Saturday, 14th June 2008

Howzit

Far be it for me to give advice about the internet, but yesterday I had a torrid time with Firefox's tabbed browsing. Each time I returned to a tab, it would refresh and I would lose any work I had done in the tab.

If you have done an update on Skype, it will install an extension within Firefox which will cause this problem.

So to rectify it, uninstall the Skype extension within Firefox tools. It could save you a lot of time and frustration.

-o00o-

"Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic change (MDC) officials say they have not been able to establish the whereabouts of the opposition party's General-Secretary Tendai Biti, since his arrest yesterday.

Biti was reportedly arrested on charges of treason, which can carry the death penalty in Zimbabwe. The MDC leader and presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, was detained twice yesterday and released without charge."

The 'authorities' in Harare have had ample time to prepare their case, so surely now that they have carried out the arrest, all that remains is the Warned & Cautioned Statement - but it would appear that the powers that be have also got something else up their sleeve.

Torture perhaps?

-o00o-

And a follow-on from the story above, "A high court judge in Zimbabwe on Friday ordered police to produce Tendai Biti, the opposition party's secretary general and chief strategist, who was arrested Thursday the moment he reentered the country and whose whereabouts have since remained a mystery.

"We have sent teams of lawyers to every police station in Harare but have failed to find where they have him," said Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change. "We are concerned now for his security, his safekeeping, his life; he has fallen into the jaws of danger."

The police have said Biti would be charged with treason, a capital offense. But the opposition leader has not been seen by associates since he was swiftly handcuffed at Harare's airport and hustled away.

Now, according to Chamisa, a judge has told the police to bring Biti to court on Saturday, "though knowing this regime they could easily just ignore the order and nothing else can be done."

At the time of writing this on Saturday morning, the magistrate's order has been ignored and Biti has yet to appear in court.

And we know that this happens often and without recourse. The judiciary in Zimbabwe may bare its teeth on occasion but it is unable to inflict any bite - specifically on the Mugabe regime...

"Biti, number two in the party and one of its most familiar faces, returned to Zimbabwe after a two-month self-imposed absence. In doing that, he bucked a trend. Dozens of members of the opposition have fled the country in recent weeks after several of their colleagues were abducted and murdered.

Attorney Andrew Makoni, who has represented the opposition since 2002, is among those escaping into exile. "When you are told by a credible source that armed men have instructions to eliminate you and they are about to strike, what do you do, go on like normal or lie low? I chose to lie low."

-o00o-

For an administration run by a man who claims that he brought 'democracy' to Zimbabwe, they seem very intent to have a go at the MDC at every opportunity. They have taken Tsvangirai BMW, his new buses, they harass the MDC supporters, and now they are intent on making sure that the message doesn't get through.

One of the requirements for a 'free and fair' election is a level playing field - and that includes the media consisting of the press, radio and television. But Mugabe will queer that call whenever and wherever he can.

"Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman, Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the government has directed the public media not to publish political advertisements from his party.

While ZANU PF has started a campaign blitz on national radio and television and newspapers, MDC political material is conspicuously absent. State media sources confirmed Chamisa’s accusations saying the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Publicity, George Charamba, pronounced the order to not only reject MDC advertisements, but also to report the opposition party in bad light.

"That one is clear because we are publishing ZANU PF advertisements every day but there have been no MDC advertisements," said an advertising executive at the Chronicle.

"We were told that MDC adverts are banned. We have been in touch with their (MDC) advertising agency, but we told them we cannot do anything as the matter is beyond our control."

And the observers that have been allowed into the country - the vast majority from countries sympathetic to the Mugabe cause - will say and report nothing. This appears to be 'acceptable' politics in Zimbabwe. It may be unacceptable to you or I, but in Africa we are aware that heads are turned and eyes are closed.

"We are having big problems with The Herald and ZBC," he said. "It is purely because of the dictatorship that is leading this country. The ZBC and Zimpapers are refusing to publish our campaign material and you can see clearly that there is an instruction from somewhere. We know the order came from Charamba."

The sad thing is, that with observers on the ground, ZANU PF continue to twist the knife and there is not a lot the MDC can do.

"What ZANU PF is doing is illegal," he said. "It is also against the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) principles and guidelines governing democratic elections, which ZANU PF endorsed in 2004."

It is interesting to look at the articles brought up in this article.

"Articles 2.1.5 and 7.4 specifically call for unhindered access to the media for all political parties contesting in elections. Article 2.1.5 says member states must provide, "Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media. Article 7.4 states: "A country holding an election must safeguard the human and civil liberties of all citizens including the freedom of movement, assembly, association, expression, and campaigning as well as access to the media on the part of all stakeholders, during electoral processes as provided for under 2.1.5."

I note that Patrick Chinamasa is still intent on masquerading as a 'Minister' - and rather than deny the story, he says that ZANU PF will continue blocks any airtime to MDC until they call for the lifting of 'western sanctions' in Zimbabwe.

"He was referring to the targeted sanctions imposed by the European Union and America on senior ruling party and government officials. Chinamasa claimed that the so-called sanctions tilted the playing field against ZANU PF."

-o00o-

A simple question. Where were the observers when these events took place? Where were the ZRP when this happened?

"At least five people are feared murdered in Masvingo Province in the southern regions of Zimbabwe this week alone. While the police confirmed four murders, the fifth person feared dead, an abducted medical doctor remains unaccounted for.

Political violence continues to escalate in the province ahead of the June 27 presidential election pitting ZANU PF candidate President Robert Mugabe against his more popular rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"Mabika Mudzinga and Leonard Mhete were killed on Wednesday following violent clashes between supporters of the MDC and those of the ruling ZANU PF at Chigumisirwa Village in Bikita East constituency.

At least eight people, mostly MDC supporters were arrested in connection with the murder and police in Masvingo said they were keen to interview the MP elect of the area Edmore Marima of the MDC."

This is madness! MDC people get murdered and the ZRP arrests MDC members?

Why on earth would the MDC kill their own?

"A Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) area manager in Chiredzi Town, Dumisani Hapazari was on Monday found dead after two suspected agents of the Central Intelligence Organisation led him away from his workplace last week. They drove him to Gonarezhou Game Park. His body was discovered at Chikombedzi along Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique.

Rodrick Mukova of Chimbudzi village in Mwenezi was killed last night after suspected ZANU PF supporters set ablaze the hut in which he was sleeping.

The whereabouts of a Chiredzi doctor, Godfrey Mugwazi remain unknown after suspected CIO officers abducted him from his surgery on Tuesday."

I doubt that very much will come of any investigation by the ZRP - if, indeed, an investigation is ever started. The paperwork, if there is any, will be managed by the CIO and the matters will be closed down before any work is really done.

"The police officer commanding Masvingo province Assistant Commissioner Mhekia Tanyanyiwa confirmed the murder of the four, adding that cases of politically motivated violence were now a cause of concern to the police.

Tanyanyiwa said, "I can confirm the death of four people since Monday this week. The situation is very serious, especially in the rural areas."

"We have arrested about 20 people in connection with the death of these four."

-o00o-

Regardless of the fact the Mugabe has broken his word to his greatest supporter, Thabo "The Mediator" Mbeki, Mugabe will not be punished for lying - and his people which perpetrate the violence will be rewarded for their loyalty.

"Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s regime intensified repression yesterday, despite having given assurances to the South African government that it would stop the crackdown on the opposition as the presidential runoff vote approached.

Police arrested opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai while he was campaigning - and again late last night in Gweru.

He has been arrested four times in a week.

Party secretary-general Tendai Biti was detained on arrival from SA, and police raided the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association offices in a bid to pick up its activists.

Tsvangirai was released after the initial arrest. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said Biti was being charged with treason and communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state.

Tsvangirai has been charged with at least five treason cases."

And Mbeki will remain quiet on the issue. He has relented slightly and does admit that there is a little concern about activities within his Northern neighbour. He has pinned his flag to Mugabe and ZANU PF and has been afflicted with the same blindness that all Mugabe's supporters seem to suffer from.

"The escalation of repression - and Biti’s arrest - came barely 24 hours after Mugabe’s ZANU PF negotiators had agreed at talks with the MDC in Pretoria that the crackdown would stop."

-o00o-

Bearing in mind, based upon the report above which proves Mugabe and his administration to be liars, I place very little faith in this statement. But should the Mugabe 'government' relent, then they should also be handing Tsvangirai back his motor vehicle and two busses.

(Now why do I think that this consideration will never happen?)

"Zimbabwe's government has given the assurance that they won't arrest Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai has been detained four times since returning to Harare last month to campaign for the presidential run-off election on June 17.

Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga says they will not arrest Tsvangirai as long as he campaigns peacefully."

ZANU PF will now go out of their way to make Tsvangirai's campaign look violent so that they can then arrest tsvangirai. This is just Mugabe & Co. playing with words for the sake of their tattered reputation. That's all.

"Matonga has confirmed that MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti has been charged with treason and for the publication of false statements in the wake of elections in March. Biti was arrested yesterday at Harare Airport on his return from South Africa."

-o00o-

"After being kept in detention for about 2 weeks while the government delayed a bail appeal hearing, 12 of the 14 WOZA activists who were being detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison finally faced the prospect of being released on Friday. A male MOZA activist that was at Harare Remand Prison was also due for release on Friday after lawyers paid bail. Lawyer Gift Mpisi, who is representing the WOZA detainees, said he had posted Z$ 5 billion each for their release. A car was on the way to Chikurubi to pick them up late afternoon.

Mpisi said 10 of the 13 activists at Chikurubi were due to be released Friday. Coordinators Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were denied bail Wednesday after the state claimed that they were likely to mobilise people to demonstrate on the streets and cause violence ahead of the runoff election. A WOZA activist who was using documents that had her maiden name instead of married name will also spend the weekend in detention awaiting clarification on Monday."

I am continually amazed at the attempted 'logic' put forward by ZANU PF and their representatives in court when they apply for various things, and, as in this case, oppose bail.

These are women. Icons of the family unit in Zimbabwe. They are not about to incite violence. So why keep them in jail?

WOZA is a peaceful outfit - they don't fight, they don't even defend themselves. They are intent on highlighting the plight of the female in Zimbabwe.

And ZANU PF take advantage of their overzealousness and decide to keep two members behind bars.

"Mpisi said he had intended to file an urgent application in the Supreme Court for the release of the 2 WOZA coordinators. But he received a letter from the court clerk advising that he could not apply to the Supreme Court because the case had started in a magistrate’s court. The lawyer immediately sensed these were further delay tactics by the state. He said that many cases that ended up in the Supreme Court had started in the magistrate’s court.

Mahlangu is being charged with conducting activities that are likely to cause public disorder. Williams is facing charges of causing disaffection among the police and with distributing false information. The government crackdown on suspected opposition supporters has been brutal and it has claimed 66 lives so far. New tougher measures meant to keep activists in detention for longer periods were announced by government last weekend."

Absolutely ridiculous!

-o00o-

Thirteen days and counting.

Take care.

'debvhu