IN THE LABOUR COURT, HARARE, JUNE 13**, 2005.

JUDGEMENT No. LC/H/121/2005.

CASE No.LC/H/16/2004.

In the matter between:

MUFARO STIG HOVE APPELLANT

Versus

ZIMBABWE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AUTHORITY RESPONDENT

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Before The Honourable E Makamure, President

For the Appellant : Mr C Mudhara (Legal Practitioner)

For the Respondent: Mr Chakanyuka ( Legal Advisor)

MAKAMURE E :

The Appellant was dismissed from the Respondent's employ for contravening sections of the Respondent's Code of Conduct.

The charges are as follows:

7 (1) (g) (ii)

"Issuing without permission or authority, press statements or information concerning the affairs of the Authority, to the actual or potential prejudice of the Authority"

or

7 (1) (e) (viii)

"Conducting oneself or behaving in a manner which brings or is likely to bring the name of the Authority into disrepute or to tarnish the image of the Authority"

The charges arose following a letter which the Appellant wrote to The Financial Gazette on June 12, 2003 as follows:

APPEAL TO MANGWENGWENDE:

EDITOR: On behalf of the ZESA employees countrywide, may I humbly appeal to Simbarashe Mangwengwende, our father, to come to our rescue.

I am the Northern Area Workers' Committee Chairman and I know I speak for the whole Company from messenger to the most Senior Manager.

As the song goes: 'Every night I wake up crying,

Tears on my pillow,

Pain in my heart,

And you on my mind.'

Please assist urgently.

Mufaro Stig Hove ( radicalsoldier2003@yahoo.com )

The offences fall under Category 'D' of the Respondent's Code of Conduct and therefore dismissible.

The Appellant appealed internally without success.

He has lodged an appeal with this Court on the following grounds;

" The Appeals Committee did not consider the reasons for my Appeal to them ie;

# The Chairman Kasipo should have recused himself.

# The charge was mischievously brought by Management due to pressure from Mr Gata.

# Extenuating circumstances were not considered.."

It is common cause that the Appellant is the author of the article above.

The argument submitted in support of the grounds of appeal was to the effect that the article did not bring the name of the Authority into disrepute. It was argued that the article did not attack the Authority but appealed to Mangwengwende. The Appellant should therefore not be visited with dismissal as the penalty for his conduct.

The argument was advanced in view of the following:

# Firstly, the letter was authored during the course of a collective job action. The letter should therefore have been read in the context of a workforce which was disgruntled.

# Secondly, during the course of the said collective job action, some members of the ZESA workforce carried placards. The conduct of the Appellant was an act of solidarity with his colleagues.

# Thirdly, the Appellant was only expressing an opinion- which he is entitled to. He should therefore not be penalized for expressing his opinion.

# Fourthly, other ZESA employees who participated in the collective job action were subsequently pardoned. Such pardon ought to have been extended to the Appellant as well.

# Fifthly, in view of these reasons, the Appellant ought to have been charged with either a Category 'A' offence, namely

" Breach of secrecy or confidentiality which does not result in financial prejudice to the Authority or tarnish the image of the Authority"

or a Category 'C' offence

"for either insubordination or disorderly or objectionable behaviour."

It was also submitted on behalf of the Appellant that there was nothing wrong in the article to compel a person to arrive at the conclusion that the image of the Respondent was tarnished.

It was also submitted on behalf of the Appellant that the Appellant has an unblemished record of service of 14 years with the Respondent.

That being the case, a lighter sentence ought to have been imposed.

It was further submitted on behalf of the Appellant that the Chairman, Mr Kasipo, ought to have recused himself. This was because the Appellant did not see eye-to-eye with Kasipo. Despite the Appellant's protestations, Kasipo chaired the proceedings.

The Respondent's position, while noting the Appellant's disquiet with the Chairmanship of Kasipo , concluded that the Appellant got a fair Hearing even though Kasipo chaired the proceedings.

It was observed on behalf of the respondent as follows:

** "The Committee unanimously determined that there were no serious procedural irregularities to render the whole proceedings a nullity.

It was noted that Kasipo should have left the other members of the Committee to determine his fate.

He should not have voted.

Despite this anomaly, the Committee was satisfied that the Appellant was accorded a fair and unbiased Hearing and hence the findings of the Disciplinary Committee could not be faulted."

His fears were only speculative since Mr Kasipo had not confronted him.

Accordingly the submission could not be upheld."

There is a concession that allowing Kasipo to vote constituted an anomaly. Other members of the Committee ought to have decided on the propriety or otherwise of Kasipo's Chairmanship. The fact that Kasipo voted for himself to chair the proceedings can be interpreted as proof that Kasipo made sure that by participating in the voting process, he would chair the proceedings. His participation at that voting stage is a violation of the simple justice between man and man. Had Kasipo been excluded from the voting process, the result would have been seen to be independent of his influence. His participation can be interpreted as an indication of his influence.

This is what the Appellant objected to.

Respondent has not shown that Kasipo's participation was not prejudicial to the Appellant's case. (See Minerals Marketing Corporation v Mazvimavi 1995 (2) ZLR (S). It is trite that justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done. In this case justice was not seen to have been done.

The Respondent's position on this issue is that there was no proof of bias by Kasipo against the Appellant.

I disagree.

As indicated earlier on the fact that Kasipo himself participated in the process to have him chair the proceedings is in itself proof that the voting process was not independent of his influence. The possibility of bias can therefore not be ruled out. Whether or not subsequent proceedings were without bias cannot be based on the beginning, which could be interpreted as being biased.

Going back to the article, the article in question was written during the course of a collective job action. In an earlier Application (**), this Court held that the Appellant has a right to express his opinion under the circumstances. The Respondent accepts the position that there is nothing wrong in expressing an opinion as long as no one's rights are violated in the process. The Respondent is of the view that the Appellant's conduct caused the actual or potential prejudice to respondent or that the article put its name into disrepute. Consequently, the respondent is of the view that its name was tarnished as a result of the article.

It is however not clear to this Court how exactly the article put the Respondent's name into disrepute.

It is clear that the article was published in a magazine whose readership is wide. The letter was appealing to one Mangwengwende.

The article does not articulate what wrong ZESA did.

What the article does is to ask the individual in question (Mangwengwende) to dialogue so that whatever the writer wants to be rescued from could be discussed.

Does this "plea" have the effect of putting the name of ZESA into disrepute?

I think not.

Had the Appellant made specific allegations against the Authority, that would have certainly caused the readers to ask questions about ZESA with the likehood of either tarnishing the good name of ZESA or putting ZESA's good name into disrepute.

The Appellant was simply expressing an opinion.

He wrote to the paper.

If writing to the press is a prohibited conduct; then such a prohibition is in my view a violation of the Appellant's Constitutional Rights.

Further, if the simple act of writing to the paper without making particular allegations is a punishable conduct; then such punishment appears far-fetched.

It is not disputed that the Appellant had before this incident worked for the Respondent for 14 years with a clean Record.

In considering the Appellant's case, the Respondent was of the view that the Appellant was not remorseful.

The record on the other hand shows that the Appellant apologized for his conduct.

In the Record of Proceedings, the Appeals Committee on page 12 of its record noted:

" He (the Appellant) wanted to apologize to the Company called ZESA………He regretted writing to the Press….."

Yet on page 11 of its Record, the Committee commented:

"The Appellant did not show any remorse during the Hearing although he admitted to wrong-

doing."

The fact that the Appellant regretted his conduct is proof of his remorse.

In view of the above, I find merit in the Grounds of Appeal.

Section 12B (4) of the LABOUR ACT CHAPTER 28: 01 empowers the LABOUR COURT when the fairness of the dismissal of an employee is in issue:

"To consider whether any mitigation of the misconduct avails to an extent that would have justified action other than dismissal….."

Under the present circumstances, charging the Appellant with a dismissable offence was harsh!

If the Appellant had erred at all, a lesser charge as defined in the Respondent's Code of Conduct would have sufficed.

HOWEVER, this Court is of the view that the Appellant's conduct is not blameworthy.

Thus even having him charged with a lesser offence is in my view not consistent with fairness.

In the circumstances, the Appeal succeeds.

It is accordingly ordered that the Appeal be and is hereby granted with costs.

The Respondent be and is hereby ordered to re-instate the Appellant with no loss of salary and benefits with effect from the date of dismissal.

In the event that re-instatement is no longer an option, the Respondent be and is hereby ordered to pay the Appellant damages in lieu of re-instatement.

Parties may agree to the quantum of damages or upon failure to agree either party may approach this Court for quantification.

(SIGNED……….E MAKAMURE)

Chitapi and Associates (Legal Practitioners for the Applicant).

Mr Chakanyuka ( Legal Advisor for the Respondent.)

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Please also read "The Herald" of Saturday, 21st Jan, 2006 (Court News).
It was on the 'net when I sent this mail of joy!

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21st January,2006.

Hi fellow citizens and friends,

Please find below the "message of joy" received from The Labour Court yesterday (20th Jan 2006)

I typed it myself so forgive me for any errors you may come across.

Where you see stars(**), it means there are notes I have written at the end of the Judgement.

Please send your Congratulatory SMS messages to

# 091815762…my wife for standing beside me for 27 difficult months.

# 011422965….Mr Munjoma (Union Sec General) for accepting me as their casualty.

# 011607301….To Eng Simbarashe Mangwengwende for giving me spiritual and moral support when I felt like ending my life.

# 011424284….Mr Mudhara, the lawyer of Chitapi and Associates, who calmly presented The Heads of Argument on my behalf.

# 091343485….To a friend who supported me financially but who does not want his name mentioned.

Thanks to you ALL for being available to hear me "thinking aloud."

The Judges (who are seriously over-worked and grossly underpaid) also deserve our thanks!

Rev M S Hove….THE HAPPY RADICAL SOLDIER!
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Stig Hove wins case against ZESA

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/viewinfo.cfm?id=685

HARARE - Mufare Stig Hove has won his lengthy legal battle against Zesa, which fired him for writing a letter to a newspaper seeking the return of his former boss. The Labour Court last week ordered the parastatal to reinstate Hove without any loss of pay or benefits after it held that his dismissal was improper, since he had a right to express his views.

Hove was fired after writing a letter published in the Financial Gazette, appealing to former Zesa chief executive, Simbarashe Mangwengwende, to come to the rescue of the workers. "If writing to the Press is a prohibited conduct, then such a prohibition is, in my view, a violation of the appellant's constitutional rights," said the judgement.

The court said if it was no longer possible for Zesa Holdings to reinstate Mr Hove, then both should agree on a suitable amount to damages to be awarded. - Own correspondent
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kuthula matshazi : kuthulamatshazi@yahoo.co.uk

Congratulations Rufaro on winning the case. It is interesting that you were victimised for free speech. I hope you are the person who knows the importance of free speech and the critical importance to safeguard it. Make sure you impart your experience in this forum and encourage diversity of voices. Who else other than you can champion freedom of speech? Congratulations and wish all the best in your future endeavours.

Best, Kuthula
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Zesa to re-engage employee

Saturday, January 21, 2006

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=1788&cat=1

Court Reporter

ZESA fired a worker for writing a letter to a newspaper seeking the return of his former boss, but yesterday the Labour Court told Zesa to reinstate him, saying his rights to express opinions had been violated.

Yesterday, the court ordered Zesa to reinstate Mr Mufaro Stig Hove without any loss of pay or benefits after it held that Mr Hove's dismissal was improper, since he had a right to express his views.

If Zesa's code of conduct prevented employees from criticising Zesa, then this would be a violation of constitutional rights.

Mr Hove was fired after writing a letter published in the Financial Gazette, appealing to former Zesa chief executive, Mr Simbarashe Mangwengwende to come to the rescue of the workers.

In the judgment, the court found that Mr Hove had the right to express his opinions.

Zesa Holdings had dismissed him arguing that his letter had put its name into disrepute and had the likelihood of causing financial prejudice.

The court, however, found that though it was common cause that Mr Hove had written the letter, Zesa Holdings had failed to prove to the court how exactly the letter had put the company's name into disrepute.

"The appellant had a right to express his opinion under the circumstances. It is, however, not clear to this court how exactly the article put the respondent's name into disrepute.

It was also the court's finding that if the Zesa code of conduct prohibited such expression of opinions, then it violated the employees' constitutional rights.

"If writing to the Press is a prohibited conduct, then such a prohibition is in my view, a violation appellant's constitutional rights."

The court said if it was no longer possible for Zesa Holdings to reinstate Mr Hove, then both should agree on a suitable amount to damages to be awarded.
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I'm still CEO of ZESA

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/viewinfo.cfm?id=831

EDITOR - In your article "Stig Hove wins case against Zesa" published on 26th January2006 you refer to me as "former Zesa chief executive". Please note that I am still the lawful chief executive of Zesa. Although the day to day running of the organisation is currently under the Chairman of the Board (operating under the title "Executive Chairman") the lawfulness of that is a matter before the High Court waiting for a judgment by the Honourable Justice Hlatshwayo. The case was heard on 8th October 2003 and judgment has been reserved since then. Pending that judgment I remain an employee of Zesa with all my conditions of service as chief executive. Recent attempts By Zesa to deny me my salary and benefits have been ruled unlawful by the Labour Court and that judgment has been upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court. Eng Simbarashe E. Mangwengwende, Chief Executive, Zesa, Harare

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PLEASE ALSO CHECK "ZESA SEEKS TO RE-EMPLOY FORMER WORKERS!"

Smile MDC smile.... but will Morgan deliver immediately???

2009-02-09T13:49:00.004+02:00

by Tambanavo Chamanyawi (chamanyawi@gmail.com)

The all-time powerful and popular Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) shall be joining the inclusive government with an ambitious resolve to deliver and turn around the moribund Zimbabwe government.

And also to put paid to their claim that they can run the country better than Zanu PF.

The party would try to excel in the ministries allocated to them.

Buoyed by the undisputed proletariat support, MDC Chief, Morgan Tsvangirai shall be at the helm the government soon, with the intention to redeem Zimbabweans from all the economic and political ills visited upon them by the 29 year old administration of Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF.

A huge gloomy spot is however threatening to shutter delivery by the inclusive government. There are very limited rays of hope at the end of Tsvangirai's tunnel.
Although the MDC boss is geared to exhibit excellence, but a heavily depleted source of qualified human resources is poised to cut his success story short.

Since its formation MDC dedicated all energy on the political front at the expense of grooming technocrats, who are much needed now to run the administrative and implementation arms of the government. Few known MDC technocrats were sucked into Parliament and Senate, reducing them into point scoring politicians.

Unlike other political parties, MDC did very little effort (if there was any) to prepare itself to run the country. The party neither came with scholarship schemes to boost its human resource base nor identified nor nurtured individuals for key strategic portfolios in government. During the Chimurenga Struggle, Zanu PF's Dzingai Mutumbuka led an ambitious scholarship scheme which saw most of the young activists sent to universities across the world. The majority of the scholarship beneficiaries got university education in Sierra Leone, UK, Uganda's Makerere University, Nigeria's Ibandan University and South Africa's Fort Hare University. Zanu PF's permanent secretaries are an erudite lot that spent time in universities. Their acquaintance with how things should be run is cushioning the political plunders being committed by their political masters.

The same can be said about ANC's long fight against the apartheid government. Most of the ANC cadres occupying key government positions today were groomed during the liberation struggle in preparation for running the country. This includes former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki. The ANC's director generals serving in government departments are academically affluent.

The same cannot be said about MDC, a party which came into life10 years ago with all indications that it would be in government soon.

The party is still not well equipped in terms of human skills to take us out of 'Egypt' just as it was 10 years ago.

Can anyone think of anybody from the MDC who would be appointed minister of Finance or, the Reserve Bank Governor of Zimbabwe? Roy Bennet? What does he know about monetary issues? For all his life, Pachedu, as he is affectionately known by his colleagues, has been running his family farm in Chamanimani. The only veneer he has about finance relates to the current Treasurer position he occupies in MDC. Apart from that there is completely nothing, zero, zilch and nil. Of course people can always learn through the passage of time, but does MDC have thesumptuousness of time on their side?

Then there is Tapiwa Mashakada, a former trade union economist. Though well read, but the man has been a sloganeering populist for too long. Eddy Cross? May-be.
What about Agriculture, Tourism, Media related departments and Industry and Commerce? Are there individuals we can think of who MDC can entrust with running the above named portfolios. This is a very tricky period because MDC does not have the luxury of trial and error, like what Zanu PF had in 1980, but has to deliver forthwith. Their level of delivery would largely depend on the quality of their human resources.

If they fail to deliver immediately they can easily be rubbished as worse than Zanu PF.

We are entering an interesting period in the history of Zimbabwe. Some appointments will be shocking. Blunders are sure to manifest right in the nerve-centre of MDC's delivery machinery.

An attention-grabbing scenario is likely to emerge. MDC might find itself re-cycling the same senior personnel who served in the Zanu PF government. There is also a very likelihood that the government might also out source human resources, like what Zanu PF did in the 1980s. This is not to say we have run out of qualified personnel, but some of the people who are eligible might not be prepared to abandon their current occupations to come and serve in a shaky inclusive government which can collapse at anytime.

Also some of the skilled characters might not be MDC-enough to be entrusted with sensitive and senior government posts in ministries run by MDC. What is there to gain anywhere in the civil service of the inclusive government? Others may ask.
Can anybody imagine that from next week, Tsvangirai would be surrounded by members CIO's branch five, as his official body-guards? The same can be said about Thokozane Khupe and Authur Mutambara, Tsvangirai's two deputies. Yes! It's true. Imagine! Why such a frightening arrangement, which seem to confirm that MDC will be gulped by Zanu PF as what happened to PF Zanu in 1987? Is it because MDC does not have trained body-guards or intelligence officers?

MDC should also deploy some of its cadres into the media industry to cushion it from blistering and stinging media headlines. One can however say, the media should be out of bounds for politicians and political parties. A sound academic argument, I suppose, but which have always eluded Zimbabwe. Most if not all editors in Zimbabwe, running government papers are known Zanu PF pharisees, who never pretended to be impartial.

These include, the late Charles Chikerema of The Herald, Tommy Sithole of The Herald, Henry Muradzikwa of Ziana and later ZBH where hwas disgracefully kicked out by his Zanu PF colleagues, Stephen Mpofu of the Chronicle. Even the celebrated Geoff Nyarota was deployed from the President Cannan Banana's office to Manica Post before being transferred to Chronicle in Bulawayo, where he roared into fame after publishing the Willowgate scandal stories .

The question now is, does MDC have this kind of human resources? May-be Nyarota is available again to play this part for MDC.

Coupled with obvious lack of experience, expertise and patronage MDC might soon find itself answering the identical accusations being currently thrown at Zanu PF. Obvious services delivery complaints and not abduction and murder accusations.
Hundreds of authentic cadres who took 'bullets' on behalf of MDC are perceptibly not prepared to be left out in the transitional government on the basis of lack of skills.

The respected MDC brand is destined to come out of the transitional government heavily tainted and compromised to give Zanu PF the envisaged final fatal knock-out punch in the next elections. Let's wait and record the history of Zimbabwe as it unfolds right in our view.

PLEASE VISIT ALSO:

"THE NGO SHARKS THAT FEED ON THE ZIM CRISIS!" by CHAMANYAWI!

"ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, THE WORLD'S LUCKIEST POLITICIAN!"

"Zimbabwe: the deal for Government of National Unity a fraud, Call for support from Zimbabwe"

2009-02-09T13:41:00.004+02:00

The Zimbabwe main opposition, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has entered into agreement for Unity government with Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF regime. The Unity government is going to be formed from 11 to 13 February 2008.

While the MDC and ZANU PF discuss about UNITY government thousands of human rights activists, political dissenters, and MDC supporters are in jails for exercising their freedom of speech. Hundreds are still being tortured and murdered by Police, Soldiers, CIO and War Veterans.

If the Unity government works, good luck MDC. Many Zimbabweans consider unity government as a fraud and betrayal. It means the MDC has capitulated. At grassroots level Zimbabweans don't want unity government or that corrupt, murderous ZANU PF official continue to rule. Thousands of Zimbabweans have been tortured and murdered because of their support to the MDC.

What is imperatively needed in Zimbabwe is removal of both Mugabe and his illegitimate ZANU PF government. ZANU PF is a criminal enterprise responsible for massive corruption, genocide and deliberate starvation of Zimbabweans.

At this juncture Zimbabwe needs justice. Justice means protection of suffering Zimbabweans and punishment of ZANU PF officials for corruption, genocide, torture and murder of innocent people. ZANU PF militias and the so-called War Veterans must be brought before the courts for widespread murder, rape, mutilating, torture, robbing, theft, looting and vandalism.

Unity government will save to protect ZANU PF criminals. ZANU PF officials should be held accountable for all these crimes against humanity which started as early as 1983. ZANU PF was corrupt, murderous and oppressive from its beginning.
Unity government if it succeeds it means betrayal of the Zimbabweans by MDC politicians. Without justice and elimination of corruption Zimbabwe will not heal. ZANU PF politicians are corrupt and cannot be trusted with public funds. Even in unity with MDC they will still continue with the culture of corruption, bureaucracy and human rights abuse.

The MDC has been telling Zimbabweans and the world that ZANU PF is guilty of corruption and crimes against humanity. Now they want to join these bunches of criminals and corrupt official in this called unity government. Surely millions of Zimbabweans who have fled persecutions, murder, torture and oppression have no hope of returning home in the near future.
Zimbabwe unity government will be illegitimate and a mockery of justice. The European Union, America, Britain and other countries must refuse to recognise such travesty of justice. Any deal that leaves Mugabe in power or ZANU PF officials in control must not be recognised. Mugabe has lost presidential elections. By fraud, manipulation, propaganda and oppression he is still in power.

Calls to the UN Security Council should continue. The Zimbabwean humanitarian crisis must not be left in the hands of SADC or African Union (AU). Majority of SADC and AU leaders are dictators and corrupt to their own people. President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) has labelled the AU a Trade Union of criminals. These regional organisations and the ruling ANC government in South Africa will use every means to prevent the government that won elections to come to power in Zimbabwe. ANC is trying all dirty tricks to keep Mugabe'ZANU PF in power.

There is so much suffering in Zimbabwe. Thousands of people are dying every week in Zimbabwe. Now cholera has killed 3000. Please help us to stop this massive suffering in Zimbabwe. Put Zimbabwe on your prayer list. Write to your political leaders encouraging them to support us in our quest for freedom, liberation, and human rights.

Collen Makumbirofa

Foundation of Reason & Justice

www.zimbabwehope.org

http://forjustice.atspace.org

www.zimjustice.blogspot.com

Email: makumbirofa@gmail.com

Mesage from Sue J in England!

2009-01-09T15:11:00.005+02:00

Until all the African States do something to stop the genocide im Zimbabwe and look to the future of all the African Countries and the entire continent they should not figure in world class events. The World Cup cannot be held in South Africa unless they stop negotiating with terrorists and get Mugabe out NOW!

SueJ - UK

Are you a PC? Upload your PC story and show the world Click Here!

ZIMBABWE: Finding a workable solution to the Crisis!

2008-06-27T14:45:00.002+02:00

The withdrawal this week of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of Zimbabwe, from the run-off Presidential Elections, that is due to take place today, Friday 27 June, is an indication of the depth of the political crisis in that country.

Yet it provides an opportunity for ZANU (PF) the MDC and other parties, to commence a dialogue to arrive at a workable political solution for the common good of all Zimbabweans.

Since 2001 the ANC and other political parties in this region have witnessed the tragic socio economic decline of Zimbabwe. The political impasse in that country today compounds the negative consequences of an economy that appears to have gone into terminal decline and that has already resulted in massive migration to neighbouring states. The SADC region, made up of developing countries all of whom are struggling for the economic upliftment of their peoples after centuries of colonial domination, can ill afford the instability occasioned by this turn of events.

It has always been and continues to be the view of our movement that the challenges facing Zimbabwe can only be solved by the Zimbabweans themselves. Nothing that has happened in the recent months has persuaded us to revise that view. A lasting solution has to be led by the Zimbabweans and any attempts by outside players to impose regime change will merely deepen the crisis.

Zimbabwe, like many other African countries, was reduced to the status of a colony during the latter part of the 19th century. A column of imperialist adventurers, led by the notorious Cecil John Rhodes, invaded the territory, seized the land from its people and annexed it to the British Empire. To add insult to this injury the British colonial authorities even had the temerity to re-name the country "Rhodesia". Land dispossession accelerated to the extent that when Zimbabwe attained independence the White minority, who never exceeded 2% of the population, owned and controlled 70% of the best agricultural land.

Colonialism in Zimbabwe, as in the rest of Africa, was a system of arbitrary, capricious power exercised by a distant colonial office and delegated to local White settlers who wielded it as agents of the imperial power.

As in all other colonies, the African people in Zimbabwe had no rights. They had no voice in how they were governed. Africans were subjected to a host of controls - that determined where they could live, where they could work, when they could work, even for whom they could work.

All social goods and services in the country were racially apportioned to the advantage of the White minority who were incrementally granted powers to govern the colony. By the 1960s the White minority exercised sufficient political power in the colony to declare independence from Britain unilaterally in 1965.

The political programme of the national liberation movement in Zimbabwe consequently centred on the right of national self-determination to be attained through democratic elections in which all adult citizens of the country would have the untrammelled right to elect the government of their choice. Restoration of the land seized during colonialism to the indigenous people was a central plank of that programme as well.

It was a shared objective of all the liberation movements in this region of Africa to give birth to democratic governments that institutionalised the civil liberties that underpin the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their respective countries. In addition to the principle of government based on the will of the governed, these include freedom of opinion; freedom of speech; freedom of movement; freedom from arbitrary arrest, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. The end of colonialism envisaged the abolition of all privileges and disabilities based on race, religious affiliation or gender.

To give substance to these freedoms, the national liberation movements of this region also strove for a universal system of education; a universal health care system; full rights for all workers on the land or in the cities; as well as equality before the law.

No colonial power in Africa, least of all Britain in its colony of "Rhodesia", ever demonstrated any respect for these principles.

It was the people of Zimbabwe, under the leadership of the Patriotic Front , who waged a struggle to win these rights and freedoms.The right to govern themselves and regularly to choose their own government was earned through sacrifices and struggles often eliciting the loss of life. No one, no government , no political party no political leader has the right to abridge or subvert these rights. We are, consequently, deeply dismayed by the actions of the government of Zimbabwe which is riding roughshod over the hardwon democratic rights of the people of that country.

As democrats , the ANC cannot be indifferent to the flagrant violation of every principle of democratic governance.

The ANC is very mindful of the obligations Britain assumed in relation to Zimbabwe at the Lancaster House Talks. Chief amongst these was resolution of the Land Question, i.e. undoing the consequences of well nigh 100 years of British colonial domination.

A large measure of responsibility for the current crisis is attributable to the ex-colonial power because it has reneged on that undertaking.

In our efforts to assist Zimbabweans resolve their problems the ANC has consistently supported the efforts of the South African government and the SADC region. After the SADC Summit appointed President Mbeki to act as mediator amongst the parties in Zimbabwe, he has enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, the ANC's unstinting support. We were consequently very pleased when, owing to his mediation, a relatively peaceful and free election was held on 29 March 2008. We were greatly distressed by the incidents of violence during both the run-up and on the election day itself. The unseemly delay in announcing the outcome of the Presidential elections of April caused great anxiety in Zimbabwe and in the region. It was for that reason that the ANC called for their immediate release on 15th April. The Extra-Ordinary SADC Summit, held on 13th April 2008, in Lusaka, Zambia had held the same view.

In its Communiqué the SADC Summit of Heads of Sate and Government noted that since there had been no outright winner of the Presidential poll, a run-off was expected to determine the winner.

While the ANC was sceptical of the feasibility of a run-off, we deferred to the judgement of the SADC leadership and that of the political parties in Zimbabwe and lent our support to the process. However, compelling evidence of violence, intimidation and outright terror; the studied harassment of the leadership of the MDC, including its Presidential candidate, by the security organs of the Zimbabwean government; the arrest and detention of the Secretary-General of the MDC; the banning of MDC public meetings; and denial of access to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, all have convinced us that free and fair elections are not possible in the political environment prevalent in Zimbabwe today.

The ANC believes that we have an obligation to contribute towards the search for a solution in Zimbabwe. This is a view informed by long-standing fraternal relations amongst the liberation movements of our region of Africa. We are confident that a solution consistent with our shared commitment to human dignity, human rights, the rule of law and the freedoms we all fought for, is attainable.

THE WAY FORWARD

The ugly incidents and scenes that have been visited on the people of Zimbabwe persuade us that a run-off Presidential election offers no solution to Zimbabwe's crisis. In a society that is already highly polarised, a run-off election will only serve to widen the divisions. The very legitimacy of the run-off has already been severely compromised by the actions of both ZANU (PF) militants and those of state officials who do not even conceal their partiality in favour of the governing party.

There can be no solution except through a dialogue in earnest amongst all the political players in Zimbabwe, involving the people of that country. The ANC will play its role, within the framework of the SADC mandate, in searching for a solution that will bring an end to the suffering of the Zimbabwean people.

We have noted, with grave concern, the statements of the Zimbabwean government to the effect that the run-off elections will proceed as planned. We urge the government of Zimbabwe to apply its mind, dispassionately, to the situation at hand in its country and our region. We appeal to the government to take up the challenge of finding a negotiated settlement to the current impasse.

We wish the MDC, ZANU (PF) and all the other parties in Zimbabwe the moral courage, strength and determination to urgently seek a viable solution to the profound problems facing their country.

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BRIAN BUNTING

An embodiment of non-racialism

ANC and SACP stalwart Brian Bunting, who passed away at his home in Rondebosch, Cape Town on 18 June 2008, will be laid to rest in Cape Town tomorrow, 28 June 2008. Born in Johannesburg in 1920, Brian was the son of Sidney Percival Bunting, a founder and key architect of the Communist Party in South Africa.

Brian Bunting graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1939. He worked as a journalist on the Rand Daily Mail and the Sunday Times. He served in North Africa during World War II and then became assistant editor and later chief editor of The Guardian, and, after it was banned, its successor publications, Advance, Clarion, Peoples' World and New Age. As one publication was banned by the apartheid regime, so a new one was launched. Bunting was also assistant national secretary of the Springbok Legion and editor of its journal, Fighting Talk.

Bunting was a life-long communist party member. As a newly elected member of the party's Johannesburg district committee he was arrested in 1946 following the African mine workers strike, but charges were later dropped.

From November 1952 to October 1953 he was elected as a Natives' representative in the House of Assembly from the Cape Western district. But he was expelled from Parliament because of his Communist Party affiliations. He was banned in 1952, detained in 1960, and placed under house arrest in 1963. Shortly afterwards he went into exile.

Based in London together with his late wife Sonia, Brian played a leading role in the regrouping of the exiled movement and in building anti-apartheid international solidarity. For many years he edited the SACP's official organ, The African Communist. The Buntings returned to South Africa in the early 1990s and Brian had the pleasure of being elected as an ANC MP in 1994, returning to the very corridors from which he had been unceremoniously expelled by the apartheid regime some forty years earlier.

Brian remained active in his local SACP branch throughout the 1990s and into the last years and he also served on the SACP's central committee until mid-2007 when travelling became increasingly difficult. Bunting's publications include The Rise of the South African Reich, and Moses Kotane, South African Revolutionary.

Along with other outstanding freedom figures like Govan Mbeki and Ruth First, Brian Bunting belonged to a generation that bequeathed to our country a major tradition of investigative and radical journalism. A gentle personality, a lucid thinker, deeply loyal to his fellow comrades and organisations, Brian Bunting embodied the best non-racial traditions of our struggle.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This issue of ANC Today is available from the ANC web site at:

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AUSTRALIANS WARNED TO LEAVE VOLATILE ZIM!!

2008-06-26T15:01:00.002+02:00

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/26/1214073398754.html

Australians in Zimbabwe have been urged to leave under an upgraded travel advice by the Government which warns the political crisis may escalate in the coming weeks.

The advice, issued today by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, also says Australians should not enter the country because the volatile security situation could quickly worsen.

A department spokeswoman said there are 841 registered Australians in Zimbabwe, including 602 in Harare and 77 in Bulawayo. The Australian High Commission is maintaining regular contact with them.

"We strongly advise you not to travel to Zimbabwe at this time due to the high level of election-related violence in many areas, the high level of criminal activity, the absence of the rule of law, and deteriorating economic conditions which could lead to civil unrest at any time," the advice says.

"This includes visits to national parks and Victoria Falls.

"If you are in Zimbabwe and concerned for your safety, you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so."

The advice, which lifts Zimbabwe into the most dangerous category of country alongside eight other states such as Iraq and Afghanistan, says any Australians who do go to Zimbabwe should register their travel.

"The security situation could deteriorate quickly and without warning, and Australians could be caught up in violence directed at others," the advice says.

"In these circumstances, departure options may be severely limited... The ongoing political and economic crisis has made the situation very volatile, in both rural and urban areas."

For further information: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Zimbabwe

PRES TSVANGIRAI'S LETTER TO THE ZIMBABWE ELECTION COMMISSION!!

2008-06-25T07:57:00.001+02:00

Ex http://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:21547.1161576113/rid:4c5baa9387944d9c784eb58f73a37fe8

Attention: Honourable Justice Chiweshe

The Chairman

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission

7^thFloor, Century House

HARARE

Dear Sir,

Re: PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR THE 27^TH

JUNE 2008

I write this letter to advise you that for reasons set out in this letter, it is no longer possible for the holding of the Presidential run-off election set for the 27^th June 2008.

In my considered view, the conditions presently obtaining thoughout the country make it virtually impossible for a proper election envisaged in both the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Electoral Act [Chapter 2.13] to take place. This being the case, the election scheduled for Friday 27^th June 2008 cannot be an election as provided for by our law and accordingly, it will be a nullity if it were to be proceeded with.

Section 107 of the Electoral Act deals with the withdrawal of candidature from a Presidential election. Subsection 1 thereof provides that a nominated candidate for election as President may, by notice in writing addressed to the Chief Election Officer withdraw his or her candidature before 21 days from the day or first day as the case may be on which the poll in an election to the office of President is to be taken. This section in my respectful view does not apply to a Presidential run off election. Section 110 (3) provides that where two or more candidates for President are nominated, and after a poll taken in terms of subsection (2) no candidate receives a majority of the total number of valid votes cast, a second election shall be held within 21 days after the previous election. It is quite clear therefore that Section 107 (1) was clearly not designed for a presidential run-off election as it would not make sense to expect a candidate from a presidential run-off election to give 21 days notice of his/her withdrawal where such election has to be held within 21 days anyway.

Section 107(3) makes it much more clearer that Section 107 does not apply to a presidential run-off election. It provides that:-

"where a candidate for election as President has withdrawn his/her candidature in terms of this section, the sum deposited by or on his behalf in terms of subsection (1) of Section 105 shall be forfeited and form part of the funds of the commission".

No money was ever deposited for the Presidential run-off election in terms of Section 105 by any candidate.

Furthermore, there has been no rules prescribed for the conduct of a presidential run-off election and in particular the notice period set for the withdrawal of candidature by a participant. Accordingly, any candidate wishing to withdraw his candidature is free to do so at any time before such an election.

In any event, as I have already pointed out, the election set for the 27^th June 2008 is not a proper election but a nullity. In the circumstances, the question of the withdrawal from such an election and the notice thereof cannot be an issue.

REASONS FOR WITHDRAWAL

In terms of Section 61(4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is obliged by law to ensure that elections are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.

Section 3 of the Electoral Act sets out in detail the principles which must govern democratic elections. This Section provides as follows:-

"Subject to the Constitution and this Act, every election shall be conducted in a way that is consistent with the following principles-

(a) the authority to govern derives from the will of the people demonstrated through elections that are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and properly on the basis of universal and equal suffrage exercised through a secret ballot; and

(b) every citizen has the right-

(i) to participate in government directly or through freely chosen representatives, and is entitled, without distinction on the ground of race, ethnicity, gender, language, political or religious belief, education, physical appearance or disability or economic or social condition, to stand for office and cast a vote freely;

(ii) to join or participate in the activities or and to recruit members of a political party of his or her choice;

(iii) to participate in peaceful political activity intended to influence the composition and policies of Government;

(iv) to participate, through civic organisations, in peaceful activities to influence and challenge the policies of Government;

and

(c) every political party has the right-

(i) to operate freely within the law;

(ii) to put up or sponsor one or more candidates in every election;

(iii) to campaign freely within the law;

(iv) to have reasonable access to the media".

What has been going on in this country immediately after the elections held on the 29^th March 2008 is a clear testimony that the elections scheduled for the 27^th June 2008 cannot be held efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.

On the 21^st May 2008, after having noted the sad events that were happening, I instructed my Legal Practitioners Dube Manikai & Hwacha to write a letter to you setting out in detail various concerns which were an impediment to the holding of a free and fair election. For ease of reference, I attach a copy of the said letter. Sadly, that letter was neither acknowledged nor responded to. In my view, if your commission had taken steps to abide by its constitutional mandate, the situation would have probably not worsened. Regrettably, the situation since the letter from my lawyers has worsened to such an extent that no proper election can be carried out. I set out below few examples of the adverse conditions that vitiate the holding of a free and fair election as envisaged in our law:-

1. THE FAILURE BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO ENSURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

Your Commission has failed to discharge its mandate in the following respects;

1.1 Your Commission failed to declare a winner of the Presidential elections as provided for in the Third Schedule of the Electoral Act. This point was well articulated by my lawyers in their letter of the 21^st May 2008 and I associate myself with the submissions made in that letter in regards to this issue. In my view, a Presidential run-off election should have been conducted after due compliance by your Commission and in particular the Chief Election officer with this Section.

1.2 Your Commission has failed to stop and/or condemn continued utterances by senior Zanu PF officials including Mr Robert Mugabe to the effect that irrespective of the election result, Mr Robert Mugabe was not going to move out of his office. The failure by your Commission to condemn such utterances right from the beginning clearly encouraged Zanu PF, war veterans aligned to Zanu PF, senior Zanu PF officials and Mr Robert Mugabe to make it their theme during their campaigns that a President does not come to power through the electoral process but rather through the barrel of the gun. This theme which has become pervasive thoughout the Zanu PF campaigns makes people wonder whether we are in an election or in a war.

1.3 Your commission failed to abide by the provision of the Electoral Act when it failed to conduct the presidential run-off election within 21 days from the date of announcement of the presidential elections results conducted on the 29^th March 2008.

2. VIOLENCE

The violence currently obtaining in this country which has resulted in numerous deaths, destruction of homes, displacement of various people and injuries to people is something that is clearly in the public domain. As of today, the country has recorded at least 86 deaths, 10 000 homes destroyed , 200 000 people displaced and 10 000 people injured.

The victims have been MDC supporters. The violence has been clearly state sponsored and carried out in most cases by members of the Zimbabwe National Army and ZANU PF militia. It is true that in some instances our supporters have fought back, inmost cases in self defence. Because of our inability to access the rural areas, the above statistics may be understated.

If this present scenario is compared to the period towards the 29 March harmonised election, it is evident that the conditions on the ground have fundamentally changed for the worse. The above statistics clearly show that the electoral environment is not conducive to the holding of a free and fair election.

3. THREATS OF WAR

Throughout its campaigns, Zanu PF has threatened that there will be war if an MDC win in the presidential run-off is pronounced. Mr Mugabe made it quite clear recently that power cannot be taken by a pen but by a gun. War veterans aligned to him have articulated this position throughout the country. These sentiments were echoed by senior Zanu PF officials including the President's wife when she clearly made the point that even if I was to win, I was never to set my foot at the State house. Mr Mugabe also came out on National television encouraging his party members to conduct a war-like campaign. These kind of threats coming as they did from Senior Zanu PF officials including the President of Zanu PF should certainly be taken seriously. Indeed, these threats were taken seriously by our population with the result that a free and fair election is something that cannot be dreamt of under these conditions.

4. PARTICIPATION OF THE UNIFORMED FORCES IN ZANU PF CAMPAIGNS

It is common cause that the Zimbabwe National Army through its senior officers has actively campaigned for Zanu PF and continues to do so. This has been the position with the Zimbabwe Republic Police where senior officials have publicly campaigned for Zanu PF. As if this was not enough, the senior officers of the uniformed forces have forced junior officers to vote for President Mugabe. On the 18^th June 2008, my lawyers wrote to you advising you of these developments and the fact that officers from the police, prisons and the army were forced to apply for postal ballots. These officers from the reports we have received have already voted in the presence of a senior officer and were forced to vote for Mr Robert Mugabe. I attach herewith a copy of my lawyers letter dated 18^th June 2008 which letter as usual was neither acknowledged nor responded to. In the circumstances, one cannot talk of a free and fair election which can be conducted on the 27^th June 2008.

5. INTIMIDATION

The level of intimidation which is currently being subjected to our population particularly in the rural areas is alarming. People are being forced to attend Zanu PF meetings during the night. People are being told to record serial numbers on the ballot papers and disclose them to Zanu PF official who are responsible for carrying out the intimidation. These incidents have been brought to your attention but unfortunately nothing has been done by your Commission by way of assuring the voters that their votes are secret as was the case during the run up to the March harmonised elections. Infact, the voter education campaign which was reasonably conducted during the run up to the March 2008 harmonised election has not been repeated. You have simply allowed Zanu PF, war veterans aligned to Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe to scare the people by suggesting quite clearly that presidential run-off vote is between a choice of war and Robert Mugabe.

In my view, there can never be a free and fair election under these circumstances.

6. NON-ACCESS TO MEDIA

The law clearly provides that a political party is entitled to enjoy reasonable access to the media. My party booked space for its advertisements with Zimpapers newspapers namely Herald, Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News and the Manica Post which adverts were to commence on the 13^th June 2008. We were advised that our publications could not be published because of the shortage of newsprint. What surprised us was that Zanu PF's campaign advertisements are being carried in these newspapers on a daily basis. We also encountered problems with our electronic advertisements with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings which effectively resulted in our failure to have access to media. This is in sharp contrast with what occurred during the run up to the March 2008 harmonised elections where we were given reasonable access to the media. The importance of media advertisement in any election is quite critical and it is for this reason that media access was specifically provided for in our law. Without this right, there can be no free and fair elections.

7. THE BANNING OF MDC RALLIES AND MEETINGS AND DISRUPTION OF MDC MEETINGS

Since I launched my campaign for the presidential run-off elections, I have encountered numerous difficulties occasioned by agents of the State. I have been detained at police stations on numerous occasions and thereby denied time to campaign. Our meeting and rallies have been banned by the police. We have had to approach the High Court on no less than 3 occasions for the court to intervene to enable us to go ahead with our rallies. On the contrary, Zanu PF is being allowed to conduct its campaign rallies even during the night. In the few cases that our rallies have been allowed to go ahead pursuant to these Court Orders, Zanu PF supporters have disrupted such rallies. On Sunday the 22^nd June 2008, our star rally in Harare, in respect of which a High Court Order had to be applied for to proceed with such rally was disrupted by Zanu PF supporters. Clearly it is impossible for any political party to campaign let alone to exist without being allowed to have access to the voting population. In these circumstances, it cannot therefore be said that the environment presently obtaining is conducive for the holding of a free and fair election.

DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF VOTERS AND LACK OF ACCESS TO RURAL AREAS

As you are aware voting in the Presidential election is constituency and ward based. In other words no person can vote outside his or her constituency and ward. The massive displacement of people already referred to herein (mainly from rural to urban areas) will result in the disenfranchisement of these people. The confirmed reports we have received confirm that there has been massive and systematic confiscation of national identity documents of our supporters by ZANU PF militia and people claiming to be war veterans. Until our supporters are able to replace these identity documents (which cannot be done by Friday 27 June 2008) they are obviously not going to be able to vote.

Furthermore, more than two thousand of our polling agents throughout the country have been arrested and kept in custody on flimsy allegations. They will certainly be unable to vote. We have trained replacement polling agents, but unfortunately we cannot possibly make arrangement for their deployment in rural areas as it is common cause that the rural areas have virtually been sealed off by ZANU PF militia, some members of the Zimbabwe National Army and people claiming to be war veterans. We will therefore be unable to deploy polling agents at more than 50% of the polling stations in rural areas. Certainly there can be no pretence of holding a free and fair election under these conditions.

From the foregoing and indeed due to several other reasons not necessarily covered in this letter, it is quite clear that no proper election can be held under the present conditions. The present conditions constitute a good example of conditions that vitiate the holding a free and fair election. My party and I have been giving serious consideration to this whole issue for some time, during which time it was hoped that a semblance of a conducive environment may be created as has been the case with other elections where we have participated under protest. The situation obtaining now is very different from what has been experienced in this country since independence. The violence, intimidation, death, destruction of property is just too much for anyone to dream of a free and fair election let alone expect our people to be able to freely and independently express to free themselves. For this reason, my party and I have resolved that we cannot be part to this flawed process. For the avoidance of any doubt the presidential election question remains unresolved until such time a free and fair election is held.

We accordingly urge you to abide by your mandate clearly spelt out in our constitution and in particular ensure that a proper environment conducive for the holding of an efficient, free, fair, and transparent election is held in the shortest period of time possible. It is only in that kind of an election that my party and I will participate in.

By copy of this letter ZANU PF's candidate Mr. Robert Mugabe, the Chief Election Officer and your Commissioners are advised accordingly.

Yours sincerely

Morgan Tsvangirai

PRESIDENT

MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE

Cc: Mr. R. G Mugabe (ZANU PF Headquarters)

Cc: ZEC Commissioners

Movement for Democratic Change Head Office
Harvest House
4 Nelson Mandela Avenue | Harare, Zimbabwe

"BOYCOTTING THE JUNE 27 ELECTION IS ESSENTIAL" SAYS SOKWANELE!!!

2008-06-25T07:18:00.001+02:00

Sokwanele - Enough is Enough - Zimbabwe
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY

Boycotting the June 27 election is essential
Sokwanele : 24 June 2008

"The June 27 Presidential election is not an election, but a declaration of war against the people of Zimbabwe by the ruling party." (SA Congress of Trade Unions statement 24/6/2008)

This is an important call to all Zimbabweans from civil society - you must boycott the forthcoming election.

Do Not Vote in the June 27 Presidential run-off election

Robert Mugabe wants as many votes as he can get so that he can claim he is the "people's president". While it is clear that he will receive some votes and he has already secured the postal votes of the armed forces who were forced to vote for him, Mugabe will want to get substantially more votes than those cast for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on March 29.

We must not let this happen. The best action that we can all take to demonstrate that we refuse to accept Mugabe as our president for yet another five terrible years is to refuse to vote on Friday.

If you are forced by government agents to vote, then make sure you spoil your paper. Do not vote the dictator back into power.

However, please understand that we are not asking you to do anything that you think might endanger your safety or your life. In dangerous circumstances you must do whatever you need to do to keep yourself safe.

The only people who should vote on Friday are those who have by-elections in their wards and will therefore be asked to vote twice. They should vote for the candidate of their choice for the House of Assembly seat but should hand in a spoilt ballot for the Presidential poll.

The three wards where by-elections are being held are:

1. Bulawayo: Pelendaba/Mpopoma

2. Matabeleland South: Gwanda South

3. Midlands: Redcliff

The claim that the election cannot be cancelled

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) states that the Presidential run-off election on June 27 cannot be called off despite the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangirai in the face of escalating violence, intimidation and the disruption of his campaign .

The ZEC cites Section 107 of Zimbabwe's Electoral Act which states that a nominated candidate may withdraw his candidature any time "before twenty-one days from the day …. on which the poll in an election to the office of President is to be taken".

In other words, according to this interpretation of the electoral law, if Morgan Tsvangirai withdraws his name less than three weeks before the run-off - even if the conditions have made it impossible to continue with his campaign - the election still has to go ahead.

This claim is countered by Tsvangirai and his legal team.

In a letter sent to the chairman of the ZEC, Justice Chiweshe, on June 23, Tsvangirai notes that Section 107 of the Electoral Act deals with the withdrawal of candidature from a Presidential election. He points out that the 21-day requirement refers to a Presidential election and not to a run-off. He says it would not make sense to expect a candidate from a presidential run-off election to give 21 days notice of his/her withdrawal where such election has to be held within 21 days.

He continues: "Section 107(3) makes it much clearer that Section 107 does not apply to a presidential run-off election. It provides that:-

'where a candidate for election as President has withdrawn his/her candidature in terms of this section, the sum deposited by or on his behalf in terms of subsection (1) of Section 105 shall be forfeited and form part of the funds of the commission'.

Tsvangirai notes that no money was ever deposited for the Presidential run-off election in terms of Section 105 by any candidate. "Furthermore, there have been no rules prescribed for the conduct of a presidential run-off election and in particular the notice period set for the withdrawal of candidature by a participant. Accordingly, any candidate wishing to withdraw his candidature is free to do so at any time before such an election."

A low poll for Mugabe will undermine his claims of legitimacy

Should the ZEC insist on disputing the interpretation of Tsvangirai's legal team, there is a further issue that needs to be addressed. A Zimbabwean legal expert notes that the provision contained in Section 107 must be read together with the requirement that a Presidential candidate needs to obtain at least 50 percent of the vote. The intention behind the provision, he writes, is that it is necessary for a President to have substantial support from the people of Zimbabwe. The legislation therefore discourages Presidential candidates being elected by default or with only minority support from the electorate.

He notes that, if Mugabe gets fewer votes on June 27 than Tsvangirai received on March 29, then Mugabe will still in theory be elected President, but his claims to legitimacy will be greatly undermined.

And if very few people turn out to vote and Mugabe gets elected by a tiny minority, it will demonstrate that he has no legitimacy as the country's President.

This is good news for all of the displaced people in Zimbabwe who have been concerned that they are not able to vote. And it is good news for the millions of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who wanted to come home to support their families and communities by voting for change.

Boycott by urban voters crucial

One of the biggest challenges we face is that Zanu PF will no doubt try to exaggerate the numbers of people who have turned out to vote in remote rural polling stations where there are no election observers.

To counter this problem, people in the urban areas must do all within their power to make sure that the polling stations are absolutely deserted. They must turn Friday's election into a referendum against Mugabe's misrule. If anyone is forced to go and vote, please make sure you spoil your ballot paper.

Why Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off

The MDC won the March 29 elections, in spite of all the challenges they faced: the March 11 beatings, the continuous attacks on organisations like the National Constitutional Assembly, election rigging, the banning of rallies early on, vote buying, the withholding of food aid and all of the other Zanu PF strategies. It was a victory for peace, democratic change and the rebuilding of our country. The Mugabe regime was furious and since then has declared war on the people of Zimbabwe.

A free and fair election was not possible then and is totally impossible now. There are numerous reasons, but these are the main ones:

1. State-sponsored violence: The police are intimidated and have failed to protect the people of Zimbabwe. Under the direction of the Joint Operations Command, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Zanu PF youths and the youth militia are waging a terror campaign.

2. MDC Presidential candidate's campaign: Rallies have been banned and the MDC President has been arrested on an ongoing basis.

3. Decimation of MDC Structures: There has been a deliberate campaign to destroy the leadership and structures of the MDC. Secretary General Tendai Biti and MP Advocate Matinenga are illegally detained and over 2 000 MDC supporters, including polling agents, are in illegal detention.

4. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is partisan: The ZEC is now staffed by "war veterans" and Zanu PF militia. It is not in charge of the management of this election.

5. The media: The media is under attack and there has been a total blackout of the MDC's campaign. Journalists are being harassed and foreign journalists have been banned from entering the country.

6. The Zanu PF Presidential candidate: Robert Mugabe has no respect for the MDC, for election observers or for the regional and international community. He has declared war by saying that the bullet has replaced the ballot. Chiwenga and Zimondi have stated they will not respect an MDC victory.

7. Planned election rigging by Zanu PF: An elaborate and decisive plan by Zanu PF to rig the election has been exposed.

Why Mugabe and Zanu PF want to continue with the election and retain power

First of all, the Mugabe regime wants the world to believe that everything in Zimbabwe is normal and that the elections are legitimate. Secondly, if they lose power, they will lose the vast sums of money that they have stolen from the country over the years - money that has made them immensely rich and the citizens of Zimbabwe desperately poor. Their greed has wrecked the entire economy of our once stable and prosperous country. Thirdly, when the change comes, they are afraid they will be tried for their crimes, notably for crimes against humanity.

Why we can now count on the support of the world

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) have all supported Tsvangirai's call to withdraw from the election.

Zambian President Dr Levy Mwanawasa, who is also SADC chairman, said: "The current political situation in Zimbabwe falls far short of the SADC principles." He said that the June 27 presidential run-off election should be postponed to avert a catastrophe in southern Africa.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos urged Mugabe to "embrace a spirit of tolerance and respect for democratic norms", while at the same time appealing for an end to all acts of intimidation and violence.
Graca Machel, Joaquim Chissano, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu are among forty former African presidents, prime ministers, civil society heads and other high profile leaders who have called for an end to political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said: "I think this is an embarrassment to Africa because it makes a sham of presidential elections… the time has come for the international community to act on Zimbabwe."
The United Nations Security Council: On 24 June, the UN Security Council issued a statement condemning the campaign of violence against the political opposition which had resulted in the killing of scores of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans, and the beating and displacement of thousands of people, including many women and children. Their statement gave legitimacy to the March 29 poll and noted that the results must be respected. It also condemned the government's suspension of the operations of humanitarian organisations, noting this had directly affected one and a half million people, including half a million children. Not only was the statement adopted unanimously, but the Zimbabwean crisis will remain on the Security Council agenda.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters after a meeting with the 15-nation Security Council on Monday that he "strongly discouraged" the Zimbabwean government from pressing ahead with a run-off election this week.
I would like to take this moment to say how distressed I am by the events leading up to the understandable decision of …. Morgan Tsvangirai to withdraw from the run-off scheduled for this Friday," he said. "There has been too much violence and too much intimidation, a vote held under these conditions would lack all legitimacy."
The powerful South African Congress of Trade Unions (COSATU) has called on "the South African government, SADC governments, African governments and the world not to recognise Mugabe's illegal government all over the world and to refuse to have any dealings with Mugabe other than ensuring that he work towards new elections strictly under the conditions of total observance of the SADC protocols. Furthermore, planned actions by COSATU include mobilising for a blockade - a powerful reminder that Zimbabwe needs the co-operation of neighbours like South Africa to survive.

It is clear that the world has the deepest respect for the courage of Zimbabweans in the face of disgraceful violence and repression. Pressure is mounting from the African continent and from the international community. The United Nations Security Council is fully briefed on the crisis and is in possession of documents that are damning to the Mugabe regime. There is now no place for them to hide.

We call upon the people of Zimbabwe to make yet another brave stand and to ensure that the world hears their silent but powerful protest:

DO NOT GO TO VOTE ON FRIDAY JUNE 27

[for full text on Morgan Tsavangirai's letter, The UN Security Council statement, and the ANC statement on Zimbabwe, please email documents@sokwanele.com where you will receive an automated email with these texts.]

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STATEMENT FROM THE MDC H/Q ON THE ILLEGAL ARREST OF SEC GENERAL TENDAI BITI!

2008-06-17T12:19:00.002+02:00

MDC UPDATE 18.45 Thursday 12 June

Tendai Biti Charged With Treason

>>>>>LINK TO SOURCE OF PRESS STATEMENT<<<<

The Movement for Democratic Change dismisses as ludicrous the charges of treason levelled against its Secretary General, Tendai Biti. Speaking from Harare, MDC Spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, said, "Tendai Biti is a proud Zimbabwean who has been at the forefront of the struggle for a more democratic and prosperous country. He has at heart only the best intent for the country, its sovereignity and its people". "Indeed, if any person's commitment to Zimbabwe should be questioned, it is those individual's in Mugabe's regime who have orchestrated the country's slide into dictatorship, economic ruin and impoverishment," Mr Chamisa added.

Mr Chamisa also said that, "Tendai is a man of moral courage and vision who knew what the regime had in store for him and decided to risk his own freedom to show to the world its illegitimacy and disregard for the rule of law".

The MDC believes that these charges represent yet another facet in Mugabe's campaign to subvert the will of the people ahead of the Presidential runoff through illegal detentions and a massive campaign of state-sponsored violence against the MDC and its supporters. Now that the Mugabe regime has declared the charges against Mr Biti, the MDC demands that his lawyers be allowed access to him and that an independent judicial process take its course.

mdcinformationcenter@gmail.com

Movement for Democratic Change Head Office

Harvest House
4 Nelson Mandela Avenue | Harare, Zimbabwe

WHITHER ZIMBABWE????

2008-06-16T13:44:00.002+02:00

With the things happening in Zimbabwe today, we have to really stand

up and ask ourselves very many pertinent questions.

1. Do we all understand and agree that what Mugabe and ZANU-PF have
been doing in Zimbabwe in the past 28 years is wrong and was supposed
to be corrected a long time ago?

2. Are we agreed that Mugabe has always been evil and has been the
cause of ZANU-PF taking a very wrong line everytime since even before
1980?

3. If asked by certain Pan_Africanists, Afro-American Organizations,
Arab Organizations etc are we all able to relate the evils of Mugabe
and ZANU-PF? Are you not defeated in argument? Be very honest with
your answer.

4. Tracing the story of Zimbabwe from, say 1980, do you see that
Mugabe should have been removed in any manner a long time ago? Can you
relate that story of Mugabe's evils?

5. Can you honestly say there is another manner of dealing with Robert
Mugabe except by a violent planned process? If so, what is the
alternative?

6. Do you believe the people in Zimbabwe can remove Mugabe by
"peaceful means"? Expatiate on your view, if you think they can.

7. While I agree that the Economy is "Mugabe's worst enemy", do you
therefore think that that alone should be allowed to "play itself out"
and then lead to Mugabe's demise? If you are of that school of
thought, please explain yourself in detail.

8. Would you refuse that there are cadres that are prepared to face
Mugabe with the language he understands best? That being the violent
approach? If not, please explain why not? In other words why do you
think the cadres cannot be found.

9. Since Mugabe has declared war if the MDC wins the Presidential
run-off; what is the way forward for Zimbabwe?

10. To sum up: WHITHER ZIMBABWE AT THIS POINT IN TIME?????

Rev Mufaro Stig Hove.

PATRON: ZIMBABWE REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH MOVEMENT.

www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com

www.zimrevyouths.blogspot.com

"Zimbabwe doesn't need a Government of National Unity" Collen Makumbirofa!

2008-06-11T14:55:00.002+02:00

Zimbabwe does not need a government of National Unity. ZANU PF has been defeated over polls therefore should relinquish power.

Former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda talks of unity government.

"The authority between president and prime minister must be fairly shared. The call now is 'come together and start afresh'," Kaunda said. "Through uniting in this government, there can be healing for many dangerous divisions there are in Zimbabwe today."

This is pure hypocrisy. Zimbabwe does not need unity government. Mugabe has lost elections its clear before all who care to look. No, no to Unity government! The people don't want unity government. ZANU PF must go.

The purpose of a state government is to punish evildoers and to protect the innocent.

Many criminals are in ZANU PF or are protected by ZANU PF government of President Robert Mugabe. The purpose of a new government like the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is to punish criminals, to protect the innocent and to root out ZANU PF corruption which now characterizes every sphere of life.

ZANU PF leaders have used power to:

Committed genocide;

Rig elections;

Loot vast amounts of public funds;

Torture tens of thousands of innocent Zimbabweans;

Starve political enemies;

Commit gross human rights abuses;

Unleash Police, Soldiers, CIO, War Veterans and Militias to commit many crimes such as rape, abduction, beating, torture, arson etc…

Therefore must be brought to courts for that. Unity government means corruption will not be rooted out and that ZANU PF leaders who are committing crimes will not be accountable.

MDC must not accept the notion of unity government. We want a clean Zimbabwe and to start rebuilding on sound foundations.

Zimbabwe does not need justice as a concession. Mugabe and his ZANU PF government must go unconditional. The power to make leaders resides in people. The people of Zimbabwe spoke on 29 March 2008, when they voted for MDC.

A leader who has been voted by the people is the one who should be in power. Zimbabwe does not need short cuts to freedom. To consider unity government is to betray the people and to commit national suicide.

Zimbabweans lets speak out. Say no to unity government. Mugabe and ZANU PF must go. Enough is enough; we need new blood and faces in State offices.

Collen Makumbirofa

Foundation of Reason & Justice

www.zimbabwehope.org

Email: zimnews@mail.com

Fax 0027 86 6502 828

Cell 073 7172 719

CEPHAS MSIPA COMES BACK FROM THE POLITICAL GRAVE AND BLUNDERS!!!

2008-06-11T08:55:00.003+02:00

The height of political desperation

"Chiefs and headmen should play a pivotal role of uniting people ahead of the presidential run-off. They should decisively deal with the people's differences and urge them to forge a united front against the British-sponsored MDC led by Mr Tsvangirai," said Cde Msipa.

Welcome back from the political grave Mr. Msipa. What a way to come back to life after being dumped for so many years! Some of us were beginning to think that you either quietly sneaked into the diaspora (to join one of your sons in The UK) or you died and were
buried unceremoniously.

With due respect Cephas, you have really embarrassed me and many other Zimbabweans. Are you aware that chiefs and headmen are not instruments of ZANU PF? Are you aware that in a democracy, they are supposed to be non-partisan leaders
whose interest only lies in the wellbeing of their subjects and the country? What a pity! If this is political desperation, then it has probably reached dizzy heights. How on earth can you literally incite chiefs and headmen to be at the forefront of ZANU-PF violence against innocent Zimbabweans? When will you people ever learn? I hope the AG's office is listening and Msipa must be the first person to be locked up without bail for inciting
political violence!

Coming to that issue, Johannes Tomana, a known ZANU PF apologist and a shameless mercenary masquerading as a deputy Attorney-General (or whatever), must be reminded that it is not up to the AG's office to lock up people without bail (actually you wanted to
say without trial, which is something that happens when political madness takes hold as it has in Zimbabwe). This is an aspect that the courts have to make a decision on within the confines of the law. Your duty is to prosecute, not to pass a judgement. Even a
first year law student in one of the world's poorest universities will tell you this. Which law school did you Tomana and Chinamasa go to? Was it somewhere in the remote mountains of Afghanistan?

What a shame? How will you guys face the nation when democracy returns as it will on June 27?

Ko, nyadzi dzakaindepi?

Wezhira Mafirakureva

Australia

(sent to Rev Hove by e-mail for circulation and publication.)

OPEN LETTER TO PRES G W BUSH FROM REV MUFARO STIG HOVE

2008-05-31T15:13:00.012+02:00

NB: THIS LETTER IS NOW POSTED AT VARIOUS SITES. PLEASE JOIN THE DEBATES THERE! THE WHOLE LETTER AND DEBATES WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!!

"ZIMDAILY" ARTICLE!!!

"THE ZIMBABWE MAIL" ARTICLE!!!

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REVISIT PRESIDENT BUSH'S ADDRESS TO THE UNITED NATIONS WHERE HE WARNED THE REGIME IN HARARE TO "REFORM" OR BE REMOVED!!!!!!!

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, MR GEORGE WALKER BUSH: PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!

31^st May, 2008.

Greetings and Felicitations Your Excellency,

A BRIEF PREAMBLE:

My name is Rev Mufaro Stig Hove. I am a Zimbabwean citizen by descent and I am also a South African Citizen by birth. My father, a Shona from Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) married my mother (a Zulu from Natal) in January, 1956 and I was born at Dundee, Natal, RSA in October, 1956. They went to Rhodesia in 1958 and I grew up there to manhood.

I have decided to live in South Africa since 2006 and have formally taken up my South African Citizenship because I could no longer live freely in Zimbabwe, the country I have so loved and have grown up in from the said 1958 to the said 2006.

I have written a lot about the true situation in my beloved land and the very reason why I decided to write was so that all those who want to know the truth can read for themselves and get it from the proverbial "horse's mouth."

I run a conglomerate of blogs and the Index one being www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com . For obvious reasons, I have never set foot on Zimbabwean soil since I left in August, 2006.

With the type of free blogging I do, I would never see the sun 24 hours or less of setting my foot on Zimbabwean soil.

MY APPEAL, YOUR EXCELLENCY!

Your Excellency, Robert Gabriel Mugabe is a very evil, arrogant and cunning character.

I will follow my knowledge and interaction with him from as far back as 1973.

I will provide links to articles that I (and a few others) have written and which were picked up and re-published on various other sites and a simple "google-search" of my names or the titles of my submissions can reveal the extent of my "influence".

The purpose of this, my humble letter to you, Your Excellency, is to dispel and correct a lot of propaganda items that certain well-placed persons like Mr Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (State President of the Republic of South Africa) may desperately try to ventilate.

I have been presently motivated by news that he is understood to have written a four-page letter to Yourself, Your Excellency. Although we are not aware of the full contents of the said letter, we understand he castigated you using numerous exclamation marks for he what he calls your "meddling" in Zimbabwe's affairs.

Allow me to give you the full story of the Zimbabwean affairs in question, Your Excellency!

I wrote an Open Letter to Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe ( who has illegitimately presided over Zimbabwe's affairs for the past seven years) and I asked him to explain the deaths in mysterious (mainly) car accidents of numerous of Zimbabwe's cream of heroes. The said letter can be found at http://dearmrrobertmugabe.blogspot.com/2006/11/is-robert-mugabe-master-assassin.html under the title "IS ROBERT MUGABE THE MASTER-ASSASSIN?" As a very dedicated ZANU-PF cadre up till 2003, I was aware of these assassinations and I ask Mr Robert Mugabe to respond to that letter for the benefit of the whole world.
I was Secretary of ZANU-PF at District level and we wrecked havoc and killed ZAPU members in Kadoma during the dark days of "GUKURAHUNDI" and I've written extensively on these evil activities and my perspective of how these things happened and I invite you, Your Excellency, to read my submission, "The Thoughts and Memories of a Former ZANU-PF Cadre" and the posting thereof is available at http://zimfinalpush1.blogspot.com/2007/03/memories-and-thoughts-of-former-zanu-pf.html It is well known that on the 16^th of June, 1984 the small farming and mining town of Kadoma (formerly Gatooma) was subjected to ZANU-PF mob-rule which left a trail of burnt houses, destroyed and/or looted furniture and dead,unburied bodies of innocent PF-ZAPU members. I recalled the events of that day in that submission.
A fellow activist, Joseph Tanonoka Whande wrote a very revealing article on why Mr Robert Mugabe can never retire even if he wanted to. I posted this submission at http://chinja.blogspot.com/2007/08/mugabe-cannot-retire-even-if-he-wants.html It is important to look at these issues when we reflect on the situation prevailing at the moment in the beloved, bleeding country of Zimbabwe.
Although he is a dubious character, Professor Jonathan Moyo also wrote a very intelligent analysis of the dangers we face as a Nation as Mr Robert Mugabe precariously clings to power at a shameful age of 84. I posted this article at http://zimfinalpush2.blogspot.com/2007/06/death-of-robert-mugabethe-tragedy-ahead.html . I re-named the submission "THE DEATH OF ROBERT MUGABE, THE TRAGEDY AHEAD" by Prof Jonathan Moyo.
I also wrote a submission along the same lines and I entitled it "IS THE NATION OF ZIMBABWE READY FOR THE EARTHLY DEPARTURE OF ITS 'FATHER'?" (http://zimfinalpush8.blogspot.com/2007/12/is-nation-of-zimbabwe-ready-for-earthly.html ) Your Excellency we are afraid! We are terrified of the aftermath of Mr Robert Mugabe's death. Those that follow him are more afraid than those of us who left him.
I wrote a very detailed submission on how WE RIGGED ELECTIONS in Zimbabwe. I wrote as one that participated in the evil processes and not as a visiting journalist. I can give an Interview on the things that I wrote in that submission. (http://zimgossiper.blogspot.com/2007/04/full-submission-on-rigging-of-zim.html )
I wrote extensively on President Thabo Mbeki's strange dealings as far the Zimbabwean crisis is concerned. One was "THABO MBEKI'S PROVERBIAL LONG ROPE" (http://dearmrthabombeki.blogspot.com/2007/07/thabo-mbeki-s-proverbial-long-rope.html ) and the other more detailed analysis is "WHY THE SADC/MBEKI INITIATIVE CANNOT AND WILL NOT SOLVE ZIMBABWE'S PROBLEMS!" (http://zimfinalpush8.blogspot.com/2007/12/why-sadcmbeki-initiative-cannot-and.html) I wrote from the heart, Your Excellency, and I cannot add anything to what I wrote.
A very respected Media person and Torch-bearer who has suffered untold hardships because of his commitment to Democracy for Zimbabwe ( and indeed for the whole of Africa and beyond): Mr Trevor Ncube who makes it possible for Zimbabweans and the world to get the true and fuller picture of the situation prevailing in Zimbabwe wrote a very lengthy article on the choices facing Mr Robert Mugabe. I posted this article at http://radicalzim.blogspot.com/2007/03/violent-or-peaceful-exit-for-robert_27.html . I need not add anything to that submission.
Last but not least, Your Excellency, there are numerous voices from the grave. Dr Joshua M N Nkomo who was the founder of the Liberation Struggle in Zimbabwe died a broken man. He left us his own perception of events as they unfolded in the 80s. He wrote a Letter to the then Prime Minister Robert Gabriel Mugabe and it is self-explanatory. I posted it together with numerous other articles relevant to the dark era of the so-called "GUKURAHUNDI". (http://gukurahundi.blogspot.com/2007/04/full-letter-from-dr-j-m-n-nkomo-to.html )

Your Excellency let me not belabour you with information.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe is a despicable crook and gangster who deserves neither Mercy nor Diplomacy.

He must be removed swiftly and even violently to save the sinking, suffering nation!

Please under no circumstances should you be side-tracked by the likes of President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki.

The issue is not about land: the majority of the so-called redistributed land went to a few ZANU-PF "heavyweights" and Mugabe's sisters' children.

The issue is not about black pride: Mugabe is hiding an evil murderer who wrecked havoc in Ethiopia and brutally took the life of HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY HAILLE SELLASE (RAS TAFARI).

Mugabe deserves no honourable place in History. Whoever would bring him down to size would be the Hero all of us are looking for!

PLEASE ASSIST THE DEMOCRATIC FORCES TO GET INTO POWER AND SORT OUT THE MESS LEFT BY THE DEFEATED FAILED ZANU-PF MAFIA REGIME.

I thank you for your time to attend to, this my humble letter.

Yours faithfully,

Rev Mufaro Stig Hove.

revmshove@gmail.com

www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

ALSO POSTED AT http://zimdailynews.blogspot.com/2009/04/open-letter-to-then-pres-g-w-bush.html

A Debate on "Xenophobic Violence". Please join!!!

2008-05-22T08:01:00.002+02:00

Deflecting Failure In South Africa

http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=4827

May 19, 2008 11:51 AM

My friend Beauty at "Nigeria What's New" posted on the violence against immigrants taking place in South Africa and wonders "why bloggers in the diaspora are not screaming about this horrible human rights issue since the story broke on May 1st."

Good point, Beauty after all if this was happening in Spain, France, Britain or any where else in Europe we would be screaming. In fact I was screaming the other day about asylum seekers in Britain. Talk to any African foreigners and they will tell you their own experience of xenophobia in South Africa.

But these encounters are superficial and hide the truth. What is happening is far more complex than is being presented in the reports as violence and xenophobia. Nonetheless, these very disturbing videos here and here and here, fit well with the one posted from last week on Race Hate in Russia. More importantly the videos tell us how governments with the support of the media can and have used immigration as a way of deflecting people away from the real issues and their failure to meet the valid expectations of the people.

This article in the Times [A simple recipe for xenophobia] points to a number of factors that have no doubt contributed to the violence. "What caused the terrible scenes unfolding in our country today: children beaten and displaced, women raped and men left with pieces of flesh hanging from their faces, homeless and hungry and desperate?

What led to a situation where young men were unashamed to stand in front of television cameras and say they will kill foreigners? We should not be surprised. For the ANC, led by Zuma and Mbeki, the chickens are coming home to roost………….

These people are behaving like barbarians because the ANC has failed — despite numerous warnings — to act on burning issues that are well known for having sparked similar eruptions across the globe.

But the bulk of the cocktail comprises the failed state that is Zimbabwe. The country's economy has collapsed. Its political leaders, security services and agents are looting the treasury. Zimbabweans are fleeing."

The writer, as in the last paragraph, still externalises the violence by bringing it back to Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe. But it is not just Zimbabweans who are victims of the violence - all Africans are - from townships to universities. In fact the statement only fuels the violence against refugees. Yes clearly there is a struggle for scare resources such as food, housing and jobs but this does not explain everything.

The truth lies more in the total failure of the post Apartheid government to bring about meaningful social change for the masses with the country largely remaining in an economic time warp of white rule. The violence is an indictment on the government which has engaged in an outright attack on the poor in urban and rural areas which is reminiscent of apartheid and what people see is more hardship not less.

The media and the government are naming the violence as xenophobia but the reality is that people have reached boiling point after 14 years of dashed hopes and have now turned on the most vulnerable in their communities, refugees, and foreigners to vent their frustration. This in no way justifies the violence but does go some way to explain the fragility of the country.

I would add that progressive shack dwellers' movements, like Abahlali baseMjondolo in Durban, the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) which has members in some shack settlements in Jo'burg, as well as the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, have always taken a strong position against this violence. Abhalali has always been clear that it welcomes all shack dwellers in to the movement irrespective of where they come from and indeed has hosted men and women from Zimbabwe's shackdweller communities as well as reached out to the residents as far away as Cite Soleil in Haiti.

"It is a tragedy that such attacks are happening in poor working class communities, where the poor are fighting the poor. But there is a clear reason for this. Many in our communities are made to believe that unemployment is caused by foreigners who take jobs in the country – this is simply untrue. Forty percent (40%) of all South African citizens are unemployed and this has been the case for many years.

This is not the result of immigrants from other countries coming to South Africa but rather, the result of the anti-poor, profit-seeking policies of the government and the behaviour of the capitalist class. Such massive and sustained unemployment is a structural problem of a capitalist system that cares little about the poor, wherever they are from/live."

Links: The Sowetan [comments] Tourista Africana,

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Added: May 20, 2008 07:58 AM

Blame The Foreigners

When any society fails to provide its own members with opportunity and sustenance, it's easy to point the finger at those who are different--especially foreigners--as the root of the problem. It happens all over the globe, including the U.S., where billions are being spent to literally build a wall across the southern border to keep people out.

By:

Dave Donelson

Alert a moderator

Added: May 22, 2008 01:19 AM

PUT YOURSELF IN THE OTHER PERSON'S SHOES!!!!

REV HOVE'S BRIEF COMMENTS:

I've lived with the poorest of the poor in South Africa. I've travelled with them in trains eg daily from Mabopane (Pretoria) to Park Station in Johannesburg.

I developed friendships with many young men many of whom are in jail now (they call them Correctional Services here.) I've launched Political Discussions in train coaches as early as 4.30am as we left Wonderboom Station.

We discussed the Political Landscape in the "Rainbow" Nation. I heard of the disappointment. Their desire to hear from a Zimbabwean activist what exactly is wrong in Zimbabwe etc.

I sat in little shacks where my head touched the ceiling if I stood to my full height. These did not belong to Zimbabweans or other "illegal immigtants". They belonged to South Africans some of whom had lived in them for the past five years and more.

I will, therefore, not issue a Statement because the world wants "doctored stuff." A fully detailed Statement I may give if I'm granted a full Inteview eg by SWRADIOAFRICA" as a detailed "Question and Answer" Session rather than a brief "CALLBACK" presentation.

There is more on the ground than is reported.

PLEASE ALWAYS PUT YOURSELF IN THE OTHER PERSON'S SHOES BEFORE YOU CLIMB UP A MOUNTAIN TO SHOUT AT THEM.

Rev M S Hove.

www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com

By:

Rev Mufaro Stig Hove

A VERY EVIL "SHONA MASTER-PLAN"!

2008-05-14T09:54:00.003+02:00

(PLEASE PASS TO MOST TRUSTED PERSON

PROGRESS REVIEW ON THE 1979 GRAND PLAN)

Gift

Never before has history given us the majority Shona People, such a precious present than it has done with Robert Gabriel Mugabe. R.G is simply a perfect embodiment of all our cultural norms and values, our aspirations and expectations, our wants, desires and interests. In his whole life, R.G. has not failed to demonstrate that incredible consciousness of who we are as a people.

The most vivid imagination of what an ideal Shona should look like in appearance as well as how he should behave or present himself to the public, finds an exact match in R.G. His presence among us as a leader with and an abundant and compelling inspiration towards the establishment of Shona Nationhood deserves to be honoured and celebrated as a memorable great occasion in the life histories of all the generations of our people.

Acknowledgement

We do not, as a matter of obligation, fail to appreciate and acknowledge the wonderful achievements, the great valour and the spirit of stubborn resistance against formidable adversaries of all those other great Shona men and women who led our people before. However, without prejudicing fair comparison, it is inarguable though, that R.G. stands out distinctly as a cut above the rest among both the dead and the living Shona leaders.

Consistency

Countless incidents in R.G.'s decorated and exuberant political career testify to the conviction most of us have that the man is a visionary of rare gifts. He is an astoundingly brilliant intellectual as well as being an accomplished academic. Having distinguished himself as the most consistent revolutionary in the fight against colonialism he has gone further to achieve the emancipation of the majority Shona people and consolidated their supremacy.

And signs are that he has hot reached the pinnacle of his political life yet.

Few would argue that R.G. is endowed with a mesmerising eloquence in speech, which together with his subtle charisma captivates and electrifies audiences whenever he stands to speak. Little wonder that he outclassed and turned his political peers into pitiable political dwarfs many of who have fallen victim to consumptive jealous and betrayal. Several of them rubbished themselves to the political dustbin, and personalities like Edgar Tekere and Edson Zvobgo are not exceptions.

Envy

R.G. is an unquestionable source of envy to many, not only amongst ourselves but his foes too, who grudgingly admire him as they learn painfully to accept at his hands. Tony Blair is a classic case in point. Blair's clumsy arm twisting political tactics geared to tame this solid and firebrand revolutionary giant, left his fingers thoroughly scalded. Mr Blair must be ruefully licking his wounds at No 10 Downing Street, having learnt his lesson well, that plagiarising Bush's approach to Saddam would attack serious and perilous consequences to him.

Imperialists

Western leaders are so shamelessly spoilt and conceited to the extent that they throw all caution to the wind when it comes to dealing with Third World political issues. Their naivety often manifests itself whenever there is lack of agreement on key issues especially those that adversely affect the poor nations such as the land issue in Zimbabwe. They refuse to realise that there is a new breed of leadership who will not ask how high when ordered to jump but will certainly ask WHY. African leaders in particular are regarded by the West as filthy hypocrites who are radicals by day but beggars by night, as well as lacking personal opinion and relevant political sophistication. The tendency is to destroy those who defy imperialist dictatorship. R.G. has resolutely said no to imperialism and this way he must be treated like Saddam Hussein, according o Western opinion.

Black Jesus

Some people have a small problem in understanding why Mugabe is to the Shona people, what Jesus is to the Christians or what Kim il Sung and his Juche idea is to the North Koreans. This status was awarded to R.G. by his people in recognition of political astuteness acquired over many years of experience in the fight against colonialism.

It is an uncommon achievement to earn the love and respect of one's enemies. R.G. did just that with the descendants of Mzilikazi / Lobengula – a people with a contemptible history of violence. This did not just happen – it took many years of careful political manoeuvring and scheming. An application of similar tactics to the descendants of Cecil John Rhodes is beginning to yield similar political dividends.

Illusions

For many years both the Ndebeles and Europeans were living were living under a shameful illusion that the crimes of their forefathers had been forgiven and forgotten. This was not to be as R.G. the illustrations son of the Shona people ensured tat the two groups pay dearly for the evil deeds their ancestors. Is it possible that such heinous crimes as those committed by these people against the Shona can just be swept under the carpet because it is political epedient to do so?

Legacy

It costs a daring mind to carve rich legacy for the good of the general public, especially one that restores the dignity of the people at the same time assuring them of eternal dominance over settlers. R.G's legacy brewed in an African pot is unparalleled by any on the continent. Nelson Mandela covertly tried to outshine R.G. by elbowing him off the world political limelight. No sooner had Nelson Mandela started this, did he realise the folly of such an attempt. It dawned on him that he was making an error and that he was too new on the regional political plane.

The twenty-seven years Mandela spent crushing stones in jail did not automatically confer upon him the sort of leadership skills acquired by R.G. in a protracted and arduous struggle for Zimbabwean independence. In fact, jail stunted the growth of Mandela's legal mind – a sad happening indeed. However, his attempt to compensate for the deprivations of that ugly experience by posturing a false image 'towering African statesman' created by his imperialist jailers, collapsed no sooner than had started.

Betrayal

Mandela betrayed and deserted the Black majority in South Africa at the most crucial hour. Speculation is rife that he is severely petrified of whites so much that making land demands, for instance, would in his view, muddy the waters and blemishes his South Africa. At the present moment, the African continent needs genuinely high calibre leadership that will serve the people's interest. Mandela simply chickened out and retreated in haste unremorsefully. Praises continue to be piled on hi because he did not touch the foundation of white wealth.

Priviledges

Future Shona generations will forever enjoy the opportunities and priviledges that will at all times flow from the heroic deeds of R.G. We feel strongly encouraged to stand resolutely behind him and will not cease to see an angel where our detractors / enslavers see a devil and we will continue to see a liberator where they see a murderer.

Differences

Such are our differences that must be resolved not in superficial manner but in practical terms within such a real concrete political context as ours. The redefinition of our relationship with the settlers, black or white, is long overdue! We therefore salute the launch of the third phase of our struggle (THIRD CHIMURENGA) and invite the reader of this article to join us in celebrating the manner in which this fight is being conducted and its guaranteed success in smashing the white economic infrastructure such as farms which facilitated the exploitation of our people.

Dominance

All the struggles that took place in this country since the 1830's were about dominance. Lessons from these struggles confirm the view that a human social group is either dominant or subordinate when it comes to issues of political power, especially in Africa.

Mzilikazi

Mzilikazi fled from Zululand because there was no political space for him to be dominant. He therefore needed to look elsewhere for land where he could exercise power authority and dominance. But because there was no land not belonging to anyone, he targeted military weaker societies and found one in the Shona people whom he viciously subdued and forcibly settled in their land, imposing his authority on them.

Now, comrades, come to think of it – a settler is a settler – PERIOD! What peaceful coexistence can there be to talk about between the majority indigenous Shona and the occupying force of those of Ndebele extraction? A black settler is unwelcome as a white settler in our country.

Ndebele Crimes

Mzilikazi's men, in particular under the command of his terrorist successor Lobengula wrecked havoc in our country. They raped and kidnapped Shona women, looted grain and stole our cattle. Anyone who disputes that this was conquest needs medical examination. For some sixty long years, the Shona people were brutalised, insulted and abused by the Ndebeles. Their wealth was ravenously plundered and economic life left to bleed to death in the most cruel manner. The Ndebele subjected the Shona people to the worst forms of barbarism and tyranny. They imported violence to Zimbabwe and it is a well-known fact that violence was a virtue in Zululand and perhaps continues to be to this day. No one doubts the assertion that violence flows in Ndebele blood.

Lazy

Periodic and incessant waves of cruel raids by Ndebele warriors harvested cattle, women and grain from the Shona to enrich the bogus Ndebele King. The inherently lazy and unintelligent Ndebele anarchist savages preferred to loot and plunder than to learn the skills of the more culturally advanced Shona people who excelled in building as epitomised by the Great Zimbabwe as well as in crop farming and the arts such as stone carving and mbira music.

Complexes

Subjecting the Shona people to a reign of terror created both an inferiority and Persecution complex in them. For instance, the Shona people began to shun the use of their clan names in preference for the totem system such as Dube, Sibanda, Nyoni etc. This was a straight forward case of political subjugation of the Shona people.

White Settlers

The carnage viciously unleashed on our people by the Ndebeles was interrupted by the coming of white settlers who were motivated by the same desire – to dominate. Cecil John Rhodes' men were more advanced in systems of plunder and exploitation than the Ndebeles. The whites dubbed both the Shona and the Ndebeles as African savages of the bush needing to be rushed from the darkness of ignorance.

The white settlers swiftly annexed our country as a colony of Britain. The Shona and Ndebele were, in the view of settlers, identical natives belonging to the same race totally disregarding the oppressor / oppressed relationship between the Shona and the Ndebele that existed before colonialism. However, this did not alter or erase the crimes committed against our people before before by the Ndebeles.

Land

The whites too were in search of land. Back home (UK) they were known minnows, mostly sons of serfs who were used to expand the horizons of the British Empire by carving colonies in all corners of the world. Some of them were convicts let off on a new lease of life to prove their usefulness to the Crown. In-so-far as we are concerned the whites removed us from the clutches of Ndebele colonialism onto the rapacious claws of European Imperialism – a case of jumping from the pan onto the fire.

Our gallant forefathers put up countless spirited fights against the new settlers but were subdued by the military superior invading barbaric force which iced its successes / conquest with the hanging of our great spirit medium, Mbuya Nehanda and others.

Crimes of the White Man

The conquest of our people by the white men was itself a criminal act. Having conquered our people they immediately went into an unbridle frenzy of raping Shona women producing a mixed breed chronically suffers from incurable and severely traumatic identity crisis.

The white invader too started to steal Shona cattle and wildlife – sending trophies to the King, enslaving Shona men on the stolen land (horse pegged farms) and on mines. The slavery was soothed by a crude dosage of religious opium administered by their forunner imperialist chief-scout, Robert Moffat – a man of cloth.

The rest of the details of this carnage may e obtained from history texts as well s from the sad oral tests of our people.

Freedom

An attempt to throw off the colonial yoke in the first half of the twentieth century did not succeed until the entry onto the Zimbabwean political scene in 1963 of a Shona led political party. In this year Zanu was born and excitedly welcomed by those ethnically conscious Shona people who threw their weight unreservedly behind its leadership. This birth signified the beginning of serious business to wrestle our heritage from the white man.

Zanu's motto was 'A fight for Shona Majority Rule', making an instant impact politically by going into an armed struggle, a move later mimicked by the Ndebele led Zapu which comprised of mainly semiliterate hero-worshippers of Joshua Nkomo. Nkomo's lieutenants followed him blindly until he committed political suicide in December 22, 1987.

The only few educated people in Zapu were Shonas like Ariston Chambati and Daniel Madzimbamuto whose true ethnic allegiance ceased to be questionable in 1980.

Partnership

The Majority Shona people had realised that our partnership, with depressed Ndebele savages, to oust the white settler regime from dominance was an extremely complicated affair. This was particularly true in this instance because prior to the birth of Zanu the struggle had been led by Joshua Nkomo, a Ndebele assimilant of very vague, dubious and untraceable ethnic / tribal origins.

Nkomo parroted a motto similar to Zanu's, that of Majority Rule but would not commit himself to 'Shona Majority Rule', preferring to distort in into 'Black Majority Rule'. Such a distortion flew into the face of the real aggrieved person because Nkomo arrogantly and deliberately missed the point. Black majority could only be Black Shona Majority Rule. Anyone who stubbornly refuted this rendered themselves an enemy of the Shona people and Nkomo became one.

Nevertheless in the interest of the struggle we in Zanu appreciated the fact that Nkomo had no option but to offer himself for use to achieve Majority Shona Rule. Hence every positive effort he made was on behalf of us the majority Shona. Now and then he needed to be whipped into line because of his conformist tendencies as in the cases of numerous agreements he struck with Ian Smith under the cover of darkness thereby putting the liberation process in severe stress and jeopardy.

Objective

Zanu sought to regain lost Shona dignity, looted cattle, stolen land and everything else that accrued to the colonialists as a result of their thuggery by the successive Ndebele and European dominant generations. It makes economic sense to charge interest on money borrowed to someone. Therefore, the development / civilisation which the whites brag about that they brought to Zimbabwe is part of the profit which is due to us and we inherit all that violently or not, without a guilty conscience.

White wealth

The riches of the white men in Zimbabwe were and still are accumulated through monopoly, exploitation, theft, plunder, murder, rape, corruption, treachery, hypocrisy and lies. Is it possible to correct or reverse such inhuman acts without resorting to similar tactics? Truly, violence begets violence, and for every action there is a reaction.

Scavengers

It is known fact, that ever since its conception, Zanu had a double prolonged struggle to wage, that is, on the one hand against the Ndebeles and on the other against whites. When the Ndebeles and whites fought one another in the 1890's and then in the 1970's, they were like vultures fighting over a carcass of dead prey. One vulture cannot claim ownership of the dead animal on the grounds that it landed there first. It remains a vulture by name and a scavenger by habit.

Sithole

The Ndebele's had no legal claim whatsoever upon Zimbabwean sovereignty just like

Their earlier cousins (followers of Soshagane) later led by Ndabaningi Sithole, that hob goblin who tried to hijack the struggle. Sithole was foiled and summarily ejected from the party – an act he regretted till his grave. The simple question is why would these two black groupings fight for what did not legitimately belong to them. Participating in the struggle only meant that they were offering themselves for use by the Majority Shonas.

Correction

Zanu's correction of Sithole's errors left the Shangaans a thoroughly confused group despite the modification of their identity to drift closer to Shona under the guise of a language called Ndau, generally accepted among the ignorant as a dialect of Shona. The truth remains – they are foreigners, unwilling to advance our cause as they huddle around and cling childishly to the 'Ndonga'.

Sustenance of illegal regime

For seventeen years of bitter Zanu struggle (2nd Chimurenga) to repossess lost Shona pride and stolen land, the whites put up a very stiff but doomed resistance. They were aided and abetted by their British and American kith and kin that today will never forgive R.G. for taking on our behalf what belongs to us. During the struggle, Ian Smith received modern war equipment from the G8 such as Gazelle helicopters, UZI's etc, but Zanu received expired medicines through the UN. There was no doubt in our minds that the point made by such assistance to Smith in violation of UN sanctions was that blood is thicker than water.

Strategy

Now, in struggle comrades, you must have strategies and develop your own tactics suitable for the environment in which that struggles is being executed. Chairman Mao Ze Dong wrote quite extensively on strategy and tactics. The material is easily accessible to those willing to read and learn. Designing good strategies is not a simple matter- it requires acutely intelligent minds spiced with an unwavering commitment to success.

Zanu was found wanting in this regard.

Men and women made of the correct political material and with characters made of sterner tempered with resilience, honestly, dignity and awesomely high levels of political acumen, began to distinguish themselves on the ground. We remember Chitepo and Takawira, at this level with great fondness.

Reigns

When R.G. took over the reins of power in Zanu tremors of fears in the hearts of whites were heard throughout the country. R.G. Immediately proved to be good quality leadership material through the country. R.G. immediately proved to be good quality leadership material through the manner in which he meticulously and incisively executed the revolutionary fight for the restoration of our hallowed independence and Shona democracy. Revolution means a violent overthrow of the status quo. R.G. did precisely that. As we all know the fight is far from being over.

Flag independence

As long as the white community remained economically dominant beyond Independence Day of April 18, 1980, then the battle is certainly not over yet. Flag independence remains meaningful until the transfer of wealth into the hands of its rightful owners. No one understands this position in Zanu better than the amazingly resilient and conscientious strategist R.G.

Impediment

Because of the Lancaster House Constitutional trappings, R.G. put the issue of white economic dominance in a political freezer, which he safely locked with the word 'Reconciliation'. This earned him bountless praises such as ' The most brilliant politician' by his former tormentors who could not believe their ears when the policy of reconciliation was announced. R.G. knew how to leave sleeping dogs to lie. He opted to decisively deal firstly with the Ndebeles once and for all.

Zapu and Zipra

At independence Zapu posed the most difficult challenge to Zanu over the leadership of the country. The threat was not so much in terms of grassroots support as it was in terms of military firepower which Zapu built over many years with Russian and Cuban support while Zanla sweated it our desire to conclusively deal with issue of Ndebeles and their ugly past and the need to pacify Zapu was never greater than in 1980.

5th Brigade

R.G. instantly realised that it would be futile to draw open battle lines with 'vaDumbuguru', preferring to quietly do his homework. He brought into the country super military training experts from North Korea. Within eight months, a revered, feared and uncompromising crack force, known as Gukurahundi, had been trained. This is the force (5th Brigade), which was to strike terror in the hearts of Ndebeles. On one hand, R.G. consistently dangled the juicy carrot of Government of National Unity and the integration of forces into the National Army. Mugabe always knew that Nkomo was desperate for power and so he let him have a little of it. The integration of the three armies would help to scatter Zipra and wide.

Dissidents

On other hand, R.G. created a small rebel force compromising mainly of recruits from Zipra and called them dissidents who were complimented by selected highly trained Zanla forces who would direct operations. The group was put on pay role and then deployed in the Midlands and Matabeleland.

Soon the self styled dissidents were joined by other genuinely aggrieved Zipras who could not stand the heat generated exclusively for them in the National Army. However, the army deserters and a few notorious Zipras who hated R.G. with a passion, never had a clue that the dissident element was not a Zapu initiative. While Zapu denied sponsoring dissidents, leading to a loss of faith and confidence in their leadership by Zipras, the genuine dissident remained confused and uncoordinated finally resorting to aimless nomadic movement within the region. It is during wondering that they got ambushed, killed and displayed at Police Camps until they began to decompose.

The Government – sponsored dissidents straight away went into orgy of band activity such as destroying development project equipment, raping women, demanding food, killing a few 'Ndebele sell-outs' especially those in the Zapu party structures. They cleverly avoided direct contact with the National Army units except a few small skirmishes meant to deflect suspicion.

Pretext

A perfect pretext had been created. The 5th Brigade was then swiftly deployed in the three provinces to 'deal with the dissidents' under the command of that agile and indestructible Perence Shiri. The real targets were Ndebele civilians and Zipra man whose fathers had committed crimes against the Shona People. The strategy worked well, in no time Zapu's political structures were smashed.

Liquidation

Within five years, 25 000 Ndebeles were exterminated in ways that instilled fear in the survivors, family life was dislocated as members scattered in different directions. The rate of kill was just unbelievable and inspite of rumblings by the minority Zapu in parliament, the exercise carried on undisturbed culminating in the 'Head of the Snake' villain fleeing the country to take refuge in a European country where his stay was bankrolled by the same multinationals he had earlier proclaimed to be fighting.

Achievements

The real achievements of such a strategy was much greater than what the numbers of those slaughtered reflect. There is probably roughly 2 million Ndebeles still alive today and therefore the first achievement of the 5th Brigade was redefining Ndebele and Shona relationships is so far as to who matters in this country. The Ndebeles now fully know who wields what political clout in this sets the stage for the discussion of other achievements of the 5th Brigade. The achievements include:

Heritage

The military offensive in Matabeleland opened new windows of opportunity for the Shonas to reassert themselves in the country as the dominant and numerically superior group in order to repossess our lost glory and heritage, expressed in material, cultural, social and spiritual terms.

Language

The Shona language has regained its dominant position in our society. It has become the lingua franca of Zimbabwe in the public sector particularly in government departments such as the army, police, hospitals, schools, immigration, customs, throughout the country. One can now authoritatively demand service in the Shona language, even conduct telephonic conversation anywhere in Matabeleland without any need to apologise for the use of Shona or without the burden of having to speak Ndebele. National Z.T.V. is completely Shona and does very well to promote and develop our language. This is as it should be since Zimbabwe is a Shona Nation.

We should not give room to the languages of the invading grouped because our intention is to culturally fracture and dislocate them.

Let us be reminded that language dominance automatically creates many opportunities such as employment, which occurs accordingly to the language spread. Shona speakers are now everywhere, in every corner of the country not as vegetable vendors but as holders of influential positions. This occurrence is not accidental and the doubting Thomases better get this point straight because it cost careful planning.

Ndebele children now realise that ignorance of Shona is a serious handicap and have, therefore, slowly but surely grown to accept the inevitable relegation of their own language to an insignificant and parasitical second class means of communication restricted to their homes or play in the streets.

Ndebele can only play a translational role in Zimbabwe and nothing else beyond this – check the Zimbabwe passport, newspaper etc.

As Shonas, we can now freely traverse the length and breadth of the country armed only with our language for communication. The same cannot be said of Ndebele. We must take note that even when a shona person makes an effort to utter just a single 'ngca' or 'ka' for 'qa', the Ndebele stupidly get amused or fascinated like we used to when the white men attempted to speak Shona, for instance, if the white men in church spoke broken Shona, like 'imwari yedu' you could not miss the excitement and appreciation on the faces of the black congregation who believed in the superiority of the English Language.

The sell-out tea boy, Morgan Tsvangirai, rides on this crest of the success of our policy to elevate Shona to undisputed one National official language. We gather that when he roves around denouncing the President, in his party's stronghold of Matabeleland he addresses his rallies in Shona.

He better be advised that this filthy opportunism as he exploits R.G's deeds at the same time trying to destroy him politically. In any case he is politically a product of Zanu turned prodigal son. The ZCTU, which short him to prominence, was established by Zanu turned prodigal son. The ZCTU which short him to prominence was established by Zanu in the interest of the oppressed workers and Tea-boy better put his act together. Ziva kwawakabva!! Or else hemlock is ready for you Mr Chameleon.

Jobs

Roughly 95% of Government jobs in Matabeleland and almost 100% in the rest of the country are held by Shonas. We cited the relevant department earlier and added positions that matter as well as low-grade jobs are invariably in Shona hands. Exceedingly heartening is the fact that the private sector went ahead without waiting for directives to implement the policy successfully. This includes factories, banks, construction companies etc.

Training in tertiary institutions too has played a very significant role, as it is critical that in manpower development due attention is paid to giving skills to the Majority indigenous Shona who will be able to take up employment opportunities always. Teachers' Colleges, Polytechs, Universities, all reflect in their enrolment, Shona dominance regardless of where the institution is located in the country. The most educated people are Shonas consequently.

With time cities such as Bulawayo will be Shona dominated as predicted accurately by the late hero Herbert Ushewokunze who at some point ill-timed the naming of Mshabezi dam as Mwanakuridza. It is a well known fact that the job distribution in the city council of Bulawayo is skewed in favour of Ndebeles. However, it is pleasing that this is the only employer in Matabeleland with a majority of Ndebeles. Efforts must be made to put them in line with the present trend.

The resistance of the teaching of Shona in all schools in Matabeleland will soon fizzle out. More and more teaching posts are being taken up by Shona college graduates and appointments of Shona school heads has already been won. Students/pupils in all schools in that part of the country will, in the not too distant future be mostly Shona. We must not forget what Nathan Shamuyarira once observed in the 1979 Grand Plan ''The only way to weaken the Ndebele is to deprive him of an education'. Shona is taught in all teachers' colleges and pressure must continue to be applied to limit the teaching of Ndebele to those few who happen to be enrolled.

Some churches too are beginning to realise the trend of the times. They have introduced strictly Shona services - a very pertinent move towards achieving our goal. All churches nation-wide must conduct services in Shona to achieve that national cohesion and singular Zimbabwe national identity. However, there are some Bishops of a known church organisation pretending to be self-anointed champions of the Ndebele lost cause. Their days are certainly numbered, as the 4th Chimurenga will leave no stone unturned, even religious stones will roll.

Culture

In fact there is no such portion of this country called Matabeleland. This was colonial mischief at its worst, in order to apply the divide and rule barbaric policy. How could invaders have a place named after their tribe as if they were legitimate inhabitants?

Our culture, robust and durable as ever, is spreading swiftly throughout the country and the agents are known to us all.

Shona cultural trends are emerging in areas of 'rowora' traditionally bastardised as 'lobola' where astronomical bride prices are now being sought by every Zimbabwean parent. Burial rites like the mock drama in imitation of the deceased's fond habits are now done even where no Shona person is present. Once a trend is self-perpetuating, it ceases to need monitoring as it gets weaned off from its architect. The drum and dance at funeral wakes and our trust and faith in black magic have all permeated the social value structures of our former masters.

National public addresses at official functions are done in Shona. Being a Shona is now a source of pride particularly in Shona assimilates who in place of that cultural void, have received a reward to fill the gap as a result of seeking redemption from Shonas.

Marriage partner preferences bear further testimony to the superiority of Shona. Ndebele girls will without exception opt to marry a Shona man given a choice between men from the two groups.

This is not without reason.

Ndebele men are often savage and brutal prospective husbands. They are ungiving, unprotective and stingy. Since time immemorial, Shona men have enjoyed the luxury of making Ndebele girls pregnant and then deserting them. There are several benefits from this. The young ladies lose out on education, hence on reliable sources of income, eventually resorting to prostitution.

In fact, our Shona drama script writers have captured this when invariably all loose female characters playing the role of prostitute or infidelity are given Ndebele names such as MaNcube, MaKhumalo. Secondly we have managed to dilute the Ndebeles since children fathered and left by our brothers (illegitimates) are Ndebele by name but Shonas by blood. This is a legitimate form of struggle. The end justifies the means. The true Ndebele population is shrinking and we can all be catalysts in this.

Business opportunities

The emergence of Shona indigenous black business entrepreneurs in another great achievement toward our goal. Most black owned retail shops in Bulawayo belong to Shona people, the Chigumiras, Munyoros, etc. Most black owned firms in manufacturing, communication, engineering, clothing, transport, belong to Shonas in the so called Matabeleland. Names such as Philip Chiyangwa, that whiz-kid who turns anything he touches into gold are now household names especially amongst fighters for black empowerment.

Chiyangwa and others are leading the crusade to funnel every industrial and commercial asset in Bulawayo and elsewhere into Shona hands.

Consumable products such as milk, beef, soups carry Shona labels. The purpose here is to force the die-hard Ndebele families to start using Shona words in their home.

Language describes one's surroundings and it is becoming abundantly clear to the Ndebele that this situation is inescapable and R.G. must take credit for it all.

Combined Effort

The military, cultural, economic and political assaults complimented one another very well to bring about the sterling achievements cited above. The success of the business enterprises mentioned elsewhere was calculated. The appointment of a Shona to head the Central Bank (Reserve Bank) ensured that noone else gets a banking licence except Shonas' paving way for the establishment of the indigenous banks with branches all over the country by Shonas only.

We now have a Shona dominated banking sector which used to be a preserve of foreigners and there is no doubt that this is pivotal to the indigenisation process. Despite serving everyone, regardless of race, colour, creed, tribe these banks have fulfilled their role in our struggle for Shona dominance and therefore would like to congratulate Julius Makoni of National Merchant Bank (NMB), Leonard Nyemba of Trust Bank (Trustfin), Gideon Gono of the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ), Francis Nhema of Zimbabwe Building Society (ZBS), Thaka Mutunhu of Agribank, Nigel Chanakira of Kingdom Bank – the list is endless.

Recently one of these banks helped to establish a Shona person in the heart of Matabeleland North farming area of Nyamandlovu, on the aquifer – the most valuable land in this area. The Shona man from Gweru was facilitated with a $60 million loan to takeover a highly priced productive dairy enterprise from a Swindells who could only take from the Kershelmar Dairies, his personal belongings before he left for Australia.

The Tagariras, also Shonas from Bulawayo, have taken over large properties (farms) in the same area, thanks to these banks and A2 Resettlement. More and more large properties in the same area, thanks to these banks and A2 Fast Track Resettlement. Shona workers are employed in these farms. One must be a fool to fail to realise such political astuteness on the part of our leader.

Most of those who are ungrateful to Zanu for these achievements are ignorant of the fact that the 1979 Grand Plan intended to facilitate funding for budding Shona business enterprises in farming, the hotel industry the purchase of large industrial complexes being sold by migrating former Rhodesians such as G & D in Bulawayo. We must appreciate that wherever these banks occur in the country, 100% staff is Shona.

R.G sourced funds from the IMF and World Bank and then cancelled them into loan disbursement programmes through these banks. No foreign owned commercial bank could be trusted with such funds lest they fail to apply the relevant discrimination against the Ndebeles. Indigenous banks funnelled the funds into Shona hands. And therefore, our obligation is to ensure that the noises made by IMF and company about non-payment does not hurt us politically because the money was put to good use. Those young Shonas tempted to shun the party should seek more information on the 1979 Grand Plan of Zanu.

Land

This brings us to the very sensitive issue of land, which has been a bone of contention since the Ndebele occupation of Zimbabwe. Because the majority of people in Bulawayo are Shonas, the rural areas must now be the target. This can only be through the settlement programme. The deployment of Shonas in Rural Matabeleland will be the last blow to break the spine of the enemy. Because of this vision o n our part, political power cannot be allowed to slip into the hands of tyrants. Zapu was an impediment to the realisation of this vision but we managed to destroy it. In the words of the now maverick and controversial Zvobgo being advice to Zapu. 'There is no less painful way for you than to join Zanu'.

Nkomo capitulated in 1987 and we all know that the Unity Accord was a farce or spokescreen face serve for Zanu's one time greatest foe and headache turned tool.

Shona supremacy is not a dream but a reality. Should you stand idle and fail to throw your weight behind the leadership? Ask yourself whether you could be where you are were it not for Mugabe and Zanu – educationally, politically, economically, etc. Land that is still in white hands must all find its way into Shona hands. The courts can shout until the cows come home.

Many of us were sent to the gallows for demanding our independence. The question of compensation is a non-starter; white farmer must go to Australia via the UK to collect their compensation. Zanu is simply returning to the rightful owners what is rightfully theirs. Food shortages will soon be a thing of the past – we must persevere. Those whites that bought farms are as guilty as their fathers who horse-pegged Zimbabwean land, parcelling out to war fighters, because they received stolen property. The ongoing agrarian revolution must be won or else our independence shall remain hollow. The party will continue to use Nkomo's fighters to further the cause but we must know when and how dump them so that their presence within our ranks does not unmake our victories in the area of marginalizing them.

Fortunately, most of them are not intellectually gifted though to suspect that we are still guided by the 1979 Grand Plan. Zanu will not change – Zipra should change to accept that they are foreigners and therefore not entitled to enjoy the benefits of being Zimbabweans. SO far they have done well in striking terror in the hearts of their MDC colleagues. The struggle is a process – from Mgagau/Morogoro to the establishment of Shona Nationhood, onward ever!

BACKWARD NEVER!

The deeds of Great Man must be told while they leave. We need to refocus in view of the presence of the enemy within our ranks.

FROM THE CORE

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"HOW TO DO THE FINAL PUSH WITHOUT FIRING A SINGLE SHOT" COMMENT FROM A READER!!!

2008-05-08T10:44:00.003+02:00

FOR ORIGINAL ARTICLE, PLEASE CLICK HERE!!!!

Dear Rev Hove.....

The Time has come I think to; for the people of Zimbabwe to turn on those who have turned on them, we are watching an UNfree and UNfair election being stolen from the MDC to aid Mugabe and the people in power to stay in power alittle longer.

I do agree with the "no shots fired approch" however, I do not believe that the country as a whol can survive another year or more, before it gets to the point of no return.

on this note, I shall mention that ZANU pf are bullies, and what is the best way to deal with a bully?; hit him....... and hit him hard.

I am not suggesting rampent turmoil in the streets of Harare, no far from it, but I am suggesting that there are many people who are losing patience in Zim right now, and that should be used in a directed fasion, look what the war in Zimbabwe did for ZANU, I firmly believe that, a well trained, diciplined and dedicated group will turn any unpaid, undernourished member of of the ZNA, Police or " so called war veteran who has never fired a sht in his life because he was too young to have fought the war". This group will be made up from people in Zimbabwe and from zimbabwean across the globe who have watched their sons and daughters raped, killed, tortured or worse or have had to flee Zimbabwe.

The lucky/unluck/desperate few who have evaded the ZANU thugs have eneded up being treated like dogs in the countires of our so called friendly neighbours.

ZANU has declared war on the people of Zimbabwe.....It is the people of Zimbabwe who make Zimbabwe a "sovreign" state, not Mugabe, the JOC or ZANU.

"MAJORITY OF SADC LEADERS ARE CORRUPT AND POLITICAL HYPOCRITES!"says Collen Makumbirofa

2008-05-07T13:46:00.002+02:00

I thank all the people who are working for change in Zimbabwe. l encourage you to continue informing the world about torture, state-made starvation, serious human rights abuses and wide spread murder in Zimbabwe. Since the State sponsored violence that started after 29 March 2008 (with new dimension) more than 20 people have been murdered. More than 5 000 people have been displaced from their homes. In rural parts of the country houses of people who did not vote for the ruling ZANU PF government continue to be burned down. Now we are on the brink of genocide. That is how it started in Matabeleland genocide in 1983.

I don't think most of SADC leaders will do much to stop genocide in Zimbabwe or bring freedom and justice in this so-much troubled land. Many African leaders fear change in Zimbabwe. South African president Thabo Mbeki is also among those afraid of change in Zimbabwe. Mbeki has proved to be a political hypocrite as far as the Zimbabwean humanitarian crisis is concerned. How can a leader like him say, "There is no crisis in Zimbabwe?" Is that not hypocrisy?

All these years Mbeki has been playing political games – lying to the Western world and pretending as if he had a solution for Zimbabwe. I will never trust the ANC. What is the basis of hope in them? Failures, sympathizers of a murderous government (Mugabe's ZANU PF); pretending to be working for a change in Zimbabwe. Good the world has managed to see it now. That has been my call for the past 3 years.

Please may all people forget about Mbeki, he is just an insult to patriotic Zimbabweans. Even a shame to the whole African Community. People often forget that Mbeki's government legalised homosexual marriages, permits pornography and murder of unborn children (abortion). Is this democracy or ungodliness?

Majority of black leaders are failures in politics. SADC do not condemn Mugabe for corruption, torture, murder of innocent because majority of them are also corrupt and failures in their own countries. To Mugabe they say one thing, to the West another. Few of them murmur about Mugabe in order get foreign aid which they also fail to use properly. Deep down they love Mugabe and do not want Zimbabweans to be free.

Never trust these indifferent and corrupted black leaders when it comes to truth, democracy, freedom and justice in Zimbabwe. Watch them; they don't care about the oppressed and dying. They are failures and can't even run their own economies. The ANC has failed South Africa just imagine abject poverty, violent crime and corruption in government.

ANC cover up for their failures by racism and blaming whites for everything. ANC achievements: Abortion (murder of children), homosexual marriages (abomination to God), corruption, robbery and abuse of immigrants by police, and license of pornography. South Africa has become a small piece of hell on earth. Leaders who allow such evils are failures. Why should the world expect them to help Zimbabwe?

Mugabe has lost polls and must go. No negotiation. No Unity government or power sharing. The MDC must not accept unity government. The will of the people must be respected. People voted for MDC because ZANU PF leaders are murderers and corrupt. In a new Zimbabwe we have no place for ZANU PF leaders. We have had enough of corruption, dictatorship, murder, torture and state-made starvation.

So far majority of black governments have failed Africa. Zimbabweans need to liberate themselves. I don't think UN is going to do much. Since South Africa and China will veto every decision to act on Zimbabwe.

It's tragic that Zimbabwe is a Gun free Zone. Our people are defenseless. Cases of women being raped, people being tortured and murdered are on daily basis. Zimbabwean communities need guns for self-defense. If the world does not help in this way Mugabe's militias will murder tens of thousands of people who did not vote for ZANU PF. It's high time we speak the truth; pacifism will not save life in Zimbabwe. The UN and SADC or Mbeki will not do anything worthwhile to prevent this genocide. The situation is desperate. People need to defend themselves. Our lives are precious in sight of God.

Zimbabweans in South Africa and other countries need to act to save life. Mugabe must not be allowed to commit another genocide without resistance. Self-defense is Biblical acceptable. Communities can defend themselves from state militias, so-called War Veterans and soldiers who are on rampant torturing and murdering innocent people who refused to vote for ZANU PF.

Write letters to your leaders urging them to support Zimbabwe. Pray and practical support the oppressed Zimbabweans.

Collen Makumbirofa
Foundation of Reason & Justice
Cell 073 7172 719
Cell 0027 73 7172 719 (when out of South Africa)
Source URL: http://forjustice.atspace.org
Email: makumbirofa@justice.com

"The tragedy of Zimbabwe" by Ian Boyne

2008-05-05T09:08:00.004+02:00

LINK!!!!
"An evil remains an evil whether practised by white against black or black against white".
- Robert Mugabe, 1980.

If only that African dictator Robert Mugabe could internalise those words of his, uttered on the eve of independence in 1980, we might have been spared all that canard about "Western colonialism and imperialism," which has been used to mask his naked oppression of his fellow black people in that tragic land of Zimbabwe.

Fortunately, through one of the relics of British colonialism - a competitive electoral system - the people of Zimbabwe might have the opportunity to be rid of him after 28 years. Mugabe's rape of his people and his squandering of their opportunity for liberation provide a sad reminder of the colossal failure of the post-independence leaders of Africa, who are distinguished more by their kleptocracy and autocracy than by any democratic impulse.

The country has sunken

Morgan Tsvangirai, whom all indications show has won over Mugabe in the recent elections, might not turn out to be vastly different from Mugabe, but there are inducements which can be given by the United States, Europe and the Commonwealth which would make life easier for the Zimbabwean people.

Mugabe has sunk Zimbabwe from the fastest-growing African country in 1997, with some of the richest farmland in Africa, to a country where, incredibly, inflation now runs at 165,000 - the highest on the globe. GDP has shrunk by over 45 per cent since 1998 and 80 per cent of Zimbabweans are jobless. The country has moved from one which used to be a net exporter of maize, cotton, tobacco, roses and sugar cane to one which exports "only its educated professionals" as the Atlantic Monthly puts it in an article titled "How to kill a Country" (December 2003). More than one-third of all of Zimbabwe's 13 million population now need food assistance.

Life expectancy

More alarmingly, life expectancy has dropped from 61 years in 1990 to 37 for men and 34 for women in 2006. And UNICEF estimates that well over one million Zimbabwean children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.

Mugabe's disastrous economic policies, exacerbated by his misguided policy of expropriating the land of white landowners, have plunged the country into ever-deepening crisis, complete with his autocratic and criminal rule. The manufacturing sector has almost ground to a halt and gold producers are operating below one-fifth of capacity.

The private sector has been crippled by Mugabe's plans to indigenise 51 per cent of major commercial enterprises. Price controls and other failed economic strategies of the dogmatic Left have guaranteed the ruination of the economy.

Honour-bound

Over three million Zimbabweans are estimated to have fled the country, many to neighbouring South Africa. Zimbabwe now needs to be liberated from the man who liberated it from white racist rule. And yet, there are still progressives who feel honour-bound to defend Mugabe against his "Western detractors". In their view, the Zimbabwean economy has been wrecked by the British colonialists and the US imperialists in retaliation over the take over of land owned by white people. The Zimbabwean revolution was going well until the colonialists and imperialists sought to punish Mugabe for exercising his sovereignty.

This kind of mindless, supposed Pan-Africanism and African nationalism can be seen in the magazine New African which, in its May 2008 edition ("Zimbabwe on a knife-edge"), continues the myth-making. Says the main article written by someone reporting from the front lines in Zimbabwe: "The trick has always been to gradually wear down the people of a targeted country via economic hardships and thus push them slowly towards an imaginary 'tipping point' from where they will kick against the government. The tipping point has been almost reached in Zimbabwe and the results of the 29 March elections were just a reflection and confirmation of that fact. In other words, the people voted with their stomach".

50-50 split

Parallels are then drawn with Chile, though the writer noted - apparently with some relief - that in the case of Mugabe he "still managed to hang on and split the vote 50-50 with the opposition", while managing to keep his life, unlike Allende.

Mugabe had been saying since 2000, when he began his forced expropriation of the land of white landowners, that the British were working to overthrow him and that they were funding the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The New African magazine quotes foreign minister Dr Stanley Mudenge as being told by former British foreign secretary, the late Robin Cook : "Stan, you must get rid of Bob (Mugabe)" The magazine says the Zimbabwean foreign minister was shocked. But Cook reportedly went on: "You heard me right. You guys must get rid of Bob". Mudenge then said something which is very significant and which is the sentiment of many in the progressive movement: "So long as you want him out, we want him in."

Cook then told him, according to the report: "Don't say we didn't warn you. If you don't get rid of Bob, what will hit you will make your people stone you in the streets!" And then New African ends, "Cook's words nearly came to pass on 29 March!"

Africans, who have suffered under the cruel and tyrannical hands of the white colonialists, and the progressives throughout the world, who have understood how Western imperialism has suffocated the lives of large numbers of people, have to find a way around a knee-jerk support for dictators with black faces and those with an anti-Western posture. That you are anti-colonialist and an anti-imperialist does not give you the right to oppress people, deny them freedom of association and freedom of expression.

Distraction

This is why I have always maintained that Cuba must stand condemned, despite its impressive human development indices, because of its denial of civil liberties and human rights. Man shall not live by bread (or cassava!) alone. For too long the "anti-colonialist, anti-imperialist" flag has been waved as a distraction from the brutal oppression of the masses by the criminal and corrupt class of political leaders.

And, too often, they have carried out their atrocities under the shield of "territorial integrity" and "national sovereignty". What gives political leaders the right to oppress and commit crimes against people simply because they are locked up in borders over which they have political control? The debate which is raging in international law and politics over the Westphalian notions of sovereignty and "non-interference in the internal affairs of states", as opposed to "the responsibility to protect" people in the global commons from human rights abuses must continue - for the good of humanity.

Countries have signed international treaties and conventions and they must live up to them or face punitive actions from the international community. The African Union has been impotent in dealing with the barbarities of African countries, because of the legalism over territorial integrity and sovereignty. Mbeki has been engaging in quiet diplomacy for a long time, while Mugabe continues his plunder of people's rights and to murder his opponents.

There is too much hypocrisy and double-standards among African leaders and progressives when it comes to principles. For many, it is not the principles themselves which are sacrosanct but which side happens to be espousing them.

If the United States and other Western countries do certain things or behave in a certain way, then they are wrong and must be condemned, but it is okay if our friends and ideological allies do those very same things.

Secret negotiations

As the International Herald Tribune says in its April 17th edition ('The Silence of Mbeki'), Despite the fact that in late 2007 Mbeki presided over secret negotiations between Mugabe and the Zimbabwean opposition on a new constitution which included major reforms and democratic safeguards, Mugabe rejected Mbeki's efforts and conducted the elections under the old constitution. (And he still does not want to give up power though he has lost on all counts.)

Says the International Herald Tribune: "Mbeki's refusal to condemn Mugabe and lead a regional diplomatic front to pressure him to honour the vote - either by holding a fair runoff or stepping down - is particularly disappointing because he and other anti-apartheid activists condemned Western countries for precisely that sort of softball diplomacy during the 1980s. When the African National Congress called for universal suffrage and sanctions against the apartheid regime, the Reagan Administration, instead, pursued a gradual policy of 'constructive engagement'". And that, of course, was condemned.

"Quiet diplomacy"

Says the Council on Foreign Relations October, 2007, report titled Planning for Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe, "Many within Zimbabwe and in the international community had pinned their hopes on the South African Government for effective international action to help resolve Zimbabwe's crisis. South Africa has leverage as Zimbabwe's most significant trading partner and is a major supplier of electricity to Zimbabwe. But its policy of 'quiet diplomacy' has been a loud failure to the Zimbabwean masses."

China also has been propping up the Zimbabwean dictatorship, being birds of one feather in terms of sharing a common authoritarian ideology. (In the midst of the Zimbabwean terror, China recently shipped more arms to Mugabe.)

Zimbabwe's sadness is shared by many of us. I remember sitting close to Mugabe, the African freedom fighter, in the canteen of the then Agency for Public Information (now JIS) in the 1970s when he was brought here by Michael Manley. He spoke passionately of his desire to liberate his people from white oppression and to bring a new day to Zimbabwe. That day has turned into a nightmare under his misrule.

Many of us might recoil from the right-wing vituperation of George Ayittey, distinguished economist at American University, set forth in his 481-page book, Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future.

But we can't go on blaming all of Africa's ills on colonialism and imperialism. That would be a cruel disservice to the people who have to live under the tyranny and corruption of some in the African political class.

Ian Boyne is a veteran journalist who may be reached at ianboyne1@yahoo.com

PROPHECY ABOUT MUGABE AND TSVANGIRAi COME TRUE!!!

2008-04-30T13:32:00.002+02:00

An account from one living elder in Zvimba that connects the Mzilikazi, Robert Mugabe and Mogan Tsvangirai, and the significance of the number 28 among these Zimbabwe legends. On March 10, 1952, the Zvimba elder and James Chikerema were called by a terrified Robert Mugabe to hear a voice that had been haunting Robert Mugabe since his return from the University of Fort Hare.

Chikerema recorded the conversation with 'the voice' which was directed to Robert "Gabriel" Mugabe as follows: "In 28 years you will be King of Dzimbahwe but you will rule for only 28 years for today is born a boy who will take over from you 28 years into your rule. This boy will be 28 years old when your reign starts, and his own reign will commence when he is as old as you when yours starts, at 56.

I can't tell you how long he will rule, but by then you will have greedily destroyed the riches of Dzimbahwe". Robert Mugabe was too terrified to respond, so James Chikerema who was recording, asked, "But why this 28, 28 thing on our Son?" The reply, "Because Mzilikazi died in 1868 and after 28 years in 1896, the First Chimurenga broke out.

After 28 years in 1924, a foremost icon of the second Chimurenga, you Robert Gabriel Mugabe would be born. (I am the one who christened you "Gabriel" at your birth). Today (10 March 1952) 28 years later I come to you again, on the heels of your return from Mzilikazi's land (Fort Hare) where you had gone to acquire wisdom. Your life revolves around the number 28".

Chikerema, the elder and Robert Mugabe all began to tremble, but Chikerema still managed to ask again, "But why 28, Your Highness?" The voice continued, "You had been blessed to be Mzilikazi's reincarnate, and that you ably were during the second Chimurenga.

However it was foreseen that as soon as you become King you would become extremely cruel and try to wipe out the entire Mzilikazi tribe in senseless combat. A great man of Mzilikazi clan would die bitter at the age of 82. This apparent reversal of your magic number (28 to 82) would signal massive reversals in your fortunes and those of Dzimbahwe and you will start to behave irrationally until the boy born in 1952 turns 56 to take over from you.

This successor of yours has Mzilikazi's blood in him. His forefathers were in Mzilikazi's army and he is almost the same built as Mzilikazi -burly, short, dark and extremely brave. He has been trusted to succeed you as King of Dzimbahwe because of his love for the people. He will get massive support from the Mzilikazi people that you, Gabriel, previously persecuted and the unstoppable storm will drive you out of power. Dzimbahwe will start to flourish again under the new King to reclaim its place as Africa's beacon of wealth, order and peace.

Those who had fled your misrule will return to the motherland in droves, all to the betterment of Dzimbahwe. I see your temptation to try and stop this man from taking over from you and you will manage for only 28 days, not years, after which the whole thing consumes you! At that time, the support of your successor among Mzilikazi's people will have trebled, and it will also be rock-hard throughout Dzimbahwe.

Part of your predicament stems from the 28 head of cattle that your father stealthily drove from Mzilikazi's adopted land in 1945". The voice switched off, leaving the elder, Chikerema and Robert Mugabe dump-founded. The elder says he re-lived the 'vision' during the recent Zanu (PF) electoral defeat and just had to share it with as many people as possible.

Has anyone heard of this mysterious story before?

"WE URGE CITIZENS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES": NCA

2008-04-22T08:58:00.000+02:00

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) strongly condemns the Zimbabwe Republic Police's failure to protect suspected opposition supporters across the country that are being targeted and indiscriminately brutalized and tortured for allegedly voting for the MDC.

We further condemn the behavior of some police officers who are taking part in these acts of harassing ordinary citizens in the streets. We hereby highlight to the security services of our motherland their duty: to protect the people of Zimbabwe. The NCA stresses that the police should cease being partisan, and act professionally, refuse to be reduced to a party militia. The Zimbabwean police should start executing their duties so as to protect their mothers, fathers, siblings, sisters and brothers.

The NCA expresses its dismay over reports that some uniformed forces (army and police) have been spotted escorting criminal elements, raising fear and substantiating suspicions that the move is sponsored by the state. We deplore the militarization of the state by the Harare regime. Mugabe has lost elections and is holding on to power through the assistance of the army and the police. Thus we call on security forces to be on the side of the people. The will of the people should be respected.

The NCA in light of the developments in the country implores all Zimbabweans to protect themselves from ZANU-PF hooligans and militia. We urge Zimbabweans to organise themselves in each and every corner of the country and form defense brigades to protect themselves against organised state brutality and detestable elements in our societies. Let the masses of Zimbabwe awaken to the fact that the government is at war with its people, thus the need to protect themselves. Let there be back up squads in suburbs to protect citizens' houses, property and human lives from ZANU-PF malcontents. Youths should organise and patrol their localities during the night to save their mothers, sisters and brothers from ZANU PF vampires’ purporting to be war veterans.

In the wake of Friday's attacks in Warren Park the NCA calls those that go to Pubs for drinking to be organised, vigilant and alert (be ready to react). We urge such to move in groups of six and above. We urge them to defend themselves. When leaving these drinking places we urge people to be in groups. Never walk alone.

Meanwhile the NCA is busy compiling names of alleged perpetrators who in the fullness of time will be summoned to answer at an impartial judiciary system for these gross human rights violations. Anyone who might be having names and/or information leading to the identification of perpetrators of these atrocities can contact any of NCA offices across the country.

There is a possibility of making our independence real.

Bumbiro Ngarinyorwe Nevanhu

National Constitutional Assembly,

NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON
MADOCK CHIVASA

PROF KEN MUFUKA LOOKS AT THE ZIM CRISIS VERY CLOSELY!

2008-04-21T08:37:00.003+02:00

“OUR CHALLENGE AND OUR LEGACY”
“................................The atrocities in Matabeleland started in 1981 and ended 1988. Only the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace raised the issue publicly.

My thesis in this paper is that these extra-judicial activities consumed the greater part of the Zimbabwean Government until 1998 to the exclusion of Economic Planning...............................................”

Prof Ken Mufuka.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

A keynote speech delivered at the First Zimbabwe Diaspora Conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 7-9th, 2007.

By Kenneth N Mufuka, M Litt (St Andrews, Scotland) PhD (Queens, Ontario, Canada). Professor of History at Lander University in South Carolina, United States of America.

(Requests for scanned copies of the Original Speech can be made to mufarostig@gmail.com .)
@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

Zimbabwe is blessed by the most dynamic population on the face of the earth. I have seen Zimbabweans laugh when they should be crying. I was told by a very reliable source in the journalistic fraternity that the Reserve Bank Governor, Dr Gideon Gono, welcomed three visitors just the other week. You see, Dr Gono's employers studied Voodoo Economics.

So there were standing before him, three izangoma, straight from the netherworld armed with their bag of tricks. “We will introduce ourselves, Sir”, they said. “This ZHERO counts up to ten, this ZHERO up to ONE HUNDRED and this ZHERO number three, he can count up to ONE THOUSAND. We want our jobs back.”

The story becomes even more bizarre and juicier. They say the Governor shut himself in the Bank Vault.

The problems that face Zimbabwe in 2007 can be traced to a style of Gevernment by President Robert Mugabe since he came into power in April 1980.

With hindsight, it is obvious that the Colonial Regime of Ian Smith had left sufficient fat in the Economy of Zimbabwe for the new Government to disperse and use as inducements to its supporters. Its opponents were equally silent for a long time until two factors came into play. These two factors were that in 1999, Mugabe decided that the white population, through their farming activities, controlled thirty percent of the country's wealth.

The white farming population numbered less than 4000 families. Such a concentration of wealth and influence outside the “authorised political structures” could no longer be tolerated. The second factor was that by disturbing the goose that lay golden eggs, the Economy collapsed in seven years. The role of the Church, until now, was ambivalent, but not entirely silent.

In the early years of Independence between 1980 and 1984, President Mugabe showed his intolerance towards Organisations and Political Parties other than his own. A pattern of Zero Tolerance for diverse views was set at the beginning of the Regime.
Judith Todd, the daughter of the beloved Missionary and former Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Sir Garfield Todd, wrote a book, “Through the Darkness: A Life in Zimbabwe”. She recounts the death of Josiah Tongogara, “in a car accident.” His death was never investigated.

It is unthinkable that a General of a victorious Guerilla Army would be driving in a truck in the dark without headlights. Judith Todd says that she did not know what to think about this untimely death.

Nkomo was initially included in the first Coalition Government, was demoted within one year and was hounded out of the country in fear of his life. False charges were put forward that his Party was planning a Coup against Mugabe's Government. Nkomo, in his biography, “The story of My Life” says that in all his long life, he had never worked with a less sincere man than Mugabe. In March, 1983, Nkomo's house was ransacked by the Secret Service and two men were shot dead.

Thereafter, thirty-two farms that belonged to ZAPU were seized without copmensation and thousands put out of work. The fact that the Co-operatives had been bought by the workers, from their pensions and contributions, was irrelevant. The point here is that there was no consideration for the Economics or the livelihoods of fellow Zimbabweans.

This writer worked as a Publicist for Ndabaningi Sithole , the Founder President of Mugabe's ruling party, The Zimbabwe African National Union. At Independence, in 1980, Sithole was falsely accused of importing Arms of War. These so-called “Arms”, shown in Court, were a classic Enfield rifle and two bullets. His farm was seized and Sithole died a broken man.

This writer was also involved through the Methodist Church with the Bishop Abel Muzorewa. After Independence, he was put in jail, placed under house arrest, charged with treason and discharged of all wrong-doings by Courts of Law. Nevertheless, he spent the latter part of his life in voluntary exile in the US.

The same story is repeated in the cases of Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout Masuku.
Arrested for treason in 1983, they spent time in jail, were discharged of any wrong-doings by Courts of Law, and yet they were not released from jail till 1987. There is a clear pattern of lawlessness and callousness towards human lives. These men had wives, children and families to support. No consideration to these matters was given whatsoever.

Barely a year after Independence, Mugabe set up a new Military Wing called the Fifth Brigade, trained and equipped by North Koreans. This Brigade by-passed all the rules and regulations and reported directly to Mugabe. They started operations in 1982. The recruitment was from ZANU militants. According to Judith Todd, one battalion was situated in the heart of Matabeleland. The voice of the Church was heard at this early hour, but very faintly.

Anglican Bishop Karlen of Matabeleland gathered information about certain graves and atrocities which had been committed in his area in the nane of “Gukurahundi” (meaning 'Sweet Clean.')

Bishop Karlen asked Sir Garfield to relay the information to Mugabe. Sir Garfield gave the papers to his daughter Judy. At a chance meeting with General Rex Nhongo (now Mujuru) and Brigadier Agrippah Mutambara, she described the contents of the letter from Bishop Henry Karlen. Bishop Karlen and Judy assumed that the atrocities were unauthorised by the Army Commanders. “Events chronicled were far, far worse than I could ever have imagined. It seemed that State Armed Forces – whether 5 Brigade or others too – had gone berserk in an orgy of violence against defenceless civilians,”she wrote. She placed the date as February 17th, 1983. That she dared challenge Mugabe's policy deserved severe punishment. She was raped by a senior officer.

A pattern had clearly emerged, and the atrocities in Matabeleland continued. Joshua Nkomo, in his book, also recounts an incident that involved former Zimbabwe-Rhodesian President Josiah Gumede. Gumede was “cruelly beaten and left for dead in his house for two days, in an attack by men of the Fifth Brigade.”

Further, in an Easter 1983 Statement, six Catholic Bishops of Matabeleland issued this statement, “We are convinced by incontrovertible evidence that many wanton atrocities and brutalities have been and are being perpetrated. We have already forwarded such evidence to the Government.”

Nkomo was subsequently arrested for possession of a Parliamentary speech ( a document the police considered subersive) and possession of 300 Zimbabwe dollars (while waiting for an Internal Zimbabwe flight.) While he was released, his four companions were unlucky. “They spent six months in prison, their only offence being to have been with me.” This kind of imprisonment is by police discretion, without any input from a judge.” Nkomo 236, 240.

The atrocities in Matabeleland started in 1981 and ended 1988. Only the Catholic Commission for Justica and Peace raised the issue publicly. My thesis in this paper is that these extra-judicial activities consumed the greater part of the Zimbabwean Government until 1998 to the exclusion of Economic Planning.

Despite their noisy announcements and fancy Economic Policy announcements, no rational and consistent Economic Policy was ever followed. The expansion of Education and Health faciities consumed the surplus left over from the Colonial Government. There was a lofty announcement that the Zimbabwe Government was to re-formulate Marxist Economic Planning.

The sum total of this new Economic thinking was that all humans were to be addressed as Comrades and all Government leaders were to follow a Leadership Code which did not allow them to own more than one house. As we all know, beginning with the Paweni scandals, the Willowvale Motor scandals, the Veterans Buildung Fund, and the Veterans Pension and Gratuity Fund, where some of them received more than 100 per cent disability payments while continuing to work: our Leadership enjoyed the benefits of Mercedes Benzes, their wives went shopping at London “Harrods” all the while proclaiming to High Heaven that they were Marxists, the wars in Matabeleland, in Mozambique and later in the Congo were unbudgeted and were paid for by borrowing and the printing of money.

Patrick Bond and Masimba Manyanya, in their excellent book “Zimbabwe's Plunge” says that the crunch came as early as 1987. In 1980 the debt service ratio to foreign exchange earnings was 4 per cent. In 1980 the ratio rose to 34 per cent. By 1990 the World Bank became the main lender. With US $3.5 billion required to keep the Government afloat, foreign debt alone was US$2.5 million. Interest rates dictated to by the World Bank rose to 40 per cent. These high interest loans killed the small business enterprises and were dictated by the World Bank.

Worse was to come as Zimbabwe entered into the Congo conflict: it had to pay US$980 million in one year. Thus we were borrowing in order to pay back our loans. What about Economic Planning and Policies?

The point I am trying to make here is that because of the wildcat domestic and foreign interventionist policies of the Zimbabwe Government, it soon ran out of money, and was at the mercy of the World Bank. From 1995 onwards, Gross Domestic Product declined, according to the World Bank figures. (Bond and Manyanya pp 45-47.)
The full impact of these adventures and ruinous domestic Voodoo Economics were not appreciated intil 1999 when 2700 white farmers were exposed to the same brutal treatment to which African opponents had long been subjected. Until this time, President Mugabe was awarded many honours by the World Community.

Edinburgh, for instance, awarded Mugabe an Honorary Degree, Honoris Causa on July 24, 1984. In 1991, the United Nations honoured Mugabe for fighting hunger and bringing about an Agricultural Revolution to Zimbabwe. In 1994, the University of Massachusetts followed suit.

We are interested in the Economic Policies of the Zimbabwe Government, and whether we can learn something for the sake of our children. We know now that there was no Policy as such and that contrary to Public Opinion, the Zimbabwe Government followed whatever blueprint the World Bank laid before them.

Chido Makunike has sent me a detailed argument on the false assumptions behind these Voodoo Economics. There is no doubt that Ian Smith's Economy was based on cheap labour and a vicious Class System. Zimbabwe had an opportunity to perpetuate, to a limited extent, that Economic System because it had the highest literacy rate (96 percent) in Africa and a sophisticated enterprising community; black, Asian and whites.

Could this new African Class make the Eurocentric global Economic System work in Zimbabwe? I believe that with some encouragement and modification, some neo-global economic system could have been worked out. A marriage between the new Black enterpreneurs and the old Colonial Establishment would have been worked out. China, India and the Malaysian tigers have made some accommodation with that model.
The headquarters of emerging capital today is the Gulf Emirates and Malaysia. But a requirement here is that the new enterpreneurs be left alone to apply their skills as they see fit with some assurance of Property Rights.

There is no such assurance in Zimbabwe today, and our emerging pool of knowledge has been driven abroad, unless they worship the Altar of Voodoo Economics; they have no place in Zimbabwe.

Mutumwa Mawere, emerging minerals sharp mind is cooling his heels abroad, Trevor Ncube, an emerging Media Mogul almost lost his nationality, Nigel Chanakira a banker is living abroad and Strive Masiyiwa a Communications Mogul is abiding his time in exile.

In short, all our emerging enterpreneurs have been exiled. How can we succeed in the Global Model we want to use? This also applies to Academics serving away from the Homeland. Zimbabwe with 96% literacy and an excellent system of Health Providers supported by the University Health System, could become a pace setter for the rest of Africa. My alma mater, the University of St Andrews in Scotland is at the heart of a country which has basically exhausted its mineral resources (except off-shore oil.)

However, St Andrews is the leader in the Educational System of Scotland. Within six months, sixty percent of all Scottish graduates migrate to the far corners of the world as teachers and engineers. Zimbabwe can be the Training Centre for all of Africa's future leaders.

According to my beloved friend Makunike, we must give credit to the Devil where it is due. We give credit to President Mugabe for challenging the Euro-centric hegemony and are able to get away with it. Hopefully, he will die in his own bed. If that happens, he will truly have pioneered new thinking about Economics in Africa. The Euro-centric Economic fundamentals have been overthrown. A well functioning agro-economy has been handed over to Brother Chinotimba.

Chinotimba (bless his heart) has no knowledge of a Global Economy, cares less about the market for flowers and fruits, and has no respect for Lord Sainsbury, the English grocery tycoon who partnered with former white market Agronomists. As for the Capital Market, the brother thinks it is a swear word. Makunike says here we see an example of throwing out “the many positives of the Rhodesian System of doing things, but without a better , or even a merely minimally functioning Zimbabwean System in its place.” (Makunike p 5). What then is to be our legacy?

The current system gives us a golden opportunity to conceive and affect a new system. Not all Colonial suppositions were wrong. For instance, the new bosses, without Capital, are in the habit of not paying their workers. Their flowers and their hot peppers cannot reach European markets in good time, either for Christmas, or for Valentine Day which are lucrative. We must sit down and start at the drawing board.

How much of the Colonial System can we adopt to suit ourselves?

We should also have a mixed society. In Iraq today, there are many mixed societies. One finds a herdsman bringing his goats right into the middle of Baghdad on a Scotchcart for sale at the flea market. It means that tribal areas in Iraq have been preserved for those who do not want to modernize at the Globalization speed.
Any man, in my book, who presides over such inflation and Monetary Depreciation, deserves the title of “Professor of Voodoo Economics.”

Year Rate of Inflation Zim dollar/for 1 US$
1980 7% 70 cents
1986 15% 35 Dollars
1992 40% 45 Dollars
2000 56% 150 Dollars
2001 132% 1000 Dollars
2006 1,281% 50,000 Dollars
2007 (June) 1,5000% 1,500,000 Dollars

In summary, my brothers and sisters, I will forever be indebted to you. I will be able to say to my grand children, I took part in the first Global Diaspora Conference.which laid down the ground rules for your future. It is clear to me that the problem in Africa, in the twenty-first century, is not about the tired old imperialists (though one can dispute the argument that Imperialists like the Devil never tire), but the indigenous abuse of power.

I would say that the rule of Law and the sanctity of Property Rights within certain areas need to be protected as a basis for investment. We may add that no man shall make a law to which he himself is exempted from.

We may also say that while the Colonial System is gone, we as Zimbabweans have benefitted most from its Educational System and that we want to share the facilities and human gifts already invested in this area with our SADC brothers and sisters.
I must also say that there are many examples of a new beginning in History. The prophet Joel told the Jews that in order to achieve such a new beginning, their old men and women must see visions and their young men must dream dreams.

You will be able to say to your grandchildren that you were part of the first Global Conference that expressed in some small way a new vision and a new dream for Zimbabwe.

We must be ruled by laws not by men. Secondly our background prepares us to be the leader in Education for the rest of Africa. Voodoo Economics is unworthy of us and a disgrace. This is our legacy. This Conference must not only see visions and dream dreams but implement them.

In my small way, starting in 1976, I made up my mind to educate one Zimbabwean child a year at Lander University. As I speak, fifty-eight Zimbabweans have passed through my hands. I will say to my grandchildren, dream and also implement your dream; here a little, there a little: it will add up.

I want to thank you all, the Board of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum and our beloved Ms Norah Tapiwa for playing such a crucial role in organising this Conference.

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"ZVAKWANA"s MESSAGE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY!

2008-04-18T15:55:00.005+02:00

The article from "ZVAKWANA" is available at

http://www.sokwanele.com/article/sokwanele/independenceday_180408.html

I see its not appearing in full properly here!

(Mailing list information, including unsubscription instructions, is located at the end of this message.)

Sokwanele - Enough is Enough - Zimbabwe
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY

Independence Day: 18 April 2008
To my fellow Zimbabweans I cannot speak to you on the national media, but I speak to you from my heart - that freedom comes and your voice and your vote shall be heard.
Morgan Tsvangirai, 17 April 2008

Statement made by President Morgan Tsvangirai: 17 April 2008

Today on the eve of Independence Day in Zimbabwe, I'm here to thank the World for the help you are giving the liberation struggle of our nation.

This is, in many ways, the saddest Independence Day since our independence from colonial rule in 1980.

Our people are literally starving; Zimbabwe is amongst the worst humanitarian crisis of this new century.

Our humanitarian crisis has political roots, and that gives us hope, because political problems have political solutions.

Zimbabweans have no food because of the policies of President Robert Mugabe; Zimbabweans have no schools, because of the policies of President Robert Mugabe; Zimbabweans have no hospital care, because of President Robert Mugabe's policies.

And on March 29th, the people of Zimbabwe in their largely free election, repudiated President Robert Mugabe and Zanu pf and elected a new government.

For three weeks now, the people of Zimbabwe have waited peacefully.

They have waited for a peaceful transfer of power from the defeated old regime, to the democratically elected new government. So far that transition is not ok'd.

Within days, Italy has counted and announced a new president, in the stark contrast to our situation back home.

Zimbabwe waits.

How long shall Africa's millions wait for democracy to enlighten a continent so rich and endowed in potential?

How many more meetings to discuss crises from Rwanda, to Ethiopia, to Darfur, and to Zimbabwe?

So the nations of the World have done what good neighbours should do: they have enquired; they've asked what's wrong.

They've pounded on our doors. They fear that something is wrong in their neighbour's house and they've raised the cry of alarm.

I want to thank Southern African leaders who met recently in Lusaka. You have let your voice be heard.

I want to thank the leading industrial nations of the World, organised under G8. You have let your voices be heard.

I want to thank the Secretary General of the United Nations. Yours is the voice of the whole World, and you have let the World's voice be heard.

Each nation on its own Independence Day should celebrate its own independence; but it should rightly recognise the independence of others. Independence is raised on the fundamental rights of self-government which belongs to all people in all nations.

While the voices of the World have been raised, many in Zimbabwe have not yet been heard.

There remains no free press in Zimbabwe, so I am using the free news media of South Africa and the World so the people of Zimbabwe can be heard.

We are not alone. And the World is with us.

The World longs for us to take our rightful place again among the community of nations.

To my fellow Zimbabweans I cannot speak to you on the national media, but I speak to you from my heart - that freedom comes and your voice and your vote shall be heard.

The legal authority of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has expired.

Their moral authority has been laughed away. What ZEC says no longer matters.

What matters is the votes cast on 29th of March, and posted outside each polling station.

Those votes elected MDC as the majority in Parliament, and elected me as President of Zimbabwe.

The regime is conditioning people to believe that there is a run-off.

There is no run off: we won this election decisively.

In preparation for this, Robert Mugabe and his hand of criminals have unleashed an orgy of violence against the people.

As I speak, our people are being murdered, their homes are being burnt, children molested, women raped.

We have seen again the brutal vindictiveness of this man.

We want to thank President Mbeki for all his efforts, but President Mbeki needs to be relieved from his duty.

However, we've asked President Mwanawasa to lead a new initiative to urgently deal with the extraordinary situation we face at this moment.

We cannot wait another day, we cannot wait another week: we need a special envoy or a special committee or a delegation to come to Zimbabwe immediately, and deal with the issue following the Kenyan model. [A delegation] who will stay in the country until an agreement and a solution has been found.

Zanu-PF wants bloodshed, but instead we will shed light on that bloodshed.

We shall fight with the truth, and take the strength of our courage and conviction to see the value of life, law and liberty, return to our country and to our continent.

The movement has begun, and I ask you members of the media to join us in ensuring that the objective of democratic change in Zimbabwe is achieved.

I thank you.

In the absence of a free press in our country, Sokwanele is circulating this statement made by President Morgan Tsvangirai on the eve of our Independence Day. We are also including in this mailing a Statement released by the MDC party today (below), and we are providing a brief summary of some of the protests that have been taken place around the world, in support of the Zimbabwean pursuit of freedom and justice in our country.

We are not alone.

Statement from the MDC : 18 April 2008

Zanu PF hijacks people's independence

Today the MDC would like to join all Zimbabweans in commemorating their 28th Independence anniversary.

18th of April is a day that we all cherish as it has brought us the independence that make us proud to be Zimbabweans and hold our heads high among other nations.

However, as we celebrate this occasion, it is sad to note that our independence anniversary has been discredited by the Zanu PF regime that is masquerading as a government and as the custodians of our independence.

Today the people of Zimbabwe have been denied a chance to celebrate their independence by an illegal regime that is denying them a chance to make sure that their gains of independence are enjoyed.

In the 29 March elections, Zimbabweans went to the polls in their millions and voted for change and a new beginning.

They voted for Morgan Tsvangirai as the President of Zimbabwe but however, 20 days after that day, the people of Zimbabwe’s hopes are being dashed as the results of the Presidential poll that President Tsvangirai won are being kept a secret by a scared regime.

We are in a calamity as the people who are supposed to be celebrating are instead being beaten up by the police, the army and Zanu PF militia.

Hundreds of innocent people including journalists are today in police custody. Homes of innocent villagers have been burnt in areas such as Mutoko, Murehwa, Chimanimani, Chipinge and Mudzi have been burnt to ashes simply because the people voted for the MDC in the last elections.

In urban areas, residents are being forced to be indoors by 8.00 pm by a regime that is scared because it is in power through illegal means.

People are now living in fear as the Zanu PF regime is using all forms of brutality in order to stay in power.

As we commemorate this day lets remember our colleagues who have been killed, beaten and left homeless by the Robert Mugabe regime. Lets remember Tapiwa Mubwanda who was ruthlessly killed by Zanu PF militia in Hurungwe last Saturday.

The world is taking action

This banner, measuring 278m², was flown over the United Nations building in New York earlier this week at the same time that Thabo Mbeki was inside chairing a special meeting of the UN Security Council. To put the size into perspective, a football pitch measures approximately 210m²; there is no doubt that Thabo Mbeki saw the message - whether he got the message remains to be seen.

In addition to that, Avaaz.org, the international organisation who organised the banner also delivered Thabo Mbeki a petition that has been signed by over 150,000 people so far. 150,000 people is a lot of signatures: it is the equivalent of the total number of people who voted in Matabeleland North province (according to ZEC figures!)

There are three days of protests taking place in London outside the Zimbabwean Embassy. They started yesterday and end tomorrow on the 19th April.

In Cape Town, two human rights groups joined forces and protested yesterday on behalf of Zimbabweans and against Thabo Mbeki's statement that there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe - the signs at the protest say it all.

Tomorrow, a public event will be held in The Hague - Africa Day 2008 - where the situation in Zimbabwe will be openly debated.

In another gesture of support for the people of Zimbabwe, we have been told that there has been a 'media frenzy' over reports that a Chinese ship docked in Durban has a consignment of weapons destined for Zimbabwe. The South African people are not at all happy about having anything to do with the oppression of the Zimbabwean people. Satawu - the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union - have come out and refused to offload the ship. Their general secretary, Randall Howard, said:

“Satawu does not agree with the position of the South African government not to intervene with this shipment of weapons... Our members employed at Durban Container Terminal will not unload this cargo neither will any of our members in the truck driving sector move this cargo by road.” He said the ship, the An Yue Jiang, should not dock in Durban and should return to China.

Satawu are planning to enlist the support of COSATU to strengthen their position.

Finally, also in South Africa, a group of Zimbabwean refugees have embarked on an amazing journey - a real march for freedom. They are walking all the way from Johannesburg to Musina to protest the fact the Presidential results have not been released yet.

Apparently people are warmly greeting the walkers all along their route: cars are hooting in solidarity; they are being offered money, food and water; and people are coming out to join them and walk for a bit. We hear that in one town they passed through, the mayor came out and welcomed them. They will arrive in Musina today.

The whole world can see what Robert Mugabe is trying to do and they are angry with his attempts to subvert the will of the people. They are also becoming increasingly frustrated with Thabo Mbeki's ineffectual policy of 'quiet diplomacy' .

We all remember that Thabo Mbeki recently popped in to visit Robert Mugabe and emerged from the meeting to declare that there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe. Well, five short days later - yesterday - the South African government's spokesperson has acknowledged the fact that "The situation is dire".

Non violent action is having an impact. We are not alone Zimbabwe.

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Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum mobilises for South Africa action!

2008-04-14T15:30:00.001+02:00

Press Release

13 April 2008

The newly elected chair-person of the South-African based Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum, Mr Solomon Chikowero, has urged Zimbabweans based in South-Africa to remain resilient in the face of many challenges confronting them in the country.

Chikowero urged Zimbabweans based in South-Africa to unite and press for democratic reforms in Zimbabwe that will enable an environment that fosters stability to ensure a peaceful transition and reconstruction, for them to be able to go back home.

"Many of us are here for economic and political reasons, for as long as these remain unresolved then we are going to remain in foreign lands forever. We want to go home. The harmonised election on March 29 offered an opportunity for the resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis, but it seems as though the Robert Mugabe regime will stop at nothing to disregard the people's will. No solution that does not respect the will of the people will be sustainable."

Chikowero urged Zimbabweans based in South-Africa to come out in their hundreds for a demonstration to be held on Wednesday the 16th of April, to press for a lasting solution on the Zimbabwean situation. South-Africa's President Thabo Mbeki at the weekend declared that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe.

"We know there is a crisis in Zimbabwe, that is one of a ruling elite that refuses to accept that the people rejected it at the polls. We know who won in the elections, we demand that the results be made public for all without any further delays."

Note to editors
- Logistics and mobilisation will be handled by ZDF affiliates the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth Movement and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum
- Demonstrators will start gathering at 10.AM

CONTACT

Sox Chikhohwero
Chair-person - ZDF

+27 72 238 9192

Simon Mudekwa
0796192955

Gabriel Shumba
0726393795

Eddie Matsangaise
0724365798

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Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum mobilises for South Africa action!