Tuesday, 24th May 2011

Howzit

It is now just gone 5pm on Monday and I am livid. If I told you that we still do not have any hot water in the kitchen or bathroom, would you believe me?

And this is after a rather heated discussion with the council 'help' line and me basically pleading with them to do the right thing.

An engineer did pitch up, took a look and disappeared, promising to come back to us, either physically or on the phone. Silence.

So B phoned the council again. And still nothing!

The lunacy of it is that this is all because of a plastic piece about the size and shape of a 1p coin. We are now going into our eleventh day without... and do they care? Not at all!

(Oh, and we were offered £10 compensation for the trouble. I told them to stick it as they obviously need the money more than me.)

Update: Today I am not even going to try and phone the council as I am tired of begging. If they are content to allow their tenants to live as if it were a third world country, so be it. But I will never again trust a council, a local authority or local government...

This morning we were called and told to expect the contractors here at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. So, yet another day - and I will be watching the clock tomorrow morning as why should we get up early if they are not going to be on time?

I am totally disgusted.

-o00o-

Mugabe will use whatever is in his arsenal to resist change. Not that long ago, he was a feted friend of Jacob Zuma and we have all seen photo of Mugabe holding Zuma's hand at various functions. Now that Zuma has decided to get serious (well, not necessarily serious, but he has decided to take the harder line) with Mugabe and ZANU PF, Mugabe has now decided that it is time to ditch the South African President.

A long time ago, when SADC were still flip-flopping over who might be the mediator, I did put forward a name. Jerry Rawlings...

Jerry John Rawlings (born Jeremiah Rawlings John 22 June 1947 in Accra, Gold Coast) is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001. He initially took power in a coup d'état, but in the 1990s following sustained political and economic pressure from international institutions and governments began a process of economic and then political liberalization. He founded the National Democratic Congress which won the 1992 general election. He took office in 1993, and was re-elected in 1997.

Somehow I doubt that Mugabe would reject Rawlings, whilst Rawlings himself would probably reject Mugabe...

"President Robert Mugabe has intensified his fight against an emerging consensus among SADC leaders for him to go, by among other tactics, trying to sideline and remove no-nonsense facilitator President Jacob Zuma.

Well-placed SADC sources told the Daily News yesterday that Mugabe had now identified Zuma as his biggest problem. This was because the South African president was "unshakable in his impartiality and determination" to see an election roadmap in Zimbabwe that would usher in a credible election next year or in 2013, that would be devoid of violence and rigging as happened in the disputed 2008 presidential election runoff.

The sources also said their own intelligence had established that Mugabe and his ZANU PF party were pushing for Zuma’s isolation because they were aware that they could not win a fair election. To that extent, Mugabe and his ZANU PF viewed Zuma’s drive for a mutually agreed roadmap within the Global Political Agreement (GPA) context as an attack on Mugabe and the former ruling party."

So, Mugabe has decided that Zuma's work is done. I would disagree with him, only because Zuma didn't do anything! He did even less than he predecessor, Thabu Mbeki... and that is saying something!

So who does Mugabe want as a mediator? One of his fawning regional leaders? The choice of a mediator should not fall to Mugabe, but should be influenced by SADC who are the guarantors of the GPA - and if they decide to leave Zuma in place, tough on Mugabe!

(He will probably then withdraw from any negotiations - and just play the waiting game.)

"Mugabe last week made two remarkable moves. Firstly, the 87-year-old - who has been to the Far East for medical reasons five times since December - effectively declared himself fit to rule for life. He then unsuccessfully attempted to foist his agenda for an early election at Friday’s SADC summit in Namibia that Zuma did not attend.

SADC firmly rebuffed the bid.

"We are totally against the idea of a new election roadmap as it means re-negotiating the Global Political Agreement instead of implementing it," read ZANU PF’s position paper that was circulated in Windhoek. Mugabe had, through the position paper, tried to take advantage of Zuma’s absence to overturn resolutions of the SADC troika on politics, defence and security which called for an end to violence, the full implementation of the GPA and elections only after the roadmap has been completed.

But one of the top SADC officials who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said Mugabe’s attempts to attack and weaken Zuma and his facilitation team was "backfiring badly"."

Mugabe, if he doesn't get his own way, will now closet himself with his party, away from the negotiations and calculate his next move, which will probably include a verbal whip lashing for the West, a complaint-ridden whinge at SADC and a step-up in violence against the Zimbabwean people.

Who needs a crystal ball when it comes to Mugabe and ZANU PF?

"Among other "ill-considered moves" by ZANU PF, the former ruling party had written to Zuma demanding the removal of Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu from the facilitation team, "alleging rather ridiculously" that she was biased against ZANU PF.

The SADC insider said this move was being interpreted by the region as a very direct way by Mugabe and his party of asking Zuma to step aside from his facilitation work.

"This is surprising because Mugabe is literally biting the hand that feeds him. What future is there for Mugabe, ZANU PF and Zimbabwe without South Africa’s immense sacrifice for its neighbour. Without Zuma and the GPA that he has kept together at great cost to him personally and his country, Mugabe would not be president anyway.

"Nevertheless, Mugabe is wasting time because SADC is sick and tired of his machinations. He wants to trick us into believing that President Zuma is biased but it’s far from it.

"We are aware that Zuma’s frankness has rattled Mugabe and that is why he brought in his position paper which was ignored. Now they are spreading propaganda that it is Mugabe who said Zimbabwe must be discussed in the presence of President Zuma and other political players," the official said."

-o00o-

The problem that faces the free world is that very little is known about Robert Gabriel Mugabe outside of the Southern African region. Which suits him as he can make all the absurd allegations in the book and he can re-arrange Zimbabwean politics as he sees fit.

His party and their supporters think nothing of beating up on the perceived MDC supporters and members, and the pro-Mugabe police chief will allege that the violence is perpetrated by the MDC.

So when a film about Mugabe is hopefully going to be released, we can only hope that it may make a difference. But even "Mugabe and the White African" failed to get very many people moving in the free world... even with the sad death of the White African, Mike Campbell...

"A new film being promoted as the "definitive account" of President Robert Mugabe is set to get its first screening at an international festival in South Africa next month.

"Whatever Happened to Robert Mugabe?", an 80-minute film by Simon Bright, has been given opening night billing at the 13th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival to be held in Cape Town and Johannesburg from June 9-26. In advance publicity material, the festival’s organisers said the documentary "tells the stories of Rhodesia’s transition to Zimbabwe and the personal journey of Robert Mugabe, using one to explain the other, finally suggesting why Mugabe chose the road he has".

"As a biography it has everything - first-hand accounts of Mugabe’s early life with a desperately poor Catholic mother, what he was like at school, the effects of a Jesuit education and his rage against his absent father," the organisers said in a statement.

They added: "The parallel story of the transition is equally well researched, as are later episodes of importance, notably Lancaster House, the Matabeleland genocide and the growing role of global business in Africa’s economies.

"But it’s the behind-the-scenes jostling for power which Bright exposes that are the most riveting, and from it Mugabe emerges as unquestionably one of history’s most canny, devious leaders. It is a haunting film, the music an achievement in itself, a mix of liberation, folk and contemporary sounds."

Sadly, the chance of this film making it to the UK are limited, and it will do very little to dampen Mugabe's ardour for absolute power...

Perhaps I prefer my version...

-o00o-

Here we go again. The pro-Mugabe police arrest MDC people for talking about the torture going on in Zimbabwe, being perpetrated by the pro-ZANU PF support.

What is criminal about talking about torture?

Mugabe deported the UN's specialist on torture very early this year, so he obviously thinks that ZANU PF are without blemish...

"Police on Monday 23 May 2011 arrested two Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) employees for allegedly convening a workshop to conscientise villagers about torture and its effects in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province.

Police intercepted and arrested Florence Ndlovu, the ZimRights regional coordinator for Matabeleland province and Walter Dube, the organisation’s paralegal officer for Matabeleland, Midlands and Masvingo provinces who were coming from Tshino Business Centre in Tsholotsho District, where the police had earlier on disrupted a torture workshop which was scheduled to be held on Monday 23 May 2011.

The police detained the two ZimRights employees at Nyamandlovu Police Station and denied Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) member lawyers Charles Moyo of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners and Jonathan Tsvangirai of Danziger and Partners Legal Practitioners access to their clients after mounting a rapid response to their arrest. The police denied detaining Ndlovu and Dube and claimed that the two ZimRights employees had been taken to Sipepa Business Centre despite evidence of their detention through the presence of their vehicle which was parked at the police station.

By Monday night, the lawyers were working on filing a habeas corpus petition to challenge the detention of the two ZimRights employees.

The police action in disrupting the ZimRights workshop is in defiance of a court order which was issued on Friday 20 May by Bulawayo Magistrate Ntombizodwa Mazhandu who interdicted some law enforcement agents from prohibiting the organisation from conducting the torture workshop in Matabeleland North province."

Robert Mugabe has thrown the rule book out of the window. He has no regard for human rights, nor does he care how the police acts. Denying legal access is probably just the tip of the iceberg, and I would not be surprised if the ZimRights people have been tortured by Mugabe's secret police - Charlie Ten (CIO).

Mugabe will continue with this sort of action, and he will deny it if ever he is asked (which SADC will not do as they are afraid of offending the 87-year-old dictator).

The police have stated that "the subject of torture is not in line with Zimbabwean culture" - but it is obviously within the "culture" of ZANU PF.

"Magistrate Mazhandu interdicted the police from disturbing or interfering in any way with the ZimRights workshop and ordered the rights organisation to proceed with the workshop as scheduled and promote its right to freedom of association and assembly as set out in Section 21 of the constitution and the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Section 20 of the Constitution."

The same article tells us that WOZA members have been released on bail for 'criminal damage'. Is Mugabe not guilty of malicious injury to a country?

-o00o-

"Survivors of post independence Gukurahundi massacres who still have bullets lodged in their bodies say they don’t want medical treatment but financial assistance to ward off starvation and get out of poverty.

During a recent healing and reconciliation prayer conducted by a Catholic priest Father Marko Mkandla in Lupane, the survivors broke their silence for the first time in more than 20 years and revealed the extent of their injuries.Some told horrifying tales of how they survived the massacres which still haunts the government.

Former Lupane Member of Parliament, Njabuliso Mnguni says he has been trying without much success to persuade the survivors with bullets lodged in their bodies to seek medical assistance.

"Some donors and doctors are willing to assist with surgery to remove the bullets from the survivors but the villagers say they don’t want medical treatment but financial assistance.Some are now sick because of the injuries they sustained during the shootings," Mnguni told Radio VOP."

Who can balme the survivors? Why have the operation to removed the bullets, only to starve to death after the medical procedure. If the bullats are not affecting their systems, then live with the proof of Mugabe's violent rule in the bidy!

The Gukurahundi is not given anything approaching enough press coverage and Mugabe and his die-hard apologists refuse to do anything positive to alleviate the suffering of those caught up in the maelstrom in the early to mid 1980s.

I saw more than any young man should ever see of the violent deaths of people in Matabelenad South Province, and yet Mugabe excuses the action as 'a moment of madness'.

Probably the longest 'moment' in history. And one of the most destructive.

"Mnguni said during his visit to Lupane villages to speak to the survivors, he discovered that many people were now willing to speak out about what happened and how they survived the mass killings of innocent people by the government's notorious Five Brigade which President Robert Mugabe christened "Gukurahundi".

The brigade, exclusively made up of former ZANLA cadres from Tongogara Assembly Point executed its mission with ruthless efficiency and left a trail of blood and destruction."

Mugabe obviously hopes that natural attrition will rid him of the problem of survivors, but Zimbabweans are a long stronger than he realises. And they will maintain a stoic stance against his brazen efforts to excuse the action.

"Mnguni says in one village he met three women who witnessed 24 villagers burning to death after the soldiers rounded them up, put them in one hut and set it on fire. The three survivors were among the villagers put in the hut in Gwampa area but they managed to break free and fled. The soldiers kept on firing at them but they missed until they were in a safe area."

In my book "Without Honour" I published a photograph of a similar scene taken from the chimurenga. Proof, perhaps, that Mugabe's target has not changed one bit since the advent of independence in 1980.

-o00o-

We expect, almost as a norm, that court orders in Zimbabwe will be defied by the Mugabe party and all of those institutions attached to him - including the police.

"Magistrate Ignatio Mhene on Monday 23 May 2011 granted an application filed by Nyanga North Member of Parliament Hon. Douglas Mwonzora and 32 Nyanga residents, seeking a referral of their matter to the Supreme Court to determine the violation of several of their constitutional rights.

Hon. Mwonzora and the Nyanga residents who were arrested in February and charged with public violence filed a constitutional challenge on 10 May 2011 arguing that their rights to liberty, protection of the law and protection from inhuman and degrading treatment as enshrined in the Constitution were violated when they were arrested, abducted and detained in filthy police and prison cells in Nyanga and Mutare respectively.

In his ruling which was delivered on Monday 23 May 2011, Magistrate Mhene upheld that the application was not frivolous or vexatious as claimed by the State prosecutor Tirivanhu Mutyasira, who had opposed the application filed by Mwonzora and the residents’ lawyers Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and David Tandiri of Maunga, Maanda and Associates Legal Practitioners, who is a member of ZLHR."

Once Mugabe gets a foot in the door, regardless of the eventual outcome, he will worry and prod, poke and shift the case until it becomes an open sore. And even if the case is thrown out by the courts, or the accused persons are proved innocent, he and his police force are relentless in their continual hassling of the people.

We saw it with Roy Bennett, vindicated in a court of law, but now under the cosh with yet another trumped up charge, dictating his departure from Zimbabwe, then South Africa to London.

Mugabe does not relent in his zeal to visit all manner of 'criminal' charges against those that oppose him - yet his ZANU PF people get away with anything from theft to murder...

"Magistrate Mhene also ordered the police to immediately release upon sight of the court order a Mazda BT 50 vehicle which Hon. Mwonzora had been using to execute COPAC duties.

But as has become customary and in defiance of a court ruling the police refused to release the vehicle even after the lawyers had shown them the court order.

Detective Inspector Kasi, the Officer In Charge of CID Law and Order in Manicaland province, who had earlier advised Detective Inspector Mutema of Nyanga to release the vehicle reportedly made an about turn and ordered Mutema not to release the COPAC vehicle."

And will we ever see any member of the pro-Mugabe ZRP in court for defying a court order? Of course not! After all, Mugabe runs the courts, so how can he bring his own people to the dock to answer for obeying his orders?

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu