Mugabe heads for SADC meeting as pressure mounts

SABC

March 27, 2007, 19:15

Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president, will attend a regional meeting in
Tanzania this week, official reports said today, as pressure mounts on
African leaders to tackle his controversial rule. Mugabe, who has faced
renewed Western-led criticism after a crackdown on opposition leaders, will
brief leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the
special summit, the official Herald, newspaper said.

Regional leaders called the SADC meeting to discuss the political crisis in
Zimbabwe which analysts say threatens to destabilise the region as millions
flee food shortages, 1 700% inflation and 80% unemployment. Morgan
Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main
opposition in Zimbabwe, and other party supporters, were arrested and beaten
after attempting to attend a banned prayer meeting this month.

The crackdown raised tensions in the southern African nation, where critics
frequently accuse the 83-year old Mugabe of political abuses and disastrous
economic mismanagement. The government blames the MDC.

Meeting will focus on Zimbabwe
The newspaper said discussion at the SADC meeting will focus on "the
campaign by the MDC to unleash violence as part of its Western-backed
efforts for illegal regime change in Zimbabwe." The meeting, scheduled for
tomorrow and Thursday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's capital, is expected to
draw 14 heads of state including those from South Africa, Namibia and
Botswana, according to Tanzanian officials.

Meanwhile, the government said Zimbabwe was moving ahead with plans to
incorporate liberation war veterans - who were blamed for violent seizures
of white-owned farms in 2000 -- into the regular military as a reserve
force. The veterans have in the past campaigned for Mugabe and his ruling
ZANU-PF. The MDC says they led a violent campaign which preceded the 2000
and 2002 parliamentary and presidential vote which saw dozens of opposition
supporters killed or injured.

Mugabe, the country's sole ruler since independence from Britain in 1980,
says the MDC is receiving funding from his Western foes to carry out a
"militia-style" campaign of violence to topple him from power. The MDC has
denied the charges.

MDC member charged with petrol bombing
Wayne Bvudzijena, a police spokesperson, said today an MDC supporter, has
been arrested on charges of petrol bombing a police station in Harare.
Southern African countries have remained largely quiet on the Zimbabwe
crisis, but Levy Mwanawasa, the Zambian president, last week broke ranks,
comparing the country to a "sinking Titanic".

Aziz Pahad, South Africa's deputy foreign affairs minister, said today his
country will work to effect change in Zimbabwe but repeated that it will not
pursue the tougher route of sanctions pursued by the West. "Zimbabwe and
South Africa's economies are very intertwined ... So we will suffer the most
if we are not able to find a solution in the Zimbabwean situation," he told
reporters. - Reuters

Opposition announces boycott plans for elections scheduled next year in troubled Zimbabwe

International Herald Tribune

The Associated PressPublished: March 27, 2007

HARARE, Zimbabwe - The main opposition leader announced Tuesday he will
boycott presidential elections scheduled next year unless the poll is
carried out under a new democratic constitution that ensures they are free
and fair.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, addressing mourners at a memorial
service for an opposition activist shot dead by police March 11, said a free
election was the constitutional and democratic right of Zimbabweans.

About 800 mourners, including opposition leaders wearing bandages and other
signs of injuries sustained in clashes with police, sang traditional dirges
and gospel songs and waved the opposition's symbolic open hand salute at a
church in northern Harare.

"We will never go into an election that is predetermined," Tsvangirai said,
vowing to continue anti-government protests.

The opposition accuses President Robert Mugabe of rigging all elections
since 2000 with the help of electoral laws and constitutional provisions
favoring his party. Mugabe, 83, is seen as unlikely to adopt a reformed
constitution before polling provisionally slated next March.

Zimbabwe's longtime ruler, meanwhile, was to attend a hastily called
regional meeting on politics and security called by the Southern African
Development Community in Tanzania beginning Wednesday, the state media
reported in Harare. A SADC official had said the meeting was to focus in
part on Zimbabwe.
The 12-nation regional bloc has been under intense international pressure to
intervene in the deepening political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe
following an upsurge in political violence this month.

Gift Tandare, 31, died when police crushed a prayer meeting in the western
Harare township of Highfield that authorities said was a banned political
protest. Tsvangirai and 12 senior opposition colleagues were hospitalized
after being injured in the police action and alleged they were assaulted
with clubs and iron bars while under arrest without provoking police.

An unrepentant Mugabe said later Tsvangirai and his followers started the
violence and police used necessary force to stop the prayer meeting and
warned pro-democracy activists police were ready to "bash" them again.

"I don't hate Mugabe. In fact, I think he needs psychiatric help,"
Tsvangirai told about 800 mourners chanting traditional dirges and gospel
songs and waving the opposition's symbolic open hand salute at a church in
northern Harare.

He said there was no going back on a mounting opposition campaign of
protests to demand reform and pressure Mugabe to step down.

"We will not betray Gift and the people who have sacrificed themselves for
the people of this country," he said.

Tsvangirai told reporters after the angry and boisterous two and half hour
memorial: "We are mobilizing our people. As you can see, everyone is united
over the mobilization and confronting the dictatorship."

Arthur Mutambara, head of an opposition faction that split from Tsvangirai's
organization, described Tandare as "a freedom fighter and national
liberation hero," echoing terminology of the liberation war that ended white
rule in 1980 and swept Mugabe to power.

In that war, Mugabe did not see combat, he said.

"Mugabe is a spineless coward who did not fire a pistol. We do not recognize
him," Mutambara said. "It is freedom or death. If Zimbabweans are not
prepared to die, they do not deserve freedom."

Earlier this month, Mutambara said he would not stand against Tsvangirai if
elections are held and would be expected to go along with any boycott.

Tandare was buried at his rural home in northeastern Zimbabwe March 18 in
the first state assisted funeral given to an opposition activist killed in
unrest.

His wife Sipiwe and the National Constitutional Assembly, a reform group to
which he also belonged, said Tuesday Tandare's body was removed by police
from his Harare home without her consent for burial, evidently to avoid a
possibly explosive funeral procession in the capital.

Lovemore Madhuku, head of the reform group - beaten by police March 11 and
wearing a sling supporting a broken arm Tuesday - said authorities removed
Tandare's body in violation of deep rooted African burial traditions and
tribal culture that invited the wrath of most Zimbabweans.

A nephew of Tandare, George Ngwena, said tight security imposed by police
and state agents at the family's home village in the Mount Darwin district,
200 kilometers (125 miles) from Harare, prevented other family members
attending the memorial.

Tandare is survived by his wife and three children, Fortunate, 15, Lillian,
11, and baby Gift Jr., who is 17 months old.

"Regional emergency" declared over Zimbabwe

afrol News, 27 March - State leaders of Southern Africa are to meet at "an
emergency summit" in Tanzania on Thursday to discuss the situation in
Zimbabwe. Most leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC),
including Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, have already confirmed their
participation.

SADC leaders have faced increasing local and international criticism for not
speaking clearly out against the increased level of human rights violations
in Zimbabwe, following police violence and the torture of a large number of
opposition leaders and civil society activists. A recent SADC meeting in
Lesotho failed to address the Zimbabwean crisis altogether.

Since then, however, individual state leaders from the region have started
condemning the Mugabe regime in stronger or smoother terms. Zambia's
President Levy Mwanawasa went furthest, comparing Zimbabwe to the sinking
'Titanic', while South Africa's Foreign Ministry warned of a coming
"meltdown" in Zimbabwe. Vaguer protests have been issued by the governments
of Mauritius, Mozambique and Tanzania - all SADC members.

A stronger a more coordinated regional approach is now being prepared for.
SADC spokeswoman Dineo Motsepe today said the regional body was "cognisant
of the political and security developments currently taking place in the
region," and therefore had decided on holding "an emergency summit" of SADC
state leaders in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

"The emergency summit will focus its attention on the prevailing political
and security situation in the SADC region," Ms Motsepe added, without
specifically mentioning the name Zimbabwe. The two-day summit however almost
exclusively is to treat the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe, which
now is affecting the entire region, several government spokesmen have
assured.

The summit has been initiated by SADC's organ on security and defence, which
is headed by a troika consisting of Namibia, Angola and Tanzania. In
particular Namibia and Tanzania have grown more sceptical towards the Mugabe
regime lately, while the Zimbabwean President still finds support in Angola.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and Namibian President Hifikepunye
Pohamba both will attend the summit.

The Harare government today also announced that President Mugabe would
attend the summit, where he will give his version of the current crisis. Mr
Mugabe was said to be planning to focus on the opposition's alleged use of
violence, trying to overthrow him. He also will appeal for African unity
against Western "imperialism", which he still sees as the driving force
behind the growing opposition to his regime.

While the 83-year old Zimbabwean leader probably will be able to fence off
the most offensive criticism against his regime in written statements by his
SADC colleagues, behind closed doors he will most likely face heavy
protests. Already seen as a regional "emergency", Mr Mugabe will be urged to
start negotiation with the opposition and forget his plans of sticking to
power after his presidential term ends next year.

Zimbabwe's neighbours already are noting the adverse effects of the
country's meltdown. Millions of Zimbabweans have already fled the political
oppression and the economic ruin, mounting a high economic pressure on
societies in neighbouring Botswana, Zambia and especially South Africa. More
violence also puts regional security at risk, SADC leaders fear.

At home, most SADC leaders face widespread popular opposition to the "quiet
diplomacy" approach against the Mugabe regime, which has proven a failure.
In particular in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and Mauritius -
which all send their heads of state to the summit despite pressing affairs
at home - the opposition and civil society are pressing for a harder stance.

Meanwhile, most SADC leaders silently hope President Mugabe will turn up at
the summit as a weakened leader. One day before the summit, he has to face a
critical committee of his ruling ZANU-PF party, which is to decide on
whether Mr Mugabe's presidential term can be prolonged until 2010, or
whether he should seek ZANU-PF nomination for the scheduled 2008 elections.

With a growing number of party veterans wishing to oust Mr Mugabe already in
2008, he may well be set to face humiliation at tomorrow's party meeting.
Also in ZANU-PF, impatience with President Mugabe is mounting.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Mugabe steels himself for showdown

The Times
March 28, 2007

Jan Raath in Harare
President Mugabe faces a strong challenge to his Government this week as he
confronts an increasingly fractious ruling party, and answers a summons from
regional African leaders who have lost patience with chaos on their borders.

He flies to Tanzania tomorrow for a summit of the Southern African
Development Community, the region's 14-nation economic bloc, with the
instability in Zimbabwe on the agenda for the first time in seven years of
lawlessness and state-driven economic failure.

The next day he hurries back to Harare in an attempt to force the two most
powerful organs of his ruling Zanu (PF) Party, the central committee and the
politburo, to agree to put him forward as its sole candidate for
presidential elections due next year, which would keep him in power until
the age of 89.

Mr Mugabe's authority was delivered a heavy new blow yesterday as the Roman
Catholic Church -the country's dominant religion, but until now divided by
pro-government bishops - issued a damning statement. Mr Mugabe regards
himself as a devout Catholic.

"The confrontation in our country has now reached a flashpoint," said the
letter, signed by nine bishops. "Many people are angry and their anger is
now erupting into open revolt in one township after another. As the
suffering population becomes more insistent, generating more and more
pressure through boycotts, strikes, demonstrations and uprisings, the state
responds with ever-harsher oppression through arrests, detentions, banning
orders, beatings and torture.

"In order to avoid further bloodshed and avert a mass uprising, the nation
needs a new people-driven constitution that will guide a democratic
leadership chosen in free and fair elections that will offer a chance for
economic recovery under genuinely new policies."

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change announced that it would
boycott Mr Mugabe's planned elections next year without a new democratic
constitution.

"No one is going into an election without a new constitution," said Morgan
Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, whose face is still swollen and left eye almost
shut after his beating by police on March 11. "We will not make the
fundamental error of going into an election whose results are already
 known."

Mr Mugabe's summons to SADC ends years of his neighbours' policy of
so-called quiet diplomacy. Countries such as South Africa have ignored calls
from Western governments to exert pressure on him to check the ruination and
violence that have driven out millions of Zimbabweans.

"They will tell him the brutal truth that they cannot go on like this, that
the reality is that the situation is unsustainable," Eldred Masunungure, a
Zimbabwean analyst, said. "They will call for the normalisation of the
situation, and telling him that he will have to start right away", on a new
constitution, amending the country's oppressive laws and scrapping the
deeply flawed electoral system.

Abducted MDC activist found dumped in bush

Zim Online

Wednesday 28 March 2007

By Batsirai Muranje and Sebastian Manhangambiri

HARARE - A Zimbabwean opposition activist abducted by suspected government
agents on Tuesday afternoon was found last night dumped in Mutorashanga
mining district with serious injuries.

His lawyer Aleck Muchadehama told ZimOnline that a passerby had picked up
the injured activist, Last Maengahama, and took him to Mutorashanga hospital
where he was receiving treatment last night.

"We just received a call from there saying someone had picked him up. He
said he is seriously injured. We are now trying to ascertain the extent of
his injuries," said Maengahama.

Maengahama was earlier in the afternoon seized at gunpoint by five men
outside a church where a memorial service was held to mourn another activist
of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party who was
murdered by the police two weeks ago.

The abductors bundled him into a Mitsubishi truck and sped away, leaving
onlookers stunned.

Robert Manyengavana who was in the same car from which Maengahama was seized
said: "Two guys came towards our vehicle and brandished their guns,
demanding to talk to Last. Before we could say a thing, they pulled him out
of our vehicle and took him to one of their cars which immediately off."

A report was made to the police who last night said they were still
investigating the matter. "A report was made this afternoon. We are
investigating it," police spokesman Wayne Bvundzijena said.

Tendai Biti, who is secretary general of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC to
which Maengahama belongs, laid the blame on government agents who he said
orchestrated the abduction as part of a wider campaign to harass, intimidate
and persecute the opposition.

"The MDC is in no doubt that the regime is behind the disappearance of
Maengahama and the general brutality targeted at our members," said Biti,
who was speaking before Maengahama was picked up in Mutorashanga.

Biti urged Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders meeting in
Tanzania on Thursday to "rein in Mugabe" and push him to stop persecuting
the opposition.

Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba was not immediately available for comment
on Biti's charges that the President was behind violence against the
opposition.

SADC leaders, unsettled by a violent government crackdown on the opposition
and fearful Zimbabwe's crisis could destabilise the region, have summoned
Mugabe to explain the fast deteriorating situation in his country. -
ZimOnline

Police disrupt labour meeting in Mutare

Zim Online

Wednesday 28 March 2007

By Hendricks Chizhanje

MUTARE - Police on Tuesday stormed and disrupted a Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions (ZCTU) meeting in the eastern city of Mutare arguing that the
workers' body had not sought permission from the police to hold the meeting.

The police, led by a woman officer identified as Majongwe, ordered
participants at the meeting, which was being held at the Holiday Inn in the
city, to disperse saying the gathering had not been sanctioned by the
police.

ZCTU vice-president Tabitha Khumalo said Tuesday's meeting was being held
under the direction of the labour body's research arm, the Labour and
Economic Development Research of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ).

Under the tough Public Order and Security Act (POSA), Zimbabweans must first
seek permission from the police before gathering in groups of more than
three to discuss politics.

The ZCTU says Tuesday's meeting was exempted under POSA because it was not a
political gathering. Khumalo said the union had gone out of its way to
notify the police as a matter of courtesy.

"Under POSA we are exempted but we wrote to them informing them of our
meeting for courtesy's sake. But they are still interfering. We have no
option but to take legal action again," said Khumalo.

The barring of the ZCTU's economic literacy meeting comes less than a week
before the union embarks on a country-wide work boycott to press the
government to address the worsening economic crisis.

The labour body also wants the government to award workers salaries in line
with the country's poverty datum line which currently stands at Z$640 000 a
month for an average family of five.

The 3-4 April strike comes amid rising political tensions in Zimbabwe
following the brutal torture of Morgan Tsvangirai and several other
opposition leaders while in police custody about three weeks ago.

Zimbabwe is in its eighth straight year of economic recession that has
manifested itself in rampant inflation of nearly 2 000 percent, massive
joblessness and poverty. - ZimOnline

New Wave Of Strikes Emerges In Zimbabwe's State Hospital System

VOA

      By Carole Gombakomba
      Washington
      27 March 2007

Just a month after the Zimbabwean government ended a 10-week strike by
doctors in public hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo, a new strike by health
workers is widening with resident doctors and nurses stopping work over
shortfalls in monthly salaries.

Sources said nurses at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and in the United
Bulawayo Hospitals have gone on strike, while nurses at Harare Hospital in
the capital and Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo were still discussing what action
to take in the dispute.

Nurses and some residents at state hospitals say they received only half
their salaries this month, with some residents receiving as little as
Z$17,000, the equivalent of less than one U.S. dollar at the prevailing
parallel market exchange rate. Sources said more than 100 resident doctors
at Parirenyatwa Hospital were not paid at all.

Officials at Parirenyatwa Hospital offered the residents an advance on their
salaries - but cautioned that it would have to be paid back once they were
paid.

Zimbabwe Vice President Joseph Msika declared last week that the government
is committed to solving problems in the health care system. But he said top
officials were unaware of the grievances nurses, "hence the need to improve
on communication."

But senior consulting physician Dr. Chris Mushonga told reporter Carole
Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the confusion at the
hospitals was due to Harare's failure to end an economic crisis which is
affecting all sectors.

String Of Firebombings In Zimbabwe Sparks Fear Of Rising Violence

VOA

      By Jonga Kandemiiri
      Washington
      27 March 2007

Extending a recent series of firebombings, another Molotov cocktail attack
took place in Harare's Mbare district early Tuesday morning as unknown
assailants hit the ruling party's offices in the pro-opposition district
causing Z$15 million (US$600) damage.

Gasoline bomb attacks in recent days have hit a passenger train, injuring
five people, a supermarket in the capital's Warren Park district and a
police station in Mutare, the capital of eastern Manicaland Province near
the border with Mozambique.

The attacks have raised fears that violence may be on the rise. Police
announced that they are now authorized to use live ammunition when faced
with violence.

Authorities blamed the opposition Movement for Democratic Change for the
attacks, but both factions of the MDC have denied inciting or condoning
violence.

Political analyst Chido Makunike told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's
Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the emergence of violence was probably inevitable
because legitimate expressions of political dissent have been pent up in the
country for so long.

US Senate Urges Southern African Leaders To Take Harare To Task

VOA

      By Blessing Zulu
      Washington
      27 March 2007

The U.S. Senate has urged the Southern African Development Community to
bring appropriate pressure on the government of Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe to engage his political opposition to resolve his country's deepening
crisis.

The Senate passed the resolution late Monday in the approach to an
extraordinary summit called by SADC in the Tanzanian capital of
Dar-es-Salaam to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe and political bloodshed in
the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The U.S. senators urged all responsible governments, civic organizations,
religious leaders and international bodies to condemn human rights
violations in Harare. The senate said it would holds individual police,
security force members and militia in Zimbabwe responsible for whatever acts
of violence they have committed.

International outrage was sparked when images of battered opposition leader
Morgan Tsvangirai, emerging from police custody, were broadcast worldwide on
March 13.

SADC sources said Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete would brief regional
leaders Thursday on the position of the SADC panel on politics, defense and
security which he chairs. Zimbabwe presidential spokesman George Charamba
told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that Mr. Mugabe would also brief
the summit on the situation.

However, SADC leaders, in a dramatic change brought about by the graphic
images of Zimbabwean opposition members allegedly subjected to brutal
beatings by police, are said to be keen to grill Mr. Mugabe on the
deteriorating conditions in his country. The economy is close to total
collapse and food supplies are short across Zimbabwe.

Peter Kagwanja, director of democracy and governance programs for the Human
Science Research Council in South Africa told reporter Blessing Zulu of
VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the U.S. Senate resolution is a sensible
one.

Zimbabwe ruling party delays crunch meeting

Yahoo News

HARARE (AFP) - A crucial meeting of Zimbabwe's ruling party, which was to
have discussed plans to extend veteran President Robert Mugabe's tenure, has
been postponed to the end of the week, a party official said.

The Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front's (ZANU-PF) central
committee had been expected to meet on Wednesday but the meeting has been
put back for Mugabe's return from a hastily-arranged regional summit in
Tanzania.
"All I can say is that the central committee is meeting in Harare on
Friday," ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said.

Shamuyarira did however confirm that a meeting of the party's political
bureau would take place on Wednesday although he would not say the purpose
of the meeting.

Friday's gathering of the central committee will be the first since the
party conference in December when proposals to extend Mugabe's term from
2008 until 2010, ostensibly in order to have simultaneous presidential and
parliamentary polls, were given the green light.

The proposals however have since met with opposition from other party elders
and Mugabe already appears to have abandoned the idea of an extension,
urging his supporters last week to gear up for elections next year.

The 83-year-old, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 from
Britain, had previously indicated he would step down at the end of his
current term next year.

But he made an about face last year, insisting that he would stay put if his
party was in danger of falling apart.

Six reported held in Zimbabwe over petrol bomb attacks

The Raw Story

dpa German Press
Agency
      Published: Tuesday March 27, 2007

Johannesburg/Harare- Police in Zimbabwe have arrested six
people in connection with petrol bomb attacks in the politically-
charged southern African nation, state radio reported Tuesday.
In the latest attack, two families staying at offices of the
ruling ZANU-PF party in Harare's low-income suburb of Mbare had
clothes and household property destroyed after the building was
petrol-bombed, the radio said. There were no injuries reported.

A vehicle parked at a house in the impoverished eastern Harare
suburb of Mabvuku was damaged in a separate attack, the radio added.
It was not immediately clear when the attacks occurred.

The radio said a total of eight petrol bomb attacks had been
reported in the past 12 days.

The disturbances follow the banning of political rallies in
February and the brutal beating of opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai on March 11. At least three of the attacks have been
directed at police stations.

One of the suspects arrested has been named as Stanley Mutsende
from Harare's sprawling dormitory town of Chitungwiza.

He is alleged to have thrown a petrol-bomb at the home of a police
constable before proceeding to attack the home of a ruling ZANU-PF
councillor in Chitungwiza, police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said.

State media has blamed the opposition for all the attacks, but the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it is not responsible.

Meanwhile, the MDC Tuesday held a memorial service for Gift
Tandare, a party activist shot dead by police in Highfield township
on March 11.

Several hundred people attended the service, held at a popular
church in Harare's northern suburbs and addressed by Tsvangirai and
Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a breakaway faction of the MDC.

Officials from prominent rights grouping the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) also made speeches. Tandare was
described by Tsvangirai as a martyr for the MDC cause.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

Mugabe gives police licence to kill

The First Post

Police officers throughout Zimbabwe have now been
authorised to use firearms against civilians whenever violence erupts on the
streets. They have been told that if they shoot a civilian dead they will
not face a murder charge.

A source at Harare central police headquarters confirmed
today that this decision was taken on Monday morning at a regular briefing
meeting. On Monday afternoon the instruction was radioed to police stations
throughout the country.

Each police officer is to have a daily allocation of five
rounds of ammunition, and stocks are sufficient for the entire Zimbabwe
force.

"Authorities fear that if the police do not adopt a hard
stance against the growing number of violent activities, the situation might
get out of hand," said the source.

He referred to the petrol bombing
last week of a crowded passenger train from Harare to Bulawayo,
when fortunately only five people were injured. "They anticipate further
violence after the lifting of bans on political rallies and the impending
strike called by the trade unions in early April," he said.

The move to arm all police, even those with no training in
weaponry and its use, is thought also to have come after a March 12 memo to
the Zimbabwean government from Police Chief Augustine Chihuri.

In the memo - reported in this column on March 21 - Chihuri said
he needed to spend Z$5 trillion (£125m) to get his force up to strength,
re-trained and re-equipped.

It is not known whether he has yet sourced all or part of that
money. But the Central Bank of Zimbabwe has a simple method to finance
projects which are deemed urgent. It just prints the money.

FIRST POSTED MARCH 27, 2007

MDC President (Mutambara) Clarifies Party Position On the Principle of a Single Candidate For the 2008 Presidential Election

MDC Press Statement
27 March 2007

MDC President Clarifies Party Position On the Principle of a Single
Candidate For the 2008 Presidential Election

Following media reports on the subject of whether or not the MDC will field
one Presidential Candidate in the Presidential election due in March 2008 we
wish to place the following on record:

The MDC leadership fully supports and advocates for the fielding of one
opposition candidate to face Robert Mugabe or any other ZANU ( PF) candidate
so as to focus the opposition campaign and to consolidate all votes against
ZANU (PF) and thereby ensure that each and every vote against ZANU (PF) will
count. In this way the people of Zimbabwe will have a far much better chance
of defeating the ZANU (PF) regime.
While we fully endorse the principle of one opposition candidate, to
challenge the Mugabe regime in the 2008 Presidential election the opposition
forces are yet to discuss and hopefully agree on both the principle of a
single Presidential Candidate and on the process of selecting that
candidate.
On our part, we continue to appeal to all our colleagues in the opposition,
that is in all opposition political parties, to embrace this principle and
to engagement or dialogue among ourselves as the opposition with a view to
adopting or endorsing the principle and negotiating the modalities and
conditions upon which the single candidate will be selected.
It follows from the above that there is no truth whatsoever in media reports
alleging that a deal has been agreed to field a single Presidential
candidate and that the candidate has already been selected..
We confirm that dialogue between the two MDC formations has been taking
place under the facilitation of the Zimbabwe Institute. That dialogue is
ongoing and save for agreement on a Code of Conduct to govern the relations
between the two MDC formations, no other agreement has been established.

Prof Arthur Mutambara

President

MDC

UK House of Lords debate on Zimbabwe

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:14:00

UK Parliament

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Lord Triesman): My Lords, I beg leave to repeat the Statement made by my
right honourable friend Ian McCartney in another place.
Lord Howell of Guildford: My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for
repeating the Statement. Noble Lords' minds will obviously also be on
another crisis; namely, the detention-illegally, it seems-of our servicemen
by the Government of Iran.

While we fully appreciate the delicacy and sensitivity of the position on
that crisis and in any negotiations going on with Iran, can we be assured
that the House will be kept fully up to date on that crisis as it unfolds?

I turn to Zimbabwe, where we have an appalling situation. Vicious attacks on
the opposition there have focused world attention as never before on what
has been happening for a long time.

We heard today a very long, heavily descriptive and very full Statement. I
will concentrate mainly on the way forward-on the action needed.

Is it not crystal clear that the previous policy of quiet diplomacy has
failed? Frankly, some of us warned all along that it would do.

The background now is of rising violence, desperate food shortages and
starvation, massive refugee movements and a completely collapsed currency.
Money has, in effect, died.

The breakdown of law and order cannot, I am afraid, be very far behind; that
is what the lessons of history tell us.

Does the Minister accept that the Zimbabwean opposition is still-against all
the odds and with great courage-very much alive, has been re-energised and
needs to be given every possible support and encouragement?

Has not the time come to mobilise the whole international community with far
more vigour than hitherto? Has the Minister noted that the African Union has
at last acknowledged the horror of what is going on? It admitted-in a
masterly understatement-that it is embarrassed by the hideous developments
in Zimbabwe. Should we not now press on Zimbabwe's neighbours, with renewed
energy and in detailed discussions, the consequences of inaction and the
need for a co-ordinated strategy? Is it not time to urge South Africa once
more to face up to reality before it, too, is destabilised by Zimbabwe's
collapse, of which there is a growing danger? Incidentally, were these
issues discussed in the informal EU summit at the weekend? I wonder whether
anything constructive came out of that.

Should we not now offer to mediate between the parties and propose a whole
sequence of benchmarks, beginning with the exit of Robert Mugabe, of whom
even ZANU-PF-his own party-has clearly had enough? It made that very clear.

I know that Mr Mugabe's plan to carry on at the age of 83 may bring hope to
some but it could bring to the people of Zimbabwe only the most crushing
further misery.

Could we not now set out a process leading eventually, and positively, to a
full resumption of transition and reconstruction aid and the eventual
lifting of targeted sanctions, and, in the mean time, continue to operate
them very toughly-perhaps more so than is the case at present?

Indeed, should not the removal of sanctions and restrictions be made
contingent on following through with carefully worked out steps towards free
elections and the adoption of economic reforms necessary to alleviate this
grim crisis?

The UK should offer to assist that process financially and logistically. On
this side, we understand past international reticence to involve ourselves
in what was deemed to be a purely African matter.

But is it not now time to cut through all the hand wringing and apologies
and take a bold initiative with our friends and colleagues the world over in
the Commonwealth-once again, it was not mentioned but it is increasingly a
centre of power and influence-the European Union and the United Nations
Security Council in saving this nation from utter destruction and in
building a new constitution and a new settlement, which will replace horror
and starvation with peace and prosperity?

Lord Steel of Aikwood: My Lords, we on these Benches welcome the Minister's
Statement, too. I find myself very much in agreement with the line taken by
the noble Lord, Lord Howell.

The Statement was clearly designed more for the international community's
ears than for ours in this Parliament, but it was none the worse for that
because that is where action is now to take place.

Will the Minister note that in recent days a number of statements have been
made by leaders in the Southern African Development Community? He mentioned
the President of Zambia but also included are the Prime Minister of
Mauritius, the former President of Malawi, the Deputy Foreign Minister of
South Africa, and the President of Ghana, who is the current chairman of the
African Union.

That seems to suggest that there is a growing awakening in Africa not just
about the damage that Mr Mugabe is doing in Zimbabwe but about the damage
that Zimbabwe is doing to the rest of Africa and, in particular, to the
southern African region.

As the Minister said in the Statement, some 25 per cent of Zimbabwe's
population has already left, and I have seen for myself the impact that that
is having on its neighbours in Botswana, Zambia and South Africa in
particular.

The number of political and economic refugees is now becoming an intolerable
burden on those countries.

I welcome the initiative that President Kikwete of Tanzania is taking, but
does the Minister accept that this is not the first time that efforts have
been made to get the opposition and ZANU-PF together? It was a private
initiative, but President Mbeki has tried it in the past and has, I am
afraid, failed to secure any progress from the Zimbabwean Government.

We must hope that this new initiative will be more successful than the
previous efforts.

There is some speculation about what has happened to President Mugabe.
Perhaps I may tell noble Lords of an episode that I recall very well.

The day after the independence ceremonies, at which I was part of the
delegation, I went to see Mr Martin Smith. He had been the economics
Minister in the Ian Smith regime and, very sensibly, President Mugabe kept
him on in that role to secure economic confidence in the country.

I distinctly remember Martin Smith saying to me, "I want you to know, Mr
Steel, that I have served under three Prime Ministers in this country, and
Mr Mugabe is not only the most able but he is also the most courteous".

So what has gone wrong? One theory among those who know him far better than
I do is that, following the death of his wife, Sally, he became, to put it
politely, somewhat unhinged, and his behaviour became very much more erratic
and dictatorial.

We have to recognise that nothing will change in Zimbabwe until Mr Mugabe
has gone from office.

For that reason, we need to encourage not just the opposition but people
from within his own party, who, according to reports, are now beginning to
realise that life cannot go on under him. Therefore, any pressure that can
be brought to bear on Mr Mugabe will be welcome.

The Minister may know that the University of Edinburgh is now contemplating
removing the doctorate that we gave him back in the mid-1980s-that is long
overdue. But much more important are things such as the travel ban, which is
now going to be imposed in France.

That was not the case the last time an African summit was held there, as I
think that President Mugabe was present, and the ban has been accidentally
broken in Belgium.

The tightening of that sanction will bring pressure to bear on the whole
Zimbabwean regime, increase the possibility of a split in ZANU-PF and
encourage those who will have a dialogue with the opposition to bring about
a new era of stability and hope in Zimbabwe. That should be the direction of
our policy.

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I thank the noble Lords, Lord Howell of Guildford
and Lord Steel of Aikwood, for their comments and their focused questions.
In response to the question put by the noble Lord, Lord Howell, about Iran,
I know from first hand that negotiations are at a very delicate stage.

I assure the House that noble Lords will be kept up to date. I shall try to
do that without jeopardising the negotiations, as I want to secure the
release of those being held.

On Zimbabwe, I do not believe, as I have said in the House on a number of
occasions, that the quiet diplomacy of southern Africa has had an impact.

Indeed, during the course of the quiet diplomacy period things have got
worse rather than better. If the outcomes are a measure of success, there is
a lack of any obvious success. It has sometimes been said of us that we
engage in megaphone diplomacy and that that will not work.

I have made it very plain-I hope that the House will agree with the
approach-that we cannot let some things go; we have to comment on them, as
they are an outrage and an affront to any kind of decent society.

I shall continue to urge that on leaders in southern Africa, even if that
has not been their tradition and they feel uncomfortable about it. I believe
that it is right for us to do so.

I say to the noble Lord, Lord Howell, that the MDC is alive and, despite the
injuries suffered by some of its leaders, in remarkably good heart.

Of course, it is vital that behind it and behind any splits in ZANU-PF,
which may turn out to be the more significant of the forces at play, the
whole community is mobilised. In particular, I mention not just the
community that is referred to most often, but also Archbishop Pius Ncube,
the Archbishop of Bulawayo, whose personal leadership and heroism I believe
are of the very first rank.

He and the church have provided an incredibly important umbrella for the
redevelopment of a democratic space. I applaud that and the absolute decency
and humanity of the way in which he has done it.

He has been one of the inspirations that has helped to move the African
Union in the recent past.

We will press the neighbours, particularly South Africa, because of its
influence in the region. I can report that the issues were discussed at the
EU summit in a rather more positive way than we had thought might happen,
given that some people want to move towards a relaxation-what has been
described as a reopening of dialogue.

However, as noble Lords will have seen from the Statement, that is not how
we read the situation. We shall certainly want to pursue this with South
Africa.

It has been put to me that the United Kingdom should mediate between the
parties. That is difficult because Morgan Tsvangirai has, in terms, asked us
not to play that kind of leading role.

There is a delicate choice here. I respect the point that is being made and
I do not speak of it dismissively at all.

One needs to strike a difficult balance between trying to do what people on
the ground think is most helpful and trying to do what we, in this House,
feel in our hearts is right. I hope that we get that balance right.

On a point made by the noble Lord, Lord Steel, we are trying to ensure that
we discuss the issues with everyone, right across the region-with Mauritius,
certainly with Ghana, which holds the chairmanship of the African Union,
with Aziz Pahad, the Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa, with President
Kikwete and with others-because, as there is visible movement, we need them
to carry that movement forward. This is the first real indication that we
have had of momentum and we must encourage it.

The essential issue of how to move back to the full resumption of some sort
of normality when the opportunity occurs was at the heart of what the noble
Lord, Lord Howell, said.

I assure the House that I cannot conceive of circumstances in which the
sanctions will be removed unless there is absolute agreement and the
beginnings of delivery-not words on paper-of the fundamental changes in
policy on democratic practice, elections and the economic reforms that are
needed to get people back to where they can live some sort of life and be
fed.

Sanctions can be relaxed only in exchange for real change on the ground. We
regard fundamental change as critical.

As the noble Lord said, that will take bold initiatives. The EU can
certainly play a role. The UN is also being invited to play a role, as I
said in repeating the Statement of my right honourable friend Ian McCartney.

The Commonwealth has a role, too; it has not wanted to revisit Zimbabwe
after it found that that was almost all that was discussed two conferences
ago. None the less, there is a role, and I shall continue to urge that we
should not be squeamish about playing it.

I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Steel. The opposition and ZANU-PF must
work together for the whole thing to work.

That is what the pressure in the African Union is now for. South Africa has
held direct bilateral discussions with the opposition for the first time in
a long time.

I venture the opinion-it is no more than that-that the splits and divisions
in ZANU-PF might turn out to be decisive. A number of its members must be
looking at their future and coming to the conclusion that they do not have
one so long as they are prepared to back Mugabe.

I have been careful not to comment on Mugabe's own future, other than to say
that there must be a fundamental change in policy.

Every pressure to get that change in policy is needed. Somebody replacing
Mugabe who pursued the same policies would be of no use to anybody.

I would guess that Mugabe would not find it easy to live with that
fundamental policy change, but that is what is central to the work.

I was greatly encouraged by the fact that France took the view that it
should impose the travel ban for the most recent conference, as the noble
Lord, Lord Steel, pointed out.

He is right that some people got into Belgium by accident. I greatly regret
that, and there have been discussions about how Europe can be more attentive
in ensuring that that does not happen.

However, these bans and their effect are clearly to the disadvantage of that
regime and they isolate it. We will work hard not only to keep that travel
ban resolute, but to add to it all those who have visited still more
terrifying violence on the people of Zimbabwe in recent weeks. None of them
can act with impunity.

Lord Acton: My Lords, first, as somebody who has spent much of his life in
Zimbabwe, I thank Britain for the generous aid that it has given to
Zimbabweans over these terrible years. Secondly, the Statement uses the
phrase:

"Until the Zimbabwean regime changes course".

If a successor to President Mugabe comes from the ZANU-PF politburo, they
will have been, at the minimum, a party to ghastly decisions and may well
have done far more horrific things.

Will the Government give support even to such a successor, provided that
Zimbabwe changes course in an acceptable direction?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his question and his
statement about aid. As I said in repeating the Statement, our intention has
always been to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe do not continue to suffer
from the misrule that they are subjected to-that is suffering too much in
any event.

We will continue with our aid programme. I am eager to see whether we can
step it up, particularly in dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is a
particularly severe challenge to the future of the country.

It is our intention to secure a change of course. Like everybody else, we
would rather that that was in the hands of a group of leaders who are not
stained with the crimes of the past.

We will need to see how the leadership of all the elements, including the
opposition, decides that it can construct the new constitution, and we will
need to respect the outcome of elections.

In this dispensation, there must be elections. The people of Zimbabwe must,
for the first time in a long time, have the opportunity to choose the
Government and the leaders whom they want. They have not been able to do
that freely for generations.

Lord Hurd of Westwell: My Lords, the Minister spoke about the momentum that
he and many others are trying to build in the direction that we all favour.

What about the people who are still pulling in the other direction? Why have
the Government of Angola in recent days vehemently come out in favour of
Mugabe and against any pressure on him? What can the Minister say about the
attitude of China? British diplomacy has been successful in, for example,
mobilising the Chinese to vote for the last resolution on Iran, although the
record on Sudan is not so good.

China may now be playing quite a big role in these matters, so are we
discussing them with the Government in Beijing? If so, what is the result?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I, too, fret about what Angola is doing. However,
the most bizarre claim made in Harare last week was that the Angolans were
about to provide an armed gendarme force.

Within minutes of that claim being made, the Angolans were in touch to say
that it was false-a complete fantasy.

We need to talk to them a bit more to be clear that we understand their
attitude. I say that not because I am not cautious about it, but precisely
because I am cautious about it.

We discuss these issues directly with the Chinese all the time.

I have discussed these issues at great length with their ambassadors when we
have all met during African Union conferences, where they see what is
happening in a more general sense. I do not want to overstate this, but I
believe that there is now an inclination on their part to wonder whether
their investments in a number of places are secure.

As we see meltdown in those places, a number of people are saying to them,
"You cannot possibly think you can rely on the resources that you think you've
bought and the methods that you think you have for extracting them, given
the political and economic deterioration of the kind that you're seeing". I
believe that that argument is beginning to take root.

Lord Hughes of Woodside: My Lords, I welcome the Statement. I am pleased
that my noble friend's efforts over previous months have begun to bear fruit
in that SADC and the African Union have at last begun to make it clear that
they are against what is happening in Zimbabwe.

But does my noble friend accept that there is a long way to go, especially
since President Mugabe's corrosive attacks regarding interference have a
deeper resonance in southern Africa than we might imagine? I am delighted to
hear that the story about Angolan troops going to Zimbabwe has proved
untrue. That is marvellous news.

Does my noble friend agree that adopting the course suggested by the noble
Lord on the opposition Benches-that we should seek to mediate between the
parties in Zimbabwe-would be the last message we would want to send?

It would confirm the view that we are interfering in Zimbabwean business and
want to cut out the involvement of others in southern Africa. That may not
be the case, but that is what would be suggested. The situation is so
serious that movement must be made. We must not disparage efforts made in
the past that have not succeeded.

We must encourage all those who are working together, because the Zimbabwean
situation will be resolved only within Zimbabwe.

In the days of the apartheid regime we argued that only the people of South
Africa could resolve that situation.

Only the Zimbabweans can resolve this situation, but they need our help and
the help of the region and the international community. I wish my noble
friend every success in getting that message across. At last, I think we can
begin to see a chink of light.

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Hughes very much. We
will as a Government persist in the work.

He is right: we have to listen to what is being said to us by the leaders of
the opposition just as we did when we listened to the leaders of the
opposition forces in the South African context.

I do not necessarily mean within South Africa, because many of those leaders
had to flee the country. W

e need to listen to these leaders and do what we do in a way that is most
helpful to them. Those are the forces which, when they come together, will
form the new democratic system in Zimbabwe. I agree wholeheartedly that that
is where our attention should be.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, my diocese is twinned with three
dioceses in Zimbabwe and, over the years, there have been regular visits in
both directions.

A visit is planned for next month when two dozen people from the south of
the diocese will go to Zimbabwe. Does the Minister think that is helpful or
wise at the present time?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I often advise people to read the Foreign Office
website, "Know Before You Go".

So I do today, largely because circumstances change and places that look
relatively calm can become extremely violent in a very short time.
Up-to-date information is of the essence.

I say to the right reverend Prelate that I believe that a number of
forces-if that is the right word; most certainly including the churches-have
had a significant impact on drawing together all the threads of the
opposition.

But I would urge him also to exercise great caution. We are now seeing a
regime that is perfectly capable of inflicting serious personal harm on
anybody who does not agree with it.

That is not to dissuade him from going, but let us be very clear about it.
Closer to the date I will add any information that I have that suggests
whether there is too great a risk to be borne.

Lord Goodlad: My Lords, will the Minister convey to the British ambassador
in Harare the appreciation of your Lordships' House for his and his staff's
steadfastness under fire in a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous
situation?

We understand that a more strident tone by the British Government in
Zimbabwe might be politically counterproductive and put at risk the lives of
the 12,000-odd United Kingdom citizens in Zimbabwe and the 400-odd people
still farming there.

Will he also accept our support in trying to stiffen the spine of the South
African Government and other African Governments to bring their influence to
bear on the Government of Zimbabwe in order to bring this period of
suffering to an end?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his comments. Andrew
Pocock is indeed an exceptional diplomat and a very fine ambassador.

He has been prepared to face great difficulty in conducting the United
Kingdom's mission. I have no doubt that he will be gratified by the
sentiments of the House, which I will convey to him personally.

It is absolutely right to say that we have to be very cautious about the
tone we use. I sometimes feel that I need to be cautious about the tone that
I use. I feel so angry about it that at times I am not sure that I am
necessarily adding exactly what is needed. I hope that I will be forgiven
for that.

In the case of South Africa we will continue to argue, exert pressure and
try to get a confluence of view. However, South Africa has probably moved
more in the past fortnight as it has recognised the dangers flowing across
its borders than we have seen it move in a very long time.

My view is that up to 6 million people might go across the Limpopo. At that
point there will be no food or security in northern South Africa; nor will
there be security in a general sense because such a movement of people is a
security issue for the region as well as a humanitarian issue.

Lord Anderson of Swansea: My Lords, perhaps I may first say a word about the
Iranian hostages.

This morning, I spoke to the mother of one of our marines who is deeply
anxious about the fate of her son but high in praise of the way in which the
Ministryof Defence has communicated with her regularly throughout this
crisis.

On Zimbabwe, clearly we must make an effort to understand the position of
South Africa-perhaps its illusion-that the big tent which worked for it
internally in the World Trade Centre is applicable to bringing together
Mugabe and his opponents.

Nevertheless, the words or the mood music of South Africa have changed,
perhaps as it recognises the deep damage done to it and to the region by the
Mugabe regime.

Can my noble friend say whether there is any evidence, apart from words of
the African Union or South Africa, that there is any move into effective
action in the key areas such as energy supply?

Although one understands that the British Government's policy will not
change until there is a fundamental c

hange in Zimbabwe itself, surely there should be some calibrated response
along the line. Free elections are obviously a major staging post. Can he
give an assurance that DfID and the FCO are ready to respond positively as
soon as there are signs of real change in Zimbabwe?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I give that assurance absolutely. We have been
thinking very hard about what would happen at the point at which it is
possible to make such moves. We have the architecture to do that and we
would move as fast as we possibly could.

In general, if I may answer the important points made by my noble friend
Lord Anderson about other action, a significant number of the leaders of the
African Union are not only now in constant touch with elements of both the
Zimbabwean Government and the Opposition but have said-in Harare and in
terms-that this cannot go on and it is no longer credible that it should do
so.

To be candid with the House, I do not yet know whether they are prepared to
take other steps. There is caution about accelerating the point at which the
movement of people across borders becomes so great that no one can deal with
it. I understand why there is that anxiety. On the other hand, I also think
that leaders of the African Union may very well react in a tough way when
the new approaches that they are now making are rebuffed.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: My Lords, the Minister rightly emphasised the
importance of the role of both President Mbeki and the African Union.

What discussions was he able to have with President John Kufuor in his
capacity as chairman of the African Union during his recent state visit
here? The Minister has laid a lot of emphasis on the importance of European
Union countries imposing things such as travel restrictions, but Robert
Mugabe was recently invited to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the
independence of Ghana.

Does he agree that if the African nations were to impose travel restrictions
and make their views about the iniquities conducted by the Zimbabwean regime
more clearly felt and known, that would have a much greater impact than
European restrictions?

The Minister has rightly also mention the bravery of people such as Pius
Ncube and Morgan Tsvangirai. Can he tell us anything about their current
safety?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, President Kufuor had detailed discussions with
several of us about the position.

I have to say that it seems unlikely that the African Union will impose
travel sanctions. Even if that would be desirable, it is not in its history;
it has not done it with one or two dictators in Africa who ought never to
have got where they did, let alone travel around.

None the less, President Kufuor was clear about the embarrassment that is
being caused and the need for an African Union response. He put that in
pretty straightforward terms.

His organisation is faced with a number of huge challenges, frequently
debated in this House, whether in the Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea on the
border, or inside Somalia.

We know of huge difficulties still in the Mano river basin, which is much
closer to the President's home patch.

The African Union is very stretched in its resources. That is not an excuse,
it is just a reflection of what it can and cannot do on a day-to-day basis.

On the overall position, Morgan Tsvangirai was seriously beaten and is, I
think, gradually recovering.

But as those who heard him on the "Today" programme will know, he is
completely undaunted. He deserves our admiration, that's for sure. I think
that the Archbishop is not physically hurt or in physical danger, but from
what I know of him, he will not be overly concerned. He will continue to do
what he believes is right.

Lord Blaker: My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Steel, referred to one of the
reasons for Mugabe's hostility to its existence.

I heard some years ago from a source which I regarded as reliable that
another reason was that when his son died in Ghana-he had a Ghanaian mother,
as the House will know-Mugabe was refused permission by the then Government
to attend the funeral.

I cannot imagine anything more foolish than that and I can understand why
that would make him very resentful.

I support those who have been making a point about the importance of the
SADC countries. They are the closest and are not particularly stretched in
the way that other countries may be.

I emphasise the importance of the SADC countries getting involved; it will
mean that Mbeki must take the lead, because nobody else in that group will.

In the hope that there may be better times to come, would it be good idea
for the Government to plan on assisting the professional classes in
particular, who are extremely important, most of whom have fled and are
spread across the map, to get back to Zimbabwe?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, quite a lot of detailed planning is taking place to
make sure that there is capacity in Zimbabwe for rebuilding, which would
include the professionals and what remains of the middle classes-if I can
use an old-fashioned expression-which were among the first to flee the
country and have more or less vanished. We offer quite a lot of bilateral
assistance, as we do to particular sectors, but that help has to happen more
or less outside the country-it is very difficult to sustain it inside
without putting those we want to help at still greater risk.

Baroness Park of Monmouth: My Lords, is there any prospect that the
Commonwealth-which, after all, cared about South Africa even though it was
no longer in it-could be induced to set up a special fund outside Zimbabwe,
available to civil society in Zimbabwe to draw upon? They will need money if
they are to elect people and if they are even to maintain their present
situation, and that money has to come from somewhere. If it came from the
Commonwealth, that would be an entirely respectable and non-partisan area
and would include all African countries.

We should not confine ourselves to giving lots of splendid publicity and
great admiration. We have to make it feasible for people to help themselves,
and that seems to be one body that we could use to do it.

Lord Triesman: My Lords, I hope I have emphasised that in all our dealings
with Zimbabwe, we have been prepared to spend quite large sums of money to
support those activities that we believe are right. To be clear about HMG's
position, whether we were contributing through the Commonwealth or
bilaterally, I have no doubt that we would wish to support the financial
consequences of re-entering democratic life. The Commonwealth as a possible
source is a very interesting idea; I do not know how it would be received
but I am certainly willing to explore it.

Yesterday in parliament - House of Commons

Press Association
Tuesday March 27, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Extract:
Zimbabwe
The international community must take urgent and decisive action to prevent
the crisis in Zimbabwe deteriorating further, the Tories warned as they
challenged the government to match "good words" with deeds.

Shadow foreign minister Geoffrey-Clifton Brown told MPs: "The international
community's response to 27 years of Mugabe misrule, although well
intentioned, has been unable to prevent the situation from deteriorating and
decisive action is now needed."

Foreign Office minister Ian McCartney condemned the chaos as "appalling,
disgraceful and utterly tragic", but stopped short of pledging any new
measures. "The Zimbabwean crisis cannot be solved by the UK," he warned.

Mr McCartney also confirmed that President Mugabe's daughter was studying at
a top university in London. He told MPs that Bona Mugabe was studying at the
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which is part of
London University, and said the travel ban imposed on Mugabe and his regime
should be extended to their children.

Zim lawyers seek help from Mozambique

Sunday Times, SA

27 March 2007

MAPUTO - A delegation of Zimbabwean human rights lawyers are in Mozambique
to seek support from civil society in that country to pressure Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe to introduce political reforms, Vista News reports.

This was revealed by Radio Mozambique in a report quoting the leader of the
Zimbabwean lawyers' delegation, Tafadzwa Mugabe.

Mugabe [the lawyer] and his delegation of two other lawyers are being hosted
by the Mozambican Lawyers Association (LDH).

Their visit to Mozambique comes after lawyers had suffered physical
aggression and intimidation from the Zimbabwean government when they tried
to seek the release of their clients arrested after the March 11
demonstrations.

The demonstrations resulted in the severe beatings of opposition Movement of
Democratic Change (MDC) leaders, their supporters and the subsequent killing
of a youth at the hands of the police.

The opposition politicians had tried to address a prayer meeting organised
by the Save Zimbabwe Coalition in Highfields suburb of Harare.

Meanwhile, the LDH said in a press release that it wanted the Mozambican
government to take a position on the regime of Robert Mugabe in relation to
the recent events.

The association said the "gross violation of human rights of the Zimbabwean
citizens does not happen as an isolated issue in the African or global
context, but affects everyone".

The LDH said the Zimbabwean government was "ignoring its own constitution,
African Union laws as well as those of Southern African Development
Community (SADC) and those of the United Nations' universal declaration of
human rights".

The Zimbabwean situation had started having negative effects on the African
countries, said the LDH.

The association said it was the responsibility of civil society, the
academics and intellectuals to press the African states to take immediate
action to solve the situation in Zimbabwe.

The LDH said it would soon formally send letters to the Mozambican
government and the national parliament calling on them to take a united
decision on the Zimbabwean issue.

Sapa

Zimbabwe to cull elephants as numbers explode: report

Reuters

Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:46AM EDT

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe plans to cull its growing elephant population to
limit damage to the environment and reduce conflict with humans, state media
said on Tuesday.
The reports came after a rampaging elephant trampled to death a British
woman and her 10-year-old daughter on Saturday in the Hwange national part
in northwest Zimbabwe.

The animals have also often stomped through villages, destroying crops and
property.

Zimbabwe's parks and wildlife authority says the southern African country's
elephant population has risen above 100,000, more than twice the 45,000 it
can sustain.

"We are having an explosion of the elephant population," the regional
Chronicle newspaper quoted wildlife authority spokesman Edward Mbewe as
saying. "This has proved to be destructive to the environment and there are
more cases of humans encountering elephant invasions and attacks."
The culling plans face opposition from local conservation groups who dispute
the official figures, arguing that the government had not conducted a
wildlife audit for almost seven years.

Mbewe said the cull would take place within the country's annual hunting
quota of 500, allowed under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES). Zimbabwe earns about $15 million every year from
elephant hunting.

There were no immediate figures on how many elephants on average Zimbabwe
has allowed to be hunted in recent years, but environmentalists say such
poaching is a growing problem.

Some CITES member states and international lobby groups are also opposed to
elephant culling as well as ivory trade, which is banned in the country due
to illegal poaching but which has a strong black market in Africa.

Neighboring South Africa also recently announced a new elephant management
plan which could include both culling and contraception, saying the current
elephant population of some 20,000 could double by 2020 with disastrous
ecological consequences unless steps are taken to bring numbers down.

Corruption a Way of Life in Zimbabwe

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

The government's new corruption survey is merely another way for the
authorities to be seen to be doing something, without taking resolute steps
to root out the problem.

By Joseph Sithole in Harare (AR No. 105, 27-Mar-07)

Corruption is seen in many societies as a cancer to be fought with
relentless determination. In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe appears
content not only to live with the disease, but to allow it to flourish
unchecked among close political associates.

This reluctance to curb corruption has created a climate in which it can
spread uncontrollably, while those at the top look on complacently.

The most celebrated example of corruption in post-independence Zimbabwe was
the Willowgate scandal of 1989, in which government ministers were accused
of buying vehicles cheap and reselling them at a substantial mark-up. When
the media broke the story, Mugabe quickly set up a commission of inquiry,
but he went on to grant pardons to those who were implicated.

At that point, people began doubting whether the justice system was up to
the job of dealing with corruption.

Things got worse in the Nineties, with the "VIP housing scandal" of 1995 in
which government officials and politicians allegedly looted funds
contributed by civil servants to build or buy homes. Most of the civil
servants who contributed money on the promise that the government would
build houses for them remain homeless to this day. Nobody was prosecuted or
punished.

This scandal was followed soon afterwards by the plunder of the War Victims'
Compensation Fund, set up to help those who had participated in Zimbabwe's
liberation struggle of the Seventies. Once again, there were no arrests or
prosecutions.

But this case did provoke 50,000 rank-and-file war veterans to start
demanding monthly benefits from the government. They were aggrieved that
some of their leaders had abandoned them and were living an ostentatious
lifestyle far in excess of their salaries. After the veterans staged street
protests and threatened to march on Mugabe's official residence, he was
forced to order payments of 50,000 Zimbabwean dollars per person in October
1997.

Because this allocation had not been set aside in Zimbabwe's annual budget,
it led to the collapse of the currency a month later on November 14, in what
became known as "Black Friday". Analysts agree that this marked the
beginning of Zimbabwe's current economic troubles.

The land seizures instituted from 2000 onwards only served to accelerate the
economic slide and trigger a political crisis as well. The chaotic takeover
of white commercial farms - ostensibly in the interests of a fair
redistribution to landless Zimbabweans - soon became fertile ground for
misappropriation. Mugabe's officials and cronies ignored the ZANU-PF policy
of "one man, one farm", with some acquiring several properties and passing
them on to relatives.

Mugabe has so far instituted seven land audits, all of which have confirmed
the obvious - that most of his ministers and senior police, intelligence and
military officials possessed more than one farm. In August 2003, he declared
that he would deal with those who had seized more than one property, but the
threat was greeted with stony silence. To date, no looted farms have been
returned, and no action has been taken against the culprits.

In an angry outburst recently, Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono lamented
the presence of what he described as "career land occupiers, vandalising
farming equipment from one farm to another".

One would expect such an indictment from a senior establishment official to
be followed by swift action by the authorities. Predictably however, no
action was taken.

Production on these farms has all but ceased, so that the country has gone
from being an exporter of maize to importing grain to feed itself. No one
wants to undertake the arduous work of farming, it appears. Mugabe himself
once complained that the seized farms had been turned into "weekend resorts".

Finally, there are the allegations that emerged last year concerning
misappropriation of funds at the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company, the
country's sole steel producer. Following an official inquiry, parliament
conducted hearings in which allegations were made against a number of senior
politicians said to have benefited from payments made by the company.

These days, President Mugabe is less reticent about the failings of some of
his officials. In an interview to mark his 83rd birthday on February 21, for
example, he complained that ministers were greedy and that some were
involved in smuggling of gold and diamonds. The police and Central Bank say
they have named names to the president, but as usual his policy is not to
expose those accused, but to utter dark hints about unacceptable behaviour.

The failure to act on this long series of corruption has created a
widespread perception that there is a tacit acceptance of corruption in high
places, and that even pledges of resolute action will come to nothing. Thus
it was that most Zimbabweans reacted with cynicism when they heard in
February that the government plans to conduct an eight-month baseline survey
on corruption, at a cost of 800,000 US dollars.

The anti-corruption minister, Samuel Undenge, said the survey was needed so
as to give a definition of corruption, which manifests itself in many forms
and mutates as circumstances change. "It is expected to highlight a
comprehensive list of the types of corruption most prevalent in Zimbabwe,
and identify institutions across all sectors where corruption is considered
most prevalent," he said at the launch event,

A political scientist at the University of Zimbabwe, who requested
anonymity, dismissed the plan to research corruption patterns as a ploy to
give the public the impression that something was being done.

"Why do we need a survey to define corruption when we all know the people
who are abusing national resources?" he said. "This is a waste of resources.
Mugabe [practises] policy symbolism, pretending to be doing something when
in fact what he is doing is giving time and warning to his corrupt ministers
and officials to cover their tracks."

The analyst said that in most countries, the failure to tackle the problem
effectively was often due to corruption within the law-enforcement agencies,
whereas in Zimbabwe, the government's own selective application of the law
had a corrosive effect on policing.

"In which other country in the world do you have the police waiting to be
instructed by politicians on whom to arrest and whom not to arrest?" he
asked.

He concluded, "There is simply no political will to fight corruption in
Zimbabwe. It has become a way of life."

Joseph Sithole is the pseudonym of an IWPR contributor in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe - "The Purge" continues

Mens News Daily

March 26, 2007

By Zvakwana
Since the violent onslaught on Zimbabwe's civil and political opposition on
11th March, the Mugabe regime has continued to conduct a country-wide
military operation to crush opposition structures. In particular, rural
areas are getting special attention as Mugabe's militia, police and feared
CIO seek out MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) members for special
treatment.

Most recent events illustrate the shocking methods being used by the regime.
Names of some of the victims have been removed for fear of retribution.

An old man Frighton Jairos (83 years), father of the MDC Chairman of
Mufakose, tells the story:

He was in the dining room of their home in Mufakose with his wife and
grandson Ivor (18) who was studying. At 10 pm four men in plain clothes had
gained entry into the yard through a hole in the wall, then kicked the
lounge door open. One was holding a hand gun. The men dragged Ivor and
Frighton out of the house saying "you guys are holding MDC meetings, where
is Charles, we know where he is" and they proceeded to give the exact home
address of Charles. They were then blindfolded and gagged and driven to
Kadoma in a two tone (Maroon top half, silver bottom half) Mazda Eagle
Registration number AAP 2372, where they were severely beaten all over their
bodies with and iron bar and fists.
After the beating, the blindfolds and gags were removed and they were driven
back to Harare and dropped off on Highglen Road, near Marimba Police
station. When they were being beaten the state thugs were saying "you guys
think you can topple the government".
Frighton sustained deep tissue bruising to both feet and shins. Ivor was too
scared to come for medical attention.
A white Mazda B18 single cab pick up truck and a Combi Super 16 were the
vehicles seen outside Frightons home that evening.

Other recent attacks:

1) A woman S.M. was beaten on 11th March at the Prayer Rally, and
hospitalised. She went home a few days later and on Friday 16.3.07 she was
visited by friends and well wishers, one was her Mum and the other a woman
PN. Shortly after the visitors arrived they were all arrested, including
S.M. and taken to Warren Park Police Station, then on to Harare Central
Police Station. They were all beaten with batons at Harare Central and then
released "no charge" on the Sunday evening.

2) A man P. G. also from Mufakose and an MDC activist, was arrested and
taken to Marimba Park on 21/3/07 where he was given approx. 65 cuts with a
whip - this torture took place from 12 midday to about 3pm.

3) NN, a man, was in a commuter bus in Mufakose at 8 pm on Wednesday
14/3/07. The commuter bus was stopped by riot police, including a dog
handler, and everyone including the driver were told to get out and were
then beaten. NN was beaten on the back of the legs and as he was falling to
the ground, the dog was set on him. He sustained severe puncture injuries
from the bite.

4) EZ 36 year old man was walking home from Gift Tandares wake in Glen View
at about 7pm on Friday 16/3/07 when he was accosted by three riot policemen,
carrying weapons. They asked him where he had been and before he could
answer was made to lie down and the policemen proceeded to beat him on his
back with their rifles saying "you are the trouble causers in Glen View". He
sustained broken ribs.

5) GC, 38 year old male. Occurred on Wednesday 14/3/07 in Highfields. He was
walking home at 8pm when he met 3 riot police, and one dog handler. They set
upon him for no reason, beating him with batons on the back of his legs and
on his back. They then pushed him to the ground and as he fell, they set the
dog on him. The dog got hold of his foot and ripped it about 10 cms down
through his big toe. He also sustained a deep wound on his right arm from a
baton. When he was being beaten the police were saying "policemen are not
supposed to be beaten, don't hit police".

6) LD, male, was at a bus stop in Glen View at 5pm Wednesday 21/3/07 when he
was accosted by about 7 men in plain clothes. They told him to go with them,
and then man handled him into a Mazda B16 single cab pick up truck - it had
no registration plates. They told him to close his eyes and said " you are
going to die now, what are you doing with Morgan Tsvangirai". They started
to beat him on the head with shoes and fists and he lost conciousness. When
he regained conciousness he saw they were in the bush near Marimba. He was
thrown out of the vehicle and was then beaten with baton sticks and an iron
bar.

7) A lady MM - beaten and detained at the same time as President Morgan
Tsvangirai and others. Her left shin was hit 15 times with a baton stick
causing a 10 cm wound exposing the bone completely. Other injuries include
bruising to her buttocks from whips, deep wounds to both knees.

8 ) LC, a lady in her late 30's from Mufakose, was beaten at the Prayer
Rally on the 11/3/07. She was 7 months pregnant and healthy. As a result of
the baton stick beatings to her back, she has just given birth to a still
born baby.

9) JM of Kuwadzana (55 yrs) the father of 2 MDC activists was abducted from
his home on Friday 23rd March at 11pm - he was abducted because they couldn't
find his sons (note the pattern). 7 youths, armed with hand guns entered his
home by showing their ZRP (Police?) ID cards. They immediately started to
beat him all over his body, accusing him of hiding his sons. They then drove
him to Darwendale ZANU PF office in silver twin cab. When he had been beaten
they dumped him in the bush near the offices. He managed to crawl to the
local police station and then find his way back to Harare. It appears that
he sustained a fractured leg and arm.

10) Last night the home of a local Marondera MDC campaigner was raided by
the thug squad - as the person they were seeking was not at home, they
abducted his son and nephew. Word came this morning that the two young men
were found in the bush between Mahusekwa and Harare South Club having been
thoroughly beaten. A vehicle was sent to uplift the tortured men, but they
were so traumatised that they went and hid in the bush, obviously thinking
that the vehicle belonged to the CIO.

There is a clear pattern emerging:

All MDC office bearers are being targetted for abduction and a thorough
beating and then being dumped in the bush far from their home. So far this
has been mainly in the high density suburbs of Harare, but is now moving out
into the district towns.

- Saviour Kasukawere (Deputy Minister for Youth and Gender) has been
identified at at least two abductions.

- Kasukawere appears to have a gang of armed youth many of whom have been
identified as employees of the Harare City Council, discharged Police
constables, CIO and Bus Rank marshalls, who are on his pay roll. Identities
of some of these hired thugs are coming in via reliable sources.

- They are armed and know their targets, names, addresses and job
descriptions in the MDC.

- They have new expensive vehicles at their disposal.

- They are not concerned about hiding their identities as they are acting
with absolute impunity.

- They all have ID cards such as Zimbabwe Police (ZRP), Central Intelligence
(CIO) and various other key departments.

In another development, reports are coming in from various sources that the
government is re-establishing militia camps in rural Matabeland in
preparation for the 2008 election campaign. In the past, the militia has
been used to scare rural peasants into voting for Mugabe's zanupf. As part
of the campaign, it is understood that veterans of the 1970's war are also
being brought back into the fray. This has been seen as an attempt by Mugabe
to ensure his success at the 2008 elections. What is not clear is whether
his party will let him stand for another term. What is known is that despite
infighting and factionalism within zanupf, it appears that all are in
agreement on one issue - Mugabe must go. There is no doubt that Mugabe
himslef is in a corner and the redeployment of 1970's war veterans appears
to be his last card to retain power.

Police hunt down ZCTU officials in Chinhoyi and Gweru

By Tererai Karimakwenda
27 March 2007

State agents have continued their campaign to intimidate officials from
Zimbabwe's umbrella labour union ahead of a planned mass action scheduled
for April 3 and 4. On Tuesday the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions reported
that their Chinhoyi offices were visited by 3 men in plain clothes who
wanted to find out who was distributing flyers for their planned stay away.
They interrogated the acting Regional Officer Wilson Kambanje and told him
they were watching his moves closely.

Meanwhile in Gweru, about 40 armed policeman raided the offices of the
Zimbabwe Domestic Workers' Union looking for the same thing, fliers about
the stayaway. They asked to see an official there named Zacharia Chikwenya,
who was fortunately not in the office at the time.

The ZCTU said they expect the raids to continue and increase in the next few
days leading up to their protest action. But despite all this the stayaway
will not be cancelled. The labour group called for the stay away to pressure
government to address the drastically deteriorating economic conditions
plaguing workers.

ZCTU Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe told Newsreel last week that a
group of other fake unions met with Zanu PF structures in Marondera and are
trying to mobilize thugs from rural areas who will be used to intimidate
people into going to work during the strike. But the group has been
resilient in the face of continuous government tactics to discredit the ZCTU
leadership and intimidate workers.

Asked if they did not risk endangering their members given events in the
past few weeks Chibhebhe said, 'we are more threatened by hunger than those
who are physically going to threaten people.' He urged workers to stay in
doors and not leave their homes on the days of the strike arguing this would
ensure the police could not brutalise them. 'They are safer in their homes
than outside their homes,' he said.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

I Don't Regret My Position On Zimbabwe - Mwanawasa

The Namibian (Windhoek)

March 27, 2007
Posted to the web March 27, 2007

Windhoek

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said he does not regret comparing Zimbabwe
to a sinking Titanic.

Mwanawasa told a meeting of Zambians based in Namibia at the Safari Hotel in
Windhoek on Friday that while he supports Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe's land reform programme, he does not support Zimbabwe's governance
record.

"Zimbabwe is our neighbour. When people in Zimbabwe cough, Zambians also
cough. We cannot sit back and watch when things are going wrong there," said
Mwanawasa.

"I hear from some intelligence that President Mugabe is popular in his
country. But why should his government be ruling its people in such a
fashion? Why should he be denying his people freedom of speech?" he asked.

Mwanawasa, who returned to Zambia on Saturday after a five-day state visit
to Namibia, was responding to a speech by the chairperson of Association of
Zambians in Namibia (Azana), Professor CD Kasanda.

Kasanda had told the gathering that his group supports the Zambian
president's stance and comments on the Zimbabwe issue.

"We have been concerned on the apparent silence of our leadership in the
SADC region. We note with pride that our president has the courage to call a
spade a spade and not a spoon," said Kasanda, attracting applause from the
packed Safari Hotel hall.

He added: "We hope that when Zambia assumes the chairmanship of SADC this
August, you will continue with this zeal without being distracted."

At a banquet Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba hosted in his honour on
Tuesday, Mwanawasa had deplored the Zimbabwe situation and called on
neighbouring countries and other "willing" SADC member states to assist in
resolving the problems in that country.

Zambia, he said, planned together with other African countries to explore
the possibility of engaging Zimbabwe's leadership in "a more supportive
manner".

Although he did not mention Zimbabwe by name during the banquet,
descriptions such as 'troubled, distressed neighbour' fitted Zimbabwe.

"As I am speaking right now, one SADC country has sunk into such economic
difficulties that it may be likened to a sinking Titanic whose passengers
are jumping out in a bid to save their lives.

"The nationals of the said country are abandoning it in hundreds on a daily
basis and crossing borders in search of any means of survival in all the
neighbouring states and beyond," said Mwanawasa.

He said if all SADC members had a common destiny, they must help when one of
them runs into difficulties.

His said his government is convinced that the time has come for fresh talks
in "our relations with our common neighbour".

Zimbabwe has been globally criticised for, among other things, its human
rights and economic record.

However, President Pohamba, who recently hosted his Zimbabwean counterpart,
has never condemned or made any comment on the Zimbabwe situation.

Nampa

Mugabe for Hague

The Zimbabwean

( 27-03-07)
HARARE
BY ITAI DZAMARA
A document containing President Robert Mugabe's litany of crimes against the
people of Zimbabwe will soon be submitted to the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) in Hague, The Zimbabwean has established.
This paper can reveal that a group of political and civic leaders in
Zimbabwe is through with drawing up Mugabe's indictment, dominated by
killings and maiming of opponents since i ndependence in 1980.
The document was ready for revealing by the end of January but had to be
revised recently following a brutal crackdown by Mugabe's agents against his
main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai and other opposition and civil leaders in
clashes that have claimed at least two lives.
Requesting this paper to avoid divulging more details about the document and
the plans to submit it to the Hague, Mugabe's critics involved in the plans
also revealed they were already lobbying for the support of members of the
international community in the indictment of the Zanu (PF) leader, in power
for 27 years now.
"We had to revise the document following the recent political events in the
country but it will soon be ready for submission," one of the people
involved said. "It is not proper to pre-empt its contents but we can just
indicate that it provides the crimes that Mugabe has committed against the
people of Zimbabwe in various ways."
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations based The
Hague , where former dictators such as Augusto Pinochet have been dragged in
the past to answer charges of crimes against humanity committed during their
days of power.
The atrocities in Matabeleland during the early years of independence are
among the crimes Mugabe is likely to face trial on. His iron-fisted 27-year
rule has of late been dominated by spilling of blood and internecine state
sponsored violence since the advent f the Movement for Democratic Change in
1999 to launch a determined and effective challenge to end Mugabe's
dictatorship.
Observers say Mugabe's obstinate clinging onto power at all costs is
inspired by the fear for retribution he is likely to face from the people of
Zimbabwe or being convicted by the ICJ.
He is clearly bent on staying in power after announcing he wants to contest
next year's elections.

Zanu (PF) demos get the blessing of the police

The Zimbabwean

(27-03-07)
By Gift Phiri

HARARE - Vast crowds of placard-waving Zanu (PF) women marched across
central Harare Friday, defying a ban on rallies and processions, with police
conveniently ignoring the procession, which should have been outlawed under
a three-month ban imposed by the authorities here.

A similar procession by the opposition and civic groups in the capital three
weeks ago elicited a spate of vicious attacks by police that resulted in the
death of two opposition activists and the gruesome beating of opposition and
civic leaders.

The massive demonstration poured down central Harare, with hundreds of women
wearing ruling party regalia emblazoned with a portrait of President Robert
Mugabe.

Among the huge crowds, bussed from the country's ten provinces, many flew
anti-opposition banners, with several others wrapped in Zanu (PF) attire.

Protestors carried signs reading: 'Down with Tsvangirai,' 'CNN are Liars,'
'Mugabe For Life.'

The demonstration, which preceded a rally by Mugabe at the Zanu (PF)
Headquarters, drew at least 8,000 women. Friday's events have drawn
accusations that police were selectively applying the law, violently barring
opposition from holding rallies and processions while turning a blind eye to
similar political activity by the ruling Zanu (PF) party.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena scoffed at allegations that police were
partisan saying he was not aware there was a procession of the Zanu (PF)
Women's League in the capital.

The Zimbabwean witnessed baton-wielding and gun-toting police officers
ignoring the procession of the ruling party women, who were singing
liberation war songs.

The women managed to march from the ruling party offices in Fourth Street to
Rotten Row, unhindered.

They went on to attend a rally - also illegal under the current regime of
bans - addressed by Mugabe. At the rally Mugabe vowed that his sworn enemy,
Morgan Tsvangirai would never rule Zimbabwe. Mugabe further made a grim
warning to his rivals that they will be beaten up further by his security
forces if they continued leading a defiance campaign against him.

Inside Zimbabwe blog - add your comments and stories

What is life is like in a country where any sign of dissent or defiance to
the Government can result in beatings or jail? Where media is either
state-owned or regulated? And where blogging is dangerous.

All this week the Sky News Insider Blog comes from inside Zimbabwe - where
activists hoping for democracy are beaten or killed; where HIV/AIDS is rife;
where life expectancy is low.

"Hope" is an activist opposed to President Mugabe. She is having to blog
under a pseudonym to avoid recrimination.

You are encouraged to add your comments each day.

This is the link to the Sky Blog section: http://jeremythompson.typepad.com/

Inside Zimbabwe - Monday

http://jeremythompson.typepad.com/

Monday

My day begins with a 30 minute walk to a place where I wait for a work
colleague to pick me up.

Sometimes I have to walk further because we change the pick up spot every
week. If I stay in one place too long, other people in the area soon learn
that I have a lift organised and start waiting with
me.

My work colleague doesn't mind an extra one or two squeezing in, but objects
to five or six trying to sit on laps to fit in the car.

I am extremely lucky to have a lift. Other work colleagues who rely on the
ETs (Emergency Taxis - mini-bus cabs) are in a terrible situation. The
country's annual 1,800% inflation has forced the ET fares from $3,000 to
$5,000 overnight (£6-8)- and that is just one way.

ETs divide their routes into sectors so the costs can sometimes be double
that if you have to catch two ETs to get home.

An average commercial worker clears around $30,000 a week (£60). So if a
person is spending $10,000 a day on ETs their transport bill comes to nearly
twice the amount they earn in a week. What about food, school, fees, and
rent?

Last week the employees of a major department store refused to go to work
because their earnings didn't cover their transport. The government's
solution at the beginning of this month was to force employers to give their
employees an extra $60 000 (£120)on top of their wages as a transport
allowance.

But before the month has even ended, inflation has made the figure
nonsensical. This is why we see so many people walking these days.

Walking 15km to work is bad enough, but worse when you have to factor in
Mugabe's thugs trying to enforce an illegal curfew by intimidating and
beating up civilians out on the streets at night.

One of my friends described how his walk home is taking him twice as long as
it should because
he is choosing back roads to avoid the patrolling thugs. He says he's
feeling exhausted all the time now because he can't afford to eat three
meals a day anymore, and all the walking is sapping his energy.

People are talking about having to make a choice; most of them are thinking
about whether it is even worth working any more.

So I am incredibly lucky to have a colleague who gives lifts to us. In
return, we share the cost of his fuel. The price of fuel goes up almost
daily: it was $8 000 a week ago (£15)and today it is $18 000 (£35)in most
garages.

We also help him by taking it in turns to sit in his car when he needs to
queue for fuel (a person can queue for days to get hardly any fuel). But the
impact of inflation tells me that it won't be long before the whole country
is walking a very long tiring walk to work every day - the whole country
with the exception of the Zanu PF elite.

Hope, a Sokwanele activist
Blogging for Sokwanele at 'This is Zimbabwe' :
www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe

------------

Comments
Andy says Mugabe has support from SA because he is persecuting white
farmers. That may have been how it started, but it has long moved on to
persecuting anyone who opposes him, black or white.
There are those who support him, his Ministers, Police & the Army, because
they are looked after and get paid etc. If they were starving like the
majoirity of his people,they would soon turn on him -corruption & nepotism
works.
He mayhave been voted in in a democratic election 24 years ago, but in the
majority of democraciestheere would have been more than 1 change of
Government by now. He has stayed there by fraululent elections &
intimidation, besides not giving everyone who wished to the time to vote -
polling stations closing before the queues have managed to get in - so
saying he has been voted in by the people is now a total myth.
Much of the trouble in Iraq is because,the Sunnis were in power for so long
under Saddam, they are in the minority, so it is mainly Shi'ites who are in
Govt now and no-one wants to relinquish power and this is the same in
Zimbabwe - Mugabe & co are comfortable where they are & have no wish to be
relegated to the opposition.

Posted by: Diana, Malta 27 Mar 2007 14:49:59

To Shumba and Sello - it is obvious that you are nothing more than CIO
plants or part of Mugabe's Fat Cat elite, spreading propoganda and blaming
everything on the "whites". Either that, or you are uneducated nazi types
who are happy for innocent children to be left to die from starvation and
poverty and oppression. People like you bring shame on real Zimbabwean black
men. Men like me who want to protect their families from murderers like
Mugabe. Men like me who are prepared to fight for freedom at any cost. Men
like me who are proud to belong to the once-great nation of Zimbabwe. Men
like me who know right from wrong. The "imperialist" race card is a cheap
one and you embarrass yourselves and your family.

Posted by: Kudzai Mushoriwa, UK 27 Mar 2007 13:54:46

mugabe is a hypocrite and a liar he likes the power he's got but it will not
last for ever,if sally mugabe was alive she would never agree with what he
is doing sally could rein him in but this new wife is young and foolish.As
for England being at fault for all the trouble what a laugh he's a joke,if
he was a proper man he would say sorry to all his people and make good what
he has done he should be an outcast as nobody wants him.

Posted by: cheryl york south africa 27 Mar 2007 13:47:46

I'm ex S.A., been in and around Europe for last 10 years now, I saw the
writing on the wall for SA after seeing the terrible decline in Zim hence I
left, surely now the situation in Zim is so bad that the people will
actually do something about it, I can't really see any other country getting
involved, especially not S.A., the S.A. government is probably watching the
situation very closely, seeing how other countries react, and of course,
taking a lot of notes for "future reference and use". I sympathise with the
people of Zimbabwe very much, it's always the normal down to earth ones who
get stuffed by the politicians and their cronies, good luck to the real
people of Zim, and down with Mugabe and his gang of thugs.

Posted by: Mike, London 27 Mar 2007 13:44:05

People in power need to wake up and realize that Robert Mugabe is
responsible for human atrosities on the same level as Saddam Hussein. He
alone was responsible for the massacre of more than 30 000 Ndebele people in
the early 1980s. Why do America and Britain make such a big fuss over the
Iraq crisis? More people are being murdered in Africa every day! The only
reason I can think is money money money. And South Africa with it's quiet
diplomacy worries me. Does the ANC agree with and maybe plan to follow in
the same land reform footsteps of Zimbabwe?

Posted by: Michael, Ipswich 27 Mar 2007 12:30:33

What exactly do you want Mr Mbeki and the rest of South Africa to do? I
really can't see why this should be our problem at all. Fair enough we are
their neighbours but when you see someone getting attacted do you call your
neighbours or the police? In this case Britian and maybe America are the
police although I'm not so sure if they even know where Zimbabwe is. We are
talking about Africa here people! While you are blaming South Africa to do
something think of the fact that South Africa might be in the same boat
someday.

Unless off course we can invade Zimbabwe and just take it for ourselves?

Posted by: Mo, South Africa 27 Mar 2007 12:16:30

Since the beginning of Mugabe taking over the farms and killing the farmers
of it's country, there has been a great decline in the economy. With the
lack of agriculture which was the country's greatest income of foreign
currency for exporting into other Southern African countries (such as South
Africa, Botswana, etc), with fix rates of ludacrisly low amounts instead of
the floating original rates. In short the government are stealing money.

Posted by: Anonymous, Zimbabwe 27 Mar 2007 11:59:43

i am a zimbo and feel mugabe is now had enough!!!!! how can he beat up
people for holding a prayer meeting....

this madman needs to be killed!!!!!!1
amen

Posted by: anonymous 27 Mar 2007 11:57:56

Hang him!!! Hang him. He is a murderer. Nothing but a murderer. How long
will Blair, Bush and ALL of South africa let these people suffer. Mugabe
calls himself a Christian?? His sons attended a christian school. Hang him.
Someone put a price on his head.

Posted by: Dave S 27 Mar 2007 11:46:20

Don't get me wrong...I am truly disgusted with how the people are suffering
in my former home country, and I wish the situation were different, but Mike
Randall of Worcester is absolutely right: the Zimbabweans voted Mugabe into
power more than 25 years ago, so they only have themselves to blame.
Admittedly Britain are not an innocent party in all of this either. Sadly I
think Zimbabwe was doomed from the start (which is why so many people left
while they had the chance), because of the communist backgrounds of ZANU &
ZAPU. What exactly the rest of the world is supposed to do about it... who
knows? I hope & pray that the country can one day recover from this
catastrophe.

Posted by: Sheila, Johannesburg, South Africa 27 Mar 2007 11:26:52

zimbabwe was my paradise 12 years ago when i used to go to this country for
holiday,it was such a wonderful country with milk and honey.It was in the
year 2003 when i learnt that things are not alright,i experienced a very
terrible problem when i went to south Africa by air to get my car from the
port to Malawi via Zimbabwe,i was so suprised to see that i had stay in the
country for some days to get petrol,what a shame a country used to be a
great nation,because of one man the whole country is in tumoile.b

MY plea to great peaple of Zimbabwe is use the churches to bring down this
dictator , we dont have to fight, Ama sure God will intervene.A god lesson
is what happened in Malwi catholic bishops released a pastral letter calling
for change, peaple listened and revolted eventually Kamuzu was brought down
to his knees.we all know how dangerous Kamuzu banda was.

Posted by: james kawenga 27 Mar 2007 11:13:22

There is oil (where there is coal, there has to be oil somewhere near by
right?), diamonds, platinum and possibly uranium. Isn't that enough, Dubya?

Posted by: thandi 27 Mar 2007 10:27:16

Stop blaming SOuth Africa - what on earth are we supposed to do? Act like
America and invade? I think not. Ultimately the Zimbabweans must get off
their butts and take control of their country. Instead they sit around
passivley waiting for someone else to take the initiative. It is their
country and they must change the govt, no one else! Yes, the elections have
been unfair, but technically Mad Bob is elected so any foreigh intervention
will be against international law. The people themselves are the only ones
who have the right to topple the regime. If the population of eastern europe
could overthrow a superpower in the eighties, and the masses could make a
differnce in SA, both against far superiorly armed govt forces, then there
is no excuse for the Zimbabweans to sit around waiting for "Bwana" to come
and solve their problems.
Show a bit of gumption.

Posted by: ben 27 Mar 2007 10:15:16

I have visited beautiful Zimbabwe back in 1993: Kariba, Mutare and Harare.
Already back then, when travelling, we had to stop to police check points
every 10 km. Everyoine was nice and police never harassed us. Its a pity to
read the suffering that same people are experiencing now. Its no wonder that
South AFrica is doing nothing if one thinks that ANC, MK, ZAPU, ZANU and all
other "movements" were all connected back in 1970s and 80s and all suported
eachother. Is like asking Mbeki and Zambia and all the others to condemn a
fellow "comrade", thus recognizing their responsability in the mess Zimbabwe
is in. Honestly I doubt Zimbabweans can pull out of it on their own.
Unfortunately, considering Mugabe's age, the result might be that one would
need to wait until nature does its course and he is no longer around.
Probably only this can prevent a blood bath by a tyrant and free the lovely
Zimbabwean people. My message to them is: "take courage, hang on and soon a
new dawn will come". Unfortunately the hipocrat West will do nothing to
help. God bless you all

Posted by: Mike, South African in Rome 27 Mar 2007 09:16:15

when you see Mugabe on TV meeting the people they all scream and want to
touch him like he is some sort of God..... Why??????

Posted by: Ann - South Africa 27 Mar 2007 08:55:42

Dear Mr Mbeki. Please wake up and smell Mugabe!!! Mr Blair and Bush, did u
know there is oil in Zimbabwe. Send your troops please!!! Africas monster is
raping his country!

Posted by: Hugo South Africa 27 Mar 2007 06:52:13

mugabe bye,mdc welcome

Posted by: london 27 Mar 2007 00:39:11

As a South African, I hang my head in shame at what is happening in Zim.
What happened to Human Rights? What happened to Free and Fair Elections?
What happened to Freedom of Speech - all things which the ANC gov. of SA
supposedly supports. The SA gov. are too busy trying to solve the DRC and
Burundi crises. Look right next door to you Thabo - our Zim friends need
firm and decisive action from SA and the African Union. I say it time that
the great people of Zim rise up and have a "velvet revolution" like parts of
Eastern Europe did. It worked there - why can it not work in Zim? Mugabe is
nothing more than a tinpot dictator/thug. The Zim people are one of the best
educated people in Africa. Why do they allow themselves to be subjected to
the rule of this madman and his corrupt cronies? Come on you wise Zim
people - this is your time. Now is the time to re-take your country.

Posted by: Stephen 26 Mar 2007 23:23:45

Hi Guys,
Can anyone confirm if it's true that Mugabe's daughter is attending
University in London UK?

Posted by: Jonathan Moyo 26 Mar 2007 21:14:52

I find amusing that one day having finished work i was having a beer with my
guys and one of the old men at the squatter camp was a ZIPRA veteran, he was
wishing that the whites would take the country back and get rid of comrade
Mugabe. So much for fighting for a cause, he now finds himself exiled from
his country because he is the wrong tribe!

Posted by: tony roberts jhb south africa 26 Mar 2007 20:25:13

Instead of "dealing with mugabe", America and Britain must deal with their
point man on Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki! This is the man who has lied to the
world that the situation in Zimbabwe is normal since 2000 whilst supporting
the dictatorship in Harare through subsidised electricity and fuel. Why do
that, one might ask, but the answer is there for all to see. The economical
threat that Zimbabwe posed to South Africa as a powerhouse on its own has
now been nullified, and Zimbabwe is now virtually the 13th province of SA.
Where the scheme has gone horribly wrong for Mbeki is the numbing poverty
that has now taken root in my country and more of my people are now finding
their way into his own country with the consequent rise in vice!

Posted by: Farai, Senegal 26 Mar 2007 18:03:36

Mugabe is an evil head of state who has brought terrible suffering to all
the people of Zimbabwe.Just like the president of the United Republic od
Cameroon, Mugabe is running Zimbabwe in exact lines of total dictatorship
and complete disrespect for human rights.
The sad thing is, this old Goat(Mugabe has outlived his usefulness and
hearding towards his grave , but continues to torture in a bid to kill
millions of his people.Zimbabwe people need to comtemplate and act rapidly
and sharply in the most belligerent means to unseat this Corpse.They need to
eradicate the entire Mugabe Family so that this evil spirit must not
resurface.Cameroon people are facing the same problems.Paul Biya and Robert
Mugabe must be removed immediately!!
Njifenzt form BARCELONA(SPAIN)

Posted by: Njifenzt 26 Mar 2007 17:51:54

Dig for oil, it's your only hope!

Find oil and 'democracy' will swiftly follow!

Posted by: Huw from Dubai 26 Mar 2007 17:50:18

Mugabe is going soon. He is not God.There is a higher power than him. Every
dictator regardless of the extent of his doings always goes in the
end.History has evidence of that. Zimbabweans are not stupid. The water has
been stirred and Mugabe's time is up.There is no more grace left for him.
And to the people who keep talking about imperialism, wake up. Do your
research well. The old generation which suffered under colonialism is gone.
We the present generation are educated,democracy loving people. I am a black
Zimbabwean and i know a white Zimbabwean has just as every right to live in
Zimbabwe.Mugabe needs to go because he is evil.As for South Africa please!
Quiet Diplomacy! What is that?

Posted by: Eve. United Kingdom 26 Mar 2007 17:01:31

If only there was oil in Zimbabwe! Then we might have seen this hideously
oppressive regime overthrown years ago. Brown lives do not matter to these
Western governments unless there's car fuel at stake. What a sorry state of
affairs. I only hope Zimbabwe can recover because it is a wonderful country
with warm hearted, kind people - with the notable exception of one greedy,
selfish moustached man.

Posted by: Katherine, London 26 Mar 2007 16:38:34

That mugabe is a crazed agent of the devil is a given. What ab