“No crisis”. Really…?
These homes have been destroyed in reprisal attacks against Zimbabwean citizens in the Mashonaland East province. More attacks here.
The pattern that is emerging is that of retribution being carried out against the District level of the MDC Tsvangirai leadership.
These houses (destroyed on Wednesday evening) belong to MDC district office bearers in the Macheke area of Mashonaland East.
Other news across the region:
There are reports of people fleeing from the army in Kotwa (Mutoko). The ones that can’t afford the bus fare to Harare are hiding in the bush.
The Army are beating locals in Mt Darwin, Raffingora, and Karoi. In their words: “They fear for their life.” Some are crossing the border to Mozambique to seek refuge status.
There are reports of the army also beating locals in Mkoba (Gweru).
Finally, Morris Banda the zanu pf losing candidate councilor in Tafara (Mabvuku) has hired zanu pf thugs (called chipangano) who are threatening residents and beating them for not voting for him.
April 12th, 2008 18:11
NEWS AT 5PM BST
Zambia, chairman of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), called the summit because of fears that a long delay in issuing results of a March 29 presidential election could spark serious violence.
“This extraordinary summit has been convened out of concern at the recent turn of events in Zimbabwe. This summit should focus on helping Zimbabwe to find an answer that genuinely reflects the mood of the people,” Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said in opening remarks.
“SADC can no longer continue to stand by and do nothing when one of its members is experiencing political and economic difficulties,” he said.
April 12th, 2008 18:29
This Mbeki guy is also as stupid as MUgabe. Remember he also wanted to go for another term for ANC presidency only to be booted by Zuma. He just have the same mentality like Mugabe. They are working together to destroy Zimbabwe. Maybe he is happy that he has 3million cheap labourers in his country which is to his advantage because os severe skills shortage…..
April 12th, 2008 19:20
I am just so angry. Let’s start an email campaign to Mbeki’s numbers… just flood his office with letters and photos. Maybe he should be invited to Kotwa!
April 12th, 2008 19:53
It’s a pity that our leaders Mbeki and Mugabe are proving so omnipotent. I used to be proud of my African people; thought they always put others before the self. Now I am no longer sure I had it right, because if I was right, how does one explain such arrogance? Abuse of the voting public by both Mbeki and Mugabe is indeed an embarrassment to the whole of Africa, if not to the world. Our leaders are being our own worst enemy. They are under developing the continent. As long as we lose the respect and the trust of our youth, we have lost the fight. Afrocentrism as opposed to Eurocentrism is supposed to be grounded on the upkeep of those around us. A man is measured by the success of his wife and children, a ruler by those he rules. How does Mugabe measure his success? What does Mbeki provide as proof of his success as an arbitrator. Zimbabweans are hungry, they are dying of AIDS; 3 million are poised as cheap leader in neighboring states. Is that not a crisis? God, I am losing my faith in man. Perhaps George Orwell was right after all. Some animals are more equal than others. Mugabe sees himself as more important than the rest of the Zimbabweans; and Mbeki agrees with him. Shame on you, president Mbeki!!!
April 12th, 2008 20:16
I feel slightly better now… just sent Mbeki 20 emails with photos and brief reasons why this IS a crisis…
Email for his spokesman are:
mukoni@mweb.co.za, mukoni@po.gov.za
April 12th, 2008 20:48
Mbeki will not do anything because he is scared of Mugabe, and he stands to gain from the colupse of our country:
1) He knows that Zimbabweans are creating demand for every commodity that they can take back home with them. Businesses are thrieving because of this demand. If things go back to normal in Zimbabwe, business will slow down in S.Africa, especially for those that operate near Zim. border.
2) He knows that when Zimbabwe is in chaos, South Africa gains the highly trained and skilled Zimbos such as the teachers and doctors.
3) Mbeki also is aware that Collegies and Universities in S. Africa has since increased their numbers of Zimbabwean students ever since things got very bad in Zimbabwe. These students pay are charged foregn fees and therefore all is well for SA.
Ever since Mbeki was appointed the arbitrator he has done and said nothing of significant value to suffering Zimbabweans. He is not quilified for this position and should not be trusted.
LAFA ELIHLE
April 13th, 2008 07:55
My take on this issue is really the PARAMOUNT REQUIRMENT of massive PEACE KEEPING effort provided by outsiders. Not military intervention per se, but certainly a force capable of minimising Mugabe’s well oiled intimidation machine.
Because if history is anything to go by, Mugabe is both wily and ruthless. He WILL STEAL this entire election by playing for time, combined with intense brutality in remote districts, and history will also reveal that the Zimbabwean people will then bow again under this pressure, and they will (mistakenly) beleive that to vote for him yet again is, for them, the road less rocky.
Everyone will suddenly find - hey presto - it is all over, and he “won” it, and we will all wonder how it happened.
And largely thanks in no small manner to Mbeki - you played right into his hands. What? - do you think Mugabe is going to give you some secrets for permanent tenure as SA’s leader? Maybe - watch out SA! Methinks there is a snake somewhere in the grass!
April 13th, 2008 13:07
Mbeki is a [profanity removed], he stinks, what does he mean there is no crisis. He is equally rubbish remember he did no want to go, thanks to Mzansi they did not tolerate rubbish.Beginning this month Zimbabweans will pay from their migre salaries 60% to the regime. Mbeki uzibambe.
April 13th, 2008 15:12
I would like to congratulate the MDC for getting 7 African leaders plus Thabo mbeki… to spend 13 hours thinking… “What is Mugabe… a despot a president or neither… How do we deal with him… should we deal with him… or he will self distract?” that was a good Job.
It is important we all have a proper perspective on what we should expect from ourselves and from others.
I do think the meeting in itself was the victory its length must be a sore point for Mugabe… I mean these guys did not find it easy to simply brush my activities aside even Joseph wandakabatsira mazuva aya …aneshuwa here? Its a very huge achievement. Mugabe can’t count on SADC to always do his ass wiping anymore… He still has Thabo for that- he may always have him.
Another victory is to have been invited to the summit… that was another huge score. See how it pained Chinamasa… it goes without saying that ZANU can’t rule Zimbabwe alone anymore they need to involve MDC as well.
The meeting should be seen in the light of discrediting Mugabe in the eyes of the entire world and to gradually isolate him from the rest of the world. If you can get him to act unreasonable/violent in front of the world you weaken his blows… If you can get him to act childish in front of the world (like you just did) you weaken his words … If you can get him to show weakness and shame like he just did he we gain courage and know that he is only human after all. He must eventually be as precluded as a boy who does not know how to behave on the playground. It would be a victory if he was to beg to go to SADC meetings like he did to the Portugal meeting. Seclusion is a powerful tool.
Whatever they call it … the fact that it took them 13 hours to come out with a statement means there is a problem somewhere… Not just a problem a huge problem.
Ok now lets get back to work… Thumbs up for a couple of things for you are doing in the coming weeks. Here are my comments on them…
1) You must continue to isolate ZANU from the world and the current foolisheness with the elections are a bonus… recounts farm invasions and all its a fiasco… play to the Gallary… the world is watching. Anything that can discredit them make sure you lure them into doing it. I have just been listening to Matonaga making an asshole out of himself link provided at the bottom of this post. These kinds of things will one day lead Thabo to forsake them- Thabo is so hard headed it may never happen. It will work on all reasoning people. People like Mwanwasa, Kabila, Khama, the Tanzania dude… gradually have the courage to say “[swear word deleted] this dude”.
2) Hustle and Broadcast. Hustle for the results and hustle against recounts take this stuff to all kinds of courts. The aim here is to showcase the fact that you indeed are right. I suggets that the ZLFHR (lawyers for human rights) and Madhuku are impartial in their comments on your cases. If the Judge is going to be biased that is awesome make sure the world sees it…. You guys are celebrities make sure the camera is there always.
3) Dangle your people power by a stay away… At some point you must show your public support. Don’t ask for too much to begin with. Ask for a street protest and it may not happen but a stay away is a good point to warm people up. Get people excited about their victory over Bob… he is trying to demoralise them… by showing force and telling a lot of mistruths. Watch out for those recounts they could lose you seats and also dicourage the people.
4) Here is one that you are getting weak at… Win the ordinary police officers and soldiers to your side. One of these days they will refuse to shoot you when you come onto the streets.
5) The streets are still too dangourous. Avoid them as much as possible.
6) I am thinking about how to handle the run-off your stand is currently correct. Why should you stand if you won. The conditions for a free elections have deteriorated. I do think you can still whip their asses if someone independent handled the election. There is no way you would win with the new look ZEC.
Congratulations once again… don’t slack Hazvikoni… Ndezvashe.
April 13th, 2008 15:41
Please see my comments on Thabo Mbeki at http://www.garethcliff.com. God willing, acob Zuma will show more strength from next year… G
April 14th, 2008 14:39
I am one of those who had been excited about what is currently taking place in Zimbabwe. Having been around for the past 34 years and the past 2 weeks, I had been looking forward to change (was an agent of it,,went to vote).
But alas, this is not to be. I am becoming like the avarege Zimbo, dispirited as I can see very clearly that NOTHING is going to change…except an increase in the number of votes that ZANU -PF will get after re-counting. Gareth you are right, we are very demoralised …ZANU-PF is going to win and life will continue.
So we will continue making the great Trek to our neighbours down south to buy cheap John Cena crisps for our kids and Boxes of Elangeni soaps while we are being thoroughly mocked by officers at immigration on the South African side who will either talk to us in Shona or decide that they will have a go slow today and we wait 10 hours. Or we travel all the way to Bloemfontein to study disaster Management while we are failing to manage disasters happening in our own country. But wait, the ones who can atually travel are the lucky ones…what about those who cannot.
Thabo does not realise that there is no crisis because we are but a simmering kettle.
But Gareth one question; Is time spent on something an indicator of sound decisions reached. I dont think so, it could just be that our SADC bed-fellows did not agree with each other and considering the different english accents used…maybe they just didnt understand each other.
But time will tell, we will see what will come out of all this!!!
April 14th, 2008 18:16
Mbeki & MUgabe are gay. U see Mugabe is Mbeki’s girlfriend. He has to stay young, thats the reason why he always die his hair with Kiwi Shoe Polish. Whenever Mbeki flies to Zim. Gabriel doest sleep home. I am sick and tired of him as well.
April 14th, 2008 19:20
Shame Chinyanga,
The only reason you were getting excited is that you are mis-informed, or very very stupid.
Don’t you know that there is no crisis in Zim? Don’t you know that there is abundanant food and plenty jobs there? Don’t you know that money is not a problem because it can be printed at Mugabe’s will? In fact there is so much of it street kids snub their noses at some of the denominations.
Don’t you know that there is only one way to vote in Zim - for Mugabe? And that those who were ignorant enough to not understand this principle earned the right and distinction to be beaten and whipped, and even killed sometimes? How can they be so foolish to have thought anything else?
And if you still thought things were not altogether quite right - no problem. South Africa is just a convenient border-jump away, and anything you might still need is right at your finger tips, ripe for the picking.
What more could one wish for - your own president who starves and beats you because you don’t understand his paramount wisdom & the president of neighbouring South Africa who understands that not only is there no crisis in Zim, but also that HIV-Aids does not exist.
A veritable utopia, I tell you.
But you know, seriously, I wish I weren’t resorting to such facetious prose. But words fail me - there is no point trying to find reason, civility or reality in this debacle. It sickens me to my stomach - as with many many others. How can two such evil, stupid, pathetic men hold so much power in their stinking paws? Why can’t they be shipped off together to some remote island where they can kiss eachother’s backsides to their heart’s content till they depart this world?
April 14th, 2008 23:01
Amos,
Great comment, and good advice for the fighters. My only complaint- you promised a link to Matonga making an asshole out of himself. The rest of your stuff was so inspiring you forgot to follow through, and as a keen follower of his asshole-making appearances, I would appreciate the link! Anyone else who loves to laugh at Twenty-watt Matonga, please visit me at couldnthavehappenedtoanicerbunch.wordpress.com