Monday, 27th December 2010

Howzit

And compliments of the season to you all...

Christmas was a very quiet affair in our household, but we did get out and visit family and also went to the club for a couple of hours.

B and I were exhausted after rearranging the lounge with the new furniture yesterday and slept late this morning, but the results of our labours seem to be well worth it!

Thanks to M & K for their much-needed help!

-o00o-

The situation in Zimbabwe is bad enough without another African leader praising Mugabe for his stand in retaining power in the country, despite losing the 2008 election. And I am a little bit surprised that there doesn't seem to be the support from other African leaders for the MDC to be allowed to assume the mantle of power as handed to them by the popular mandate.

Why bother to have elections if the results are to be ignored?

"Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo warned West African leader Sunday that any attempt to oust him by force could ruin the regional economy and trigger a bloody war.

On Tuesday, three West African presidents will visit Abijan int a bid to convince the defiant 65-year-old leader to step down, a last-ditch plea that comes backed by a threat of regional military intervention.

Gbagbo said he took the threat 'seriously' but would never back down, and his lieutenants warned that any intervention could put the millions of West African migrants living in Ivory Coast in danger."

Gbagbo has a perfect template to follow - that of the 'revered' Zimbabwean leader, Robert Gabriel Mugabe. The Southern African regional is unable and reluctant to take any action against Mugabe who has effectively conducted a coup by remaining in office and having the entire democracy of the country turned on its head, leaving the party that won the election out in the cold.

"Several international leaders, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, have warned Gbagbo's stubbornness could plunge Ivory Coast into civil war.

But Gbagbo's supporters turned the warning around, claiming instead that the threat of military action by the West African bloc ECOWAS poses a greater risk of mass civilian casualties and a regional conflagration.

Gbagbo said the West African move was the result of a Western plot directed by France and the United States, whose ambassadors he accuses of undermining Ivorian electoral procedures in order to propel Quttara into power.

"When you go through what I've been through, you tell yourself, 'Perhaps Mugabe wasn't completely wring after all,'" he said, referring to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, who clung to power after losing the election."

Using Mugabe's actions as a benchmark is entirely wrong. He has refused dialogue, embarked upon a bloody campaign to remain in office now and after the next election - and now his ego will be stoked by Gbagbo's comments and his intentions.

But why do African leaders insist on showing how spineless they are by quietly acquiescing Mugabe's moves to remain in power? The threat of civil war in Africa has now taken root in the South and West of the continent, and cannot be more than a single rifle shot away.

-o00o-

Mugabe's apparent conception of power being infectious in another part of Africa aside, it is apparent that the old man of Zimbabwe is tired and in need of a rest. He insists on making long, rambling speeches which make the most absurd allegations against the West and Morgan Tsvangirai, and yet in meetings, he has developed a habit of nodding off.

This backs my theory that he is nothing more than a figurehead for the military leaders in Zimbabwe, who are busy priming their forces to take power in any new election by force.

This is further backed up by the public utterances of Mugabe's senior henchmen who have stated that nothing less than a Mugabe win will be acceptable to ZANU PF...

"President Robert Mugabe is tired and must go now, says firebrand Finance Minister, Tendai Biti.

Biti, a lawyer, said he had a two hour meeting with President Mugabe and he had slept during most of it.

"I met with President Mugabe two weeks ago and he slept most of the time during the two and a half hour meeting," Biti told a rally in Kuwudzana."

More information that backs up the idea that Mugabe is little more than a figurehead for the Joint Operations Command (JOC) consisting of the military chiefs and intelligence network leaders.

Mugabe will be 87 in less than two months - yet seems to be propped up in the zeal for ZANU PF to maintain control over anything remotely governmental or security related in the country.

-o00o-

The diamond market in Zimbabwe has been a thorn in the flesh of the Zimbabwean people as ZANU PF have thrown people of the land to ensure that no unwanted persons reside within the fields, but it hasn't stopped the trade of illegal diamonds by both illegal miners and the Mugabe party.

A trader from Guinea was murdered recently in Zimbabwe and there was an attempt to hide the killing by placing the body on railway lines to be run over by rail traffic.

"A diamond dealer from the West African country of Guinea was murdered by two Zimbabwean men after they lured him from his base in Mozambique.

Laye Fode Kaba was recently strangled to death and robbed of US$14000 after being lured into Zimbabwe for a non-existent deal."

On the face of it, a despicable act, but really no worse than the actions perpetrated upon the population in the area who have been killed, imprisoned or harassed by Mugabe's army, police and CIO. The two accused may have a defence that would state that their actions are no worse than those of the armed forces - ordered by Mugabe and the JOC.

"The state also argued the release of the accused after the death of a foreigner on Zimbabwean soil would induce pandemonium and jeopardise the public confidence in the Zimbabwe criminal justice system."

What confidence does the public have in the judiciary? Cases are not investigated or prosecuted against the pro-Mugabe criminals, whilst those who support the MDC find themselves rushed through court and prosecuted for largely trumped up charges.

The Mugabe-ites have the rule of the roost, but their deception won't be long in revealing their bias to the people - if not already.

There can be no worse crime than murder, but before the judiciary can fairly enact the laws of the country, they need to clean their own doorstep first.

-o00o-

Mutambara is a waning star in Zimbabwe. Whatever he has to say will be duly noted and added to the fire that threatens to burn Zimbabwe to a crisp.

His comments may hold some water, but coming from someone who leads with such ineptitude, they mean nothing to anyone.

"Embattled Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who faces a possible revolt at his party's next congress, says the armed forces should act professionally, be non-partisan and serve the interests of all Zimbabweans amid reports some could have been deployed to rural areas ahead of pending election next year.

Mutambara warned soldiers not to be used as spent forces by politicians who view them as cannon fodder.

The DPM was responding to an inquiry by Chipinge East Member of Parliament Mathias Mlambo on why the government had deployed soldiers in different parts of the country including in his constituency."

We have read of the intended military 'operations' planned for the election period, including the chopping off of limbs and the beheading of people who vote against ZANU PF.

This is almost a return to the dark ages, and Mugabe is quite happy to stoke the fires to raise the 'anger' within his party and the more abrasive and rowdy members of the militia and war veterans.

Mutambara's comments will not change a thing, and people will recognise the 'warnings' for what they are - lip service.

Of course, Defence Minister Mnangagwa has denied that soldiers have been deployed around the country.

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu