Links ~ 2nd July 2008
Mugabe rival rejects unity talks (BBC)
Morgan Tsvangirai President of the MDC said that conditions were not suitable for dialogue with Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai said that the African Union (AU) should appoint a mediator to join South African President Thabo Mbeki in his mediation efforts. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed Mbeki as mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis. The AU had during its summit, called for the “creation of a national government of unity” in Zimbabwe. The European Union (EU) has released a statement indicating that it would not support any government in Zimbabwe that is not under the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai.
In the meantime, it is reported that the Zanu-PF youth militia’s are on the rampage in Bulawayo, attacking commuter taxi operators and drivers. The militias are accusing the drivers of failing to campaign for Robert Mugabe despite being allocated free fuel by Zanu-PF.
Mugabe’s spokesman dismisses Western criticism of Zimbabwe’s disputed elections (Welt)
George Charamba spokesperson for Zanu-PF’s Robert Mugabe insisted that Mugabe would not step down. “He’s a few days into office and you expect him to retire, do you? … Five days have expired, not even a week after. … Why is the issue of the retirement of the president of Zimbabwe such an obsession for the West?“ he said. “He has come here as president of Zimbabwe and he will go home as president of Zimbabwe, and when you visit Zimbabwe he will be there as the president of all the people of Zimbabwe.“ Charamba said that Zanu-PF had offered dialogue to the MDC but could not promise that anything “beyond that will emerge”. He said when asked about Western criticism that “They can go hang. They can go and hang a thousand times”.
Mbeki: Mugabe open to talks (Sapa-dpa)
South African President Thabo Mbeki said that Robert Mugabe has told African Union leaders that he is willing to talk to the MDC about a government of national unity. Mbeki’s observations seem to be in contrast with the general impression created by the comments of George Charamba spokesperson of Robert Mugabe. Charamba had on Tuesday ruled out a Kenya-style government. Robert Mugabe had stormed out of the AU summit shortly before it had closed. Mbeki said, “He (Mugabe) was fully supportive of the cooperation and dialogue between Zimbabwe’s political parties to find solutions to the challenges they face.”
SA ‘to block Zim sanctions’ (Cape Argus)
South Africa is reportedly aiming to block UN sanctions aimed against Zimbabwe. It is the main opposition against a UN draft prepared by the US, which proposes an arms embargo, a travel ban on certain Zanu-PF officials and the freezing of their assets abroad. The proposed sanctions would specifically target those people who are seen as perpetrators of violence in Zimbabwe. Bloomberg.com reports that Dumisani Kumalo SA ambassador to the UN has said, “The text is too over the top. I don’t think this is the kind of pressure that will work”. South African President Thabo Mbeki has also rejected the European Union demand that Morgan Tsvangirai President of the MDC should lead a future unity government in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe: MDC Gets Support From 40 African Leaders (SWRadio)
During the African Union (AU) summit, South Africa, Gabon, and Eritrea had lobbied other foreign ministers in a bid to prevent the Zimbabwean crisis from being discussed on the foreign ministers conference.
Thokozani Khupe Vice-President of the MDC said that 40 African leaders supported the MDC victory in the March elections. Khupe said that the leaders were aware of the crisis in Zimbabwe and that it should be saved before the country was destroyed. Khupe and her team of five MDC officials lobbied for support for the MDC at the African Union (AU) summit. She said that during the foreign ministers conference many of the delegates wanted the Zimbabwe issue to be resolved urgently, despite certain countries trying to block the issue from being put on the agenda.
Wade criticises AU’s decision on Zimbabwe (Pana)
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said that the decision of the African Union (AU) to urge for the formation of a government of national unity in Zimbabwe was “irresponsible”. Wade said, “It is irresponsible to leave it off as there is no protective measure to avoid the situation from worsening.” Wade feared that the situation might worsen as the MDC has rejected the SADC appointed mediator, South African president Thabo Mbeki and that Zanu-PF’s Robert Mugabe may not intend to make concessions. George Charamba spokesperson of Mugabe has ruled out any concession to the MDC.
Tutu ‘distressed’ by Africa’s Zimbabwe position (CTV – AP)
Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa said that he was “deeply disappointed” and “distressed” at the African Union’s failure to take a forceful stand against Mugabe. “I am distressed that they have not thought it was important to declare the illegitimacy of the runoff and the illegitimacy of the Robert Mugabe administration,” said Tutu. “They hardly seemed to have referred to the violence and the suffering being undergone by the people of Zimbabwe.”
Women activists enter 6th week of detention in Zimbabwe prison (AP)
Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu of the human rights group Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise are entering their sixth week in detention in a Harare jail. The women have to sleep on a concrete floor and this during a bitterly cold southern African winter. On Thursday, lawyers hope to that a judge could be persuaded to grant bail to the two women.
Williams and Mahlangu were participating in a peaceful WOZA protest march when they were arrested along with 12 other WOZA activists. Williams, a mother of 3, has been living in safe houses for the last few years as her family had to flee to the UK. She has been arrested over 30 times and has been beaten on several occasions. During 2007, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has honoured Williams with an International Women of Courage Award. Mahlangu has been arrested more than 25 times. Amnesty International has called for the release of the women. “WOZA members are very brave and resilient,” said Simeon Mawanza of Amnesty International.
Bev Clark in her blog (Kubatanablogs.net) describes a recent visit to the two brave women in the Harare prison.
Oyster firm dropped over Zimbabwe link (ThisisLondon)
Transport for London will not renew its contract with EDS who subcontracts Giesecke and Devrient, a German company who supplied Mugabe’s regime with paper for printing money. EDS is the supplier of Oyster cards to Transport for London, while Giesecke and Devrient manufactures the plastic travel cards. Boris Johnson Mayor of London said he was “hugely frustrated” to learn that there is an indirect link between City Hall and the brutal dictatorship of Robert Mugabe. War on Want a human rights group had urged Londoners to boycott the use of Oyster cards until the contract ends next month.
Commonwealth head rejects legitimacy of polls (CMC)
Kumalesh Sharma Secretary-General of the Commonwealth has rejected the legitimacy of the June 27 presidential run-off poll in Zimbabwe. Sharma called on the international community to intervene and to restore order in the country. He said that the issue of Zimbabwe would be under discussion during the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government Summit in Antigua that has started on Monday.
July 3rd, 2008 06:32
2 points to talk about?
1. Mbeki
I just cannot figure this guy out!
Here he is in the twilight of his career risking his entire reputation and future
recognition,supporting our cruel, dishonest,
aging dictator - why?
Is it because his wife and the “First Shopper” are related?
Is it because he cannot criticise his elder? Is he still in awe over Mugabe’s liberation record? Surely not a good enough reason to risk all over.
Is it because he’s waiting for Zimbabwe’s economy to hit bottom so he can rush in and
buy up valuable assets for a pittance to boost his retirement fund? I doubt it.
Is it because “our” dictator has him blackmailed for some darstedly secret? Maybe?
Does China and/or Russia have him blackmailed?
What say all of you?
2. FIFA - World Cup 2010
We have been extremely successful in our recent campaigns to stop the Chinese “arms of war” ship and just this week in putting a stop to the supply of Gono’s precious bank note paper.
While we’re talking about Mbeki and the need
for Africa to come up with a credible solution for Zimbabwe’s crisis [did I say "crisis?" - sorry - please don't let Thabo see this], the most dramatic evidence of such a solution will be the World Cup in 2010.
Very much a symbol of African capacity to host a global event and one that captures the imaginations of millions of African soccer fans, the controlling authority of FIFA on Friday stated that they had a contingency plan to move the World Cup away from Africa if, in their judgment, conditions were not right.
It was a signal, not seen by many, but it was a clear indication that African leadership is on notice.
Shall we start a “stop the World Cup” campaign now, because surely by 2010, South Africa will be far too dangerous a venue for the event with rabid Zimbabwe right on its doorstep?
July 3rd, 2008 06:40
What an arrogant little buffoon, that George Charamba. I trust he will go hang himself in the very near future.
All these Mugabe regime hooligans haven’t learned anything in 28 years and need to be taught one severe lesson as soon as possible.
July 3rd, 2008 08:59
The end game for the hon.Dr G Gono, has commenced.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/144387
July 3rd, 2008 10:38
Well it seems it is going on and on and no action whilst innocent people are still being beaten and killed. We will not go hang a thousand times and the world needs to act now, otherwise it seems the only way out is to take up arms and get rid of Mugabe once and for all.I am all for a peaceful settlement as we have seen enough blood spilled during the war days and now again. He is no longer the President and has ruined the country, how can Mr. Mbeki not see that ? I agree with Morgan, he has to have a representative with him if any dialogue is on the cards as these people are not to be trusted.
July 3rd, 2008 11:29
Action stations re: South Africa to block UN action on Zim
This is so unbelievable! Let’s all send emails to all SA govt contacts and UN contacts in the database.
Let’s stop Mbeki’s support for mugabe & co.
July 3rd, 2008 12:22
A senior member of the Zimbabwe National Army
(unfortunately, I don’t know who exactly) and who is sympathetic to the opposition, has said openly that the MDC is wasting its time if it believed that it could achieve change in Zimbabwe by just talking to Mugabe, with or without pre-conditions.
He said that Mugabe was now aiming at regaining Zanu-PF’s majority in Parliament.
He claimed that the plan was to launch a campaign of targeted assassinations of MDC MPs
to create room for by-elections which would then be rigged through violence.
As regards the Senate, there Mugabe is assured of a comfortable majority, as a constitutional provision which is already in place for the upper house will allow him to appoint an extra 33 senators from his own party.
July 3rd, 2008 12:37
SW Radio is reporting that Mwanawasa has passed away.
July 3rd, 2008 13:00
@ Faraway, 3/7, 08.59
I very much fear that now there will be a race from firms in China and suchlike to supply the paper that the German firm has stopped supplying. and to ease Dr Gono’s concience regarding the increasingly surreal denominations on the banknotes, especially as the civil servants will soon be demanding their salaries in trillions of dollars, the bank chief is expected to announce a currency re-issue soon when he will simply chop nine zeros off, i.e. ten billion miraculously becomes ten dollars again. Easy peasy!
July 4th, 2008 05:27
For the past 8 years, Mbeki has used the discredited line that African states should not pressurise Mugabe to change, and that Zimbabweans must “resolve their own differences”.
When elections are rigged by a regime in power, and the opposition is being systematically assassinated, how does Mbeki propose we ‘resolve’ things?
Mbeki has conveniently ignored the fact that both ZANU(PF) in Zimbabwe and the ANC in South Africa only ever succeeded in their liberation struggle because of direct military, moral and financial support by neighbouring African states, Russia, China, and many western governments.
After Mbeki has finished re-arranging the deck-chairs on the good ship Zimbabwe, history will judge him by the amount of blood covering the deck.