Wednesday, 18th February 2009

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated.

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I have no way of testing the validity of this story, but can easily accept it as true. Security forces chiefs in Zimbabwe are running scared. They know that they stand to lose much more than just their personal fortunes, but could lose their freedom as well.

"Zimbabwe's security chiefs fearing prosecution for crimes against humanity are trying to use the arrest and detention of Deputy Agriculture Minister designate Roy Bennett, former television anchor Jestina Mukoko and 30 other political prisoners as bargaining chips to secure their own immunity from prosecution.

The former white farmer who lost his Chimanimani farm in violent land seizures several years ago is facing charges drawn from draconian legislation relating to terrorism, illegally possessing firearms, and attempting to leave the country illegally. The MDC have already dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

Authoritative sources within the MDC have told us that Bennett is aware of the ZANU PF conditions for his release and has refused to be used in the bargaining. He insists he is innocent of all charges placed on him. By Tuesday the police had changed the charges for a record equaling fifth time after realizing they would not stick."

The continued silence by Mugabe himself I find very interesting. Normally Mugabe would be frothing at the mouth to claim the validity of the charges, but this time around he is quiet.

Too quiet.

"Last year the notorious and brutal Joint Operations Command (JOC) spearheaded the murder of over 180 opposition activists to secure Mugabe’s violent re-election in June. It is suspected the service chiefs behind the operation and their cohorts lower down the ranks have been unwilling to allow Mugabe to share power with Morgan Tsvangirai.

Bennett’s arrest has already triggered speculation Mugabe may not be in complete control of the country. The other side of the coin is that he may fully approve of the strategy given his own reluctance to share power genuinely. It was always felt Mugabe did not think the MDC would join his government and when Tsvangirai said yes, Mugabe was shocked into confusion."

There are many possibilities to the Zimbabwean equation - but the one that comes through loud and clear is that whilst Mugabe is not in full control, whoever is not about to roll over for Tsvangirai.

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It is apparent that SADC and the AU are really not that interested in events within Zimbabwe. The crisis in that country they believe is no longer their concern. They have overseen the establishment of a power-sharing government and now they believe that the problem has gone away.

"South African president Motlanthe has shown SADC’s true colours in his statement that the fate of Roy Bennett and the other abductees is in the hands of the new all inclusive government. This statement follows information we have received that at yesterday’s JOMIC meeting Chinamasa laid his cards on the table: blanket amnesty for all political crimes since 1980 in return for the release of the abductees.

Now is the true litmus test for the newly sworn in Prime Minister. The new power-sharing government needs to realise that with shared power comes shared responsibility and shared public accountability."

So the reading of Bennett's plight makes pitiful news. But we know that Mugabe (and whoever he represents) is intent on using him as a bargaining chip.

"Bennett has now been moved to Mutare prison and has apparently declared that his party must not give in to this heinous form of horse-trading. I received the following SMS's from someone who got them from someone else who was there. They chronicle the court proceedings

3:00 - Defence lawyer Trust Maanza is saying that the very charges brought against Roy are the ones brought against Peter Hitschmann and were thrown out of court then!

3:15 - Only evidence State has is an email supposedly from Hitschmann to Roy. Defence says it can be written by anyone and therefore is inadmissible.

3:25 - Onto the second charge of contravening the immigration act…. Defence is saying that Roy presented himself to the immigration officer and has a copy of the manifesto as well as the immigration officers list to prove it.

3:36 - The state is saying that from the beginning Hitschmann implicated Roy as supplying the funds. Defence is reiterating that the evidence has already been discredited in the Hitschmann trial as the confession was extracted from Hitschmann by torture.

3:45 - The state is back onto the email and clutching at straws. Defence says ‘bring Hitschmann to the court to testify’. The prosecutor says it is not necessary and not proper but will call him at the appropriate time

4:03 - Defence is saying Hitschmann did not implicate Roy as he (the Defence) was there and the Prosecutor was not! But bring Hitschmann now! State is fumbling with their papers!

4:47 - The magistrate says no one is allowed to access Hitschmann. He will rule at 12 tomorrow whether Bennett is allowed bail. Defence has asked that Bennett be kept at the police station and not the prison. Magistrate says Prison. Court dismissed."

I still believe that the Bennett case is a huge deliberate attention-getter in an attempt to allow Mugabe and his loyalists to literally get away with murder...

And just look at the timeline of the case - if that had appeared in a work of fiction, we could not believe it.

The truth is stranger than fiction.

"We await the MDC statement and what lies ahead in Zimbabwe’s courts tomorrow with the next episode in Bennett’s case and the appearance of seven abductees who should have been in court on Monday."

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Whilst I applaud the mission intention, I do believe that this should not just be the elderly that are offered help. Most people in Zimbabwe, even if they can feed themselves, do not have the ability to afford travel documents. let alone afford air tickets out...

Poverty affects anyone - regards of race, colour, creed or perceived wealth.

"Hundreds of British families living in Zimbabwe are to get financial help to escape Robert Mugabe's regime in a repatriation programme ordered by Gordon Brown.

The Government expects around 750 households deemed particularly vulnerable to take up the offer of assistance to resettle in the UK.

Those over 70 or who have medical conditions or care needs, or are unable to afford resettlement themselves will be targeted, sources say.

Local government minister John Healey will co-ordinate the 18-month programme.

'The situation in Zimbabwe continues to make it hard to access food and medical care,' he said."

What of those who need a hand to get out - but are prepared to pull their weight once they are here and work?

"That's why we are offering help to older and vulnerable British people who are unable to support themselves in Zimbabwe and want to resettle in the UK."

There are an estimated 40,000 British passport-holders living in Zimbabwe, of whom about 25,000 are registered with the British High Commission.

The initiative comes amid mounting concern about the deteriorating situation in the country.

Elderly people have been reduced to penury either because Zimbabwe's bankrupt regime has stopped paying their pensions or because hyperinflation has wiped out their meagre entitlement."

I do understand the want to help the elderly, but just 750 households when they know of at least 25000 registered persons? Does that mean that there are 33 people per household?

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And while Tsvangirai meets with cabinet, the population of Zimbabwe continues to suffer.

Unemployment, poverty, mack of medical services, no education system, no fuel - no money.

How are they supposed to live? How are they supposed to survive and provide for their families?

"Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday held his first ever meeting with the country's Defence, Home Affairs and National Security ministers. There is speculation that he raised the issue of the incarceration of Roy Bennett, his nominee for a deputy ministerial post.

Bennett appeared in court in the eastern city of Mutare on Tuesday where he was formally charged. This was his first appearance in court since his arrest Friday.

James Maridadi, the spokesman for Tsvangirai, told us the Prime Minister met ZANU PF Ministers Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kembo Mohadi and Sydney Sekeramayi. Giles Mutsekwa, the co-minister for Home Affairs, was absent as he's still on party business outside the country."

The members of cabinet representing ZANU PF have an entirely different agenda. They continue to feather their nests whilst they do everything in their power to ensure that they live in luxury and any intended prosecution of them is to be parried with lies, subterfuge and threats.

"Maridadi could not divulge what was said in the meeting; "All I can tell you is that the Prime Minister's schedule right now is excruciating and torturous. He is meeting all the ministers telling them about his mission and vision for the new government."

Earlier in the day all ministers attended a full cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Robert Mugabe. Maridadi said the meeting was cordial but did not discuss substantive issues.

'This was an inaugural cabinet meeting. Basically they were warming up to each other, the discussions were held in the spirit of togetherness, to advance the aims and objectives of the Global Political Agreement," Maridadi said."

Just how long the cordiality and warmness will last isnybody's guess.

"He added; "I can safely tell you the Prime Minister is happy about it... the President is happy about it. Everyone in the cabinet wants this thing to work. It has dawned on everyone that the unity government is the country's only salvation. Without this thing, (inclusive government) then Zimbabwe as a country is dead."

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The article above would indicate that the first cabinet meeting was quite convivial. Perhaps not...

"Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday forced an early showdown with supporters of president Robert Mugabe by calling in ministers responsible for security and demanding from them an immediate return to the rule of law.

The move came as one of Tsvangirai's own deputy ministers, Roy Bennett, finally appeared in court charged with plotting terrorism, insurgency and banditry, and trying to leave Zimbabwe illegally.

Bennett had been custody since being arrested hours before the new government was sworn in on Friday. The Movement for Democratic Change described the charges as "trumped up, scandalous and politically motivated", part of "a deeper political agenda" aimed at derailing the powersharing administration agreed between the MDC and the president's ZANU PF. The court is expected to rule today on whether Bennett has a case to answer."

Mugabe will think that these thrusts by Tsvangirai are not serious, and will override them with specific and durect orders from his own office.

"According to MDC sources, the encounter was "fairly cordial" but insubstantive; Tsvangirai raised the issue of Bennett and the collapse of the rule of law more generally, but Mugabe did not address it seriously.

Afterwards, the prime minister summoned the defence minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, the state security minister, Sydney Sekeramayi, and the home affairs minister, Kembo Mohadi, to demand they observe legality.

Tsvangirai meant Bennett's arrest and the actions of some Mugabe loyalists in blocking the release of 30 political detainees. But he also demanded an end to extra-legal moves to seize Zimbabwe's few remaining white-owned farms."

It would appear that the power-sharing government has got off to a rocky start with Mugabe just ignoring Tsvangirai, and Tsvangirai speaking into a vacuum.

"On Monday, the attorney general, Johannes Tomana, who the prime minister wants to remove for locking up opposition activists, ordered the police to evict white farmers despite a binding ruling by a regional tribunal that the farm confiscations are illegal.

Whether the ministers act on the prime minister's demands is an early test of his ability to assert control. An MDC official took it as a good sign that the ministers met Tsvangirai and did not question his authority. The source said the meeting was also in part a confidence-building measure aimed at establishing a personal relationship with some of the members of the cabinet most hostile to Tsvangirai."

I do wonder if the uniformed personnel who are in close contact with Tsvangirai actually salute him...

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Take care.

'debvhu