Links ~ 17 June 2008
Sorry for the delay in getting these to you!
Tsvangirai takes campaign to ‘hotbed’ of political violence (SWRadio)
MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai will, during the 2nd leg of his campaign, visit three provinces that have been hard hit by Zanu-PF’s campaign of violence. Tsvangirai will visit Mashonaland West, Central, and East, which were former Zanu-PF strongholds up to the March 29 elections. Zanu-PF retaliated against voters in these provinces for bringing out an overwhelming number of votes in favour of the MDC. Donald Chirunga elections officer for the MDC has disclosed that 80% of MDC supporters have been displaced in Mashonaland East. George Sibotshiwe spokesperson for the MDC has confirmed that Tsvangirai will visit the provinces but has declined to discuss dates, as there are fears for the leader’s safety.
Arrested Zimbabwe opposition figure to appeal to regional bloc (AFP)
Arthur Mutambara leader of the splinter faction of the MDC has appeared in a Harare court on Tuesday. Mutambara’s bail application was to be heard but the state prosecutor failed to show up and the case had to be postponed. Mutambara now plans to petition the SADC to intervene on his behalf as his arrest contravenes one of the guiding principles of the SADC on elections, which provides for freedom of expression. A complaint will also be lodged with the SADC with regard to discrimination by the state media.
Zimbabwe: Opposition Official Still Held Without Charge (NYT)
Four days after Tendai Biti, the chief strategist and secretary general of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, was arrested, authorities still had not formally charged him. They also did not bring him before a judge on Monday, despite a High Court order issued Saturday to do so, said an opposition spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa. The police have said Mr. Biti will be charged with treason, based on statements in a document that the opposition says is forged.
UN representative meets with Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe (AFP)
Senior UN official Haile Menkerios has met with Robert Mugabe in Harare on Tuesday. Menkerios is in Zimbabwe to evaluate the political situation in the country and to discuss the presidential run-off election on June 27. Menkerios’ visit is a follow-up on talks held by UN Chief Ban Ki-moon and Robert Mugabe on the sidelines of the UN Food summit held in Rome last week. The details of the meeting between Menkerios and Mugabe have not been made known yet and it is said that the UN delegation was holding internal meetings.
Robert Mugabe warns Zimbabwe’s voters: ‘How can a pen fight a gun?’ (TimesOnline)
“We fought for this country, and a lot of blood was shed. We are not going to give up our country because of a mere X. How can a ballpoint fight with a gun?†said Robert Mugabe to the Zanu-PF supporters.
Eldred Masunungure a political commentator said that Mugabe appears to be worried. “He has never been this aggressive before. The threat is real and credible. My assessment is that it is 50-50. Mugabe is not confident of victory but Tsvangirai is also worried that support is shifting and he may not be able to cross the threshold. It is unpredictable.â€
‘They looted my body like I was dead’ (Guardian – UK)
Mugabe stands accused in an effort to retain power he has unleashed his militias on women. Three Harare women were raped, beaten, and made homeless in Epworth by youth militia. Two of the women are eager to let the world know of the atrocities committed, but one remains silent…completely broken by the experience. They were raped and physically assaulted because they were MDC supporters. Afterwards the militia took their ID cards and whatever else they felt like stealing. The women’s houses were burned to the ground. The women fear that after everything they have been through, they may have been infected with HIV.
In another part of Harare 14 women were arrested for holding an illegal demonstration, allegedly with the intent to incite violence. 12 of the Woza members have now been released, but 2 remains in custody. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu are detained in Chikurubi prison and face serious charges. Annie Sibanda spokesperson for Woza said that it was ludicrous that the women have been jailed but “not the people who are beating, burning, murdering and raping.”
Attacks on families and abductions on the rise (SWRadio)
MDC Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto’s wife is still missing after she and the couple’s 4-year old son were abducted by a group of armed men on Monday night. The child was found dumped outside a police station on Tuesday morning. A local organiser of the Combined Harare Residents Association was abducted by Zanu-PF militia on Tuesday afternoon. Her son and daughter were abducted on Monday but had managed to escape. At least three teachers have been abducted in the Manhicaland area since Friday. The teachers, including a local primary school headmaster were abducted on separate occassions and were take away in Zanu-PF branded vehicles.
Zimbabwe a ’silent genocide’, UN Human Rights Council told (ENI)
“We are watching a silent genocide of the poor and powerless, due to politically induced murders, criminal actions, and collapse of basic services resulting in deaths due to lack of health care, food, and shelter for the displaced, especially after the March 29th elections. Most of the affected are women and children.” Anonymous speaker – UNHRC June hearing.
A submission was made to the United Nations Human Rights Council at its June hearing and was signed by the World Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, World YWCA, the Girl Child Network, Femmes Africa Solidarity, the General Arab Women’s Federation, the World Student Christian Federation, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Religions for Peace and numerous other groups.
Zimbabwe Needs to Import 1.23 Million Tons of Cereal, UN Says (Bloomberg.com)
Zimbabwe will need to import 1.23 million metric tons of cereal this year. Floods, lacks of seeds and “unprofitable†state-controlled prices have cut production to 28% lower yields than last year. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, it is expected that the country will produce no more than 575 000 tons of corn this year. It is estimated that Zimbabwe will need food aid of 395 000 tons to feed as many as 5.1 million people.
Pray For Zimbabwe, WCC Invites Churches Worldwide (Standard Newswire)
The World Council of Churches has invited churches worldwide to celebrate a day of prayer for Zimbabwe on Sunday, June 22.
Full text of the invitation letter: www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=6041
Kenyan PM describes Zimbabwe as Africa’s ‘eyesore’ (SWRadio)
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has spoken out against fellow African leaders for remaining silent on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Odinga said, “Zimbabwe is an eyesore on the African continent … an example of how not to do it. I’m sad that so many heads of state in Africa have remained quiet when disaster is looming in Zimbabwe.” Odinga said the South African government in particular needed to speak out strongly against Mugabe and impunity in Zimbabwe.
Zambia returns fire in Zimbabwe’s war of words (M&G)
Zambia’s Minister for Information Mike Mulongoti said that it was unfortunate that the Zimbabwean government has continued with its “malicious campaign†of verbal attacks against the Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa. The Zimbabwean state-sponsored newspaper The Herald has carried a number of stories in recent weeks where top officials of the Zimbabwe government condemn Mwanawasa’ conduct as the chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Mulongoti said that Zambia has suffered and sacrificed for Zimbabwe since the days of the liberation struggle. Analysts fear that the tension developing between the two countries could damage economic relations between the two.
VOA Expands Coverage of Zimbabwe’s Run -Off Election (MDMN)
The Voice of America (VOA) has expanded coverage of the presidential run-off election on June 27 and will provide up-to-the-minute, multi-media news and information to millions of people in Zimbabwe. VOA’s Studio 7 has doubled its broadcasts in English, Shona and Ndebele, with enhanced internet offerings and increased subscribers to its daily e-mail news bulletins.
Foreign media choked (M&G)
The 40% import duty that the Zimbabwean government now slammed on foreign publications, such as newspapers and magazines, is part of its campaign to withhold information from Zimbabweans. Satellite dishes are also being removed so that those with access to international news do not talk about it in their communities. The campaign is called Operation Dzikisai Madhishi – “pull down the satellite dishâ€. With the 40% import duty, a Mail & Guardian now costs Z$800-million. The average monthly income of a Zimbabwean civil servant is Z$50-billion.
IFJ says Zimbabwe’s media under pressure (Pana)
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a report that Zimbabwe’s media are operating under tremendous pressure from state and security agents, youth militia, war veterans and Zanu-PF supporters. The report said that the state-sponsored media was “under severe control†by Zanu-PF and was being used as an “exclusive campaign toolâ€.
“Almost all those interviewed, especially freelance journalists, tell of harrowing and saddening stories of arrests, beatings and intimidation,†the mission stated in the report.
“Zimbabwean journalists face a difficult operating environment in which they are not only expected to be licensed by a government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC), but have to brave political violence and the challenges of a failing economy.â€
“Those journalists working for the state media live in fear of being fired or suspended for not showing sufficient enthusiasm for the reporting and coverage of the party in power.“
Camec under fire for doing business with Zim (ZG)
The Central African Mining and Exploration Company (Camec) has been criticised for continuing to do business with Zimbabwe. Phil Edmonds, former England cricket spin bowler, is the chairperson of Camec and has recently struck business deals with Zimbabwe despite Britain’s call for companies to stop doing business in the country. Camec has made a payment of $120m for platinum rights in Zimbabwe and has made a $100m loan to the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation. Critics have tried and failed to link the business deals with the shipment of arms ‘incident’.
