Links ~ 1 September 2008
Mbeki again fails to secure Zim agreement (The Star)
imbabwean negotiators returned to Harare at the weekend after another unsuccessful attempt by President Thabo Mbeki to achieve an agreement on a power-sharing unity government. But Mbeki has succeeded in persuading President Robert Mugabe to postpone – at least for a week – his plans to appoint a cabinet unilaterally while he drafts a new compromise proposal.
Zanu militia, war vets seal off Matobo ahead of by-election (The Zimbabwean)
In a desperate bid to reverse Zanu (PF)’ s defeat at the March 29 election and its further defeat in parliament this week, the military junta has sealed off Matobo constituency in Matabeleland South which fell vacant following the election of MDC national chairman, Lovemore Moyo, as the Speaker of Parliament. [...] just 24 hours after the seat became vacant, Zanu (PF) youths from Bulawayo and government secret intelligence services had been deployed in the constituency, just 50km from Bulawayo, to campaign for the party by-election. No candidates have been selected for the election and the date is not yet known. Militias had already started harassing and raiding homes belonging to MDC supporters and they declared the area no-go for MDC. Some MDC supporters speaking to The Zimbabwean from Maphisa growth point in Matobo said war veterans had set up bases by the evening of August 25 when news that Moyo had been elected the Speaker of Parliament. They said Zanu (PF) youths spent the night singing liberation songs at the growth point.
Zimbabwe Main Opposition Denies Power-Sharing Deal (VOA News)
Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is denying media speculation that it has reached a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party. [...] “The reason why they (the MDC negotiating team) went to South Africa was to have bilateral consultations with the South African team as instructed by President Mbeki. At no time did we have a face-to-face meeting with the negotiators of ZANU-PF. It was basically to try and articulate our position and to check if there has been any change of circumstances or facts on the ground vis-Ã -vis the whole dialogue process. But as it is there hasn’t been any change,” Chamisa noted.
Red Cross appeals for assistance to feed Zimbabweans (ZimbabweJournalists.com)
The Red Cross says the current maize crop in Zimbabwe is the worst on record and would result in millions suffering due to massive food shortages before the end of the year. The agency is urgently appealing for funds to feed a quarter of a million of people. The food shortages have been blamed by the opposition on the ruling Zanu PF government’s land grab programme. Succesive droughts and lack of inputs have also worsenned the food situation in the country as productive land lies unused.
Zimbabwe options (Business Day)
Tackling hyperinflation would require a package of extremely tough fiscal and monetary policy measures, as well as the liberalisation of price controls, and of interest and exchange rates. Though inflation as stratospheric as Zimbabwe’s has rarely been seen anywhere, there are some successful precedents for bringing down hyperinflation, particularly from eastern Europe.
Regional court to rule on Zim farmers’ case (ZimOnline)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal will rule on an application by a group of Zimbabwean white farmers against the seizure of their land by President Robert Mugabe’s government on September 11, a senior official with the court said. [...] The white farmers want the Tribunal to declare Mugabe’s controversial land reform programme racist and illegal under the SADC Treaty. Article 6 of the regional treaty bars member states from discriminating against any person on the grounds of gender, religion, race, ethnic origin and culture.
Judge blames SA for Zimbabwe AIDS crisis (The Zimbabwe Times)
South Africa Constitutional Court judge Justice Edwin Cameron has apologized for the part his country has played in worsening the AIDS crisis in Zimbabwe by condoning bad governance by President Robert Mugabe. In a sometimes tearful presentation to civic society leaders and journalists in Harare Saturday, Cameron, a self-confessed HIV-positive homosexual, said poor governance in Zimbabwe had exacerbated the AIDS crisis. “I would show less than ordinary human decency if I failed to express my remorse and shame at the part my own country, South Africa, has played in condoning, colluding with and supporting this state of affairs.â€
September 1st, 2008 12:26
It is a pity that these Zanu-PF militia youths who are sealing off by-election areas just for the purpose of preventing MDC supporters from taking part in an election cannot be brought to their senses. Anyway, if they are youths they cannot be liberation fighters as they weren’t even born then. They are simply paid thugs, utilized by the Zanu authorities to interfere with the democratic process of the country. If only they realised that the MDC is a peoples movement, aiming only to better the lives of all Zimbabweans, including them. If they could look further than their noses they would realise what learning and job prospects they would have if the country was rich again.
Morgan Tsvangirai is not some product of a priveleged background. He does not even have a high school diploma. He had to work hard in his young teens to help his parents with the cost of raising his siblings. He was, like millions of others throughout history, one of those who have to struggle every day to make a living from the land. He desperately wants to improve the lives of his fellow countrymen, especially the youth, who are the future. And he has to be repaid with actions like this, all because an old man and his cronies want to hang on to total power by their fingernails.
How tragic is that?
September 1st, 2008 17:28
A very interesting interview with Nelson Chamisa
link:
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-09-01-voa3.cfm
September 1st, 2008 18:33
@ True Grit,
the whole truth for sure,pity Mbeki is so weak.
September 2nd, 2008 15:40
At risk of becoming boring, the murderous Mugabe, Shiri etc etc will not give up power voluntarily under ANY circumstances.
Until this is realised by everyone invloved in the political process in and around Zimbabwe, no progress will be made.
Either a coalition of Southern African countries, perhaps under the auspicies of Ian Khama, force Mugabe and his cohorts out on the basis of a flagrant denial of human rights in Zimbabwe, or we let Mugabe produce his fatuous goverment and wait for it and the country to implode in mass bloodshed.
Mbeki will have much blood on his hands but that seems not to worry him; it certainly won’t give Mugabe and Shiri any sleepless nights.
September 2nd, 2008 20:38
“They are simply paid thugs, utilized by the Zanu authorities”
And if Mugabe is removed from power, they will form part of the insurgency against the new government, along with those police and army men who have something to lose.
Anyone who thinks a transfer of power will be the end of the story should think again.
September 3rd, 2008 09:14
There seems to be an increasing number of correspondents living in the real world now, thank heavens.
Mugabe and his cohorts have their necks to protect and will do whatever they can to save each other.
The whole lot of them will have to be forced out by a coallition of local countries; almost certainly by force.
I know it will mean bloodshed, but I’m certain it will be better to get it over with sooner than later.
September 3rd, 2008 10:08
Thanks for the links.
It semms that is going to be a mess