Links ~ 24 May 2008
May 25th, 2008
Zimbabwe is on a political precipice (LA Times)
“There’s no way we are going to lose the runoff,” one senior ruling party figure said. “We are going to make sure of that. If we lose the runoff, then the army will take over.”
“Never be fooled that Tsvangirai will rule this country. Never,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in an interview in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital.
Robyn Dixon of the LA Times gives a chilling account of interviews with Zanu-PF insiders.
Zimbabwe opposition chief arrives home to face Mugabe (AFP)
The MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is back in Zimbabwe and said “it was good to be back†home. Tsvangirai appeared relaxed and smiling and said that he was not concerned for his safety ahead of the run-off for the presidential vote. Tsvangirai has beat Mugabe in the first round of presidential elections but failed to secure a big enough margin. After three decades of power, Mugabe is now fighting for political survival.
A Flawed but Enduring Leader Returns to Zimbabwe (NYT)
‘Morgan Tsvangirai, the chief rival of Zimbabwe’s authoritarian president, Robert Mugabe, drove up to a Harare police station last year to check on dozens of his supporters inside on their bellies, being kicked, clobbered and stomped.
The policemen quickly stopped and grabbed the moon-faced opposition leader. Witnesses said the station reverberated with the sickening thwack of blows to his buttocks, back and head. “They were fighting with each other to beat him,†said Tendai Biti, his deputy in the opposition party…’
Celia Dugger explores the man behind the leadership of the MDC.
Zimbabwe opposition calls for monitors, peacekeepers by June 1 (Africasia.com)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC has called for peacekeepers and election monitors from the SADC to be deployed in Zimbabwe by June 1. He said that he had discussed this with the chairman of the SADC and has asked that they assist in organizing a free and fair election. Tsvangirai hopes that they will discuss these requests on Tuesday May 27 when the SADC will have a meeting. He said that it would be futile to have the peacekeepers and election monitors deployed two weeks before the elections and if it were done in such a way they would not be of any benefit.
Tsvangirai dismisses unity government idea (news.com.au)
At a press conference in Harare on Saturday May 23, Morgan Tsvangirai said that there is no plan for a government of unity and that he cannot see how such a government could be implemented. There has been speculation in the media about a government of unity, but the International Crisis Group has suggested an opposition-led transitional coalition. Tsvangirai blames Zanu-PF for conducting a campaign of violence against the MDC. At least 40 MDC supporters have died in the ongoing violence. Tsvangirai said that the violence is the most disastrous policy that Zanu-PF has ever implemented.
“As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, Mugabe will not win in the second round.” Said Morgan Tsvangirai.
Zimbabwean chief mobilizes votes for Mugabe in run-off (Xinhuanet)
Chief Sogwala of Lower Gweru in the Midlands province made a call to all traditional leaders to mobilise their subjects and thereby ensure an overwhelming vote for Robert Mugabe in the presidential run-off. Sogwala said that it was the only way to defend the country from Britain. He said that it was the duty of each of the chiefs and headmen to protect the country’s independence and to mobilise against the opposition the MDC-T and their leader Tsvangirai who is a British-sponsored regime change agent.
Zimbabweans arrested in Mozambique (The Times-SA)
At least 45 Zimbabweans were arrested in central Chimoio on Friday. Paidamoyo Chanetsa a Zimbabwean woman who was arrested said that they were arrested by the police and told that they should go back to their country. The group consists of 43 women and 2 men and are being held at the Cabeca do Velho prison in Chimoio. The police allowed the group to keep their phones and had promised that the Zimbabweans would be repatriated on Saturday. Chanetsa said that they were very hungry and that their friends are to scared to send food for them to the prison.
Demonstrators in South Africa Condemn Violence Against Foreigners (VOA News)
Hundreds of demonstrators in South Africa have marched in protest to the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the country. Protesters in Johannesburg carried posters, which stated “We stand against Xenophobia†and “Xenophobia hurts like apartheidâ€. At least 42 people have been killed and 25000 displaced in the recent spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Human Rights Watch (HRW) say that the courts have a problem prosecuting assailants, as the victims are to afraid to testify. HRW has called on the South African Government to protect the victims and hold the attackers accountable. Malawi said that it will evacuate its citizens in South Africa and Mozambique has declared a state of emergency to better cope with the influx of its citizens fleeing from the violence. It is estimated that there are 3 million Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa.
May 25th, 2008 13:05
Not Surprising..
In as much as we new ZANU wud rig the elections , they did just that. We also knew they will force a run-off and use violence. They still went on to intimidate the electorate. Now they will again rig the run-off or force some “ungorvernable” scenario like the issue of not releasing results so that tension built up and subsequently declaring a state of emergency so that the military takes over. The run-off will again result in a million “pending” court cases just to create confusion. Its obvious that its goin to happen. They have proved that it works and Mbeki has assured them that they will certainly do away with it. The past elections still have unresolved issues which should be addressed before we fall in the same pit again. Some votes are still not accounted for? Remember what happened after the old man lost the referendum? He will again rig unopposed and Mbeki will support him. Since all of us support that we shud not go to war against the current regime, them we shall forever be as passive as we have been for the past 10 years of Zim decline.
May 25th, 2008 13:35
PLANNED STRATEGY!!
The ongoing violence is a planned stategy to intimidate voters.Cde Chinamasa has admitted that they launched the strategy after realizing that people are not turning out for rallies. When he was interviewed by Herald today he had this to say….As a change of strategy, Cde Chinamasa said, this time around the party would focus more on door-to-door campaigns as opposed to mass rallies.
“We have set up ward campaign centres and teams to overseer the campaign. The strategy will be fewer rallies and more door to door campaigns,†he said.http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=607&cat=1
May 25th, 2008 14:44
the former president of the DRC has just been arrested by the international Criminal Court. If I were RGM I would worry.
Link: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7418932.stm
You will have to past it in your browser. I find it almost impossible to get past Sokwanele’s Spam Filter.
May 25th, 2008 21:59
“If we lose the run-off, then the army will take over” a senior ruling party official said.
Well, in order to mount a successful coup d’etat you need a coordinated plan of manouvre between the rank and file of the army units and the various levels of command. Also, preferably a commander-in-chief who is somewhat younger and more virile than an 84-year-old veteran suffering from terminal prostrate cancer.
In this particular case you have a military rank and file deeply disgruntled over their working conditions and tattered uniforms, and angry about the farms, SUVs, and fancy lifestyles of their top commanders. In fact the rank and file are so alienated that they have not even been called to intimidate and attack opposition members as they have in the past. Only the senior officers are running the terror campaigns in the rural areas. The lower ranks don’t want any part of the burning of houses and the beatings which are organized by colonels and lieutenant colonels.
In fact the rank and file are some of the hardest hit. There is no food in the camps, the officers keep giving them empty promises, in short, the prospects of a lasting and successful coup by the army seem pretty remote. A split? Perhaps. A complete army takeover? Increasingly unlikely.
May 25th, 2008 22:31
Thanks True Grit, that’s something positive for the day.
Also saw that Bemba has been arrested for war crimes. Mm, I think quite a few people won’t sleep all that well.