(This contribution sent to us by email)

Every day I ask myself ,what am I – a child of Africa and a Zimbabwean of many generations – doing here in England ? Every day I am reminded that I don’t really belong in this alien culture. What am I doing here, away from the sun-drenched plains of Africa in this dank, dark and cold climate ? What am I doing among the cold and indifferent and (though they don’t know it) amazingly prosperous Brits – who understand nothing whatever of ubuntu ? And every day, since I am not one of those to cut myself off from my roots, I feel the pain of the separation from my true home and from family and friends left behind in poor, blighted Zimbabwe. A beautiful land blighted by an utterly selfish and totally corrupt dictator who is as much a curse to his country as ever Idi Amin, Augusto Pinochet or Slobodan Milosevic were to theirs.

I am existing – I would not call it living – here in exile in a crowded tenement in over-crowded Birmingham. I did not ask to leave my homeland, nor come to these foreign shores in search of “greener pastures”. No, I left because effectively I had no alternative. As a professional civil servant I should have had no difficulty earning enough to support my wife and four children in Harare. For years we lived comfortably enough in a modest home in leafy Mount Pleasant, close to the university. The children were doing well in their schools. We all enjoyed the life. Zimbabwe was our home and we never doubted it would ever remain so. In our own way I think it can be said we were making a contribution to our community. But then in 2000 came the moment of truth when Mugabe and his party were jolted with the reality of an electorate that wanted change. They would not have it at any cost – they had too much to lose – and so the pretence of freedom, democracy and the rule of law was brushed aside and in its place we all saw the dictator in his true colours. The ugliness of brutal power unleashed on an unsuspecting (and altogether too naïve) people. A moral slide which has ended in an avalanche.

Forget the veneer of professionalism within the civil service. Now it was clear that nothing but a servile submission to ZANU PF and its survival strategy would do for every state (read party) employee above the most lowly grades. And moreover “good” employees were expected to demonstrate their “patriotism”, which meant an uncritical adherence to the puerile party propaganda and a willingness to endorse whatever hair-brained scheme was put forward to garner populist support – never mind the disastrous consequences. In fact to really get on in such a thought-controlled environment one needed to add a touch of racist xenophobia or the occasional anti-colonialist flourish. We all knew what was required of us as servants of the state (read party) and it certainly wasn’t objective, professional advice. Some colleagues – sadly most – showed a readiness to trim to the prevailing political wind. In fact a few so excelled in adapting that they were rewarded with instant promotion to dizzying heights. Those like myself who had always calculated that possession of a ZANU PF card would be the only sacrifice of conscience required, soon found otherwise. In order to hold onto a position of any standing one’s whole integrity had to become a negotiable asset.

For three years I struggled on under the ZANU PF monolith, bartering my soul away bit by bit in order to retain the confidence of my superiors. In truth it became more and more difficult to look at that questioning face in the mirror each morning. Yet with shame I have to confess it was not the moral compromises which finally forced me to a decision to leave. Nor was it the continual ZESA blackouts, the contaminated water, the fuel queues or bread, mealie meal and other recurring shortages. It was the crashing economy which pressed us harder and harder until finally we could no longer afford the school fees as well as the rocketing costs of feeding and clothing the family.

My wife had gone back to nursing many months before so as to boost the family’s dwindling real income. But her sacrifice was largely in vain because the additional income was soon overtaken by surging inflation. It was when one day she suggested to me that either she or I should take up a “temporary” job outside the country in order to make ends meet that I realized this was one sacrifice too many. Countless friends and colleagues had resorted to this desperate measure and in each case we had witnessed the tragic consequences. Though promising themselves it was just a temporary separation, sooner or later it became apparent to all that it was no such thing. We saw marriages buckle and break under the strain. We saw children, school fees paid, but starved of the love and affection they most needed. We saw families slowly disintegrating … and when we sat down and weighed the options carefully I’m pleased to say we all agreed we valued our life together too highly to take this risk.

And so the heart-breaking decision to leave the country. The house was sold to pay for the airfares – truly burning our boats behind us, though none of us would then admit it. Friends and family who had gone ahead provided a bridge-head into a new and unfamiliar world. They warned us the transition would not be easy even with their ready assistance – and what an understatement that proved to be. Don’t ask exactly how we acquired the necessary travel documents to move to our adopted land and start a new life there. Or how we found lodgings that we can afford. Or how I got a job – of sorts – as a humble railway clerk. Because at least now we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. At least now we don’t have recurring nightmares about the children being thrown out of school for unpaid school fees. (We can even afford to pay the school fees for a few nephews and nieces back in Zimbabwe – avoiding Gono’s slice on the exchange too) And I am pleased to say it is a little easier to look at the face in the mirror these days too.

Yes, we’re surviving. We’ve made the break so many Zimbabweans dream of as they struggle on in the wretched conditions Mugabe has created for all (save his own select group of cronies). But you’d be wrong to envy us. Like thousands of other Zimbabwean exiles we have an existence here but we are hardly enjoying the experience.

The truth is we are dreading our first Christmas in exile – away from our real home.

From,
An angry exile

Technorati Tags: Zimbabwe, England, Africa, Mugabe, ZANU PF, Christmas, exile

The total social and economic breakdown in Zimbabwe impacts every aspect of our lives here – it is even translating into carnage on the roads. There are virtually no police patrolling the roads for speeding vehicles, and it is common practice to bribe your way out of the situation if you are caught.

Along the roads to and from the main border posts, the majority of cars are towing overloaded trailers, which unbalance the car and make it more difficult to handle, but they still speed dangerously along. The roads are not being maintained properly, meaning that you have to swerve dangerously to avoid potholes.

I was traveling back from the border last week and saw evidence of countless crashes alongside the roads. This is another instance of Bob’s regime being responsible for death and destruction.

Technorati Tags: Zimbabwe, road safety, accidents

This question came in by email and I guess refers to this article here:

Did you know that Mugabe just recently donated computers to a rural school which doesn’t even have electricity?

As our emailer pointed out, it is indeed bizarre to construct a ceremony around handing over computers in a country where there are regular black-outs. Even more bizarre to hand out computers to schools in rural areas where electricity is hit and miss and dial-up connections (what a dream) are unheard of.

This is not to say that I don’t want a country where this is possible, just that I think it it is wilfully blind and staggeringly insensitive to make empty gestures like this when people are going hungry.

It reminded me of Mugabe’s last hilarious foray into donating computers to schools. This happened last year, just before the last stolen elections. Let me remined you by quoting our post titled ‘Not very PC‘ then in its entirity:

Selina has just come back from her rural home and tells me that the computers given to her child’s school by our president, were then taken back for delivery to another school. So much for election gimmicks!

Does he really expect me to think… ‘what a good guy….?’. Surely not!

Technorati Tags: Mugabe, computers, schools, rural, Zimbabwe, Africa

The BBC are posing these questions in their ‘Have your say’ section, and inviting responses from the public. Lots of comments from people all over the world, but here’s a taster of some of the responses from Africans - read it all here:

You should know that Mugabe won’t leave that post as long as he is alive. You talk of 2010, he will still stand as the ZANU candidate. He is merciles and brutal hence no one has the guts to challenge him. Only revolt from the people, International fraternity and the soulders can remove him. I am saying this because I am one of the suffering people bach home. Even if the elections come they will still rig. lets start now to remove him.

…, Harare

WHY HIM AGAIN (MUGABE) HE MAKE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOMELES AND POOR, WE DONT NEED HIM AT ALL. WE DONT NEED PEOPLE OF HIS POLICY IN THIS CONTINET PLEASE (EU) HELP US TO REMOVE THIS DIRTY AND STUPID MUGABE

TIMOTY, HARARE

I am Zimbabwean, but i totally support Mugabe. I do not care what happens in Zimbabwe anymore, i am sick and tired of fighting lone battles against Zanu PF. I have scars and lost a friend because of trying to fight against Mugabe. Zimbabweans dont care, people where even saying to me i am stupid when i use to demostrate against Mugabe. Until we all unite and stop complaining and writing these comments and do something, “longleave Mugabe”.How can 13mill people loose to 1man, such cowards we are!

takunda, london

Dear bbc

No media or anyone will ever describe the situation at hand here besides the people on the ground i mean the people who are earning approximately 10P a month in an enviroment where real inflation as we feel it is hovering around 2000+. The truth is being edited by a group of people who are amasing wealth through people’s sweat and tears. The enermy has ceased to be Mugabe himself but a new class of the ” get rich quickly” who are enjoying every moment.It is very very worse here.

Innocent, Harare

For change to occur in Zimbabwe, there should be a greater sacrifice of self for the good of the country. I am calling for those courageous man and women to conduct ME SO WE CAN ORGANIZE. FORGET TSVANGIRAI, FORGET MUTAMBARA, they ARE FOR SELF PRESERVATION. ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE ANYTHING OR YOU ARE JUST A COMPLAINER LIKE EVERYBODY? SHOW IT. Time for opinions, discussions or anything to do with TALKING is over. IT IS NOW CLEAR ZANU WILL NOT LEAVE UNLESS FORCED. ARE YOU READY FOR ANYTHING?

Paul Kudina, Harare

Mugabe is punishing his own people for disliking him and for voting him out of power during the recent elections. The destruction of Zimbabwe by Mugabe and his cronies is delibarate and well calculated. Its not about land reform or ‘foreign influence’. This is the work of the devil. What I do not understand is why he has not been arrested for crimes against human nature. This man is worse than Adolf Hitler. God help us all!

kudakwashe chitangawo, Reading

The decision by Comrade Robert Mugabe to extend his presidency is a pure sign of paranoia. I feel Mugabe is paranoid of what will become of him if he calls it quit. My plea is to Zimabweans is: please desist from this man’s egocentric motives. Hw will take you no where but to lunacy. Africa needs fresh minds!

Alex R. Nkosi, Katoto, Mzuzu – Malawi

Oh God in Heraven when will you take Sir Robert Mugabe to rest and redeem Zimbabwe and its citizenary from his york?

When will you come to our aid and help the ailing economy and the massive human rights abuses? We are tired OH GOD LET HIM REST!

MASEME MACHUKA, KISII KENYA

I am not a Zimbabwean but as an African in Diaspora, I feel ashamed that a person like Mr. Mugabe is still at the helms of affairs in Zimbabwe. I keep wondering why ‘the men of Zimbabwe cannot wear pants like men’. Is there not a man brave enough to force Mr. Mugabe out of power after all these years of self-inflicted suffering on his people?. Mr. Mugabe should not be allowed to stay one day longer in power so that the people of Zimbabwe can enjoy the dividends of democracy like other countries.

onukulunjo gekwumma, washington, d.c, United States

I would just like to state that Zimbabweans HAVE tried to get rid of Mugabe. Four times we have gone to the polls despite intimidation, torture, rape and murder and have voted to rid ourselves of this man. Each time, despite massive and obvious fraud the elections have been declared free and fair by monitors from the African Union.

The african union recently declared that Zimbabwe has perpetrated NO human rights abuses in the last 6 years. How can we be rid of him without support????

Mark

Fellow Africans
Perfect despotic leaders of africa like Mr Robert Mugabe should not be given a minute to be kept in power but to resign.

its very asurd fot the people of Zimbabwe that Mugabe wants extra (bonus)time to economically handcap our people.
Zimbabwe stand firm and resist this move.

MUGABE, THE SUFFERING YOU HAVE CAUSED IN AFRICA IS ENOUGH.PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE NEED A DEMOCRATIC LEADER.

mugabe resign resign for the sake of peace in all.

Musana Eric, KIBAALE

“Birds of the same feathers flock together” Zanu-pf party is filled up with bounch of Mugabes. You and i know nothing good is ever going to come out of that confrence so why do i think they should do something when we already know they are going there to serve their own intrest. This is what i think and expect all zimbabweans to do. They should match up the bigest protest ever recorded in history starting from this date indinitely, demanding for president Robert Mugabe to step down.

garland orhue ogiegor, edo nigeria

Mugabe has nothing to do than to continue holding onto power. he is scared of his future taking arap-moi, chiluba, charles taylor into consideration.
he has caused so much havoc that stepping down from the presidency cannot help him because he cannot live in the mess he has created. he is saying ‘all animals are equal but some are more equal than others’.
look at tghe economy now, the rate of inflation, agriculture,press freedom etc.remember this-ZANU-PF IS MUGABE AND MUGABE IS ZANU-PF.

richmond, accra,ghana

their reasons for such constutional change its a clear sign of a failed leader who is trying to chase the wind. the main issue affecting Zimbabwe its leadership, Mugabe has totally failed his people becos he lacks how to lead and knows how to rule with emotions. a am very sad for african leaders for not calling him to oder not even a single african leader has codemn him publicly. Mr kofi Annan and the AU must call him to order. he must stop that relic rule its no more relevant to democracy

OBED TACKIE, ACCRA

Technorati Tags: BBC, Mugabe, Zimbabwe, Zanu PF

We emailed ACTSA earlier today to ask how international supporters could make donations to the Dignity. Period! Campaign. Clicking on the image will take you to our post with a set of links, as well as guidance on how to add the button to your site; however, some people outside the UK have felt that the donation feature was restricted to people in the UK. This as the response we received:

We have just launched a new website, and should soon have a brand new online giving system, which will accept a wide range of cards.

That said, the old system (even though it still says it can only accept UK donations) should take international ones too, as long as they are with Visa or Mastercards.

Will let you know as soon as we have the new system in place will let you know

So please keep trying to donate via the old system.

ACTSA have also left two comments on our main campaign post which are worth drawing out here since they address some of the many questions raised in the comments section there. This is the first comment:

Dear All

I am writing from Action for Southern Africa, who run the Dignity. Period Campaign in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.

Two quick things, you can of course send products directly, but in our experience they rarely get through, and when we did try and geta consignment of donated pads into Zimbabwe from South Africa, the duty charged was huge.

We now buy directly from a local manufacturer in Harare, and get a great price, and they deliver them directly to women via the trade unions. In this way we also suport local employment and the Zim economy and not large multinational manufactuers.

Finally, on the pads that were siezed, this was an islolated incident, and while it may happen from time to time, we know that 99.9% of the 2.5million pads purchased so far have reached the women in need.

In solidarity
ACTSA

And this follow-up comment addressing the recurring question over Mooncups and Diva Cups:

One more thing – re mooncups/reuseable products

We have had dicussions re this with the women of ZCTU, and while they agree that in the future this would be good, the current situation means that they would rather have pads than resuseable products.

As with all solidarity campaigns, we take our lead from our partners on the ground – in this isnstance the ZCTU, so they want disposable pads, they get disposable pads!

We have had discussions with the manufacturers of mooncup, and they fully understand and are fully supportive of this campaign.

Finally, all of us at ACTSA and the ZCTU are so encouraged by the support from all of you, this campaign has really helped put the issue of Zimbabwe, and also the struggle for the meaningful advancement of women the world over, firmly on the agenda of so many people

la Luta Continua
In solidarity
ACTSA

We at Sokwanele would like to add our thanks to you all too. We’ve been so amazed by the number of people who have added the button to their blogs and websites. We’ve also been impressed at the diversity of debate stirred up in comments and gratified to realise that regardless of different opinions, everyone is in total agreement that Zimbabwean women deserve better, and that everyone is committed to trying to do their bit to help. So thank you very much.

Technorati Tags: ACTSA, Dignity. Period!, Action for Southern Africa, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, ZCTU, Zimbabwe, women, gender, equality, human rights

[This article is being mailed to our subscribers today. Click here to subscribe to the Sokwanele mailing list. ]

Day by day, we count the cost of this kleptocracy that rules our nation: we count it in terms of the bodies of those who die silently week by week of Aids, malnutrition and poverty; in terms of the disruption of family life, and the misery of the millions of economic refugees; in terms of the desecration of the environment; and, as here, in terms of the cost to the economy brought about by the plunder of national assets. What will be left once this evil is at an end, and the culprits are finally brought to book?

With no real democratic institutions in existence, and no law enforcement, there is no culture of accountability, which leaves the ruling elite free to loot and plunder as they please. When their heinous crimes do come to light, instead of heads rolling, and the government falling into disgrace – as would happen in a working democracy – the rulers treat those over whom they rule with utter contempt, of which the refusal to answer to parliament is a symptom. Without accountability, those in power simply decide amongst themselves what path to take in the latest and largest incidence of national fraud – some are even using it to further their own political agendas!

Zimbabwean parastatals are a by-word for mismanagement, incompetence, inefficiency and corruption. Eyes roll and heads wag at the mention of Air Zimbabwe, the Grain Marketing Board, Zesa, PTC, Zupco, and others. These are state-owned companies, meaning that the government, which is elected (we use this word loosely, given the theft of post-Independence elections in Zimbabwe) by the people, is accountable to the people of Zimbabwe for the management of these companies.

Zisco, the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company, is one of the largest state-owned enterprises in Zimbabwe. It also boasts the largest steel works in the region outside South Africa. Its principal activities are the production and marketing of iron and steel. At full capacity, the company produced 2 million tons of steel a year, but current production is less than 300 000 tons (or 15%). The drop in production stands in sharp contrast to the firming of the world’s steel price. In July, the Reserve Bank saved Zisco from closure by providing an emergency Z$2 trillion (old currency) lifeline, and the firm is saddled with significant foreign debts.

Zisco is now at the centre of a scandal that is rocking government circles, the biggest case of high-level fraud and corruption to come to light since Independence in 1980. As one Zisco official put it, the raiding of the Midlands-based parastatal will make all previous government graft cases “look like a Sunday afternoon picnic when it eventually explodes”.

If this is happening at Zisco, what is happening in other parastatals? Are they any different? Perhaps it is only the scale of the looting that is different. The Zanu PF principle is always the same: take what you can while you can, regardless of law and equity.

The Zisco saga: the facts

Through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Zisco had negotiated a profitable USD 400 million management contract with an Indian firm, Global Steel Holdings Limited (GSHL). GSHL was supposed to have injected foreign currency for the rehabilitation of Zisco plant components, particularly the blast furnaces, coke oven batteries, furnace and rolling mills; after 20 years, management control would have reverted to government.

This deal is now off, following a report by NECI (the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate), which implicates high-ranking government officials in the systematic looting of Zisco – on a scale that is difficult for most even to imagine.

A parliamentary committee was set up to investigate the existence and findings of the NECI report. In September, Industry and International Trade Minister Obert Mpofu, told the committee of the existence of the NECI report, saying that it implicated Members of Parliament and members of Mugabe’s Cabinet in the corruption at the parastatal. A week later, he back-tracked on his words, apparently after uproar from his Zanu PF colleagues and the government, who were afraid of exposure. Mpofu then failed to appear before the parliamentary committee, and government has refused to hand over the NECI report to them. It seems that Mugabe told cabinet ministers that the report should not be made public, and ordered Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa to advise the committee to halt further investigations into Zisco operations.

The parliamentary committee has now compiled its report, and has given government an ultimatum to put the NECI report on the record and publish it, or they will leak to the press the version they have obtained. Parliament has now started impeachment proceedings against Obert Mpofu on charges that, lying under oath, he gave false evidence to the committee. This will be the first time that a government minister has been impeached by Parliament in post-Independence Zimbabwe. He faces a fine, or up to 2 years in jail, or both.

The committee also investigated the contract with GSHL, finding that “the implementation of the contract was unplanned, improper, and highly questionable”. It found that the contract was awarded to GSHL out of 9 competing companies, without due diligence, and that the Zisco board was unaware of the deal. It seems that the board’s authority was usurped by Mpofu’s ministry – the Ministry for Industry and International Trade – which signed the GSHL contract. The committee also found that GSHL has a history of being on the receiving end of multi-billion US dollar lawsuits concerning agreements in Nigeria and the USA, where the company had entered into contracts which it had failed to honour.

Gross abuse of public assets at Zisco has been revealed, being perpetrated in the following ways:

• Claiming large allowances from the company after travelling on business that had nothing to do with Zisco
• Dubious contracts, where the bids were rigged
• Over-pricing purchases, where the excess money would be split between the arranging parties (at the Botswana subsidiaries, only one person handles purchases – contrary to the fundamental principle of segregation of duties)
• Claiming money for management fees and directors’ meetings without justification or following procedure
• Taking cash for private use
• Abuse of credit cards
• Hotel bookings and entertainment allowances (thousands of US dollars were spent entertaining government officials and their cronies at the Grand Palm Hotel Casino & Convention Resort – a five star hotel in Gaborone – where they squandered public funds on expensive drinks and food during weekends)

The employees of Zisco and its two Botswana subsidiaries, Ramotswa and Tswana Steel, have said they are ready to reveal the names of those implicated in the looting. The Zimbabwe Independent has performed extensive investigation into the matter, and revealed the names of the following individuals who seem to have benefited in some way from dubious dealings:

• Gabriel Masanga, the former Zisco group MD, had private expenditure paid through the company, plus questionable vehicle expenses incurred in Botswana
• David Murangari received forex to pay for personal expenses
• Samuel Mumbengegwi (Indigenisation and Empowerment minister & formerly Industry and International Trade minister in charge of Zisco) – paid an allowance of USD 3000 while attending a SADC meeting in Gaborone for himself and two others; also paid accommodation for unexplained visits to Botswana
• Joice Mujuru, who in 2003 was paid USD11 000 as allowances by the Botswanan subsidiaries, and received 30 000 litres of fuel (liquid gold!) from Zisco on her election as vice-president in 2004
• Olivia Muchena (Science and Technology minister) – air tickets and allowances for missions unconnected with Zisco
• Sithembiso Nyoni (Small-to-Medium Enterprises Development minister) – air tickets and allowances for missions unconnected with Zisco
• Stan Mudenge (Higher Education minister), hosted by Zisco subsidiaries in Botswana under unclear circumstances
• Late Gibson Munyoro (Zanu PF MP) – same as Mudenge
• George Mlilo (Transport permanent secretary), incurred dubious expenses for the company
• George Chikumbirike, received dubious forex payments
• Tirivanhu Mudariki (businessman and former Zanu MP) – air tickets, allowances and accommodation for missions unconnected with Zisco
• Numerous other individuals who were also on the receiving end of dubious payments, or transactions

George Chikumbirike, listed above, was the lawyer representing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in Tsvangirai’s legal challenge of the results of the stolen 2002 Presidential Election. Zisco’s Botswana subsidiaries paid him USD1 225 in July 2003 as an allowance through a telegraphic transfer into his ABC Botswana Bank Account (we trust that the Exchange Control authorities are investigating this); he also received USD1 000 for school fees in January 2004 from the Zisco Managing Director Masanga’s company facility.

Further shenanigans are apparent in the fact that the Ramotswa/Tswana Steel MD and business manager, James Chininga and Shelton Chivhere, respectively, are also trying to acquire those two companies themselves – both companies are owed money by Zisco and have made a lot of payments on behalf of their parent company. They claim that this is their own initiative but speculation is rife that senior politicians are working behind the scenes.

For further proof of mismanagement, Zisco has also just had to surrender its mining concessions to KFW, a German company, after failing to repay a USD 17.6 million loan advanced for the construction of its steel plant. This debt was in addition to numerous others, including those due to the Chinese, the NRZ, Zesa, and other local companies. And the latest news to hit the press is that a Chinese company has made a USD 3 billion takeover bid for Zisco, although that fact is being vociferously denied in some quarters.

The consequences

The questions of the release of the NECI report, and of the impeachment of Obert Mpofu, have given rise to further rifts within Zanu PF (and here we refer you to our earlier article “Is Zanu PF splitting up?”). The thieves are falling out among themselves over the share of the booty each is to receive, and those who are not actually complicit this time are making the most of their good fortune, and advancing their own agendas in the succession struggle by exposing guilty colleagues who are their rivals. And there are the others who see Zanu PF tearing itself apart, and are desperately trying to put a lid on the whole scandal.

Speaker John Nkomo is believed to be aligned to Vice President Joice Mujuru (she with presidential aspirations) – they want the committee scuttled, and the report swept under the carpet, Nkomo managing to hold in abeyance the motion to impeach Obert Mpofu for as long as he could.

But the other side is striking back! Justice Minister Chinamasa is on the side of rival presidential aspirant, Emmerson Mnangagwa. They are now retaliating against Joice Mujuru, who is suspected of involvement in the attempted prosecutions of Mutasa and Chinamasa. Chinamasa managed to adjourn parliament for some weeks, aiming to buy time to restore discipline within the ruling party. Mnangagwa and Chinamasa both want the report to be published and the wrong-doers to be exposed, and need time to swing things to their advantage.

On the subject of the impeachment, Obert Mpofu is to be taken to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. The last person to appear before that committee was Roy Bennett – will Mpofu get the same treatment as he did, and will we see him clothed in Zimbabwe Prison uniform for 8 months, we wonder? One would expect parliamentarians to regard the deliberate misleading of the House as about the most serious offence imaginable.

Sadly, past experience has led us to believe that the regime’s commitment to fighting corruption will falter before the drastic step of a truthful public exposé of the facts, and the prosecution of offenders. If the result of any investigation is any less than this, it will be an irrefutable declaration by Mugabe and his regime that they are not committed to transparency, to justice, or to the fight against corruption.

Zanu PF has been involved in the rape, pillage and plunder of the assets of this country for 26 years; as we see from the list above, high level people have been involved in the plunder. They think they can get away with it because they’ve managed to do so for so long. We need to let them know that they can’t – and we praise those journalists who have been, and continue to be involved in this exposé.

But there will come a day of reckoning; there will come a day when what is done in the darkness will be brought to light!

It is time for all Zimbabweans who care, to say “SOKWANELE!” “ZVAKWANA!” – demanding full accountability, and insisting that the perpetrators of this massive fraud be brought to justice. It is the patriotic duty of any who can assist this process to make their contribution now, failing which, we are on the way to joining such totally failed states as the DRC, Darfur, Somalia, Sierra Leone et al.

[This article is being mailed to our subscribers today. Click here to subscribe to the Sokwanele mailing list. ]

Technorati Tags: kleptocracy, Air Zimbabwe, Grain Marketing Board, Zesa, PTC, Zupco, Zimbabwe, Zisco, Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company, Zanu PF, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, RBZ, Global Steel Holdings Limited, GSHL, Obert Mpofu, Mugabe, Gabriel Masanga, David Murangari, Samuel Mumbengegwi , Joice Mujuru, Olivia Muchena, Sithembiso Nyoni, Stan Mudenge, Gibson Munyoro, George Mlilo, George Chikumbirike, Tirivanhu Mudariki , Roy Bennett

An Ethiopian court yesterday found exiled former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam (and 70 other high ranking suspects) guilty in absentia of genocide, ending a marathon 12-year trial. Mengistu is a pretty horrible individual – this from the International Herald Tribune:

Mengistu, 69, ruled Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991, which included some of the darkest days of the country’s history, when government soldiers rounded up tens of thousands of students and intellectuals and brutally killed them in a campaign called the “Red Terror.” Human Rights Watch labeled it “one of the most systematic uses of mass murder by a state ever witnessed in Africa.”

Mengistu is thought to have killed many of the victims with his own hands, including Ethiopia’s last emperor, Haile Selassie, who was strangled in bed.

And this from the Washington Post:

In the 1977-78 “Red Terror” campaign, the most notorious of Mengistu’s purges, suspected opponents were executed by garrotting or shooting. Bodies were tossed into the streets.

[...]

According to the court ruling, Mengistu’s government directly killed more than 2,000 people, including 60 top officials, ministers and royal family members executed by firing squad. About 2,400 people were tortured, the court said.

Many, however, say this is the tip of an iceberg.

Witnesses told the court family members who went to morgues to collect bodies of loved ones were asked to pay for bullets that killed them. Gizaw Tefera said soldiers who killed his father cut his head off and offered it for auction at a market.

“No one wanted to buy my father’s head,” he said in 2000.

An Argentine forensic expert said some remains exhumed from mass graves showed victims were killed by garrotting.

“We found green nylon ropes knotted tight around their necks,” forensic expert Mercedes Doreth said in 2002.

Evidence at the trial included signed execution orders and videos of torture sessions.

Mengistu and his officials face sentencing on December 28. Ethiopia defines genocide as intent to wipe out political and not just ethnic groups.

Mengistu is also held partly responsible for the Ethiopian famine in 1984-85 that claimed one million lives:

For months before the scale of the famine became known, President Mengistu denied its existence and flew in planeloads of whisky to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the revolution. Via The Times

And where is this awful man? He’s living it up in Zimbabwe, a ‘guest’ of Robert Mugabe. The Zimbabwean government have said today that they will not extradite him, so Mengistu will not be held accountable for his crimes. Besides, he seems to be making himself useful to the government. In an article we wrote earlier this year we pointed out something few people are aware of:

When General Halle Miriam Menghistu, who had imposed a brutal form of dictatorship on Ethiopia and been directly responsible for starving many of his citizens to death, needed a place of asylum to escape justice in his own country Mugabe was quick to provide it. What is less well known is that he arranged for Menghistu to become a consultant to the CIO [Central Intelligance Organisation]. No doubt the former dictator found the income useful and the CIO could benefit from his wide experience in suppressing dissent.

Let’s all say it together now – 1, 2, 3 … ‘Birds of a feather flock together’, and ‘leopards don’t change their spots’.

UPDATE:

I almost can’t belive my eyes at the title of this just spotted IOL article: Zimbabwe hails Mengistu’s role in liberation.

And the words of praise:

“As a comrade of our struggle, Comrade Mengistu and his government played a key and commendable role during our struggle for independence and no one can dispute that,” William Nhara, a spokesperson for President Robert Mugabe’s government, said.

“The judgment is an Ethiopian judgment and will not affect his status in Zimbabwe. As far as we know there is no extradiction treaty between Harare and Addis Ababa.”

How shameful of the Zimbabwean government to miss the real point of the issue – by that I mean the tens of thousands killed. As if what Mengistu did during the liberation struggle wipes clean the slate of his crimes against humanity. Erm… no…!

Technorati Tags: Mengistu Haile Mariam, genocide, Mengistu, Ethiopia, Red Terror, famine, Zimbabwe, Mugabe, dictator, CIO

Via SW Radio Africa:

Mobile phone campaign

From Friday 8th December we will begin sending news headlines via SMS to mobile phones.
If you have a friend or relative in Zimbabwe who would like to receive this service please email their mobile phone number to: talk@swradioafrica.com

This initiative follows recent reports that Mugabe’s security agents are now confiscating radios in an effort to clamp down even further on access to information and objective news reporting:

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said police and suspected agents of the Central Intelligence Organization, the country’s secret police, have been seizing radios donated to union members in the country’s Midlands province.

A senior union official said members in the area reported that known CIO agents and police had confiscated the solar-powered radios without justification.

The PTUZ has distributed radios to members in remote areas of the country to allow them to listen to independent news broadcasts from outside of Zimbabwe.

Nongovernmental organizations have also distributed small portable radios to small communities through local contacts who direct radios to those who need them (VOA News).

And this via SW Radio Africa:

Chamisa says their national office is inundated with complaints from people who have had their radios taken away and their information department is busy compiling a list of all the reported cases. Initially it had been thought radios donated to listening clubs were the prime target but by Tuesday the seizures had become indiscriminate with many people said to have lost their own private portable radio sets. Listening club members are being threatened and told they are selling out the country by listening to ‘foreign’ broadcasts. Several NGO’s donated solar powered, wind up radios for the listening clubs and Chamisa says although these are being targeted, the regime now believes it can reduce the number of shortwave radio listeners via a programme of indiscriminate national seizures.

Technorati Tags: SW Radio Africa, campaign, SMS, Zimbabwe, Mugabe, Central Intelligence Organization, CIO, radio, human rights, free speech, media