More victims from Zanu PF’s Operation Makavhoterapapi (Where you put your ‘X’)
MURDER – Tapiwa Mbwada, MDC Organising secretary for Hurungwe East (Karoi area) was beaten to death on Saturday night 12/4/08. His wife and brother were badly beaten and are in a serious condition. According to the information we have received, this was organised by ZPF councilor from Kazangarare called Jawet and an ex-soldier named Madamombe.
It has been reported that a teacher in Mudzi has also been murdered and 8 women have been abducted. We are awaiting verification of this report.
The man above has a badly broken foot. The women shown in the following images below have all been viciously beaten and have all sustained deep tissue bruising of the buttocks. All have been admitted to hospital. These attacks took place on Friday night.
This 38 year old woman (above) from Chivaka Village, Mudzi, was beaten with poles for being MDC. The image below shows her fifteen year old daughter, who was also beaten.
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This gentleman, pictured above, is a kraal head from Zimuto, Masvingo. He was accused of getting people to vote for MDC, he was stoned and beaten with logs. His lip was split and he lost two teeth, and he has also sustained fractured ribs. The picture below is of his wife. She is 50 years and was beaten viciously on her right leg.
In addition to these pictures and reports:
The MDC Secretary for Ward 1 Zimuto Masvinga, who is 36 years old, was attacked on Tuesday in Baradzi Village, Masvingo. ZPF youth broke his door down and dragged him outside insisting that he take them to all the other MDC members houses.
He refused so was beaten with iron bars and logs of wood. He slept the night in the bush and then found his way to medical facility.
The thugs referred to their actions as Operation Mavhoterapapi – “where you put your X”.
The Mudzi/Mutoko area is particularly bad, with homes being burned. One man had his home ransacked, and his chickens and goats burned alive. He and his family have left fearing for their lives.
We have also received information that one white farmer in Chipinge is in police cells (lawyers being denied access). And that 55 farmworker families have been displaced from Tanganda and Southdown holdings and are in need of urgent assistance.
There are also a number of injured people who have been beaten with logs requiring medical treatment. The local Doctor has been displaced. The situation is reported to be out of control.
You can download larger versions of these directly here from the links beow. Grab them and send them to everyone you know by email. Tell them what’s happening in Zimbabwe.
Send emails to SADC, again, asking them to go to Zimbabwe now to witness the violence on the ground. The reality of what is happening is not being reflected in their statements.
To download: right click on the link, and select ’save target as’ to download to your local machine.
Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4, Picture 5, Picture 6, Picture 7, Picture 8, Picture 9, Picture 10
April 13th, 2008 17:58
Why is the world standing by watching this????????
I am a Zimbabwean (resident only – although I am sure that being away for a while I would not be welcomed back with open arms), I went to school and grew up there and all of my memories of home are of Zim. I miss it every single day and am appalled and heartsore by what is happening. The gall of this animal, Robert Mugabe! Something needs doing desperately – this cannot go on. I have and continue to email all those whose addresses have been published and Gordon Brown and various other UK MPs but, nobody is doing anything! Why not!!
Please somebody knock this monster off his perch and ensure he gets what he deserves!!!
Let the people of Zimbabwe be heard!!
And as for Thabo Mbeki, a more useless, ineffectual human being I have yet to discover!
April 13th, 2008 18:22
This is insanity! The SADC must act to remove this madman. The people have spoken, and their will must be recognized. Like Kim, I have e-mailed every contact published in this blog, and we must keep the pressure on. For the love of God and humanity, let peace and justice prevail in Zimbabwe.
April 13th, 2008 19:12
I think when we send out emails we need to (calmly) stress the urgency of the situation.
It might be helpful to send information to Bishops and CEO of companies represented in Zimbabwe and to embassies within Zimbabwe.
Can I urge calm as well? Reports are circulating around London of beatings perpetrated by MDC members. We should remember that the situation is like dry grass. Excitable words are like cigarettes thrown in the bush. Those of us not in the direct line of fire are sickened but not terrified. It is our job to be calm and to speak in a manner that attracts attention and respect.
The purpose of the emails is to urge action before the situation gets worse. The leaders spent 12 hours talking. They are leaders of countries and know how these things work. Our job is to provide them with information and support so they do not have to guess or speculate. I might say, whatever side people are on, it is in our interest to stop the violence.
A good way of phrasing an email is to apologize for not making information available to them before they left for Zambia and to invite them to visit Zimbabwe and meet the victims. Without being sarcastic, you might add, that you trust their representatives to Harare have safe passage and are able to investigate these reports to provide them with accurate information.
Go quietly,bravely and carefully in peace.
April 13th, 2008 19:20
I was very sad to see your headline and I have struggled to find the words to send to Tapiwa’s family. We cry with you. We send our best wishes to people in hospital and wish you the speediest of recoveries. We hope you will find the strength to go through this. Our thoughts are with you.
UK.
April 13th, 2008 19:54
Please help Zimbabwe.
We must do all we can and I will send this information by e-mail and fax to all the numbers I have.
I also saw this effort to try stop Zanu PF thugs and let Zimbabwean live with the little dignity they have left.
http://newzim.proboards86.com/v45index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=128920
Just an hour now and again can make a difference for so many.
Thanks you all at Sokwanele for your work and pain.
Courage and may you be blessed.
April 13th, 2008 20:14
Scotchcart, I hear your appeal for calm and have to respond in regard to my stance.
I am nothing but polite when approaching anybody, whoever they are. Us Africans have good manners and have been brought up with respect and dignity. So, any emails I have sent have conveyed respect and calmness but, on a forum, you are able to release some of your anger and frustration at whatever cause you are following and actively seeking solutions to. Without being aggressive, rude or insensitve, it is somewhere to share your personal thoughts with like-minded individuals.
We are all after the same solution – Peace, diginity, respect and the nurturing and rebuilding of Zimbabwe and its people. Being truly committed is demonstration of the peace and tranquility that drives our souls.
April 13th, 2008 21:55
Well said Kim. We are all after the same solution. We want only to appeal to whoever is in power connected to the situation to find a peaceful solution to this crisis. We understand that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, and so we make our e-mail words sweet. However, it is reasonable to be able to express frustration in this forum. We all feel tremendous frustration and anger, but we also know the importance of treating others with respect.
April 13th, 2008 22:41
Not getting at you Kim or anyone else. Sometimes we are commenting at the same time and cannot see what will come up before us.
Sorry if I came over too school-ma’amish. I think we are all agreed. Sokwanele is doing a great job . We really appreciate the information and the forum and we want to find ways of moving forward, difficult as it is.
Best wishes.
April 13th, 2008 23:07
My 7 year old daughter’s prayer this evening as I tucked her in bed was ‘please god deliver our country Zimbabwe from this evil.’ I am recounting her prayers Please God delivers us from this evil. My thoughts at this time are with these families who have endured so much. The natural emotion is to feel so discouraged and despair. But I am reminded of an earlier Sokwanele post…to keep our hope alive and remeber we won. Please keep hope alive. This is all we have.
April 13th, 2008 23:29
This is further disgraceful and criminal behaviour by Zanu PF backed thugs towards those poor innocent supporters of the MDC.
I have emailed the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to ask him to make a public condemnation of the situation. He is due to fly to the USA this week, but hopefully he will still find time to make a statement.
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/ Email_The_PM_Form.asp
April 14th, 2008 02:48
It is very pathetic for any government to subject its citizens to such a degree of suffering while the world watches and does nothing about it. It is more shameful to those who commit the crimes as they should show signs of respect of humankind. Who is going redeem us from all this unnecessary suffering? Only God! Time will tell and those who commit such crimes will be haunted by their concience for the rest of their lives.
April 14th, 2008 03:15
I sent this as a message to Sokwanele but do not know if it went through so I am posting it here.
In anticipation of the UN Security Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday April 16, 2008, I have compiled the following:
1. Alphabetical list of all UN representatives in the US with full contact info
2. Bulk e-mail list for all UN representatives (cut and paste to send to all)
3. Bulk e-mail list for all French Speaking UN representatives
4. Bulk e-mail list for all Spanish Speaking UN representatives
5. Bulk e-mail list for all Security Council Members
6. Bulk e-mail list for all French Speaking Security Council Members
7. Bulk e-mail list for all Spanish Speaking Security Council Members
The document is nearly 70 pages long and so I do not want to post the whole thing. Even the bulk e-mail list of all representatives in 2 full pages long. If Sokwanele will send me an e-mail address where I can send the document I will forward it. I will also be working on a letter that may be sent to all the addresses (I will also try to get it translated into French & Spanish for those UN Missions that prefer to receive correspondence in those languages).
April 14th, 2008 08:39
The United Nations was warned beforehand with respect to the genocide which was about to unfold in Rwanda. However, due to their oft wait and see attitude inherent in their organinsation they ignored it.
They intervened much too late to avert the human carnage which followed. We in Zimbabwe are asking the same question; how much evidence is enough to push institutions such as the UN to react. People in Zimbabwe are under siege by the unelected criminals purpoting to be in government.
Forget about the African Union (AU) or SADC to do anything to help. The groups comprise of people who think and act alike; so-called African Solidarity and sovereignty blah blah.
I have always felt that the UN should take a leading role in making sure that citizens of all nations on this planet earth are protected.
jactom
April 14th, 2008 09:31
Lets’ say, hypothetically, that 70% of South Africa’s productive sector left and all worked in some other country. I wonder if Mbeki would have the presence of mind to notice that as a “crisis”.
I, myself, think he is too dim witted.
April 14th, 2008 09:36
Eish – Mbeki is just opeing his mouth to change feet now! I see he is in Cape Town ‘calling’ for ‘reduced food prices’.
What a brain surgeon!
I’ve always been under the impression it is about supply and demand – when supply beats demand then prices fall.
Which is why commercial farming is better than subsistance farming – say in Zim.
Funny how this concept escapes many people. But who am I……?
April 14th, 2008 10:05
i am highly emotional macomrades,they fought for themselves and their children,i think we should declare the state ungovernable.those who can lets take the country for the people
April 14th, 2008 12:02
Thank you so much for keeping us informed. I honestly don’t know what’s more sickening – ZANU-PF’s actions, or the indifference of the rest of the world to this crisis. I think it’s very important to get Zimbabwe back in the media spotlight, as there has been little news of this violence here in the UK. Aside from writing emails to SADC leaders, the UN and British governments, I think we should all send this information to as many media outlets as possible – wherever you are. Let the world know what is going on in Zimbabwe – if they have a conscience, they will be as outraged as I am!
April 14th, 2008 12:46
Mbeki is another lunatic. What, I wonder, DOES constitute a CRISIS in his mind if, as is patently obvious, a worthless Zimbabwe currency, 150000% inflation, 80% unemployment etc etc are considered to be normal and acceptable. South Africa has definitely become a LAUGHING STOCK.
April 14th, 2008 15:18
Same old tea party
same old war
mugabe stole the nation once more…..
How many times will he be allowed to do it? With a world that washes its hands of the problem, it is aparent that the nation of Zimbabwe faces another long dark tea time of the soul.
Again we find ourselves facing the dilemma of considering that the only path towards true democracy is through another liberation war.
But war does not result in true democracy, it only installs the power with the strongest support from abroad.
It replaces one butcher with another.
What to do, what to do?
April 14th, 2008 15:24
ls this not a crisis.what honest is there when you people ignore a situation like this.Surely God will judge you on the judgement day.This is total disregard of human rights.
April 14th, 2008 17:29
Iwe Mugabe chibva kani nhai. Hatichakudi isisu.Unonzwa nei ko. Mu Ballot waramba, Takuudza munzeve ukaramba. Urimurudzii ko? IBVA MHANI VAMWE VAPINDE. Unofunga kuti Sovereignty inodyiwa here??? Iko kudhaya bvudzi ndochii? Uri ngochani here? Are in love with your boyfriend Mbeki?
April 15th, 2008 02:42
Thabo Mbeki is a joint partner with Mugabe. I wish the Human right people could go into Zimbabwe to help. I am pained by this.
April 15th, 2008 10:18
You have been beaten to a pulp by mugabe and now you are foaming and frothing and is it not time to give up your shit!
April 15th, 2008 14:41
Thabo Mbeki is of the same mold as Mugabe. The only thing keeping him in check is Mandella, when he dies, all hell will break loose in South africa. This is why Mbeki does nothing
April 15th, 2008 21:12
How can first world countries let this happen?
Zimbabwe is a wonderful country where i was born and grew up and i miss it so much.
What is going on in Zimbabwe is dispicable and yet people just sit back and watch, in fact not even watch, they just dont care.
How is Zimbabwe any different to any other country in the World? The people are the same and they should have the same rights as everyone else in the World, but people in other countries can express their feelings and thoughts. Human rights: FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Zimbabwe hasnt had this in a long time.
Why cant the First World Countries out there see that Zimbabwe is in need of some serious help… not just money for the starving that will never actually gets to them but help keeping its people safe from this!
I am 15 and I dont live in Zimbabwe anymore I moved in 2005 because things got so bad, but what about those people that cant leave? Zimbabwe is more their home than mine and I love it so much that I am cry for it nearly everyday and seeing it like this makes my heart so sore!
I love you Zimbabwe and you will always be in my heart along with the memories of you i hold so dear.
You are always in my prays!
April 15th, 2008 23:13
Kudala vele ehlala erobber.Okwamanje ufike ekugcineni nfene. Wena ucabanga ukuthi abantu ababoni uzondwa langa bantwana abangakwaziyo.Ilizwe wathi ulithahta emakhiweni labo bezw ubuhlungu so lawe hamba sikhathele nguwe awusadlisi lakini abasakufuni uyadina nje wena
April 15th, 2008 23:56
It’s a very very sad state of affairs in Zimbabwe at present. The people spoke with one voice and declared their desire to be freed of the tyrant Mugabe and his crew. But alas things seems to be changing for the worst. As much as Zimbabweans look to their neighbours and the international community to come to their rescue, let it be known to one and all that emancipation from this bondage will only be bourne out of the protracted struggle and determination by the people of Zimbabwe themselves. Freedom will only be yours if YOU RISE TO CLAIM your rights. PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE RISE UP AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU TASTE FREEDOM!! How long shall you stand aside and look while ZANU and MUGABE slaughter you one by one. SAY ENOUGH! RISE BRETHREN!
April 16th, 2008 09:28
sHUMBA YOU SHOULD BE THE LAST TO OPEN YOUR FOULMOUTH SINCE YOU ARE LIVING IT UP IN sOUTH aFRICA BY CONNING THESE VERY SAME ZIMBABWEANS YOU CLLAIM TO ADVOCATE FOR IN THE NAME OF HELPING THEM.
TO YOU AND YOUR MORGAN THESE MATABELES ARE YOUR INCOME.You are talking nonsense about our president and I echo his view that there`s no crisis in Zimbabwe except a group of troublemakers who must be dealt with severely.
April 16th, 2008 10:04
tHE ONLY SOLUTION TO SOLVE THE SO-CALLED PROBLEMS OF zIMBABWE IS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS AND THEN TACKLE THEM-END OF STORY!wE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE IMPERIALISTS,COLONIALISTS,CAPITALISTS,MISSIONARIES AND A COMBINATION OF rHODESIA,BRITISH AND sOUTH aFRICAN FORMER SPECIAL FORCES HAVE SINCE 1980 BEEN CRUSADING MUGABE AND ANY ACTION NOW AGAINST HIM WILL BE A COUP FOR THEM.
THE PROBLEMS IN zIMBABWE ARE MILITARISTIC AND ECONOMICAL WHERE THEY USE MILITARY TACTICS TO DESTABILISE ZIMBABWE SO AS TO AROUSE MASSES INTO ACTION WHEN THIS FAILS THEY EMBARK ON ECONOMIC TACTICS.
April 16th, 2008 11:43
Tim: “TO YOU AND YOUR MORGAN THESE MATABELES ARE YOUR INCOME.You are talking nonsense about our president and I echo his view that there`s no crisis in Zimbabwe except a group of troublemakers who must be dealt with severely.”
So it’s okay to beat, burn, maim and kill innocent people simply because they have their own opinions about politics in Zimbabwe, and made a choice to vote for someone other than Mugabe? Please! The figures speak for themselves: the people have chosen Tsvangirai. And the “group of troublemakers” are not the imperialists/colonialists/capitalists/missionaries, but members of the ruling government, their militia, and their police.
April 16th, 2008 12:28
OK Tim, let’s structure the debate.
Give us the agenda.What are the problems and what are the immediate steps?
ONE
TWO
THREE
April 16th, 2008 13:59
People of Zimbabwe, I have sad news for us all. The problems in Zimbabwe are not caused by one man as many suppose. They are caused by those who believe that Zimbabweans do not have a right to freedom. Freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of choice and most of all freedom of worship.
The answer to Zimbabweans problems does not lie in the U.N. which was set up specifically to unite all nations under a One World government just as it’s name suggests. How many wars has the U.N. stopped since it was founded? U.N. peace keepers are not even allowed to fire their weapons!
The answer is not Thabo Mbeki who is merely obeying his masters when he refuses to rebuke Mugabe.
The answer is not in S.A.D.C which is a toothless organisation set up to make Africans believe that it can solve our problems.
The reason why neither George Bush, Gordon Brown, Kofi Anan, Thabo Mbeki and all others do not intervene is because they are all puppets.
Even Morgan Tsvangirai will not solve Zimbabwe’s problems.
There is another word for what is going on in Zimbabwe. It is called persecution.Religious persecution. That’s the reason why we have so many wars around the world. Mugabe is hiding behind the land issue, but until we see that religion is the main issue we will continue to bark up the wrong tree.
The answer to Zimbabwe’s problems lies in Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who will punish the Mugabes, Hitlers and Bushes and their masters.
April 17th, 2008 01:56
Seriously speaking, what the hell is goin on between Mbeki and Mugabe that we dont know about and the rest of Africa too?? Its a disgrace to humanity and yet they call themselves leaders. Whos leaders? Africa should stand with one voice and take Mugabe out yet they didnt even say a word during the UN meeting.
As for the chinesse diplomats i so hate you, if u dont know a thing why dont u just shut up??
April 17th, 2008 08:48
Orion,I won`t go into detail with you but will intertwine your opinions with the qyestion posed by Scotchcart:There are protocols that one government has got to follow observantly before they embroiled themselves in another country`s affairs and our government is no different.
We don`t have Mbeki/Zuma in our country but Presidents who get mandated by structures who conducts their affairs and who will discuss governments they have relations with and if durinbg their discussions a country they have relations with is in a crisis that can threaten this relationship it will be discussed and a decision will be made as to how it must be approached.
Mbeki does not pack-up his bags and hop on a plane off to Zimbabwe.
ONE:Identify the problems
TWO:cOMPILE A FULL REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND ONCLUSIONS
THREE:Submit the report to the relevant authorities for their deliberations and action.
April 17th, 2008 10:51
Yebo, Tim. We are with you on the step-by-step procedure.
But what about the content? What about what is not asked and not said?
Silence when you have the world stage at the Security Council?
That was his opportunity to say clearly what is happening and why Zimbabweans should not be fearful. If he thinks like RGM does, that Brown is to blame, let him say so. “There is a problem in Zimbabwe and I need your help by supporting me on a) b) c).” Then Brown would have had to reply to the structure he had set – what support he could give on those points and what he could not and why.
Now his silence looks like complicity. He made a rod for his own back.
Let’s hear the vision. The opportunity now is for the man or woman, group or organization who can describe a positive future that we can all endorse and move towards. Let us see where that comes from.
April 17th, 2008 20:42
I am amazed at how contributors to this article seem to be claiming that the whole Zimbabwe voted for Morgan Tsvangirai, yet the results of the parliamentary and senatorial elections show a 50/50 split between ZANU(PF)and MDC (combined). Zimbos need to get sober and refrain from hero-worshipping individuals (in this case Tsvangison) and in the process create another monster, much the same way we created the current Mugabe. It’s also clear that most Zimbos make themselves fools by always crying for the West and other country, after they have run away from their own land. Most contributors here sound like their memory cannot go back beyond a few hours. Because of that that, none is making an attempt to contextualise the problems we have. Is it really true that all the problems in Zim today are/were caused by Mugabe? Really? It appears Zim became independent in 2000, really? Everyone now talks about 28 years of misrule – come on, give me a break! How come Zim never experienced these problems before the govt decided to take away farms from the few whites who owned it? The land reform process was inddeed very chaotic, driven more by score-settling than by reason. Again we need not forget why things got this bad. I strongly believe that if the Zim govt had left the whiles in the land comfort zone, these problems would not be with us today! For how long shall black people carry on believing that prosperity only comes from the whites and from the West? UK/USA are promising large sums of money into Zim once a new govt comes into power! Can you imagine where we would be if they had continued to do instead of getting involved in the country’s politics. Now, apart from Morgan simpley ‘promising’ milk and honey, I am yet to hear specific programmes they have to turn around the economy of Zim. Had Tsvangison been in power when the West reneged on funding the land programme, how would he have delt with the issue? When the entire Western World decide to stop any form of financial assistance (grants/loans) and prohibit their businesses from investing in Zim, how do ppl expect the Zim govt to have managed the economy?
Turning to the new imminent govt, how are they going to satisfay the competing expectations of (a) the displaced white farmers (b) the resettled blacks (mind you not all of them are ZANU(PF) zealots (c) the USA which is insisting on only releasing any funds IF the land ownership status reverts to pre-2000 (d) the ordinary Zimbabwean who expects immediate return to normalcy (e), (f), (etc.)?? Ppl.
I also ‘hear’ some voices advocating a revolution/violence/etc.etc.!! How on earth do you substitue one form of violence with another and expect to resolve problems such as we have in Zim. I am sure Zimbabweans can do better than the rubbish that is being churned in these contributions.
Now, if I may ask, what do we expect to achieve by spreading Zimbabwean women bottoms over the internet? I have no doubt some of these bums will be ‘worked on’ by some computer wizards and circulated as porn!!!
This is the time for all Zimbos to get sober and make constructive contributions to resolve the current political and economic crises (yes we have crises!) we are currently facing. Name calling will get us nowhere.
April 17th, 2008 21:58
Tanaka, I’m not an expert on MDC or even a member BTW, but you could google Eddie Cross.
I have been watching the Zim dollar. It was at 90m to the pound before the election, 60m to the pound when people knew MDC had won and were waiting for the results and down and down it went. It is now 150m to the pound. As the only people buying Zim dollars are Zimbos in Zimbabwe, what does that tell you?
The economy was been in trouble by 1990. Inflation was already 15% – OK right now that would be great but it is generally regarded as immoral. 15% erodes your grannies savings. It destroys confidence. It spits on her life. 2-3% is what we need. 1990 was when the teachers had a large strike and brought down the State of Emergency that was still there from the Smith days. 1990 was when Arthur Mutambara and co stood up to the government. We were in trouble then brother. We are just the original kamba of the world – we take our time to get to the point.
Some one from MDC can answer about land. I don’t think there is any going back. Can we go forward at least? Can we not make a system so 10 year old boys and girls can look forward to a life – as farmers if they want, as shopkeeper if they want and for that matter living in another country if they want. Hey, one thing we can do in Zimbabwe is discuss and we have got brains.
I don’t know how old you are brother but those of us who are old remember 1980. Those were good times. People writing here in this blog are loyal to Zimbabwe. The guys who didn’t want to be liberated went somewhere else – I don’t know where – sometimes I see them writing comments in British papers. Who cares? They are not coming back to Zimbabwe. They wouldn’t make head-or-tail of it if they did. We are talking about people who want to be there. We are talking about dignified lives for people’s grandparents and we are talking about young people bro. Young people and their futures.
We care about you and if by writing this answer I seem not to have listened to what you are saying, tell me again. Because I should hear what you say and I should show you I hear what you say. So go for it. We are listening. If we are slow to understand, we will get it eventually.
April 18th, 2008 04:37
Can our President Thabo Mbeki please tell me what I’m suppose to say to my helper who is Zimbabwean she is literally in Tears right now, after she received a call this morning at 13:00am from her uncle that my helper’s 18 year daughter had just pasted on, She received 4 SMSes to call her daughter Yesterday afternoon, we tried to make contact with her for hours but the network was failing in Zim and all the landlines were out of service, eventually her daughter telephoned again but she was already on the run from the attackers – “members of the Zanu PF youth supporters” Anna only managed to speak to her daughter for 2 minutes before they got cut off, in their conversation the daughter was planning to cross the boarder fence along with the other people she was fleeing with into Botswana after Anna’s home was looted by Mugabe’s thugs and all her belongings were taken and that their neighbor was axed and had died, but her mother discouraged her saying its too dangerous this was now around 3:00PM when she came to tell me about it we tried calling all the three different numbers sent via Smses but failed to get through, She kept trying till midnight with no luck, she then received a call early yesterday morning informing her that her daughter was badly beaten and had suffered severe injuries with a broken leg and arm and that she had been admitted to hospital in the central district, We tried calling all my friends in Zim and my uncle in Pietersburg to see if they cannot try to find her and somehow cross her over to SA and we would have had to fetch her in Pietersburg but we received feedback that the situation in the country was really bad people were afraid of leaving their homes, Anna then telephoned her uncle in Mozambique to go collect her from the hospital since there were no medicine in any of the Hospitals in Zim, the daughter was then collected by the uncle and they were going to meet up with Anna in Mozambique the following day after confirming that they had arrived, Anna was to leave this Thursday morning but decided that she will leave This Friday morning and that’s when she received the call about her daughter passing on, I am writing this email feeling numb and speechless, the time is now 4:11am Friday morning and how do I console her and what do I say to her try and take her pain away? When my own president says there is no crisis in Zimbabwe, it is obvious that the Anml mugabe has some hold over Mbeki, he must know some deep secrets about Mbeki’s past at the time he was exiled that Mbeki does not want to come out at what ever cost even if it means sacrificing people’s lives – Being the People of Zimbabwe, I just want to say to our president that your secrets will not remain secrets for long every dog has its day and yours is coming. There is just so much I would like to say to Mbeki + mugabe and I’m sure you can already imagine, but due to restrictions on speech and other expressions on this site I won’t go there. But mark my words their days are coming and when that day comes they will pay big for their deeds. Oh and by the way I used to be 1 of your biggest supporters but have proved yourself not worthy of my praises. I will keep praying to the Almighty GOD to turn thing around for the people of Zimbabwe and the current situation because all things are posible with GOD no situation is bigger than him.
A MESSAGE TO ALL ZIMBABWEANS – MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
God has placed dreams and desires in each of your hearts. You have been believing in God for something that seems to be taking a long time!! Do not be tempted to quit, It may be taking a long time, but God is faithful! He promises to complete the work He began in your country. Don’t fall into the temptation to get complacent and think it’s never going to happen. Whether you see it or not, God is working behind the scenes and arranging things in your favor Zimbabweans, Lets keep the faith and keep pressing forward.
From: a South African Citizen.
April 18th, 2008 09:10
Bravo Takana!You hit the nail on the head by being independent in your analysis.
Mbeki must not interfere with the business of Zimbabwe and process the alleged consignment destined for Zimbabwe from China like any other cargo on board.
It astound me when people tell us that because someone was a unionist or an activist he must enjoy automatic trust as it was with Tshisekedi but what happen after he ruled…?
In fact I THINK YOU HAVE IT WRONG BY SAYING THE PROBLEMS OF zIMBABNWE STARTED AFTER THE LAND ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS [...]
[edited by Sokwanele - homophobic hate speech removed]
April 18th, 2008 09:41
yes,mamela I can advice you to give preference to South Africans and so i cannot embroil myself in your predicament because you are a parasitic employer who opted for a foreigner for exploitation reasons and evading the laws governing the remuneration of domestics.
April 18th, 2008 10:06
Tim: We ask people leaving comments on our blog to do so with respect for other people, and to not include hate speech. Homophobia and xenophobia are not acceptable.
You have a right to your views, even if we disagree, but our blog will not be used as a launch pad for hatred and agression towards other human beings.
Mamela: I am sorry for your pain and your grief. Thank you for sharing it with us. We will add a proper post about your helper’s experience to give it greater visibility than in our comments. God bless you.
April 19th, 2008 09:49
Thanks sir/Madam
I truly offer my sincere apologies for any offending remarks and I will try my best to behave myself.
Yoursd truly
signed
Tim Singiswa
April 19th, 2008 09:51
Tsavingarai has lost his court case to force mugabe to release results to show that all this bile and diatribe that is spewedd out against mugabe is nothing but propaganda and misinformation and disinformation.
He is nothing but a power-hungry monster who must never get his foot on the levers of power in Zimbabwe.
April 30th, 2008 14:54
You Mugabes bunch of thieves you will have nowhere to run to. Mbeki please stop disgracing yourself as you either very MAD or so STUPID to utter nonse of NO CRISIS IN ZIM
May 1st, 2008 09:53
You Mdc cowards and bandits will have nowhere to run to since you have been found-out to be frivolous and don`t have any afflicting issues when the world close its doors on you as Britain has already done and you are hunted high and low in South Africa to be deported to your aids ravaged zimbabwe.
Mugabe is a P resident for life and that`s a fact where you will have to remopve him by the barrel of the gun!!!!!UNDERSTAND ME NOW!!!!
May 1st, 2008 13:10
Tim Singiswa – First you offer your sincere apologies for offending remarks, and now you come with more bile and nonsense. These are not the actions of a sane mind.
Mugabe was never created or elected ‘president for life’. His human rights record is now becoming one of the worst in Africa. His abuse of power is intolerable, and if he refuses to go by democratic means, he will bring the whole of southern Africa into turmoil. And who are the cowards and bandits you mention? People who try to build and renew by due process of law, or fanatics who gather in gangs to destroy innocent farmers trying to provide food for hungary people? Thank goodness people like you and the thugs that do this are a minority in this world.
Oppression is not a new phenomenon in the long history of mankind. Suffering is not new. But sooner or later, by hook or by crook, justice always wins through. There is simply no way in the end for the Devil to win. Don’t you sell your soul to him!
May 1st, 2008 13:28
Tim, can you kindly explain to me how the MDC supporters are cowards and bandits? Is it cowardly to speak your mind and hold true to your beliefs even in the face of brutality, beatings, house burnings and torture? If so, then I will happily be a coward.
May 1st, 2008 16:19
The cowards and bandits are the hoodlums and scumbags who create anarchy and chaos and mayhem to provoke the armed forces so that they can use th actions of the armed forces as an excuse to enter developed countries without the necessary documentatyion an then embark on black market and organised crimes.
Cowards and bandits are the miscreants who brutalise,rape and rob women trying to cross the borders into South aFRICA.
tHE CULPRITS WHO WERE LED BY BUSH AND BROWN IN THE MILITARY AND ECONOMIC DESTABILISATION OF ZIMBABWE NMUST BE FOUND AND PUNISHED AND THEY ARE KNOWN SINCE ITS THEY THAT WERE TARGETTED BY TH LOWERING OF PRICES ORDER AND WERE ARRESTED.
May 1st, 2008 19:58
So it’s OK to take money and gun from China, loans from German Banks, but it’s not OK to take money from the World Bank, Britain and USA…Why explain…..Takana? up until 1998 we ran a sucessful business with over 1000 employees not one person who worked for us will say that they were exploited however, when Mr M decided that there should be more of his mates winning the contracts this is what happened Mr M’s mates won the contracts and then passed them back to us and then kept the money and refused to pay for the work….1000 people lost their jobs…..Mr M’s mates are living nice fat lives we are not nor are the workers who have no jobs their children do not go to school thier parents do not have a nice retirement…..do you know I worked for 20 years I paid into a pention in Zimbabwe today I can not even by a loaf of bread for it in 1991 I could have bought a small house…..I invested my life in Zimbabwe on the lies Mr M fed us harmony, peace, fairness, and was there at rufaro stadium when bob Marley sang Stand up stand up stand up for your rights…mmmm who would have seen this coming……..
May 2nd, 2008 09:44
We all are agreed that for 20 years Zimbabwe under Mugabe was the breadbasket of Africa where even the Queen acknowledged this and learning institutions of prestige by their knighting and honouring of Honourable Mugabe until the mid-90`s when he outlawed homosexuality and became a victim of Europe and the West crusade and so it is now quite obvious that all the ills and woes of Zimbabwe are borne by his pale-and-bald enemies.
Why is it that Shonas are not singing the song that you are singing if yours is not just to seek world underserved sympathy?
May 2nd, 2008 12:13
So the sins of the father are the sins of the son? The Minute Mr M made himself ruler for life in Feb 2000 and broke the constitutions he agreed to and ignored the people then was the minute you knew he could no longer be trusted..The first and foremost thing to be changed in Zimbabwe for me is that no one man should stay in power for longer than one term of office….political theories are just theories until proven otherwise and Mr M’s theories are being proven to be wrong….just like Hitlers……Stalins…..etc etc….unfortunately it is the people who suffer…..whilst ideaology is commendable……the practice is not perfect because the instrumentation of it falls always to the greedy……so you give me a farm tomorrow because my father’s father was a farmer does this make me a farmer? no…. Mr Ms theory that the Shona tribe instincitively will know what to do with the land once returned is not showing much frutition is it…….
May 3rd, 2008 08:08
HEEY!YOU DON`T REMOVE SOMEONE FROM OFFICE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR TOO LONG BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE PERFORMING BADLY OR POORLY.
BY ALL NUANCES AND WANTS MUGABE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE A DEMOCRATIC RULER AND LEADER WHO RESPECTED THE RULE OF LAW HENCE SO MANY OF HIS COMRADES FACING THE MUSIC WHEN THEY COMMIT CRIMES WITH NO PROTECTION FROM HIM.
tHE ISSUE HERE ITS NOT MUGABE BUT THE CAUSALS OF THE SITUATION THERE AND THE PUNISHMENT OF CULPRITS.
May 17th, 2008 14:41
When the commercial farmers, aka white farmers, were brutalized and forced out of their homes and out of the country the rest of the population should have know the same tactics would have been used on them. The people as a whole should have risen up back in 2000 when the so-called “land reforms” were put in place. South Africa is heading in the same direction. You will reap what you sow. You kill the sowers there will be nothing to reap. I cannot support Zimbabwe until they admit their mistakes and fix them from within.
May 18th, 2008 10:03
South Africa has nothing to do with you but Britain is where you should put your concerns.
May 19th, 2008 09:18
Yee,Mugabe!!Ignore the ANC and only answer to SADC appointed intermediary which is Mbeki since the ANC has received pounds from Brown to help unseat you.
May 19th, 2008 10:07
mR CHAIRMAN!!!THIS UNFORTUNATELY HAS HAD TO HAPPEN TO NOW ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL DRUM THE MESSAGE THAT HAS BEEN EMMITTED TO THIS DEADWOOD GOVERNMENT THAT FOREIGNERS OF ALL HUES-AND-CRIES MUST BE ADMITTED IN THIS COUNTRY AS PER OUR MIGRATION LAWS AND NOTHING MORE AND THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN TOO DIFFICULT FOR THIS INEPT GPOVERNMENT TO DO AND INSTEAD WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IT GRADUALLY PUSHING US TO THE BACK-BURNER TO ACCOMODATE,COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE LIABILITY AND NON-CONTRIBUTING FOREIGNERS IN TOTAL DEFIANCE AND VIOLATION OF ITS OWN LAWS.
WE HAVE BEEN URGING THIS GOVERNMENT TO GIVE SOUTH AFROICANS FREE TEMPORARILY ID`S while they are waiting for their id`S and instead we see this faceless illegitimate government giving foreigners free permits unconditionally and instantly while we had to hold people up to get answersa about the delay in getting our id`s.
Ask Babalwa Mneno what that foreigner she fell in love with did to her.He cleaned her out and head back home to his family and went to the media to boast about his ill-gotten gains from her.
These my lord are tax evaders and money launderers since they acquire everything in the black market and shops are taken from locals with the barrel of a gun or money is given to the shop owner and he is told to get lost.The same apply to flats and houses they live in
May 19th, 2008 10:54
Britain may not be perfect but it has educated many people opened it’s doors to many refugees and asylum seekers and has a social care system like very few countries….. The third culture kids like myself from Uganda Kenya etc the list goes on make up a society that take care of the sick and the vunerable…Its not perfect but this is not heaven or utopia….I wonder often to myself where would I be if I had no rights to be here and am grateful to them because with four children and a sick husband an elderly father how would I have managed in Zimbabwe…and my friends who are back there have to live under such terrible cricumstances and have no choices…Democracy is about choice when you remove the choice from people the are treated like children this is what was compalined about under the previous governemnt and why a war was fort because the masses had no choice or voices…Now they have even less rights than before…you want food vote Zanu you want a job vote Zanu you want to live vote Zanu where is the choice in this???????Framing this on a few particular issues is nonesense the past is the past is the past you do not hear Britains complaining that they were enslaved by the Romans and demanding apologise or the viking for that matter….So they got it wrong with their orginal plan of colonisation but which country would not have gone after the spoils…They are expect to make remission and peace for the use of slavery but just tell me this who went around capturing the other tribes to sell to them in the first place sure they had the choice not to buy but the tribes had a choice not to capture their fellow tribesmen to sell….We still see this practice today the sale of humans…some people are just not aware of the value of human life….We are Citizens of the World and we need to start making good choices or we aint gonna be around for much longer and Bob and the Wailers aren’t contributing to these good choices……..
May 21st, 2008 09:50
Mbeki should have cohorted SADC to appoint an inteklligence based entity to expose the culprits who destabilised and sabotage Zimbabwe since Zimbabwe intelligence informed Kasrils soon after they signed a working reklationship tabout the causalities.
South Africa is not a home where you can opwen your doors for desperat people but a country with laws that must be observed and respected.As I`m talking here rightwingers in P retoria are loading Zimbabwens in their construction trucks includin security guards company owners and is this not taking away our jobs!
Nigerians are luring girls into buikldings to prostitute and addict them,others are smuggling lured girls to Pakistan an Jordan and Bangladesh and would you have commited thesev activities in their countries they too would have risen up against you!
May 21st, 2008 12:00
And you make my point exactly the lack of understanding that Human Life is precious and worthy only shows what a sick few do to stuff up a good place well now we are who are many and are good will start stuffing up your greedy deeds as Bob Marley says even the people in the Mansions have a heart and We Aint Going to stop demanding that the promises made on 18th April 1980 for Harmony Peace etc etc be up held by the contractors…..ZANU the supposed people’s front have betrayed everyone including themselves…the ANC are playing politics with us and Zuma is using this platform to oust Mbeki and when this is all history and the truth comes out we will see who are the instigators of these attacks….When all the Governments of Africa realize the importance of human life then Africa can start building a platform to equal and better the rest of the world…People are not toys to be played with..
May 21st, 2008 13:02
mama is so right though I would put it as not just a respect for life but a recognition of the individual. How we are all unique and special and have the potential to make changes for the better. To kill even one of us removes a potential from the universe that will never be here again.
May 21st, 2008 13:22
Tim Singiswa sounds like South Africa is having the same border problem all countries with the rule of law are having. The countries that have allowed themselves to be ruled by men instead of laws are running to us instead of cleaning up their own back yards. Then once they get here they don’t want to follow the rule of law and those that live here think they are above the law for the “love” of money. Remember that’s not capitalism that’s greed.
June 11th, 2008 09:48
The only mechanism that can solve Zimbabwe situation is for the continent`s leaders and rulers to throw their lot behind Mugabe in acknowledging that they let him down by not defending him earlier against the onslaught of Britain and US.
pRIORITY SHOULD BE TO DEMAND THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS SINCE THEY HAVE HURT THOSE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP.IT MUST BE INVESTIGATED AS TO IF BRITAIN AND AMERICA AND THEIR CAPITALISTS PLAYED ANY ROLE IN THE DEMISE OF zIMBABWE`S ECONOMY AND IF SO THEY MUST BE COMPELLED TO EREBUILD THAT ECONOMNY.FOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE WHIOTES HAVING A GREAT SAY IN AFRICA NOTHING WILL EVBER COME RIGHT
June 11th, 2008 14:33
A reply to Tim Singiswa
Hey Tim,
You have access to the net, use it to learn and see that sensible opinion comes with freedom. Freedom to speak, freedom to vote, freedom to receive unbiased education, freedom to worship with your chosen religion, freedom to learn the truth and freedom to act on it.
There is NO place in the twenty-first century for racism. Any honest citizen of the world, black, white, yellow, coffee colured etc. has a place in the world and a place in their country of birth or of choice.
There is no doubt in this diverse world that there are different cultures but there is also no doubt that these cultures can, when treated with understanding and tolerance by the ordinary people, co-exist in harmony or integrate with the passing of time.
The sanctions that you refer to were put in place to limit the damage that was being done to Zimbabwe by a regime gone bad. Preventing Grace’s shopping trips to Paris could hardly be the cause of the meltdown of the Zimbabwe economy anymore than preventing the purchase of arms from Europe and the US has caused it.
This meltdown has been caused mainly by corruption and cronyism by certain factions within the Zim government in order to line their pockets and to live the dream of absolute power (nightmare to the ordinary people).
If the governments of the countries you vilify are so bad, how come they have no need to control their media, prevent demonstrations, supress the truth, torture, displace, and murder their citizens for disagreeing with a (losing) political party leader. It is because they are democracies that repect the rule of law and fight corruption. That is the government is freely elected to serve the people and if the freely elected government fails to serve the people with good policies or fails to succeed, the people freely choose another one.
(In Bob’s case it seems he thinks that the people should serve him and his generals rather than the other way).
So Tim, Please wake-up to reality and vote for change, or are you too scared?
By the way, the only country that has indulged in any sort of colonialism in recent history is China, Bob’s friends or so he thinks.
June 11th, 2008 21:26
Ye Gods! I’m pretty sure there are no injections to bolster common sense, but maybe someone can give Tim Singiswa a rabies one instead. Or please just euthanase him!
He can’t even work out the CAPS-LOCK key on his PC, so I wouldn’t get too concerned over his political views too much.
June 15th, 2008 10:47
HAHAHAA.hONOURABLE PRESIDENT MUGABE HAS MADE THE IMPERIALISTS AND THEIR BLACK APPARITCHIKS TO EAT THEIR OWN HUMBLE PIE BY BEATING THEM IN THEIR OWN ACT AND NOW THEY HAVE NO MORE IDEAS TO KILL OR OUST HIM AND THEY ARE NOW DIVIDING BLACKS TO INSTIGATE THEM AGAINST HIM,.
THEY HAVE ALREADY DIVIDED THE ANC OVER ZIMBABWE,SADC AND THE AU AND IT STILL STAND TO BE SEEN TO BE A WORKABLE PLAN BECAUSE NOW HE IS PUTTING HIS FOOT DOWN AND NOT BUDGING AN INCH.
THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INSTIGATE HIS INTELLIGENCE AND THE ARMY AGAINST HIM BUT TO NO AVAIL.HAHAHAA.MUGABEMUGABE!THE MAN!HE WON`T ALLOW THEM TO RULE ZIMBABWE BY STEALTH OR PROXY.
MOER TGHE LOT,COMRADE BOB.
June 15th, 2008 10:51
You imperialists must be kept in check so that you don`t assume too much power and authority in the continent since it has come to my attention that you are continuing with your colonialism and that the Kenyan violence and the Zimbabwe situattion is just a part of your colonialism.
Odinga orchestrated the Kenyan violence on your whims since you channelled funds to him to pay the bussed masses and Tsvangirai is your frontman whereby if he can gain a foothold in State House he`ll hand Zimbabewe over the imperialists,colonialists,cap[italists and missionaries and NGO`s and its therefore commendable that even if Mugabe dies his army will be caretaker rulers until someone from ZANU-PF has been found.
I commend Mbeki in his relentless rejection of outside influence and cohortion and sticking to the letter and spirit of the sadc mandate.
June 15th, 2008 16:09
TIM, SINGAWAY as much as you like,
its obvious that you are only parroting Zanu-PF who have never been able to make the transition from guerrilla army to government. It’s obvious that Mugabe and Zanu-PF were never capable of making any psychological adjustment from waging war to governing in peace. As for Mbeki, whom you mention, his craven stance during these and previous elections is pathetic, and also a liability to his own country. Grow up!
June 15th, 2008 18:01
Tim Singiswa is a well known blog-commenter in SA. As far as I know he comments only and doesn’t organize his views anywhere.
Google him. He is everywhere.
June 15th, 2008 23:53
People like Singiswa are theorists who must find it painful to live in a global village. From the tone of his vitriol methinks he’s the kind that can be tribalist and xenophobic burning peolple out of his country and Africa. Grow up man we have the OAU, SADC and even the EU. All these are political blocks intended for an impartial progressive and intended peacefull political climate in the world. Your comments strike me as outdated sloganeering we used to hear during the 60’s and 70’s liberation speeches. We are now in the new millenium don’t embarass us blacks with such retrogressive nonsense.
June 16th, 2008 00:16
Why people should see Mugabe as a hero leaves me baffled. Firstly I’ll give you a brief description of this man. He rose to power in the then ZANU through murderous designs. He maintained this until independence. Any rational thinking colleague of his or subordinate who had any differing views from his met with the sad demise of an unfortunate accident. A political party called ZAPU which contested the elections against him had its electorate brutally masacred in mass murdering rampages by the Zimbabwean national army’s 6th brigade. To Mugabe this was his version of the political solution for Matebeleland. What do we have now? a similar political solution of violence against civilians by cowardly so called war veterans. African politicians should view Mugabe as the greatest fool that ever walked on African soil. And people like SINGISWA sing praises to him. No wonder the man is so conceited. He has the backing of like minded bloodthirsty Afrocentric militarists like Singiswa et al.
June 16th, 2008 09:57
HAHAHAA.Mugabe massacreing Ndebeles?Hey,wakeup and smell the roses by starting to conducting your own research so as to better inform yourself and not sing halleluya to propaganda,disinformation and misinformation.
If I BUS PEOPLE TO YOUR HOUSE TO KILL YOU YOU WILL DEFINITELY KILL THEM IN DEFENCE OF YOURSELF;RIGHT!SO THIS IS NO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU CALL DELIBERATE “MASSACRE”…
NKOMO ACCEPTED AN OFFER FROM 32-BATTALLION OF TRAINING OF HIS ARMED-WING,FUNDING AND ARMING IN RETURN FOR HIM TO MOVE FROM “PASSIVE”RESISTANCE TO VIOLENT RESISTANCE AND THAT SO-CALLED MASSACRE WAS TO THWART AND REPULSE SINCE ORDINARY nDEBELES WERE GONNA BE USED AS BAIT LEADING TO THE ARMED FORCES MOVING IN AND TAKE OVER THE BROADCASTER AND STAYE HOUSE.
THE FACT THAT NORTH KOREA AGREE TO ASSIST ITS BECAUSE MUGABE HAD VISIBLE AND TANGIBLE EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OR COMMUNITY IS A MENACE.KNOW HOW GOVERNMENTS WORK BEFORE YOU POINT YOUR FILTHY FINGERS TO WRONG PARTIES.
June 16th, 2008 13:12
Firstly Singiswa, you’ll notice that I called you a theorist. Secondly you’ll notice that I am writing from experience. Thirdly I wonder if you think what is happening now in Zimbabwe is normal. Fourthly I think you are an offshore commentator who delights in debating issues you have no clue about. Fifthly, at the moment I can’t smell the roses except for the putrid smell of dictatorship and murder which to you is rosey. Now wake up where ever you are start thiking normally before we start considering you an irrelevance in this crucial debate.
June 16th, 2008 13:37
What are Singiswa’s values. Is this a man who knows the definition of the words revolution and independence. What are his values in this regard? if he thinks a man who brutalises his own people during and after the liberation struggle until now, is a hero, a man whose excuses for his failed career as a statesman are targeted at the west and not his own domestic policies, then we need not pay any attention to his rantings let alone his hero Mugabe’s because they smack of nonsense. Lastly Tim you must be the kind that shits on themselves and blame the food they have eaten yet the entry point of that food was your very mouth.
June 16th, 2008 15:40
Once again, commentators – I would advocate that you simply ignore SINGISWA.
None of his comments are constructive, none are based upon fact, and none help right prevail over wrong. All they do is rile clear headed folk.
He laughs at us every time he gets a response or argument – can’t you see that is all he is about? Don’t bother entering debate with him – to expect mature reason is quite obviously futile.
Ignore him & he’ll eventually go away like a bad smell.