespread condemnation of unrest in Zimbabwe, the ruling party urged
supporters Tuesday to refrain from violence.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said another of its
supporters had been killed by followers of Mugabe and UN chief Ban Ki-Moon
also expressed concern about unrest and considered whether to dispatch
monitors for the run-off.

In comments carried by the state-run Herald newspaper, the Zimbabwe African
National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)'s information secretary said
party supporters should refrain from attacking their MDC opponents.

"We are urging our people to go and campaign peacefully," said Nathan
Shamuyarira. "We are also urging the opposition to avoid violence and
respect people's lives."

Shamuyarira said some Western governments, including former colonial power
Britain, wanted to turn the southern African region into a war zone.

"They want southern Africa to be a theatre of war and confusion so that they
are able to tap into our resources."

London and Washington have led a diplomatic onslaught against Mugabe's
regime and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called Tuesday for
international observers to be sent to Zimbabwe immediately.

Chief MDC spokesman Nelson Chamissa said the party had reports that another
of its supporters had been killed, bringing the overall toll of MDC
followers to 21, but was unable to supply details.

"The situation in rural areas has become worse. It has reached worrisome and
alarming levels. The regime is simply telling the people who voted
overwhelmingly for change: 'don't vote again'."

Human rights groups have accused the security forces of complicity in the
violence but the army has denied charges that its soldiers were responsible.

"The army categorically distances itself and any of its members from such
activities," the army's director of public relations Alphios Makotore said
in a statement cited by the New Ziana news agency.

UN chief Ban said meanwhile he was "deeply concerned" at the violence and
had been consulting with African leaders about how to ensure the situation
did not unravel further.

"I have been constantly following and monitoring the situation and
discussing how the United Nations and the African Union together can help
the Zimbabwean situation reach a very harmonious and credible way," he said.

As well as his first-round reverse, Mugabe also saw ZANU-PF lose its
majority in parliament for the first time in 28 years in the March
elections.

A regional model in the first decade after independence in 1980, Mugabe has
since overseen Zimbabwe's demise into economic disaster with unemployment
running at 80 percent and inflation at over 165,000 percent.

MDC says 24 killed as SA probes poll violence

Mail and Guardian

Harare, Zimbabwe

06 May 2008 05:41

      Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said
on Tuesday that four more of its members had been killed by supporters of
President Robert Mugabe in nearly a month of post-election violence that is
being investigated by South African officials.

      Shepherd Mushonga, an MDC member of Parliament for Mazowe
Central, said four MDC members had been killed in Chiweshe, 100km north of
Harare, on Sunday night after being beaten by youth militia loyal to
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

      Mushonga said that the youths went from door-to-door looking for
MDC members and that several other people had been hospitalised with
injuries following the attack.

       It was not possible to immediately verify the report, which the
MDC says brings to 24 the number of people from within its ranks killed in
revenge attacks by mainly Zanu-PF youth militia and soldiers following
Mugabe's defeat in March parliamentary elections.

      The MDC defeated Zanu-PF in the 210-seat House of Assembly. MDC
leader Morgan Tsvangirai also took more votes than 84-year-old Mugabe in the
presidential election, but not enough for an outright win.

      The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is expected to announce a date
for a run-off between the two leading candidates in the coming days. Mugabe
has said he will participate but Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change, which insists he won decisively, has yet to announce whether their
man will partake.

      A senior MDC official said on Tuesday that Tsvangirai would
contest the run-off but that the party wanted to bring international
pressure to bear on Mugabe to rein in his supporters first. The MDC claims
Mugabe's supporters want to brutalise people into supporting him in a second
round.

      A team of South African officials led by Local Government
Minister Sydney Mumafadi arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday night to investigate
the violence.

      "They are already here and they are busy conducting wide-ranging
interviews. This is not going to be a selective process. They are going to
talk to all relevant players," William Geerlings, first secretary at the
South African embassy in Harare, said.

      The African Union were also due to discuss the Zimbabwean crisis
at a two-day meeting in Tanzania's northern town of Arusha starting Tuesday,
the country's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe confirmed.

      Meanwhile, in a sign of the country's deepening economic woes,
the central bank on Tuesday introduced two new banknotes -- a Z$100-million
and a Z$250-million.
      The new notes come barely a month after the Reserve Bank
launched what has been until now the largest single note - Z$50-million.

      With inflation now running at over 165 000%, Zimbabweans get
little change out of two Z$50-million for a single loaf of bread.

Extreme Violence in Shamva And Centenary

SW Radio Africa (London)

6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008

In the last 48 hours it has been confirmed that 6 people were beaten to
death in the Shamva area and 10 others have been killed in Centenary.

Many others are badly injured, houses have been burned and at least 100 more
people are homeless and without food.

Wards at the Avenues clinic in Harare are reported to be over flowing, with
some patients forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor. Horrific injuries
are being reported including severe burns and many broken limbs.

Eye witness reports say that this violence was again perpetrated by armed
soldiers, militia and gangs of Zanu PF youths. The attackers are saying; 'We
are here to teach you how to vote.'

Eddie Cross, the policy co-ordinator for the MDC , said at this point the
MDC cannot consider amnesty for perpetrators of such unacceptable violence
and the party is documenting all cases with a view to prosecuting the
perpetrators, in their individual capacity.

'Harvest of fear' in Zimbabwe

Two Woza Members Still in Police Custody After Bulawayo Protests

SW Radio Africa (London)

6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008

Tererai Karimakwenda

Most members from Women and Men Zimbabwe Arise, who were arrested on Monday
after police violently disrupted a peaceful demonstration in Bulawayo, were
released without charge by the end of the day.

Many of the arrested had been considered missing when police drove away with
them and denied lawyers information and access.

According to WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams, they had all been taken to
different police stations around Bulawayo. But 2, namely Trust Moyo and
Cynthia Ncube, are still in police custody. They are at Bulawayo Central
Police Station where they are being charged with 'distributing materials
likely to cause a breach of the peace'. Williams said they are expected to
appear in court on Wednesday.

The WOZA members had planned to deliver a petition demanding that the Chief
Election Officer declare MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai the country's
president, as he is the candidate that secured the greatest number of votes
in the March 29 elections. They also said they wanted to make it clear that
they do not want a run-off election, because they believe it will only
result in more state-sponsored violence.

59 members received medical treatment for injuries caused by baton sticks.

Williams said Trust was beaten by police on the street and also in the
police vehicle that took him and Cynthia out of town and to a busy area near
the army barracks. They were finally taken to Bulawayo Central. It is not
clear why they were driven around or how they are being treated in custody.
Three more members received medical treatment on Wednesday for injuries
sustained when they were struck by a police vehicle.

WOZA is appealing to everyone to call Bulawayo Central Police Station to
demand that these members be released, and to ask police why peaceful
demonstrators who were calling for an end to violence were beaten so badly.
The number is Bulawayo 72515 or 61706.

Attacks to Create No-Go Areas for Zimbabwe Opposition

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Violence by ZANU-PF supporters focused in areas where opposition won
unexpected support in first-round elections.

By Jabu Shoko in Harare (ZCR No. 145, 06-May-08)

Supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party are targeting opposition activists in
an attempt to intimidate voters in the forthcoming re-run of the
presidential election.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, says people working for
it are being picked off, especially in constituencies where it won seats for
the first time in the March 29 polls. A lawyers’ group noted that employees
of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC, were also being arrested in these
contested areas.

Last week’s announcement on the recount of the parliamentary ballot
confounded expectations by leaving the original results intact, with ZANU-PF
controlling 97 against the 99 won by the main MDC faction, led by Morgan
Tvangirai. Arthur Mutambara’s MDC faction won ten seats, and has indicated
it will work with Tsvangirai’s group, though contrary to media reports, the
two have not formally reunited.

When the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC, finally released the result of
the presidential election on May 2, it ruled that neither Tsvangirai nor the
incumbent Robert Mugabe had surpassed the 50 per cent mark needed for
victory. It said the opposition leader got 47.9 per cent, beating Mugabe’s
43.2 per cent but still necessitating a run-off vote to decide the winner.

Tsvangirai has not yet announced whether he is prepared to contest the
second round, since his party calculates that he won outright with 50.3 per
cent of the vote.

Assuming Tsvangirai does agree to run, the Mugabe administration has
everything to play for, especially in those rural areas which were regarded
as ZANU-PF’s heartland but which turned against it and voted MDC in the
parliamentary ballot.

The opposition says Mugabe has already unleashed a campaign of violence
designed to drive out MDC activists and force the rural population back into
line behind ZANU-PF. It says 20 of its supporters have been killed and
thousands of others assaulted by the security forces and irregular groups
like the war veterans.

“Over 20 MDC activists have been killed in just one month,” said Nelson
Chamisa, spokesman for the Tsvangirai faction. “Only over the past two days,
five MDC activists have been killed by ZANU-PF militia soldiers. Before they
raided our headquarters, the place was more of a casualty department or a
refugee camp than an office, as it was filled to capacity with villagers
that had fled their rural homes. These people have nowhere to go and their
villages have been declared no-go areas for them and their families.”

Information trickling in from the countryside indicates that some of the
areas worst affected by the campaign of violence are regions traditionally
seen as Mugabe strongholds – the three Mashonaland provinces, Manicaland and
Masvingo.

Chamisa said the five most recent killings included a woman shot dead by
soldiers in Manicaland, two male MDC supporters attacked by ZANU-PF
paramilitaries in Mashonaland Central, and a polling agent for the
opposition who died after an assault by war veterans and other Mugabe
loyalists in the Midlands, an area where support for the ruling party
support is weak.

“Thousands of people have been displaced while hundreds have been seriously
injured and are hospitalised in various hospitals across the country, as the
violence by ZANU-PF militia and youth continues to increase at alarming
levels,” said Chamisa.

Wayne Bvudzijena, the national police spokesman, said he was still
collecting statistics relating to political violence.

The experience of Davias Matiza, 50, from the Mutoko South constituency in
Mashonaland East, mirrors that of many MDC supporters. He will not forget
the events of April 12, when he only just managed to flee after an attack on
his home.

“Armed ZANU-PF thugs burnt down my house. I managed to escape and boarded a
bus. The thugs, however, followed me and surrounded the bus and demanded me
out of the bus,” he told IWPR, speaking from a safe house where he has
joined scores of other opposition supporters who have fled the reign of
terror in rural areas.

“By the grace of God, I again managed to flee from the scene through the
window and run for my dear life. A Good Samaritan gave me a lift to Harare
and then I found my way into the MDC head office, but I understand the
ZANU-PF thugs and war veterans are still after my life.”

Two MDC polling agents in the same Mutoko South constituency were not so
lucky. Patience Mapuranga, 30, and Mahwisai Chizanga 40, recalled how
ZANU-PF militia accused them of supporting the opposition, kicked them and
beat them with whips and barbed wire, and left them for dead.

Both Mapuranga and Chizanga suffered serious injuries and needed specialist
treatment in Harare, about 150 kilometres away.

“We reported the matter to the police, but the police officer handling the
issue was also assaulted and accused of supporting the MDC,” said a tearful
Chizanga, who is in hiding.

Useni Sibanda, co-ordinator of the Christian Alliance, a loose grouping of
church organisations which is seeking funds to feed, clothe and accommodate
displaced opposition supporters, said Mugabe was trying to push the MDC out
of certain areas by targeting its activists on the ground.

“It is a calculated strategy to create no-go areas as the ZANU-PF strategy
for the run-off,” said Sibanda.

“Between 80 and 90 per cent of the people that have fled due to violence in
the rural areas were polling agents for the MDC. So what this means is that
come the run-off, the MDC will not have anyone in the rural areas willing to
represent them, let alone campaign for them.”

Irene Petras, executive director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, ZLHR,
said arrests, intimidation and violence targeting the both MDC activists and
ZEC polling officers were designed to secure a Mugabe victory.

ZLHR is representing schoolteachers who have been arrested and charged with
violating electoral legislation in areas where the opposition won. Many
teachers served as ZEC election officers during the March 29 polls.

It described these detentions as “an attempt to ensure that, in the event of
a presidential run-off, such officers will refuse to participate, thus
allowing the state to justify its use of law enforcement agents,
intelligence officers, war veterans and graduates of the National Youth
Service Training Programme to manage the electoral process to benefit one
presidential candidate, to whom they owe their political and human survival”.

ZLHR has called on members of the security forces and other regime activists
to “moderate their behaviour” as they should be aware it is illegal to
arrest interrogate ZEC officers, and they could face serious consequences
for doing so.

Jabu Shoko is the pseudonym of a reporter in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF Launches Zimbabwe Runoff Campaign

VOA

By Peta Thornycroft
Harare
06 May 2008

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, which was outpolled by the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change in the March 29 elections, has
begun campaigning for the runoff presidential election it hopes to win. As
Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare, ZANU-PF says many people did not vote
for the 84-year-old Mugabe in the first round, because they believed there
was no threat to him.

ZANU-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1980 in the
recent elections. Its information spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said that
many members were complacent and believed both ZANU-PF and presidential
candidate Robert Mugabe would win, as in the past.

Both were defeated. Mugabe was outpolled by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai but
Tsvangirai failed to win more than 50 percent so there will be a second
round of voting.

ZANU-PF has formed a runoff campaign team, made up of legislators who have
to go back to their constituencies and persuade voters to support Mugabe in
the runoff.

ZANU-PF also has the support of the Zimbabwe Election Commission which
mysteriously delayed results of all four elections, particularly the
presidential poll for five weeks. The results of local government elections
have still not been published and the MDC councilors are not allowed to take
up their positions in the various cities where they won.

The country's electoral law requires the presidential runoff to take place
by May 23, but ZANU-PF has made it clear it wants a delay, and the
Commission has indicated to some media there will be one.

ZANU-PF is blaming the MDC for post election violence spreading through many
parts of the country.

Many polling agents, teachers who were seconded as election presiding
officers, and independent observers are being beaten and arrested throughout
the country according to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

The MDC says more than 50 of its supporters were arrested in Bulawayo
Tuesday. Some members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise have also been arrested
in the same city. Hundreds of MDC supporters, office staff and activists
were arrested over the last two weeks.

Several journalists were questioned by police Monday.

Independent doctors and researches say the injured in hospitals claim they
were attacked by uniformed members of Zimbabwe's security services who
punished them for voting for the MDC.

MDC supporters in many parts of the country, including those in hospital who
say they have been beaten for their political views, have told journalists
that they will turn out again and vote for Morgan Tsvangirai in the runoff
no matter how bad the violence gets.

Former information minister and now independent parliamentarian, Jonathan
Moyo said negotiations for either a government of national unity or a
transitional authority have collapsed. He said this means there is no
alternative to a runoff election which he predicted Tsvangirai would easily
win, regardless of the violence.

ZESN observers under attack in Mt Darwin East

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 06 May 2008 13:59
 Mt Darwin  - Zimbabwe Election Support is urgently appealing to the
police and political parties to immediately intervene in putting an end to
the ongoing attacks on accredited election observers in Chibara village in
Mt Darwin East.   The attacks are happening now and so far 8 huts have been
torched with property being destroyed. Running battles between observers and
these youth are currently in progress.
Following a Sunday 4th of May 2007 meeting called for by ZANU PF and
addressed by Siyavuma Chikwasha, a former soldier and notorious perpetrator
of assaults on observers in the area, youths from ZANU PF have been on the
rampage targeting and physically beating up anyone thought to have observed
the March 29 election.  A marauding band of at least 200 youths led by a war
veteran named Morris Muropa, related to one of the victims, have so far
burnt the huts of 4 observers. The failure by the police to intervene and
protect these citizens has led the observers having to defend themselves and
their property.  Known perpetrators include Tambaoga Nyarende, Oriah
Nyarende and Martin Katsande.
The continued targeting of observers by ZANU PF supporters in
Mashonaland East and Central with little or no assistance from the police is
not just worrying but contrary to the Police Commissioner General’s
assertion of zero tolerance to politically motivated violence.
While there have been calls by the National Secretary for Publicity
and Information in ZANU PF for tolerance and peace ahead of the runoff, ZESN
pleads with the party to urge its supporters and structures to abstain from
the continued onslaught on accredited observers including the confiscation
of their t-shirts and accreditation cards which amounts to common criminal
behaviour.
ZESN calls upon all responsible authorities to make sure that
perpetrators of violence are brought to book. ZEC should also publicly
explain and correctly emphasise the role of election observation in ensuring
a truly transparent and democratic dispensation.

Zim voters vow to go back home and finish off Zanu PF in re-run

The Zimbabwean

Tuesday, 06 May 2008 13:54
JOHANNESBURG  -  REGISTERED Zimbabwean voters based in South Africa
have vowed to return home and help end President Robert Mugabe's 28-year
reign, during a run-off election against Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The exiled voters maintain they will finish off President Mugabe (84),
who lost the March 29 presidential poll, and his ruling party, which also
surrendered its stranglehold on parliament to the opposition.
The pledge comes hot on the heels of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) releasing the results of the controversial presidential poll, which
despite President Mugabe's defeat, produced no outright winner, thus paving
way for a run-off poll, whose date is yet to be announced.
According to ZEC, Tsvangirai polled 47.8 percent of the vote while
Mugabe received 43.2 percent.
"This time, we have to make sure he gets way less than that," said
Sikhumbuzo Ngwenya of Braamfontein, who travelled to Zimbabwe to cast
his vote on March 29.
"It's time we Zimbabweans inside the country and outside brought an
end to a presidential reign that has brought hunger and poverty to the
people and forced millions of us out of the country," said Ngwenya.
There is an estimated three million Zimbabweans living in South
Africa, a significant number of them registered voters. There is concern
that these are reluctant to vote and thus supporting President Mugabe's
leadership.
Grace Tarwireyi urged the exiles to go back home in their numbers and
vote out President Mugabe.
"Those who went to Zimbabwe and voted did a splendid job. They should
do likewise this time around while those who did not heed the message ahead
of the March 29 poll should follow their example.
"I am confident that with such a strategy, there is no way (President)
Mugabe can overturn the embarrassing defeat,"
the Pretoria-based Zimbabwean said.
The voter education projects such as Rock Vote Campaign are mobilising
South African-based voters to use their democratic right to vote in
Zimbabwe.
An official from Rock the Vote said they were working on plans to
assist Zimbabweans travel home and participate in the elections.
"Ahead of the March 29 elections we organised buses to transport the
exile voters home. Now that there is a possibility of a run-off, we are
discussing strategies how such an initiative can be put in place again," he
said.
There are fears that such voters may be targets of escalating violence
during the election as most of them are deemed anti-Mugabe. This, however,
is not deterring some exiled voters.
"We are no better than families and friends back home that are being
victimised. It is high time we voted against the culture of violence by
voting (President) Mugabe out once and for all in the run-off," said Xolani
Moyo of Berea--CAJ News.

SADC Ministers Fly for Crisis Talks

SW Radio Africa (London)

6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008

Tichaona Sibanda

A delegation from the Southern African Development Community left Luanda,
Angola for Harare to hold crisis talks with the regime and follow up the
current situation in the country.

The weekend meeting in Luanda was held to decide how SADC can help ensure
the electoral process in Zimbabwe is free and fair, if there is an election
run-off.

This ministerial troika of political, defence and security organs within
SADC will meet with Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, plus
members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Tsvangirai is currently in
South Africa but is expected to fly back home this week.

The team is made up of the Foreign Affairs Ministers from Angola and
Swaziland, Tanzania's deputy minister of Defence and National Services and
the executive secretary of SADC, Tomaz Salomao.

From Zimbabwe, the group is expected to fly to Lusaka, Zambia, to present to
the SADC chairperson, Levy Mwanawassa, the results of the meeting.

In Arusha on Tuesday, Tanzania foreign ministers from the African Union
discussed the Zimbabwe electoral crisis. The AU has been jolted into action
following the post election violence against opposition supports. On Monday,
the new AU chairman Jean Ping met both Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwean
Election Commission. Over the weekend he also met South African President
Thabo Mbeki.

The AU has been under pressure from the United Nations and western
countries, for African leaders to take a lead in resolving Zimbabwe's
crisis. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who met Tsvangirai in South
Africa on Monday, said the political crisis in Zimbabwe was an embarrassment
to Africa.

'We are going to ask the African Union to be more proactive when dealing
with this issue. The fact that elections can be held in an independent
country and it takes more than a month for the results to be announced is
sad. That is not really how you want to run a democracy. The rest of Africa
is silent and this is not good for democracy. We must speak when an
injustice is being done,' Odinga said.

University of Cape Town political analyst Glen Mpani said the AU has been
forced to act on the crisis following Morgan Tsvangirai's regional
diplomatic offensive to galvanise the international community into action
over Zimbabwe.

Mpani said Tsvangirai has been telling African leaders that they must get
involved in extricating the nation from the economic meltdown and political
logjam that is causing severe suffering to millions and having a negative
impact on the entire southern Africa region.

'The major highlight of his shuttle diplomacy was the fact that he's been
telling the leaders the crisis was now a national emergency and that it
needs international help,' Mpani said.

The Mugabe regime is in serious breach of AU and SADC electoral laws with
it's delay in announcing the presidential results and the state organised
violence against opposition supporters.

Both the AU and SADC require action when member states are in breach of
their regulations. The AU has a 'Constitutive Act' which allows a challenge
to sovereignty in case of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

AU chiefs in 'constructive' meeting with Mugabe

From The Cape Times (SA), 6 May

Susan Njanji

Harare - Diplomatic moves to end Zimbabwe's post-election crisis intensified
yesterday as the opposition mulled whether to contest a presidential run-off
after a first round win over veteran leader Robert Mugabe. Following
repeated calls from Western powers for it to show more leadership, diplomats
said the African Union (AU) dispatched the chairperson of its executive arm
for talks with Mugabe. While officials in Harare were tight-lipped about the
visit by AU commission chief Jean Ping, a senior diplomat based at the AU's
headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said that a "very constructive"
meeting had taken place with Mugabe. "The discussions were constructive and
provided an opportunity to review all aspects of the situation," the
diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Ping travelled to Harare with AU
political affairs commissioner Julia Dolly Joiner and peace and security
commissioner Ramtane Lamamra, the source added. He "also had a meeting with
the chair of Zimbabwe's electoral commission during which the two men
reviewed the entire electoral process", the diplomat said. "The meeting
allowed us to look at all the scenarios for the coming weeks, notably what
is being done to ensure a satisfactory second round in the coming weeks," he
added.

The talks come as an aide to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader,
Morgan Tsvangirai, who fell just short of the overall majority needed to
topple Mugabe in the first round, said he had decided whether he would
participate in a presidential run-off, but he wouldn't make his choice
public until electoral officials set an election date. Tsvangirai has
previously said he saw no need for a second round, convinced he won more
than 50% in polling on March 29. Tsvangirai has two options: concede the
second round to Mugabe, or try to run a campaign in an atmosphere so violent
that the opposition chief does not feel safe in his own country. "We have a
decision," Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe said yesterday. "But we
will only announce it when (the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) announces the
date of the election." The run-off should in theory be held within three
weeks of the declaration of results, but the commission has still to set a
date. Many observers believe that Mugabe and his Zanu PF party, still
reeling from their loss of control in parliament, are playing for time.

Minister Claims Controversial Chinese Arms Now in Country

SW Radio Africa (London)

6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008

Lance Guma

Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga on Sunday claimed that the
controversial shipment of arms from China, initially blocked by South
Africa, Mozambique and Zambia, was now in Zimbabwe.

Responding to criticism of the shipment during a panel discussion on Iranian
sponsored 'Press TV' Matonga is said to have derisively retorted, 'in any
case that shipment is already in Zimbabwe.'

Press TV's 'Four Corners' programme hosted a debate between Matonga, Briggs
Bomba from Africa Action, Zanu PF apologist George Shire and an unnamed
journalist. Bomba spoke to Newsreel Tuesday and expressed his disappointment
at how Angola, contrary to its official position, might have helped Mugabe's
regime get their hands on the deadly cargo.

The Chinese ship 'An Yue Jiang' was carrying 3 million rounds of ammunition
for AK-47's, 1500 rocket propelled grenades and 3000 mortar rounds and
tubes. Pressure from trade unions and civil society groups in the SADC
region ensured the ship spent weeks failing to get permission to offload.
Emerson Mnangagwa, the man in charge of Zimbabwe's terror campaign through
the Joint Operations Command, is said to have travelled to Angola and met
President Eduardo dos Santos last week, in an effort to have the shipment
allowed through.

Angola officially declined to authorise the offloading of the Zimbabwean
arms shipment, but no one knows if they kept their word. The picture
continues to get to murkier with other reports suggesting the Angolan
President's jet, a Falcon 900, was sighted in Zimbabwe Tuesday evening. No
further details were available. Malawi's Nyasa Times newspaper added to the
speculation by claiming intelligence agents from Malawi had travelled to
Angola to help clear the shipment on behalf of the Zimbabwean regime.

----------

Reuters

China arms ship unloads only cement in Angola-ITF
Tue May 6, 2008 1:50pm EDT

LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) - A Chinese-owned ship carrying a cache of weapons
originally destined for Zimbabwe has only unloaded construction equipment in
Angola and not its consignment of arms, transport unions said on Tuesday.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which has been
tracking the ship's movements for weeks, said fellow trade unions in Luanda
reported the An Yue Jiang unloading only cement and construction material.

"No attempt was made to offload any armaments and the ship sailed after
taking on fuel and food," the ITF said in a statement.

"Trade unionists, including from the port workers' union, maintained a watch
on the ship and what came off and went on it throughout its stay in port.
The police were also present," the ITF said. (Reporting by Stefano Ambrogi;
Editing by Jon Boyle)

Mugabe nightmare for ANC

The Citizen, SA

CEDRIC MBOYISA

JOHANNESBURG - Trying to set up a meeting with President Robert Mugabe’s
Zanu-PF to discuss the Zimbabwe situation has been a “nightmare”, according
to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

“It has been difficult trying to talk to the Zanu-PF,” said Mantashe, who
briefed the media at Luthuli House yesterday on the outcomes of the ANC
National Working Committee’s (NWC).

The ANC has been engaged in helping to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis by
talking to the two political protagonists, the MDC and Zanu-PF.

He said: “In the event of the run-off, it is critically important that an
environment exists for the people of Zimbabwe to exercise their right to
vote in a free, fair and peaceful manner. The ANC expresses concern at
reports of violence and intimidation emanating from that country.”

Unlike its former president, the new ANC leadership (under Jacob Zuma) has
been critical of the Mugame regime. However the NWC has heaped praise on
Mbeki for his role in Zimbabwe.

Mantashe said despite his “vilification” Mbeki had been an instrumental
figure in endeavours to resolve the political impasse in Zimbabwe.

– cedricm@citizen.co.za.

Zim electoral commission to meet on run-off vote

BUAnews, SA

 Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System

Date: 06 May 2008

Harare - The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is to meet to discuss
logistics for staging a run-off vote after the first round of the
presidential elections on 29 March failed to produce an outright winner.

The meeting will also come up with a date for the election, which will pit
incumbent Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF against Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC).

"The ZEC is going to meet shortly to discuss holding the run-off and other
issues," said Utoile Silaigwana, the deputy chief of operations of ZEC, on
Monday.

"That will result in the announcement of the date when the second round of
the polls will be held."

Mr Silaigwana could not comment on how the commission would address the
irregularities unearthed in the first round of elections, held more than a
month ago.

This prompted the arrest of scores of ZEC officials on allegations of
discounting Zanu PF of about 4 900 presidential votes.

The inconsistencies were detected from the V11 forms carrying collated
results originating from polling stations.

"There are certain anomalies that the commission is going to tackle in the
meeting but I cannot comment on that before the meeting.

"But the electorate should be assured of an improved election that will not
result in the anomalies characterising the first round," Mr Silaigwana said.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF has said that it is already preparing for the run-off
while Mr Tsvangirai has threatened to boycott the run-off poll, claiming
that there was widespread violence that would hamper a free and fair
election. - BuaNews-NNN

Zimbabwe: Catholic Church says Election Commission can no longer be trusted

HARARE - 7 May 2008

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) can no longer be relied on as a
"neutral and nonpartisan electoral umpire." That is the view of the Justice
and Peace Commission of the Zimbabwean Bishops' Conference.

In a statement. issued on Sunday, the commission condemned the climate of
violence in the country and says: "All fair minded Zimbabweans have lost
faith and confidence in ZEC, which can no longer be trusted to superintend a
runoff."

On May 2, the ZEC finally published the results of the presidential
elections held March 29, now over a month later. The opposition's candidate,
Morgan Tsvangirai received 47.9% of the consensus, versus incumbent Robert
Mugabe's 43.2%. Mugabe had been the head of the country for 28 years.
According to electoral guidelines, an absolute majority (50% plus 1, of the
votes) is needed in order to win the first round. If none of the candidates
receive the absolute majority vote, a second round of voting must be held.
Tsvangirai affirms that, based on independent calculations, he had already
won elections, however the opposition appears to accept the second round.

The date of the second voting has not yet been determined and should take
place within 21 days, according to the law. The day after the second round
of voting was announced, the party of President Mugabe (ZANU-PF) announced
that it would file a complaint against the assigning of 52 seats of
Parliament to the opposition. The Movement for Democratic Chande (MDC),
Tsvangirai's party, also contested the 60 seats of the party in power.

As the country prepares for the vote, violence and intimidation on the part
of the military and militias, has increased. The teachers' union in Zimbabwe
has announced they were the main targets of the violence that followed
elections March 29. According to union representatives, last week 133
teachers suffered assaults and 496 were interrogated on "electoral matters."
Over 1, 700 teachers have had to leave the country due to threats.

Facing this situation, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops of
Zimbabwe have asked for intervention from the United Nations and the African
Union to supervise a planned presidential runoff.

Source: Fides

© Independent Catholic News 2008

SA Litigation Centre Calls for Prosecution Chefs Over Violence

SW Radio Africa (London)

6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008

Tererai Karimakwenda

The Johannesburg based Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) has
confirmed that 2 weeks before the March 29 elections, they urged South
Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to investigate and prosecute
18 top Zimbabwe security officials for committing crimes against humanity.

The crimes related to the torture of officials and members of the MDC, whose
testimonies were submitted in a dossier, sent to the NPA along with a legal
opinion that forms the basis for prosecution. To date the SALC has not
received a formal response from the NPA.

SALC director Nicole Fritz said they took this action because they
anticipated high levels of violence over the election period, meant to
intimidate voters in communities that were not seen as supporters of
ZANU-PF.

Fritz explained that their argument is that torture on such a large and
systematic scale suggests that it was ordered by the state, and this
constitutes crimes against humanity.

Fritz also explained that the Rome Statute that established the
International Criminal Court, obliges South Africa to arrest and prosecute
anyone who commits a crime against humanity no matter where the crimes were
committed, if the perpetrators are within the territories of South Africa or
inside South Africa itself. This means Zimbabwean officials who often visit
South Africa for official business or personal trips can be apprehended and
prosecuted.

The list of Zimbabwean security officials named in the report includes
Happyton Bonyongwe, Head of the Department of State Security in the
President's Office; Augustine Chihuri, Commissioner General of Police;
Paradzayi Zimondi, Prisons Commissioner; Constantine Chigwenga, Head of
Defence Forces; Didymus Mutasa, Minister of State Security; Kembo Mohadi,
Minister of Home Affairs; Assistant Commissioner Musarashana Godwin Mabunda;
and Superintendent, Law and Order Section, Harare, J Chani.

Asked if South Africa's prosecuting authority was independent and able to
investigate the cases without political interference, Botha said she hopes
that they would be able to function independently. But she added that there
was cause for concern given recent controversy over allegations that the
government had interfered with some investigations.

Meanwhile President Mbeki's credibility as a mediator on the Zimbabwe crisis
is to come under scrutiny, if a motion tabled by the country's main
opposition the Democratic Alliance, is adopted by parliament. The DA's
parliamentary leader, Sandra Botha, said they were calling for a
parliamentary debate on the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe, and for an
investigation into the "distinct lack of action" on Zimbabwe by Mbeki and
the South African government. The motion was tabled on Tuesday and now goes
to a committee which will decide whether it can be debated in parliament.

'Accept foreign poll observers now'

IOL

    May 06 2008 at 07:23PM

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called on Tuesday for
international observers to be sent to Zimbabwe immediately if a second round
of voting is to stand any chance of being legitimate.

"For a second round to be considered free and fair, there must at
least be an immediate end to violence and international observers must be
put in place now, well ahead of the vote itself," he said.

Miliband said at least two people had been murdered and 500 beaten in
violence in Zimbabwe since the undecided presidential election five weeks
ago.

He said President Robert Mugabe's regime was resorting to violence in
a desperate bid to hold on to power.

"Violence has been commonplace in Zimbabwe but those figures and these
acts show the brutality of the regime in its quest to hold on to power," he
said in a written statement to British lawmakers.

Miliband said he had "little faith" in the figures released five weeks
after the election by Zimbabwean authorities which gave opposition leader
Morgan Tsvangirai 47,9 percent of the vote to 43,2 percent for Mugabe,
meaning a run-off contest between the two men will now be held.

The authorities had been allowed to "contaminate" the results,
Miliband said.

Movement for Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai maintains he won
outright in the first round and has yet to decide whether to contest the
second round. - Sapa-AFP

Cash Shortages Persist Even After Z$250 Million Notes Introduced

SW Radio Africa (London)

6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008

Lance Guma

Thousands of Zimbabweans are camping in queues outside banks while trying to
withdraw their own, hard earned money.

An economy ravaged by hyperinflation has meant there are not enough notes in
circulation, even after the Reserve Bank introduced bearer cheques of Z$100
and Z$250 million into the system on Tuesday.

Whether the situation will ease up as the days progress remains to be seen.
Last year in December the central bank introduced Z$250 000, Z$500 000, and
Z$750 000 denominations. The following month in January higher denominations
of Z$1 million, Z$5 million and Z$10 million followed. In April of this year
Z$25 million and Z$50 million notes had to be introduced to try and ease the
cash shortages.

The latest increases come as no surprise given the destructive economic
policies adopted by Mugabe's regime. Economic analyst Lance Mambondiani says
a high inflation rate has meant Zimbabweans are unwilling to keep their
money in the bank and this has contributed to the cash shortages. He says
simply increasing denominations will not solve anything and that the root
causes of the crisis have to be addressed.

Mombondiani traced the crisis to the destruction of the agriculture, tourism
and manufacturing sectors, which in turn have meant low foreign currency
inflows and accompanying high import prices. Ninety percent of business
transactions are taking place in the black market, because of ill-advised
price controls he said. Unless all those issues are resolved he expects the
cash shortages to remain.

007-2008 Scorecard: How HRC Members Voted

Post- election violence report

swradioafrica.com

It is also pertinent to repeat here that this campaign of violence is planned, widespread and systematic, with numerous reports of army personnel, and state resources being utilised. There is no evidence that this violence is repudiated by the Zimbabwe government, and, hence, it is clear, as was pointed out recently by the Southern African Litigation Centre, that both the perpetrators and those bearing command responsibility are liable for prosecution for crimes against humanity.

This raises far more serious issues than the mere delay of results or unlawful recounting of the votes. Both the AU Constitutive Act and the SADC Treaty require action when member states are in breach. The AU Constitutive Act allows a challenge to sovereignty in case of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity,[1] whilst the SADC Treaty, in Article 6(2), requires that “SADC and Member States shall not discriminate against any person on grounds of gender, religion, political views, race, ethnic origin, culture, ill health, disability, or such other ground as may be determined by the Summit”.[2] The legal frameworks that govern these two organizations suggest that both should be doing considerably more than wringing their hands over the non-release of results. Attention should be paid to the possibility that there has been a “coup by stealth” and gross human rights violations that accord with the definition of crimes against humanity are being perpetrated by the Zimbabwe government.

Read full report (22 page PDF)

Raila calls for AU action on Zimbabwe

Daily Nation, Kenya

Story by JOHN NGIRACHU
Publication Date: 5/6/2008 Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said that
contrary to press reports he met with Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday and not a day earlier.

He spoke at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on arrival from South
Africa, where he has been recuperating after undergoing laser eye surgery at
Ulm University Hospital in Germany.

He said he had also met former South African president Nelson Mandela
and his wife Graca Machel and Zimbabwe’s MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Mrs
Machel was part of the mediation team which helped to resolve the
post-election crisis in the country.

“It was wrongly reported that I met Mr Tsvangirai yesterday (Sunday).
I just met him today, actually around five hours ago in South Africa,” he
said.

He said he advised Mr Tsvangirai to participate in the run-off,  but
MDC was still considering it.

MDC contend that their candidate, Tvsangirai won the elections with
50.3 per cent of the vote and President Mugabe should hand over power.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) released official results last
week, which showed Tvsangirai polling 47.9 per cent and President Mugabe
taking 43.2 per cent.

The electoral body said a run-off between the two candidates was
needed but it is to announce a date.

Mr Odinga said the political crisis in Zimbabwe is an embarrassment to
Africa.

“We are going to ask the African Union to be more proactive when
dealing with this issue. The fact that elections can be held in an
independent country and it takes more than a month for the results to be
announced is sad. That is not really how you want to run a democracy. The
rest of Africa is silent and this is not good for democracy. We must speak
when an injustice is being done.”

Mr Odinga arrived on board a private jet shortly after 10 pm
accompanied by members of his family. He said his visit to South Africa was
private.

On hand to welcome the prime minister on his return were Lands
minister James Orengo, Medical Services minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and
Public Services minister Dalmas Otieno.

The Prime Minister will have to wear sunglasses to protect his eyes
from sunlight and wind for about a week as he recovers from the operation,
which he said was successful.