Monday, 28th February 2011

Howzit

Foreign currency mid rates updated...

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Whilst I am very happy at the visit rate, a total of 1.38 million 'hits' over a 6 year period calculates roughly at 630 per day.

Whatever the maths, I have no need to stop - as yet.

-o00o-

Staying with the activity on this page, I am more than happy to publish relevant comments by readers on this page, but when the comments attacks me as an individual, I do reserve the right to filter that comment.

And when comments that are abrasive and confrontational are submitted from an anonymous writer, then they are rejected out of hand.

Over the weekend, I received two comments from the same writer - the first attacking me for my comments in September last year with regard to a story of a Zimbabwean crossing the line and ending up in a prison in the diaspora. The second comment then explained that the writer thought that I was doing a good job.

Had the writer bothered to sign the comments, then they would have been published and possibly discussed, but since they elected not to, they were sent to the trash bin.

Very simple. If you have criticism, I am big enough to take it. But if that criticism is from someone who cannot be asked to even use a pen name, then, sorry, but it is gone.

End of story.

-o00o-

And no matter what else is going in Zimbabwe, the pro-Mugabe people continue to perpetrate violence upon those who they perceive to be MDC supporters.

"Three MDC members from Mutare North are recovering, after they were assaulted by a mob of ZANU PF activists, wielding axes on Thursday.

According to the MDC, Farai Matsika, Mabel Manhumwa and Gainmore Machikuni of Mutare North were assaulted for being MDC activists. Matsika was admitted to hospital with a deep cut on his leg, while the other two were left bruised and shaken. Machikuni and Manhumwa’s homes were also both burned down by the ZANU PF mob. The MDC said the violence is part of ZANU PF’s campaign to intimidate people ahead of possible elections.

A report was made to the police, who once again demonstrated their partisan loyalty to ZANU PF by refusing to open a docket, saying they needed to investigate the issue first."

Therein is a huge problem. The case will be investigated before they open a docket? When I was in the force, a report was received, the case handed to an investigating officer who launched the investigation.

Okay, the Reports Received Book was administrated by a senior member at the station and he soon worked out which cases were for investigation...

And, whether the reported case was genuine or not, much can be substantiated at the time of the report. And three individuals with injuries lying in a hospital, their houses burnt down, for me, there is more than enough substantiation to open a docket. But, in true pro-Mugabe style, they haven't. Unsurprisingly really, as most of the time the police refuse to investigate any case that they deem 'political'.

"According to the MDC, the ZANU PF thugs were led by Kumbulani Ndlovu, Kiri Wisilam, Simba Ngowani and Headman Machekecke.

"The MDC condemns such acts of violence perpetrated by the unpopular ZANU PF on a defenseless people," the MDC said in a statement.

Similar reports of violence have been reported in Nyanga North with the provincial spokesperson, Pishayi Muchauraya saying hundreds of villagers from Nyakomba are fleeing into neighbouring Mozambique. Muchauraya told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that three truck loads of terrorist militias stormed the village and started going house to house looking for MDC supporters.

It is believed that the trucks were supplied by ZANU PF’s Hubert Nyanhongo who is trying to wrestle the Nyanga North constituency from Douglas Mwonzora, the standing MP for the area. Mwonzora is still being detained at Mutare remand prison on allegations that he instigated violence in his constituency. He is being held together with 24 other MDC activists from Nyanga, who have all been granted bail, but are being forced to remain behind bars while the state appeals the bail ruling.

Meanwhile, Golden Maunganidze, an editor with the privately owned Masvingo Mirror newspaper, was arrested in Masvingo on Wednesday on allegations of 'criminally defaming' a senior ZANU PF politician. Police in Masvingo questioned and detained Maunganidze for about two hours before releasing him. They asked him to return to the police station on Thursday in the company of his lawyers and indicated that they were likely to charge him with criminal defamation.

According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Maunganidze was reportedly arrested at the instigation of the ZANU PF official, following the publication of a satirical article written under the newspaper’s "Hot on the Heels" column. The article was published in the papers 18 February edition last week. MISA said in a statement that it “reliably understands that the article in question did not mention any names.”

Maunganidze's arrest followed the arrest on Monday in Mutare of freelance journalist Sydney Saize. He was released the same day after paying a fine of US$10 for being a 'criminal nuisance'. Saize was arrested by police while taking pictures of three armed robbers, who allegedly tried to escape from lawful custody at Mutare Magistrates Court.

His lawyer, David Tandiri, said Saize was fined for taking the pictures without the permission of the prison officers."

A fine for being a 'criminal nuisance'? (Has anyone ever seen a definition for this 'crime'?) If that is the case, then the courts should be taking money by the barrow load - as so many of the ZANU PF supporters, members, activists and member of the various wings are a huge 'nuisance'...

-o00o-

Much has been made over the past couple of weeks at Mugabe's apparent failing health. Now Mugabe himself has stated that he is no longer a young man - but claims to have 'young' brain...

"President Robert Mugabe celebrated his 87th birthday in elaborate style in Harare on Saturday and warned opponents that while his body "may get spent" he still has the political ideas of a young man.

Mugabe turned 87 on Monday but traditionally marks his birthday later with a mass meeting of the youth movement he founded.

Up to 6000 members of his party, schoolchildren and youth representatives from Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Namibia turned up for this year celebrations at the Harare International Conference Centre in the capital.

Mugabe said his ideas were not those of an "aged person" but those of a young man that "will rejuvenate the country and impel us to be innovative and imaginative".

"87 is only 8 plus 7. I want to remain with you. My body may get spent but I wish my mind will always be with you. I will not quit, the sense of responsibility gives me strength. I am rejuvenated by the responsibility thrust on me by history," the veteran leader said in an animated 70-minute address."

Mugabe wants his cake - and to eat it too!

Mugabe is known for his lengthy addresses - both in Zimbabwe and at United Nations conferences.

He fills the minutes with expansive, rambling, nonsensical points - often railing on the West for their 'illegal economic sanctions' which, Mugabe claims, have 'destroyed the economy'.

Mugabe doesn't have to look much further than his own office for the true reason behind the collapse of Zimbabwe. But Mugabe will never look to himself for the real problem. He is a dictator, a tyrant, a despot - and people of that calling do not look at themselves for blame.

At 87, why is he determined to run for President again? Most people who are lucky enough the be alive at that age are enjoying retirement and a quiet, relaxing life.

"Wearing the red neck scarf of his youth movement, Mugabe told the gathering he never capitulated to pressures from Western leaders over their allegations of human rights abuses by him and his ZANU PF party.

"No, that will never happen. That is where I derive strength," he said. To him, he said, US President Barack Obama "is just a nobody in America"."

Mugabe is allowed his own opinions - flawed though they may be...

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One of the points agreed in the Global Political Agreement was that a new 'people-driven' constitutional would be crafted following various numerous meetings throughout the country in an effort to secure the opinions and submissions by the people of Zimbabwe.

In typical Mugabe fashion, he has now threatened to allow the country to go to elections without the new constitution - to the extent that he will withdraw his party from consultations with the voting public.

"Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe threatened on Saturday to pull out of a process to draft a new constitution, accusing his coalition partners of delays designed to avoid holding elections this year.

Mugabe and his ZANU PF party, forced into a unity government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after a disputed election in 2008, is pushing for early presidential and parliamentary elections this year.

The MDC has warned Mugabe to drop his party's plans for an early election, saying it could lead to a bloodbath. Tsvangirai has threatened to boycott the elections if they are called this year.

"We would want to get to elections as soon as possible within the process, but if others are there to drag the process, we will get out of the process," Mugabe told supporters at a party to celebrate his 87th birthday."

Mugabe has effectively isolated and marooned his party as a stand-alone government of Zimbabwe. The MDC won the parliamentary majority, but that has not stopped his party from grabbing the ministerial majority, and his party now fail to even attempt to pretend to attend the cross-party negotiations which are supposedly mediated by South Africa's Jacob Zuma.

Mugabe withdrawing from agreements is nothing new. All we have to do is look how he treated the Lancaster House Agreement of 1979.

That agreement included the land question, and that was supposed to be 'willing buyer - willing seller' and I saw nothing even approaching that with the callous murder of farmers and their workforce. There can be nothing 'willing' when the 'seller' is brutally murdered...

Other agreements that have been ignored are the various BIPPA agreements which supposedly protect foreign investment in the agricultural sector - but Mugabe's people still invade the land, taking it over as their own, only for that land to either be given to a ZANU PF bigwig, or just lies fallow.

"Many Zimbabweans hope the new constitution, replacing one drafted in 1979 before independence from Britain, will strengthen the role of parliament, curtail the president's powers and guarantee civil, political and media reforms.

The process has been slowed by funding problems and squabbles over the composition of committees.

"We would have to have good reason to say those processes are not possible this year and the explanation should be given. We must never accept that money is the problem. Money is not the problem at all," Mugabe said."

Mugabe's party is broke. The country is broke - and he says that no money to assist in funding a new constitution should be accepted.

Where is the logic in that?

-o00o-

ZANU PF and Mugabe are unhappy that Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, is wanting to institute a full forensic audit on the monies raised for the sale of diamonds as the figures coming from the Mines Ministry do not match money received by the fiscal authority.

"Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is reportedly unhappy with Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu after the country's finance minister reported that millions of dollars in revenue from diamond sales was missing from the Treasury, the Zimdaily.com news website reports.

Last week, Finance Minister Tendai Biti openly accused Mpofu of lying about two allegedly missing sums of money that should have made their way into the government's coffers: amounts of $174.2 million and $125.8 million.

Sources in Mugabe's ZANU PF party, which is seeking to stay in power in this year's elections, told Zimdaily.com that Mpofu's announcement that the money from the sales of rough diamonds was available to be dispersed had prompted the president to promise civil servants significant salary increases.

But the money is not to be found and Mugabe's supporters feel that he has been portrayed as a liar."

Whatever the truth, the fact that US$300 million is missing is cause for huge concern. We know that ZANU PF is broke and desperately needs money to set up their election campaign (consisting almost entirely of violence, intimidation, theft and oppression).

US$300 million could quite easily repair much of the damage wrought by Mugabe's three decade reign. But, in typical Mugabe fashion, the money has gone astray. And Mugabe is not happy with the Mines Minister for reporting the figures to Biti, who immediately would have seen the discrepancy.

"A ZANU PF source referred to "lies [Mpofu] has been feeding the president since he became minister of mines… now the president has to face the nation"."

It is my understanding that whichever office or position one is elected to, that person is a civil servant - which means you serve the public. Mugabe should be questioned as to where the money has gone - and Mpofu should be investigated fully.

Simple really...

-o00o-

This is pure wishful thinking. Ncube has hardly had time to warm the seat as president of the smaller faction of the MDC and already he is making absurd claims and calls.

"The president of the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC Professor Welshman Ncube has threatened that his party will ask the court to imprison President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai if they continue to defy a court order that ruled Arthur Mutambara should stop acting as the party President.

Ncube said that they got reports that Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara met on Friday in disregard of a High Court order that Mutambara is no longer president of the party. Ncube said this when he addressed villagers, in Garanyemba 30k outside Gwanda town at the weekend.

"We understand a meeting of principals took place Friday and that Mutambara was invited and its clear that if that happened all of them were acting in contempt of court and it is possible for us to apply for the committal to prison for anyone in contempt of court," said Ncube. "But we will have to seek advise from our lawyers first," he added."

All I can say is that Ncube can file the paperwork, but what court in Zimbabwe is going to imprison Mugabe...?

The court order he refers to is just one in a very long line of orders that have been ignored by all sorts of senior people in Mugabe's administration.

The police chief is one such senior member of Mugabe's party who consistently ignores court orders.

Surely, if the courts were to accede to the request for the arrest and imprison Mugabe and Tsvangirai, then they should also institute the same fate upon those who, for years, have committed the same crime - and for a lot longer?

"The Professor who took power under controversial circumstances earlier this year has been refused the position of Deputy Prime Minister despite him being the President of the party.

"You can’t be a Principal unless you are the President of a party, the agreement involves ZANU PF, MDC T and us and Mutambara has no party," added Ncube.

Ncube said his party will contest elections with or without reforms to avoid conceding too much space to ZANU PF.

"We will contest ZANU PF whether that fora is fair or unfair, we can’t let them go without a fight," said the Professor."

The smaller faction of the MDC is distinctly a lesser threat to ZANU PF, so Mugabe won't be losing very much sleep over Ncube's comments. In fact, by allowing the smaller faction to participate in elections, Mugabe will hope that it lends some sort of legitimacy to the process.

But no court in Zimbabwe will have the bravery to attend to Ncube's call...

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 25th February 2011

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

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This is an exceptionally interesting video. It runs for about 90 minutes but watching all of it is worth it.

It is an extensive discussion on the situation in Zimbabwe hosted by SW Radio Africa's Gerry Jackson.

Let me be very direct. If this forum had been carried out in Zimbabwe, then everyone that was there - and probably those who watch it online - would find themselves incarcerated pending a charge of treason, for which the punishment could be death...

Makes you think, huh?

-o00o-

As I mention above, there are 45 people in Zimbabwe, who, having watched the television coverage of the Egyptian popular uprising, now find themselves locked up in Mugabe's prisons waiting trial for treason after the police raided the event.

"The arrest of Munyaradzi Gwisai and 45 others and charging them with treason could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe. Now the public will know more about the successful regime change in Tunisia and Egypt from the court case than from the muted national broadcaster.

However, there is a huge public outrage as to when it became a crime to watch world news on BBC and Al Jazeera TV in this day and age. One thing that is noticeable from this case is the regime’s use of tactics of repression from the textbook as outlined below.

Repression of social movements

According to Jennifer Earl, 'the repression of social movements include police action at public protest events, such as arrests and police violence, military suppression of protest events, "disappearances" of activists, arrests and/or imprisonment of social movement participants, infiltration of social movements by government informants, covert counter-intelligence programs against social movement organizations and participants, restrictions of free speech and assembly, assaults on human rights, and murders of social movement activists, among other tactics' (Blackwellreference.com).

Hypocrisy

The hypocrisy of the regime is exposed by the recent erection of the US$20,000 giant Chinese TV screen in Harare’s First Street mall which shows Zimbabwe’s Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) television and ZANU PF jingles 24 hours a day (The Zimbabwe Mail, 07/01/11).

Despite being a national institution, the ZBC is allegedly vilifying and blacking-out MDC Ministers by "fanning hatred, political segregation and societal divisions at a time Zimbabweans yearn for a period of national healing and unity" (Newsday, 24/02/11).

Furthermore, it is rather curious that ZANU PF is organising a multi-million signature petition for the removal of targeted sanctions on its inner circle but does not permit people to do the same against the octogenarian ruler.

Although details are still sketchy on the case which was remanded until Thursday 24/02/11, for a criminal act you need two things 'mens rea' a criminal or guilty mind or the intention to commit the crime and 'actus reus' the actual act of the crime eg. discharging a loaded gun at soldiers who are guarding State House. But watching recorded TV news? What a joke!

While it would be better for the State to simply drop the charges and let Gwisai and his colleagues go free, however by incarcerating them the regime may actually be doing itself a disservice by making them heroes. The desire for change is catching on with talk of a proposed "Zimbabwe Million Citizen March".

Morale booster

Media claims (The Zimbabwe Mail, 24/02/11) that some senior ZANU PF cabinet ministers "were very supportive and urged those organising the march not to give in or relent in the face of brutality" if verified as true, could be a morale booster for the pro-democracy movement.

It would also suggest growing discontent within ZANU PF about Robert Mugabe’s 30-yr iron-fist rule and lack of a transparent succession plan because some senior army and police officers are said to be backing the million citizen march billed for Tuesday 1st March 2011 in Harare and countrywide. Despite the bloodshed in Libya, world news broadcasts of Gaddafi’s shrinking empire are being watched by Zimbabweans with encouragement.

Hopefully the emails purporting to be from ZANU PF Cabinet ministers are not the creative work of the regime’s agents provocateurs. The treason trial could be, for want of the right word an accident that was waiting to happen by becoming a rallying point for mass action in Zimbabwe.

Unintended event

The escalation of Gwisai’s alleged offence to treason which carries the death sentence may have the unintended effect of giving ammunition to pro-democracy activists in the same way the Rhodesian regime made the nationalists popular by harassing and detaining them at notorious prisons like HwaHwa, Sikombela and so on while churning out sick propaganda through Radio Truth.

Against the background of a media blackout by the regime on the revolutions in North Africa, news-starved Zimbabweans are now being ironically informed by the State about the effect of regime change closer to home as demonstrated by the arrests. What the State did not want people to know via world news coverage by ZBC and Zimpapers, it is now doing the 'dirty job' itself by publicising the fact that regime change is not fiction and that locals are fast losing patience.

Before independence, we used to watch videos, films and TV programmes featuring liberation movements in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Nicaragua, Guinea Bissau, East Timor and indeed Zimbabwe. This was in addition to world news coverage by the BBC on the struggles against colonialism and apartheid. How different is that from emulating regime change in Tunisia and Egypt?

Inquisitive

People are bound to become more inquisitive and ask why Gwisai and the 45 have been arrested and what they allegedly saw which the regime does not want the public to know, although BBC and Al Jazeera are legal media entities operating in Zimbabwe. Apart from that, one can watch world news broadcasts via mobile phones, satellite dishes and the internet. One only hopes the regime does not block peaceful options for change."

-o00o-

So Mugabe is going for the jugular. He is not interested in 'justice' but is interested in sending a message to the population: "Don't even think about it!"

As has been questioned above, since when does merely watching television constitute treason?

"Munyaradzi Gwisai, the International Socialist Organisation (ISO) general coordinator, and 45 others were charged in Zimbabwe today with treason, which carries the death penalty, or subverting a constitutionally elected government, for which the maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment. The charges stem from a meeting the plaintiffs allegedly held, by invitation, and participants, although invited, were subjected to thorough vetting before being allowed into a room which was kept under lock and key. In this room they allegedly complained that "in Zimbabwe, there was a long authoritarian leadership , general hunger, poverty, unemployment and capitalist practices where wealth was enjoyed by a few individuals while the general populace of Zimbabwe was suffering."

According to reports they had also watched videos of the protests in North Africa and discussed the implications of the wave of popular sentiment sweeping the region. The meeting was organised by Munyaradzi Gwisai, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe's law school, and was aimed at enabling people without Internet access or cable TV to watch news reports about the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Police confiscated a video projector, two DVD discs and a laptop. Alec Muchadehama, a human rights lawyer, said that Gwisai was one of seven of the detainees to be beaten with truncheons. "This is a message that 'If you attempt anything, we're going to arrest you, assault you, incarcerate you, lay false charges against you, deny you bail and occupy you with false trials,'That's the message - 'Don't attempt this, it can't be done here.'"

Lawyers were not able to interview the detainees for almost 48 hours.

Muchadehama said Gwisai and the other participants were merely engaged in "an academic debate about what was happening in Tunisia and Egypt." While some reports say the attendees were mainly students, Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau said they were from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (ZINASU) and other unions.

"On February 19 it is said Gwisai invited people from ZCTU, students from ZINASU, Medical Professionals and Allied Workers’ Union and International Socialist Organisation to attend a meeting with a theme - ISO calls on workers, students and the working people to support the struggle in solidarity with Egyptian and Tunisian workers," said Sabau. "The agenda of the meeting was the revolt in Egypt and Tunisia - what lessons can be learnt for the working class in Zimbabwe and Africa. Videos of the uprising in Egypt and revolts in Tunisia were being shown to the guests who attended as a way to motivate the people to subvert a constitutionally-elected government." Sabau said police would not allow any plots to take Zimbabwe the Egypt way and would clamp down mercilessly on plotters of any revolts.

Human Rights Watch has issued the following statement: "The Zimbabwe authorities should immediately free the activists and drop these outrageous charges," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Arresting people for watching a video on the historic events in the Middle East is a transparent pretext to block peaceful criticism of the government."

Mugabe, the 87 year old president who has held power since 1980, has announced plans for an election this year and Human Rights Watch has documented a corresponding increase in brutality and intimidation particularly directed at anyone associated with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. Gwisai is a former MDC MP.

The MDC party has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of the 46 prisoners.

It is inconceivable for the police to assume that a mere 46 people can topple a government by simply viewing old video footage from Tunisia and Egypt. The video material is already in the public domain and can be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the world. The actions by the police are a clear sign that the guilty are always afraid.

We are concerned by the continued abuse of State machinery by ZANU PF to suppress the people’s views for narrow political gains by ZANU PF officials. We find it strange that the police can find the machinery and manpower to arrest innocent people when it is failing to do the same to ZANU PF hooligans who are fanning political violence in Mbare and in the rural areas."

It should be noted that although Mugabe and his loyalists have thrown many charges of treason at more than just a few people in the thirty years since Mugabe took power, the resultant trials have not resulted in any convictions at all.

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Given that Mugabe has fired the opening salvo with the arrest of 40-odd activists for watching events of television and is intending to charge them with treason - for which they could be sentenced to death, and then there is the intended million man march which is supposed to take place throughout the country on Tuesday, I was quite intrigued that ZANU PF ministers should email a British based Zimbabwean newspaper - albeit anonymously - to indicate their support of such a venture.

"This afternoon The Zimbabwe Mail has received surprise emails from three senior ZANU PF officials who are cabinet Ministers in the coalition government backing the proposed "Zimbabwe Million Citizen March".

We also received emails from two Diplomats and one from a senior Police Commissioner and army officers, both serving and retired.

Our technical team are also trying to verify some emails of support which have been flooding since yesterday.

The Ministers who requested that their names remain secret were very supportive and urged those organising the march not to give in or relent in the face of brutality.

One Minister also warned those organising to watch out for Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He said "Ngwena" is preparing a pre-emptive strike.

Thank you "Comrade Ministers" for your words of advice."

Obviously, Mugabe will frown at this quiet support - but will, in all probability, brazen it out, ensuring that the police, the army, the air force, war veterans and youth militia are all on hand to attempt to stop, thwart and disrupt any such event in the country.

Anyone arrested on Tuesday will probably join the numbers of those arrested already and will be charged with treason as well.

The freedom of assembly and the freedom of political choice will be usurped by any and every weapon Mugabe has in his arsenal.

I, personally, do believe that Tuesday will prove to be a very bloody day in Zimbabwean history.

-o00o-

Gaddafi's private aircraft is allegedly parked and ready for a quick getaway, loaded with gold. Even if this is the case, is Zimbabwe really his destination of choice?

We have to remember that former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Miriam lives in relative security in Zimbabwe (he does have a sentence of death on his head - but, because he lives in some sort of political asylum in Zimbabwe, it will never be carried out), whilst we have also read stories of how some of those responsible for the Rwanda/Burundi genocide are living in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe sure knows how to pick them...

"Embattled Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is said to be readying to flee the country, a London-based Libyan political activist claimed yesterday, as the rebellion crept closer to Tripoli and forces loyal to Col Gaddafi struck back in several cites surrounding the capital.

"Gaddafi's private plane is loaded with gold bullion and lots of hard currency, mainly dollars, and is preparing to flee to Zimbabwe to stay there with his friend Robert Mugabe," Mr Guma el-Gamaty told Australian broadcaster ABC yesterday, quoting "quite reliable sources".

"We think this could happen very shortly because the Security Council is threatening to impose a no-fly zone and we think that Gaddafi will try to escape before this no-fly zone is imposed, possibly by tomorrow."

Obviously, much of this is supposition. Gaddafi has stated in national television that he will not be leaving the country and is ready to die a 'martyr'.

"Meanwhile, Libya's borders with neighbours Egypt and Tunisia were no longer manned by the Libyan army, according to reports."

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 24th February 2011

Howzit

The "Print on Demand" publisher Lulu has made a serious change in their printing prices, and have been able to reduce the price to the author, which means that I am in the fortunate position to be able to drop the price of my book to customers.

In this age of austerity, it is a rather welcome change to the ever-increasing price of anything and everything.

So - in line with the dropped price - I am able to amend the price of a printed book down to £9.99 (a 30% reduction) and the ebook download to £5.00.

All I can say is a huge thanks to Lulu, and encourage those of you who would like to read my story of events in the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Matabeleland province during the Gukurahundi, to take advantage of the price drop.

Click on the graphic above to visit my
Lulu vendor page...

-o00o-

You may recall that yesterday I published an article that would suggest a public uprising in Zimbabwe would not work to dislodge Mugabe. With that article in mind, I see that an email has been ciculated by a "Dr Menoi" calling for a 'million march' on Tuesday next week calling for the immediate resignation of Robert Mugabe...

I could repeat that march call, but feel right now that it would be perhaps remiss of me and that many people would get involved in a situation that could result in much bloodshed, and will give Mugabe another excuse to tighten his grip on power.

-o00o-

We have got to recognise that Mugabe's army is probably best deployed within Zimbabwe if he intends to hang on to power there. Sending 'crack' troops to 'assist' Gaddafi may get him some brownie points, but will not help his own situation at home.

These reports are unconfirmed.

"There are unconfirmed reports doing the rounds in Zimbabwe State intelligence circles saying President Robert Mugabe has sent troops from his Commando crack unit to Libya to save his long time ally and financier Colonel Muammaur Gaddafi.

The accuracy of these allegations have not been not been verified but plausible bags of evidence based on the relationship between the two leaders are hugely backing the reports.

Libya’s ambassador to India, who resigned following a crackdown on protests, told Reuters on Tuesday that African mercenaries were being used by the authorities, prompting some army troops to switch sides to the opposition.

In Harare the rumour mill in the intelligence and military circles said a chartered Russian aircraft flew into Harare on Monday evening and left for Libya early Tuesday morning carrying troops from the crack Commando Unit."

I am not even sure if Mugabe has a 'crack' unit as he has diverted so much money from defence budgets to personal accounts that there probably isn't the money he needs to effect this deployment.

The other question is that a deployment of this nature would be unilateral and against the GPA - but Mugabe couldn't care if it is within the scope of the agreement. If he wants to do it, he will.

"Last night the Libyan leader signaled his defiance in the face of a mounting revolt against his 41-year rule, making bizarre sporadic appearances on state television living up to his eccentric gamesmanship in a desperate effort to show up his waning power.

Swathed in brown robes, Gaddafi seethed and banged a podium on Tuesday outside one of his residences that was damaged in a 1986 US air strike aiming to kill him. Next to him stood a monument of a fist crushing a US fighter jet."

I remember years ago, whilst I was still at school, it was almost a tacit understanding that WWIII, often referred to as the "Armageddon", would begin in Africa...

-o00o-

I find this rather interesting. Citywire have put together a list of 10 coutries that are believed to be vulnerable to public uprisings after Libya.

Their list reads as follows:

1) Bahrain
2) Yemen
3) Zimbabwe
4) Algeria
5) Madagascar
6) Jordan
7) Syria
8) Iran
9) Morocco
10) Saudi Arabia

and their preamble about Zimbabwe reads:

"Zimbabwe is next on the list, after Egypt and Tunisia. The land-locked African country has been ruled by president Robert Mugabe singlehandedly from 1980 until 2009, from which point on by Mugabe in a power-sharing government with his political rival, Morgan Tsvangirai. The Economist Intelligence Unit gives Zimbabwe a vulnerability score of 7.6, ranking it 146 in the unit’s Democracy Index.

While there are many differences between the country and the Arab nations swept by revolutions, the regime fears similar protests by its people, who are among the world’s poorest. Police recently arrested dozens of students, trade unionists and political activists who gathered to watch news reports on the uprisings on suspicion of plotting to oust President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported a police spokesman as saying the meeting’s agenda was "Revolt in Egypt and Tunisia: What lessons can be learnt by Zimbabwe and Africa?"

-o00o-

And Mugabe has decided to draw first blood by charging the 45 (some reports say 46, others 48) people who were arrested for watching the Egyptian uprisings on television with treason.

The allegation is that the people were studying the uprisings with a view to carrying out similar actions in Zimbabwe - the charge is treason.

Treason, according to Wikipedia is "is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of betrayal of one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a lesser superior was petit treason. A person who commits treason is known in law as a traitor.

Oran's Dictionary of the Law 1983) defines treason as "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]." In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aided or involved by such an endeavour."

If this is the definition, then I fail to see the crime...

"Zimbabwean authorities on Wednesday charged a total of 45 students, trade unionists and activists with treason, accusing them of watching news videos of the uprising in Egypt and plotting to topple Zimbabwe’s autocratic president, Robert Mugabe, 87, who has been in power since 1980. If convicted, they face sentences of life in prison or death. Human rights lawyers say the accused are innocent and were merely engaged in an academic discussion about events in Egypt."

-o00o-

Find an unprocessed, recently mined diamond in Zimbabwe and you will find a route to the very heart of ZANU PF.

Mugabe obviously breathed a huge sigh of relief when the diamonds were found, but not because it could assist in the rebuilding of a country which his administration has wrecked, but because the monies gained from the sale of the precious stone, whether legal or illegal, would be the monitory base with which he would be able to enforce his rule in Zimbabwe.

"Finance Minister, Tendai Biti appears to have hit a raw nerve when he called for an audit of Zimbabwe’s diamond sales. Suddenly, ZANU PF activists appear caught unawares and with their backs to the wall, they are all baying for Biti’s blood. As a result, there are growing fears that Zimbabwe’s diamond sales may be the ‘smoking gun’.

After successfully blocking a land audit, it is understandable that Mugabe allies would not be forced to open Pandora’s box without a fight. It is however, imperative that there be an urgent and thorough forensic investigation into Zimbabwe’s diamond sales before the rich deposits get depleted without benefiting the country. There is so much at stake hence the secrecy and resistance within ZANU PF and military hierarchy to any public scrutiny of the diamond sales that you would be excused for thinking they are party assets."

A couple of days ago, we read of Jonathan Moyo's call for Tendai Biti's arrest because he called for the audit. As Finance Minister, he has every right to call for such an account examination. The money received for the sale of the diamonds belongs to the country, not to Mugabe or ZANU PF.

Bear in mind that Moyo is a political turncoat par excellence.

"The major propaganda offensive launched by Mugabe’s spin-doctors in the government media against Tendai Biti in particular and the MDC party led by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in general, seems to lend credit to the Shona saying: "Kunzwa chati kwatara, hunge uine katurike. Only the guilty one is worried about an investigation." The wave of arrests on trumped up charges seems to have been activated by Mugabe’s loyalists."

-o00o-

Requesting Mugabe to back off on violence against the people, MDC and associated activists is rather like making a polite request to Adolf Hitler to stop persecuting the Jews. And we all know how that panned out...

"Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party has urged the power-sharing government to stop malicious prosecutions of its legislators and civil society activists.

The MDC made the call after a week of "persistent abuse of the law" against scores of its legislators and perceived opponents of ZANU PF, capped by the arrest of former MDC legislator and socialist Munyaradzi Gwisai on Saturday.

The police rounded up 46 people, including Gwisai, during a lecture organised by the Zimbabwe branch of the International Socialist Organization where footage of the revolution in Egypt was shown during a discussion titled: "What lessons can be learnt by the working class in Zimbabwe and Africa?"

Police allege Gwisai and dozens others were planning to stage Egypt-style mass uprisings in Zimbabwe."

I would assume the proving of the allegations in court would prove rather difficult - assuming that the norms of criminal court protocol are observed, but even the pro-Mugabe unilaterally appointed Attorney-General saw fit to try and pull the wool over the eyes of the court in the case against Roy Bennett - and he was never charged with any wrongdoing, or punished for his attempted falsehoods.

Whilst I do understand the need for the MDC to at least put their request for fair play into writing and hand it over to ZANU PF, if only for record purposes, the idea that ZANU PF will actually accede to the demands of that party will never happen.

ZANU PF only knows violence, intimidation, oppression, death and destruction.

The MDC have the mission to effect government change and the rule of Zimbabwe to be democratic to be achieved by democratic means.

Mugabe calls Zimbabwe a 'sovereign' country and he also makes the claim that Zimbabwe is a democracy. Not so. A democracy is, "even though there is no specific, universally accepted definition of 'democracy', equality and freedom have been identified as important characteristics of democracy since ancient times. These principles are reflected in all citizens being equal before the law and having equal access to power. For example, in a representative democracy, every vote has equal weight, no restrictions can apply to anyone wanting to become a representative, and the freedom of its citizens is secured by legitimized rights and liberties which are generally protected by a constitution".

There is nothing even approaching democracy when it comes to a ZANU PF rule. Mugabe will only look after himself and his party, help himself to the national purse, steal the national resources, and bludgeon his way into remaining in the top spot.

In any society, that is a dictatorship.

"Meanwhile, Nyanga North MP, Douglas Mwonzora, is currently in remand prison after the State invalidated a bail ruling on Monday by invoking the draconian Section 121 subsection (3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

Mwonzora and 24 MDC activists were granted $50 bail each by a Nyanga magistrate on Monday but were remanded in custody after the State invoked the law that gives permission to keep a person in jail for seven days even if bail has been granted.

The MDC said it was concerned by the upsurge in the arrests and harassment of its officials, activists and supporters on what it called "trumped–up charges" of political violence. ZANU PF has used its control of the security forces and the judiciary to harass, abduct and torture those it considers opponents while Mugabe’s supporters have continued to attack MDC supporters in total disregard of the rule of law.

The MDC reported the detention of Roger Tazviona of Zhombe and scores of MDC supporters in Kwekwe on political violence charges. Tazviona was again granted bail by a Kwekwe magistrate but the State invoked Section 121. The MDC said it was dismayed by the continued abuse of the criminal justice system following the summoning of six Masvingo MPs to court on allegations of disrupting a meeting that was being addressed by self-styled war veteran, Jabulani Sibanda last weekend.

MPs Tongai Matutu (Masvingo Urban), Heya Shoko (Bikita West), Edmore Marima (Bikita East), Jani Varandani (Bikita South), Enerst Mudavanhu (Zaka North) and Zaka Senator Misheck Marava have been ordered to appear in court on March 28 for trial. They are facing charges of ordering villagers at Makotore Business Centre in Bikita to disperse from Sibanda’s meeting which the MDC said was "forced".

"We find it strange that only members of the MDC are being arrested when it is very clear that it is Zanu (PF), with the partisan police force, are perpetrating political violence," said the MDC.

The party continues to restrain its members from retaliating. "The party knows that ZANU PF is on its way out of the Zimbabwean political scene," the party statement said."

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 23rd February 2011

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

-o00o-

We have all watched the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt - and now, of course, the current rebellion in Libya. Many people have wondered whether the same can happen in Zimbabwe and if the people would be able to dislodge Mugabe from his 31-year reign of terror against the population.

Perhaps not.

"Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is unlikely to be forced out by a popular uprising like those in Egypt and Tunisia and plans to entrench his 31-year rule through elections later this year, analysts said.

His election plans have angered impoverished Zimbabweans and led to clashes between supporters of the ruling ZANU PF party and those of the MDC, formerly the main opposition, now his uneasy coalition partner.

The protests which toppled Hosni Mubarak and Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in Egypt and Tunisia have not gone unnoticed in Zimbabwe but Mugabe's supporters have vowed to keep their elderly leader in power.

Political analysts say that while conditions are ripe for mass anti-government protests, and Zimbabweans follow events in the Arab world on satellite television, the ruling party's tight control of the security forces and state institutions mean protests are unlikely to succeed.

Also, the internet and mobile phones were used extensively in Egypt and Tunisia to coordinate protests, but this would be difficult in Zimbabwe where just over half the population have mobile phones and only 12 percent have access to the Internet."

Zimbabwean authorities are so determined to deter people from even thinking about a civil uprising that the police have arrested almost 50 people for meeting together and watching the events on television that led to the fall of Mubarak.

"The army and police have a long history of cracking down on opposition protests, and in the 1980s North Korean-trained Zimbabwean troops killed thousands when they crushed a five-year insurgency in Matabeleland province.

Elections since 2002 have also been marked by violent state crackdowns on the opposition. A disputed 2008 election was marred by violence which the MDC says was orchestrated by the military and left more than 200 of its supporters dead.

Security chiefs, many of whom have been given farms seized from white farmers, say they would not accept a president who did not fight in the 1970s independence war, a reference to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe's long-time rival.

"It is not easy to get crowds onto streets in Zimbabwe, as the security apparatus is thoroughly controlled by ZANU PF and they have not hesitated to intimidate and inflict pain on dissenters or opposition members willing to protest," said Mark Schroeder, sub-Saharan Africa analyst at Stratfor."

Mugabe has a penchant for punishing the Zimbabwean population for his shortcomings.

Having bullied, lied and cheated his way to the top, Mugabe is intent on using the same method in remaining in office. There can be no doubt now that Mugabe is determined to die in office, and, in so doing, ensure that ZANU PF stay on top.

Regardless of the popular mandate, ZANU PF continue to act as if they are the chosen party to rule Zimbabwe, and no amount of opposition, resistance or civil action will change that view.

"Security forces arrested dozens of activists at the weekend on charges of plotting protests against Mugabe similar to those that toppled the Egyptian and Tunisian leaders.

As in Egypt, Tunisia and several Arab countries, Zimbabweans are battling high levels of poverty and unemployment, decaying infrastructure, diminishing freedoms, police brutality and corrupt elites who continue to amass wealth.

But there the similarities end.

"It is hard to imagine Zimbabweans can rise against the government. I think it is possible but then the culture of fear is just too much and not without reason," said Martin Chimeda, who says he was brutalised by ZANU PF members in 2008 for organising for the MDC.

Analysts say ZANU PF's control of key state institutions and use of state violence against defenceless citizens have crushed people's willingness to rise against the ruling party.

Mugabe, whom critics accuse of wrecking the economy with policies such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms, has led the country since independence from Britain in 1980.

After a decade of economic collapse and his violent re-election in 2008, Mugabe was forced into a fragile coalition with opposition leader Tsvangirai which has managed to stabilise the economy and ease political tension.

The economy last year grew for the second consecutive year, ending shortages of basic goods, fuel and foreign currency, though poverty and unemployment levels remain high.

Now hope has turned to anger as billions in foreign aid, expected after the unity government was formed in 2009, failed to arrive because Western donors and investors were still waiting for real political and economic reforms."

-o00o-

This is a laugh... does the MDC really think that the SADC 'mediator' is going to assist them in preventing any further acts of violence in Zimbabwe?

"Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s formation of the co-governing Movement for Democratic Change is asking South African President Jacob Zuma to intervene to halt what it calls an escalating crackdown on opponents of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party which is destabilizing the unity government.

Mr Zuma, mediator in Zimbabwe for the Southern African Development Community, sent a team of facilitators back to Harare on Tuesday to in a bid to patch up the frayed unity government. Zuma foreign policy advisor Lindiwe Zulu said the team is following up on a road-map to elections and lingering issues related to the 2008 Global Political Agreement for power sharing which is the basis of the two-year-old unity government.

She confirmed facilitators will meet the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee late Tuesday and meet Wednesday with negotiators for the three governing parties."

Zuma is pro-Mugabe, always has been and always will. His remit as mediator in the cross-party negotiations has proved that. He does nothing and intends to do nothing.

For him, Mugabe is the man. Mugabe has an incredible following by numerous African leader - perhaps because he is showing them the way to behave when the chips are down.

Nobody in the world is prepared to face down Mugabe for his actions. And ZANU PF will state, upon his demise, that he was never convicted of any crime to do with human rights or criminal activity. That alone will be enough for them to vindicate his/their actions.

"Sources said the top item on the agenda - at least for the MDC - was the recent surge in political violence, continuing invasions of white-owned property, and alleged hate speech carried in state-controlled media including radio, television and newspapers.

The facilitators undertook to consult with JOMIC - established to measure compliance with the Global Political Agreement - more frequently to better follow the situation on the ground. JOMIC sources said the facilitators expressed concern about reported violence.

Tsvangirai MDC sources said they will present the facilitators with documentation on incidents of violence they say were perpetrated by ZANU PF militants, the police and the army, and would urge Mr Zuma to personally involve himself without further delay.

MDC ministers confronted their ZANU PF counterparts about the alleged crackdown in a heated cabinet meeting on Tuesday, sources said.

Political analyst Trevor Maisiri told VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu that Southern African leaders must change tactics in Harare to get power sharing back on track, and that Zimbabwe needs a full-time mediator 'monitoring events every day'."

Obviously Zuma is not taking his mission seriously, and SADC, for some unknown reason, have decided to stick with a mediator who a) cannot and will not do his job, and b) sees no wrong in actually doing nothing.

-o00o-

"The US State Department says that Robert Mugabe had failed to heed the lessons from Arab revolts against longtime autocrats after the arrest of scores of Zimbabweans who met to discuss them.

"Activists meet in Zimbabwe to discuss the implications of Egypt and Tunisia and end up arrested. Mugabe did not learn the right lessons," spokesman Philip Crowley wrote on the micro-blogging website Twitter.

Zimbabwean police had detained a former lawmaker and 46 others at a meeting discussing the protests in Egypt which pushed president Hosni Mubarak out of power after a 30-year-reign, a lawyer said Monday.

"They were picked up late Saturday afternoon at a meeting where they were discussing the events in Egypt and whether other countries would follow what happened there," attorney and rights activist Rose Hanzi told AFP.

Among the arrested were Munyaradzi Gwisai, a university lecturer and former lawmaker from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, members of the audience and some passers-by.

Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has been nominated by his party to stand again for president in elections expected later this year, which will end his shaky power-sharing government with long-time rival Tsvangirai."

-o00o-

Mugabe has, in the last 31 years, surrounded himself with ZANU PF apologists and people who put him and the party above the needs and wants of the Zimbabwean people.

To the point that his underlings are falling over themselves to be included in birthday messages each year. And the messages that they have published are, to one degree or another, self-serving as they show the huge following he has, even if those who write the messages are aware that they can be wiped from the face of the Earth with a single order from Mugabe.

"George Charamba’s discerning message on the occasion of president’s Mugabe’s 87th birthday couldn’t have gone unnoticed.

"The Joy of being Mugabe’s Spokesman", was the heading of the article which paradoxically appeared in one of the major online publications that Charamba would traditionally regard as antagonistic. Disguised as a birthday message, there appears to have been more to it.

"To work with the President can be great fun. You meet a legend who is so ordinary, a myth which is so human", says the loquacious and longest-serving presidential spokesman. Reading through the well-thought-out accolade, one could wonder if Charamba was delivering a valedictory speech, some kind of eulogy or both. Some of the mesmerised readers were made to recall one of the most recycled quotes in ancient literature "I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him". In his own words, Charamba said "I have worked with the President for slightly over two decades, clearly his longest serving Press Secretary to date, possibly ever" It will be interesting to know your own inference of this bold but unusual statement.

Reading between the lines, one gets the impression that something might be brewing in the corridors of power. Of late, the articulate Charamba whose command of the English language is by any measure impressive, has curiously eased from his seemingly radical stance and adopted a style which has a semblance of professionalism, proactivity and accommodativeness. He surprised as well as won the respect of many when he recently disclosed that the president had gone to Singapore for a post-operation review. Considering that the president can never be a private person, this information was plausible and literally killed the rumour machine. Interestingly, this was after those talented with hiding the truth thereby causing unnecessary speculation had gone on rooftops assassinating every media that had covered the story. Unsurprisingly, one of them was the shameless architect of the Daily News bombing who is still frantically trying to find a lucrative office in Harare, but in vain.

The speculation now is that the same sycophant, having realized that both Webster Shamu and Rugare Gumbo are firmly entrenched in their respective positions therefore cannot be dislodged any time some; may have shifted his focus towards Charamba’s office. The other supposition is that Gushungo may have confided in Charamba that time to relinquish power, retire peacefully and focus on memoirs and farming was now fast approaching. What else could have led the typically defensive presidential spokesman to circulate such an article as the one in question?

Nevertheless, if you were to ask people the difference between Jonathan Moyo and George Charamba, the common response would probably be that the latter engages his brains before opening his mouth while the former does the diametric opposite. Like him or hate him, Charamba seems to have some kind of a congenital gift of oratory that no one can take from. On the opposite end of the political spectrum, I would probably equate him with Nelson Chamisa, Obert Gutu or a few others. We expect more of this kind of truthfulness in the coming months.

Reflecting on the past including the Willowgate scandal, Charamba dispelled the one notion that has been around since independence, being that the president is an infallible human being who is only unlucky to be surrounded by ministers who mislead him from time to time.

Charamba says there are some who see the president as "a leader who does not know, who is misled and smothered by a parapet of official duplicity. That, too, is another variant to the same myth of vulnerability. I have always thought the President often brings that upon himself". What this statement confirms is that the president is equally culpable for the errors of judgment or sins of commission or omission by his trusted lieutenants over the three decades he has been leading the nation for he alone had the power to hire and fire.

Delivering the kind of praise characteristic of a funeral speech, Charamba goes on to describe the president as "a long-time teacher, a commander, a skillful negotiator, a husband, a father, a Catholic, he has met humanity in its diverse frailties".

On awareness of everyday issues, Charamba tells us that the president "can look detached, even oblivious to developments around him, while actively taking in the outrage, understanding it before finally taking a position". So here you are, those who have always argued that Gushungo was surrounded by people who ill-advise him. The truth is he knows everything that happens around him though he may take time to act. So the recent postulation by some that he wasn’t aware of the violence happening around the country particularly the poor township of Mbare, simply falls away, unless if his spokesman got it all wrong.

On Willowgate, we are told that Dr Elleck Mashingaidze, then CIO boss, said in one of the routine briefing sessions "Aa-ah Shefu ngazvichipera izvi. Zvanyanya kani. Chistoppai izvi Shefu". Gushungo’s response was "the process will continue and remedial action has to be taken-ka, Dr Mashingaidze". This is clear demonstration of the fact that the president is informed of and makes decisions on any major event or process affecting his party as well as the country. Also, the presidential spokesman hints that those who break the laws of the land can only be prosecuted or let free on the orders of the president. Whether this is in tandem with the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary, your guess is as good as mine.

Mashingaidza is said to have gone on pleading "Shefu, how far do you want to go? Zvakwana kani shefu. Mavakudestabiliza system. Mavakuwuraya party kani Shefu". This is the very kind of mental model inherent in most of our current security bosses; they put the interest of the party ahead of that of the country. Is it then unfair to say in its current form, the security service is undoubtedly partisan and terribly compromised?

Another interesting point Charamba makes is that president Mugabe never signs a document before scrutinizing it. To demonstrate this, he says that the late Dr Jokonya once brought a pile of paperwork to the president for signing and only flipped to the pages that needed the president’s signature. After a bit of pestering for a signature by Jokonya, Gushungo is said to have said "Dr Jokonya, my name is Robert Mugabe; not Robot Mugabe! Do you hear?" This again shows how informed the president is and has always been.

Thanks Charamba for seemingly opening up of late. At least the nation now appreciates that we have not had a semi-god at State House for three decades. You have effectively portrayed the president’s human side many of us did not know about. Coincidentally, there seems to be a bit of toning down in some sections of the state media. This is great for our nation. However, the big question remains; was yours simply a birthday message or farewell speech?"

-o00o-

ZANU PF very seldom allow their people to end up in court, let alone be arrested by the pro-Mugabe police force - but sometimes, their actions are to well documented and have gone beyond even the ZANU PF remit, so Mugabe allows 'justice' to take its course.

Of course, we must be aware that 'justice' on ZANU PF members is an entirely different thing from 'justice' for MDC members, or, indeed, Zimbabweans who have no political connections.

"Ten ZANU PF youths, who severely assaulted a Masvingo central chief who is currently battling for his life in the Intensive Care Unit of a private hospital, are expected in court on Wednesday.

The rowdy youths accused chief Murinye of instructing his people not to donate gifts for President Robert Mugabe’s birthday party which is expected to be held this weekend. The chief was left for dead when the youths assaulted him with logs, clenched fists, sjamboks and knobkerries at a party function at Boroma school.

Mugabe turned 87 years olf on Monday."

There is a huge difference in donating cash or gifts to the President's birthday bash and being forced to part with your money or goods to allegedly be received by the President. But ZANU PF don't have that sort of dictionary.

As far as they are concerned, if you live in Zimbabwe, then you owe the President something for his birthday.

The question which I have to ask is what sort of record is kept of the ;donations'? How do these unruly youth members account for the 'gifts'?

"ZANU PF youths have been moving around the rural areas in the province demanding villagers to pay US$10 in cash or donate their livestock in form of chickens, goats and even cattle for the president’s traditional lavish bash.

Radio VOP has been told that the chief had advised the people in his area that the donations for the President’s birthday were not compulsory and told those who could not afford not to worry themselves.

His sentiments did not go down well with the youths who labelled him a sell-out and an Movement Democratic Change chief.

Although Masvingo Police spokesperson, Inspector Tinaye Matake refused to comment over the matter, a police officer at Muchakata who declined to be named, said the youths were still in custody as some of them were still on the run.

"We have arrested some of them but we can’t tell you their number and names as this will jeopardize investigations as some of them are on the run and we have launched a man hunt," said the source."

It is a common practise in Zimbabwe that some of the ZANU PF members are dragged to court, sentenced to imprisonment - and then, very shortly thereafter they are released having earned their colours...

If the same had been perpetrated by MDC members, they would spend the rest of their natural lives behind bars in Mugabe's stinking prisons.

"The Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC-T Masvngo central Legislator, Jefferson Chitando condemned ZANU PF for victimising traditional leaders who were perceived opposition sympathisers.

"It is sad to note that this is the same party that is ever preaching about respecting traditional leaders in our communities."

I also note that ZANU PF are blaming the increase in violence in Zimbabwe upon the MDC, and yet here we have numerous individuals being taken to court for beating a chief to within an inch of his life.

-o00o-

In typical pro-ZANU style, the police have turned their backs on allegations that Ignatius Chombo has gained his huge wealth through devious, illegal and underhanded means. There should also be no surprise that the ZRP want to have a chat with the individual who lodged the complaint.

"The combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has reacted with fury to comments by the police that corruption allegations against Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo are 'nothing but media hype'.

CHRA recently filed charges against Chombo, for fraudulently acquiring vast tracts of land in Harare. Instead of launching investigations against the minister police have indicated they want to question Simbarashe Moyo, the CHRA chairperson who filed the complaint.

"Police left a note at our offices stating that I should report to Harare central police station for questioning. Obviously I did not do that for fear they will arrest me. This is intended to silence me," Moyo said. Police have also claimed the media has waged a vendetta against Chombo.

Moyo told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that he personally submitted overwhelming evidence, pointing to the fact that Chombo converted vast tracks of land within the city of Harare for personal use.

Politicians and ordinary Zimbabweans had been wondering just how the ZANU PF minister amassed such a 'spectacular' fortune and property portfolio in the last decade, while earning a modest civil servant’s salary."

You may recall the list of Chombo's 'assets' when the documents pertaining to his divorce were made public. In in country, anywhere is the world, the listing would have been impressive, but in Zimbabwe we are just supposed to accept that he has this vast empire and that is that.

Either that or the Zimbabwe Republic Police are siding with the minister, and that is not the first time that we know this sort of thing occurs.

"Chombo’s riches were revealed in damning court documents, after his wife of 25 years Marian, filed for a hefty divorce pay-out last year.

Court documents revealed Chombo has tentacles in virtually all sectors of the economy. They include interests in several farms, mines, hunting safari lodges in Chiredzi, Hwange, Magunje and Chirundu, as well as properties in South Africa. Local properties include 75 residential and commercial stands, plus 14 houses and 5 flats, all dotted around the country. And there are also 15 vehicles.

The CHRA chairperson said; "We have long seen that ZANU PF ministers appear virtually unaccountable. When you belong to ZANU PF and are corrupt you get protection from the police. In fact you are above the law and don’t face problems with the police.

"But when you’re corrupt and belong to the opposition, you will be exposed to the full wrath of the law," Moyo added."

It is a well-known fact in Africa that if you are connected with any political party that holds power in any country (even if that power is held unlawfully) that you will get away with anything - including murder...

-o00o-

I am not happy when I read about Zimbabweans living in the diaspora letting us all down with their criminal escapades. This one really struck home, the outlaw receiving 12 years imprisonment for his actions.

"A Zimbabwean man has been jailed for 12 years in Cardiff, Wales, for the armed street obbery of a vulnerable woman.

Logan Ntandoyenkosi Madaka, 20, got the harshest sentence after entering a 'not guilty' plea, while three other men escaped with lesser sentences by pleading guilty.

South African Bongane Peter, 22, will serve eight years, while brothers Donald Ajala and David Ajala were sentenced to 11 and eight years respectively.

The Cardiff Crown Court heard the men - all from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - were caught after they did not have enough change to pay for car parking.

A warden issued a ticket with their car’s registration and this led police straight to the gang.

Detective Constable Mark Saunders, of Cathays CID in Cardiff, said the discovery of the parking ticket was the crucial breakthrough in a case that shocked experienced police officers.

Just days earlier, two of the four men pointed imitation handguns at 23-year-old Elizabeth Mann's face and chest and snatched her handbag, which contained just £20 and a few items including a mobile phone and an umbrella.

The midnight robbery outside the Aston Martin showroom on North Road, Cardiff, on Friday, July 30, last year, was so unusual it has been described as 'off the radar' by Detective Sergeant Stuart Wales, also of Cathays CID.

"It didn’t fit normal crime patterns. We just couldn’t believe someone would go to those lengths for such a low reward," he said.

"It doesn’t happen in Cathays, it doesn’t happen in Cardiff and it doesn’t really happen in South Wales."

But it did... and, if you're gonna do the crime, be prepared to do the time.

"University student and trainee pilot Logan Madaka denied the charges, claiming he knew nothing about the robbery, had stayed in the car during the incident and had simply come to Cardiff with the other men to buy a car.

Cardiff Crown Court Judge Stephen Hopkins, QC, sent the men away for a total of 39 years.

After sentencing, a family spokesman for the Madaka family said they were 'devastated'.

"This all happened two days after Logan returned from America for his flying practise. He accepted the invitation to go to Cardiff from his friends who told him Bongane’s mother had given her son money to buy a car," the spokesman said.

"Logan had £600 in his bank card, and had his mother’s bank card on him with over £1,000. Just how he got caught up in this is difficult to understand, but he maintains that he was not involved in the robbery.

"The sentence handed down by the judge is in the high end of what people get for this sort of crime and we are consulting lawyers with a view of launching an appeal against both conviction and sentence."

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu