Zimbabwe: Outpost of Tyranny

Diaspora voting: Open to Manipulation by Mugabe & Co.?

Normblog has an interesting selection of articles up in a post today including analysis by one observer suggesting that Diaspora voting could actually be used by ZANU-PF to its own favor through fraud.

There are a number of international and other organizations equipped to assist in "out of country" or diaspora voting.  IOM (International Organization for Migration) is the principal one that comes to mind.  IOM has considerable experience in organising and managing external registration and voting and in support for the inclusion of refugee and displaced populations in the electoral processes. It has organized significant out-of country votes for Bosnia, Kosovo, East TImor, Afghanistan and Iraq.  According to its web site:

IOM's out-of-area voting has cumulatively reached over 70 different countries, hundreds of thousands of verified nationals eligible to exercise their right to vote, in a combination of mail and in-person procedures in the largest external voting programmes to date.

Two other American organizations, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Support) and IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) also have expertise in the area of "out-of-country" voting.

So, with proper third party supervision, there is reason to believe that it would be possible to organize fair and verifiable diaspora voting--that would not be prone to manipulation by ZANU-PF.  This would be especially important for the 1.5 million estimated eligible Zimbabwean voters residing in South Africa.

University of Zimbabwe Opens for New Year: Thousands of Students Evicted from Campus Housing Still Homeless.

(Apologies for the light blogging these past two weeks...more regular posting in the weeks to come)

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) opened its doors on Monday for the new academic year while there still has been no resolution to the plight of the thousands of students who were evicted from university housing during the last exam period.  Student activists estimate that between 4,000 and 5,600 students were affected. The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), in a report issued last week (“It’s Politics Stupid: A Report on the Mass Evictions of resident Students at the University of  Zimbabwe, July 2007.”) stated that hundreds of students were injured when the vice-chancellor of the university, Levy Nyagura, sent riot police in on July 9th to evict the students, charging that they had destroyed university property on the 3rd and 7th of July during student demonstrations against tuition increases. Student leaders charge that the government has targeted students as a part of a political strategy to demobilize and disperse their forces.  Not only are these students out of a place to live, but they no longer have an affordable option for food since all dining halls were also shut down;  many of the students formerly housed on campus come from comparatively poor families, have no relatives in Harare, and therefore have few alternative options to cover lodging and food expenses.    Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has brought a court case against the vice-chancellor, charging unlawful eviction but there has been no redress to date.  Student leaders predict that there could be further unrest and clashes with authorities if the problem is not resolved.

Leading Mugabe critic forced to resign as archbishop but vows to keep up campaign against Mugabe's Tyranny.

That is the title of an article on AFP.

As an Archbishop and before, as a Parish Priest, Pius Ncube was one of the most relentless voices denouncing Mugabe's policies of state-sponsored violence and torture--including the Gukurahundi massacre of the 1980s during which 20,000 persons were mowed down by Mugabe's forces.

Several months ago, he called for a humanitarian invasion of Zimbabwe to liberate its dying people from Mugabe.

In June he presided over a memorial service, which we attended, to mark the U.N.'s day honoring victims of torture. 

A couple of weeks later, he presided over the launch of a report by Solidarity Peace Trust, of which he is the Chairman, entitled "Destructive Engagement: Violence, Mediation and Politics in Zimbabwe." (Download destructive_engagement_solidarity_peace_trust_july_2007.doc )

A few days after the report's launch, the state-owned newspapers launched their attack on him.  The timing was no accident. 

"He Fought the Regime and the Regime Fought Back."

Leaving aside the fact that I have been doing a terrible job of blogging with anything like my usual frequency during the past 3 weeks, I had been unable to bring myself to post on the resignation of the former Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, because it is such a wrenching story.

I have gotten to know Pius some during the past year, attended a memorial service for victims of torture on the U.N.'s International Day in Solidarity with Torture Victims, over which he presided in Bulawayo, in June, etc.

He is a man of uncommon courage and committment, to the poor, to the victims of state-sponsored violence, torture and reporession.  He is to be compared with another great Catholic Archbishop who fought, and gave his life, for social justice in his own country, El Salvador, Oscar Romero (of whom, incidentally, Pius Ncube had a photo in a prominent place on the wall of his office).

The Global Development Briefing (www.DevelopmentEx.com) weekly newsletter this week was entitled "King Takes Bishop" and opened with this well stated summary of the current state of affairs:

"He fought the regime and the regime fought back."

-- Tendai Biti, the secretary general of one faction of Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change, on the resignation of Pius Ncube, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, a prominent critic of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, over an adultery scandal. Zimbabwe's state media in July published photographs of what it said was Bishop Ncube in bed with a married woman who worked for his parish. His lawyers called the allegations an orchestrated attempt to discredit him. He said he would work with ordinary people and would not be "silenced by the crude machinations of a wicked regime." In March, Bishop Ncube said he was prepared to stand in front of "blazing guns" at the front of street protests to bring down the government and urged other Zimbabweans to do the same. The news comes as the EU debates whether or not to invite Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to a planned summit with Africa. The EU and Africa want to hold their first summit in seven years this December in Portugal, but must first overcome the problem of whether to invite Mugabe, who is accused of human rights violations. Plans for the summit were on hold because some EU countries have refused to attend if Mugabe is there, while African countries have refused to come if he is barred.

Pathos and Misery in Mugabe's Zimbabwe

I was visiting some of the township areas yesterday morning with colleagues who work on community mobilization and providing social assistance to poor urban residents, especially to victims of "Operation Murambatsvina". Many of the estimated 700,000 persons whose homes were destroyed under that government operation in 2005 (Murambatsvina means "Clean out the Filth" in Shona) are still, 2 years later, living in the open in abominable conditions.  In Mbare, while we were chatting with a group of Murambatsvina survivors (mostly women and widows), one woman told us that she had discovered the body of a neighbor that very morning, 2 or 3 hours before our arrival. 

The woman proceeded to flip open the "door" to the shanty (which was nothing more than a piece of old tattered cloth), to reveal the body of a young woman on the ground.  The woman had no family members (not uncommon according to our colleagues) and her neighbors were afraid to report her death to the police, and had no money to have her body transported to the mortuary or for a burial. 

So they had just left the body inside the plastic and scrap covered shanty.  The woman, a neghbor, who'd discovered the body was the last to see the deceased woman alive, the night before around 8 PM.  She had said that she had not eaten in 3 days. Her neighbor did not have food to offer her but gave her water to drink.  When she looked in on her in the morning, she found her dead.

The neighbors of the woman said they were afraid to inform the police because they said the police considered them "criminals" and would beat them or even accuse them of killing the woman.

We organized the money to have the body taken to the mortuary and for a funeral and burial (the equivalent of $75.00).  Our colleagues said that there is usually a 2 to 3 day wait to have a plot at the cemetery (for which one must pay) because there are so many deaths happening each day.

This is the cost of the Mugabe regime's ruthless and sanguinary policies...

Police Arrest 60 at Funeral Home; Disrupt the Funeral of Murambatsvina Victim.

The police descended on the Nyaradzo Funeral Service at 120 Herbert Chitepo Avenue this morning around 9:15 and prevented a funeral service for the 24 year old Murambatsvina victim found dead in Mbare on Wednesday from proceeding.

The deceased, identified as Memory Jenaguru, had been living in the open in Mbare for the past 2 years.

The Combined Harare Residents Associations (CHRA), which provided support to the friends and family of the deceased for the  orgainzation of a funeral, released the following statement yesterday:

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) will tomorrow conduct a Murambatsvina solidarity service for the late Miss Memory Jenaguru who died in Mbare on Thursday. Memory Jenaguru (24) is amongst the thousands of people who were affected by Operation Murambatsvina, a governments sanctioned trail blazing destruction of backyard, formal and informal housing and vending units. CHRA found the lady dead near Mbare Musika during a tour. The relatives were stranded and had not reported the case to the Police for fear of victimization. The body was collected by Nyaradzo funeral service at 5:30 pm after the intervention of CHRA.  Individuals and Civic society organizations are therefore invited to attend a solidarity service at Nyaradzo funeral service.

The police arrested around 60 mourners, mostly women, and temporarily detained a female employee of the funeral home. 

The estimated 60 persons arrested were taken to the Central Police Station.  Lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have at this hour been denied access to those arrested.

More information as it arrives.

Mourners Released from Police Custody

The estimated 60 mourners arrested this morning at a downtown funeral home were released from custody at Harare Central Police Station today at around 3:00 P.M. 

This episode is a classic example of the Mugabe regime's policy of intimidation and coercion, a policy that seeks to cow the Zimbabwean population into submission through threats and terror. 

Muambatsvina Victim's Friends, Family Not Allowed to Carry out Funeral; ZANU Thugs Seize Body, Bury it Unceremoniously.

Studio 7 for Africa Has the Story.

Regime Unleashes Repression on Trade Unionists Ahead of Tomorrow's Planned Stay-Away

ALERT from ZImbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, just in my email inbox...

ZLHR INFO ALERT

National Human Rights Defenders Project

ZCTU stay away news flash

The Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU) of the National Human Rights Defenders Project remains on high alert in light of the impending ZCTU stay away and the resultant state repression and intimidation that is currently obtaining. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and their intelligence counterparts have mounted pre-emptive strikes meant to paralyse and disorient the ZCTU ahead of the planned stay away by targeting their organizers and office bearers in various provinces.

Below are the incidences reported so far:-

In Gweru one Isaac Teveteve, the Gweru Branch Secretary of the ZCTU, has been picked up by the police and detained today, 18 September 2007. ZLHR has deployed Mr Garikayi to handle the matter. We have been informed that the police have denied him access to his client. ZLHR is currently pursuing efforts to secure his release.

In Bulawayo today two ZCTU secretariat members, Mr Reason Ngwenya and Mr Ambrose Sibindi, were also picked up whilst one Mcijo is still being pursued by the police and intelligence operatives. ZLHR has since deployed a lawyer to attend to this case.

In a related operation today early in the morning Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) member, Magodonga Mahlangu, was picked up by the police. The RRU has deployed its member, Mr Kossam Ncube, to handle the case.

At least two incidents of attacks on ZCTU office bearers, including the National Organizer, have been reported in Harare. At least three individuals were detained initially in Mbare and have since been moved to Harare Central police station. Lawyers have not been able to take instructions, but it is believed that the three were assaulted before being detained. ZLHR lawyers are in the process of confirming reports and responding to the distress calls. Further updates will be availed in the next Alert.

****************************************************************************************************

Eddie Cross on the use of Food as Political Weapon

The Use of Food and Essential Needs as a Political Weapon

When the struggle against Zapu was at its height in the mid 80's,the Zanu PF
regime here used the distribution of food as a political weapon for the
first time. I recall it well because we were in a severe drought and there
was widespread shortage of food supplies from traditional sources. The 5th
Brigade was doing its "thing" in Matabeleland and although we knew all was
not well, we had scant idea of the full extent of that genocidal campaign.

In that year, the government cut off supplies from State controlled sources
and effectively said to the Ndebele people - if you continue to support
Zapu, one way or another you will die. This was no idle threat - they killed
at least 20 000 people in the campaign, more than had died in the liberation
of the country over many years and they controlled the basic staple foods
almost completely.

They did this by erecting roadblocks on all roads leading into the rural
areas in Matabeleland; these had instructions to stop the entry of media
practitioners and also all forms of basic foods. Relatives in the urban
areas and in South Africa could not reach their families with aid when
requested and no publicity of the operation was allowed.

In 1987, after 5 years of murder, mayhem and hardship, Zapu capitulated and
was absorbed into Zanu PF. There was little else they could do if their
people were to survive. The record of this savage political campaign is
published in the report "Breaking the Silence" now in book form.

At that time there was no threat to the hegemony of Zanu PF in Zimbabwe.
They dominated the political scene and held an overwhelming majority in
Parliament. Mugabe wanted more - he wanted a one Party State. He could not
tolerate any opposition.

Since then many new opposition voices have come and gone. One by one they
were eliminated by effective but less bloody techniques - infiltration,
subversion, bribery, threats and a media black out with propaganda. When
necessary they used violence - targeted and ruthless, or their economic
muscle to force leadership to leave the field or retire hurt.

Then came the MDC, a new labour based political movement with strong grass
roots support. Initially confident that the same lethal mix that had
poisoned the ground for opposition parties in the past would do the job
again, Zanu PF simply ignored the threat leaving it to the security agency
that held responsibility, to "fix" the problem.

When they finally woke up the morning after the referendum in February 2000,
they suddenly knew they were in a real fight - this time for power itself.
MDC had won the referendum even after those responsible for the vote had
ensured that it would be rigged by 15 per cent and had assured them that
they would win the vote quite easily.

The response by the regime to this electoral shock was predictable. Mr.
Mugabe gave a vintage performance on National television saying that he
accepted the decision of the people, but behind that cold façade was a
ruthless and cruel determination to use every tool in the Zanu PF tool kit
against these new usurpers.

In the intervening 7 years, Zanu PF has been forced to gradually intensify
its campaign to retain power, in the process losing its democratic
credentials and its standing in the world community. Now Zanu faces its most
serious threat since 1980 South Africa has forced the next election back to
March 2008 and the SADC is demanding that Zimbabwe fulfill its obligations
as a member and adhere to the SADC norms for free and fair elections.

The strategy evolved by those doing this sort of thing in Zanu PF and
government itself, called for acceptance of changes to the actual voting
procedures on the day, but was intended to deliver a broken, bloodied MDC
and a radically changed electoral pattern to the poll. So we have seen
renewed attacks on MDC structures - across the country, renewed use of
imprisonment, false accusations, torture and savage beatings, all designed
to drive activists out of the country and to ntimidate those who remain.

Then the operation, like Murambatsvina in 2005, designed to close down
business in urban areas, take over major export industries and drive out of
the country another 2 to 3 million urban inhabitants. This is well under way
and I estimate that half a million urban residents have already left the
country for other countries - most going to South Africa. Millions more are
preparing to go and will move as soon as their plans are made.

As part of this integrated strategy the regime here has increased control
over basic food supplies. They are systematically denying the urban areas
food - there is now no maize meal, no rice, no bread, no meat or beans, in
urban areas. People are scavenging for food and the struggle to feed
families and the elderly is becoming well nigh impossible. Couple this to
water rationing or no water at all, water borne disease and fuel at Z$400
000 a litre and the local mini busses charging Z$100 000 per trip to town
and you have a situation that is simply intolerable.

This situation is being creating deliberately - fuel is supposed to be
selling at Z$350 per litre - the actual street price is Z$2 million for 5
litres. Maize meal is supposed to be sold at Z$5 000 a kilo - the actual
price is Z$25 000 a kilo. Meat is supposed to be sold at Z$240 000 a kilo
but the market price is not less than Z$1 million a kilo. The real rate of
inflation for the ordinary worker is probably about 20 000 percent and his
wages and income are rising slowly - controlled by government.

The plan was that by the time of the election in March 2008, the Cities
would be a shadow of their previous state, population down by half and those
that remained, hungry and dependent either on Zanu PF employers or the State
for survival. The MDC would also be reduced to a shell and a broken one at
that! In the rural areas it was Zanu's calculation that their hold over
traditional leaders plus food control would deliver the vote.

This use of a mix of manipulation of the vote using the voters roll, the
delimitation process in determining voting districts and then exercising
physical control over voters on the day, has enlisted the support of the
donor community who pour hundreds of millions of dollars into humanitarian
assistance each year. The agencies involved allow themselves to be co-opted
by the State for this purpose by only doing what they are allowed to do in
this field and supplying food through official channels. NGO's are seen as
extensions of government liable to be denied access to communities at the
whim of local political authorities. Often Zanu PF is allowed to even direct
food aid operations. The UN Agencies are all guilty of such actions.

Breaking the hold of Zanu PF over the electoral system is only one half of
the equation we require to secure our rights as a people. Their hands must
also be taken off the price controls and the availability of food and jobs.
If we are going to get anything like a free and fair vote in 2008, this
latter aspect, which is very much under the control of foreign donors and
investors, needs urgent attention.

Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 19th September 2007

London Debate on Zimbabwe (Tendai Biti, R.W. Johnson, Peter Godwin, Chenjerai Hove, John Makumbe and David Coltart).

An excellent debate ocurrred in London on Wednesday night, sponsored by Intelligence Squared ("The London Forum for Live Debate.") and the Spectator. 

The motion for debate was "Britain has failed Zimbabwe."  Arguing for the motion were Biti, Johnson and Godwin; Hove, Makumbe and Coltart against.

Thanks to Normblog for drawing our attention to it.

Gordon Brown to Portuguese: If Mugabe Goes, I Won't (To the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December).

For all those soothsayers who predicted UK policy towards the bloody Mugabe regime would soften up under Gordon Brown's tenure, think again.

Brown had a strongly worded statement in the Independent (London) yesterday, laying down the gauntlet to the soft under-belly of Europe (Portugal, among others) with regard to the attendance of teh Zimbabwean dictator at the Portuguese-hosted E.U.-Africa Summit in December.

If the Portuguese invite Mugabe, as he is starving his country to death and arresting and beating anyone who resists his Pol Pot strategy, then Brown will pass on the event.

Though an eventual Portuguese snub to Mugabe will almost certainly result in the refusal of African countries themselves to particpate, that is a more desirable outcome than the spectre of Mugabe trying to turn the meeting into a public relations boon for himself.

Read Brown's excellent statement here.

Read also about Britain's move to tighten the screws on the Mugabe regime by extending the targetted sanctions to children and other family members of the 132 persons among Mugabe's inner circle and ruling elite.

The Australians have already taken this step; what are the Americans waiting for?

Gordon Brown Decision Shows Solidarity with Zimbabweans While SADC Leaders show Solidarity with Mugabe.

Normblog has a good post on this subject.