Wednesday, 1st December 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

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When I nipped into town very quickly yesterday morning, it began snowing quite relentlessly. By mid-morning quite a bit had fallen. Then as fast as it started it stopped - and then began again a couple of hours later - and by mid-evening it was still snowing...

This morning, it is still snowing, but very lightly. If this is what is happening on the first day of December, what will it be like in January when we normally get snow? It is most strange to get snow in November/December and in this depth...

I took a snap of the branches of a tree outside our front window, and I think it is quite beautiful...

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The 10 minute chat I had with Duane Udd on 'Different Points of View' on SW Radio Africa,was broadcast last night. If you want to listen to it, it is here.

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It is now almost 1015hrs, so let's get started on today's posting...

"Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday asked why the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not indicting Tony Blair and George W Bush for war crimes instead of prosecuting Sudan's leader.

Mugabe, speaking at a joint summit of the European Union and African states, said the ICC was applying a double standard by indicting Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and genocide.

Sudan's government has said it was boycotting the EU-Africa summit in protest at EU pressure for Bashir to stay away.

"Why does this court not do the same with Tony Blair and George W Bush, both of whom occupied Iraq and killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people?" Mugabe said in a speech to the summit in Libya's capital."

Many people will think that this is not an altogether bad question, but think about this... Mugabe has visited bloodshed and dictatorship over the Zimbabwean people for almost 31 years - and his victims are Zimbabweans. Why not prosecute him for thirty years of tyranny instead of worrying about the Iraq war which rid the world of a dictator like Saddam Hussein?

Mugabe has much blood on his hands - and, if he gets his own way, more will flow before he either falls or dies. Either way, Mugabe has still to answer the allegations, but somehow escapes even the basic arrest...

"As US president, George W Bush called Mugabe's rule "tyrannical", while Blair, the former British prime minister, accused Mugabe of human rights abuses and running down what was once one of Africa's most prosperous economies.

Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980, denies those accusations and says the West, and especially Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler Britain, is trying to sabotage his country.

"Bashir is not with us now. Why? Because some European countries said if he comes, they will not attend the summit," Mugabe said in his speech.

"They are wrong because they shouldn't take this decision before we know if he is guilty or innocent... Only a court in his own country can decide if he is guilty or not."

Why is it that the European Union sees fit to give Mugabe the floor? Why - indeed - did they even invite him to attend? Zimbabwe, in case they haven't noticed, is not part of Europe!

And then Mugabe says that the West is intent on seeing Zimbabwe fall. Far from it - the people of the free world would love to see Zimbabwe flourish... something akin to what it was like before it was handed to Mugabe on a silver platter.

And then the people that do attend have his speech to sit through - the rabid rantings of a failed African 'leader'...

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This is the sort of thing that happens in Zimbabwe, and despite many questions and calls for probes into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, Mugabe and his minions do nothing to clear the air...

"An MDC activist, Augustine Mahute, of Block 7 Matapi Flats in Mbare, Harare died on Saturday night at Matapi Police Station after being assaulted by Police officers. Reports indicate that Mahute, 24, was first attacked by a mob of ZANU PF youths in the area who then stole some money from him.

However, the ZANU PF youths forcibly took him to Matapi Police Station and he was further assaulted by police officers while in custody. The beatings led to his death on Saturday night."

Mugabe was asking why the world should not indict Blair and Bush, but here is the proof as to why he should be indicted himself... His administration will not launch any investigation and the case will just be filed away with no further police action.

Seriously, in Zimbabwe, who is going to police the police?

"His body, which was expected to be buried today at Granville Cemetery, was ferried to Harare Hospital mortuary. However, Nahute's relatives failed to bury him as ZANU PF supporters again blocked the body to be brought to Matapi Flats for the last respects.

Drum beating ZANU PF youths stood guard outside the Mahite's residence. The family made a report at Matapi Police Station but the officers manning the station said they were unable to take any action against the rowdy ZANU PF youths."

Once again, we see the police force in Zimbabwe hiding behind the idea that the incident is 'political' - and no one is able to live a normal life, or even die at the hands of ZANU PF without some sort of insult being laid down.

Unreal...

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I very seldom mention or comment on the smaller faction of the MDC as I am sick and tired of the leadership's double standards. Mutambara knows nothing of diplomacy, and acts like a younger version of Mugabe.

His faction has experienced quite a few people jumping ship for the larger Tsvangirai faction - and who can really blame them as much of what happens in the faction is trivial, not worth reporting and done in a Mugabe-like fashion?

"An ousted member of parliament, expelled from the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic Change belonging to Arthur Mutambara has accused his former party for causing the arrest of 17 officials from the larger MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai."

Hold on a minute! The smaller faction does not 'belong' to Mutambara - although he acts as if it does!

"Former Nkayi North Member of Parliament, Abdenico Bhebhe told journalists at a press briefing on Tuesday: "MDC Mutambara is shocked by massive defections to MDC T by its senior members in Matabeleland North province especially in Nkayi and this has seen it coming up with different tricks. We have no doubt there are the ones who are behind the arrest of these 17 MDC T officials."

The 17 MDC- T officials who include councillors and Matabeleland North provincial chairperson, Sengezo Tshabangu were arrested at Nkayi Centre on Thursday on charges of holding a meeting without police clearance. There were granted US$30 bail each by a Nkayi Magistrate on Monday.

Tshabangu who also attended the press briefing said: "MDC Mutambara has lost support in Nkayi and is trying by all means to fix those who have defected to the mainstream MDC T."

Whether Mutambara's faction is behind the arrests or not, the allegation will tighten the tension between the two factions.

Mutambara's faction does not seem to have half the problems in Zimbabwe that Tsvangirai has, which makes me think that ZANU PF is attempting to ally themselves with the faction in some sort of agreement to make themselves a little more palatable to the people of Matabeleland.

But I don't think that the Zimbabwean people are quite that stupid. They are an intelligent people and have eyes that will see through the attempted subterfuge.

"Tshabangu said he was surprised that police in riot gear were sent to arrest him on Thursday while he was chairing a meeting to welcome nine councillors who had rejoined the MDC T after defecting from Arthur Mutambara’s party at Nkayi Centre.

Tshabangu said the arrests were nothing but intimidation and harassment. However, seven of those officials who were given bail on Monday had to seek urgent medical attention after falling ill while in police custody."

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"Tormented Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer-general Roy Bennett has petitioned the Supreme Court demanding to be furnished with the outcome of an appeal filed by Attorney General (AG) Johannes Tomana challenging the acquittal of the former Chimanimani legislator.

Bennett’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa recently wrote to the Registrar of the Supreme Court requesting an update on the status of Tomana’s appeal in which Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku reserved judgment.

"We enquire when we might expect a decision in the matter as our client is anxious that this matter continues to hang over his head," reads part of Mtetwa’s letter.

Chidyausiku indefinitely reserved judgment in July when he presided over an appeal lodged by Tomana in May challenging the acquittal of Bennett.

High Court Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu in May acquitted the Deputy Agriculture Minister-Designate, at the close of the State’s case. Bennett had been on trial since last October on spurious charges of insurgency, banditry, terrorism and sabotage.

In acquitting the former commercial farmer Justice Bhunu ruled that the State’s prosecution team, led by Tomana, had failed to establish a prima facie case against the former Chimanimani Member of Parliament.

In his appeal the AG argues that Justice Bhunu misdirected himself when he acquitted Bennett in that he assessed pieces of evidence in isolation rather than adopting a holistic analysis of the admittedly circumstantial evidence adduced by the State.

Tomana also contends that Justice Bhunu erred in adopting a piecemeal approach to evaluate the weight of evidence brought before him by the State, whose prosecution team was led by the AG himself, assisted by Chris Mutangadura, the chief law officer and Florence Ziyambi, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the AG’s Office."

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Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 30th November 2010

Howzit

We had more snowfall overnight and snow remains on the ground in Derby and the temperature is around freezing - which, for me, makes life rather interesting. I cannot afford to take a fall and possibly damage my arm again, but, by the same token, life carries on and I cannot spend the few days before it all melts sat inside.

So with a sensible pair of boots on, I continue doing what I would normally do. I just have to be careful as I do it.

That being said, I braved the elements and went into town this morning for a few minutes... and trust me, the weather was not very kind!

Tonight, on SW Radio Africa, I chat to Duane Udd on his programme 'Different Points of View' about 'Mugabe's Inexactitudes' - Duane told me that the show should air at about 1845hrs UK time...

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The world is busy taking in the various extracts from the numerous diplomatic comments released on WikiLeaks - and Zimbabwe does not walk away unscathed.

Mugabe is called a 'crazy old man' whilst Tsvangirai is described as a 'flawed character'.

I don't think that the remarks made about the President or Prime Minister in Zimbabwe will draw any comment as they perhaps are not as offensive as some of the leaks that have disclosed some serious misgivings in the diplomatic world.

If anything, the some of the comments are far from diplomatic.

"The former US ambassador to Zimbabwe thought then opposition leader, now Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai was a "flawed figure", according to a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks.

Christopher Dell said Mr Tsvangirai was a brave man, largely a democrat but not open to advice and indecisive.

Mr Dell described President Robert Mugabe as ruthless but a "brilliant tactician".

As he left in 2007, he predicted: "The end is nigh" for the Mugabe regime.

He did, however, admit that similar predictions had previously been made by several of his predecessors and other observers."

I don't believe that Dell was very far off the truth. The end was nigh, but through some devious work on the ground in Zimbabwe, Mugabe was permitted to hang on by the very skin of his teeth. And now we have someone that is more determined than ever to remain in office until the day he falls off his mortal coil.

"The US, like other Western powers have imposed targeted sanctions on Mr Mugabe and scores of his allies, accusing him of rigging elections and other human rights abuses.

But Mr Dell, who was once told by Mr Mugabe he could "go to hell", said Mr Tsvangirai had "questionable judgement in selecting those around him", according to a leak reported in the New York Times.

"He is the indispensable element for opposition success, but possibly an albatross around their necks once in power. In short, he is a kind of Lech Walesa character: Zimbabwe needs him, but should not rely on his executive abilities to lead the country's recovery," he wrote as his posting to Harare ended."

In the end, this is just someone's opinion of another. I don't believe any damage has been done.

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You will hopefully remember the article just yesterday which told us how the Zimbabwean police chief turned a parade into a ZANU PF rally.

The MDC are not amused with this and have called for his resignation - not that they will get it...

"Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has come under fire over his weekend remarks that 'puppets without war credentials will not rule Zimbabwe'.

The MDC-T has called for his immediate resignation saying his views were likely to cause violence and intimidation in the next elections.

Chihuri told recruit officer last week that he wanted to mould patriotic officers who understood the country's liberation struggle. Yesterday the MDC-T said Chihuri should just leave the police force to concentrate on ZANU OF politics full time."

Any request by the MDC will be studiously ignored.

But why, thirty years after the end of the Rhodesian bush war should recruits have the chimurenga drummed into them? Surely the idea of hostilities should be the last thing on the minds of future police officers whose mandate should be to 'serve and protect'?

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The complaint that the equipment has been stored for three years is not an MDC problem. Given that the inclusive government is due to cease to exist in February next year after its two year tenure, that would mean that the equipment was stored whilst ZANU PF 'ruled'...

They should really be a little more careful who they point fingers at.

"ZANU PF has accused Finance minister and MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti of stalling distribution of farming implements meant for Matabeleland South, North and Bulawayo provinces under government’s farm mechanisation programme.

The farming implements, part of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Mechanisation Programme, have been lying idle at the National Railways of Zimbabwe courtyard for the past three years.

The fallout follows Biti’s refusal to allow the agricultural implements to be distributed exclusively to ZANU PF supporters instead of farmers in the three Matabeleland provinces, regardless of their political affiliation."

Why should the equipment go to ZANU PF sympathisers only? Those that were lucky enough to receive land in the chaotic landgrab haven't bothered to work the land - although they may say that they haven't worked the land because of lack of equipment... Surely the farmers - real farmers - not just ZANU PF beneficiaries - should be given the equipment in an attempt to kick-start the agricultural sector again?

"Addressing party supporters at the ZANU PF Matabeleland North inter-district conference, ZANU PF national chairperson Simon Khaya-Moyo accused Biti of trying to gain votes for MDC-T through the agriculture implements scheme, introduced before the coalition government was formed.

"There are implements in Bulawayo that have been lying idle for the past three years. We discussed the issue with members and I called a meeting in Bulawayo, where the three provinces met to find out the reasons behind the delay," said Moyo."

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You don't have to check on WikiLeaks for confirmation of this story. Surely the facts are plain for anyone to see - and apply just as much to Jacob Zuma as they do to Mbeki?

"Former president Thabo Mbeki had a bias for ZANU PF during his time as mediator between Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), United States embassy documents have revealed.

During the past weekend whistleblower website WikiLeaks released 250000 documents, consisting of US diplomatic and intelligence reports, to five international newspapers, sending shockwaves through the international diplomatic community.

Included in these documents is a report by US ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell in 2007, marked "confidential", which sheds light on the US strategy in Zimbabwe, as well as Mbeki's role.

It shows, for the first time, that Mbeki may not have been a neutral broker during the negotiations process, which he was mandated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to take charge of.

"Mbeki has always favored [sic] stability and in his mind this means a ZANU PF led GNU [government of national unity], with perhaps a few MDC additions. This solution is more likely to prolong than resolve the crisis and we must guard against letting Pretoria dictate an outcome which perpetuates the status quo at the expense of real change and reform," Dell wrote in his report."

Once again, this is just an opinion, but, in this respect, it just goes to confirm what we, as observers of all things Zimbabweans, have suspected for quite some time.

Mbeki will claim that he is the unbiased broker of the GNU, but we have seen how Mugabe has ignored the provisions of the agreement - and neither Mbeki nor Zuma seem to understand the urgency of the situation.

"Dell's report was written shortly after then-US president George Bush declared Mbeki as his "point man in Africa".

Behind the scenes, MDC activists claimed that during the negotiations process Mbeki had favoured president Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF, but this is the first time the issue is stated in official documents."

What will come of this? Well, Dell may come under the cosh and be warned to limit his personal opinion to the absolute minimum.

As for Mbeki or Zuma, nothing whatsoever will happen - as there is little anyone can do anyway...

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"The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has challenged Zimbabwe to take advantage of its membership and stop moaning about sanctions imposed by the West.

President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF argue that Western sanctions were the largest contributor to the country's economic collapse.

Keith Rockwell, the WTO director for information and external relations told a workshop jointly hosted by the body and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation that despite the restrictions, Zimbabwe can still sell its goods and services to any country."

The article uses the word "mourning" instread of "moaning" - probably the result of using a spellchecker - but it does show the idea behind the restrictive measures on specific people in Zimbabwe is constantly used as an excuse for most of ZANU PF's shortcomings in the country.

"Zimbabwe has access to the dispute settlement system which means it can defend its rights through our binding system of dispute resolution."

Mugabe chooses not to utilise the system, as he is aware that his claims will be refuted in any investigation - and he has no want to be proved wrong to the watching world.

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Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 29th November 2010

Howzit

As I indicated in my last posting, it has been bitterly cold in the East Midlands of the UK, and on Saturday morning we woke up to a 2 to 3 inch blanket of snow. And it doesn't look like it is going to go away soon.

On Saturday afternoon, we were down at the club and they had purchased salt to melt the ice to the front door, whilst after we finished the weekly karaoke evening on Saturday, the taxi's dashboard told us that it was -7 degrees C...

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Y'know, it angers me that someone like Chiyangwa, a close relative of Robert Mugabe - a man who used his connections within ZANU PF to amass his fortune - should dismiss Zimbabweans as religious because they do not have money.

So... Chiyangwa is then suggesting that he does not need God because he has money - effectively stating that money has replaced God in his life.

And there I was thinking that Mugabe and his closest allies within government were good, God-fearing people...

"Business mogul Phillip Chiyangwa says he will never leave ZANU PF despite the fact that he was once tortured and terrorised by the former ruling party goons.

In an exclusive interview with Radio VOP Chiyangwa declared: "I support President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF. That is why I have a problem with some of the newspapers which write negative stories about the President. You can not rule me out as far as advertising is concerned.

"They will come to me sooner than later ," boasted the controversial business tycoon.

Chiyangwa said he was currently doing "very well" and did not see why he should apply for a job as a Cabinet Minister.

"I have money," he said. "If you do not have money right now then you are joking about yourself."

Chiyangwa said Zimbabweans relied too much on prayers to God because they did not have money to take care of themselves. The business mogul said indigenisation was here to stay and nobody will stop it."

I begin to wonder at the logic used in this - and many other - argument. Zimbabweans are inherently, honest, wholesome people. I am not so sure that money has too much to do with their faith... and Chiyangwa seems to be happy in rubbing their noses in it.

"President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party said Zimbabwe will go ahead with a general election next year - with or without the constitutional reform seen by many as essential to a free and fair vote.

Mugabe, who was forced into a unity government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change after the disputed 2008 poll, sees no need to extend the life of the coalition.

He wants a referendum on a new constitution early next year and a general election by mid-year, even if the referendum is not held. The poll was to have been held in 2013."

I have read twice, in two separate places, that Mugabe 'was forced' into the coalition government. No, he wasn't. But without the coalition he would have had to cede power to the MDC and there was no way on God's earth that he was going to do that!

"Critics said a hasty election without political reform, including a new constitution guaranteeing basic rights, would favour only Mugabe and his ZANU PF, in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo told state media that Wednesday's meeting of the party's politburo (inner cabinet), chaired by Mugabe, endorsed his drive for early elections and received a report suggesting that international donors were withholding cash to delay the last stages of constitutional reform."

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Jacob Zuma, SADC appointed mediator in the talks between ZANU PF and the two formations of the MDC who make up the coalition government in Zimbabwe, was supposedly travelling to Zimbabwe to resolve the impasse between the three...

This article would indicate that he came to settle 'small issues'... What is 'small' about the unilateral nature of Mugabe's appointments, his dictatorial style of 'leadership' and the huge influence that ZANU PF have in government in Zimbabwe?

And when was Zuma actually going to get down to the real nub of the problem?

ZANU PF lost the election - so how is it THAT they continue to rule?

"South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has said that he came to Zimbabwe for 'small issues'. The South African did not specify the said issues causing discomfort in the inclusive government, but only said he had come for consultations on those issues.

Said Zuma: "They were small issues which had caused a breakdown of communication within the leadership of government. That has been resolved, the 0meetings are going to resume. All issues that need to be discussed and resolved will certainly find a platform."

Meetings of the inclusive government principals which had stopped due to widening differences are to resume, SADC appointed mediator South African President Jacob Zuma says.

Zuma who was in Zimbabwe Friday afternoon said the GPA principals discussed issues which had broken communication amongst them.

"There is the general understanding that we need to move forward and move in a particular way and implement our own decisions as well as the resolutions of SADC that were taken in Windhoek," he said."

What a load of rubbish! Does Zuma really believe that a few of of talks with the principals will resolve the issues? Hasn't Zuma had a look at Mugabe's history lately?

He says he will negotiate, and has even given concessions in the talks - but fails to stand by his word...

Often and repeatedly.

"Nelson Chamisa MDC-T spokesperson said they were expecting four issues to be tabled before President Zuma.

"We are expecting discussion on the re-appointments of provincial governments and ambassadors, outstanding issues of the GPA, the constitution and a clear roadmap to the holding of free and fair elections," Chamisa said.

Tsvangirai who was in a pensive mood after the meetings could not be drawn to say a word on the outcome of the Friday meetings.

The three leaders met separately with the mediator and later had a collective meeting with President Zuma."

But I will give Zuma his due - at least he managed to get Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara into the same room together. But that is where it will stop.

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And, in typical African politician style, Zuma has claimed success - albeit of very small in nature.

"South African President Jacob Zuma Friday said he had persuaded Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to start talking again to address the rifts in their power-sharing agreement."

So that is his claim to fame... He got Bob and Morgan to agree to talk. But as soon as Zuma's aircraft disappears over the horizon, Bob will once again refuse to have anything to do with the MDC.

"But he gave no details, and said it was unclear whether progress had been made on the substance of their disagreement, many of them concerning Mugabe's refusal to consult with Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on key appointments.

Mugabe has already said their is no need to extend the life of the coalition which is up for renewal in February, and looks likely to call elections in mid-2011 without the new constitution that Zimbabwe's Western donors are asking for."

What is it about Africa leaders in that they claim all manner of successes even if, in reality, the success is really a failure?

We saw it with Thabo Mbeki, and we see it with Zuma.

SADC is wasting their time, our time and our patience.

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By way of a change, the police chief in Zimbabwe has being playing the ZANU PF party card again, turning what was supposed to be a parade into a Mugabe rally...

"Robert Mugabe's rogue police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri last Friday turned a police parade into a ZANU PF rally and urged force members to be loyal and patriotic and infused with the ethos and values of the liberation struggle to jealously defend Zimbabwe's sovereignty."

Since when do police members in Zimbabwe have to support any one particular party? According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, serving policemen are supposed to be apolitical and serve whoever is in power.

But Chuhuri ignores this provision as a matter for lesser mortals to deliberate over. He has bigger fish to fry, and with it, riches and rewards beyond most of our wildest dreams. His appointment is mired in controversy as Mugabe is supposed to consult with the Prime Minister when making such appointments - and Mugabe has gone ahead unilaterally.

No amount of vocal opposition will make Mugabe see sense - he is the boss, and that is that...

"Comm-Gen Chihuri said this while debriefing 150 officers who visited Chimoio and Nyadzonia shrines in Mozambique from November 12 to 15, 2010.

The two places are the sites of massacres of freedom fighters and refugees by the racist Rhodesian forces during the Second Chimurenga.

"As you are aware the ZRP is mandated by the constitution with the responsibility of maintaining peace, tranquility and eternal security.

"It is, therefore, of paramount importance that as you are charged with this worthy, honourable and critical duty you will have a deeper, accurate, comprehension and understanding of the history of the country particularly its tortuous journey to independence," Comm-Gen Chihuri said.

Comm-Gen Chihuri said police should be on the lookout for elements that try to "confuse, pollute, contaminate and sway" them from their mandate.

"ZRP expects bold fearless members and officers whose hearts, soul and spirit are deeply rooted in their country," he said."

What 'mandate' is Chihuri on about? The people's mandate is lodged with the MDC. not ZANU PF. And Chihuri's attempt to politicise the police force is something which is unsurprising when we study the ethos of ZANU PF.

But we should also be aware that when a police officer obeys an illegal order, it is the order that is illegal, not the execution of that order...

"Referring to the Bible, he added: "We must refuse vehemently to be like Esau who sold his own birthright for a single meal."

Comm-Gen Chihuri vowed that Zimbabwe would never be a colony again and urged officers to vote wisely in next year’s election."

In ZANU PF speak, that means that the votes of the members will be 'supervised' to ensure a Mugabe vote... with or without the vote holder's agreement.

"This country came through blood and the barrel of the gun and it will never be re-colonised through a simple pen, which costs as little as five cents," he said."

So Chihuri would prefer that Mugabe remain in power through the barrel of a gun...

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Oh dear - it would appear that the war veterans have not been paying attention to the stories making the headlines in Zimbabwe. Mugabe's family is believed to be on the list of 'offenders' that now own multiple farms seized from former white commercial farmers.

And, if the wheels of justice in Zimbabwe are to turn equally for all Zimbabweans, then one would expect to seek the Mugabe name on a resulting list - although I somehow doubt that there will ever be such a list.

"A storm is brewing in ZANU PF after war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda threatened to forcibly repossess land from multiple farm-owners across the country whom he accused of having abused the controversial land reform programme.

There are reports that many senior ZANU PF officials own more than one farm."

Can you imagine what would happen if the war veterans were to attempt to take one or more farms from the Mugabe family? Can you imagine Mugabe's fury, and the resultant bloodshed?

I personally don't care if ZANU PF want to fight amongst themselves for the spoils of war - but it does concern me that the veterans are openly opposing Mugabe and his inner sanctum, and that, in itself, could open up a serious can of worms - mainly because Mugabe has a way of diverting the anger from the party and will. in all probability, turn it on the MDC.

"There are some things that we said as war veterans we will not tolerate like those with multiple farms but not doing anything productive regardless of their positions. They are criminals, a person who has more than one farm through the land reform is a criminal," said Sibanda without naming the multiple farm-owners."

Perhaps now, more than ever, the need for a land audit becomes the order of the day.

But Mugabe will somehow parry the thrust and the war veteran leader will be 'disciplined'.

But whilst we hear the call of the veterans' leader about multiple farm ownership, his voice joined the others in stating that even if Morgan Tsvangirai won the election, he will never rule Zimbabwe.

"MDC-T information and publicity secretary for Masvingo province Dusty Zivavhe claimed that Sibanda told a meeting in Chiredzi last week that even if Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai won the election he would not rule the country because it came through blood.

Zivhavhe alleged that the war veterans' leader told villagers that the election would be about people choosing if they wanted war or not."

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Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 26th November 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

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The weather here in Derby is not good. Last evening, when B and I caught a taxi to come home after our committee meeting, the temperature was -1,5 degrees C, whilst we have a snow forecast in place for today. Gee - what fun!

When it snows here in Derby, I have to be very careful and wear boots with adequate grip as a simple fall for me could undo a lot of the good that has been achieved under the surgeon's knife over the last ten years.

Snow in Derby in February 2009 - photo taken from the same
standpoint as the photos of the guti in Derby recently...

But I refuse to be a prisoner in my own home...

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It's probably way to early, but this is Gamu Nhengu's 2010 Christmas single...

Nhengu will be stating her case to remain in the UK, in a hearing in Glasgow, scheduled for today.

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Every day that I write about Zimbabwe, I am either writing about the same oppression and limitations that Mugabe imposes upon the people and the MDC, but this surely, is the most pathetic yet.

The above photograph was taken a couple of years ago and shows a policewoman saluting Morgan Tsvangirai, then the new Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.

Do the security chiefs in Zimbabwe not realise that when you salute a dignitary, you salute the position or the uniform, not the man?

"If a salute from the uniformed forces is a demonstration of where power lies, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was left in no doubt of his worth in Zimbabwe’s power sharing government.

Arriving for the 2011 budget statement by Tendai Biti at Parliament on Thursday, Tsvangirai was received by a female police officer who opened the door for him.

But almost immediately, the officer looked away as if attracted to something on the front passenger seat of the Prime Minister’s Mercedes.

Shortly after, however, the same officer, now with another female colleague, gives Vice President Joice Mujuru her undivided attention as she stands in salute.

Minutes later, President Robert Mugabe’s Mercedes limousine pulls in and the same officer opens the door and impeccably raises her hand to her cap.

A witness said: “It seemed like the officer had rehearsed her move with Tsvangirai. Her snub didn’t appear to register much with the Prime Minister who walked off and disappeared into the parliament building.”

When Tsvangirai agreed to share power with President Mugabe in September 2008, top military commanders and police chiefs vowed not to salute him.

Tsvangirai’s MDC party has pointed to the military’s stance as a sign that the armed forces have thrown their lot with Mugabe’s ZANU PF party."

If you were to think of it, not saluting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is a minor problem and, in the grand scheme of things, but ZANU PF choose to perpetrate the act, at the very least, to prove a point to themselves.

How childish!

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This is a very long article that looks at the idea that the pro-Mugabe SADC members are assisting in having Mugabe re-elected to office and then having his chosen successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, sworn into office.

As we are now more than aware of, SADC has done nothing to assist the plight of the Zimbabwean people, and have Mugabe's back...

"Zimbabwe is heading towards a full scale civil conflict as President Robert Mugabe deploys troops across the country to secure another hotly disputed re-election followed by the imposition of his all Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as his successor as his successor, highly placed sources in the State Intelligence and the military revealed.

A member of the army stationed at the Zimbabwe Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) revealed to The Zimbabwean with supported communications documents marked 'Highly Classified' that the Zimbabwe National Army is on course for a full scale deployment across the country with their full combat equipment and order to carry out raids on innocent villagers."

As I stated not that long ago, during the Rhodesian bush war in the 1970s, the vast predominance of people killed were rural dwelling and employment members of the black population. Now, thirty years after 'independence' the vast predominance of people killed are, once again, members of the black Zimbabwean population.

Mugabe has not changed his target.

"The source said ZANU PF, with the assistances of South Africa's ruling party ANC and others regional SADC, States are involved in a plot to influence the influence of a requirement in the new Constitution which will see a sitting President retiring from office and his party nominatin his successor. A majority vote will then be passed in Parliament for the new President to take charge for the remainder of the term without calling for general elections.

Mugabe has reiterated that the country will go for elections before June next year to undo the ill-conceived power sharing agreement signed with the two MDC's in September 2008, but we can reveal that this is all according to the long process backed and crafted with the assistance of former South African President Thabo Mbeki."

The query I have, and I have asked this before, is that Mugabe says the coalition will finish in February 2011, and elections will take place by June. In those few months, who will be leading the country?

Mugabe? On who's say so?

"Mnangagwa, Mbeki, Mugabe and the army generals really know where this GPA thing is going," a ZANU PF central committee member has said in privacy. "You see they somehow control the process, because they conceived it way ahead of our partners in the inclusive government. Mnangagwa himself is using it for his own political calculations, that's why you hear talk of the elections and not surprising re-surgence of violence at these constitutional meetings. It's all meant to test the water and position ZANU PF for future victory."

A very long article, but certainly one worth reading.

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Why bother to place Mugabe and his cohorts on a travel ban list if they are allowed to attend meeting, summits and conferences within the countires that he is allegedly banned from?

Mugabe complains that the targeted sanction are really illegal economic sanctions, but that is total rubbish - and then, with the likes of the EU lifting the ban to allow him - no doubt accompanies by a bloated entoruage - to make an appearance at their summit?

And then compound the problem by giving Mugabe the floor!

"Robert Mugabe will attend a high-profile EU-Africa summit despite a travel ban on the Zimbabwe President.

Mr Mugabe will join senior EU political figures, including European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and African Heads of State, at the gathering in Tripoli, Libya on November 29-30.

Amongst the issues to be discussed will be 'good governance'.

Mr Mugabe, 86, and his aides are currently subject to travel bans and asset freezes in the European Union and the United States who accuse his regime of denials of basic freedoms and his presence at the summit has been condemned as "appalling".

In 2002, the EU imposed targeted sanctions, including travel bans to EU territory and an arms embargo, on Mr Mugabe and his ZANU PF party in direct response to the deterioration in the human rights and political climate of the country. Last year, these were extended for another 12 months although Mr Van Rompuy recently said the EU was ready to consider "fresh measures".

But the attendance of the 86-year-old dictator who has been accused of jailing and beating dissenters, threatens to overshadow the summit which will also focus on economic growth, investments and job creation.

UK Conservative MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, who has been personally banned by Mr Mugabe from entering Zimbabwe, said the EU should have pressed for Mr Mugabe to be banned from the summit."

I dispair. The EU, SADC and the UN continue to almost shepherd Mugabe through all obstacles, remove the limitations that they themselves have supposedly put in place... Why?

How is it that Mugabe, one of the most hated people on the face of this Earth, is permitted to travel without limitation to these summits?

"Mugabe has continued to trample on the rights of Zimbabwe's people, showed scant regard for the political agreement that he made with Morgan Tsvangirai, and has continued his global travels."

"Its not surprising so little progress has been made in bringing about change in countries like Zimbabwe. The African states receive such garbled signals from Brussels."

Mugabe makes allegations that the world is advocating for regime change - but continues to run Zimbabwe as if it were his own country, his own playground...

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I tend to agree with the legal minds on this. For Mnangagwa to state that regardless of the election results, ZANU PF will continue to rule in Zimbabwe, he must be treading on very thin ice.

"Zimbabwe’s influential civil society organisation, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) has described as treasonous a utterances by the minister of defence, Emmerson Mnangagwa over the weekend that ZANU PF will continue to rule even if they lose elections.

"Utterances made by the Minister of Justice, Emmerson Mnangagwa in Kwekwe over the weekend are shameful, treasonous and a subversion of the will of the people. Mnangagwa was was quoted as saying ZANU PF will continue in office regardless of any electoral outcome."

It would not be the first time that Mugabe's ZANU PF has stolen the mandate from the people of Zimbabwe. For the last thrity years they have done it - but this time around they are very open about the duplicity...

"The statements by the Minister of Defence are a reflection of the intentions of ZANU PF which has largely relied on 'calculated terror, error and psychological warfare' to maintain its three decade hold on power."

I doubt whether Mnangagwa will ever be brought to court for his transgressions. In fact, we will hear more and more of this from ZANU PF personalities as the election draws closer.

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Mnangagwa is not the only one within ZANU PF that is stating openly that a defeat in the polls will not be accepted.

"ZANU PF is poised to resoundingly win next year's elections and will never surrender Zimbabwe's hard-won sovereignty to sellouts, party chairman Simon Khaya Moyo has said.

Speaking at a fund-raising dinner in Harare on Wednesday to mobilise resources for the 11th ZANU PF National People’s Conference in Mutare next month, Khaya Moyo urged the party to vigorously prepare for the polls by revitalising its structures.

"Elections are coming, yes, and ZANU PF is winning the elections resoundingly," he said.

Khaya Moyo said there would be no imposition of candidates during primary elections to nominate those who will represent the party in the polls scheduled for mid-next year.

"I am going to stand in Plumtree for the primaries. If I lose I will support the winner.

"I hope we shall exercise maximum discipline and listen to the people...

"ZANU PF is an unstoppable machine. For those who are not ZANU PF as yet, it is not too late," he said."

How on Earth do these people sleep at night?

When ZANU PF talks of 'maximum discipline' it means the violence and intimidation will be revisited by the party...

What happened to the 'democracy' that Mugabe is always on about?

And what is it about ZANU PF that they associate an MDC win with the re-colonisation of Zimbabwe? Why would any country want to colonise a country which has gone to rack and ruin?

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Take care.

'debvhu