Links ~ 15 August 2008
UN chief alarmed by restrictions on aid delivery to Zimbabwe (Africasia)
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on Zimbabwe to immediately lift restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of civilians in order to avert catastrophe. Only 280,000 of the 1.5 million Zimbabweans in need have been able to receive aid so far, the UN secretary general said in a statement. “I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe where, despite requests made by the United Nations Country Team and other humanitarian partners, operations of voluntary and non-governmental organizations remain restricted,” he added.
Zimbabwe talks to resume at regional summit (Reuters)
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition will resume power-sharing talks at a weekend regional summit in South Africa, a local newspaper quoted a ZANU-PF official as saying on Friday. [...] “We are travelling to South Africa with President (Robert) Mugabe today as the negotiations continue,” the Herald newspaper quoted the ruling ZANU-PF’s chief negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa, as saying. “The talks never collapsed and all parties are committed to the dialogue. I would also want to confirm ZANU-PF’s commitment to see the talks end successfully sooner rather than later.”
Tsvangirai Charges Coercion By Zimbabwe Authorities In Talks Stalemate (VOA)
[...] Security sources told VOA the directive to prevent Tsvangirai’s departure came from the Joint Operations Command which unifies the heads of the main uniformed and security services - and which some say has become the true seat of power in Harare in recent months. [...] SADC sources said regional leaders immediately put pressure on Harare, some threatening to boycott the summit, and convinced it to give back the passports and, as matters stood late Thursday, to allow the rest of the MDC delegation to leave Friday for Johannesburg.
Botswana to give Tsvangirai a diplomatic passport (Zimbabwe Metro)
The Zimbabwean government ’s continued refusal to give Morgan Tsvangirai a passport has forced the Botswana government to mull plans to give the MDC leader a diplomatic passport,Metro can reveal. An official in the department of Immigration and Citizenship revealed that they have received instructions to look into the issue of how they can give Mr.Tsvangirai a diplomatic passport.
MDC accuse ZANU PF of trying to bribe its MPs (SWRA)
Zimbabwe’s political drama continued Thursday, with accusations from the MDC that ZANU PF government ministers and security agents were trying to bribe its members of parliament to join a unity government. A statement from the party said Mugabe’s regime had approached several MP’s asking them to submit their C.V’s for possible appointment into a new government. ‘These are the actions of a desperate and cornered regime, which we find corrosive,’ the MDC said.
Fate of refugees undecided as SA camps to close Friday (The Zimbabwean)
The fate of thousands of Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa’s Gauteng province is yet to be decided, as Friday’s deadline for refugee camps to be dismantled edges ever closer. The camps were set up by the South African government earlier this year following a spate of violent attacks against foreigners across the country, which left more than 60 people dead and thousands homeless. The Gauteng local government has since announced the camps in the province would be dismantled on Friday and the estimated 4 000 refugees of xenophobic violence would be reintegrated back into the communities they were forced to flee.
Charamba Attacks ZUJ over Deported Journalist (RadioVOP)
Information and Publicity Permamnent Secretary, George Charamba has castigated the Zimbabwe Union of Journalsts (ZUJ) for not saying anything about the deportation of fugitive Ceaser Zvayi, a Zimbabwe newspapers journalist from Botswana. Charamba said this showed that ZUJ was just being used by the West like all other donor organisations in Zimbabwe.
ZBC retrenches 7 alleged MDC supporters (The Zimbabwe Times)
Seven senior ZBC journalists, who were suspended in June on accusation that they were too sympathetic to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), now face looming retrenchment. [...] “We were told we would be served with our retrenchment notices this Friday (today),” one of the journalists told The Zimbabwe Times . The journalists were told point blank that the cause of their retrenchment was their failure to promote Zanu-PF and President Robert Mugabe during the campaign for the harmonised March 29 elections.
Bodyform launches charity push
Bodyform is launching the latest phase of an integrated campaign to help provide 2.3 million sanitary products to the women of Zimbabwe. As part of the push to promote charity Action for South Africa’s (ACTSA) Dignity! Period campaign, Bodyform is targeting 18-24 year old women with press advertising, in-store activity, an on-pack promotion, a dedicated microsite, online marketing and PR.
August 15th, 2008 13:14
You’ll understand why zanu PF is an access to evil…and on the USA / EU black list.
Restricting access to human aid…unbelievable…!!!
Eric Bloch in http://www.zimbabwesituation.com has given a clear break down of how Zanu PF uses fear to rule.
Along with it they cannot acknowledge their mistakes.
zanu PF is a joke and African leaders standing behind Mugabe have become a joke, a starting point is to look at the direction Mbeki’s legacy is taking.
Anyway I suppose the public are “oblivious” to the “intricate dynamics” presented that require “tip toeing” over Mugabe and Zanu PF…
ha ha ha ha h ha…
It’s an absolute joke…well done MDC for persisting against this African lunacy
From “crisis what crisis” to all the other ridiculous things pathetic pot belly African leaders and Zanu PF have said to date…
The very “West” (ha ha ha) must be rolling in laughter each time Africa opens it’s mouth on Zimbabwe or shakes a fist at it over Zimbabwe.
The “West” is paying for your Mercedes and luxury Armani suit foolish African on the other end you “rant and rave” in an empty manner.
The WORLD BANK is funding the very CHINA and RUSIA you are running to in the EAST…without them they would be nothing.
It’s clear we will only be taken seriously if “like Mandela came into power after the apartheid government,” MDC comes into the required power…
The MDC will take us forward to “co-operative development” of Zimbabwe not the “SHAM of soviergnity” that exists under ZANU PF…
Who but Zanu PF with their education doesn’t know that the world is a “global village”
ha ha ha
We’ll wait an see for the next joke from Africa and zanu PF this weekend
Thank you to Africans who have show reason like Botswana and Zambia.
MDC and ordinary Zimbabweans keep strong…!!!
August 15th, 2008 15:34
You’re so right Martin. These Zanu PF people are hilarious. Who is the head writer who comes up with all these funny scenarios.
Their state media outlets are just as whacky. They seem to think their audience is of an average age of about six years old. I’ve suggested to several of the Herald journalists that they should try their luck in the U.S. as comedy writers for TV shows. They could do well.
August 15th, 2008 21:25
Mugabe is using the aid issue and violence to get a deal that keeps him in power, he knows the MDC are in a hurry to stop people dying. The MDC need to insist on resuming aid and an end to violence before continuing talks (as they said they would) and not give in. Any deal that does not strip Mugabe of his power will in no way improve the plight of Zimbabweans, but could in fact make things worse - I’m sure Mugabe could make things worse.
August 16th, 2008 08:17
What an excellent idea Mr Mbeki, to invite the talks leaders to Sth Africa to continue the ‘talks’.
A great smoke screen to have Mugabe go to the SADC and have a more legitimate reason for being there, with the continuing sideline talks.
Mr Mbeki, always thinking. What a man.