Q&A: Framework and progress of Zimbabwe talks
Our reporter
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:45:00 +0000
THE following is an extract from the transcript of the media briefing by Aziz Pahad, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, held in Pretoria on July 15 2008. The extract sheds some light on the current framework of the Zimbabwe talks and the progress made so far.
At the time of going to press, the Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between his party and the ruling Zanu PF party which would have paved the way for talks to begin in trying to resolve the situation in Zimbabwe.
According to sources, Tsvangirai refused to sign the MoU on instruction from AU Commission chief, Jean Ping. According to South Africa’s deputy foreign affairs minister, there will be no expansion of the mediation team, as requested by the MDC as the mediation process currently taking place has been endorsed by both Sadc and the African Union.
Questions and Answers
Question: Deputy Minister, do you expect an agreement this week on the framework of the Zimbabwe talks?
Question: Deputy Minister, will the talks in Pretoria resume today? Can you update us on the agenda and progress of the talks?
Answer: As I have indicated, there was a joint statement put out last Friday by all parties indicating that they have started talks and that their objective was to find a solution.
There was a decision by all parties, including the Facilitation that we could not negotiate such a complex and crucial matter through the media and therefore it is our view, that because of the sensitivity and issues of the Facilitation and the three parties, we would best leave it for the progress to be made and for the public announcements to be made at that time. I see the South African media are speculating on leaked information - I am not privy to such information but it is clear that everybody understands the need to move expeditiously to find a solution to the Zimbabwean political and economic crises.
We expect that the Facilitation, will at the appropriate time, make an announcement about the progress that has been achieved.
[CUT]
Question: Deputy Minister, you mentioned extraordinary remarks by some members of the Council - could you please expand upon this?
Answer It has been widely reported - you know that in the Council the British representative stated that while they support our mediation, we have achieved "nought." They went on to explain why we have achieved nothing and went on to call for sanctions. [See here]
The American representative in the Council made some remarks about the Russian Federation to which Russia has already responded - about them having given some undertaking at the G8 and therefore they may not be suitable members of the G8. The Russians responded by saying that they were discussing the Zimbabwean issue at the G8 without discussing Chapter 7 resolutions at the UN Security Council and therefore the US representatives comments about Russia and China (in relation to the Chinese veto) were unacceptable.
In relation to South Africa, the US representative, outside the Security Council chambers went on to suggest that President Mbeki is out of touch with his own country and then referred to other South Africans who may be more in touch and therefore he was suggesting that the time was right for the President to go. [See here]
These are not acceptable statements and we will take this up through the relevant diplomatic channels. We do not make statements about the performance of other countries and therefore I hope that there most senior UN representatives will also understand how diplomacy works and go through the right channels.
I am not sure if they were all shocked about what eventually happened. If they had asked for our advice we would have given it to them. We would have said that there was great concern amongst two permanent members of the UN Security Council and other members of the Security Council about pushing ahead with such haste and without allowing for us to get a better understanding of the African Union resolution and allow the UN Security Council to assist rather than hinder the way forward. But, we are now sitting with a situation and we hope that we can reconcile the different positions to get the UN to support the AU mandated SADC mediation process.
You are aware, as I have said, that the Chairperson of the AU Commission will be here on Friday to be briefed by the President about progress so there is constant contact with all structures of the African Union about progress that is being made or not being made in the mediation process.
Question: Deputy Minister, it was indicated yesterday that the visit of Mr Ping to South Africa was an emergency measure? Can you comment on this? Will the broadening of the SADC mediation effort be discussed between President Mbeki and Mr Ping?
Answer: Mr Ping is not coming to South Africa in an emergency situation. As you know, Chairperson Ping is in France at the Mediterranean Summit from where he travelled to Accra to prepare for the Turkish-Africa Summit and in the context of the AU resolution, which is the resolution we have to continue to work from, it is quite important that the Chairperson of the Commission of the AU is regularly briefed about the process.
Our view has always been, and I am stressing it, we are being diverted by a fake argument about the expansion of the SADC Facilitation - the Facilitation is not South Africa only. South Africa is conducting the Facilitation on behalf of SADC and therefore involves the Organ Chair, who, through the processes by which we work, have to brief the Chair of SADC; the Chair of SADC has to brief the Chair of the AU who has to brief all other members including the Peace and Security Council. Africa is totally involved in supporting the mediation that is being carried out by South Africa and President Mbeki as mandated by SADC and now by the African Union.
It is not a single country mediation, it involves everybody and it is incumbent upon the mediation to brief all relevant roleplayers on a regular basis about developments in this process because in the end, we have to carry out a SADC mandate endorsed by the African Union. So, there is no emergency reason for Mr Ping to visit South Africa.
Question: Deputy Minister, if so many countries are involved in this mediation, then it would be very easy to acquiesce to what the MDC wants and have somebody else in the room. Why doesn't this happen?
Answer: This must then emerge from their discussions. I say this is a fake argument and diverts from the real fundamental issue and if the parties feel strongly, then through the mediation, and others, they all have contacts with many other Heads of State in Africa, they can continue to reflect this.
I don't believe that at this very crucial moment, adding new bodies, simply to sit in the same room, is what is required. What is required is that Zimbabweans, given their understanding of the view of all of Africa, about our concerns about developments in Zimbabwe post-March elections, that the Zimbabweans don't have the luxury of not finding a solution to which they have all publicly committed themselves. They have committed themselves to an inclusive government. The task is now, not to just add more people for the sake of adding them, I am not aware if they raised this issue when they met last week or not.
The mediation is continuing - why we receive continuous reports about them being unhappy - why don't we just allow the process to proceed and where they believe the process is not succeeding, let them indicate this and we can see how we can deal with this.
My personal view is that, and I am stressing this, I think this is a diversion. It is a fake argument.
Why did 53 African Heads of State at the AU Summit, after hours of robust discussions come to the conclusion that the SADC mediation carried out under President Mbeki is what they are supporting. They have understood what the reality is on the ground. They have understood at what the stage the mediation process is currently at and therefore, did not want to do anything that merely becomes a diversion rather than continuing the process that is currently underway and achieving progress.
That was a decision of 53 Heads of State by consensus - there was no different position.
Question: Deputy Minister, (inaudible)
Answer I am not aware, I being at Foreign Affairs, have not received anything officially on this matter. What I have picked up is through the media. I am not sure if this has been raised in the mediation. In Zimbabwe, we are briefed at all times so I am not aware of official communication in this regard other than what I pick up through the media.
Question: Deputy Minister, how would you characterise the relationship between President Mbeki and the MDC?
Answer: Very good - I can only judge by what I can see - why else would they be in the talks. I say very good, in relative terms to what you as the media refer to hostile. His relations are equally good with each of the MDC parties and the Zanu-PF. There is nobody who has proven to me that President Mbeki, in the mediation, has taken sides on behalf of one or the other.
I have repeatedly said in these briefings that we continue to ignore that it was precisely because of the mediation that the elections in March were held successfully. We continue to ignore the progress. Nobody has said that until the March 29th elections that President Mbeki was biased against one side or another. The media was saying that, the media was speculating that the elections were going to fail but to everybody's surprise, they were regarded as the best elections in Zimbabwe. So, for me, this indicated that there was something wrong - people were receiving incorrect information and were not aware of the reality on the ground. This was the only conclusion to which I could come.
Question: Deputy Minister, since the failure of the Security Council resolution, the British and Americans have indicated that they will be maintaining pressure on President Mugabe? Do you think this is useful?
Answer: As you are aware, EU and US smart sanctions have been place for some time now. You have sanctions or not. Nobody has been talking about whether we like it or not - that is an independent decision.
The Security Council is another matter - it is a whole new dimension to this debate - it is a chapter 7 resolution and comes at a time where it takes no notice of what 53 African Heads of State have resolved and were therefore going against all precedence in allowing regional groupings to solve their problems and supporting them and not doing things that impede the process. There was a difference in what has long been in place by the EU and US. If they want to increase this, they do not have to go to the UN Security Council to get Chapter 7 resolutions. These sanctions have been increasingly toughened. We were concerned about the incorrect position that was being taken in the UN Security Council after the Sharm el-Sheikh resolution on Zimbabwe. You either have sanctions or not - not smart or stupid sanctions. That does not make sense.
Question: Deputy Minister, does the South African government agree with Zanu-PF that these smart sanctions have contributed to the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe?
Answer: This is a very complex issue and many factors have led to the political, economic and social crisis in Zimbabwe. And, nobody challenges that we are facing a very serious crisis in Zimbabwe. This is reflected by the observer mission report, this is the essence of the AU resolution, the essence of what many countries have said. The causes of numerous. I don't think we can now say only one reason contributed to this. I have not sufficiently studied this. Many people have indicated that although the sanctions may have contributed to this, it could not have been the sole reason.
Q&A Transcript Source: SA Department of Foreign Affairs
Labels: AZIZ PAHAD, ELECTIONS, ZIMBABWE
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Tsvangirai told not to sign MoU
Ralph Mutema
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0000
THE signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party did not take place yesterday as expected putting the much anticipated political settlement in Zimbabwe in jeopardy.
Reports coming out of Harare say the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai changed his mind at the last minute despite reassurances from his party’s negotiation team which had agreed on the content of the document together with the Zanu PF team.
Tsvangirai is said to have advised his team that he would not be signing the MoU under instruction from Jean Ping, African Union Commission Chairman.
This is the second time the MDC leader has backtracked on a previous party position citing instructions from Ping.
Two weeks ago Tsvangirai failed to show up for a meeting which President Mbeki had managed to arrange between the MDC leader and President Mugabe saying he had received instructions from Ping. The meeting had been convened at Tsvangirai’s request.
Last week representatives from Zanu PF, MDC-T and the MDC led by Professor Arthur Mutambara met in Pretoria and held talks which led to the drafting of the MoU. The understanding was that the MoU would be signed in Zimbabwe at the South African embassy yesterday. The content of the MoU was discussed and agreed by the three parties, according to sources.
Zanu PF was represented by the public service minister Nicholas Goche and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa while MDC-T was represented by Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma with Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga representing the break-away formation of the MDC.
The Pretoria meeting, which was chaired by South African local government minister Sydney Mufamadi on behalf of President Mbeki had led to the drafting of the MoU and was agreed that Tsvangirai, President Mugabe and Mutambara would sign the MoU so that talks can begin.
Sources within the ruling party say Tsvangirai’s latest snub may have been triggered by the United States’ criticism of President Thabo Mbeki’s government over their vote at the UN Security Council blocking sanctions against Zimbabwe.
A US representative at the Security Council, speaking after the vote, suggested that President Mbeki was out of touch with his own country and that the time was right for him to go.
President Mbeki will meet with Jean Ping on Friday to brief him about progress that is being made or not being made in the mediation process.
The MDC has called on the mediation team to be expanded to include representatives from the African Union. South Africa dismissed speculation that the team will be expanded to meet the MDC’s demands.
South Africa’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, Aziz Pahad, indicated that the team was not being expanded and the meeting President Mbeki and the AU Commission Chairman is meant to bring the Chairman up to date with events.
“Mr Ping is not coming to South Africa in an emergency situation. It is quite important that the Chairperson of the Commission of the AU is regularly briefed about the process,” said Pahad.
He continued: “Our view has always been, and I am stressing it, we are being diverted by a fake argument about the expansion of the SADC Facilitation - the Facilitation is not South Africa only.
“South Africa is conducting the Facilitation on behalf of SADC and therefore involves the Organ Chair, who, through the processes by which we work, have to brief the Chair of SADC; the Chair of SADC has to brief the Chair of the AU who has to brief all other members including the Peace and Security Council.”
Labels: AU, ELECTIONS, JEAN PING, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MoU, ZANU-PF, ZIMBABWE
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8 accused of violence
Beitbridge Bureau.
Eight Zanu-PF youths from Dulibadzimu suburb have appeared before a Beitbridge magistrate on allegations of attacking residents in the border town. Hlupeka Phiri (37), Vengai Ngwenya (28), Brian Mangena (21), Petros Matare (26), Bernard Zvenyika (31), John Vhudzijena (22), Micahel Ndlovu (22) and Albert Takavada (29) were not asked to plead to two counts of public violence when they appeared before Mr Tawengwa Sangster on Tuesday.
They were all remanded in custody to July 25 for trial. The State alleges that on June 8 this year at around 11:30pm the eight — acting in common purpose — and wearing Zanu-PF regalia went to house number 1732 in Dulibadzimu.
They gathered outside singing revolutionary songs before smashing windowpanes worth $6 trillion and threatening to beat up the owner. Soon after committing the offence, they disappeared chanting party slogans.
On the same night, they went to another house number 2445 in the same area where they knocked violently demanding the owner to come out.
When he got out, they punched and kicked him accusing him of supporting losing independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni.
After that, they disappeared into the darkness and the complainant who sustained some injuries was later rushed to Beitbridge District Hospital for treatment by neighbours. — Beitbridge Bureau.
Labels: ELECTIONS, ZANU-PF
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MDC isn't party to Pretoria negotiations, says Tsvangirai
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Saturday July 12, 2008 [04:00]
SADC-mediated negotiations between ZANU-PF and opposition MDC have reportedly commenced in South Africa but the MDC has denied being part of the talks. Negotiators from ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations are reportedly meeting in Pretoria as the political parties seek to continue the dialogue. ZANU-PF is being represented by Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick Chinamasa and Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Nicholas Goche.
Prof Arthur Mutambara's MDC is being represented by secretary-general Welshman Ncube and his deputy Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
But MDC president Moragn Tsvangirai said his secretary general Tendai Biti went to South Africa only to present pre-conditions for the negotiation and not to negotiate.
"Over the past ten days, I and my party have stated categorically that there are no negotiations between ourselves and ZANU-PF currently taking place. In addition, we have stated that no such negotiations can take place while the ZANU-PF regime continues to wage war on my party and the people of Zimbabwe. This position has not changed," Tsvangirai stated in a press release yesterday.
"There is a meeting currently taking place in Pretoria at which the MDC is represented by secretary-general, Tendai Biti, and deputy treasurer-general, Elton Mangoma.
Their presence at this meeting is solely to present the conditions under which genuine negotiations can take place and the mechanism under which these negotiations will be conducted as defined by the AU resolution.
The lack of these conditions and an agreed framework in which negotiations can take place were the reasons for the MDC not attending the meeting between President Mbeki and Robert Mugabe last Saturday."
Tsvangirai said the people portraying this meeting as the beginning of negotiations between the MDC and ZANU-PF were being disingenuous and exploiting the plight of the Zimbabwean people for political gain.
"Portraying these talks as negotiations also undermines the resolution of the African Union, the statements made by the G8 leaders and the current process underway at the United Nations Security Council, all of which are designed to pressure the ZANU-PF regime to desist from its campaign of violence against the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe," he said.
Tsvangirai said there would be no talks until the conditions he set were met.
He said there would be no talks until there was an immediate cessation of violence and the withdrawal and disbanding of militia groups, paramilitary camps and illegal road-blocks sanctioned by ZANU-PF.
He said there would be no talks until the political environment were normalised, including the release of the more than 1,500 political prisoners, cessation of political persecution and provision of space for the MDC leadership to conduct business and travel without hindrance.
Other conditions are the reinstatement of access by humanitarian organisations to the people of Zimbabwe in order to provide food, medical and other critical services throughout the country, the swearing-in of Parliament and Senate, and the expansion of the mediation team to include an AU permanent envoy.
The G8 leaders who recently met in Japan declared that they would impose financial and other sanctions on leaders they described as "those individuals responsible for violence" in Zimbabwe.
The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States effectively rejected the government of President Mugabe saying it was illegitimate.
"We deplore the fact that the Zimbabwean authorities pressed ahead with the presidential election despite the absence of appropriate conditions for free and fair voting as a result of their systematic violence, obstruction and intimidation. We do not accept the legitimacy of any government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people," the leaders said.
Referring to the first round of elections in which Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won the most votes, they added that "it is important that any mediation process respect the results of the March 29, 2008 election."
The leaders also issued an implicit call for the SADC's mediation, led by South African President Thabo Mbeki, to be widened to include other mediators.
The G8 called on the African Union and SADC to "provide strong leadership," including taking measures aimed at "further strengthening the regional mediation process."
Labels: ELECTIONS, MDC, SADC, ZIMBABWE
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Lesotho expresses support for Mugabe
Zim Guardian / AFP Reporter
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:16:00 +0000
LESOTHO has come out and openly supported President Robert Mugabe and told foreign powers Wednesday to respect the sovereignty of states in the African region. Asked for his reaction to calls for sanctions on President Mugabe and members of his government, Pakalitha Mosisili, the Lesotho prime minister, said it was not for outsiders to decide on the legitimacy of a particular government. "It is high time countries and states respect the sovereignty of other countries," the Lesotho prime minister said.
"Whoever is saying it does not confer legitimacy on the government of Robert Mugabe, who is he or she to do that?"
His comments come after leaders of the group of eight industrialized nations rejected the legitimacy of President Mugabe's victory on June 27 and vowed to take "financial and other measures" against perpetrators of political violence.
Mosisili said that any government in Zimbabwe had to have the support of the armed forces.
"I don't care who rules Zimbabwe but he must be acceptable to the armed forces because he needs their support, but even they must respect the will of the people," he said.
Along with Zimbabwe, Lesotho is one of the 14 countries which make up the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
Zim Guardian / AFP
Labels: ELECTIONS, LESOTHO, ZIMBABWE
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(HERALD) Govt raps G8 sanctions call
Govt raps G8 sanctions call
Herald Reporter
THE Group of Eight yesterday ignored African and Russian calls not to impose more sanctions on Zimbabwe and said they would put in place "financial measures" against the country in a move that has been described by Government as smacking of "international racism". The G8 resolution made in Japan yesterday claimed Zimbabwe’s Government was "illegitimate" despite the fact that President Mugabe polled over two million votes in the June 27 presidential run-off election against MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s less than 250 000 votes.
Though they avoided the word sanctions in their statement on Zimbabwe, they referred to "financial measures", and vowed to press the United Nations to take action against the country. "We will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for the violence," they said.
They added that they wanted Government to "work with the opposition", albeit on the basis of the March 29 harmonised elections that did not produce a winner in the presidential race. The G8 resolution also seeks to subvert South African President Thabo Mbeki’s mediation between Zimbabwe’s main political parties by imposing another mediator — who they called a special UN envoy — in the inter-party talks.
The Minister of Information and Publicity, Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, yesterday slammed the decision as an attempt to override the will of the people who voted on June 27, as well as that of African heads of state who endorsed President Mbeki’s mediation at last week’s African Union Summit held in Egypt.
"The G8 has refused to listen to Africa. A number of African countries have tried to talk to them and make them understand the African Union’s position on Zimbabwe but they have disregarded it all.
"African leaders who were invited to the G8 Summit, such as President (Abdoulaye) Wade of Senegal and President (Jakaya) Kikwete of Tanzania, said they could not support sanctions but they (the G8) have gone ahead and passed a resolution calling for sanctions at the UN.
"For them to say that Zimbabwe’s Government and President Mugabe’s election are not legitimate is an attempt to impose a government on the people of Zimbabwe against their will. Our Constitution required that we hold a run-off and we did that accordingly. Morgan Tsvangirai probably did not understand what a run-off was and instead ran off to the Dutch Embassy.
"But the people went out and voted, including for Tsvangirai, and President Mugabe won and has been sworn in as the Head of State," hesaid. "As such," Cde Ndlovu said, "the G8 resolution is ultimately of no consequence. Nowhere in international law is there provision for a group of countries to sit down as a private club and decide the legitimacy of governments in sovereign states. This is international racism."
On the matter of President Mbeki’s mediation, Cde Ndlovu said Zimbabwe would proceed with the South African leader’s facilitation as resolved by the AU and Sadc. "This issue is a non-starter. Why do they want to impose another mediator? President Mbeki has proved his mettle as an African statesman par excellence and so we will follow the AU and Sadc position on this." At the AU Summit in Egypt, African heads of state resolved that President Mbeki should continue with his mediation efforts without unnecessary meddling from outsiders. Seven leaders from the continent invited to the G8 Summit had earlier tried to impress on the United States, Britain and their allies that sanctions would not help Zimbabwe in any way. President Wade of Senegal yesterday held meetings with some G8 leaders in attempt to make them understand Africa’s position. He told AFP yesterday that he had asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in separate meetings for the G8 leaders at least to delay sanctions if they insist on imposing them to allow for dialogue among Zimbabwean political parties. Earlier, Presidents Mbeki and Kikwete had also done the same thing but their calls were ignored. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said elements of the US draft were "quite excessive" and clearly "in conflict with the notion of sovereignty" of a UN member state. He was quoted by AFP questioning whether Zimbabwe’s case amounted to a threat to international peace and security. The other African countries represented at the G8 Summit were Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria, who said sanctions "may lead to internal conflict in Zimbabwe". The US and its allies pushed through the resolution as a means of putting pressure on the UN Security Council to also slap sanctions on Zimbabwe. The US introduced a draft resolution calling for sanctions before the Security Council that would then legitimise the economic embargo America already has in place against the country. The Security Council is expected to debate the draft this week. In South Africa, Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband received a cool response from his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to his calls for sanctions against Zimbabwe as the pair held talks yesterday. Dlamini-Zuma said at a joint Press conference that Pretoria saw talks between Zimbabwe’s ruling party and the opposition as the best way to resolve the country’s problems. She expressed little enthusiasm for sanctions. "Our leaders are currently meeting in Japan at the G8 meeting and they have expressed reservations on sanctions and so we will take if from there," she said. "South Africa has always maintained that an inclusive government that will reflect the diversity and the will of the people" was the best way to tackle the country’s problems, she added. The G8 is comprised of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US.
Labels: ELECTIONS, G8, SANCTIONS, ZIMBABWE
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Inter-party talks to resume
Herald Reporters
INTER-PARTY talks between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations will soon resume under the continued facilitation of South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki. Cde Patrick Chinamasa, one of Zanu-PF’s representatives in the talks, yesterday said he had received confirmation that both formations — one led by Arthur Mutambara and the other by Morgan Tsvangirai — were ready to return to the negotiating table. "We have received communication from both MDC Mutambara and MDC Tsvangirai that they are ready for a resumption of the inter-party talks.
"The talks will resume sooner rather than later, but I obviously cannot tell you what is on the table or when or where we will be meeting as we do not want to negotiate in public. The talks will be under the facilitation of President Mbeki," Cde Chinamasa said.
Efforts to get comment from MDC-T were unsuccessful last night after spokesman Nelson Chamisa did not return calls as promised. However, Cde Chinamasa had earlier expressed dismay at Tsvangirai’s initial decision to boycott the talks and for snubbing President Mbeki when he jetted into the country last Saturday where he met President Mugabe and Mutambara. "As Zanu-PF, we are disappointed that Tsvangirai, who requested for the meeting, did not turn up. His no-show shows that someone is dictating the pace for him," he said.
This comes amid revelations that Tsvangirai had defied a resolution by his party by boycotting Saturday’s inter-party talks held at Zimbabwe House in Harare. The MDC-T national council met on Friday and made a number of resolutions that included the need for the party to engage Zanu-PF in dialogue aimed at ending Zimbabwe’s current challenges. "The national council resolves that the party must engage in dialogue for the purpose of ensuring that we resolve the Zimbabwean crisis and bring in legitimacy and democracy to Zimbabwe," said Chamisa, in a statement listing the resolutions made at the meeting.
However, yesterday Tsvangirai apparently decided to proceed with the inter-party talks under the facilitation of President Mbeki. MDC-T set some conditions for participating in the talks, among them the impartial and expeditious prosecution of all perpetrators of political violence. There has been discord in the MDC-T camp over the inter-party talks with Tsvangirai initially indicating that he was willing to engage Zanu-PF while the opposition party’s secretary-general Tendai Biti condemned dialogue.
Last week Biti said prospects of dialogue between Zanu-PF and MDC-T were "totally and completely exterminated" by the June 27 presidential run-off that the opposition party boycotted. "It is now the firm view of the MDC that those who claim they have got a mandate to govern should govern. Chitongai tione," said Biti in a statement later dismissed by Chamisa as not reflecting the formation’s position as it had been "overtaken by events".
Saturday’s talks were attended by President Mugabe, Vice President Joice Mujuru, the Zanu-PF negotiating team while from the MDC there was Arthur Mutambara, his secretary-general Welshman Ncube and deputy secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga. President Mbeki chaired the talks.
Labels: ELECTIONS, PATRICK CHINAMASA, ZIMBABWE
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Gambia: Zimbabwe Election Valid, Says President Jammeh
The Daily Observer (Banjul)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Pa Malick Faye
President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, has given the june 27 Presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe a clean bill of health, saying "Zimbabwe's election is valid". The president, in addition, branded the leader of the main opposition MDC, morgan Tchangarai, as a "blue-eyed boy" and "puppet" of the West, emphasising that Zimbabwe will never be colonised again.
The plain speaking Gambian leader made these remarks in an interview with newsmen at the airport, upon his arrival from the 11th AU summit in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, which lasted for two days.
According to Dr jammeh, the summit was not diversive on the Zimbabwe issue but rather showed African leaders working for the continent's interest and those who are for West. He added: "The pronouncements of major Western media before the summit was what those representing Western interests came with, but they have regretted it'.
The Gambian leader made comparison to an election recently held in an Eastern African country, which was described as not free and fair by all institutions involved in the process, yet the West decided to be mute about it. the aftermath of that election was marred by violence during which many were killed, thousands displaced and the end result was a unity government.
To him, Africans accept mugabe's re-election, because it was lawful as the country's laws do not ban elections if a party decides to boycott.
Hypocrisy
Dr jammeh again made reference to an event in a country in the Horn of Africa, where opposition protesters were shot and killed with impunity. he added that the government went to the extent of refusing to release the dead bodies unless the relatives paid for the bullets, but yet still the West made no noise, because that government was serving their interests.
"Why Zimbabwe?" he asked. "Because the whites are involved," he said, answering his rhetorical question. he observed that the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe was not Mugabe's making, but the West's just because they want to effect a change of goverment, which will be ruled by their puppet.
Dr jammeh wondered why the West during the first round of the election decreed the process foul only to endorse it when the MDC emerged as the winner.
He agreed with President Museveni of Uganda that elections cannot be free and fair, when the opposition are backed by external forces to destablise a country by launching attacks on ruling party supporters and use NGOs to induce the electorate.
Inclusive Government
To Dr jammeh, president mugabe can accommodate "nationalists" and "patriots" who have divergent views with him but have the country's interest at heart. But the decision for that mechanism to be in place lies with the government and people of Zimbabwe.
Prosecuting Mugabe
The Gambian leader called the Western ploy to prosecute President Mugabe on the pretext of misrule as "free, fair and fine". But questioned why they are not calling for the prosecution of the then white minority government in Zimbabwe and South Africa, where they carried out mass killings of Blacks, which was stopped by Mugabe and his fellow nationalists.
He added that today, the perpetractors of those crimes are living freely and no one is calling for their prosecution.
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"We Africans should learn a lesson from this. They (the West) think they can dictate to us (Africans) and this is not acceptable. Africans should stand for Zimbabwe. After all what did the West did for Africa?," he rhetorically asked.
The Theme
Commenting on the theme of the summit, which was "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals in Water and Sanitation", Dr Jammeh said sanitation is the problem in Africa and not water. "Leaders have realise that collective approach at continental level will enable the continent to meet the MDGs in 2015," he added.
Labels: AU, ELECTIONS, ZIMBABWE
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Mugabe Warns Neighbours thinking of Invading ZIM
Posted on July 4th, 2008
President Robert Mugabe has warned countries that wanted to court war with Zimbabwe saying the country was ready for such a challenge. ‘We do not want war with any of our neighbours, ‘he said. ‘But if there are some who are itching for a fight, let them try it. They will taste the salt of the fight,’ he said.
He stressed Zimbabwe has and will never be aggressive with anyone adding the country was instead ready to support other countries that were under attack as in the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that saw Zimbabwean soldiers go and help the country defend itself against invaders.
New Ziana reports that President Mugabe was speaking when he addressed thousands of Zanu-PF supporters who thronged the Harare International Airport to welcome him on his arrivals from the just ended African Union Summit in Egypt.
President Mugabe has also set new conditions for engaging in talks with the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) .
The conditions are that the opposition and its western allies accept the outcome of the June 27 presidential run-off, which the ruling party won and the removal of illegal sanctions slapped on Zimbabwe..
President Mugabe said the issue of the land was also a key factor to the talks as the reforms were not reversible.
He said it was only the people of Zimbabwe who cast their vote last Friday and not Britain or America that had the power to tell him how to run the country.
‘I am the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,’ Mugabe said,
If we agree on that and accept the June 27 vote then we can enter into dialogue and move forward together to rebuild our beloved country,’ President Mugabe.
‘This is a reality that everyone has to accept first before anyone can begin a dialogue with us. We are open to dialogue,’ he added.
Mugabe’s comments comes after Britain and America urged the international community to recognise the March 29 elections and not the June 27 run-off results, which Zanu-PF won.
‘We stand by our people, and we listen to our people,’ President Mugabe said.
He said the June 27 will never and never be rejected by anyone adding that it is only Zimbabweans and not Britain or America who can decide who shall lead Zimbabwe.
‘If it calls on us to defend our country again,’ he said, ‘we are prepared to suffer and to die for it again,’ he said.
He said the votes had total meaning on who should rule Zimbabwe and also a rejection of western influence.
President Mugabe said the western world can go ahead and tighten its sanctions on the country but Zimbabwe had vast resources to feed its people.
He said the government was also committed to assisting its people to address the socio-economic challenges facing the country.
Meanwhile, President Mugabe has urged British Prime Minister Godwin Brown to withdraw from Zimbabwe all British companies as the country could do without them.
‘Please Mr Brown withdraw all your companies from Zimbabwe,’ President Mugabe said.
‘The sooner you do that the better,’ he added.
He said the government had since identified such companies for a takeover, since they were working with western forces to destabilise the country and force its people to turn against the government.
The companies, President Mugabe said, were increasing prices without justification, threatening the peace that is prevailing in the country.
‘We have identified these companies. We shall be sitting down with them and reading the riot act,’ he said.
In the meantime, President Mugabe said the government would continue with people’s shop programme to ensure its citizen had access to cheap and affordable food.
More buses would also be given to the people to address transport woes while assistance to small to medium enterprises would continue.
‘We are now working at ensuring that we deliver all the promises we made during our campaigns,’ he said.
President Mugabe also paid tribute to Zimbabweans for voting peacefully during the just ended run-off.
He said areas such as Harare had come back home after discovering that the MDC had nothing much to offer.
‘We also thank South Africa President Thabo Mbeki for the role he has played towards the development of Zimbabwe,’ Mugabe said.
He said Mbeki’s role had brought a number of positive developments to Zimbabwe such as the talks between Zanu-PF and MDC.
President Mugabe said those who were calling for Mbeki to be replaced as the negotiating leader in the country were misguided as the South Africa leader had done much for Zimbabwe.
President Mugabe also briefed supporters on what transpired at the AU Summit, saying the meeting was successfully held.
Senior government officials, the diplomatic community and services chiefs welcomed Mugabe on his arrival.
The first lady Grace Mugabe and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa were among the delegates that accompanied the President to the Summit.
New Ziana/ZANIS/MK/ENDS
Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, ELECTIONS, MUGABE, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, NEOCOLONIALISM, SANCTIONS, ZIMBABWE
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Dialogue: way forward for Zim
By Stephen Mpofu
THE heated-up pre-election adrenaline that boiled over in parts of Zimbabwe is cooling down like mercury in a thermometer after a day of searing heat. Now is the time for leaders of opposition and ruling parties to wave the olive branch across the narrow divide to flag off a meeting between them to find a homegrown solution of their political conflicts. Other credible opposition leaders will also find empty seats drawn out for them around the conference table.
After all, a dependable and reliable mediator has long been in place in the person of South African President Thabo Mbeki whose initiatives have already borne results in the parliamentary unanimity over some Bills that have now become law.
Any words that have bolted out of the stable of some careless lips trying to lower his esteem as a referee should be regarded as war words and ignored and this means also that the hate language of the recent past as the parties prepared for battle should now become extinct.
Moreover, the different political parties are familiar with their common social circumstances, so they are bound to reach a state of inter-subjectivity in any indaba held with neither party concealing hidden agenda in a hand drawn close to their chest as such gimmicks can sabotage efforts towards durable amity in our country.
The combatants embracing and smiling for cameras and the public at large? Why not? Did not blacks after the revolution in 1980 blaze a trail impossible not to follow by political organisations around the world with our policy of reconciliation between sworn enemies emerging from years of a brutal war of liberation? Yes, Zimbabweans did although some whites fled the country suspecting that the olive branch that the then Prime Minister, Cde Mugabe preferred camouflaged an AK47.
The war of liberation was between complete strangers with nothing in common except the soil that accommodated the different colours, different cultures, and different aspirations.
Zimbabweans from the ruling and opposition parties share a common ideology of belonging in the same motherland but that they can easily kill by burying their heads and hearts deep in political intransigence to the detriment of present and future generations since this is the only country we can call our own.
In any case, the war between blacks and the former ruling culture was for social, political and economic space, all of which were denied.
The "war" between Zanu-PF and the other political parties is for political space, which can be stretched out to accommodate as many tenants because it is elastic.
Consider the foregoing and you (yes, you) will agree that the margin of difference between the contending parties is narrow and can easily be melted out with saliva at the conference table.
Moreover, the conflict this time around is between "first-degree" brothers, where as in the armed struggle it was between complete strangers. President Mugabe and MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai have already stated their willingness for dialogue to find a solution to the country’s challenges.
But, of course, let us face it, foreigners with hidden agendas are trying strenuously to magnify the differences between the ruling and opposition parties in Zimbabwe by loosing their foreign Press, infamous in Africa, to magnify events in Zimbabwe and other third world countries out of proportion. They do this by validating centuries old Eurocentric beliefs that nothing good can come out of Africa.
It is indisputable that the foreign media have become their countries’ war weapons fired at targeted countries and emptying fusillades of falsehoods as their bullets. Examples of these deliberate demonisations can be sighted closer to home.
For instance, when xenophobic attacks on immigrants in South Africa began, the Western Press reported that Zimbabweans were targets of the brutality when, as everyone in Africa knows, Mozambicans, Malawians, Nigerians, Somalis and so on suffered the same fate with more Mozambicans killed than Zimbabweans as a matter of fact.
Just last Sunday, the Voice of America State radio reported in one breath that South Africa had "deported" hundreds of Zimbabwean immigrants but in the next breath the news bulletin said those affected had fled violent attacks on them to seek shelter and had said "they wanted to return home."
While the contradiction should have been so obvious to the news writer, it appears that the over-riding desire to cause antagonism between the South African and Zimbabwean governments over the "deportations" blinded that medium to the conflicting statements in the bulletin.
But why such antagonism? Easy — obviously to alienate President Mbeki whose mediation efforts in Zimbabwe do not please imperialists who wish to see rivers of blood flowing across different Zimbabwean political organisations so the enemy can sail through to plunder and pillage our natural resources while our people are disarrayed, nursing internecine wounds.
The same radio station also quoted former Church of England Archbishop Desmond Tutu as saying "a strong case could be made for sending foreign peace-keeping troops to Zimbabwe" to quell what he claimed was a crisis here.
This pen is reluctant to believe that the Anglican Church man of God, on the one hand, President Mbeki and African National Congress leader Mr Jacob Zuma stand on the other with their heads back to back on the Zimbabwean situation instead of facing in the same positive direction that has already been recorded concerning the Zimbabweans political challenges.
Or was Tutu merely speaking to prevent the spotlight on his Nobel Peace Prize fading which would be understandable as that keeps him in the world limelight?Or was his remark an abstracted close-up from a broader context of a statement he may have made concerning the Zimbabwean situation?
If that is not the case, then the godly man accidentally engaged his pious tongue in reverse gear to suggest that such a peace-keeping force had been desirable to deal with the xenophobic outrages that have seriously dented his own country’s image by raising fears of security on the eve of the World Cup.
It is unfortunate that so many politicians around the world slam their tongues into reverse on issues they know very little about then drive dangerously until stopped at "road blocks" by people who know better, whereupon they make a U-turn with lame apologies.
Obviously, Tutu like other "specialists" on matters in countries they have not toured to observe the situation on the ground must have based his remarks on this country if he was correctly quoted, on foreign Press reports.
Then there is that holier than thou in East Africa who was also reported in the same Voice Of America radio world news bulletin as strongly agitating for deployment of African Union peace-keepers to this country without, like other critics of Zimbabwe knowing fully what has been going on in this country.
Raila Odinga, Kenya’s Prime Minister and opposition party leader, neglects the political rottenness in his own country from which he recently emerged to be in his cozy seat by wagging one finger at sties in Zimbabwe’s eyes while more of his fingers point back at his own eye and saying: "oaks, oaks, oaks, Odinga!"
Perhaps he should re-read his Mau Mau revolutionary father Odinga Odinga’s book, "Climbing Mount Kenya." Then he should climb up that mountain to have a clear worldview of the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe.
Progressive peoples of the world should be warned that if its antics are not checked, the foreign Press will one day trigger a third world war. But Zimbabweans would stop worrying themselves to the grave if only they realised that an invisible warrior waits patiently for them to humble themselves and allow him to fight all their wars for them.
His name is Jesus Christ.
Labels: ELECTIONS, POLITICS, ZIMBABWE
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AU shuns debate on Zim
From Itai Musengeyi in SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt
THE two-day African Union summit began here yesterday with Zimbabwe not on the agenda of the summit as had been wished by its detractors who predicted African leaders would put pressure on Harare following last Friday’s presidential run-off won by President Mugabe. Although speakers at the opening did mention Zimbabwe, their comments were not hostile but encouraged dialogue between the major political parties in the country.
At his swearing-in ceremony in Harare on Sunday just before he flew here, Cde Mugabe said Government was prepared for dialogue with the opposition MDC-T, but only if it came into the talks with its own agenda and not a Western-foisted stance.
AU chairman President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania said while the people of Zimbabwe should be congratulated on the just-ended election, the country needed assistance to move ahead because it was facing serious challenges.
The economic malaise bedevelling Zimbabwe has been a result of the British, American and European Union-imposed illegal sanctions that the West are threatening to deepen following Cde Mugabe’s landslide victory over their favoured MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
In his speech, AU Commission chairman Mr Jean Ping said Africa must help Zimbabwe’s parties to work together in the interest of their country to overcome the present challenges.
"I would like, here, to commend the efforts of the leaders of the region (Sadc) and their commitment to assist the Zimbabwean parties in the search for a lasting solution to the problems in that country," said Mr Ping.
Host President Hosni Mubarak made no direct mention of Zimbabwe although the Western media, which is openly anti-Harare, tried to spin a part of his speech that peace and security were of paramount importance on the continent to mean that it was directed at Zimbabwe.
The AU Peace and Security Council, which met on Sunday, also did not make Zimbabwe a matter for the body expressing worry on real security trouble spots on the continent such as Somalia.
The anti-Zimbabwe media had frantically predicted that the AU Peace and Security Council would discuss Zimbabwe and come up with a resolution.
Speculation was, however, rife that the summit would discuss Zimbabwe in the closed session. However, it has always been the AU tradition that certain matters are discussed behind closed doors where countries explain their situation vis-à-vis concerns that may have been raised by fellow member countries.
Details of the closed session or whether had it discussed Zimbabwe were not immediately available late last night.
When he wound up his campaign for the run-off President Mugabe made it clear he was prepared to face any leader at the summit over the elections because some of them had worse election records.
President Mugabe arrived here early yesterday morning. He was met at the Sharm el-Sheik Airport by Foreign Minister Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, the Minister of Industry and International Trade Cde Obert Mpofu, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Egypt Cde Aaron Mabhoyi-Ncube, senior embassy and Egyptian government officials.
The President is being accompanied by the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe; the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Cde Patrick Chinamasa; and senior Government officials.
Amai Mugabe was yesterday expected to join her colleagues at a First Ladies’ Forum to discuss a number of issues including the HIV/Aids pandemic.
Labels: AU, ELECTIONS, JEAN PING, ZIMBABWE
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Illegal regime change takes Internet by storm
By Dambudzo Mapuranga
THE British Government appoints the BBC’s entire top management. In fact, one can safely say BBC is a mouthpiece of the British Government. This being said, how then can BBC be expected to report objectively concerning the Government of Zimbabwe seeing that Zanu-PF has been labelled enemy number one by the residents of Number 10 Downing Street.
"We cannot independently verify the contents of this story as BBC is banned from reporting in Zimbabwe".
This is the disclaimer that you will find under many of the stories on Zimbabwe on the BBC’s website, TV and radio broadcasts.
The disclaimer is posted solely for the purpose of protecting BBC from being sued by the Government of Zimbabwe over its blatant false news stories.
Several questions arise when one closely examines the disclaimer and chief among them is, if the BBC has failed to verify a story why then would they report it and also post it on its website as a news article?
The only answer that there is to the actions of the BBC is that as long as any story paints a heinous picture of Zanu-PF, President Mugabe and Zimbabwe it will find itself attaining high priority on the BBC website, TV and radio. I am confident that if I were to open a fictitious story chronicling how Zanu-PF supporters have done all sorts of evil deeds on my being and on my property and even include several pictures of road accident victims it will make it on to BBC.
The game of creating news stories is not anything new; in fact the Americans perfected it a long time ago.
A classic example is seen from the American movie "Wag the Dog" starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman. The concept of the movie being that after news broke out that on the run up to the first Gulf War the Kuwaiti Lobby in Washington, DC commissioned the production of false news stories that showed Iraqi army tanks and soldiers advancing towards a supposed Iraqi/Kuwaiti border. It turns out that the entire footage was shot in the Nevada Desert with the help of the Bush administration.
The deception did not end there. These unscrupulous people went on to produce false testimony before the US Congress (the equivalent of our parliament). The daughter of the then Kuwaiti Ambassador to the United States was coached into testifying and lie before the US Congress on how her entire village was razed and how she escaped being killed by pretending to be dead and covering herself with the intestines of her dead mother.
The partiality of western media houses is well known, as most of them are nothing more than public relations offices of their countries’ foreign affairs ministries.
The negative reporting of the BBC and CNN on Zimbabwe is a mockery of the same institutions their governments claim to be propagating across the globe.
Rumours make juicy stories and are very difficult to take back. The type of irresponsible journalism being witnessed on the Internet has turned BBC and CNN into some of the biggest rumour mills.
Only myopic people and racists would find such rag tag stories to be of value.
Here are two stories that highlight gross irresponsibility on the part of the BBC and CNN. Some of them leave the reader wondering whether the editors of these media houses even bother showing up for work.
Zimbabwe campaign: Secret document
The article claims that undercover BBC news correspondent Ian Pannell obtained evidence of plans by Zimbabwe’s ruling party to harass and drive out opposition supporters.
I for one would like to have whatever medication Zanu-PF legal affairs secretary Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa is drinking, because according to the secret document, Cde Mnangagwa is doing the work of ten very strong men.
One day he is reported to be in South Africa consulting with the ANC, the next day he is hailed as the man running the so called military junta that is now "ruling" Zimbabwe, and now he is heading the Zanu-PF presidential election campaign.
That being said an analysis of the secret document shows that it is a total take. Zanu-PF takes great pride in its work and anyone who is familiar with Zanu-PF’s operations would know that any correspondence or party documents would have the Zanu-PF letterhead. The so called Zanu-PF secret document contains no logo or letterhead to show its origin.
Given that the cunning legal brains of Cde Mnangagwa are said to be heading the Action Plan documented in this disgraceful and shoddily down piece of work one wonders whether there is another Mnangagwa with half a brain who would come up with such a poor strategy.
One can only conclude that this secret document came from some opposition dim-wit with nothing better to do. The poor English used in the document leaves the mouth with a sour taste. The poor fellow then adds the names of several prominent Zanu-PF figures and accredits them to be from the Zanu-PF Midlands Province.
With the exception of Cde Mnangagwa, the rest of the party functionaries are not from the Zanu-PF Midlands Province. Senator Edna Madzongwe is from Mashonaland West Province.
Both Senator Joshua Malinga and Cde Jabulani Sibanda are from the Bulawayo Province, while Cde Joseph Chinotimba is from Manicaland Province.
The BBC failed to realise this and further more it is common knowledge that Politburo members such as Cdes Madzongwe and Mnangagwa head teams in their respective provinces and are not thrown all over the country in a haphazard manner.
Death of a Zimbabwe Activist
In an ironic twist of events Tonderai Ndira became a hero in death and yet he lived the life of a thug.
Despite all her hatred for Zanu-PF, Trudy Stevenson can attest that she did not moan the death of a former MDC-T activist who was responsible for her assault in Mabvuku in 2005, an assault that resulted in head injuries and a fractured arm.
The two police officers based at ZRP Marimba who were unfortunate to be at the station when it was petrol-bombed by Ndira and his accomplices surely did not shed a tear for the man responsible for their skin burns.
None of these heinous acts were featured in the glowing obituary that BBC News posted on Tonderai Ndira. Instead the news article glorified a violent man who died a violent death. The elderly are correct when they say those who live by the gun die by the gun.
"I knew him personally, he was a youth activist who went around the country holding workshops and teaching people their rights."
That is what one unnamed ZimRights official is quoted to have said. Too bad we cannot contact the so-called official and ask him for the names of the three towns where Ndira held human rights workshops.
Ndira’s farewell should have been a true reflection of what he was. It should have said "the death of an MDC-T foot soldier".
The story then tells of how ten men came in a pick up truck to Ndira’s house in Mabvuku armed with AK-47 rifles around seven in the morning and boldly asked Ndira’s wife to inform him that they had come to collect him. The men then abducted Ndira in his underwear in front of his children.
Of all the incredible things you have ever heard this is right up there with "the dog ate my homework" story.
Anyone who has been to Mabvuku or any other high-density suburb knows that there is no way anyone can be abducted at seven in the morning.
Are we meant to believe that somehow there were no people going about their business to witness ten armed men in an open pick-up truck kidnapping Tonderai Ndira?
With the way the MDC-T loves to cry for attention should this not have been on BBC and CNN within thirty minutes of Ndira’s abduction?
Observe how the BBC and CNN seem to be able to report of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s arrests within minutes of them happening.
How then did Ndira’s abduction go unreported for days only to have the news of his death reported to coincide with Tsvangirai’s return from self-imposed exile?
As if that was not enough, Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s self-proclaimed saviour "cried" at Ndira’s funeral, to invoke emotions of the Holy Book’s shortest, "Jesus wept" before raising Lazarus from the dead.
BBC now offers to answer readers’ questions about Zimbabwe through their undercover correspondent Ian Pannell. One can only guess what lies this hack of a journalist will be peddling to those who intend to ask him about the political situation in Zimbabwe.
I sent Ian Pannell several questions which I believe to be very pertinent to the Zimbabwean situation, but he is yet to respond to. My questions were:
l Why has the BBC and CNN not reported on MDC-T perpetrated violence against Zanu-PF supporters?
l Why has the BBC failed to reveal where it got the copy of the alleged Secret Zanu-PF campaign document?
l Why has the BBC never written about the effects of the illegal sanctions on ordinary Zimbabweans?
l Why is there no reference to the US’ Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 on its website?
l Why does the BBC only quote right wing Rhodesians and MDC-T as the people representing "Zimbabweans"?
In conclusion, the long and short answer is that the Zimbabwe situation has largely been played up by the Western media and it is clear that it is an extension of their foreign relations policy on Africa.
This stark reality puts our private media poles apart with the Western media that they mimic, since our private media believes that "following the flag" is retrogressive.
The Internet, where lies, half truths and misinformation are peddled as news has internationalised the issue with pseudo experts and arm chair critics who have an axe to grind against Zanu-PF, President Mugabe and his Government always being available with "opinions and analyses" of every news item reported by the BBC and CNN and a whole host of other foreign networks.
However, the shameful thing is that the lies always come through, and the embedded journalism shows itself.
Labels: BBC, CNN, ELECTIONS, INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
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West can go hang a thousand times — Charamba
Our reporter
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:20:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s spokesman has rejected calls for a coalition government with the Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai saying the west “can go hang a thousand times.”
“They can go and hang a thousand times, they have no basis. They have no claim on Zimbabwe politics at all,” presidential spokesman George Charamba said in response to a question about Western criticism of President Mugabe.
He was speaking to reporters gathered at the ongoing African Union (AU) summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Charamba also dismissed calls for a Kenya-style grand coalition government to resolve the situation in Zimbabwe, saying the way out would be decided the "Zimbabwean way".
"Kenya is Kenya. Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe. We have our own history of evolving dialogue and resolving political impasses the Zimbabwean way. The Zimbabwean way, not the Kenyan way. Not at all," Charamba said.
"The way out is a way defined by the Zimbabwe people, free from outside interference, and that is exactly what will resolve the matter," he continued.
Asked about President Mugabe’s right to be leader Charamba said that the right to be president "derives from the Zimbabwe people as expressed through this June election. Anything else is immaterial and we don't give a damn."
"But from the perspective of our people, which is the perspective that matters, they went to the poll, they realized they were defending their own sovereignty and defending their own land and they did precisely that."
Charamba also said President Mugabe had extended an olive branch to the opposition and that was the basis of any discussion.
"There are two political parties in Zimbabwe that are prepared to discuss -- we are talking about a ruling party that has offered dialogue to the opposition."
Charamba also reacted to questions on the criticism from AU observers that violence marred the vote. He said: "They did not say that violence was related to one side of a political equation, it was directed at all political players."
He also reacted to the British Foreign Office minister Mark Malloch Brown’s call for President Mugabe to go saying his words were a throwback to the colonial past when Britain ruled Zimbabwe.
"When he pronounces himself on Zimbabwe, he is simply recalling an historical period when the white man reigned supreme in Zimbabwe and that era is gone, gone forever.”
‘Mugabe is a hero’
Meanwhile, African leaders yesterday greeted President Mugabe as a "hero", dashing hopes that Zimbabwe's government would come under immediate pressure from the AU.
President Omar Bongo of Gabon gave his public backing for President Mugabe saying: "He was elected, he took an oath, and he is here with us, so he is President and we cannot ask him more."
"He conducted elections and I think he won."
Mr Bongo added that African leaders would not allow Western governments to dictate their view of Zimbabwe. "We have even received Mugabe as a hero," he said.
"We understand the attacks but this is not the way they should react. What they've done is, in our opinion, a little clumsy, and we think they could have consulted us first."
Labels: ELECTIONS, ZIMBABWE
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AU, SADC observers condemn Zim runoff
By George Chellah and Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
Tuesday July 01, 2008 [04:00]
AFRICAN Union and SADC election observer missions have condemned Zimbabwe's presidential election runoff, which gave President Robert Mugabe a landside victory. SADC election observer mission leader, Jose Marcos Barrica stated that the pre-election phase was characterised by politically motivated violence, intimidation and displacement.
"The process leading up to the presidential runoff elections held on 27 June, 2008 did not conform to SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. However, the election day was peaceful," Barrica stated. "Based on the above mentioned observations, the mission is of the view that the prevailing environment impinged on the credibility of the electoral process. The elections did not represent the will of the people of Zimbabwe."
He stated that there was dissatisfaction by Zimbabweans with the manner the election was conducted.
"The mission noted that, on some spoiled ballot papers, the voters have recorded expressions like ‘God bless this country, let there be free and fair elections, No to dictatorship' and so forth, which expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the elections were conducted," he stated.
Barrica stated that there could be a viable solution to the profound problems facing Zimbabwe through dialogue amongst all political stakeholders and the people.
"The mission also pledge its support and solidarity to, and with the people of Zimbabwe and we wish them courage, strength and determination as they embark on this difficult but virtually necessary process," Barrica stated. "The mission recommends that SADC mediation efforts should be continued in order to assist the people and leadership of Zimbabwe to resolve the problems they are facing and bring the country to normalcy."
He stated that SADC should develop a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution.
"The mission notes that the country needs the concerted efforts of its sons and daughters for economic-socio development and national unity," Barrica stated. "The mission regrets and wishes to express its profound sympathy to those Zimbabwean families who have lost their loved ones and their property."
And head of the AU observer mission, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who is former Sierra Leone president, said the election fell short of AU standards.
"...It is the considered view of the African Union observer mission that the election process fell short of the accepted AU standards," said Kabbah. "The African Union observer mission is however encouraged that both parties have shown willingness to engage in constructive dialogue as a way forward for ensuring peace, stability and development in Zimbabwe."
Labels: AU, ELECTIONS, SADC
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Odinga's statements threatening Zimbabwe unity talks
Prince Kahari—Opinion
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:41:00 +0000
DEAR EDITOR—The alliance between the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Kenya’s new Prime Minister Raila Odinga is a threat to unity talks in Zimbabwe and only serves to infuriate the current leadership of Zimbabwe. If the two main parties in Zimbabwe are going to find a lasting solution, the MDC-T has to denounce some of the misguided statements that are coming out of Mr Odinga.
He speaks more like a thug rather than a Head of State. He seems to talk more about Zimbabwe than his own Kenya and one would have thought he was an opposition leader in Zimbabwe.
This is a man who is fighting to offer an amnesty to thugs who were responsible for 2 500 deaths in his native Kenya after the elections, yet he talks about Zimbabwe being an ‘eyesore’ to the world.
Mr Odinga is allowed to comment on Zimbabwe and express his opinion, but his misguided and undiplomatic statements make him look unstatesmanlike.
This is time for rational and sober talk, not the thuggish talk and behaviour of the Kenyan Prime Minister.
For the MDC-T to be seen to support such type of talk is not a good position. It threatens chances of peaceful and amicable talk in Zimbabwe.
If future leaders are going to be in the mould of Raila Odinga, who seems to be angry about something all the time, I hate to think what the future will be like for all of us.
Mr Odinga should learn from the diplomacy of tried and tested leaders on the continent.
We need rational statesmen, not thug-like leaders, in power and MDC-T leaders should quickly dissociate themselves from this man if progress is going to be made in Zimbabwe.
Odinga seem to think Zimbabwe is a province of Kenya. He should know that his backyard is dirty and he should deal with that first before expending too much energy on Zimbabwe. He is allowed to comment; but throwing insults is child-like and intolerable.
Prince Kahari
princekahari@yahoo.com
Labels: ELECTIONS, KENYA, RAILA ODINGA, ZIMBABWE
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Mugabe gets another term, heads for Egypt's AU summit
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare and Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Monday June 30, 2008 [04:00]
ROBERT Mugabe was yesterday sworn-in as Zimbabwe's President after a sweeping victory in the solo runoff election which registered a record number of spoilt votes in the history of that country’s elections. And Cuban deputy foreign minister Abelardo Moreno called for adherence to the firm principles of respect to sovereignty, non-use of force or threats of force to apply on Zimbabwe.
President Mugabe was greeted with a 21-gun salute and military jet fly-by at State House in Harare during the ceremony.
Even before the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced the results, preparations were ongoing for President Mugabe’s swearing-in ceremony at State House and guests were seated by 14:30 hours.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who withdrew from the race leaving President Mugabe as the only candidate, had been invited to the ceremony but he declined to attend.
According to ZEC figures, President Mugabe recorded 2,150,269 votes (85.51 per cent) while Tsvangirai, despite withdrawing, got 233,000 votes (9.3 per cent). There were a record 131,481 spoilt votes. A total of 2,514,750 people voted out of six million registered voters.
“I, Lovemore Sekeramyi, being the constituency elections officer of the runoff presidential election declare that I have, in accordance with the Electoral Act… ascertained the results of the said presidential runoff poll…I declare Robert Gabriel Mugabe this 29th day of June 2008 to be the duly elected President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” the chief elections officer said.
Sekeramayi said the percentage poll was 42.37 per cent.
Election observers said most of the spoilt ballots contained unpalatable messages against President Mugabe.
ZANU-PF also won the two more parliamentary seats in the by-elections while MDC won one in which information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu lost.
This brought the number of MDC’s combined seats in the lower House of Assembly to 111 while ZANU-PF now has 99 seats.
President Mugabe later left for Egypt to attend the African Union summit, which opens today.
And in an interview after a press conference at Havana’s International Press Centre on the progress of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) currently chaired by Cuba, Moreno said the organisation was aware of the US and UK moves seeking international condemnation of Zimbabwe.
“The movement NAM has not discussed the issue of Zimbabwe specifically,” Moreno said. “We do not discard the possibility. Zimbabwe has not requested the movement to act. Nonetheless we have an impeccable general position first to firmly defend the principle of sovereignty, non-interference into internal affairs of any country and firm defence of non-use of force or threat to use force. All these principles are applicable to the case of Zimbabwe.”
He said should Zimbabwe call on the NAM, the movement which makes up two-thirds of the UN, would come up with an action plan.
And Moreno said the NAM had been reactivated and was active in international processes.
He said the movement was strong in New York (UN), at the Commission on Human Rights (Geneva), at the UNESCO headquaters in Paris, France and at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.
He said since assuming the presidency of the NAM in September 2006, Cuba had done its all to give life to the movement.
Moreno said the NAM had gone through difficult moments and that currently, it was in a time of increased activity going by the international situation.
He said NAM member-states were aware of the need to fight for their rights in a world where many international laws were being violated.
Moreno said the current soaring fuel prices, the food crisis and global financial problems obliged countries of the south to come up with a common agenda.
“We are beginning a new era of the NAM’s work,” he said. “We are coordinating positions and asking for transparency in all international processes to avoid manipulation in order to preserve world peace.”
Moreno said the NAM had strengthened the links of countries of the South with the G7, which negotiates issues of economic trade.
He said it was important that developing countries worked with one voice on economic issues.
Moreno said the forthcoming summit in Margarita Island, Venezuela scheduled for next week would come up with a common position over media manipulation.
He urged Non-Aligned Movement member countries to come up with a news agency to broadcast reality in Third World countries. “The movement should take its own ways to broadcast truth on what is happening in developing countries,” said Moreno.
Labels: AU, ELECTIONS, MUGABE
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PAN-African Parliament calls for fresh poll in Zim
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Monday June 30, 2008 [04:00]
PAN-African Parlia-ment (PAP) election observation mission team leader Marwick Khumalo yesterday called for a fresh and credible election in Zimbabwe, saying the presidential runoff was not free and fair. And Khumalo urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union leaders to engage the Zimbabwean leadership into a negotiated transitional settlement. Addressing journalists on behalf of the PAP observation mission, Khumalo noted that the Friday election was not free and fair.
"The mission concludes that the current atmosphere prevailing in the country did not give rise to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections. Conditions should be put in place for the holding of free, fair and credible elections as soon as possible in line with the African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections," Khumalo said. "In the interim, the PAP mission calls on the SADC leaders, working together with the African Union, to engage the broader political leadership in Zimbabwe into a negotiated settlement."
He said politicisation of the security forces led to lack of impartiality and loss of confidence in the voting process.
"Overall, the mission noted that the leadership of the security forces have not changed their position of overt support to the ruling party despite calls, following the March harmonised elections. The discriminatory treatment in granting permission for the holding of campaign rallies, reluctant to arrest alleged ZANU-PF aligned individuals perpetrating violence, is cause for concern," he said.
Khumalo said the mission was dismayed by uniformed police officers on duty wearing the ruling party regalia.
"The independence and impartiality of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is rendered questionable. The role of ZEC in this particular election has been more wanting than the previous election. Its deafening silence was alarming and created a perception of a sequestration body," he said.
Khumalo said the voter turnout was relatively low.
"It is unclear if some voters heeded the call to boycott elections or it was mere voter apathy. It is surprising though that the MDC presidential candidate who withdrew from the runoff, was still voted for by a significant number of voters," Khumalo said. "In many polling stations visited by our mission, it noted that certain male-dominated groups intercepted voters and gave them pieces of paper on which they were required to write the serial number of their ballots.
"An unusually high percentage of spoilt ballots were recorded in the polling stations where our mission observed the counting process. Unpalatable messages were written on many of those spoilt ballots."
Khumalo said political intolerance in Zimbabwe had deteriorated to the lowest ebb in history.
"Compared to the harmonised elections held in March 29, the level of tolerance between ZANU-PF and MDC supporters leading up to the 27 June presidential runoff election had deteriorated to unprecedented levels. On account of an electoral process, neighbours have turned enemies, Zimbabweans against Zimbabweans," he said.
Khumalo said several roadblocks were mounted.
"Numerous road blocks by militia type groups allegedly identified with the ruling party, seriously curtailed free movement of ordinary Zimbabweans and commuters. Some of the mission teams experienced these road blocks first hand," said Khumalo.
President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday went into a solo presidential runoff election despite SADC, African Union and the United Nations calling for its postponement because of the widespread violence.
Labels: ELECTIONS, PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT, ZIMBABWE
