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: 2008-03-13 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, fighting a tough campaign for re-election in March, had promised big salary increases to restive government workers, state media reported on Wednesday.
Mugabe, 84, faces the greatest challenge to his 28-year hold on power. Two rivals accuse him of bringing about a severe economic crisis, and one of them said on Wednesday he believed the opposition could win even though the vote would be rigged.
The state-controlled Herald newspaper said Mugabe, addressing a campaign rally on Tuesday ahead of the March 29 general election, had promised a huge increase for the government employees.
“Just Wednesday, I was signing a new salary schedule of big salaries for teachers and civil servants,” Mugabe said.
“I hope they will be happy, because we have worked out very good salaries.”
He did not specify how much the wages would be hiked, saying the ministers would give details later.
Analysts say that while the veteran ruler faces a splintered opposition, his government’s failure to arrest the sharp economic decline poses a serious threat to his attempt to retain power.
Both his opponents, former ally Simba Makoni and long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai, have made the economy a centrepiece of their presidential campaigns.
Tsvangirai, leader of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, said that conditions were no better than at past elections – when he says Mugabe used fraud and intimidation – but that the opposition would still win.
“We have been in this round before and I can say that the conditions have not improved, but surprisingly I am cautiously optimistic about the mood on the ground,” Tsvangirai said.
Mugabe has tried to woo mainly rural voters with farm equipment and subsidised loans. At the weekend, he also signed a Bill giving locals the right to take majority control of foreign-owned companies.
More than 8 000 instances of human rights abuse were recorded in Zimbabwe and at least 1 600 unlawful arrests and detentions, the annual United States report on human rights around the world said.
“The year 2007 was the worst year yet for human rights defenders in Zimbabwe,” it said.
“Security forces harassed, beat and arbitrarily arrested opposition supporters and critics within human rights NGOs, the media and organised labour, as well as ordinary citizens,” the document said.
Human rights groups reported more physical and psychological torture by security agents and government supporters.
“Victims reported beatings with whips and cables, suspension and electric shock,” the report noted.
It said the abuses had increased despite efforts by regional leaders to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe, where Mugabe has blamed a ruined economy on sabotage by political opponents. – Reuters