Links ~29 May 2008

Zimbabwe: Top Government Officials Blacklisted (Zimdaily)

ZimDaily says that according to reliable sources, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Gen. Constantine Chiwenga (ZDF) have ordered, amongst others the blacklisting of:

• Didymus Mutasa – State Security minister
• Elliot Manyika – Zanu-PF political commissar & Minister without Portfolio
• Nicholas Goche – Minister of Labour, Public Works and Social Welfare
• Ray Kaukonde – Governor of Mashonaland East
• Sikhanyiso Ndlovu – Minister of Information and Publicity
• Gary Thompson – Independent businessman and advertising guru

Blacklisted for:

Mutasa is targeted for allowing farm invasions that included targeted resettled farmers and the diesel n’anga saga through which the government was duped after a traditional healer claimed that he discovered natural diesel deposits near Chinhoyi.

Manyika and Goche are credited for causing Zanu-PF’s defeat in the Mashonaland Central and East provinces, which in the past were Zanu-PF strongholds.

Kaukonde is believed to have been secretly backing Simba Makoni who was challenging Mugabe for the presidency.

Ndlovu, for allowing the state broadcaster to air positive publicity regarding the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai. Henry Muradzikwa the CEO of ZBC has already been fired.

Gary Thompson has been credited as the creative mind behind the “Morgan is More” adverts.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s strategist, is chairman of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) and is in charge of the presidential run-off campaign. Other members of JOC include, Com. Contantine Chiwenga (ZDF), Gideon Gono governor of RBZ, Patrick Chinamasa Minister of Justice, and July Moyo, former Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson.

More information about JOC: Hawkish ally leads Mugabe fightback (ZimOnline)

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe will never step aside for rival: wife (AFP)
Grace Mugabe told Zanu-PF supporters on Thursday, that Robert Mugabe would never vacate his office for the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, even if Mugabe should lose the run-off. She said “He will only get to hear about what it looks like inside State House from people who have been there. Even if Baba (Mugabe) loses, he will only leave State House to make way for someone from ZANU-PF.”

Grace and Robert Mugabe went on a tour of the rural area of Shamva, northeast of Harare, where a homestead was allegedly burned down by MDC supporters. Robert Mugabe said that they were really touched to see the house which was burned down, he said that if you destroyed a house it meant that you want to destroy their lives. Mugabe said “We want to warn the MDC they should stop immediately this barbaric campaign of burning and destroying people’s homes.”

Mugabe acknowledged to supporters that the country was going through a rough patch. “There might be grievances about prices, food shortages and non-availability of basic commodities. These are being caused by sanctions and food shortages are a result of drought.” he said. [Western sanctions only target Mugabe and his inner circle as it was alleged that he rigged his re-election in 2002.]

Mbeki tells Bush ‘to butt out’ (Pretoria News)
South Africa – President Thabo Mbeki has accused the United States of taking sides against Robert Mugabe and disrespecting the views of the Zimbabwean people. The 4-page letter, according to an official source, was “packed” with exclamation marks. The letter was written to President George Bush in April, after the March 29 elections. Mukoni Ratshitanga spokesperson for Mbeki denied any knowledge of such a letter. An official of the US embassy in Pretoria has confirmed that the existence of such a letter and said that Bush had received it. The official said that the White House was working on a response to the letter.

Zimbabwe arrests MP for bid to get backing of the military (Politics)
Tichaona Augustos Mudzingwa, newly elected legislator for the MDC, has been arrested and charged with causing disaffection among the defence forces and communicating false hoods. Mudzingwa appeared in court on Monday May 26. It is alleged that Mudzingwa and Pearson Mungofa, a MDC MP, went to the Zimbabwean National Army (ZNA) headquarters on March 31 and had asked for an interview with Lt-Gen Phillip Sibanda. It further alleged that the 2 men told senior army officials that the MDC has won the presidential election by 62% and as Morgan Tsvangirai was the president-in-waiting, their visit was part of the MDC’s grand transition strategy. The prosecution argues that the two men were prejudiced towards the state and they had acted with the intent to cause disaffection amongst military officers. [It is believed that Mungofa may have fled the country.]

War veterans ban satellite dishes in Matabeleland South (MISA)
War veterans have allegedly ordered villagers of Matabeleland South to remove satellite television receivers from their homes. Villagers had told The Standard newspaper that the war veterans had set up bases throughout the province and that they were conducting all-night political re-education vigils. The war veterans wanted the satellite receivers removed because the television programs were ‘misleading’ people to vote against Zanu-PF. Due to the poor transmission signals from the state-sponsored Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the villagers in the area can only watch or listen to South African and Botswana television and radio stations. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has expressed concern with regard to the clear and consistent pattern emerging from attacks on media and freedom of expression rights in Zimbabwe.

Journalist arrested at church as police bar religious procession (MISA)
MISA reports on the arrest of freelance journalist and author Peter Godwin on May 25 when he attended a church service at the Anglican Christ Church, in the suburb of Borrowdale, Harare. It transpires that Godwin was arrested for taking photos of the graves of his parents without the permission of the priest in charge. Godwin was released later that same day without formal charges being laid against him.

In a second and unrelated incident, the parishioners of the Holy Name Catholic Church in Mabelreign were denied permission by the police to conduct a traditional procession in commemoration of Corpus Christi, a Catholic feast day. Religious gatherings are exempted from notification to the police in terms of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Urges Deployment of UN AND SADC Observers (VOA News)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC has renewed his call for the immediate deployment of United Nations and regional observers. Tsvangirai was speaking at the funeral of murdered MDC activist, Sheperd Jani.

MDC member, Dereck Sora from Chihuri village, Shamva North is one of the latest victims in a series of abductions of MDC supporters. There is no information with regard to his whereabouts or condition.

Alleged Zanu-PF militia has attacked villagers from Kodzwa village in the Mazowe Central constituency on Wednesday. The residents is said to have fought back in self-defence, resulting in the police being called in. An army helicopter hovered over the scene as police arrested more than 20 MDC supporters.

Civic groups back MDC in bid for People’s Charter (The Zimbabwean)
Civic groups in Zimbabwe have resolved to endorse Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC, in the run-off for the presidential vote. The civic groups believe that it would be the only way in which the People’s Charter, agreed to by more than 300 civic leaders on February 9, will be adopted. The Charter aims at addressing the socio-economic and political challenges facing Zimbabweans in the country.

Repression in Zimbabwe and the South Africa Connection (Telos)

An interview with Zvisinei C. Sandi an author from Zimbabwe and currently a Scholar Rescue Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University. Ms Sandi describes the horrific conditions ordinary Zimbabweans face on a daily basis. [Recommended reading]

ZINASU Press Statement

The Student Union of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has in a statement to the media, expressed concern over the continued deterioration of the education system in Zimbabwe. It said that the 2007-2008 academic year has been characterised by the mass exodus of qualified personnel from the institution. The Student Union is concerned about the continued victimisation of students and human rights defenders by state agents in Zimbabwe. The union has taken cognition of the ‘orgy’ of violence being perpetrated on MDC supporters and activists by the war veterans and Zanu-PF militia. The Student Union unreservedly condemns the campaign of violence and its perpetrators and encourages people to remain resolute and to vote for change on June 27.

EU.Council conclusions on Zimbabwe (via The Zimbabwean)
The Council of the European Union (EU) has strongly condemned the state-sponsored campaign of violence and intimidation against Zimbabweans and calls for an immediate end of the beatings, tortures and other human rights abuses. The EU calls upon the government of Zimbabwe to ensure an environment, which would be conducive to free and fair elections and to ensure that the results reflect the free and democratic, will of the Zimbabwean people. The EU has emphasised the importance of effective election observation, enlisting national and international observers, so that the regularity and transparency of the electoral process may be ensured. [Complete list of conclusions at the above link]

Black Caucus Resolution (via The Zimbabwean)
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has issued a statement condemning the post-election violence in Zimbabwe and calling for a peaceful resolution to the current political crisis. The Caucus has ‘called on all security forces, informal militias, and individuals to immediately cease attacks on and abuse of civilians’. It strongly condemns the state-sponsored violence aimed at MDC supporters and civilians. BC supports the international arms embargo, constructive dialogue towards the establishment of a government of national unity and advocates for a mechanism such as a truth and reconciliation commission. BC urges the United Nations, in co-operation with the African Union and the South African Development Community to immediately dispatch a special envoy to monitor the run-off elections and the human rights situation. [The CBC is a non-partisan organisation representing African American members of the Congress of the United States. A detailed list of the resolutions with regard to Zimbabwe are available at the above link]

Free to air
Added to a crumbling infrastructure, political turmoil and a lack of basic resources, the people of Zimbabwe can add international isolation. Due to a near non-existent land-phone network, a failing post office and very poor transport links, business and families are put under increased pressure. The free media also has the difficulty of trying to report under highly restricted conditions.

Mobile phone connections, however, are strong given the presence of neighbouring South African networks. The problem exists, however, of a lack of mobile phones. To this end, concerns such as Life in Zimbabwe were set up to recycle unused mobile phones to ship abroad.

Africa needs ‘green revolution’ to combat food crisis: Annan (AFP)
Kofi Anan, Nobel laureate and former secretary-general of the United Nations has called the current political crisis in Zimbabwe as being “both intolerable and unsustainable” and said that it was “tarnishing the reputation of Africa.”

Annan was speaking about the impact that climate change would have on food supplies in Africa and said that immediate action was needed to stave off thousands of deaths. He said that Africa needed a “green revolution” to combat the growing food crisis in Africa. Farmers are in need of better seeds, soils, and fertilisers and must be backed by their governments and the international community. Experts blame the rise in food prices, amongst others, on rising oil prices and the growing use of bio-fuels.

Zimbabwe NGO’S Launch Rural Voter Confidence Outreach Program (VOA News)
Civic groups and non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe will launch an outreach program on May 29, to support and encourage rural voters ahead of the run-off for the presidential vote. The groups feel the move is necessary to counter-act the effect of the ongoing violence in the rural areas that discourages people to vote in the upcoming election.

Gordon Moyo of the Bulawayo Project a non-governmental organisation said: “We are frontline human rights defenders. When people are hungry, we condemn the policies that make people hungry. When people are brutalized, we condemn the perpetrators. Whichever side perpetrates violence is condemned. So, it is the guilty that say the civic society is against them. It is because they are on the guilty side. They are the ones that are perpetrating violence and civic organizations are against that,” Moyo pointed out.

Zimbabwe’s Makoni to back no-one (BBC)
Simba Makoni has said that he will back neither Zanu-PF nor the MDC candidates, for the presidential run-off. Makoni believes that there should not be a run-off and that all parties should have worked together towards a government of national unity.

Anglican Church excommunicates another Zim cleric (ZimOnline)
The Anglican Church has excommunicated Elson Jakazi of the Manicaland diocese, after he had threatened to withdraw the diocese from the central African synod. Jakazi claimed that homosexuality was rampant in the congregation. The regional synod, officially known as the Church of the Province of Central (CPCA) had excommunicated the former bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, only two weeks before the latest incident. Kunonga is a staunch supporter of Robert Mugabe and has since formed his own church. Kunonga and Jakazi had during last year, written to the CPCA and threatened to withdraw their dioceses claiming that the church has not addressed the problem of homosexuality in the church.

Zimbabwe Government Unveils Aid Programs Ahead Of Presidential Run-Off (VOA News)
Finance Minister Samuel Mumbengegwi announced on Wednesday that a number of state assistance programs are being implemented with immediate effect. The programs entail free education, health care, food for those in need and the government will expand its food-for-work programs. The Zanu-PF election-season package, which was finalised last week, also includes fuel for transport operators. According to sources at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the bank was ordered by the Finance Ministry to print money to cover the expenses. It is said that Gideon Gono, Reserve Bank Governor has expressed concern with this expansionary move and has urged Mugabe to avoid a run-off and rather negotiate with the MDC. Gono’s advice went unheeded.

Mugabe blames MDC for racist attacks in South Africa (The Zimbabwean)
The military junta controlling Zimbabwe has blamed the MDC for the outbreak of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Bright Matonga former Deputy Information Minister has said that the MDC has exported violence to South Africa to fuel anti-Zimbabwean sentiments in the region. According to Matonga the MDC’s purpose is to force Zimbabweans to return home so that they may vote for Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the MDC.

This entry was posted by Link Round-up on Friday, May 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm. You can follow any comments on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.