Tuesday, 31st March 2009

Howzit

First of all, a simple reminder that there will be no posting tomorrow as I have an early appointment with the surgeon at the Pulvertaft Hand Unit at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. I am hoping that a decision will be made as to what to do about the break in my arm.

I do realise that some people would just say, "reduce the break and put him into a cast" - but sadly it is not as easy as that.

Just before Christmas last year, the arm was reduced to a "one bone forearm" - the ulna was shortened and fashioned so that it could be pinned to the radius. Then I developed an infection and had three surgical procedures in a week (to clean out the infection site), which also saw the pins being removed.

As I recovered from that, my arm in a specially built removable brace, I managed to snap the radius about one inch below the end of the plate - through the holes where the pins are meant to be - something like tearing along the dotted line. I have been in a cast with a 90 degree elbow ever since.

The surgeon did suggest to me that the solution may be surgical intervention with a bone graft from my hip.

In the end, I am not particularly worried about how they repair it - I just look forward to being able to return to my leather orthotic brace...

-o00o-

Up until a few days ago, I relied upon Google Alerts and The Zimbabwe Situation (an incredible site run by two ladies in Australia I believe) to keep me up to date on events in Zimbabwe, but then I stumbled upon a new resource. Have a look at ZimReport - which opens up even more stories for me.

Sadly, their "About Us" and "Contact Us" options are not active, so I am unable to tell you any more. I couldn't even tell you where they are based...

Whoever it is, I sincerely hope that they keep up the great work!

-o00o-

Whilst I understand the concern that the British government has over the thousands of their nationals in Zimbabwe, I am of the belief that this is perhaps shortsighted.

What about the millions of Zimbabweans who have no standard of life at all?

"The Government remains "concerned" about the fate of thousands of British nationals in Zimbabwe, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.

He said the political situation remained "very delicate" and called for new prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai to be allowed to make changes the country needed.

Mr Miliband said MPs were "desperate" to see an end to the suffering of the Zimbabwean people, which for years had been "led on a path of economic ruin and human suffering."

It is my understanding that 25000 of the reported 40000 British subjects in Zimbabwe have been registered with the High Commission - and this is so that if the situation deteriorates, then they will be extracted post haste.

But what of the outstanding 15000? If the government knows the numbers, then they should have a record of the names, and should therefore be registered!

"The G20 summit this week in London was determined to take "concrete action" to protect the poor and vulnerable, he told MPs.

Mr Miliband said he had spoken to Britain's High Commissioner to Zimbabwe on Monday morning. He said: "The political situation in Zimbabwe remains very delicate indeed yet the meeting of donors in Washington last Friday brought the international community together to focus on humanitarian issues."

He added: "We are also concerned about British nationals in Zimbabwe, a concern that I know will be shared across the House.

"The UK Government recently launched a package offering assistance to elderly and vulnerable people to resettle in the UK.

"These are Britons who are unable to support themselves in Zimbabwe because of the severe economic social and health care problems that affect all who live there, something which the new government has barely begun to address."

Mugabe has often indicated his displeasure at having these people in Zimbabwe and has even offered to send the dead bodies home to England... Nice to know that he cares.

-o00o-

Targeted sanctions have been instigated against Robert Mugabe and his loyalists for some years now, although he will claim that the sanctions are 'full economic" measures and they damage the standard of life for all Zimbabweans.

These targeted sanctions have necessitated Mugabe to launch his "Look East" policy is which he shuns any trade or support with Western countries.

There is quite a serious list of people who are targeted by these sanctions, and they include a limit to the travel of these people to Western countries.

"A tycoon blacklisted by Britain for his links to Zimbabwean despot Robert Mugabe has been revealed as a major investor in Camec, the mining company headed by former England cricketer Phil Edmonds.

The British government named Billy Rautenbach two months ago as having links to the Mugabe regime.

Rautenbach was described as a 'businessman with strong ties to the government of Zimbabwe' and an order was issued making him the target of UK sanctions against the southern African state.

Now, Rautenbach's holding in Edmonds' Camec mining group - thought to be around 6 per cent - has been frozen.

He cannot sell his shares in the company nor receive dividends from his investment.

His holdings are thought to be through two companies, Harvest View and Meryweather."

I remember Rautenbach primarily because of his escapades as a rally driver. If I am not mistaken, he used to drive a Toyota and was one of the first African drivers to use a spotter helicopter during his races.

I have never met the man.

"Camec insisted yesterday that it took action to freeze Rautenbach's shareholding in early February, just a few days after the Treasury issued its list of Mugabe-linked targets.

The company said: 'As soon as the sanctions were announced Camec took appropriate legal advice and subsequently, in early February, made a notification to the Treasury.

'Camec is in full compliance with its requirements under the sanctions.'

Sanctions have been placed on Zimbabwe thanks to Robert Mugabe's despotic rule.

The British action was part of a Europe-wide attempt to isolate individuals involved with the Mugabe regime.

It froze assets and imposed travel bans on 203 people."

Rautenbach is thought to live on a farm not far from Harare. If this is the case, why has the farm not been taken away from him? Is this not further proof of his pro-Mugabe stance?

-o00o-

Many questions have been raised following the accident on the Harare-Masvingo road that claimed the life of Susan Tsvangirai - wife of the Zimbabwean Prime Minister.

Among those questions were the two big ones...

1) Was this really an accident?
2) Why was Tsvangirai travelling with limited MDC escort only?

"Security around Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai who recently survived a horrific car crush that claimed his wife Susan, will be bolstered this week.

A state of the art ambulance, a lead police car fitted with a beacon to warn off other motorists will be allocated to him, sources at his office at the weekend have said.

The sources said all has been put in place for the beefing up of his security when traveling anywhere in Zimbabwe.

This came after Tsvangirai’s office wrote to State Security Minister, Sydney Sekeramayi, requesting that the Prime Minister’s security be tightened following the death of his wife in a road accident three weeks ago."

Yesterday, I commented on the need for the MDC representatives in government not to get caught up in the ZANU PF habit of reaping where they have not sown. Specifically motor vehicles. But I suppose when you are the Prime Minister, it can't be avoided.

Most other world leaders seems to travel around their countries with some serious security, so I suppose that it can't really be avoided. Such is the world that we live in.

"At present, Tsvangirai travels in a three-car convoy consisting of a truck in front, his official maroon Mercedes Benz in the middle and another truck making up the rear.

But security analysts say this is inadequate for a person of his stature. Retired army colonel Martin Rupiya, who is in charge of the Prime Minister’s security, confirmed Tsvangirai’s office had been in contact with relevant government departments over his security. But he would not be drawn to disclose details of any proposed new measures to improve security.

"We’ve been in touch with the responsible people in government and hope that measures will be taken to address this issue (security) with the urgency that it deserves,” said Rupiya.

Sekeramayi refused to take questions on the matter because it was "a security issue which should not involve the media or ordinary people."

All I have to say is that to observe security measures in place that are slightly overdone, all you have to do is look at Mugabe's huge motorcade.

He is incredibly paranoid.

"A long history of deaths of prominent political figures in mysterious road accidents only helped exacerbate suspicions over the accident; while many Zimbabweans say this fatal accident could have been prevented had Tsvangirai been traveling with an escort as a Prime Minister should."

-o00o-

When you read this, remember that we are talking about church-goers!

"The Zimbabwe Journalists website reports that a Harare man was shot and injured by police, who were protecting a rebel service held by ousted Bishop Nolbert Kunonga's people. Police fought running battles with parishioners in Budiriro and Glen View, who had tried to reclaim their churches from Kunonga's people.

Controversial Bishop Kunonga was excommunicated in 2007 from the church, after he attempted to unilaterally withdraw the Diocese of Harare from the Central African Province. He was replaced by Bishop Sebastian Bakare but has since used youth militia and the police to chase away Anglican parishioners loyal to the new bishop.

Bishop Bakare told Newsreel the formation of the coalition government has done nothing to stop the lawlessness affecting the Anglican Church. He said for the past 4 weeks their services have been disrupted by Kunonga's thugs, who have no following within the parishes."

I do realise that most conflicts in the world seem to emminate from religion - that, and money - but when we see an established church caught up in the political fracas in Zimbabwe, we have got to take stock of what is happening there.

Running battles with parishioners? Not what we would expect to read about events in Zimbabwe!

"On Sunday two priests, a church warden, a youth member and another church member, all loyal to Bishop Bakare, were arrested during the skirmishes. Bakare said the police are openly telling them they are out in full force to protect Kunonga and his people.

Bakare began the defiance last week in Mabvuku when he defied attempts by riot police to remove him from the altar during a service. The riot police however turned on the parishioners, driving them away from the church. He told Newsreel he urged his parishioners to defy the police and reclaim their churches.

On Sunday the members of the different parishes did exactly that, but riot police were deployed to suppress them. Angry parishioners demanded to know why the police were protecting Kunonga and some sang church hymns outside."

Just where does this leave Zimbabwe? Mugabe will be happy for these events, as they will not be seen as political, but religious. Meanwhile, we all know that the problem starts and ends with him.

"Kunonga triggered controversy after publicly backing Mugabe's violent land grab and began a campaign to intimidate all opponents in the church. Many fled the country after receiving death threats. A church trial against him for abuse of church funds and intimidation collapsed, under very technical circumstances. Kunonga grabbed a farm from one of his parishioners with the blessing of the Mugabe regime, effectively confirming his alliance with regime."

-o00o-

Mugabe will display more arrogance with this demand from the West. Y'see, when someone is as comfortable as he is, they see no reason to change any one thing, let alone the raft of measures demanded here.

"The West wants the government of Zimbabwe to show its commitment to reforms before more assistance is given to the southern African country.

Representatives from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States met in Washington recently to discuss ways of helping Zimbabwe.

The meeting, which also included officials from the European Commission, the European Union Council Secretariat, the World Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations agreed that the ageing despot Robert Mugabe must:

• immediately fire Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono;
• release political prisoners;
• end farm seizures;
• end politically-motivated violence;
• end harassment and intimidation of the media; and
• hold credible elections soon."

And they really think that Mugabe will play this game? He's not about to fire Gono, has told the world that there are no political prisoners - and if he was to stop harassment and intimidation of not only the media, but the MDC, just how is he to educate the population that they are to vote for ZANU PF in the next election?

Mugabe is incapable to reining in his security forces, veterans and militia as they are now in it for what they can get out of it - and prefer to take their chances using violence than appealing for forgiveness and some sort of immunity...

"We urge the government to take additional steps to demonstrate its commitment to reform such as the immediate release of all political prisoners, the end of farm seizures, the cessation of politically-motivated violence, the establishment of a credible and transparent central bank team, an end to harassment and intimidation of the media, and a commitment to credible elections in a timely manner," they said in a communique released at the end of the meeting."

If Mugabe does make any comment about this statement, it will be along the lines of: "You see? The West cannot go a meeting without discussing Zimbabwe!" Proof, he believes that the West wishes to re-colonise the country...

"Subject to performance from the transition government, we will work with the international financial institutions to develop an appropriate framework for reengagement," it concluded."

But Mugabe will not be dictated to. He prefers to do the dictating. And, if recent events are anything to go by, he is getting away with it...

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu