Monday, 21st July 2008

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

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ZNU 130 is released this morning.

In this programme, I look at the remarks by Koffi Annan that the Zimbabwean crisis has "shamed Africa", whilst I have another look at the failed opportunity of the free world to institute sanctions on Zimbabwe. I also look at how the crisis in Zimbabwe affects not only those inside the country, but Zimbabweans like myself, resident outside the country. And finally I look at the opinion of a Botswanan writer on the situation in Zimbabwe.

The programme can be heard by either using the player below, or the multiplayers in the right hand sidebar, here or even downloaded from here.

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My thanks for your continued support of my podcasts.

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I don't mind telling you that I am in a lot of pain today - so if this posting is below par, at least you will know why...

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I fail to understand how signing a Memorandum Of Understanding is going to help Zimbabwe. We know that Mugabe will sign anything to get his critics to shut up. But everyone is waiting on Tsvangirai to sign.

Mugabe apparent keenness to have this MoU signed, to me, set alarm bells ringing. I think of how he engineered the MDC's support for the Constitutional Amendment last year, and then, having secured the support, he neatly pulled the rug out from under the MDC by declaring March 29 as election day.

"Parties in Zimbabwe have reached consensus on holding substantive crisis talks, a UN representative said Sunday, while sources said the agreement may be signed within 24 hours.

The United Nations' special representative to Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios, said the draft had been agreed to by President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, which was "at least a first step".

"There is a draft which we are informed the two negotiating parties have agreed to but the two principals, that is Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, would have to sign," he told South African public radio.

"It hasn't been signed yet, but once that is done, once you clear the way or the basis for the talks, then the actual talks begin."

Time to tread VERY carefully methinks.

"We expect that there will be movement on the talks either Monday and at the latest Tuesday," a government source close to the talks told AFP.

A senior MDC official said on Sunday: "We are expecting that this thing will be signed tomorrow."

The movement towards fully-fledged negotiations came after a series of meetings involving rival parties, mediator South African President Thabo Mbeki, Menkerios and African Union commission chairman Jean Ping.

The memorandum of understanding was to be signed last Wednesday, but Tsvangirai backed out as he pushed for other players to be brought into a mediation process led by Mbeki."

And every single delay, be it one day or one week, works in favour of Mugabe.

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"Luke Chipiro aged 60 is the MDC chairman for Chitinha Branch. He was abducted from Nataniel Mutetwa’s house on June 24, 2008 by two soldiers, four youth militia in police uniform and a police Inspector Gwasela of Nyanyandazi police station. He was taken to Nyanyadzi Police Station and handed over to militia and taken to the torture camp at Nyanyadazi Training Centre. He was assaulted by a number of militia including Mbuya Nehanda, Crispen Mhlaba, Joe Zvinya, Crosswell Mugombi, Mai Chabuda and many youths from Chaimiti. Luke was beaten all over his body but mainly his back for several days. He was transferred to Mutambara Village, another torture base. He boarded a bus for Mutare on July 14, 2008 and is admitted to hospital where he is recovering."

I cannot add anything more to this, other than publish the photographs of the injuries...

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The families of those allied to Mugabe will try anything to escape the lifestyle in Zimbabwe. Even if it is the activities of their own family members that have contributed to the problem in that country.

"The son of the senior prison officer seen in The Guardian newspaper's video clip ordering his juniors to vote for Robert Mugabe, in the recent, one-man presidential election, is seeking political asylum in the UK.

Darlingtom Chihobvu, who has taken up residence in Nottinghamshire, England, is said to have claimed political asylum in the past four months. His father is senior assistant commissioner Chihobvu."

Without even a moment of hesitation, this application should be rejected and the individual put on an aircraft back to Harare.

But, because of political correctness, whilst his application will be rejected, he will be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom until the government here decide that deportation to Harare can resume.

Political correctness gone crazy!

"Chihobvu junior is believed to have arrived in England last year. According to our informants, he claimed his life would be in danger if he went back to Zimbabwe, despite the fact that his father is a leading figure in Mugabe's war with the people."

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Nine million quid!

I will bet that somehow Mugabe works it so that at least some of this money is filtered through government hands, at which time it will be 'detoured' elsewhere, lining the pockets of those in office - and financing the ongoing violence against the MDC.

"Despite frosty political relations, Britain announced Saturday it would give ex-colony Zimbabwe 9 million pounds sterling for food aid to millions of people facing starvation in the country.

In a statement, the Department for International Development said the money would be administered by the World Food Programme, a United Nations food humanitarian agency. An estimated four million people in Zimbabwe are facing food shortages as a result of excessive rains and lack of farming inputs such as fertiliser.

Long running political instability in the country has also affected agricultural production. "The ongoing political problems in Zimbabwe should not divert our gaze from the continuing humanitarian disaster."

I can assure you that Mugabe will not attempt to divert the gaze - as it suits him for people to concentrate on one area, whilst his minions seek to help themselves to this money...

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Take care.

'debvhu