WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2001-08-28 Time: 05:21:49 Posted By: Jan
25/06/2000 – Carte Blanche Manu Padayachee
After widespread violence and intimidation in the weeks before the Zimbabwe
election, Southern Africans must be relieved that the process has gone ahead
relatively peacefully. The four thousand polling stations have just closed,
the counting of votes will start in the next hour and there are reports that
the results could be known tomorrow.
For an update on the situation Manu joins us from Harare with the editor of
Zimbabwe's Independent newspaper.
Manu: “We had expected to see intimidation, but that hasn't happened. As
mentioned Trevor Ncube is here with me. Trevor what is your take on the
elections?”
Trevor: “I think given the violence and intimidation that has taken place
prior to the actual election, I think this has been quite peaceful, there was
a great turn out yesterday, and it was a little bit slower today given that
most people voted yesterday. But I think it must be remembered that all the
violence over the last several months must have had an impact over what
decision they were going to make.”
Manu: “Harare today was a ghost town. Where have all the people gone?”
Trevor: “Some people decided that soon after they had voted they would go out
of town, because there was fear in certain quarters, justifiably so, that
there would be violence after the elections, so people wanted to go somewhere
safe, or just stay indoors because if they come out they might encounter
violence.”
Manu: “Now President Mugabe met President Kabila of the Congo today. What
happened there? Why the meeting?”
Trevor: “It's all timing, you wonder why Mugabe would be inviting Kabila in
when he's facing such a crucial election, perhaps he wants to give an
indication that he's not concerned, that he's going to win after all. There's
speculation that he might be deciding where to go, even settling in the
Congo, when his time is out.”
Manu: “You've already got your army there?”
Trevor: “Yes, 13 000 odd Zimbabwe soldiers are there, that's a secure place
for him I think.”
Derek: “Trevor, if I could just come in there. One of the most dominant
developments of the day was John Nkomo, the Chairman of Zanu-PF, who said
whatever the outcome of the election Zanu-PF will be in power because Mugabe
still has two years to reign and can choose his MP's. What's your take on
that?”
Trevor: Why call a press conference before the results are known, does
Zanu-PF know something we don't know, they're insisting that they will form
the next government. But what if the MDC has an overwhelming vote and they've
got a landslide for instance, where does that place Zanu-PF? All these things
are odd, and they leave you wondering what Zanu-PF is up to.”
Manu: “But surely it is the prerogative of the majority people to choose who
rules the country?”
Trevor: “In any democracy, or civilised country, you'd think that they would
wait until the people had spoken, when the final verdict had come out. Then
you'd have these press conferences to indicate where the country is going, I
mean calling a press conference a few hours before the elections close does
raise a lot of questions.”
Manu: “Well, we spoke to a lot of foreign journalists in the run up to the
elections and during the elections themselves. Take a look at this piece.”
During the past few months the political situation in Zimbabwe has made
headline news around the world. Hundreds of local and foreign journalists
have flocked to the country to report on the daily political drama. But in
recent weeks it's become clear that the Zimbabwean government has been
targeting members of the media in order to intimidate its critics and
restrict free and fair elections.
It didn't deter then from doing their jobs. Since last Monday there's been a
media frenzy in Zimbabwe. Carte Blanche was also there.
Hundreds of journalists from across the world have set up base in Zimbabwe
with the latest hi-tech equipment to send the stories back to their home
audiences. Some of them are household names.
The BBC's John Simpson has been reporting on Africa for many years. He's back
and he's once again reporting from the frontline.
John Simpson: “I love this country, I want to see what happens. I don't want
to read it in the newspapers, I want to see it for myself and that's the same
I think for all the journalists here.”
Covering the news often lands journalists in strange and weird situations.
The elections in Zimbabwe were no exception. This photo session with
President Mugabe – cutting a lonesome figure – came at a moment's notice on
the first day of voting.
Manu caught up with Reuters' Jeff Koinange on the steps of the Presidents
official residence.
Jeff Koinange: “We've crossed the country, back and forth, up and down, we've
seen it all since we came into the country right after the referendum, and
there's an electric mood out there.”
It's a mood that could suddenly change. A news crew from Associated Press
television news had recently been attacked in rural Zimbabwe. An unruly mob
of so-called war veterans caused thousands of Rands of damage to their
vehicle. Claude Colard is APTN's deputy editor for Europe and Africa.
Claude Colard: “All international broadcasters are interested in Zimbabwe. I
think all the events that happened in April and May put these elections
heavily in the spotlight.”
From Europe to Northen Africa and the Middle East. Even Jordan's Algeciras
Television has shown interest in the Zimbabwe elections. Most of the foreign
media operate from hotel rooms in Harare turning entire wings into
operational space.
It's late in the evening but the media machine doesn't stop. This room in the
posh Miekles Hotel has been converted into a makeshift studio. From here
journalists have been flashing their reports around the world.
Antonio Pina files his daily reports in Portuguese.
Manu: “Why is Portugal interested in these elections?”
Antonio Pina: “Firstly because of the 3000 strong Portuguese community.
Secondly because of the footage showing human rights violations against the
opposition and farm workers in general. The beatings, the farm invasions –
the situation can get out of hand. The Portuguese authorities have put an
evacuation plan in place.”
Manu: “Where would they take the Portuguese citizens?”
Antonio: “They would be driven in a convoy through the border at
Mozambique.”
While the Portuguese plan ahead for possible evacuation, some journalists
have been forced to take extreme measures. Francis Mdlongwa is the
editor-in-chief of Zimbabwe's Financial Gazette. He's an outspoken critic of
the Mugabe government.
Francis Mdlongwana: “We've struggled to ensure that we provide as much news
as we could under the circumstances, some of our journalists have been thrown
out from the farms, some of the journalists have been detained by these mobs
of attackers. But we will continue to do what we can under these
conditions.”
A day before the start of the elections Manu followed a former Zimbabwean,
Quentin Wray – who's a senior economic journalist for I-Net Bridge – to a
farm in Darwindale, 50 kilometres outside Harare. Quentin is looking at the
economic impact of the elections on the SADC region.
Quentin Wray: “What is the future looking like for Zimbabwe in the next five
years once the elections are out of the way, once the dust has settled. What
is going to happen here in the next five years and how will it affect the
SADC region. That's kind of the story I'm going for.”
Workers say they've experienced no political intimidation on the farm, but
they suffer economically as a result of the present state of affairs. Quentin
stands to lose more … he fears for the safety of his family who still lives
in Zimbabwe.
Quentin: “The thing that worries me is that if there is more violence, two of
my sisters are on farms. If the violence continues I'm worried about their
safety. I'm worried about the safety of my nieces and nephews.”
Back in Harare Claude Colard feels it's time for President Mugabe to step
down.
Claude: “The style of government seems to be from the previous millennium,
he's getting old. I think it's very important for the stability of the
country and would nearly say it's not so important who wins but the
instability needs to stop for the average person of Zimbabwe.”
Francis Mdlongwa believes that the Mugabe government should be brought to
book.
Francis: “In other more radical countries, very sever measures would be taken
against people like him.”
Manu: “Has he lost the plot?”
Francis: “No, he seems to have lost his mind. I'm not sure if it's anything
to do with his advancing age, but he's behaving increasingly erratically and
irrationally.”
John Simpson found when he questioned people on the street about the election
their reaction was one of two. Both resulted in tone of fear.
John: “One is people saying no I don't want to speak, I don't want to put my
family in danger, do you want me to be taken to prison? All these kinds of
reactions. Or yes, we want change, we want the MDC. I was expecting at least
some people to say we want Mugabe to win the election.”
John said that the political change in South Africa has set an example for
the rest of Africa, however, Robert Mugabe chooses to ignore that.
John: “Robert Mugabe is a man who is inclined to try and build the walls very
high around himself. It doesn't work in this world any longer.”
But these walls have crumbled fast. Unemployment has hit an all time high of
65% and with rocketing inflation of 75%, people are even queuing for basic
necessities like paraffin. As Manu found, the man on the street is demanding
change.
Zimbabwean citizen: “No matter what, we just want change. We are not
concerned with which party is going to win, we just want a change.”
It's early in the morning on voting day. At least in this neighbourhood of
Sunningdale, Harare, everything appears to be peaceful. Voters have been
queuing up patiently waiting to cast their ballot. It's almost reminiscent of
South Africa's first democratic election in 1994. Zimbabwe appears to be on
the brink of major change.
Mugabe allowed only a few observers to monitor the elections, but journalists
were out in full force. They were there to capture the moment of change.
Jeff Koinange shares John Simpson's concerns.
Manu: “What could go wrong?”
Jeff: “Goodness, anything. There's always that fear that people don't want
change, that people don't want to let go if change is inevitable. And then
there's that clash of hanging on to the little you have and then all hell
could break loose.”
Manu paid an impromptu visit to the man Zimbabwe have cast their hope on.
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC is the first real opposition party in years that
Maguabe's Zanu-PF is facing.
Morgan Tsvangirai: “What is important at the moment is not who leads but who
is the best for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe must have an opportunity of having that
option. And that is what we are fighting for.”
Derek: “Trevor can these elections be regarded as fair and free after the
rule of law has disintegrated?”
Trevor: “I don't think so Derek, especially after four months of brutalising
Zimbabweans, after four months of intimidation and murders, that is likely to
have had an effect on the people yesterday that were queuing to vote. In my
mind these are not free and fair elections.”
Derek: “Give us your indication of the final result?”
Trevor: “Well, I think these are going to be very close. Given what the
people are saying, people definitely want change. They are tired of this
corrupt and arrogant government. They want change to something better. I have
no doubt in my mind that the MDC will emerge victorious, but I'm saying this
as I'm quite cognisant of the fact, as I'm talking now, elections may have
been rigged, boxes may have been stuffed with papers manufactured elsewhere,
but if that happens the people of this country are going to be very angry at
the government for having stolen the elections.”
Derek: “Trevor, we hear that some monitors didn't get their accreditation. At
some stations it's only one monitor.”
Trevor: “es, Derek that's very true, a number of monitors were turned away.
As you know, international monitors, the EU group were cut back, there were
last minute changes to the Electoral ACT. And one question we should be
asking is why should the government be doing this. To me it says they are
trying to hide something – what is it that they are trying to hide from the
monitors and journalists?”
Derek: “What do you read into the report that senior military men went to
Robert Mugabe to say that if he loses he must accept that situation?”
Trevor: “I think people have been saying that the way the military respond to
the result of the election, is going to be critical. I think the army is
quite cognisant of the fact they are a powerful institution in this country,
but having said that they are aware there is a lot of anger in the townships,
and in rural areas, and if the army did do that they they're going to say,
look we'll be on the side of the people and not yours – I think that's
important.”
Derek: “What is your opinion of South Africa's diplomatic initiatives to
persuade Robert Mugabe to stick to the rule of law, especially with the farm
invasions?”
Trevor: “I think in one word, it is pathetic. I think Thabo Mbeki's behaviour
has been really disappointing to a lot of Zimbabweans and Africans around the
world. A lot of us had purchased into Mbeki's African Renaissance and that
reports democracy, the rule of law, accountability and the respect for human
rights. And for President Mbeki to sit back and watch while all of those
things were being trashed was to us quite disappointing. Clearly President
Mbeki is not the kind of president who will say something and stick by it.
This is what we are getting from South Africa.”
Derek: “Why do you think he took what you're saying was a weak stand?'
Trevor: “I think it's a ganging together of former national liberation
movements. The ANC is saying we're a liberation movement and Zanu-PF is a
former liberation movement, so why should we stand by and watch when one of
the brothers is being threatened and torpedoed by the people, so the ANC and
Thabo Mbeki are deciding to side with Zanu-PF and not Zimbabwe. I think
that's pretty disappointing.”