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.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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