Links ~ 13 June 2008
Zim cops told to produce Biti (AFP)
High Court Judge Ben Hlatshwayo has ordered the Zimbabwean police to bring MDC secretary general Tendai Biti to court after the police have failed to reveal Biti’s whereabouts since they have arrested him for treason. The judge also want the police to justify why they have arrested Biti. The court order states that the police must produce Biti before the high court on June 14 at 10h00.
Mugabe says will wage war if MDC wins (newzimbabwe.com)
Robert Mugabe, speaking to Zanu-PF supporters at the Murehwa Business Centre on Thursday, said that a MDC victory would put the country on a war footing. Mugabe said that he had to dissuade war veterans from “going back to war” after the March 29 elections. Speaking at another venue in Chikomba, Mugabe told supporters that he would not surrender power, even if the MDC did win the election. He said that a MDC victory would be a trigger for war. Mugabe’s deputy Joseph Msika made similar remarks at a Zanu-PF rally on Wednesday.
Zim vets ‘ready’ to take up arms (AFP)
Harare - President Robert Mugabe has warned that veterans of Zimbabwe’s 1970s liberation war are prepared to take up arms again rather than see the opposition win a June 27 election, state media has reported.
“They came to my office after the (first round of) elections and asked me: ‘Can we take up arms?’,” Mugabe was quoted by the Herald newspaper as telling a rally in Murehwa, to the northeast of Harare.
“They said this country was won by the barrel of the gun and should we let it go at the stroke of a pen? Should one just write an X and then the country goes just like that?”
MDC say whereabouts of arrested Biti still unknown (SABC)
The MDC said that they have not been able to establish the whereabouts of MDC secretary general Tendai Biti. Police have arrested Biti on Thursday on alleged charges of treason.
DA urges Mbeki to secure Mbiti’s release (SAPA)
South Africa - The Democratic Alliance (DA) urged President Thabo Mbeki to secure the release of MDC secretary general Tendai Mbiti. Tony Leon DA spokesperson for foreign affairs said that the fact that Biti’s whereabouts were unknown raised questions about his safety. “If Mbeki is indeed as committed to resolving the political impasse in Zimbabwe as he claims to be, he must ensure the immediate release of Biti. Failure to do so will confirm the dominant perception that he is biased towards Zanu-PF,” said Leon.
Zimbabwe police impound MDC campaign buses (Reuters)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe police impounded two buses used by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on his campaign ahead of the June 27 presidential run-off election, the Movement for Democratic Change said on Friday. Tsvangirai, who has been detained four times in the past week, is continuing his campaign, MDC spokesman George Sibotshiwe said. “The police have impounded the two buses that we were using. They are saying the buses are not properly registered, but that is not true, just harassment. But (MDC) President Tsvangirai is continuing with his campaign here. We are using other cars that we had in our convoy,” Sibotshiwe said.
In the words of the people (Kubatana)
Torture Camps and destruction of Crops near Chiredzi
Kubatana has received information from a source that in the Mutambara Gonzoni area, Zanu-PF militia is destroying crops. [According to relief organisations up to 4 million Zimbabweans may face starvation.] In the Chiredzi area, the source said, there are at least 15 Zanu-PF militia torture camps. Each camp has between 30 to 50 youths. The militia is forcing villagers to join them and it is estimated that there are 300 militias in the Chiredzi area.
There are plans afoot to prevent villagers from voting, for instance the closing of roads in the days ahead of the June 27 run-off elections. In the Chiwese and Uzumba areas, roads will be closed by Zanu-PF from the June 25 to prevent voters from participating in the June 27 presidential run-off election. People in these areas are pleading that the situation to be monitored by either election observers or organisations. [Details of the locations of torture camps in the Chiredzi area can be viewed at the above link.]
African dignitaries call for free Zimbabwe vote (Reuters)
14 Former presidents and African dignitaries have voiced their concern over the political violence in Zimbabwe. Nobel laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Kofi Annan former UN Secretary-General, were amongst the dignitaries who undersigned a statement calling for an end to the violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe. The dignitaries called for the restoration of full access for humanitarian and aid agencies. They called on the Zimbabwean authorities to allow a free and fair presidential run-off election and have it overseen by independent observers. The dignitaries said that there should be an “adequate number of independent electoral observers” during and after the June 27 presidential run-off election. The statement was published as a full-page advertisement in the Friday edition of the Financial Times and the South African daily Business Day.
U.S. urges UN Security Council talks on Zimbabwe (Reuters)
The United States has called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss the political situation in Zimbabwe. The US said that Robert Mugabe has ignored international calls to end the political violence in Zimbabwe ahead of the presidential run-off election. The police detained Morgan Tsvangirai on two separate occasions in one day, which means that he was detained 4 times in one week. Tendai Biti secretary general of the MDC has been arrested and could face a treason charge, which could carry a death penalty. Dana Perino spokesperson for the White House criticised the state-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe and the unwarranted arrests of MDC members. “We believe the time has come for the United Nations Security Council to take up immediately the issue to prevent further deterioration of the region’s humanitarian and security situation,” Perino said.
University of Massachusetts revokes Mugabe degree (Reuters)
The University of Massachusetts has rescinded an honorary law degree awarded 22 years ago to Robert Mugabe. The honorary doctorate of laws degree was then awarded for Mugabe’s “exemplary devotion to social justice.” For the first time in the state university’s 145-year history, it has been compelled to revoke an honorary degree. Robert Manning chairman of the board of the trustees said that “Rescinding an honorary degree is a step to be taken in only the rarest and most grievous of circumstances.” The university called Mugabe’s politics “egregious” and his leadership an “assault on human rights.”
Mbeki, Kaunda and Makoni in bid to cancel run-off (SWRadio)
South African President Thabo Mbeki, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and losing presidential candidate Simba Makoni have joined forces to put pressure on Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC, to form a government of national unity with Zanu-PF. MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said that the MDC was not in favour of cancelling the run-off. Chamisa said that the Zimbabwean people wanted a free and fair election and Mbeki, Kaunda, and Makoni should focus on getting authorities into the country to create conditions conducive to a free and fair poll. The MDC said that at least 66 MDC activists have been murdered, 200 are listed as missing, and 3000 people have been hospitalised due to injuries sustained because of torture.
‘Junta’ bosses fear prosecution for 1980s crimes (France24.com)
Joint Operations Command (JOC) members such as air force commander Perence Shiri, army commander Constantine Chiwenga, and security minister Emmerson Mnangagwa were allegedly involved in the killings of Matabeleland in 1980. The killing of between 10 000 to 30 000 people were linked to Robert Mugabe’s campaign to oust his former prime minister Joshua Nkomo, and was described by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace as genocide. South African President Thabo Mbeki’s attempts to broker a negotiated settlement failed. The failure was not because of Mugabe’s unwillingness to step down, but rather because of his generals in JOC who fear that they would be brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
NamPower, Hwange deal down the drain (PANA)
The power utility NamPower has pulled out of a deal to finance Hwange Colliery to refurbish its plant and increase output to feed Hwange Power Station to supply electricity to Namibia. Fred Moyo managing director of Hwange Colliery said that NamPower has shelved the deal without any explanation.
June 14th, 2008 14:49
Is this idiot serious? What is wrong with these South African nitwits? It boggles the mind.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080613120351569C547549
Can Zim election be free and fair?
The deteriorating political situation in Zimbabwe does not mean that the country’s June 27 presidential elections will not be free and fair, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said on Friday.
Briefing the media in Cape Town, Pahad cited a number of countries where the elections were declared free and fair despite acts of violence ahead of the polls.
“The important thing is - if it is held - those who are going to monitor the elections have to make a determination on whether they were free and fair,” he said.
It was difficult at this stage to determine whether the polls would be free and fair.
The South African government’s role would be to ensure that the current violence gripping Zimbabwe, was halted.
“That has to come to an end,” Pahad said.
On the arrest of the MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti on Thursday, Pahad said it was important for the Zimbabwean government to bring him before the courts as soon as possible so that he could be given an opportunity to defend himself against the treason charges police were planning to lay against him .
There was evidence that the Zimbabwean courts were still discharging their functions in an non-partisan manner.
“The courts are functioning,” he said.
On the mystery of a scathing letter allegedly written by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to President Mbeki, Pahad insisted that the Presidency had not received such a letter.
He did not rule out legal action against the Sunday Times for publishing an article suggesting that Director General in the Presidency Frank Chikane had lied when he said that Mbeki had not received the letter. - Sapa
June 14th, 2008 15:01
It is not too late, even though Mugabe may no longer be governing alone, for Mbeki to forget what reservations he may have had and declare publicly that, in the current repressive circumstances, a Mugabe victory on 27th June will not be recognised by him and other African leaders. This at least would go a long way in showing that he had the Zimbabwean peoples’ interests at heart.
June 14th, 2008 15:01
So angry was I about Essop Pahad’s statements that I decided to look up his contact info and give him a piece of my mind.
Postal Address: Private Bag X1000 Pretoria 0001
Telephone: 012 300-5331
Fax: 012 321-8870
e-mail: samson@po.gov.za
While searching I found this, and thought I would share it. Gave me a bit of a laugh. Written by Ray Hartley, the editor of The Times, South Africa.
A sad, tearful goodbye to Essop Pahad
23 May 2008, 12:06 GMT + 2
I AM still reeling at Essop Pahad’s announcement that he will not be returning to Cabinet after the 2009 election. The nation is bereft. Here was a man unafraid to tell the world of the conspiracy between the lumpen proliteriate and the right wing to fuel xenophobic violence. No other politician was brave enough to make this seemingly outrageous link between poor, unemployed squatters and race-hating white extremists. But Pahad was willing to endure the snickers and laughter of thousands to place his views on record.
When all were silent and downcast at the behaviour of the Health Minister in hospital, Pahad had the courage to call for government advertisers to boycott the Sunday Times. The fact that this boycott failed dismally is testiment to Pahad’s courage and his willingness to champion unpopular causes, his willingness to run the gauntlett of ridicule to fight for a principal.
Pahad’s lonely, but relentless assault on the media, which is doing everything in its power to destroy South Africa, will be much missed. In his absence stories may appear which do not properly toe the party line on politics and we all know how dire that will be for this delicate land.
We now face a bleak and soul-destroying future in which articles are written without fear of heavy-handed contradiction from the highest political office in the land.
Who will convene summits of government and media leaders in which lecturing, hectoring and threats will be used to try and undermine the independence of so-called editors in the name of so-called freedom of expression?
I weep for our desperate land.
June 14th, 2008 17:29
No names no pack drill, but I’ve heard on the grapevine that a member of the youth militia even told a villager; “Its disgraceful, the ten billion dollars they’re paying me to kill someone now won’t even buy a can of beans.”
I am sure that any armed insurrection which Mugabe seemingly has planned as a welcome to Morgan’s victory will simply peter out and fall apart as the majority of rebels soon come to realize that attacking their kith and kin for the promise of more of the same under Mugabe is a wasted cause. They, and other forces will soon link up with a new ‘patriotic front’ and any that may decide to ‘go back to the bush’ will not prevent the changeover to democracy for which the vast majority of Zimbabweans crave.
June 14th, 2008 23:21
According to Grace(less) Mugabe -
“The country is mine, it is also yours, it is not for Grace alone,” she
said. “I have told people that I will die for this land this time around.”
I sincerely hope she does.
June 15th, 2008 10:26
It still defies belief that this imbecile, Mugabe, still implies that his thugs could possibly be the geriatric remnants of the liberation war in the 70’s!
Despite their bullying, the militia’s actions will be dealt with - whether by new law or by the people when they have finally taken all they can bare.
I can only imagine what the future holds for us
June 19th, 2008 17:18
No words can describe the photos in this page…except one, that has been haunting mankind since before the Dark Ages: BARBARIC.
In the 21st century we cannot truly say that we, humans, are not barbaric and that mankind has evolved. What a nonsense!! We continue to be as barbaric as we were centuries ago, even more refined.
All other animals in this gorgeous planet of ours (yes, because we too are animals) must be totally outraged with what we are doing to each other, and I am sure they do not understand our reasons for hurting in such horrific way our own kind…I almost feel ashamed of being a human being, supposedly inteligent (!), but capable of such atrocities.
The planet would definitely be a better world without humans!!! Even more horrific, these things happen not only in Zimbabwe, but all over the world. Shame on us…