I don’t believe these guys mean it when they say they love to death their manic “leader”. What the military is subtly (or rather in a convoluted manner) telling the whole world and Morgan in particular is …….don’t mess with us we are the real power here - and the current spasmodic violence is a true indicator of that power. The military  needs Mugabe  there to maintain a veneer of civility ( they wouldn’t want SADC  us hapless citizens to know about their perfidy would they?)
Morgan alone will not dislodge ZANU and it is now painfully clear the ballot route is as useless an option as you can have. As Zimbabweans  we seem to be the only people  on this God’s earth who cannot remove a decadent regime by democratic means.
The space I am talking about is the diplomatic front ( forgive me if I appear to be contacting my earlier thread)- and the diaspora has an excellent opportunity to mobilize a diplomatic assault against ZANU in every significant capital, to harangue, plead, articulate and show moral courage that Zimbabwe needs to be free of this abomination. To do this we must own up to the very fact that we are up against an  edifice  which  we cannot move alone.
This is not about demonstrations in front of diplomatic missions but mobilizing grass roots support for our cause and which should force foreign governments to act. There are 3-5 million of us outside and if we could all be organized under some platform- I am convinced we could finally deliver the knock-out blow- think about the economic clout we have  and the havoc it could wreak on ZANU’s mad economic policies. Think about the the international revulsion we could generate by giving our compelling testimony of the slow suffocating death of a nation. And most of these governments have an interest in getting us back home- we are an additional cost they cannot sustain for long.
It is about time the diaspora is heard loud and clear. I am all for a Great Indaba to launch a worldwide movement specifically designed to drive Mugabe out of the community of nations, to harass,  shame and show the lies his so-called Ambassadors trot out every time they open their mouths- in short to silence him while tightening  the screws.
 
In tandem, its about time we stopped equivocating on the issue of mass human rights violations and the concomitant penalties. We have the names of the perpetrators and why not begin the process of indictment at the Hague and let the regime know there is a heavy cost when all this is over.- Never mind this might cause the it  to dig in but I say it will be worth the digging because we will bury them in their self-made graves. Let them feel the heat from every corner of the globe.
One last thing, I am confused about:
1. At what point did Chiweshe know he did not have the money to organise a run-off? In other words why did he announce it at all if there is no money to hold it?
2. Why is everybody (  the international community  included) talking about  a run -off  when the MDC is saying the results were cooked and this needs correcting? Why is everyone believing ZANU’s assertions and that of the ZNSE ( which now says it is no longer sure of the authenticity of the presidential results anyway)? Why is everyone taking the run-off thing at face value when the MDC is saying the vote was stolen? Why is no-one taking the MDC’s claims of fraud seriously ?
3. If the run-off does not produce a clear winner ( assuming ZANU bungles its rigging as it did this time) what next? Another run-off of a run-off?
3. Can anyone tell me why we should think  SADC and AU will happily assist the MDC unseat Mugabe? It would be unprecedented in the history of African politics- I say.

There are international courts of justice who are sanctioned and able to deal with such regimes, and the individuals behind them. The USA, UK, and EU would pay particular attention to the verdict that such a court would bring regarding its assessment, and to what extent the Mugabe regime will have erred in law.

Offer honest suggestions please do…

Unfortunately the trouble with the opposition in Zimbabwe is that its full of people that think Zimbabwe is akin to Selma Alabama in the days of MLK …or Ghandis colonial India…circa 1947.

The blind lead the impotent with the rhetoric of blind optimism that seems to defeat reality at every turn…

But two questions just wont go away ….

1) In 10 years have any utopian schemes actually worked to undermine the Military regime in ANY significant way?

2) Knowing what type of creature ZANU PF is and knowing full well that ALL the events of the past few months were actually seen well in advance…How can people honestly justify seeking to counter that known quantity with ideas and methods that continue to leave that regime intact…year after year?

The Zimbabwean people are placed as helpless hopeless, powerless without agency…but for whose real benefit??? This issue is about using all solutions to end this evil not merely people outside Zimbabwe placing people inside Zimbabwe in an endless…  meat grinder because of a utopian social experiment…that they cant even apply to bring any real change to their own societies…..So long as there are voices of commonsense telling the harsh and often bitter facts….No one can say they were not warned…or they for their stubborness do not hold part of the blame.

Yes, they are delinquents, thinking they can make hay for themselves, and only succeeding in making hell, when the sun shines. Their evil purpose is to continue the promotion of the ruins of their discredited regime. Historically it only requires enough outsiders not to like what they are doing, and would plainly continue to do if left undisturbed, for such regimes to be toppled for something more constructive. In that sense no house, tribe, village, community or country is completely isolated from the sanity and authority of the world. Not even Mugabe and his henchmen. Ultimately, there is always a way. The solution will present itself and the New Zimbabwe will emerge.

Can’t you see what’s going on? ZANU does not intend to lose this round and that means it will not allow anyone ( external observers included) to stand in the way, period! You have seen the extent to which they are prepared to go and get ready to see more of the same in the coming weeks and months.You ain’t dealing with run of the mill mental delinquents here especially with Mbeki as cheerleader.

Just look at the mass court challenge they have launched and the Chief Justice dutifully obliging by appointing more judges; get ready for more upsetting news. I have spoken of a different space to wage this fight and I think people better start thinking about what that space should be.
I am quiting rational thought in favor of divine intervention ( it least for now).

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1495981/

‘May 05, 2008 (Zimbabwe Standard/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) — – THE government has raised war veterans’ monthly allowances from $1.6 billion to $9 billion, The Standard can report.
 
Independent analysts speculated on the probability of this being President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF’s gesture of gratitude to the war veterans for their ongoing campaign against opposition supporters.’
 

Let me know if you want to pursue this.

Dave

http://www.zbf.org.uk/projects.php?id=9

In the meanwhile, I received an email today saying money was needed to buy sutures and bandages for the injured, and I was also told that those who were made homeless needed blankets. It’s getting cold here again. Money is always about priorities.

Sok does not have money collecting facilities for human rights, but if you can find and identify a non partisan impartial fund for humanitarian help, it might be an idea to leave it in the comments here.

Hope

Dave