‘Zimbabwe Today’ by Robb WJ Ellis (13-02-2008)

It never rains but it pours for Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC. How ironic that when he leaves the country where he has been tried (and cleared) on treason charges, beaten up, arrested, imprisoned and vilified by the ZANU PF leader, Robert Mugabe, he is robbed at gunpoint…

I wonder if this was targeted or was this just opportunistic? It’s not like Tsvangirai is unknown around the world, and he certainly in known in South Africa!

“Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was last night robbed at gun point in Johannesburg, South Africa, but escaped unhurt in the latest high-profile case of armed violence to hit South Africa.

Tsvangirai’s spokesman, George Sibotshiwe, told ZimOnline last night that the armed robbers pounced at the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party’s regional offices in Braynston, northern Johannesburg.

Sibotshiwe said the armed robbers took bags, clothing, cell phones as well as laptops with sensitive information. The MDC leader was however not hurt during the robbery.“

If the robbery took place at the offices then the crime is certainly not opportunistic. This was a planed and well executed robbery. And the MDC were the targeted victims.

Mugabe’s reach goes a lot further than we think…

What I am astounded by in this article is not that they predict that the violence will happen in Makoni’s home province, but that they predict it as if violence is the norm when it comes to elections.

I find that so sad. Violence IS the norm when it comes to elections in Zimbabwe. We have seen violence in Zimbabwe for almost as long as Mugabe has been in power – and even before that when the country was Rhodesia and Mugabe and Nkomo’s guerillas were fighting in the second chimurenga in which many thousands of people – blacks, whites, coloureds, Indians – died. A bullet has no means of racial differentiation…

I grew up with the Rhodesian bush war as a backdrop to life in that country. I left school a year after indepence and joined the police – and was immediately thrown into the Gukurahundi in the province of Matabeleland South.

After I left the police there were a few years were violence – political or otherwise – was certainly on the decrease, but in the mid to late 1990’s violence came to live in Zimbabwe once again.

And now violence is Zimbabwe is predicted as casually as one might forecast the weather.

“Zimbabwe faces a fresh upsurge in politically motivated violence in the coming weeks, with the eastern Manicaland province – home to ruling ZANU PF party rebel Simba Makoni – likely to see the worst violence, a local human rights group said on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said combined council, parliamentary and presidential elections that are one and half months away could turn out to be the most violent in a decade, adding food aid was also increasingly being used as a political tool with villagers being asked to produce ZANU PF membership cards to get aid.

Politically motivated violence and human rights abuses have accompanied Zimbabwe's elections since the emergence in 1999 of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party as the first potent threat to President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF's stranglehold on power.“

Violence of any sort is clearly unacceptable in any aspect of life – indeed, violence of any type is reprehensible – but because the violence that is being predicted will almost certainly be started by Mugabe loyalists, youth brigades, war veterans and militia, one feels that there is not very much that can be done to prevent it.

Mugabe will will his people on, and claim that any violence was started by the Makoni supporters or the MDC. It is what Mugabe does best… lying.

“The country's usual political hotspots are likely to be as violent as they have been over the years,” said ZPP national director Jestina Mukoko during presentation of a report on political violence and rights abuses during previous national polls in 2000, 2002 and 2005.

“We are going to have an upsurge of political violence especially in Manicaland from where new political entrant Simba Makoni hails,” said Mukoko, who largely blamed politically motivated violence on militant supporters of Mugabe and ZANU PF.“

I have always held WOZA in high esteem. And one of the things I like about them is that they don’t make grandiose announcement that they will protest against this or demonstrate against that. The first we hear about their activities is when the event has come and gone.

These women use the bush telegraph to their own benefit and I love it! Instead of announcing that a party will demonstrate on such-and-such a day at whatever time, thereby giving the police and the CIO a chance to get themselves in place ahead of the event. WOZA just does it…

And they get my vote everytime!

“Catching the police off guard, the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) conducted their annual Valentine's Day demonstration on the streets of Bulawayo on Tuesday. Coordinator Jenni Williams said she was pleased that about 600-700 members participated this year. They decided to hold the event earlier to avoid any violent disruptions by the police.

The WOZA members distributed roses to the police and the general public, as is their tradition, along with flyers urging Zimbabweans to take a stand on issues affecting their children. Williams added: “We know things are tough but we think this is the time for us to really defend the country's future and stand up for our children.“

Last year WOZA held a “Bread & Roses” protest (and many other demonstrations as well) and got arrested/beaten/detained for their time.

If only some of our opposition activists would take a leaf out of WOZA’s book, the effect would be quite encompassing on the people. They would see a demonstration without the normal ensuing violence and before the authorities had a chance to react, it’s over…

“Williams said there were some vehicles with senior police officials present as the demonstration began. By the time riot police arrived the activists had completed their route and were already dispersing.

The outspoken activist took the opportunity to criticise the amendments to the Public Order and Security Act, that resulted from the SADC initiated talks between the ruling party and the opposition. She said: “I think other organisations and political parties should recognise that this new POSA doesn't bring any change, any improvement in freedoms of expression and assembly. Because we sprung a surprise and we were peaceful today, we managed to live to fight another day.“

And I sincerely hope that they do. These are incredibly brave women and should get our support in their endeavours… More power to them!

You know, every day we read about global poverty and the needy in the world. We read about the Darfur and other regions where life is barely ticking along, and the people who live there struggle daily.

And we can easily add Zimbabwe to that list. Very easily – although world authorities seem reluctant to do that – probably because they know that much of the poverty in Mugabeland is caused by his government’s mismanagement and graft. (I think I might have mentioned this before – but when I was younger ‘graft’ meant work…)

Whatever money you may have on your person right now, multiply that by the relevant exchange rate (in the right hand sidebar) and then you might realise just how lucky you are…

“A shocking new range of price increases were announced on Tuesday as Zimbabwe’s world record hyperinflation spun further out of control, with charges for mobile phone calls soaring by nearly 1700 per cent.

The official National Incomes and Prices Commission said international calls were up to Zim$1,2million from Zim$67400 per minute, while local calls shot up by 600 per cent from Zim$43000 to Zim$300000.“

What angers me is that the government makes no provision to offest this increase. It is just put in place and that is that.

Then we read how the black market is struggling…

“However, the new prices were accompanied by a sharp new fall in the value of the Zimbabwe dollars on the illegal black market exchange rate which is used exclusively in private trade and business.

The basic rate of the Zimbabwe dollar fell from Zim$5,5-million to the US dollar at the end of last week to Zim$7,5-million being quoted on Tuesday. It means a local mobile call will cost the equivalent of 4 US cents.”I do note that the poverty datum line has not been updated for some time – and I would hate to think what the break even for a five member family is presently. Probably much more money than many people could ever hope to bring home. And over 80% of the workforce are unemployed.

“The prices commission also announced that the price of a 50 kilogram bag of cement had gone to Zim$88-million from about 4-million on the black market in December, an increase of 1,200 percent.“

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

Instead of applying these increases, when is the Mugabe administration going admit that they have failed the people, failed the country and failed themselves?

But no – instead they happily carry on and reckon that their illustrious leader will win the forthcoming election. At least they hope so as the moment Mugabe falls from grace they will be exposed for what they are – criminals who benefit on the suffering of others…

“A new Zim$10-million note introduced last month now is just enough to buy three copies of the state daily propaganda Herald newspaper.“

I rest my case…