Links ~ 3 July 2008
U.S. Submits Sanctions Against Zimbabwe to U.N. (PBS)
US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has submitted a US-drafted resolution to the United Nations Security Council against Zimbabwe. “We have proposed a resolution that will impose targeted sanctions on those that are responsible for the crisis with the expectation and hope that they will be incentivized to cooperate,” Khalilzad said. The resolution will not only impose sanctions and an arms embargo, but will target Mugabe and 11 other Zanu-PF officials. It is expected that the Security Council will vote on the resolution next week.
South Africa, China, and Russia have indicated that they will oppose the sanctions.
Zim: ‘SA govt must speak out’ (SAPA)
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said that the South African government must speak out on Zimbabwe as President Thabo Mbeki in his role as mediator is constrained from doing so. “A mediator must not be perceived to be aligned with one or another of the contending parties,” said Patrick Craven spokesperson for Cosatu. “We urge the government to add its voice to theirs to state publicly that it cannot accept the outcome of the ‘elections’.” Craven said, “It would be a disaster for Africa if its highest representative bodies, AU and SADC, were to recognise the outcome of such an ‘election’ and the Mugabe government as legitimate.”
Cosatu is mobilising its members, civil society, and Zimbabweans living in South Africa for a protest and border blockade at Beit Bridge border post on Saturday, July 5. Cosatu wants to isolate Mugabe.
“We are calling on all our unions and those around the world to make sure that they never ever serve Mugabe anywhere, including at airports, restaurants, shops, etc.
“Further we call on all workers and citizens of the world never to allow Mugabe to set foot in their countries.”
SA public in full support of the Zimbabwean people, not Mbeki (SWRadio)
South African President Thabo Mbeki seems to have isolated himself from ordinary South Africans who support a free Zimbabwe and do not support Mbeki. Katy Katapodis news editor for Talk Radio 702 said that in general South Africans are strongly opposed to Mbeki’s policy of “quiet diplomacyâ€. South Africans understand that the situation in Zimbabwe has a direct impact on its neighbouring countries. Many South Africans are supportive of demonstrations and rallies in solidarity with the Zimbabwe people. Cosatu has organised a protest at Beit Bridge on Saturday.
G8 to discuss sharper Zimbabwe sanctions – Germany (Reuters)
Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations will discuss stronger sanctions against Mugabe and his government. The discussions of the sanctions will take place at the G8 summit in Japan, next week. Britain is seeking a separate statement that emphasises that the G8 condemns the Mugabe government as illegitimate and that stronger sanctions will be considered against Zimbabwe. Germany has indicated that they would support such a proposal.
Doctor sees Zimbabwe horror up close (Times)
The doctor, said that he writes medical reports and that he tries to keep it as objective as possible. He is interested in facts, not emotions. He is nevertheless staggered by the level of the violence and the knowledge that the victims will continue to feel pain from the injuries sustained, for a very long time. He showed the journalist an x-ray of a leg, with a fracture at the thickest part of the tibia. Despite the doctor’s eight years experience, he has never seen a fracture like this. “It’s an illustration of unbelievable, intentional brutality,” he says. “This is not over when the election is over…” (An interview with a doctor in Zimbabwe.)
U.S. Embassy In Harare Takes In 220 Zimbabwean Fleeing From Opposition Attacks (AHN)
Close to 220 Zimbabweans have taken refuge inside the US embassy in Harare. The group has fled attacks by Zanu-PF supporters. US Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee said that the embassy is working with humanitarian groups to find accommodation for the group. The group has received blankets and other commodities from the humanitarian agencies. Some of the Zimbabweans have sustained injuries during the attacks and need medical attention.
UK pledges £9 million in food aid to Zimbabwe (UK - DFID)
Millions of Zimbabweans are facing severe food shortages. The United Kingdom’s International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said that they pledge ?9 million towards food aid to over 4 million of Zimbabwe’s poorest and most vulnerable families. The money will go to the World Food Programme (WFP) who will provide the food for those in need. Alexander called on Zimbabwe to lift the current ban on NGOs so that relief work can continue unhindered. The Department for International Development’s annual contribution to Zimbabwe is ?44 million.
“The ongoing political problems in Zimbabwe should not divert our gaze from the continuing humanitarian disaster. By the end of 2008, up to five million men, women and children could be facing severe hunger and malnutrition. That is why this Government is allocating £9 million to provide food to those people most at risk.
“We are providing aid but Zimbabwe must allow the aid to get through. The continued ban on NGOs is senseless and does nothing but take food away from the mouths of hungry people. For the sake of the millions who are poor and at risk of starvation, I call on Zimbabwe to lift this unnecessary ban and allow aid to get through,” said Alexander.
2 women activists freed after nearly 6 weeks in Zimbabwe jail (Canadian Press)
Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, two women activists of WOZA, have been released on bail. The two women have been detained in a Harare jail for almost six weeks. Williams and Mahlangu are charged with disturbing the peace and publishing statements prejudicial to the state. Williams has received the International Women of Courage Award in 2007.
Zimbabwe says no panic over banknote ban (Reuters)
Central Bank governor Gabriel Gono said that the decision by the German company Giesecke and Devrient (G&D) to stop the supply of paper - used to print money – would not affect the Zimbabwean economy in any way. Gono said that there was no reason for panic and that “the banking and transacting public should go about their business in the usual mannerâ€. He said that the Zimbabwean government had made alternative plans before G & D had made their decision. Gono did not specify what the alternative arrangement was.
July 4th, 2008 15:28
http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSWEA1064
HARARE, July 4 (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday warned neighbouring African nations to “think twice” about provoking his government, which has been condemned for holding a one-candidate presidential election.
“If there are some who may want to fight us, they should think twice,” Mugabe, the winner of a run-off election boycotted by the opposition, said after returning home from an African Union summit.
“We don’t intend to fight any neighbours. We are a peaceful country, but if there is a country, a neighbouring country that is itching for a fight, ah, then let them try it.”
July 4th, 2008 16:43
The Great Zimbabwe Impasse
Mugabe:
Recognise me as Zimbabwe president or no talks.
Tsvangirai:
Recognise me as the leader of any transitional government, on the basis of the March results, and stop he violence.
This could take years.
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL03212421.html
One can see Mugabe’s strategy a mile away.
1.Appear to be trying to satisfy the AU with commencing dialogue with MDC.
2.Appear to be reducing the violence.
3.MDC members involved in by-elections will mysteriously disappear or die. Others arrested for various ridiculous charges.
4.MDC will fade
5.China will prop up the regime
6.Nothing will change
This is of course totally unacceptable. It’s an outrage!
Something has to be done to break the stalemate. It needs an absolute world wide wave of protests in every possible direction .
July 4th, 2008 16:47
Wow, so not only will that man declare war on his own people, but now he’s threatening the rest of Africa as well? That’s a fine way to maintain allies in Africa…
While in my opinion Mugabe is truly evil, I’ve always believed that he was an incredibly clever man. How else do you maintain allies and keep an iron grip on power despite huge opposition? He has systematically outmaneuvered the opposition at every turn, and that shows some sort of intellect.
However, this statement is really, truly, stupid. Let’s hope he continues down this path of stupidity; it can only lead to trouble for him and his cronies…
July 4th, 2008 21:54
Shoot for the moon,
The worst you can do is land among the stars.
What if the stars turn their backs on you?
They refuse to share their light,
And you come crashing down
into a pile of ‘I wish’, ‘but’, ‘I tried’,
A pile of worthless dreams.
Developing a concrete vision for the future would help to rally the people of Zimbabwe around a long-term effort to achieve a peaceful transition.
A non-western organization, such as the African Development Bank, could take the lead and summon an international ‘Friends of Zimbabwe’ conference. Any successful developing country that has shown an interest in Zimbabwe could participate. The very fact of the international communtity coming together at short notice would send a strong message of hope to Zimbabwe and all Africans who care about the future of that important country.