Links ~ 13 July 2008
Zimbabwe political talks in stalemate: opposition (Reuters)
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Sunday that the preliminary talks between the MDC and Zanu-PF have failed to produce a framework for negotiations. Nelson Chamisa spokesperson for the MDC said that post-election violence has continued unabated, killing 113 activists since the March elections and this has led to the talk’s stalemate.
“There was (no agreement). The matters are still outstanding. It’s not about the table discussions in Pretoria but about what’s happening on this side of the Limpopo (river),” Chamisa said. “We still have to clear the course for meaningful talks.”
Zimbabwe state media has however reported that there is an agreement and that it will pave the way for “serious talks”. The South African newspaper, The Sunday Independent said that the political parties would sign an agreement, which would serve as a guide for intensive talks. It also said that talks would begin on Wednesday in Harare.
UK says veto of Zimbabwe sanctions “incomprehensible” (Reuters)
Britain said that Russia’s veto, of a UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe, was “incomprehensible. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement that he was very disappointed that the UN Security Council has failed to pass the resolution. He said that Britain would try again if there were no progress was made to stop the political violence in Zimbabwe.
Miliband said that the people of Zimbabwe would not understand the Russian or the Chinese vote. “It is disappointing that the Security Council failed to stand up for the democratic rights of Zimbabweans. But it was right to push for a tough Security Council resolution, and those who stood in its way must now take responsibility for the failure of the Security Council to act,” Miliband said.
“We will continue to stand firmly for human rights and democracy, and will return to the Security Council in the absence of early progress on mediation, humanitarian access, and an end to violence.”
UK to push Zimbabwe sanctions thru EU (FBA/WY/BGH)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will call on the leaders of the European Union (EU) to support further sanctions against Zimbabwe at a meeting of the Mediterranean Union on July 13. The gathering is to be attended by European, North African and Middle Eastern leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso. It is expected that Brown would call for and expansion on the current travel ban on Mugabe’s regime and the implementation of measures against companies owned by the regime.
Zim youth ‘ready to go to war’ (Sunday Independent)
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in South Africa has released a report on the political crisis in Zimbabwe that warns of the possibility of civil war in that country. Peter Kagwanja did the field research for the report and Dr Kwandiwe Kondlo, the executive director of the HSRC, edited it. The report said that mediation should not be made into a career for the participants. Efforts to mediate should occur at a much faster pace as frustrated youths in Zimbabwe are taking up arms.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said in response to the allegations in the report that the MDC has resisted any temptation to fight. “We have been victims. And even under very extreme circumstances, we have continued to resist the temptation of fighting fire with fire,” Chamisa said.
Kagwanja had to admit that there was no evidence that the MDC was organising violence. Neither could Kagwanja find evidence of camps in South Africa where MDC supporters were supposed to be trained. Kagwanja also admitted that allegations of so-called “democratic resistance committees” were not based on first-hand evidence, but have been based mainly on media reports.
July 14th, 2008 16:11
Re: Zim youth ‘ready to go to war’
Whilst one can understand the opinion that it is good that Nelson Chimasa for the MDC has denied a report that opposition supporters were arming themslves and forming warlike resistance committees in exile, it is equally disturbing to contemplate a future consisting only of waiting for Mugabe to die of old age.
July 14th, 2008 17:50
Think of Banda, Kaunda, Mugabe, Khama even Mbeki (to mention a few in southern africa) Young old men? Someone once called them. And why, because they couldn’t or can’t percive an alternative to themselves as leaders.
Pioneers always view themselves as infallible, imprisoned in their past glories and present deceptions by their sycophants that they are God’s chosen yet behind it all they are surrounded by murderous worms.
Mugabe is waiting to be given an exit by God. I EARGERLY AWAIT HIS DEATH. Wonder if he is to be buried at the acre with the sinking Chinese built hall. Or will he just vanish from the face of the earth.
That will be a definite good riddence of bad rubbish.
July 14th, 2008 21:12
Under the heading: Mugabe’s Murderous Plan, the Zimbabwe Today website yesterday posted an article stating that the five main junta leaders had held a secret meeting at the end of last week with Mugabe. The details reveal a comprehensive plan to “target and eliminate the MDC from the political map of Zimbabwe.”
Read the article on -
http://zimbabwetoday.co.uk/
July 15th, 2008 00:30
Unfortunate indeed. Desperation at its grossest. Why they simply can’t declare a state of emergency baffles me. This was the order of the day during the Matebeleland crisis.
How some people would legitimise themselves by murder is incomprehensible. Mugabe should learn from other dictators. Simply have no elections in your country, no one dies, no one gets tortured. You are the sole grand dad in power waiting to be shot by your own.
What is the point in this perennial rule of fear. You and your generals have made elections a farce, a blood letting orgy, and must be very scared to go on this way.
Don’t even have the parliament. Rule from your homesteads. What’s the point in imitating a system you have confused so bloodily. Simply do not vote and spare us your persecution and shitty style of leadership. Don’t even use English, put on loin skins and have kangaroo courts. The state house is still as it was before independence leave it and stay in huts you depraved monsters.
July 15th, 2008 10:42
After all these murders and blatantly disgracefull exhibitions of torture and mercilessness, I wonder if this is the stifling of opposition or is it an orgy of blood letting.
After observing the murderous regime at it for 28 years I just wonder why they don’t simply declare that elections should never to be contested in zim. Begin a new political culture that would spare us this pain. Cuba has done it.
They can’t go about murdering people in the name of parliamentary representation. If they are so anti west, why not do away with that which is western. We have seen their definition of democracy, elections, justice and re-education, only that they have been stupid enough to use brainwashed thugs in a similar vein as the 5th brigade. It never works.
‘Comrade’ mugabe, and his ruling junta should consider moving out of statehouse, put on loin clothes, use shona or sindebele in their kangaroo parliamentary debates, operate from their huts, not bother having electricity, IT, OR any laws and go and holiday in the jungles of guinea that’s where they belong. (They have proved that they don’t need these)
What they have done is the grossest evil ever and with such impunity and arrogance against and suggestions or semblance of order. Even countries at war feed and treat their wounded prisoners of war. This one is an administration from hell.