Links ~ 26 June 2008

Biti: Two weeks is nothing (AP)
MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti was granted bail and released on Thursday, June 26. Biti who looked tired and frail returned to his home in Harare. “Some people stay 27 years in prison so two weeks is nothing,” he said in an interview with Associated Press Television. “It wasn’t easy though but we have to continue fighting.” Biti had to surrender his passport and the title to his home and must report to the police twice a week. Bail was set at Z$1 trillion. Biti said that the conditions in jail reflected the collapse of the state. People were dying, had no food and no blankets. “It’s a depressing place. It really attacks your morale and your strength,” Biti said.

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Urges Mugabe to Negotiate (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC urged Mugabe to open negotiations to end the political crisis in Zimbabwe before the run-off election, which takes place on June 27. “If the sham election goes ahead and Mugabe elects himself, how can I or the MDC negotiate with him? In essence, we’ll be negotiating with an illegitimate leader and we won’t do that,” said Tsvangirai.

UN chief renews call for vote delay in Zimbabwe (AFP)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon renewed his call for a postponement of the presidential run-off election in Zimbabwe. Ban said an election could only be held when “fair and credible conditions” have been created. He said that he was discussing the matter with African leaders. “My concern is how to ensure this violence and intimidation stop and people no longer suffer from all this humanitarian crisis,” said Ban.

Zimbabwe’s Army to Ensure People Vote for Mugabe, Officials Say (Bloomberg.com)
Mugabe has deployed military commanders to all the provinces to ensure that people turn up to vote in the presidential run-off election on June 27. Sources within the decision-making council of Zanu-PF said that the army, air force, and members of the Central Intelligence Organisation take part in a campaign to force voters to cast their ballots for Mugabe.

UN rights chief says Zimbabwe rights abuses must be prosecuted (AP)
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, “Serious violations of human rights and the associated impunity attributed mainly to groups linked to the ruling Zanu-PF and, in some cases the MDC party, are unacceptable and need to stop immediately.” Arbour said, “Those who perpetrate crimes must be held to account.”

Botswana Threatens to Take Action in Zimbabwe Political Crisis (Bloomberg.com)
Botswana has threatened to take action against Zimbabwe if the Southern African Development Community (SADC) fails to address the political crisis in Zimbabwe. President Ian Kama said that the SADC must “become proactive in the crisis”. Kama said, “We are still part of SADC, but if SADC is not doing anything, we can still act”. He did not specify what action would be taken.

Ghana calls for military intervention in Zimbabwe (SWRadio)
Members of Ghana’s Parliament are calling for UN military intervention in the political crisis in Zimbabwe. Deputy minister of Interior, KT Hammond said that the full force of Africa should be brought to bear on Mugabe. Minority leader, Alban Bagbin said the incident was an insult to the continent and that such stupid acts should be stopped. Other MPs who contributed to the debate have backed the call for intervention and said that an interim government should take over from Mugabe.

South African President Mbeki refuses to criticize Zimbabwe leader; still hopes for solution (AP)
South African President Thabo Mbeki refuses to join in on international condemnation of Robert Mugabe. Mbeki’s stance has increasingly isolated him, even in Africa. The African National Congress, under leadership of Jacob Zuma, has called for tougher action.

Germany’s Merkel presses African leaders to use their influence on Zimbabwe (AP)
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged African leaders to “use their influence to rectify the situation” (in Zimbabwe). Merkel said that Germany was keeping a close watch on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Italy urges world leaders to act on Zimbabwe (Reuters)
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that the international community should take action in Zimbabwe, should African leaders fail to address the crisis. “The credibility of the United Nations and the African Union and the Southern African Development Community is at stake here. I take note of the rather tepid reaction of the African Union,” said Frattini. “If there isn’t an African reaction, then the international community should think about other measures and sanctions.”

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