Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The Elders: Zimbabwe is failing its people

* The scale of the crisis must be acknowledged and addressed by Zimbabwe's leaders

* Elders call on SADC countries to act immediately on cholera, refugees

Johannesburg, Monday 24 November


Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former United States President Jimmy Carter and international advocate for women's and children's rights Dr Graça Machel have concluded a three day assessment of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.


Unable to travel to Zimbabwe as originally planned, the Elders instead met political leaders, businessmen, aid workers, donors, UN agencies and civil society representatives in Johannesburg over the weekend, many of whom travelled from Zimbabwe to see them. They also held meetings with leaders of South Africa and Botswana.


While the nature of the problems in Zimbabwe has been well known, their meetings revealed a sharp deterioration in the crisis recent weeks.


FOOD

Food is the most serious problem. There is not enough to meet immediate needs and an acute shortage of seed and fertiliser means that April's harvest will produce a fraction of what is required. Donor assistance for the planting season reached only 25 per cent of the poorest rural smallholders.


The number of people reliant on food aid from UN and other agencies has increased from 2.6 million in October to 4.9 million in November. Half the population, 5.1 million people, will need food aid by January.


World Food Programme has already cut back on rations to make stocks last longer - leaving people with a daily allowance that provides just under 1500 calories, well below the bare minimum for survival. Without immediate increases in food availability, malnutrition rates will inevitably increase sharply.


HEALTH

Four major hospitals, including two in Harare, have closed their doors to almost all patients for lack of medicine and basic supplies - including running water. Hundreds of pregnant women needing caesarean sections or other assistance to give birth safely are being turned away. Staff numbers are falling as people make the search for food a priority.


About 15 per cent of the population is infected with HIV. 3,500 die every week. The AIDS crisis has left almost one in four children without one or both parents.


EDUCATION

School attendance has fallen sharply from over 85 per cent in 2007 to just 20 per cent. Universities have not opened at all this term. A teacher's monthly salary barely covers a day's average transport costs.


WATER AND SANITATION

Zimbabwe's collapsing health and water infrastructure has led to a major cholera outbreak that now raises the risk of a trans-regional cholera epidemic.


An estimated 6,300 cholera cases have been recorded in 9 out of 10 provinces in Zimbabwe, with fatality rates far above accepted international emergency levels of 1 per cent. Cases are already being recorded in South Africa and other neighbouring countries.


ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND CASH CRISIS

Hyperinflation means monthly salaries have plummeted in value with severe cash shortages making it very difficult for even those with incomes to buy enough to eat. The government has recently permitted the use of US dollars in some stores, but this is leading to a two-tier economy between those who have access to foreign currency and the majority who do not. Hyperinflation is affecting the dollarized sector as well.


MASS MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT

Zimbabwe's failing economy and humanitarian disaster has created an estimated 3 million refugees. The SADC region has ignored this refugee exodus, refusing to name it as such, which means that many of those who leave risk arrest and deportation.


IMPASSE ON FORMING A GOVERNMENT

The failure to implement the Global Political Agreement is accelerating the humanitarian disaster. Without political progress, none of these issues can be properly addressed.


"We knew when we planned this trip that the situation in Zimbabwe was serious," said Mr Annan. "What we have learned in the past few days is shocking. It is not just the extent of Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis, but the speed of deterioration in the past few weeks that is most worrying. The scale, depth and urgency of the situation are underreported."


President Carter said: "The signing of the 15 September agreement raised hopes in Zimbabwe and around the world, but the failure to implement it in good faith and create a workable power sharing government is leading to despair and accelerating the crisis. Regardless of the challenges in implementing the agreement, all parties should now make the welfare of the people their first priority and put an end to the unnecessary suffering of millions."


"The state is no longer able to offer basic services", said Dr Machel. "It can no longer feed, educate or care for its citizens. It is failing its people."


On leaving South Africa, the Elders will continue to follow events in Zimbabwe closely and use their influence wherever they can to ensure that the situation in the country is widely acknowledged and addressed.


Recommendations:


Political agreement

* All political parties should implement, in good faith, the Global Political Agreement as a matter of urgency, and work to form a truly inclusive government to tackle the humanitarian and economic crisis, also working with regional and international partners.

Food

* Donors should provide sufficient resources to meet emergency humanitarian needs, including the current $140 million required to feed people until April. The should also support the consolidated appeal of $550 million by 35 agencies to address urgent needs in all sectors in 2009.

* Humanitarian agencies must have unimpeded access, to assess needs and deliver humanitarian assistance without restraint.

* The Elders call on the United Nations, especially the WFP and FAO to work with the government and others to bring critical support to smallholder farmers in particular, especially in seed and fertiliser. This could enable a new 'Home Grown Help' initiative to be launched in time for the 2009-10 agricultural season. The government will also need to review current policies that create disincentives for agricultural production such as price controls and monopolies.

Health

* To address the cholera outbreak it is essential that the region comes together to set up a medical task force to help deal with those affected and to contain the spread of the disease.

* The government of Zimbabwe, working with the UN and international agencies, should find creative ways of retaining doctors, nurses and other essential staff, and ensure that medical supplies are available.

* Extraordinary measures to attract qualified health workers from surrounding countries should be brought in to address the fatal cholera epidemic. The Elders call on SADC to ensure proper capacity, regional coordination and cooperation.

Education

* Government, with assistance from donors and aid agencies, should create incentives for teachers to go back to school, including transport allowances, adequate salary, housing and access to food.

Water and Sanitation

* Government, with assistance from donors, should ensure the emergency treatment of existing water sources, along with efforts to rehabilitate water and sanitation infrastructure.

SADC region

* The SADC region needs to acknowledge that the crisis in Zimbabwe is affecting neighbouring countries and it is in the interests of all that it be addressed immediately.

The Elders want to thank all those who met them and helped make their stay in the region so productive, especially those who travelled from Zimbabwe to meet them, as well as the Presidents of South Africa and Botswana. SADC must play a crucial role in ensuring not only that the power-sharing agreement is implemented as soon as possible, but that work to get Zimbabwe back from the brink begins as well.


For more information please see www.theElders.org

Petition to the Minister of Health & Child Welfare

Petition to the Minister of Health & Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa & the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health & Child Welfare

Declare Cholera a National Disaster Now!

We are appalled at the current humanitarian disaster that has led to starvation, malnutrition and deaths of ordinary people. We wish to state without equivocation that those who claim to govern must cringe at the level of the humanitarian disaster that they have authored by pursuing ill-conceived policies. Cholera has so far claimed more than 200 lives across the country and there is suspicion that the deaths are deliberately underreported.

We wish to remind the present government that there exists an unwritten contract between the citizens and government. The ZANU PF government is in breach of this contract because it has dismally failed to provide basic services to the ordinary people. Communities have been severely affected by the humanitarian crisis- children are malnourished, people, including the sick cannot access their cash from the bank, hospitals are shutting down and the people are scavenging for wild fruits for survival.

The Government of Zimbabwe is obliged to provide for every citizen and to improve conditions to make it possible for people to work and improve their lives. We suspect that those in the high echelons of power are unconcerned about cholera and do not want to declare it a national disaster because:

1. They have access to clean water and have boreholes at their homes,


2. They fly to Cape Town’s Groote Schuur on public purse and not to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment if they get sick,


3. To keep up appearances as well as mislead the international community about the extent of the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. This also explains why the humanitarian mission of the Elders was refused entry into Zimbabwe,


4. Misplaced claims to national pride and sovereignty.

Statement Issued by Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) and Endorsed By:

Name & Organization

1.
2.
3.

Please send to centrefordevelopment@gmail.com

Cholera spread intensifies in Glen Norah

21 November 2008

The residents in the suburb of Glen Norah reported a disquieting spread of cholera in the area this week, with more than 4 people dying in Glen Norah B, as at yesterday (20 November 2008). The state-run Herald newspaper, yesterday (20 November 2008) featured an article which alleged that “Cholera is under control” while people continue to lack clean tap water and to die from cholera, a bacterial disease. It is paradoxical that this mishap comes at a time when the state is desperately propagating untrue information in a bid to cover up the statistics and magnitude of the Cholera pandemic.

The pandemic whose nucleus in Harare is Budiriro suburb is distressingly spreading to other neighboring residential suburbs and is also wreaking havoc across the country, thus exposing the de facto government’s disaster management and preparedness incapacity and the need for help; suffice to say; the cholera pandemic must be declared; A National Disaster . ZINWA, the “government” parastatal responsible for water provision and sewer management has, despite the resources it received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), failed to meet the residents` tap (clean) water demands. The “government” has also failed to timeously act on the ZINWA failure i.e. reverse the disastrous decision of the water and sewer takeover and return the management of these to the local authority. These failures, coupled with the collapse of the country’s public health sector have resulted in the massive infections and deaths from cholera.

The Combined Harare Residents Association demand that the “government” acts responsibly; i.e. relieve ZINWA of the sewer and water management duties and return them to the City of Harare Local Authority. The residents cannot bear another day of ZINWA failure, “government laxity and the Cholera pandemic. CHRA will continue to rally the residents around demanding, quality service delivery and a responsible leadership/government. We stand by the Cholera victims and hold ZINWA and the “government” liable! The residents shall continue seek recourse for their violated rights.


Farai Barnabas Mangodza

Chief Executive Officer

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)

Calls grow for government to declare cholera a national disaster

By Alex Bell
25 November 2008

International aid organisation Oxfam has added it’s voice to the growing call for Zimbabwe’s government to declare the devastating cholera outbreak a national disaster.

Medical charities other aid groups and the MDC have all urged the government to take this crucial step to spur more action to halt the spreading threat of the water borne disease. At least 300 people are confirmed to have died in hospitals across the country, but it’s believed the figure is up to 400 percent higher in the communities, where people have been unable to access medical care. The outbreak of the disease and the critical lack of medical care across the country have seen scores of Zimbabweans crossing the border into South Africa, searching for medicine and treatment – fuelling concerns the disease will keep spreading in the neighbouring country.

South African health officials said on Monday that there are more than 1000 cholera patients at Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge hospital, while on the other side of the border in Musina, a further 168 Zimbabwean cholera patients have received treatment. Four people, including a South Africa truck driver have died from the disease in South Africa, this as the numbers keep rising in Zimbabwe. Despite a report published last week by the state run Herald newspaper that the situation was under control, the Combined Harare Resident’s Association (CHRA) said on Tuesday that there are more reports of the disease spreading.

CHRA said residents in the suburb of Glen Norah have reported a ‘disquieting spread of cholera in the area this week’, with more than 4 people dying in Glen Norah B, as of last week. Glen Norah’s neighbouring community, Budiriro, has been one of the hardest hit by cholera, with an estimated 10 people dying each day from cholera. CHRA’s Simbarashe Moyo explained on Tuesday that “nothing has been done to combat this disease and people are still dying.” He argued that the death toll is far higher than is being reported, saying “the figure is much closer to a thousand people that have died.”

More than 100 residents of Budiriro suburb, as well as from the Chitungwiza township where the outbreak is believed to have originated, are now filing a law suit and claiming damages of up to Z$2 hexillion (twenty one zeroes) against the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) over the cholera epidemic which has claimed the lives of their relatives.

The lawsuit will be filed in the High Court in Harare this week by law firm
Mucheche and Matsikidze Legal Practioners, acting on behalf of the
residents. The lawsuit seeks to have ZINWA relieved of its responsibilities for having failed to provide safe and clean water in the urban centres of Zimbabwe, leading to the outbreak of the deadly disease.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe’s second largest city said on Monday it had less than a month’s supply of water treatment chemicals, as cholera continues to ravage the crisis-ridden country. Bulawayo Mayor Thabiso Moyo said in a press report that an acute shortage of foreign currency has left the city of more than one million people unable to secure enough water treatment chemicals. It’s believed two people have died from the disease in Bulawayo, which hit the city last week.

Food aid needed in Zimbabwe’s urban areas

By Violet Gonda
25 November 2008

Tearfund is a UK based Christian organisation that works in relief and development across the world, to end poverty. The aid agency has been working through local NGOs in Zimbabwe for the past 20 years, providing emergency food aid and access to water.

Karyn Beattie is the disaster management officer with Tearfund and was in Zimbabwe recently to see how the agency could increase its aid program. She said the food situation is extremely bad and ranges from a complete lack of availability in many areas, while in others it’s totally unaffordable.

Traditionally hunger hits rural areas, but the scale of this humanitarian crisis has also seriously hit the urban areas. In the two weeks that she was in Zimbabwe the Tearfund officer said aid agencies such as the United Nations are targeting very specific groups, and only feeding people in the rural areas. The vulnerable groups that they target are mainly people living with HIV/AIDS and child headed households. But this is a problem as the majority of people in urban areas now also need help.

Although food aid is being sent to Zimbabwe Beattie said it is not enough, as almost everyone needs food aid now. But the government is trying to make the situation look less serious than it is, by asking for less food from humanitarian groups than is actually needed.

She said the government agreed to provide large amounts of food itself, when it knew full well it could not afford it. Beattie added that donors like the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Red Cross are bringing in around 400 000 tonnes of food; “But that is supposed to be a complimentary effort. In other words the government is supposed to bring in the majority of the food, which is about 800 000 tonnes.” To date the amount of food brought in by the government has only been 150 000 tonnes.

“Unless we get a government who is going to be prepared to say we need help and we need it very quickly, I can’t see a way through the mess at the moment,” she warned.

There are groups like the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) who carry out assessments, usually after harvest around June and July, to look at what was harvested and the vulnerability of the people. It is out of their reports that donors such as the WFP came up with figures estimating that around 5.1 million people face starvation.

Beattie said the authorities in Zimbabwe are aware of these disturbing figures especially as the independent assessments are done in combination with government officials and NGOs. However the government always officially says it can handle the crisis and will source food from neighbouring countries like South Africa and Zambia. But later on they quietly allow aid agencies to bring in extra food.

The WFP announced last week it had signed a new, two year US$500 million aid deal to ‘allow’ them to supply food to economically and politically ravaged Zimbabwe. The WFP said the money will provide 350 000 tons of food to the most vulnerable groups.

Tearfund also reports that even in the areas where food is being distributed it is still being politicised in some rural communities. Aid groups rely on a variety of stakeholders to identify vulnerable groups and in some cases chiefs and local leaders are said to be choosing beneficiaries on the basis of political affiliation.

Friday, September 19, 2008

TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE: A MUST IN POST-CONFLICT ZIMBABWE

The recently signed “power-sharing” agreement between the now dominant MDC and the vanquished ZANU PF is not a “humiliation” but a major step towards sanity and common sense in our beloved country. The logical route to achieving that is the reconstruction of the economy, the democratization of the political system, and holding accountable the perpetrators of organized violence and torture in Zimbabwe.

The lessons of the 1987 Unity Accord between the patronizing ZANU PF and the largely humble ZAPU party taught us that peace and the rule of law would never be achieved without cementing the agreement with a truth and justice process. A culture of violence dating back to the liberation struggle continued unabated after the 1987 Unity Accord primarily because perpetrators of genocide during Gukurahundi were never prosecuted.

The emergence of the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) proved that ZANU PF was still the same old violent party that would not tolerate dissenting voices and respect the right to free political participation. The most prominent act of violence during this period was the attempt to assassinate Patrick Kombayi.

Today, hundreds of MDC supporters including party leaders and civil society activists have either been arbitrarily arrested, tortured or even killed by the police, the army, the CIO and the militias. This writer is a victim of this well orchestrated violent campaign which intensified after the launch of the MDC in 1999 and is still occurring even when the ink has not yet dried on the agreement document.

Leaders of the MDC and their ZANU PF counterparts chose to sweep these skeletons under the carpet during the negotiations and this is obviously disastrous. There is no doubt that not holding perpetrators of organized violence accountable for their actions will be a missed opportunity. It is naïve to even talk about a new era in Zimbabwe because the culture of violence will persist and the criminal cabal will always be protected by power-sharing agreements.

The MDC’s dominance in parliament and in the cabinet surely is a refreshing development and a positive step towards bringing the perpetrators of violence to book. Interestingly too, the Prime Minister will be in charge of the police which has hitherto been the leading perpetrator of violence.

The onus is on all survivors of violence to pressurize their parliamentary representatives to advocate for their recognition, compensation, and protection against future acts of violence through the prosecution of perpetrators. Indeed, all Zimbabweans need to clamor for an end to immunity and impunity. Individuals who are guilt of committing crimes against humanity within the police, army, and CIO need to voluntarily resign forthwith, if not, be forced to do so.
A fair and non-partisan truth and justice commission needs to be set up immediately as the first logical step towards dismantling the violent state machinery. This development will guarantee an end to a culture of violence which had permeated our political system.


Charles Mutama is a survivor of torture living in the USA.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

After Months Of Violence, Zimbabwean Society In Grip Of Fear

By Blessing Zulu
Washington
11 July 2008

Discussion With Mulegeta Abai & Charles Mutama - Download (MP3) audio clip
Discussion With Mulegeta Abai & Charles Mutama - Listen (MP3) audio clip

Critics of the government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at one time used to make references to George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm.” But now a more appropriate reference according to some observers is the author's grim “1984,” in which Big Brother exercises total control over a subdued population through the mechanism of fear.

Political analysts say fear is the predominant emotion in Zimbabwean society today: fear of political violence, fear of being identified as a member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and thus being targeted for punishment, even death.

Nongovernmental organizations and even church leaders are pulling back in the face of mounting governmental pressure.

In addition there has been a proliferation of informants, making many Zimbabweans afraid of each other, for fear that criticism of the government might be reported to the authorities or, worse, the ZANU-PF militia, leading to abduction, torture and possibly death.

Harare observers say society is deeply traumatized and that there is need for national healing to help it recover from the shock of the wave of violence since March 29 elections.

For a closer look at the fear factor in today’s Zimbabwe, reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe turned to torture survivor and political activist Charles Mutama, now exiled in the United States, and Mulugeta Abai, executive director of the Canadian Center For Victims of Torture, who said the Mugabe government is using violence to retain power.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Commemoration of June 26- United Nations Day Against Torture

Survivors gathered at the White House in Washington DC on Saturday to commemorate the United Nations Day Against Torture. The event was hosted by the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC International). Mr Mutama gave a testimony of his torture ordeal at the hands of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in 2003 when he was arrested alongside former Member of Parliament, Job Sikhala, and human rights lawyer, Gabriel Shumba. The event was characterized by a mock jail cell, testimonies from survivors, lighting of candles in remembrance of those who suffered the ordeal, poetry, music and a 24 hour vigil outside the White House at Lafayette Park. Mr Mutama recorded the names of some Zimbabwean survivors of torture on the wall of remembrance and one of the most prominent was of Tonderai Ndira who was abducted and tortured to death by ruling ZANU PF militias after the March 29 joint Council, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

African Union urged to take stern measures against Mugabe

By Tichaona Sibanda
29 June 2008

Most Zimbabweans believe the African Union should intervene to resolve the crisis in the country and there are many calls on the African body to unite in rejecting Robert Mugabe’s new term as president.

Political analyst Isaac Dziya said the AU should be tough with Mugabe, saying the credibility of the African body was at stake, considering that most of the world leaders have discredited the elections.

Dziya said the AU should be encouraged to take a cue from what the U.S plans to do next week, which is to introduce a UN resolution seeking tough action against Zimbabwe to send ‘a strong message of deterrence’ to the regime - according to the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

‘The AU can start by calling for new free and fair elections that are monitored by the international community, after which they should consider sanctions against Mugabe if he refuses to comply,’ Dziya said.
But on Sunday China balked at US calls for a UN arms embargo on Zimbabwe, despite an appeal by Rice for immediate strong international action to end the political violence.

Reports said Rice and her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, met in Beijing to discuss US plans to introduce both an arms embargo and a travel ban on Mugabe’s regime.

Rice told a press conference that the situation in the country had deteriorated to a very grave level. ‘We believe that it is really now time for the international community to act strongly, but we are consulting about what measures might be taken,’ she said.

Cosatu urges Africa not to recognize Mugabe ‘win’

By Tererai Karimakwenda
Sun June 28, 2008

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Sunday announced the results of the presidential runoff between Robert Mugabe and - Robert Mugabe. MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the race a week before the poll, citing massive violence and intimidation, including the assassination of nearly 100 of it’s key officials.

Even before any of the ‘results’ were out Mugabe was claiming an overwhelming win. According to ZEC, Mugabe won the election with 85.51 percent of the vote, receiving 2,150,269 votes compared to 233,000 for Tsvangirai, whose name had been left on the ballots. There were 131,481 spoilt ballots.

Announcing the winner, the chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said: "I therefore declare the said Mugabe, Robert Gabriel, the duly elected president of the Republic of Zimbabwe," As soon as results were announced, the Congress of South African Trade Unions released a strongly worded statement urging African countries to refuse to recognise Robert Mugabe as the legitimate head of state of Zimbabwe. COSATU appealed to them to bar Mugabe from attending any meetings of the African Union or SADC.

COSATU spokesperson Patrick Craven explained that Africa should not legitimise the rule of a dictator who is imposing his will through violence and intimidation.

He said: “The African leaders should recognise an interim government that would organise proper elections that are free and fair. Mugabe lost his mandate on March 29 and they should not invite him to any AU meetings.”

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Botswana sets up Zim Refuge Camp

Local
Saturday, 03 May 2008 18:12
Botswana has set up a temporary refugee centre to receive Zimbabweans fleeing politically-motivated violence which began after the disputed 29 March election results.



In a statement released on Friday, the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Dikgakgamatso Seretse, said there had been an influx of Zimbabweans seeking refuge and international protection in the aftermath of the polls.

"For some time we have been receiving illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe seeking economic opportunities who have been crossing at un-gazetted entry points into Botswana," he said.

Few of these people sought asylum, Seretse said.

"But, since the elections, we have received a number of people actively seeking political asylum and international protection and alleging they feared for their lives," he said, adding there was a probability the numbers would grow.

The government’s decision to set up the temporary facility comes amid growing fears in the international community that the situation in Zimbabwe was edging towards a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

Last week, Western countries, including Britain and the United States, urged by the MDC, successfully put Zimbabwe on the United Nations Security Council agenda.

They tried to steer the council to adopt a common strategy on the situation in the country where the delayed announcement of the results of the presidential election have sparked a political crisis.

But the government’s allies such as China and Russia blocked the move, saying the election impasse in Zimbabwe was an internal issue not warranting UN intervention.

Both countries sponsored the liberation struggle against white rule, with arms, ammunition and training.

The MDC says 10 of its supporters have been killed and thousands more displaced by marauding Zanu PF militia and war veterans protesting President Robert Mugabe’s defeat at the polls.

A spokesman for presidential candidate Simba Makoni’s Mavambo/Kusile project, Joshua Muhambi said a number of their supporters from Plumtree were last weekend forced to cross the border into Botswana by war veterans terrorising villagers.

Earlier in the week media reports in Botswana cited officials as saying hundreds of Zimbabweans were entering Botswana through undesignated entry points, forcing the authorities there to set up a temporary camp inside the Centre for Illegal Immigrants in Francistown.

Under normal circumstances, Botswana accommodates hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers at the Dukwi Camp near its border with Namibia but authorities said due to the sudden influx, the temporary centre would now be used to screen new arrivals.

The independent Mmegi newspaper quoted Francistown district commissioner, Richard Oaitse, as saying refugees, including children, were being accommodated at the temporary shelter and more were expected last week.

"A tent has been erected within the Centre for Illegal Immigrants so that they don’t mix with other nationalities that are currently at the centre for various reasons," he said.

In the mining town of Selebi Phikwe, which is close to the Zimbabwean border, the district officer, Khumo Keeng, told the paper the refugees were being relayed to Francistown for screening.

Since 2000 about 100 refugees from Zimbabwe have been staying at Dukwi and the centre’s administrator, Ephraim Sekeinya said during the past two years they had not received anyone escaping political persecution.

The camp also housed Zimbabwean refugees during the liberation war.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who beat Mugabe to the presidency has sought temporary refuge in Botswana, saying his personal security was at risk.

This forced Botswana’s new President Seretse Ian Khama to plead with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa to call an urgent Sadc summit to discuss the political impasse.

Botswana MPs introduced a motion calling on Mugabe to respect the election outcome.

By Kholwani Nyathi

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

URGENT APPEAL

TO: THE US STATE DEPARTMENT



My name is Charles Mutama and I am Zimbabwean national living in the United States who is concerned with the ongoing state- sponsored violence in my home country. Recently, this brutality claimed the life of one brave woman activist who attempted to rescue her colleagues from a ZANU PF torture chamber. She belonged to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which just won a majority in the Zimbabwean Parliament. This courageous heroin lived in Gunda Village, Makoni West in Zimbabwe and was laid to rest there.

The perpetrator of this violence is unfortunately believed to be posted at the Zimbabwean Embassy in the United States of America. He has been identified as Daniel Romeo Mutsunguma who was allegedly responsible for the shooting of a defenseless and unarmed civilian identified as Tabitha Marume.

As a survivor of torture and organized violence in Zimbabwe, I am urging you to immediately institute an investigation into the presence of Daniel Romeo Mutsunguma, a perpetrator of organized violence and torture, at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Washington DC and institute legal proceedings towards his arrest or deportation from the United States.

It is my hope that this individual will face justice for the alleged commission of this crime against humanity.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Vanhu Vogara Vakaratidzira paMuzinda weZimbabwe muAmerica Na Carole Gombakomba

02/05/2008

Hurukuro naVa Charles Mutama - Download (MP3)
Hurukuro naVa Charles Mutama - Teererai (MP3)


Vana veZimbabwe vari kugara muAmerica, pamwe neshamwari dzavo dziri munyika iyi dziri kurwadzikana nezviri kuitika muZimbabwe, varatidzira neChishanu pamuzinda weZimbabwe muAmerica, uyo uri muWashington DC. Vanhu ava vanoti vari kushungurudzika zvikuru nekuurayiwa kuri kuitwa vanhu muZimbabwe.

Mumwe wevataura pachiitiko ichi, ndimuzvinafundo wepa American University, Professor George Ayittey, avo vanorwira kodzero dzevanhu, pamwe nekuongorora zvematongerwo enyika. Va Ayittey vatsoropodza zvikuru zviri kuitwa nehurumende yaVaMugabe, vachiti zviri kuitwa naVaMugabe, zvinhu zvinonyadzisa vanhu vose venyika dzose dzemu Africa.

Vatiwo kupondwa kuri kuitwa vanhu, pamwe nekuramba kwanga kuchiita ZEC kubiditsa zvakabuda musarudzo yemutungamiri wenyika, kunoratidza pachena kuti Va Mugabe vazvitadza, naizvozvo vanofanirwa kusiya chigaro chemutungamiri wenyika.

Mumwe wevaratidzira ndiVaCharles Mutama, nhengo yeMDC Washington Branch. VaMutama mumwe wevanhu vakabuda munyika mushure mekunge vatocherwa nyaya dzezve matongerwo enyika.

Svondo rapera, mutungamiri weWOZA, Amai Jenni Williams, vakaratidzira pamuzinda uyu nevamwe vavo vatatu, apo vaishanya muWashington. Mwedzi wapera zvakare, VaMutama, vakaratidzira pamuzinda uyu vari vega, vachikurudzira kuti mumiriri weZimbabwe muAmerica, Ambassador Machivenyika Mapuranga vasvitse shoko kuna VaMugabe rekuti vaburitse zvakabuda musarudzo yemutungamiri wenyika, uye kumisa kupondwa pamwe nekushungurudzwa kuri kuitwa nhengo dzeMDC.

Mutori wenhau dzeStudio7, Carole Gombakomba, aita hurukuro naVaMutama, avo vanoti kuratidzira kwavo inzira yekuudza mumiriri weZimbabwe muAmerica, Ambassador Machiwenyika Mapuranga, kuti vaudze VaMugabe kuti zvizvarwa zveZimbabwe zviri muAmerica, hazvisi kufara nezviri kuitika munyika.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

BBC World Interview Link

Watch me on this link on the eve of the elections: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DdVQaF7q8A

VIOLENT RETRIBUTIVE ACTION AGAINST INNOCENT ZIMBABWEANS

PRESS STATEMENT
17 April 2008






Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is gravely concerned at the increasing incidences of confirmed human rights violations currently being perpetrated by or with the acquiescence of the state on defenceless Zimbabweans countrywide.

Since 14 April 2008, at least 150 people have been arrested and are currently detained in custody at Harare Central police station alone. The recent arrests and continuing violations of fundamental rights and freedoms have been exacerbated by state actors who are working hand-in-hand with the ruling ZANU PF party militia to unleash their coercive apparatus on an innocent electorate. This campaign of terror has been widespread across the country and is being perpetrated against any person who is suspected to have cast their vote against the ruling party, as well as their families.

Despite the fact that the Zimbabwean Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) categorically states that powers of arrest are vested in the police and other peace officers, the general trend confirmed by ZLHR lawyers attending to victims has been the abduction of individuals from their homes by members of the military (in uniform and plain clothes), as well as the ZANU PF youth and militia. Recently most of the inmates detained at the police station have been arrested by the military.

Before these illegal arrests by the military, from areas around Harare, the victims have been subjected to torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment.

Nine (9) people from a residential area, Budiriro, were abducted from the funeral of Anna Mazhanidza by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit and other people suspected to be members of the Zimbabwe National Army who were dressed in plain clothes. Eight (8) people were also picked up from another residential area, Mabvuku. They were accused of obstructing the free movement of traffic by placing stones in the road. Some of the arrested individuals include the newly elected Member of the House of Assembly, Shepherd Madamombe. These abductions were effected by suspected plain clothes members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the ruling party militia.

In St Mary’s at least 20 people, including former Mayor, Misheck Shoko, and a recently elected councillor, Stephen Gomo, were abducted from their homes by plain clothes personnel who are believed to be members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

On 16 April 2008, during the early hours of the morning, 22 people were abducted by soldiers and ZANU PF youths from their homes in Epworth. During these abductions some of the people were assaulted with booted feet, and open hands all over the body. In some of the cases doors were forced open to enable the youths and members of the army to forcibly gain entry into the homes of the victims. Upon abduction, the victims were not informed of the charges levelled against them. After this inhuman treatment the victims were taken to police stations whereat the police again did not advise them of the charges being levelled against them.

Despite the fact that the police do not have an iota of evidence against targeted civilians, members of the army and ZANU PF youths have cast a dragnet in the streets of most of the high density suburbs around Harare. The arrests have been indiscriminate, based on political affiliation and in most instances where the people are remotely associated or are suspected of being associated with the Movement for Democratic Change.

In areas such as Bikita, Nyanga North, Mutoko, Gokwe, Mudzi, Chegutu and Mt Darwin the military has unleashed unabated attacks on innocent individuals since the beginning of the week.

Despite the fact that everyone has a right to participate in the government of the day through voting, it can be readily ascertained that most of the people have been victimised on the basis of their political affiliation. Areas such as Mutoko have become hot spots with confirmed reports of indiscriminate brutal assaults on people perceived to belong to the opposition party. A case in point is one campaign manager for the Movement for Democratic Change whose property was destroyed by members of ZANU PF. Some of the people have since looted his property and destroyed his livelihood, which include his crops and livestock. This looting continues unabated to date. The police, who are aware of the activities of the ZANU PF youths in this case, have turned a blind eye to the total breakdown of the rule of law in this area.

In certain areas around Harare’s high density suburbs and outlying areas, members of the military have imposed curfews. As a result freedom of movement has been severely curtailed. During the early hours of the evening, anyone who is found in the streets has been subjected to inhuman and degrading punishment and has been accused of not observing the imposed curfew. Victims have been asked to crawl in the streets for distances that range up to 200 metres by soldiers. The targeted individuals include the elderly, youths and even breastfeeding mothers. There has been an overwhelming disrespect of persons and indiscriminate and unjustifiable destruction of property. At least 30 homes are believed to have been burnt down and some destroyed around the country.

By 19:00hrs on 17 April 2008, several groups of people were still being indiscriminately abducted, arrested from the streets and their homes around Harare.

ZLHR deplores this cruel and unacceptable retributive action. The dignity of human beings in Zimbabwe is paramount and nobody should be targeted for merely exercising her/his right to vote or due to a perceived political affiliation. Urgent action must be taken by the authorities to stop such atrocities and bring the perpetrators to book.


/ends/

Zimfund to assists IDPs and Victims of Organized Violence in Zimbabwe

The Movement For Democratic Change has set up a fundraising site geared towards mobilizing resources for the urgent humanitarian situation unfolding in Zimbabwe as a result of ZANU PF's post election retribution against opposition supporters. About 3000 families have been rendered homeless due to the escalating violence being perpetrated by ZANU PF supporters, the militia,war veterans, the police, and the army. About 500 people have been hospitalized and 10 people from the MDC have since died.

Due to what Tendai Biti has described as a transformation of the MDC into " the Red Cross Society", the party has come up with the Zimfund to raise funds for this humanitarian disaster. Anyone willing to donate to this fund can log on to Zimfund and donate funds safely through paypal to assist needy Zimbabweans.

The MDC should be applauded for this timeous intervention.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Zimbabweans protest results delay in New York

Zimbabweans protest results delay in New York By Tererai Karimakwenda11 April, 2008
Zimbabweans in New York on Friday demonstrated against Robert Mugabe’s manipulation of the March 29 elections, and the reluctance of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce the results.
One of the organisers, Dr. Farai Bere, said about 50 activists showed up for the protest. He attributed the low turnout to the fact that it was a weekday and “life in the diaspora requires Zimbabweans to work”.
Dr Bere said they started out at the French Embassy because they want Zimbabwe’s plight to be introduced as a motion in the United Nations Security Council – to call for pressure on Mugabe to give up the keys to State House because he lost an election and must now leave.
The protesters stopped at the Zambian Embassy next, because that country currently chairs the SADC countries. Dr. Bere said they praise Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa for the positive efforts he has made to try and resolve the Zimbabwe crisis, but they urged him to keep up the pressure until Mugabe has gone.
The protest ended up at the United Nations where the message to the UN was that Mugabe must be pressured to announce and respect the results of the elections.
.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Washington Demo

Fellow Countrymen and women,
I started raising the alarm bells at the Zimbabwean Embassy today in Washington DC and I sent the message loud and clear through a megaphone which forced the ambassador to invite me into the embassy to express my fears of ZANU PF rigging. However, the embassy called the Secret Service to thwart my one man demo to no avail.
Media coverage was provided by VOA and SW Radio Africa. Visit their websites for more details.See attached photos of the solo-demo done on behalf of fellow Zimbabweans who were tied up.
Struggle Continues
Charles.M.Mutama

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Solo Demonstrator invited inside Zimbabwe Embassy in Washington

Solo demonstrator invited inside Zimbabwe Embassy in WashingtonBy Tererai KarimakwendaApril 05, 2008
A determined activist protesting outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in Washington DC, made so much noise that the officials there were forced to invite him inside for a chat. Charles Mutama, a coordinator with the Zimbabweans in Exile group, said he had invited Zimbabweans living in the Washington DC area to join him in protesting against the handling of election results. Unfortunately he was the only one who showed up Friday morning. Mutama said he brought a megaphone and stood outside the Embassy, shouting out his displeasure at the delay in the announcement of the presidential election result. The officials inside the Embassy eventually called secret service agents who invited him inside to speak to Embassy officials.
Mutama said: “I spoke to a Councillor and I thanked him for inviting me into their cosy offices. I told them that we want the results of the elections announced, especially the presidential elections.” The Councillor told Mutama that he had chosen the wrong method to get his message across.
As for Mutama’s request regarding the results of the elections, he was told that everyone is waiting and he should also wait patiently for the announcements. “I told him you know the results already. You are part of the system and you know what they are doing”, said Mutama.
Mutama said he plans to continue speaking out about issues that are important to him. He said that he blamed himself for the zero turnout at the Embassy because he publicised the event too late. He did wish that more Zimbabweans would take the initiative to do something about the crisis back home, because there is power in numbers.
SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news
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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Protest Against Delay in Presidential Result

ZIMBABWEAN DEMONSTRATION



VENUE: ZIMBABWEAN EMBASSY
1608 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON DC 20009



TIME: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM



DATE: 4TH APRIL 2008



THEME: PROTEST AGAINST THE DELAY IN THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS BY THE ZIMBABWE
ELECTORAL COMMISSION



ORGANIZED BY: CONCERNED ZIMBABWEANS IN THE
WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN AREA



CONTACT: Charles.M.Mutama
240 505 5894



POLICE PERMISSION GRANTED

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Announcement of Parliamentary and Senatorial Seats Out of Step

1 April 2008
PRESS STATEMENT



DELAYING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT
IS AN ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT ELECTORAL PROCESSES
AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) deplores the ongoing charade currently being undertaken by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) whereby they have been releasing purported results of the elections for members of the House of Assembly in dribs and drabs over the course of the past two days.

By law, in terms of the Electoral Act as amended, winning candidates for the House of Assembly and the Senate are collated and declared at the House of Assembly collation centers (constituency centers) and the Senatorial collation centers respectively. These must subsequently be published but do not, by law, have to be publicly announced as is currently being done by ZEC.

The only results which are verified and collated at the National Collation Centre are those for the presidential election. These are then announced by the Chief Elections Officer.

ZLHR’s accredited observers witnessed counting processes at polling stations throughout the country. Reports were provided that results were being posted outside polling stations as early as 11:00hrs on Saturday 29 March 2008, where after they were transferred to the constituency centers and senatorial centers.

ZEC publicly advised the nation before Election Day that it was in full control of the administration of the harmonized elections, had provided for all eventualities and was fully resourced and prepared to undertake the elections at all its polling stations throughout Zimbabwe. It therefore beggars belief that 3 days later the presidential results have not been transferred or are not known and have not been made public.

This leads to a legitimate fear that attempts are being made to tamper with the results and subvert the will of the people. ZEC’s conduct – that of engaging in the unnecessary process of announcing winning candidates for the House of Assembly and the Senate and dragging the process on – implies complicity in such attempts.

Failing to provide clear and acceptable information to the public about the reason for the inordinate delay in declaring the winning presidential candidate has caused much anxiety and anguish in the population. ZEC must be prepared to take responsibility should their conduct result or contribute to predictable polarization and public stress that provides a basis for potential widespread violations for human rights.


- ends -

Election Watch 2

Presidential
Constituency
View reports, results or download
View reports, results to download
PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS
Morgan Tsvangirai
1000, 000

51%
Robert Mugabe
844, 000

42%
Simba Makoni
148, 000

7%

Seats


MDC



53%
ZANU-PF



42%
MUT/IND



5%

Election Watch

Zimbabwe election results 2008
OFFICIAL VOTE COUNT (House of Assembly - 210 SEATS):
The ZEC has announced results for 131 constituencies, from the 206 contested seats. Three parliamentary candidates died in Redcliff, Gwanda and Mpopoma and those elections are postponed. A fourth seat in Muzarabani South has already been won by Zanu PF's Edward Raradza who was unopposed.
Zanu PF....64
MDC..........62
MDC (Mutambara)...5

Charles.M.Mutama on BBC commenting on the elections.

Please google this site: video.aol.com/video-detail/zimbabwe/984806797 and watch this blogger on BBC TV on the eve of the Joint Presidential, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Council Elections.

Write To The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC)

This is an urgent appeal to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to :

a) Uphold the will of the people of Zimbabwe by announcing an unbiased and impartial result;

b) Immediately announce the results of the joint Presidential, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Council Elections;

c) Uphold the figures emanating from the polling stations and desist from manipulating them;

d) Serve the citizens of Zimbabwe and not the ruling party.


Contact :

zecpr@gta.gov.zw

263 4 781 903

Monday, March 31, 2008

All Points To A Tsvangirai Victory!

The counting of votes at the polling stations, the discovery of ZANU PF vote-rigging schemes in certain constituencies, the delay in the announcement of the results and the defeat of ZANU PF in the rural areas is a clear indication of a victory for the people of Zimbabwe. MDC vote counting and civic society results show that President Morgan Tsvangirai is leading and is poised to win this crucial election.

As we await the final results, any attempts to subvert the people's wish should be nipped in the bud. The international community needs to add its voice to the concerns being expressed by Zimbabweans that Mugabe is trying to overturn the result against the wishes of the people. The African Union (AU) and SADC need to actively participate in the protection of the genuine result in order to avoid the Kenyan post-election scenario. Results that came from polling stations are accurate and indicate a Tsvangirai victory.

However, it is goes without saying that the process leading to the elections was flawed and it will be absurd for the SADC mission to declare that the whole exercise was free, fair and credible.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY FORCES
(Police, intelligence services, youth brigades, prison warders and army personnel)
We the PEOPLE of Zimbabwe, both inside and outside the country call on YOU as our defenders and protectors to exercise your power and role in Zimbabwe, in the interest of your mothers, fathers, siblings and children.
We are days away from another election. The hope and expectation of every Zimbabwean is that this election will herald the beginning of a life of dignity and quality. The political elite is hopeful that YOU will protect their positions and maintain the status quo. The people of Zimbabwe are hopeful that YOU will support their yearning for change.
You have heard your commanders declare that they would not support and salute anyone other than the current president. But it is this President and his elite that have made the lives of you, your family and all of us, a daily misery. The security establishment holds the key to what a post election Zimbabwe will look like, and whether reconstruction and development will take hold. You are recognized as a key force in Zimbabwe that holds the balance of power. It is YOU that can ensure an environment that is conducive for the reconstruction of Zimbabwe.
You hold an extreme amount of power. Power that can be abused and manipulated, as has been done in the past, to hurt, intimidate and further subjugate the ordinary people of our country. As sons and daughters of Zimbabwe, who hold a position of strength and power, we call on you:
ACT RESPONSIBILY and HONOURABLY
DEFEND YOUR PEOPLE, NOT THE POLITICAL ELITE,
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE.
It is not too late to refuse to be used as pawns by those who hold no allegiance to you and your families and whose only interest is in their own personal greed and ambition.
Show your support and allegiance to the people of Zimbabwe.
ACCEPT the will of the people as manifested through the electoral process, irrespective of the outcome.
REFUSE to be party to any form of vote-rigging and underhand attempts at manipulating the results of the forthcoming election.
REFUSEING to intimidate, harass and carry out acts of violence. Go against the orders of your commanders. Lay down your arms and rally behind the people of Zimbabwe to foster reconstruction and development.
Your role as defenders and protectors in the post-election period is most critical, especially where and when the needs and demands of people are not met. PROTECT the people of Zimbabwe and not the narrow interests of the greedy political elite.
USE YOUR POWER WISELY, BE COUNTED AS THE TRUE DEFENDERS OF THE INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE.
DR LOVEMORE MADHUKU
00263912286804
0027827794565

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Flawed Electoral process needs to be challenged

The current electoral process leading to the March elections is embarrassingly flawed and tilted in favor of ZANU PF. This is the reason behind Robert Mugabe's declaration that he is "raring to go and fly."Commentators and independent observers have always been exposing the obvious bias of the electoral commission which is handpicked by Mugabe himself, the delimitation commission which came up with constituent boundaries without the parliament debating the merits and demerits of this contentious issue, the lack of freedom of association and expression for the opposition, the denial of the diaspora vote, the flawed voter registration process, and the warped electoral act among other litany of imperfections.

Tragically, the South African Foreign Affairs minister, Mr. Aziz Pahad, believes that elections which are going to be held under the current environment will solve Zimbabwe's crisis or to quote him, "save Zimbabwe." It is interesting to note that he agrees with the popular sentiment that Zimbabwe needs salvation. Generally, the belief was that the SADC-initiated dialogue was the panacea that Zimbabwe needed and ironically Mr Pahad's government was tasked with facilitating that process. Sceptics, pessimists, optimists and everyone else agree that South Africa failed dismally as the talks between the MDC and ZANU PF collapsed without an agreement being reached by the protagonists and antagonists. Opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, even remonstrated with Thabo Mbeki to be courageous and confront Mugabe's obstinacy.

The question which arises for the progressive movement is "whither to?."The answer to this enquiry lies in, a sustained and concerted campaign against this electoral process through a myriad of strategies that include: the current ZINASU approach of demonstrations, court challenges, lobbying strategic institutions such as SADC, AU, EU, UN, etc, media sensitization,public forums, urgent appeals and petitions among other viable strategies.

The timeline for this campaign is determined by the immediate need to curtail Robert Mugabe's endless quest to rule Zimbabwe by hook or crook. Therefore, a timely intervention is required to avoid the proverbial cry over spilt milk. This is not the time to repeat the same old headline, "Mugabe wins a controversial election."

This writer is appealing to all progressive Zimbabweans to summon their organizational capabilities and infleunces and work towards discrediting the current electoral system so that Zimbabwe's political future
wont rest in Mugabe's unilateral, personal and selfish vision.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Makoni's arrival much ado about nothing

The announcement by Simba Makoni that he is presenting himself as a candidate for the 2008 Presidential Elections is a non-event unless he joins the momentum which had already been generated by the Movemennt For Democratic Change (MDC). In other words, Simba Makoni will be genuine if he became part of the movement towards fundamental social transformation which the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai represents.

There is nothing special about him because only yesterday he was the secretary for finance for the same ZANU PF which is responsible for the hyper-inflationary environment currently bedeviling our economy. Simba Makoni is a proud ZANU PF member who will be " expelled from the part by due process", if this writer can use his own words.To refer to T. Kapuya's analysis of Makoni's arrival, he(Makoni) just like Jonathan Moyo and Dumiso Dabengwa who were both responsible for the demise of media freedom and freedom of association and movement respectively, cannot be absolved from directly creating the current political and economic malaise.

His emergency will only be beneficial once he reconciles his intentions with the aims and objectives of the democratic movement in Zimbabwe.

What is crucial is the fact that ZANU PF is experiencing an implosion which should become a reason for re-energising the MDC towards achieving the total destruction of dictatorship in Zimbabwe.

The people of Zimbabwe should not be tempted to disregard the gains made by the MDC for the past seven years solely because of the emergence of Simba Makoni. The MDC has consistently been exposing the failures of ZANU PF and clamoring for fundamental social, political and economic changes.

Simba Makoni's arrival therefore serves to reverse the gains of the social justice movement and to uphold and protect the status quo.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Sustained pressure on Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF mandatory

Efforts by the Revolutionary Youth Movement, Free Zimbabwe Youth and the Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum to publicize the issue of the diaspora vote is commendable. At the same time the MDC's forray in Adis Ababa is indeed a continuation of the opposition's quest to sensitize the African community on the issues bedeviling Zimbabwe. Noone but ourselves can speak for ourselves on the issues affecting us as a people. While Thabo Mbeki is expected to brief his peers in Ethiopia on the sidelines of the AU Summit on matters to do with the SADC-talks, the progressive movement still needs to own the process of ushering in a new political dispensation.

Zimbabweans in the diaspora can contribute towards the cause materially, strategically and morally while the progressive movement back home needs to be organized and create a channel of support and linkage with the diaspora activists. This writer is committed to contributing in more ways than one towards the campaign against dictatorship in Zimbabwe.

This is the time to stand up and be counted. Individual and collective participation will be vital in the struggle to emancipate ourselves from tyranny. The progressive movement will not prevail with a single strategy but will do so based on a sustained and well organized multi-pronged approach. Legal, political and civic approaches need to be harnessed in order to extert pressure on the government of Zimbabwe. All these strategies will be geared towards deligitimizing the 2008 Election in Zimbabwe and campaigning for a new constitution and a free and fair election. Zimbabweans should unequivocally condemn a pre-determined outcome and lambast Mugabe's business as usual or rather rigging as usual approach to governance in Zimbabwe.

This writer is calling upon the wisdom and commitment of like-minded individuals to embark on a multi-pronged and sustained strategy to pressurize Robert Mugabe to respect fundamental human rights.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

US President State of the Union Address includes Zimbabwe

President G.W Bush reiterated his country's support for the people of Zimbabwe in his annual State of the Union Address yesterday.He was refering to the efforts geared towards ending the dictatorship of the Robert Mugabe regime which has been in power since 1980.

The inclusion of the Zimbabwean crisis in his speech is quite refreshing since it proves to the progressive movement that they are not alone in this struggle. An except from his speech:

"America is opposing genocide in Sudan and supporting freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma."

The United States has been consistent in supporting the progressive movement in Zimbabwe and this writer hopes this will continue even beyond Bush's tenure.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Progressive Zimbabweans end despotism

Zimbabweans have capacity to dislodge despotic Mugabe


Robert Mugabe’s arrogance, dishonor, disrespect and flagrant disregard for human rights are well chronicled. However, what is missing from all the annals is the fact that he is only human and can be humbled. How can one man hold to ransom an entire nation? How many more years should he be allowed to continue with his nefarious ways? For everything there is a season if one can borrow from the Holy Scriptures. Robert Mugabe must reap what he sowed. This writer is convinced, the determination, commitment, courage, innovation, passion, unity and astuteness of the progressive movement can rid our nation of this tyrant who has outlived his usefulness. What is required right now is an infinite capacity to strategize and mobilize as well as ending the arm-chair approach to dealing with Mugabe. Zimbabweans should derive inspiration from the opposition activists and leaders who are being arrested as the writer composes this article and not imbecile admiration to the extent of abandoning the whole struggle to these flag-bearers. Demonstrations should continue unabated and undebated in the towns of Zimbabwe whether dejury or defacto.

Latest events on the Zimbabwean political landscape range from the tragic to the insane and absurd. The arrest of Morgan Tsvangirai and his lieutenants albeit briefly, fit the former category while Gabriel Chaibva and Nathaniel Manheru’s utterances fit the latter.
This writer is perplexed by Gabriel Chaibva’s endorsement of Robert Mugabe’s announcement of the election date, March 29, 2008. The behavior of his faction is dubious and deserves the contempt it deserves. In as much as this writer accommodates opposing views, the issue of the elections was part of the negotiations and both factions participated as a single entity, therefore, this writer is convinced Welshman Ncube’s faction has lost the plot.

In spite of these internal dynamics, progressive Zimbabweans need to forge ahead with the struggle for a new political dispensation. A nation devastated by a complex and well entrenched dictatorship deserves permanent and effective solutions, not short-term concessions meant to benefit apologists of the system. The National Constitutional Assembly’s unwavering stance for a people’s constitution deserves to be immortalized.

Charles .M. Mutama writes in his personal capacity.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Zimbabwe Elections and the Kenya Syndrome

The Situation in Kenya and the Struggle for a Democratic Constitution in Zimbabwe

The Kenyan Cautionary Tale


Since its December 27th General Election, Kenya has been experiencing a wave of political conflicts that should serve as a lesson to Zimbabwe’s pro-democracy movement, as these problems are rooted in the same democratic deficit.

Much of the media coverage on Kenya seems to have been consumed by a focus on the ensuing violence with very marginal efforts to investigate issues at the centre of this conflict: absence of political democratic institutions and the shortfalls of ‘executive’ fundamentalism. With Zimbabwe facing a potential election in March, a look into the Kenyan scenario would be helpful in avoiding a worse repeat. In order to build agency, around a proper constitutional reform process, whose outcome will insulate Zimbabwe from the problems those in Kenya are going through and those experienced in past elections.

Since the Kenyan election, over a thousand people have since lost their lives and 250 000 more have been displaced. As in most post-colonial conflicts, much of these tensions have taken an ugly ethno-tribal character.

According to observers, the elections themselves were held in a manner that can be deemed ‘free and fair’. In the run-up to the vote, all political parties had relative space to organize and campaign. Kenya has a growing free media, and unlike Zimbabwe does not have such notorious legislations as the Public Order Act or the Access to Information Act. The Election Day itself was rather peaceful.

The opposition, Orange Democratic Movement, won majority of the parliamentary seats. The ruling party would be announced as having won the Presidential vote. Problems were then reported in the tallying of the vote, throwing the Mwai Kibaki’s victory into dispute. The Chairperson of the Kenya Electoral Commission has since acknowledged that there was manipulation of the vote.

Independent observers have suggested that the Election was too close. The US Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Rannesberger, is quoted saying whoever won the Election, did so by a margin between 23 000 to 100 000 votes. And that is where part of the problem and why building Constitutional frameworks that harness the spirit of nation building lie.

Kenya like Zimbabwe, has its Lancaster House Constitution, drawn in 1963 as a settlement document when the British colonists were withdrawing from the territory to allow for Kenya’s independence. Consequently, this Constitution, now with its fair share of amendments, has not abhorred well for a transformational state, therefore allowing for dictatorship tendencies to set in. The Daniel Moi regime, would master repression under the shoulder of Constitutional righteousness.

As it relates to Elections, state administration and governance, Kenya has a winner-takes-all/loser-leaves-all electoral system. This system is what we have in Zimbabwe. What this means is that, even if one wins an election by one vote, the opinions of the section of the voters who would have lost will not find political representation or expression. It is a system that excludes ‘losers’ and, as we are learning from Kenya, a base for fuelling other deep seated tensions and questions to do with the legitimacy of the winner as a representative of all interest groups, if voting patterns are also put into consideration.

Its Presidential parliamentary system places more power in the executive, including power to legislate. The executive has a monopoly over national resource distribution, with the legislature being reduced to a powerless club of sessional critics or patronage driven loyalists. With a Constitution that bestows enormous powers on the executive and because there are no constitutional provisions to ensure equitable distribution of the country’s resources, perceived loss of the vote carries a heavy meaning for those who lose. In regions and amongst groups perceived to be less prioritized by the victors, this arrangement fuels anger. It means another five years of being isolated, another five years of exclusion, another five years of poverty.

The disproportionate powers the executive have, including that of legislating, compromises the others arms of government. The legislature and judiciary become overly dependent on the executive, undermining their role to provide for checks and balances. Executive accountability erodes. Corruption and its attendant defense systems set in: with regionalism and identity cleavages taking centre stage in national determination. Regions or communities without a ‘representative’ in power suffer.

Democratic transformation in Kenya, as in Zimbabwe, gained its momentum in the demands for Constitutional reform, with Kibaki defeating Moi on the banner of ‘a people driven Constitution’. Kenyans are yet to see it, two Presidential terms down the line. Most of those in civil society would be absorbed into the luxurious benefits of the State and soon forget the principled demands of institutionalizing democracy, and facilitating the writing down by the people of a framework under which they want to be governed – a Constitution. The disasters are what we are seeing today: those who feel excluded and watching their vote becoming meaningless are resorting to ‘all means necessary’ to reclaim the vote from the gutters. The death toll keeps rising as neighbor turns against neighbor, and identity replaces value in deciding who is a friend or foe.

The primacy of identity politics becomes breeding ground for the most deprived tendencies. It fosters an identity based nationalism which regresses democratic values necessary for nation building. As we have seen in Kenya, the electoral loss/victory soon takes the form of one identity grouping having defeated the other and the nation dividing along ethno-tribal lines. Ethnic identity is now equated with political identity.


Is Zimbabwe the next Kenya?
A similar threat confronts Zimbabwe, risking the negation of genuine national debate on democratic transformation.

Given our history, and the need to foster a common identity in our diversity, a political system and Constitutional framework which allows for this is critical. The incumbent regime has set the country back into the socio-psychology of identity in determining who can participate or not in national discourse. Our white population has been effectively wiped out from being Zimbabwean. Even in the most liberal of opposition spaces, they are regarded with suspicion and are politely censored from making public representation. Zimbabweans of Indian descend or Mixed-race are have been purged from public political participation. Amongst the black population, it has begun to matter whether one is Zezuru, Karanga or Ndebele. As if this is not enough, gender, even within these clusters of divisions, has been so entrenched to qualify exclusion, with our women compatriots having to endure structural abuse to assert the mere fact that they to are citizens.

Human character is secondary in the estimation of man and women. These identities have also informed people’s perceptions of who is excluded or included in the economic, social or political benefit – be they in the patronage of the State, or in civil society and opposition or business.

The violence that is manifest in Kenya, though based on identity, is reflective of failures in the country’s Constitution and institutions to be responsive to the crises of nation building. Many Kenyans have doubts about the validity of country’s Constitution, especially the process under which it was written. This is of relevance to Zimbabwe; where sadly as in the Kenyan case history could be vengefully repeating itself.

The MDC has consistently argued that a new Constitution must be put in place before the elections. Yet it seems to be doing everything to confirm its participation in the electoral process before this key demand has been met. Gabriel Chaibva, spokesperson of one faction of the MDC, in an interview with VOA is categorical about participating in the March elections. Nelson Chamisa, the spokesperson for the other faction, suggested the same in his widely condemned rally speech where he threatens Kenyan style protests should Mugabe do what he knows best: manipulate the vote.

Despite this grandstanding and pontification about a new Constitution, the MDC – in itself a product of the Constitutional movement – does not seem to place value in the importance of a democratic, public participatory process of Constitution making. The Constitution it is fighting for in the talks is a product of ‘four wise men’, determining the permanent fate of 13million of their fellow citizens! The Constitution they are proposing has not been seen or shared by Zimbabweans. Speaking during a visit to the US end last year, leader of one of the factions, Morgan Tsvangirai is quoted in an interview suggesting that ‘we have graduated from process’, in deviation from the principles. Welshman Ncube in his speech to Parliament in support of the widely condemned 18th Constitutional Amendment to the Constitution of Zimbabwe went to depth to explain that the principles of an ‘open, transparent and participatory manner’ in Constitution making were not a ‘fundamentalist decree’.

On the 3rd of January, Morgan Tsvangirai published an opinion piece suggesting that a Transitional Constitution had been finalized, with the sticking point being that of implementation. The nation or even members of the MDC are yet to see it. Our experience has been a bitter one: reforms made in the dark, excluding national dialogue are partly the reason why we are where we are today: a reason for us to be very afraid of the Kenyan ‘demons’ visitation or better still of being ‘kibakised’.

But what is even more frightening, if it is to be believed, is the revelation by Nathaniel Manheru a columnist for government controlled Herald who wrote in last Saturday’s edition that the so called ‘transition’ constitution agreed by Zanu PF and the MDC is nothing more than the 2000 government draft that, lost the referenda.


The South African Model
Model countries such as South Africa do offer learning curves on national reconstruction. Emerging from its brutal past, as the rest of post-colonial Africa, South Africa underwent a process of Constitutional building that pitched public participation at the centre of Constitutional development. Public opinion and debate would take place, with its Constitutional Assembly, civil society and political parties opening the nation to dialogue with itself. What resulted was amongst other things, an electoral and political system that is modestly inclusive, guaranteeing proportional representation, and allowing all views brought to an electoral contest and receiving electoral support, to find a measure of expression.

Greater devolution of power in provinces has and local municipalities have created a system of greater accountability and service delivery. There is freedom of electoral contest and democratic expression. The result has been limited violent contestation of election results and a harmonious existence of political formations and civic groups despite their competing ideologies or perspectives. Those who lose an election will still salvage their proportional representation of the vote.

The National Constitutional Assembly has advocated for a similar system of Constitution making based primarily on the principles of ‘public participation, openness and transparency’. Its 2001 draft addresses some of the key issues of proportional representation and institutions that safe-guard democracy: Electoral Commission, Human Right Commission, Gender Commission etc. The draft also argues for a strong legislature and judiciary and the effective separation of powers between the varying arms of the State. Parliament, elected through a mixed system of constituency based and party-proportional based representation would elect the leader of government who would account to it. This system was drawn out of the views gathered from ordinary Zimbabweans, by both the NCA and the Constitutional Commission. The government draft presented to the referendum in 2000 ignored all these views, and was wisely rejected. In arguing that elections should be deferred until such a time as there is a Constitutional and electoral framework, it aims to pre-empt the possibility of national degeneration.

The Kenyan scenario points to the things we can avoid and toward the importance of working on developing and putting in place structural systems that ensures barbarism and exclusion are not part of our politics and national life. The democracy movement must also learn that short-cuts to freedom lead to spurious regimes and the entrenchment of anti-democratic practices. The MDC, carrying with it the mantle of the nation’s hope for change, must rethink its options. The current opportunism and intellectual laziness that is becoming so pervasive should be stopped and give way to the principled call for a just and free nation.

Tapera Kapuya is with the National Constitutional Assembly. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be reached on kapuyat@gmail.com

Monday, January 21, 2008

Zimbabwean Human Rights Activist Dies

PRESS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:
Stanford G. Mukasa. NAP Communications
Phone: (724) 357 3097 Office
(724) 467 0001 (CELL)
email: mukasa@iup.edu
Date : January 20, 2008

The North American Province of the Movement for Democratic Change today joins millions of oppressed Zimbabweans in mourning the death of firebrand human rights activist, Miss Gertrude Mtombeni, who died at the weekend. Affectionately known as Gettie by her friends and colleagues, Miss Mthombeni was a visionary and a dedicated activist for human rights in Zimbabwe.

Miss Mtombeni, MDC secretary for the environment and a member of the party’s national council, joins the long list of MDC activists who have died in the struggle for the liberation of Zimbabwe from the oppressive dictatorship of Robert Mugabe regime. She was harassed, jailed and severely assaulted by Mugabe’s police from whom she sustained serious injuries in her body. Yet she never gave up the struggle. She once declared that, if by joining the struggle it meant a certain death for her “so be it.”

In addition to her struggle against the oppressive regime of Mugabe, Miss Mthombeni was also engaged in another struggle to maintain unity after the leadership split in the MDC in 2005.

When a splinter group in the leadership broke away from the MDC and established its head office in Bulawayo, there were widespread reports that the people of Matabeleland would join the splinter group. Miss Mthombeni was one of the MDC leaders who played a critical and strategic role in keeping the national unity of the MDC intact.

She addressed many rallies and stressed that the people of Matabeleland were not, and did not define themselves as, a tribal or ethnic group but part of the national character of Zimbabwe. She did not mince her words when she poured scorn and contempt on the so-called analysts and propagandists who spread malicious and misleading information that the splinter movement of the MDC would be attracted to the people of Matabeleland on the basis of their ethnicity.

When Miss Mthombeni visited the United States last year she made an effort, despite her deteriorating health, to visit and meet with the Zimbabweans in Diaspora. Her lasting advice to all Zimbabweans was “Love one another.”

We cannot agree more with what Miss Mthombeni’s compatriot in the struggle, Sekayi Holland, said, namely:

[Miss] Mthombeni worked under extremely difficult conditions in her Bulawayo province. [Miss] Mthombeni stuck to MDC principles whatever obstacle was cast in her way, in all her political and union work to the end. We will all Miss Gertrude Mthombeni.

The North American Province of the MDC sends our deepest condolences to Miss Mthombeni’s family, relatives as well as to the MDC. We have lost a colleague, a fellow citizen, and a friend.

But we make this promise that we will finish the struggle that she and her compatriots started. There can be no doubt that Miss Mthombeni’s deteriorating health was a direct result of all the torture and detention she suffered under the Mugabe regime.

To this extent, we hold Robert Mugabe and ZANUPF directly responsible for Miss Mthombeni’s death. If Mugabe thinks that by killing Miss Mthombeni and other freedom fighters he has suppressed the struggle for freedom and democracy he is dead wrong. The spirit and determination by Zimbabweans to free themselves from Mugabe’s oppressive rule live on and will continue until victory is won, no matter how long it will take.

When Mugabe regime and ZANUPF are defeated, dead and buried in the dustbin of history Miss Mthombeni’s name will forever be remembered and memorialized among Zimbabwe’s authentic and true heroes who shed their blood for the second liberation of their country from the evil dictatorship of Mugabe.

Chinga Maitiro. Guqula Izenzo. Change Behavior.

Unity of purpose needed right now in Zimbabwe

TSVANGIRAI AND MUTAMBARA UNDER SEIGE


The two MDCs failure to unite at this crucial time in Zimbabwe’s history is indeed sad and disappointing. Many activists have sacrificed life and limb for their beloved country, the common man is experiencing unprecedented suffering while the ZANU PF fat cats continue to benefit from this quandary. Our only hope lies in the two men who are at the helm of the main opposition in Zimbabwe, Arthur Mutambara and Morgan Tsvangirai.

Unfortunately, the duo have been besieged by a very dangerous yet influential coterie of bootlickers who thrive on the politics of patronage which is synonymous with the ZANU PF way of attaining recognition from the party leader. This group of people from both camps is only self-serving and thrives on posturing. These are individuals who lack the gravitas that Arthur Mutambara often refers to when it comes to moving the country forward. They are a liability to the democratic struggle and should be dealt with if the opposition is to move towards the right direction. These political sycophants are not capable leaders but pretenders who were caught up in the moment. The crisis created overnight politicians without the pedigree to lead. They are opportunists manipulating the leaders of the opposition because of kinship ties or a false sense of political achievements and experience gained before and after 1999 when the MDC was formed.

We, the people of Zimbabwe should expeditiously liberate these two men first from this band of pretenders before we focus our attention on the dictator, Robert Mugabe. It is a fact that Mutambara and Tsvangirai need each other right now and they know that. Parallels can be drawn with the situation existing in ZANU PF currently. An equally influential group has contributed to Robert Mugabe’s paranoia. It is therefore a culture now characterizing Zimbabwean politics and if we are to achieve a new dispensation this should be nipped in the bud as a precondition for success.

CHARLES M. MUTAMA
Washington DC, USA

Urgent Appeal for a Diaspora Vote

Write to the participants in the SADC- Initiated inter party Dialogue to urgently uphold the following:

1. Article 5 of the SADC Treaty objectives which among other issues state the following:
Evolve common political values, systems and institutions;

2. Section 2.1.1 of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections which states that:
Member states should guarantee full participation of the citizens in the political process;


3. Section 2.1.6 of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections which states that:
Member states should guarantee equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for;

4. Section 2.1.8 states that:
Member states should guarantee that there is voter education.

All these make it mandatory for the Zimbabwean government to allow Zimbabwean citizens living abroad to register and participate in all national elections.

SADC SECRETARIAT
Private Bag 0095
Gaborone
Botswana
Fax: 267 3972 848
Tel: 267 3951 863

Zimbabwe
Mr. F. MAONERA
Department of Regional and International Co-operation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO BOX 4240
Causeway, Harare
Telephone: 263 727 005/794 681
Fax: 263 470 6293
Email: sadczim@yahoo.com
Cc: fmaonera@mweb.co.zw
gumbezererata@yahoo.com


South Africa
Ambassador J.Y. Duarte
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria 0001
Tel: 27 12 351 0430
Fax: 27 12 351 0449/0546
Email: duartej@foreign.gov.za
Cc:madumanem@foreign.gov.za
mamabolol@foreign.gov.za

The need for a diaspora vote in Zimbabwe

DISENFRANCHISED ZIMBABWEANS ABROAD DEMAND YOUR VOTE!



The 2008 joint Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Zimbabwe will not be considered free and fair if they are not all- embracing and all-inclusive. About 4million Zimbabweans live outside the country due to the adverse economic and political situation wrought on the small nation by the ruling ZANU PF. A large portion of this alarming figure of Zimbabweans now lives in South Africa and the United Kingdom whilst the rest of the portion is scattered all over the world in countries such as Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia.

The result of this exodus which is a direct product of the ZANU PF misrule was the Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiated- talks between the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ZANU PF, the protagonist and antagonist in the current Zimbabwean political situation, respectively. The reason for the dialogue is to end animosities between the two political parties paving the way for an agreement on certain fundamental political concessions that would allow the country to abide by the SADC Guidelines on Free and Fair Elections. In short, the idea behind the dialogue is to facilitate in the re-establishment of democratic norms and values in Zimbabwe.

Lately, according to the participants there has been some “progress” in the talks with the recent bills on the amendment of POSA, AIPPA and the Electoral Act being fast-tracked in parliament to show the “true spirit” of the talks. Shockingly, the issue of the disenfranchised millions in the Diaspora has not been given the priority it deserves. Therefore, the subject of Voter Registration and Vote-casting by Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, has not been tackled with the prominence it deserves for the SADC initiated-talks to be considered progressive.

The blame lies squarely on us, the people in exile, because we have not come up with a grassroots movement to petition the political actors in the dialogue, that is, SADC, ZANU PF and the MDC. It is never too late to do so. It’s up to us to show our African brothers in particular and the international community that Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU PF have lost the moral authority to govern, let alone the mandate to do so.

March Elections in Zimbabwe too early

The anticipated March 2008 elections in Zimbabwe are not realistic since the ZANU PF regime is attempting to hold on to power through a brazen disrespect of the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe. A number of issues need to be addressed ranging from allowing the diaspora to vote, introducing a new constitution, abolishing the current electoral commission and getting rid of the boundaries created by the Delimitation Commission, allowing freedom and the freedom to assemble among a plethora of vices that are suffocating the Zimbabwean political space.

It is the view of this writer that elections in 2008 should be boycotted and condemned as they fall short of the minimum standards set by the SADC Guidelines on Democratic Elections. Robert Mugabe's futile posturing should be exposed and his grand plans of hanging on to power quashed.

Zimbabweans in the diaspora should set an agenda on the future of country they cherish so much. This writer believes this is the time to unite and embark on a sustained and systematic campaign to put pressure on the government of Zimbabwe to accede to international standards regarding the holding of elections.

The stance of the MDC announced by the party leader, Morgan Tsangirai, deserves support and should be applauded by all progressive Zimbabweans. The opposition MDC needs material, financial, and moral support on this issue because the campaign is noble and the eradication of tyranny in Zimbabwe is long over due.