Tuesday, 17th June 2008
Howzit
A casual observer of events in Zimbabwe would be forgiven for not realising the madness that is engulfing that nation. Robert Mugabe is not only rattling sabres and threatening to arrest anyone in sight, but has already, reportedly, secured 130000 votes from the armed forces. And those votes were effected forcibly.
What happened to democracy?
"President Robert Mugabe ofZimbabwe
Members of the army, air force and police have been forced to cast ballots in favour of Mr Mugabe at their barracks and stations. It is not unusual for members of the security forces to cast their votes ahead of polling day. But the decision to force them to fill the ballots for Mr Mugabe in front of their station superiors is unusual, and is blatantly illegal, sources said.
Although coercive voting of this kind has been attempted before, military sources said it was considerably worse this time, with spouses and children - particularly those living in barracks and police camps - also being forced to fill ballots for Mr Mugabe."
I think that this stinks. People join the armed forces through a love of their country, a patriotism that is to be respected. But Mugabe has shifted it very slightly so that the armed forces do their job through a love for the government.
A huge and marked difference.
"It is estimated that Mr Mugabe could have at least 130,000 to 150,000 votes before actual balloting begins on 27 June. That would give the President a comfortable advantage in what could be a close election. In the strongest condemnation so far of the Mugabe government, David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, attacked what he called the "sadism" of the regime. Mr Miliband also warned the South African government that it had a responsibility to take decisive action in the face of the worsening crisis in neighbouringZimbabwe
"Some things can be done and the first thing is to be clear about the sadism - and I use that word advisedly - going on in places, especially north of Harare," Mr Miliband said. "People are being killed, people are being tortured, people are being beaten. Election observers are being stripped out. It is important that we speak plainly and frankly about that," he added."
Mugabe though, in the face of much criticism, has remained focused on the prime objective - and continues to engineer his campaign on an anti-MDC (and therefore anti-white, anti-West) premise.
"Mr Mugabe declared yesterday that he was prepared to hand over power, but only to an ally from within his own ruling party. Such an ally must nevertheless have demonstrated his ability to "keepZimbabwe
His remarks, which followed a threat on Saturday to "declare war" if he is voted out of power, further entrench fears that Zimbabwe will be plunged into bloodshed if he loses the run-off. Shocking incidents of political violence have already been recorded including cases of suspected opposition supporters being brutally beaten, tortured, burnt and killed. Meanwhile, aid agencies have been ordered to stop distributing aid as the regime uses starvation as a tactic to secure the poll."
-o00o-
"The African Union (AU) is reportedly getting ready to counter threats byZimbabwe Harare University of Zimbabwe Harare
Tell me what the AU can do about domestic affairs in Zimbabwe. Mugabe will simply disallow any troops into the country, saying that such a deployment would constitute an invasion.
Then we would have ZANU PF and all of it's perceived military might taking on the AU.
Not a brilliant option - but one which might actually spur the free world into actually doing something about the scourge of Mugabe.
"I think I would say that it’s about time the African Union made a stand against Robert Mugabe. It’s really an embarrassment to the African Union. And his utterances are very much an embarrassment to the African union because they really say he is the ultimate power inZimbabwe Africa he is masquerading as someone who is invincible. No one can stop him from doing whatever he wants, and I think that is very embarrassing to the African Union."
Obviously armed confrontation is not what is required in Zimbabwe. But something has got to happen and something has got to give.
"Amos Midzi former ZANU PF Minister of Mines and Energy who lost to the MDC was seen in Epworth on the 9th June with a ZUPCO bus full of Border Gezi youths to beat up people. 7 new 4 x 4 Nissan hardbody pick up trucks (no registration plates) were with the bus.
When victims reported to Police they were told that they were not allowed to open any dockets for MDC complainants, but they should "go and revenge"."
You can see what the intention is here. The MDC victims then go a seek out some sort of "revenge" and are arrested. Viola! We have ZANU PF victims and MDC accused persons...
This article reads like a horror story - but, of course, there will be the detractors who will state that these events are blown out of proportion and exaggerated for effect.
Apart from getting their story out, these people have no closure, no justice and little by way of relief. They cannot protect themselves - nor can they rely on the police for any prosecutions.
"
"Democracy" - The political orientation of those who favour government by the people or by their elected representatives; The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group; The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group.
Can someone please explain to me just how Mugabe handing power to his own chosen successor would resemble democracy?
Why bother the world with the sham of elections if he is not intent on allowing the people's choice to be exacted?
"President Robert Mugabe, campaigning for re-election in a presidential runoff June 27, warned he would not cede power to Western-backed opponents, the state media reported Monday.
"We shed a lot of blood for this country. We are not going to give up our country for a mere X on a ballot. How can a ball point pen fight with a gun?" the Herald, a government mouthpiece, quoted Mugabe as saying.
Speaking in the local Shona language in the central Silobela district Sunday, Mugabe said, that the nation threw off colonial domination in a guerrilla war in 1980, and his party was ready to fight again to stop the pro-Western Movement for Democratic Change from gaining control of the government, the paper reported."
I am staggered that Mugabe should openly threaten the country with war, yet the police do nothing. Let someone from the MDC say EXACTLY the same words, and see how long their freedom lasts.
In the face of the ZANU PF onslaught, the people of Zimbabwe are also shedding blood for the country.
Mugabe needs to realise that his time and that of ZANU PF has come to an end. He is no longer the darling that people saw in 1980. And his threat to conduct a war against the people is testimony to the fact that he has lost sight of the real objective.
"UN special envoy Haile Menkerios arrived in the Zimbabwean capitalHarare
Speaking to Mugabe will not be the correct of assessing the situation. The UN envoy must be given carte blanche around the country. No way is Mugabe going to allow that.
The pretence of a 'free and fair' election went out the window weeks ago - and now Mugabe is spending his days trying to stall the MDC campaign. He has proved himself a liar twice in the last few weeks, saying that he would accept the results - and then has had them re-engineered to give him another chance at stealing the poll.
He promised last week that he would not have Morgan Tsvangirai arrested - and then yesterday, this...
"Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Monday threatened to arrest the leadership of the opposition over an increase in violence ahead of a June 27 presidential run-off.
"Sooner rather than later we are going to accuse the MDC and the party leadership of being liable and responsible for those crimes of violence," he told a rally south ofHarare
"We are telling them we will arrest you in broad daylight," he added.
Mugabe, referring to the violence, said "there is now a pattern across the country that has to stop."
The MDC say that the violence is ZANU PF-perpetrated and the victims are MDC supporters. I have only read of one ZANU PF death - and that was by a CIO agent...
So where are the ZANU PF victims? Where are the ZANU PF dead?
The MDC reports a death figure of their own people that is approaching 70.
"An MDC spokesman responded by throwing the charge of responsibility for the violence back at the president.
"He is the one who has gone about threatening to go back to war if he loses," said Nelson Chamisa. "So while he is accusing us of violence, he is responsible."
Which is a neat riposte - but sadly will be ignored.
"Police officers who voted for the MDC in the early voting that took place last week have already started being victimised by state agents. Desperate for votes in the coming presidential runoff poll between MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe, the ruling party is forcing police officers and soldiers to cast early ballots, in front of their superiors. This is after warning them that they would be fired if they do not vote for Mugabe.
OurBulawayo Matabeleland from Wednesday until Friday. He said officers who voted for Mugabe were saluted by their superior and told: "Thank you for serving the nation." Some police officers who were brave enough defied the order and voted for Tsvangirai. Many immediately fled from their home areas, while others have been reportedly detained, and some are missing.
Dube reported that Paradzai Tinogorei, a police officer at Ross Camp inBulawayo
In the run up to the election, police officers were routinely threatened with execution if they did not vote for Mugabe.
I will state it again. Patriotism is a love for the country - not the government.
Democracy allows people to chose, in a peaceful environment, the people that they would want to rule them.
But for Mugabe, democracy is something that he 'taught Britain, through the barrel of a gun" - an oxymoron if ever there was one.
Joseph Chinotimba. An individual who represents everything hateful and hurtful in the Mugabe camp. A man who lives with violence as second nature. So we should not be surprised when we read his echoing of Mugabe's threats.
"Veterans ofZimbabwe
Joseph Chinotimba, one of the top leaders of the war veterans association aligned to Mugabe, told thousands of ZANU PF supporters at Bambazonke Business Centre here that Tsvangirai will not be allowed to take over power.
Chinotimba, the national vice-chairman of the war veterans’ association and a member of the ZANU PF central committee, was speaking at the official launch of the ZANU PF presidential campaign in Manicaland."
I ask again - why continue with the sham of an election if ZANU PF has no regard for the wishes and wants of the population? You cannot continually parade the chimurenga as a reason not to cede power to another party. The bush war was a means to and end. But the actual power shift was facilitated by the then English government - an establishment that Mugabe now dispises and regularly insults.
Nearly thirty years after that power shift, Zimbabwe lies in ruins, and the Zimbabwean people are scattered to the four winds. And Mugabe believes still that he has done the right thing for the country.
"We, as war veterans, are geared to retain our presidential candidate and will not let Morgan Tsvangirai win this election," He said. "Remember, we went to war for this country and many sons and daughters of this beloved nation perished as the whites resisted majority rule.
We will not stand and just watch as the Western-sponsored MDC gives back this country to the former colonizers."
And this sort of threat and statement is acceptable in ZANU PF circles?
I do laugh when I read that senior military and service personnel say they will never salute Morgan Tsvangirai.
My answer?
What happened to democracy?
"President Robert Mugabe of
Members of the army, air force and police have been forced to cast ballots in favour of Mr Mugabe at their barracks and stations. It is not unusual for members of the security forces to cast their votes ahead of polling day. But the decision to force them to fill the ballots for Mr Mugabe in front of their station superiors is unusual, and is blatantly illegal, sources said.
Although coercive voting of this kind has been attempted before, military sources said it was considerably worse this time, with spouses and children - particularly those living in barracks and police camps - also being forced to fill ballots for Mr Mugabe."
I think that this stinks. People join the armed forces through a love of their country, a patriotism that is to be respected. But Mugabe has shifted it very slightly so that the armed forces do their job through a love for the government.
A huge and marked difference.
"It is estimated that Mr Mugabe could have at least 130,000 to 150,000 votes before actual balloting begins on 27 June. That would give the President a comfortable advantage in what could be a close election. In the strongest condemnation so far of the Mugabe government, David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, attacked what he called the "sadism" of the regime. Mr Miliband also warned the South African government that it had a responsibility to take decisive action in the face of the worsening crisis in neighbouring
"Some things can be done and the first thing is to be clear about the sadism - and I use that word advisedly - going on in places, especially north of Harare," Mr Miliband said. "People are being killed, people are being tortured, people are being beaten. Election observers are being stripped out. It is important that we speak plainly and frankly about that," he added."
Mugabe though, in the face of much criticism, has remained focused on the prime objective - and continues to engineer his campaign on an anti-MDC (and therefore anti-white, anti-West) premise.
"Mr Mugabe declared yesterday that he was prepared to hand over power, but only to an ally from within his own ruling party. Such an ally must nevertheless have demonstrated his ability to "keep
His remarks, which followed a threat on Saturday to "declare war" if he is voted out of power, further entrench fears that Zimbabwe will be plunged into bloodshed if he loses the run-off. Shocking incidents of political violence have already been recorded including cases of suspected opposition supporters being brutally beaten, tortured, burnt and killed. Meanwhile, aid agencies have been ordered to stop distributing aid as the regime uses starvation as a tactic to secure the poll."
"The African Union (AU) is reportedly getting ready to counter threats by
Tell me what the AU can do about domestic affairs in Zimbabwe. Mugabe will simply disallow any troops into the country, saying that such a deployment would constitute an invasion.
Then we would have ZANU PF and all of it's perceived military might taking on the AU.
Not a brilliant option - but one which might actually spur the free world into actually doing something about the scourge of Mugabe.
"I think I would say that it’s about time the African Union made a stand against Robert Mugabe. It’s really an embarrassment to the African Union. And his utterances are very much an embarrassment to the African union because they really say he is the ultimate power in
Obviously armed confrontation is not what is required in Zimbabwe. But something has got to happen and something has got to give.
-o00o-
"Amos Midzi former ZANU PF Minister of Mines and Energy who lost to the MDC was seen in Epworth on the 9th June with a ZUPCO bus full of Border Gezi youths to beat up people. 7 new 4 x 4 Nissan hardbody pick up trucks (no registration plates) were with the bus.
When victims reported to Police they were told that they were not allowed to open any dockets for MDC complainants, but they should "go and revenge"."
You can see what the intention is here. The MDC victims then go a seek out some sort of "revenge" and are arrested. Viola! We have ZANU PF victims and MDC accused persons...
This article reads like a horror story - but, of course, there will be the detractors who will state that these events are blown out of proportion and exaggerated for effect.
Apart from getting their story out, these people have no closure, no justice and little by way of relief. They cannot protect themselves - nor can they rely on the police for any prosecutions.
"
-o00o-
"Democracy" - The political orientation of those who favour government by the people or by their elected representatives; The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group; The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group.
Can someone please explain to me just how Mugabe handing power to his own chosen successor would resemble democracy?
Why bother the world with the sham of elections if he is not intent on allowing the people's choice to be exacted?
"President Robert Mugabe, campaigning for re-election in a presidential runoff June 27, warned he would not cede power to Western-backed opponents, the state media reported Monday.
"We shed a lot of blood for this country. We are not going to give up our country for a mere X on a ballot. How can a ball point pen fight with a gun?" the Herald, a government mouthpiece, quoted Mugabe as saying.
Speaking in the local Shona language in the central Silobela district Sunday, Mugabe said, that the nation threw off colonial domination in a guerrilla war in 1980, and his party was ready to fight again to stop the pro-Western Movement for Democratic Change from gaining control of the government, the paper reported."
I am staggered that Mugabe should openly threaten the country with war, yet the police do nothing. Let someone from the MDC say EXACTLY the same words, and see how long their freedom lasts.
In the face of the ZANU PF onslaught, the people of Zimbabwe are also shedding blood for the country.
Mugabe needs to realise that his time and that of ZANU PF has come to an end. He is no longer the darling that people saw in 1980. And his threat to conduct a war against the people is testimony to the fact that he has lost sight of the real objective.
"UN special envoy Haile Menkerios arrived in the Zimbabwean capital
Speaking to Mugabe will not be the correct of assessing the situation. The UN envoy must be given carte blanche around the country. No way is Mugabe going to allow that.
-o00o-
The pretence of a 'free and fair' election went out the window weeks ago - and now Mugabe is spending his days trying to stall the MDC campaign. He has proved himself a liar twice in the last few weeks, saying that he would accept the results - and then has had them re-engineered to give him another chance at stealing the poll.
He promised last week that he would not have Morgan Tsvangirai arrested - and then yesterday, this...
"Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Monday threatened to arrest the leadership of the opposition over an increase in violence ahead of a June 27 presidential run-off.
"Sooner rather than later we are going to accuse the MDC and the party leadership of being liable and responsible for those crimes of violence," he told a rally south of
"We are telling them we will arrest you in broad daylight," he added.
Mugabe, referring to the violence, said "there is now a pattern across the country that has to stop."
The MDC say that the violence is ZANU PF-perpetrated and the victims are MDC supporters. I have only read of one ZANU PF death - and that was by a CIO agent...
So where are the ZANU PF victims? Where are the ZANU PF dead?
The MDC reports a death figure of their own people that is approaching 70.
"An MDC spokesman responded by throwing the charge of responsibility for the violence back at the president.
"He is the one who has gone about threatening to go back to war if he loses," said Nelson Chamisa. "So while he is accusing us of violence, he is responsible."
Which is a neat riposte - but sadly will be ignored.
-o00o-
"Police officers who voted for the MDC in the early voting that took place last week have already started being victimised by state agents. Desperate for votes in the coming presidential runoff poll between MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe, the ruling party is forcing police officers and soldiers to cast early ballots, in front of their superiors. This is after warning them that they would be fired if they do not vote for Mugabe.
Our
Dube reported that Paradzai Tinogorei, a police officer at Ross Camp in
In the run up to the election, police officers were routinely threatened with execution if they did not vote for Mugabe.
I will state it again. Patriotism is a love for the country - not the government.
Democracy allows people to chose, in a peaceful environment, the people that they would want to rule them.
But for Mugabe, democracy is something that he 'taught Britain, through the barrel of a gun" - an oxymoron if ever there was one.
-o00o-
Joseph Chinotimba. An individual who represents everything hateful and hurtful in the Mugabe camp. A man who lives with violence as second nature. So we should not be surprised when we read his echoing of Mugabe's threats.
"Veterans of
Joseph Chinotimba, one of the top leaders of the war veterans association aligned to Mugabe, told thousands of ZANU PF supporters at Bambazonke Business Centre here that Tsvangirai will not be allowed to take over power.
Chinotimba, the national vice-chairman of the war veterans’ association and a member of the ZANU PF central committee, was speaking at the official launch of the ZANU PF presidential campaign in Manicaland."
I ask again - why continue with the sham of an election if ZANU PF has no regard for the wishes and wants of the population? You cannot continually parade the chimurenga as a reason not to cede power to another party. The bush war was a means to and end. But the actual power shift was facilitated by the then English government - an establishment that Mugabe now dispises and regularly insults.
Nearly thirty years after that power shift, Zimbabwe lies in ruins, and the Zimbabwean people are scattered to the four winds. And Mugabe believes still that he has done the right thing for the country.
"We, as war veterans, are geared to retain our presidential candidate and will not let Morgan Tsvangirai win this election," He said. "Remember, we went to war for this country and many sons and daughters of this beloved nation perished as the whites resisted majority rule.
We will not stand and just watch as the Western-sponsored MDC gives back this country to the former colonizers."
And this sort of threat and statement is acceptable in ZANU PF circles?
I do laugh when I read that senior military and service personnel say they will never salute Morgan Tsvangirai.
My answer?
Take a leaf out of this policewoman's book!
-o00o-
Ten days and counting.
Take care.
'debvhu
Take care.
'debvhu
posted by Robb WJ Ellis at 7:28 AM
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Union Jack (1963 - 64, 1998 - ??)
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