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: 2007-12-04 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: The BeardedMan
Howzit
As things stand right now, they have the book but cannot update me on payment as that is another office, a different department, the person concerned is on leave until 2008 – the run around.
Not impressed and I will not be dealing with local government again. Not if I can help it. I am disgusted.
Restaurant and bar prices also doubled over the weekend, with prices sometimes increasing during a meal. Waitresses in a sports club advised patrons to place their orders before a price hike came into force an hour later and some restaurants began accepting American currency as chronic shortages of local cash worsened.“
Imagine that. Paying when you order your food as the price will go up whilst you eat! And Mugabe will have us believe that he has worked tirelessly to make Zimbabwe a better country?
“In a statement to travel agents, Air Zimbabwe said Monday a round trip to London doubled to 804 million Zimbabwe dollars, about $400 at the dominant black market exchange rate or a massive $27,000 at the obsolete official exchange rate of 30000-1.“
Eish! When we left Zimbabwe nine years ago this month, the return air fare for three of us (we had to buy return fares as the government wouldn’t let us leave without that as we had no address in the UK or jobs to go to…) cost us ZW$42000 (at 64:1)… Compare that to ZW$804 million for one person…)
And the passport office has put up their prices – where a ‘fast tracked’ passport would cost US$220… in forex!
“After an absence of five months, cigarettes have reappeared in stores after the price doubled to about 50 U.S. cents a pack, still among the cheapest tobacco products in the world at the black market exchange rate, but the most expensive at $40 a pack at the government’s official exchange rate.“
This article makes a fallacy of the travel sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his government members. Every time there is a summit, or a conference, the international community lifts the sanctions to allow Mugabe and his HUGE entourage to attend.
Why bother to have the sanctions then?
“Given Mugabe’s escalated use of violence, the United States will be imposing additional sanctions against the worst perpetrators of the regime’s brutality,” said US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer.
She said the aim was to turn up the pressure on Mr Mugabe and if the violence by his “tyrannical regime” did not subside, Washington would look at even more punitive measures.
“Mugabe’s tyranny needs to end,” Ms Frazer said in a speech to the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.“
As soon as I can find an updated copy of the list of people so sanctioned, I will either list them all or will put up a link.
Needless to say, I remain unimpressed.
I never had any faith in the mediated talks between ZANU PF and the MDC – and sadly, as Tsvangirai realises that he has been taken for a client, the ruling party walks away the better for the experience – as not only have they wasted nearly a year on futile negotiations, they are the only ones that actually gained anything. That being the MDC’s backing of the Constitutional Amendment…
The crucial meeting between Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara comes at a time when the MDC is expected to announce a major decision concerning their participation in the SADC sponsored talks in South Africa.
A highly placed source told Newsreel on Monday that Tsvangirai and Mutambara and their close aides were to meet ‘very soon' to finalise a deal to unite the two factions that split on 11th October 2005.“
I have, on many occasions on this page, spoken about the potential voter base damaged that a split MDC brings – any move to rectify this position would be great, but have they really left themselves too much to do in the run up to elections?
“The fear of splitting the opposition vote and handing Mugabe a victory on a silver platter may have forced both factions to try and reconcile their differences before next year's elections. Secret talks have been held recently over the unification pact between the two factions.
Our source said top of the agenda at the planned talks would be the sensitive issue of seat allocations, especially in urban constituencies. The two sides have agreed in principal that Tsvangirai will lead a united opposition MDC in next year's general election.
As a concession, it is believed they would let all MPs from the Mutambara faction seek re-election without going through party primaries. Political analyst Glen Mpani indicated that the opposition stands a better chance of dislodging Mugabe if they fight the poll as a united party.“
I understand the need to get everything all neat and tidy before announcing a reunification, but the leaders need to be aware that any ructions within the party could, quite conceivably, lead to another immediate split. And so they need to tread very carefully.
“Talks to unite both factions are long overdue and it is no secret that facing a repressive regime like Mugabe's, it is better off fighting him as a united party that a fragmented opposition.“
Regular readers of my internet efforts will know that I am no fiscal guru or financial genius – but even I know that the economy of Zimbabwe cannot be fixed by a magical wave of the ZANU PF wand…
Analysts said yesterday Zimbabweans must brace for higher prices and more hardships in 2008 following what they described as a “meaningless”, “empty” and “disastrous” national budget presented by Finance Minister Samuel Mumbengegwi last Thursday.“
The budget, as best I can work out, is just allocating more money to ministries who will use it – and much more besides – and then apply for more money.
I cannot see any definitive action within the budget aimed at actually attempting to slow the inflation down, let alone return it to it’s former glory.
“This was just an exercise with no meaningful impact on the economy. It was like building castles in the air because some of the targets like the input schemes require foreign exchange which government does not have at the moment.“
Analysts agree that much of the figure work in the budget was already out of date by the presentation date, and would probably result in a supplementary budget having to be presented before elections in March next year.
The point of all of this is just where does the Mugabe administration intend to source these funds? By printing more?
“It was a disastrous budget full of contradictions and which expresses all sorts of positive intents but proposes no real measures to stimulate the economy.“
You may recall that Mwanawasa was on the rough end of Mugabe’s tongue not so long ago, shouting at him in anger and then storming off to the airport and returning to Zimbabwe.
I have no doubt that Mwanawasa’s country has gained some business by the breakdown of normalcy in Zimbabwe, but he would also have the spectre of economic collapse looming large of his neighbouring country and that is not good news.
Mwanawasa, who caused a stir earlier this year when he labelled Zimbabwe a “sinking Titanic”, said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown should continue to speak out until the crisis in Zimbabwe is resolved.
“I have said the nation (Zimbabwe) faces a lot of challenges. Now, he (Brown) shouldn’t get tired of speaking and he must continue until the harvest (of his efforts).
I appeal to Brown and the entire British nation that they should continue with their efforts until the situation in Zimbabwe has been resolved,” Mwanawasa told local media.“
This appears to be the first African leader that has, in so many words, told the world that he is sick of the Zimbabwe situation. It has to affect Zambia’s economy. And Mwanawasa can’t be too impressed with Mugabe’s outburst against him…
“The Lisbon EU-Africa summit has been dogged by controversy over President Robert Mugabe's attendance with Britain and several other European countries saying they will boycott the summit if Mugabe is invited.
Mugabe has however received backing from African countries who have also threatened to pull out en masse if the Zimbabwean leader was barred from the summit, the first between Europe and Africa in seven years.“
The summit is set for later this week.
What I cannot understand is the turning out of various and numerous reports by international bodies – most of which show a distinctly torrid future for Zimbabwe – and the international community does nothing, says nothing.
When they do react – hopefully soon – the job will be bigger than it need to be, and more people will have died than was absolutely necessary.
In Zimbabwe, under the government of President Robert Mugabe, “the attacks, arrests and abductions continue unabated with over 500 instances of human rights abuses reported each month, Jendayi Frazer told USINFO November 30.
“In fact,” she added, “the number of victims requiring medial treatment this year alone was 3,463 – nearly triple that of 2006. So… the defenders of freedom in Zimbabwe are under attack.“
Quite correct. And when are the world bodies going to recognise that the population of Zimbabwe needs their help now – not next week, next month – now!
“It is extremely important for the international community to put pressure on this (Mugabe) regime to accept freedom of expression rather than beating people down – to prepare for free and fair elections.
I think that the neighbouring countries – the Southern African Development Community countries – certainly support the efforts of President (Thabo) Mbeki to negotiate an agreement between the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and the (Mugabe) government, but we think that most important to signing an agreement is actually implementing an agreement.“
But we all know that the Mugabe regime is insincere in their negotiating an agreement with the MDC. Nine months of talking rubbish has gained nothing for the people of Zimbabwe. Nothing whatsoever.
So when is the free world actually going to grow a couple and do something positive – something life-saving – something that will alleviate the threat that Mugabe has over his own people?
“We have not seen that will being carried out by this (Mugabe) government, so we are a little bit concerned that even if an agreement is signed, it won’t be implemented.“
A ‘little’ concerned? Thanks a whole bunch!
Take care.
‘debvhu
Source: http://thebeardedman.blogspot.com/2007/12/tuesday-4th-december-2007.html