‘Zimbabwe Today’ by Robb WJ Ellis (16-03-2008)

He was addressing thousands of party supporters in the town of Gweru, in the midlands province. Tsvangirai also described Zimbabwe‘s economy as a national disaster.“

Of interest to me is the Gukurahundi in the early to mid 1980s. In the event of a TRC being established, I would happily appear before the board – not for myself, but for the people that were affected by those terrible events.

Zimbabwean police chief, Augustine Chihuri, has joined other armed forces head stating that he will never allow Western ‘puppets’ to take over running Zimbabwe. The sad fact is that Chihuri is a Mugabe ‘puppet’.

“Spokesmen for Zimbabwean presidential candidates Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni returned fire Saturday at Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri for comments Friday endorsing President Robert Mugabe's re-election and saying that what he termed Western “puppets” would not be allowed to lead the country.

Speaking at a ceremony dispatching police officers to peacekeeping duties in Liberia, Chihuri declared, “We will not allow puppets to take charge.” President Mugabe has accused his opponents of serving US and British aims in Zimbabwe, including regime change and the reversal of the land reform program he launched in 2000.“

The ZRP are sending people to Liberia on peacekeeping duties? Are they that good policemen that they can “keep the peace‘?

They are so useless at maintaining law and order in their own country… but I must add that the main illegalities in Zimbabwe are sanctioned by the President himself…

“Spokesman Denford Magora for independent candidate Makoni said Zimbabwe is not a military state and that the army and police must obey the will of the people.

Spokesman Nelson Chamisa of Tsvangirai’s formation of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that Chihuri’s statement amounted to what he called a “constitutional coup.”

Independent candidate Langton Towungana described the statements by Chihuri and similar remarks by other security service chiefs as “inflammatory.“

I always like to keep an eye on unofficial polls reflecting support. And this one is almost too close to call…

“A poll taken by the Mass Public Opinion Institute in February showed Mr Mugabe with the support of 30% of those polled versus 28% for Tsvangirai and 12% for Makoni – but unofficial MPOI data gathered in March and leaked on Friday showed Tsvangirai with 28% of support vs. 20% for Mr Mugabe and 9% for Makoni.“

I have stated before that Makoni’s bid hinges on the support of highly placed ZANU PF members. As yet, only one senior member of ZANU PF, Dumiso Dabengwa, has jumped ship to join Makoni. I have stated that if any senior members of ZANU PF are to follow suit, they would have to time it so that Mugabe has little or no time to counteract the defections.

“Senior ZANU PF politicians who secretly back Makoni are waiting until a few days before election to reveal their hands, The Zimbabwean learnt this week.

Politburo member Dumiso Dabengwa, a respected former ZIPRA commander and intelligence supremo, has already sided with independent presidential candidate and former finance minister Simba Makoni. His ZAPU PF party merged with ZANU in 1987, in a marriage of convenience that led to the Unity Accord.

The two former politburo members have claimed in various press briefings and public announcements that they have the support of some major players in ZANU PF, who are yet to come out in the open – claims which Mugabe and other party members have vehemently denied.

Ruling party sources in Bulawayo, however, this week revealed that some senior politicians had not yet declared their support for Makoni in a bid to “direct things from within” and would only announce their allegiance to the former minister a few days before elections.“

After 28 years at the helm (a phrase which would suggest that Mugabe has done a good job – far from it), Mugabe is always making allegations and accusations, and feels very little when he is obliged to rid himself and his party of any resistance.

So it makes sense for those people to time their departure right.

“These are said to be members aggrieved by the way in which former freedom fighters, led by their National Chairman Jabulani Sibanda, shoehorned delegates at the 2007 Special Congress to nominate Mugabe unopposed to represent the party in the presidential elections.

“After failing to control things in the congress, they have resorted to urging people to decampaign the President,” said a party official. “Most of those that are actively decampaigning him are the party's candidates in the council, parliamentary and senatorial elections, who have told people to vote them in, but choose Makoni to lead the country out of its current economic crisis. Very few, who include Obert Mpofu and Andrew Langa, are still showing support for Mugabe.“

Mugabe has got his secret police and other activists reporting back to him on the activities of those that he suspects. He trusts absolutely no one…

Mugabe has his hands full with deriding Tsvangirai and Makoni, whilst at the same time, keeping an eye on his enemies within…

“Most of the party members who are openly campaigning against Mugabe are said to be in Matabeleland North.

“Mpofu gave the names of these candidates to the President and said that they needed to be investigated, as they were not committed to preserving the country's unity and sovereignty,” said another source. “We do not know what will happen to those members, as the President took the names but made no mention of any measures.” Mpofu confirmed that some party supporters were decampaigning Mugabe, but would not reveal their names to The Zimbabwean.

“I cannot reveal their names, but I know them and I have been told most of the bad things they are saying,” he said.“

Mpofu is attempting to gain favour from his leader, and we know that he was due for an impeachment for wanting to name senior members of the government behind the asset stripping at ZISCO.

Having had their Commissioner tell the world that his force will not allow the country to be taken over by anyone apart from Mugabe, the members of the police are complaining that their election service will be only payable at about 5% of other ministries.

“Junior officers in Bulawayo have accused their superiors of cheating them out of allowances they should get for policing the forthcoming elections. The police officers, who all spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed they had been promised a paltry Z$15m a day – not even enough to buy a meal – for working during the elections. The allowance would add up to Z$150m for the 10 days that most of them will deployed.

“Staff from other ministries have been promised Z$300m a day, but we have been told that we will only get Z$15m a day for our part, yet we will be doing all the donkey work. This is not fair and we believe that our bosses have tampered with the money,” said one junior police officer.

A senior officer based at police headquarters in the city confirmed the amount, but rubbished claims that the allowances had been altered.

“We do not alter the allowances. These boys always complain to convey a negative image of the whole set-up when things do not favour them. These things are done in a transparent manner and audited at the end of each exercise,” he said.“

Nothing – repeat, nothing – within any of the departments and ministries in Mugabe’s government is done in a ‘transparent’ nature.

The majority of articles on the internet today about Zimbabwe are comments and reporter’s opinions. I have no query with that because I interlace my own feelings throughout my postings.

But it does mean that there isn’t really that much news to look at today.

So this is the last one for the day. I will be preparing a podcast today for release tomorrow.

“March 29 is not very far now. The day for the harmonised elections. Anything could happen on this day. Anything. I am one of those who have been debating with myself as to what would really happen in the event that a little earthquake takes place on this small part of the world… and President Mugabe is defeated.

Well, with the opposition fragmented as it is, the real chance of Mugabe going would most likely come in the event of a poll run-off. In this case, it will be a matter of people either going to vote for him or against him. Simple.“

That goes without saying. And unless voters consciously spoil their papers – which would be a shame as that effectively negates their democratic right – they have the option to vote for someone else, as opposed to voting AGAINST Mugabe.

“If Mugabe's future is at stake, it would be an election in which more Zimbabweans would naturally want to have a say. Right now Zimbabweans don't care who their Member of the House of Assembly is, or who their Senator is… let alone who their ward councillor is. The only person who matter to them is Mugabe… they see him as being responsible for whatever the situation is, rich or poor. And for sure he is.

So those who see more benefits coming the traditional way, would want to keep him while those who are thoroughly upset with him would see this run-off poll as a chance to get rid of him good and proper.

It is quite obvious that in Zimbabwe today, there are more people angry with Mugabe than those who are happy with him. The only reason why most people would not openly express their views is fear. They know what could befall them if they dare. So in the privacy of the polling booth – just like they do when they write on the back of the doors of public toilets – nothing will stop them from sending the man where he really belongs… the junk-pile!“

The difference being that regardless of the people’s will, and regardless of vote numbers, it is apparent that Mugabe is intent on hanging on to power, and it would appear that the armed forces are determined to keep him there… And the senior officers in the forces are more than happy to tell the world of their intentions, but also publicly order their serving members to vote for Mugabe.

And for some reason, ZANU PF are happy for these things to continue.

“In the event that the unexpected happens, and for sure after all the intimidation, the violence and wanton rigging, it still emerges that Mugabe has lost the polls, what would happen?

Will he challenge the poll results in court? (…while in the meantime remaining in office by force?) Or will he accept the result and congratulate his vanquisher and hand over the reins of power like any other civilized African?“

Take care.

‘debvhu