Saturday. 31st October 2009

Howzit

[NOTE: This posting is many hours late - blame BLOGGER who were down for the majority of the day...]

Okay - first of all, a 'heads up!' that there will be no posting tomorrow as I have our monthly Royal British Legion meeting.

And, on Friday next week, I will not be doing a posting as I have to be at the hand unit early (on the other side of town) to see the practitioner nurse to have the stitches removed.

Every little step is progress.

-o00o-

I found this trailer originally on FaceBook and I thought it warranted exposure here:

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And whilst we are in video mode, here's trailer for the film "Mugabe & The White Man"...

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And, as a third video, the Zimbabwean people of Nottingham shared their views on the situation in Zimbabwe...

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Oh, go on! Why not? An AlJazeera report about the UN torture investigator being turned away at the airport... and I thought that Mugabe was pally with AlJazeera...

Perhaps I will spend some time putting together a posting of just video clips so that you can see for yourself. Actually, that's not such a bad idea!

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This was on the newswires yesterday evening (which, incidentally, was when I had started this posting...).

"Five Zimbabwean farm workers have been shot on Friedawil farm in the Chinhoyi, district about 100 kilometres north of Harare. The farm belongs to Louis Fick, a South African citizen, who is vice president of the Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU).

"We have just received news of the shooting," said CFU president Deon Theron. "Unfortunately Louis wasn’t on the farm at the time of the shooting as he is in Harare meeting with his lawyers."

Fick’s cook was shot in the chest, a second employee was shot in the head and a third sustained leg injuries. The situation regarding the other two employees is still to be confirmed. The wife of the cook is reported to have been shot in the head and her condition is believed to be serious. The injured employees have been rushed to Chinhoyi and will be taken to Harare by ambulance.

In addition, a number of homes belonging to the farm workers were burnt down - the exact number has not yet been confirmed. As has been the case on previous occasions, workers are being blocked from feeding Fick’s cattle, pigs and crocodiles. The person allegedly responsible for the shootings is Tichiona (surname unknown), an employee of Edward Mashiringwani, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe."

(For the record, Chinhoyi is about 100 kilometres West of Harare on the way to Kariba Dam.)

If you weren't aware of exactly what you were reading, you would be excused for thinking that this was a report from within a war zone - which, I suppose, the commercial farms in Zimbabwe have become.

ZANU PF will tell the world that they are having to take these measures against the 'bloody whites' as they refuse to leave the land which Mugabe says he wants for the 'landless blacks' - and then hands to his nearest and dearest...

"Mashiringwani has continuously harassed Fick and his workers in his often violent his attempts to take over the farm. It is reported that after the shootings, Tichiona was beaten up and is believed to have been taken to Chinhoyi hospital. There is no information on his condition.

An updated report just received from Zimbabwe adds a new angle to the incident.

It has been confirmed that the bullets used in the attack were rubber bullets – to which, as a rule, only the armed forces have access.

Currently there has been no confirmation of any police reaction to the latest shootings. As a rule, police do not attend to incidents which they categorise as "political". Intelligence reports indicate that violence against the remaining white commercial farmers is to be stepped up by ZANU PF. The CFU says that, judging by the recent surge in the number of incidents, which include the burning down of SADC protected Mount Carmel farm, belonging to Mike Campbell, this information is accurate. Fick is one of 79 farmers who took their case to the SADC Tribunal in Windhoek and his farm is protected by the SADC Tribunal’s ruling of 28 November 2008."

So, I would assume that there is no such thing as a 'political crime' in Zimbabwe - unless, of course, the perpetrator is an MDC member - then you won't be able to move for policemen!

"We have been fearing a flare up of this type of violence as reports are being received countrywide of the upscaling of violence by ZANU PF and the redeployment of the youth militia, especially in the rural areas,” said Theron.

"There is a complete breakdown of the rule of law and the situation is extremely volatile - the country is on a knife-edge," Theron warned. "SADC, the African Union and the international community need to understand that it will take just one small spark to ignite the violence countrywide."

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Not everyone, myself included, has access to SABC, so when I saw this, I thought I should publish it in its entirety. Please note that it has no source url...

"PRESENTER: For most people, diamonds symbolize love, happiness and wealth, but in countries like Zimbabwe, they've brought terror and misery. So jewellery stores like this one in Cresta want to feel confident that the diamonds they sell are approved by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

This is the international watchdog to put a stop to the deadly trade in conflict diamonds. Next week in Namibia, they will decide on what action to take against Zimbabwe. This report investigates the country's blood diamonds.

INTRO: In the mountains of Eastern Zimbabwe lies a vast alluvial deposit of diamonds, one of the richest in the world. The gems lie near the surface of the ground, so they can be collected by hand. Nearly half of the diamonds found here are industrials - a low-grade stone used for drilling and grinding. But, perhaps as many as 40 %, are the highly prized gemstones.

ILLEGAL DIAMOND PANNER: Industrials are the ones we find most often, but the clear ones are higher quality. They are the ones that bring big money.

These diamonds could earn Zimbabwe as much as 200 million US dollars a month, enough to fund the country's reconstruction. Instead, they've brought nothing but greed and misery.

TITLE: ZIMBABWE'S BLOOD DIAMONDS

This is Mutare, in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. Three years ago news began to circulate that diamonds could be found in the mountains of Marange, some 100 km south of the city.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: This could be, could make Zimbabwe one of the top one or two or three diamond producers in the whole world. It is a finite deposit by all appearances and will be mined out in maybe 5 -15 years. In which case it is all finished, and so, if we squander the opportunity to benefit Zimbabwe and its people, then that's it. We have only got one shot at this.

African Consolidated Resources had staked the claim to mine diamonds in this area. In 2006 the government seized the land and threw them off.

It opened the fields for a free for all and resulted in the biggest diamond rush of recent years. Tens of thousands of desperate and impoverished Zimbabweans flocked to the area, hoping for a share in its riches.

SOT FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: In 2005 when the govt embarked on Operation Murambatsvina, destroying people's homes, people's sources of livelihoods, and driving more than 700,000 families out of their homes and breadwinners losing their source of livelihoods. So by 2005, when this diamond rush began, unemployment level in Zimbabwe was estimated at around 85%.

President Robert Mugabe's government also recognised the potential of this new resource, seeing the diamonds as a key to maintaining power. First the police, and then the army, were ordered to clamp down on illegal miners.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: I think the whole situation is extremely fragile. I think that the diamonds have the potential to do a lot more damage than they have yet done, because they are worth a lot of money, they are very divisive and if this going to be a free for all, and with diamonds at the centre, then they have a huge potential for disruption.

In October last year, the launch of Operation Hakudzokwe, which means, "You'll never return," was announced on state television.

CHRIS MUSHOWE, ZANU (PF) GOVERNOR MANICALAND, ZIMBABWE: "We must clean Mutare of this menace first and foremost."

Few watching anticipated the brutality that was to unfold.

VICTIM: We heard "the soldiers are coming." "Soldiers have arrived." They surrounded the people. Then the helicopters came. They started firing.

In front of me were so many people. 6 people were killed.

VICTIM: The helicopters were throwing teargas. The policemen were shooting people. So we were running, and that's when they caught us.

VICTIM: Bullets came from the sky. He was shot here. He fell and rolled. His tongue came out and his eyes came out.

ZBC REPORTER: "Barely some minutes after the helicopters in Operation Restore Order illegal panners could be seen fleeing.

Tear gas was used to flush out the panners, who were then sprayed with bullets from the air. On the ground, soldiers pursued, firing with assault rifles.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: This was hybrid unit which involved the notorious Kwekwe based 5th Brigade, which committed the known Gukurahundi atrocities of the 1980s.

In the area, were commanders Air Marshall Perence Shiri and army General Constantine Chiwenga. Under Perence Shiri, 20000 people were killed by the 5th Brigade in the Matabeleland genocide.

VICTIM: We saw soldiers. They thought everyone running away had diamonds.

They would shoot you. This boy was surrounded by soldiers and tried to escape. He was shot here.

VICTIM: Some had their hands and feet tied together. They were tied to a tree. They would set dogs to bite them.

VICTIM: Two girls were stabbed trying to runaway. Two were stabbed and they died on the spot.

Those who were caught were taken to army bases and tortured. The soldiers beat people for days, and women were gang-raped.

VICTIM: They took off our trousers, leaving us with shorts and no shirt. Some took razor wire to use for beating.

VICTIM: They stamped on us with their boots. They hit us with the back of their guns. I had a miscarriage because of the beating.

VICTIM: They beat us underneath our feet. We couldn't move because of the wounds. We had to crawl on our hands.

VICTIM: I thought they wanted to beat me but they said, "Today you will be our wife." I realised I was going to be raped.

VICTIM: They exchanged. We slept with one and then a second. I thought it wouldavoid getting beaten. But it changed nothing. After sleeping with those soldiers we went back and another new group came.

People were mauled by police dogs.

SOT: VICTIM: I had both my arms stretched out, being bitten. One man would say, "Catch hands" and then the other one said, "Catch hands." When the dog tore me, he pulled the chain and then again, "Catch hands."

Many of the injured avoided hospitals, frightened that they could be arrested again. But, of those that did seek treatment, these hospital records show the true extent of the horror. People had dog bites all over their body, others were shot in the back as they fled, people were assaulted or cut down with buckshot.

No one knows the true extent of the massacre at Chiadzwa.

SOT FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:The government gave an order to kill people. We estimate that more than 400 people were murdered by the State in Chiadzwa. These people could have been arrested and charged and found guilty, they could have been sentenced, but rather the government chose to kill those people.

Countless others died of their injuries at home.

VICTIM: It was very difficult to go to hospital because if you dared, the soldiers would follow and capture you. So many people died at home.

VICTIM: People ended up dying. Some were torn apart by dogs, which ripped apart their flesh. That is what we saw in Chiadzwa.

VICTIM: It was stinking in the mortuary. It was full of panners who were rotting. In this cemetery on the outskirts of Mutare is a mass grave where 70 bodies from Chiadzwa were buried. The government of Zimbabwe denies that any human rights abuses occurred.

OBERT MPOFU - MINISTER OF MINES: Really without evidence, it is difficult to confirm something that cannot be supported by any facts. If there is one person, or any people, with that kind of evidence, why don't they bring it forward so that it can be investigated? We have nothing to hide.

The international watchdog on "conflict diamonds" - called the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme - visited Zimbabwe and found gross irregularities. They recommended that Zimbabwe be suspended until they comply with minimum standards.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: To get that team to go Zimbabwe was like getting blood from a stone, and the debate about what should be in the report, what the findings should say, what should be done the recommendations should be, whether Zimbabwe should be suspended or expelled, or given gifts of technical assistance, the debates have gone on and on. It has been messy and it has been slow.

Ian Smillie was one of the founding members of the Kimberley Process. Earlier this year, he resigned because he'd lost faith in the body's ability to act on human rights.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: I think that the industry as a whole and the countries that depend on diamonds for their economic future, for their economic development, suffer when the KP pretends to be effective and is actually ineffective.

This is the Machipanda border post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Smuggling here is rife and diamonds are brought across by the bucket load.

It's estimated that Zimbabwe is losing nearly 50 million US dollars a week to illegal trade in gold and diamonds.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: We have traced the smuggling even up to Mozambique where soldiers, and the panners, ordinary people, are crossing the border to sell these diamonds.

There is no control of the diamond trade from Chiadzwa. Vila de Manica is only 18 km from the border. Travelling into the town, evidence of diamond money is all too apparent. This suburb of new houses has sprung up in the last two years to house the dealers. It's built on the proceeds of Chiadzwa's diamonds.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: It appears that these diamonds end up everywhere and, remember once a diamond is polished, you cannot tell where it comes from and so, unfortunately, we are losing a national asset out the back door.

When the Zimbabwean government clamped down on illegal buyers, they simply set up shop here. Dealers' houses are easy to find. They have armed guards and tight security. Outside on the street are groups of Zimbabwean youths employed to tout for business. Armed with a hidden camera, we went to find out how it all works. Outside the house are two men armed with AK47s and, as we arrive, two women leave pocketing their cash.

This diamond dealer is connected to a businessman in Zimbabwe.

DEALER: Depending on your stone. There's 3 categories of stone. Your industrial, middle and gem. Industrials are about US $ 10.00 - US $ 12.00 per gram. You're selling per gram. Your gem depends on the buyer, on what your buyer's offering.

His business is thriving.

DEALER: There' s always going to be, there has always been, people dealing in Chiadzwa. There will always be. Even with the mines there, it's not going to stop. It will never stop.

Many of the dealers here are seasoned smugglers. They've trailed blood diamonds around the world.

DEALER: You are talking like you have experience. How long have you been in the business?

Thirty-five years.

Where did you start?

In Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone, West Africa. So when did you move to Mozambique then?

4 - 5 months ago, just to see.

How do you compare Zimbabwe diamonds to Sierra Leone diamonds?

Completely different. The best in the whole world are Sierra Leone diamonds.

They may not be the best in the world, but the diamonds we were shown by a dealer are still worth a lot of money. This one is valued at 25000 US dollars. The smaller one is more cloudy but could still could fetch 4000 US dollars.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: At the moment, the illegal smugglers, the middlemen, the foreigners, the overseas people, the foreigners from every nation, and every nation that has to anything do with diamonds has a finger in this pie.

This is the mosque after Friday prayers. Here it's possible to get an idea of the extent of the illegal diamond trade in Vila de Manica. The dealers come mainly from Lebanon and West Africa, including the DRC, Angola, Guinea and Sierra Leone. These countries have such weak internal controls, that as many as half of the diamonds they export can't be accounted for.

Dealers leave in cars with Zimbabwean number plates. It's an open door for laundering blood diamonds.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: All these countries where control are quite weak, particularly in the Congo and Angola where controls are abysmally weak, and the KP hasn't done anything about it, and the KP hasn't done anything about it. All this needs to be tightened up.

Yet, despite the Zimbabwean government's heavy-handed attempts to secure the diamond fields, illegal trade continues flourish. Diamond deals are happening everywhere. Lebanese and West Africans have set up at the local swimming pool.

This woman has just arrived from Zimbabwe and is pointed in the right direction to sell her stones. Soon afterwards we see her going in to the dealers.

Round the corner another deal is underway.

OBERT MPOFU - MINISTER OF MINES: We have declared that place a Protected Area and we have investors in the area right now who have come up with security that is unprecedented, security that will ensure that nothing gets out of Chiadzwa.

A number of people we spoke to admitted that they got their diamonds from politicians, CIO officials and army syndicates. Money is seeping away into the bank accounts of smugglers and syndicates.

This is the road to Chiadzwa. Despite the risk to their lives, hundreds of illegal miners still head to the diamond fields. They can continue panning as long as they are involved with the military. The diamond fields are supposed to be secured and guarded by soldiers, but the fence is full of holes so people sneak through.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Nearly every soldier that is in Chiadzwa at the moment is involved in panning in one-way or the other. They have also formed syndicates with those panners, civilian panners, so that those panners will get the escort of the military and they continue panning with the protection of the soldiers.

Close to the diamond fields, panners are sorting through the stones they have collected. The soldiers guarding the fields allow them access at night, but at a cost. A buyer is interested in this stone, but whatever is paid, little will go to the panner.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: We classify it as forced labour because after they pan and they find that there are some diamonds, the soldiers will take about ¾ of the proceeds and these young people will be forced to share ¼ and I don't think that they are benefiting anything out of it significantly. It is the soldiers who are benefiting.

After the army riots in 2008, President Robert Mugabe has a vested interest in maintaining their loyalty through profits from illegal diamond sales.

OBERT MPOFU - MINISTER OF MINES: Govt has been protecting that place for the passed 3-4 years and reduced the influx of panners which had invaded the area and so if one cannot appreciate that then he is actually advocating for a disaster.

With no moves to demilitarise the area, human rights abuses continue. This is the body of a panner. Only last month, he was beaten to death by soldiers.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: I think that the human rights situation is probably the worst aspect of what is going on there, but there is smuggling, there is lack of control, there is no due process. In terms of the diamond leases and ownership and that kind of thing, the rule of law just doesn't seem to exist. There are all kinds of reasons for the KP to take a serious view of this if it wants to protect the reputation of the industry that it was set up to protect.

These are the diamond fields of near Chiadzwa. 1n 2006, mining firm African Consolidated Resources, or ACR, was forcibly evicted from here. Last month they won a High Court ruling restoring their right to mine the area. But it's been ignored, and foreign firms are muscling in.

This illegal mining operation is run by the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation, and they've signed deals with other investors.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: The rights that exist under which these foreign entities believe they are operating are joint ventures with the ZMDC, which has now been ruled to be illegally on our claims. So the joint ventures signed with the ZMDC really have no legal force and effect.

A South African security company that's worked on the notorious diamond mines of Sierra Leone, DRC and Angola has taken over this resort near the Chiadzwa. They're barring all entry.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: The foreign private security agents that have been working on the fields right now have strictly prevented any of our people getting in and we have not even been able to see the apparent management of this apparent operations going on our claims, to evict them.

The Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation has signed a shady joint venture with a Mauritian offshore company, Grandwell Holdings. They're operating here under the name Mbada Diamonds. Behind it all is a South African company, Reclamation, who's understood to have spearheaded the deal.

Any diamonds they trade will be obtained illegally. Reclamation director, David Kassell refused to comment.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: They are operating there and are preventing our access, and defying and ignoring and in contempt of a High Court ruling, and these are foreign entities who are in contempt of a High Court ruling, in Zimbabwe, a sovereign state, and these are South African entities, or at least South African sponsored and masterminded entities, and I think it quite serious.

They're understood to be turning this hanger at Harare airport into a diamond- polishing centre. It'll mean they bypass the Kimberley Process, which is only concerned with rough diamonds.

Minutes of a meeting between Mbada and their partners reveal the building will be converted to secure against mortar attack. Their diamonds can be sold regardless of international control.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES: The foreign partners will rape it for the foreign interests as opposed to the national interests and that is the tragedy and that has to be stopped.

Zimbabwe has exposed weaknesses in the Kimberley Process. What they decide in Namibia next week will test their commitment to rid the world of conflict diamonds. Amidst growing evidence of corruption, the Zimbabwean government seems unconcerned.

OBERT MPOFU - MINISTER OF MINES: We are not going to stop because they have not supported us. If you go to Chiadzwa now, you will see a totally different Chiadzwa from the one that was there a few weeks ago. We are on the ground, we will surprise a lot of people. We are not going to stop anything that I can assure you."

It may be a lot of reading, but it does explain an awful lot. And perhaps this is one of the key reasons that Mugabe is intent on clinging on to power.

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Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 30th October 2009

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

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So Zimbabwe deported the UN torture investigator - and he promptly called for the suspension of that country from the United Nations... and we heard nothing more.

Once again, Mugabe's high-handed treatment of others goes without punishment.

"The UN human rights office has underlined the urgency of the fact-finding mission, highlighting allegations that supporters of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had been arrested and intimidated in recent days.

"I don't really know under whose instructions the immigration officials are acting," said Nowak, who was held at the airport along with two colleagues after landing in Harare.

"The situation is that they have not received any clearance from the ministry of foreign affairs and unless foreign affairs is issuing a clearance they will have the instruction to send us back with the next plane which is leaving tomorrow morning."

He added: "They are not asking any questions, they are treating us well, we can use our phones."

Typical that Mugabe does whatever he wants - and there are no consequences.

A UN torture investigator in Zimbabwe? get real!

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And whilst arguments rage over who should do what, who can enter the country, who rules the country, which government rules (the list goes on and on), the UK has decided to resume deportations of failed asylum seekers back to Zimbabwe.

"The British government announced on Thursday that it is planning to resume deportation of thousands of Zimbabweans from the United Kingdom whose asylum status applications were turned down by the Home Affairs office.

In a statement released by the Home Office, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas also announced that government was offering money for any Zimbabweans willing to voluntarily return to their own country. The new plan would see returnees being offered up to £2000 or US$3274 in cash and a further £4000 (US$6548) support-in-kind for education or for starting a business.

In Zimbabwe a government of national unity was formed in February 2009 by President Robert Mugabe leader of ZANU PF and Morgan Tsvangirai president of the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Prof Arthur Mutambara, of a breakaway faction of the MDC. The setting up of the new government followed the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by the three leaders after a tortuous negotiating process, which was brokered by former South African president Thabo Mbeki."

I feel that this decision might just be a little premature as the problems on the ground in Zimbabwe have not been sorted out. Returning failed asylum seekers would find themselves walking into a welcoming committee of Mugabe's secret police, the CIO - and they would then experience some of the torture that the UN investigator was supposed to report on.

"As Prime Minister Tsvangirai has set out, including during a visit to the UK in June, there have been some positive changes in the situation in Zimbabwe over the past six months," Woolas said. "While a great deal remains to be done to institute the political and other reforms set out in the Global Political Agreement, the indiscriminate violence which marred the elections of 2008 has abated.

"And the formation of the Inclusive Government has led to improvements in the economy, schools and the availability of basic commodities."

A good gauge for the time to return home, would be the the lifting of targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his loyalists. Until these are lifted, it is indicative that the international world remains unhappy with his rule and his methods.

Deporting people back to Zimbabwe would surely be as good as signing their death warrants.

"At least three million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the country’s 12 million people, now live outside the country with more than 28000 said to be living in the UK after fleeing from political persecution and economic hardship in their own country.

Woolas said the UK Border Agency was starting work "on a process aimed at normalizing our returns policy to Zimbabwe, moving towards resuming enforced returns progressively as and when the political situation develops"."

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I do like the writing style of one Phil Matebe of the zimguardian.

"If there lived a spine eating ogre for which survival means feeding on a constant supply of protein derived from the spinal cords and backbones of fearless men, that ogre would be emaciated and die of starvation in Zimbabwe.

The Government of National Unity (GNU)’s cohesion is strained by the lack of genuine power sharing. Mugabe is not going to voluntarily relinquish authority; it has to be taken from him, only by men with cast-iron backbones. As with all progressive democratic societies whose governments are held together through loose coalitions, the collapse of such alliances due to ideological discord triggers an immediate call for fresh elections.

If free and fair elections were to be held for a village headman in Zvimba, Mugabe’s "ancestral" home, based on recent opinion polls, Mugabe would lose.

Mugabe lost the presidential election; ZANU (PF) has a minority in parliament and the unity government has set a bad precedent for Africa’s democratic roadmap. A GNU renders election results pointless, wastes scarce resources and breeds closet dictators within the opposition which had the people’s irrevocable mandate to remove tyranny."

This is the big problem that faces Zimbabweans. Mugabe lost the election last year - and continues to rule with impunity. The MDC won the election, and struggle for a foothold within the halls of power.

How is it that the international community can sit back and watch events unfold in Zimbabwe... and do absolutely nothing about it?

How do they sleep at night?

What is it about Mugabe that he has the freedom to act as he wants, when he wants, against whoever he wants? If you loose and election, that's it - you're gone...

"Democracy is not an event but a process and the opposition is merely part of that progression.

The GNU is illegitimate and illegal without the opposition and must be officially dissolved once the other party to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) withdraws. The GPA ought to then be nullified and Zimbabweans should return to UN supervised polls to elect a leader in a "winner takes all" democratic contest.

Zimbabwe will relapse into lawlessness in the absence of accountability and today marks another broken milestone on the treacherous road to elusive social equality and justice. According to a ZANU PF spokesperson, Mugabe has withdrawn an unprecedented invitation to a UN independent expert on torture at the last moment."

Mugabe is able to achieve the 'acceptable minimum' to stop any international intervention - but is 30 years of ruining a once vibrant country, economy and society not enough the convince the world that we have had enough of Mugabe?

"It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running." - African Proverb.

-o00o-

And as if his remaining in power is not enough, Mugabe is now praising those that carried out the ordered Operation Murambatsvina in 2005.

The fact that there are people who still live in holes in the ground following the enforced evictions and demolitions seems to have escaped his notice...

Then there are the other facts that he neatly ignores. The loss of jobs as families found themselves with no fixed abode. The loss of the ability to register as a voter - and this is seen as one of the primary intentions of the operation - because of the lack of a residential address, and the inability of his regime to have planned in advance for the upheaval...

"President Robert Mugabe has praised the demolition of urban dwellings which his government carried out four years ago. He says that, despite condemnation from various quarters, the clean-up operation was intended to provide better, affordable and durable accommodation for the poor in line with government policies.

Speaking in the resort town of Victoria Falls Tuesday at an international housing convention attended by more than 300 delegates from various towns and cities, President Mugabe said critics of the exercise failed to appreciate the achievements of his government in providing housing over the past two decades.

"It was not the intention of government to deliberately deprive the poor of their homes but the clean up exercise was carried out in a spirit of the desire to provide the poor with affordable, durable and better housing," Mugabe told delegates to the convention."

In keeping with my rule on this page not to swear, I will not react to Mugabe's ridiculous statement. 'It was not the intention of government to deliberately deprive the poor of their homes'? What a load of rubbish!

People lost their livelihoods - some even lost their lives - and he sees fit to praise the operation? The man is unrelenting!

"Mugabe said so far 4205 core housing units had been constructed, At least 3000 of these were handed over for beneficiaries to complete. However, most of the housing units constructed still lack basic amenities such as toilets and running water.

Running under the theme, "Towards an integrated approach to sustainable and affordable housing and social amenities delivery in Zimbabwe" the four-day convention was expected to come up with a blueprint on housing for working class people and the urban poor.

"We hope to come up with a new dynamic housing policy that addresses the needs of the poor together with enabling legislation on standards as well as how the homeless can access affordable funding," secretary for the National Housing and Social Amenities ministry, David Munyoro said."

The problem which I have, is that four years after the fact, Mugabe can only report 4000-odd houses having been built - and let's remember that he rejected the UN's offer to build affordable housing.

As usual, ZANU PF's capabilities are outweighed by their lukewarm and pathetic abilities on the ground.

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I rather like this idea, although I do believe that Mugabe will do anything to ensure that there is no outside 'interference' from anyone not affiliated to ZANU PF in Zimbabwe o outside it's borders.

The creation of a new constitution would probably be easier done by beginning with what ZANU PF inherited in 1980, than trying to fix the absolute legal tangle that has been caused by the Mugabe regime.

"Zimbabwean organisations based in the United Kingdom have chosen a task force to lead in the process of making sure that all Zimbabweans in the UK have an opportunity to participate in draft the nation's new constitution.

The meeting, held on Saturday, 24th October 2009, at Forest Gate in London was attended by representatives of civil society groups, religious leaders and political parties.

The attending organisations agreed to form a coalition whose terms are defined in a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed on Wednesday 28th October 2009. They chose a task force of 10 namely, Zeb Manatse from the Zimbabwe Christian Leaders UK as Chairperson, Lois Davies, Zimbabwe Diaspora Development Interface as Secretary and Co-ordinator, Leslie R Maruziva from the ZG Club as the Treasurer, Thamsanqa Zhou ,from Kwa-Zhou Foundation/GZF was nominated as the Spokesperson.

Linda Bikinesi from Girl Child Network Worldwide was nominated Events Management. Also included in the taskforce was Robert Gonouya from the Zimbabwe Action Group, Sam Takavarasha Jr from the Movement for Democratic Change and Lucia Dube from the Zimbabwe Community Association.

The task force also roped in non affiliated professionals Dr Knox Chitiyo and Lloyd Msipa to head sub commitees in their areas of expertise."

I look forward to seeing the efforts of this task force, but I am not going to hold my breath that anything they do or draw up will be even considered for inclusion in a new constitution.

"We believe that we are doing this for Zimbabweans and the future of our nations. For us it will be important that we have an all inclusive process. Now we have an opportunity that involves others."

-o00o-

I am very surprised that Mugabe even allowed an auditor anywhere near a government department, let alone report on that office's findings.

"The Comptroller and Auditor-General has made more shocking revelations that expose gross abuse of state resources, with government vehicles being taken away by top government officials and state assets, fuel coupons and cash being misappropriated.

In her report for the first quarter of 2009 financial year tabled in parliament last week the Comptroller and Auditor-General Mildred Chiri showed how rampant corruption is in government.

In addition to the cars being possessed by ministers and their deputies and permanent secretaries, the report revealed that state assets such as laptops, computers, fax machines, cell phones and spares of cars were stolen but no police reports were made.

A total of 14 vehicles donated to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare by the Reserve Bank in 2008 were neither recorded in the vehicle register nor the donations registered. Vehicle registration papers were not produced and therefore the report said specification details of the vehicles were not known to the ministry.

"No authority to accept donations was availed for audit. Vehicle registration papers were also not produced. Accordingly, specification details of the said vehicles not known to the ministry thereby rendering their identification impractical in case of a dispute whilst under the care and use of the ministry," reads the report."

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. I would say that each and every ministry has got audit problems. And there is an absolute fortune that has 'disappeared'. Just look at the RBZ - they just helped themselves to private and company accounts holding foreign currency to 'assist the nation'.

Many of these accounts holders are still waiting for the money to be returned - and Mugabe claims that Gono is 'no thief'.

"Former Labour minister Nicholas Goche is alleged in the report to have taken a pool vehicle, a Toyota Prado SDF108, without authorisation from the cabinet office authority.

Former transport minister Christopher Mushowe, the report said, took three vehicles, while his deputy Hubert Nyanhongo also took three cars and the former permanent secretary another three vehicles when they left the ministry.

Industry and Commerce former minister Obert Mpofu took possession of two vehicles, while his deputy Pheneas Chihota took one which he was entitled to buy and former permanent secretary took four cars before leaving the ministry. The report said there was no authorisation given."

How many vehicles doe each person need? That is. assuming they were allowed to take a vehicle...

"In Masvingo, out of 12 vehicles sourced from the central bank, the province could only account for one which had been reportedly allocated to a medical doctor who has since absconded.

Former information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and his former deputy Bright Matonga were said to have taken computers, fax machines and two laptops which were donated by the central bank."

Well, when you read the disjointed ramblings of Matongo, one would think that he has no need for a computer as his logic is unfounded.

Is this not reason enough for the watching international bodies to say, "Enough!"?

Or are they happy enough to not involve themselves in anything which may blight their own functions?

"In addition, seven computer processing units had missing components reportedly stolen and no inquiry or police report was made to establish the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the parts."

Unreal!

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 29th October 2009

Howzit

It stands to reason that if you going to make a fool of yourself, do it out of the public eye - especially if you are the head of state in a small African country that hasn't got two pennies to rub together. But Mugabe managed to slip up - in the bright glare of the international newspapers and websites...

"The United Nations says Zimbabwe's government has canceled a visit by a UN torture investigator who was to examine alleged attacks on opposition party members.

The UN human rights office says Manfred Nowak was in South Africa on his way to Zimbabwe for a week-long trip that was scheduled to begin Wednesday.

It says the Zimbabwe government canceled the visit at the last minute, citing talks with southern African leaders over the country's fragile power-sharing agreement.

The UN has not said whether the visit will be rescheduled."

Why invite the investigator if you never had any intention of following through on his visit? Did ZANU PF really expect that the UN would not send the investigator?

And then ZANU PF went out of their way to make the situation quite volatile - and have now given cause to the United Nations for them to rethink their very soft attitude towards Mugabe and his party.

"UN human rights expert Manfred Nowak was detained at Harare airport on Wednesday by Zimbabwean security agents, even though he said he had been invited by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

The Austrian academic arrived in Zimbabwe from Johannesburg, a stopover over on his way to Harare, where a power-sharing deal between Tsvangirai and long-time ruler Robert Mugabe is under severe strain.

Nowak, reached by Reuters on his mobile phone, said he faced deportation to South Africa and added: "I had not anticipated this. This is a serious diplomatic incident."

A Reuters reporter saw Nowak being approached by four Zimbabwean security officials at Harare airport after he had cleared immigration.

His passport was taken by the officials who later led him and two colleagues back to a VIP lounge where they were to be detained overnight."

But - and this is where the whole thing falls down - the United Nations will register their disappointment and we might read a short statement condemning the detention and deportation - but the United Nations will do no more.

I expect that at the next UN summit, Mugabe will be invited and given the floor.

Ridiculous!

"They have confiscated our passports and we are now in some area of the departure lounge," Nowak said.

"Two things have to happen. We are told we have to get clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs or if we can't, we would be put on the next flight back to Johannesburg."

I despair. But this episode does highlight the disdain that Mugabe holds for various international bodies (whilst at the same time begging them for money to rebuild Zimbabwe...).

"I have produced the invitation from the PM but the immigration officials are insisting that we need the clearance from the protocol officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Nowak said.

"We have been in touch with the Prime Minister's office and they are running around to try get that clearance. I have an appointment to meet the PM tomorrow at 10 am."

-o00o-

And whilst the Mugabe-ites see off the investigator of torture and human rights transgressions, we continue to read reports of abductions, beatings, torture and all manner of human rights abuses.

It is no surprise to me that the investigator got to see the inside of Harare International Airport only.

"An employee of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who was abducted late Tuesday was dumped at his home in the Harare suburb of Mufakose early Wednesday, MDC sources said.

The party said transport manager Pascal Gwezere was seized by six men in a vehicle who told him he was under arrest before taking him away in their car. The incident followed the attempted abduction of an MDC security administrator earlier on Tuesday.

An MDC official said Gwezere was badly beaten and left traumatized."

With the disengagement between the MDC and ZANU PF in place, I expect this sort of thing to continue and escalate. ZANU PF want things their way, and if anyone objects then they can fully expect a beating for their time. This is how Mugabe and ZANU PF work.

"VOA sources continued to report widespread intimidation of MDC supporters by youth militia in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland and Bulawayo provinces.

They said roadblocks manned by soldiers have been set up in numerous locations.

VOA was unable to obtain comment from the Zimbabwe Republic Police on such activity."

The ZRP is going to be very guarded on any statement, as they are aware that they are pushing the boundaries - and operating outside of their remit.

-o00o-

You will recall the case in which a prosecutor made a rude noise in reaction to a magistrate's ruling - and then was slapped with a 5 day detention order - and then the prosecutor went and pulled a few strings to have his case remanded out of custody...

"The High Court on Tuesday upheld the conviction and sentencing of prosecutor Andrew Kumire by a Harare magistrate for contempt of court during the trial of prominent human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama, but it was not immediately clear whether the state had complied with the order to send Kumire to prison.

Harare magistrate Chiwoniso Mutongi last Thursday slapped prosecutor Kumire with a five-day jail term after she found him guilty of contempt of court when he clicked his tongue in disapproval of an order the magistrate had made.

After the sentencing by Mutongi last week, Kumire appeared unnerved by the ruling and simply walked out of the courtroom only to appeal against the ruling some hours later at the High Court."

Prosecutors are representatives of the state - and, even if they disagree with the magistrate's decisions, they are obliged by law to respect and follow those decisions.

Being rude to a magistrate is nothing short of disrespectful - and this prosecutor will be imprisoned for five days, and after that, who knows? Having this sort of event on your CV does not help at all.

" But High Court judge Tedias Karwi’s confirmation of the sentence is likely to send a powerful message to the state counsel who was out on a US$30 bail.

Justice Karwi, after reviewing the matter said the magistrate had handled it well and the proceedings at the magistrate’s court were in accordance with substantial justice.

"Confirmed. Proceedings are in accordance with real and substantial justice," ruled Justice Karwi in his review remarks."

Perhaps prosecutors (a position which I held in Zimbabwe during my tenure in the ZRP) will start to respect the magistrates and court officials. Personal feelings and affiliations have to be left at the courtroom door.

"The same state counsel produced a sound that is always regarded as contemptuous and clearly undermined the court’s authority. The court decided that the behaviour was intolerable; he should have led by example," said Mutongi."

I am unsure how this case against the prosecutor leaves the case originally being heard - against a human right lawyer, Alec Muchadehama. The case has been deferred to November 17.

-o00o-

This is the second time this week that The Zimbabwe Mail has referred to Mugabe's agents of discontent as "terrorists" - and I applaud it - because, let's face it, this is presisely the manner in which they behave.

The operate outside the law with impunity - and we see no reaction by Mugabe of ZANU PF to rein them in.

"A group of unknown people early Wednesday tried to break into the house of a top aide of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

This is the latest of several attacks against the Premier’s followers since he partially withdrew his MDC party from Zimbabwe’s coalition government two weeks ago.

Gorden Moyo, who is Minister of State in Tsvangirai’s office, said a group of people who did not identify themselves came to his Harare residency and tried to force their way in, banging on doors and broke some windows before they ran away after he threatened to shoot at them.

"They banged on my door several times and broke my window. When I threatened to shoot that's when they ran away,” said Moyo, who is not provided with state security guards at his Harare residence. Asked if he thought the incident was linked to the country’s escalating political crisis Moyo said, "I think so."

It goes without saying that this is part of the orchestrated movement against the MDC. Mugabe doesn't say a word because it is all done with his quiet approval.

And no doubt we will see more of the same.

-o00o-

We have read on the news wires that Mugabe may consider appointing acting ministers within cabinet to fill the gaps left by the disengaged MDC party. Well, it turns out that such a move would be unconstitutional.

But when it comes to Mugabe, most things are done unconstitutionally - so what's the difference?

"Robert Mugabe’s intention to appoint acting ministers to replace members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party who have stopped attending Cabinet meetings is unconstitutional, the MDC said on Wednesday as the fallout in Zimbabwe's troubled coalition continues to deepen.

"The announced intention by ZANU PF to appoint acting ministers through the office of the President is not only unfortunate but it is as illegal as it is ill-thought," the MDC said in a statement.

Tsvangirai and his MDC two weeks ago stopped attending Cabinet meetings and said they were cutting cooperation with Mugabe and his ZANU PF party to protest the veteran leader’s refusal to fully implement last year’s global political agreement (GPA) that gave birth to the coalition government."

Regardless of whether it is unconstitutional or not, Mugabe will press ahead with replacing the absent ministers - and, I do believe, that he will attempt to make the temporary placements permanent.

All very unilateral - but remember that Mugabe has done this sort of thing before. The RBZ governor; the Attorney-General... just to name two.

"It is self-evident that Zimbabwe at the present is on a precipice following the decision announced by the MDC president on the 16th October 2009 to disengage the MDC from the two executive organs of government where it interacts with ZANU PF; namely Cabinet and the Council of Ministers," the statement said.

"Such a decision, which was made on the backdrop of a serious history of callous disregard to the GPA and lack of respect of the MDC as an equal partner is a decision with grave constitutional implications."

The situation is encapsulated very well in the following statement: "Executive power resides in office of the President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The proper quorum and representation of Cabinet does not lie in individual ministries but in their respective political organs.

Put simply, Cabinet executive power is being shared by the three political parties represented in the same. That means that if one of the political parties withdraws from that Cabinet, then the same cannot function and the same cannot make any meaningful decision."

But Mugabe will ignore all that... he is of the belief that his rule overrides everything else - including the will of the people, democracy and the rule of law.

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu