For once I didn't read this as criticism of a Labour Government.I think the point he was making is that it is easier for a Labour one to involve itself in African affairs as the motive is less likely to be misconstrued as a re-emergence of the old imperialism.

Blue Diamond:

It was indeed Harold Wilson who refused to extend independence to Ian Smith´s government. Thus my reference to "again ..... a Labour government". Thatcher´s involvement and settlement of the matter was, whilst no more admirable, consequential to the situation.

Ah ... gotcha. Apologies for misreading that! :(

He says only God can remove him from power.

There's an egg timer out there somewhere with his name writ on it and like everyone else, he has an appointment with its keeper.




"Is that it? What happens next?"
"THAT'S UP TO YOU"

Meanwhile, the press reporting always fails to mention the tribal aspects of the situation, merely saying such things as the "rural areas" being the seat of opposition and opposition supporters being targeted. The media fail to mention the history of the internal conflict in post-independence Zimbabwe, such as the Ndebeles and Matabele land, or Joshua Nkomo fleeing into hiding for more than a year in the Heathrow Penta. Its as if part of Zimbabwe's history has been wiped out. The truth is, Robert Mugabe has been conducting genocidal attacks and threatening the lives of his opponents since he first assumed power. There's nothing new there. He's absolutely correct that only God can remove him from power: no-one else has ever had the balls to do it and he knows it.

I am well beyond the military service age, and glad to be so.

However, if I was called upon to assist in any means of removing that tyrant........

Well said frostbite, I'm over the hill as well, but I, like yourself,
would dearly love to have a crack at removing the raving loony
from power in Zimbabwe.
What a shame that Tsvangirai has had to pull out of the running,
but I for one can't blame him for doing that.
Mugabe's legion would love to have the excuse to kill anyone
even thinking of voting for him ( Tsvangirai that is!).
The rest of the African nations NEED to act now to sort out this
horrendous situation, but there again, do they care?
Or are they just pretending that it isn't happening?
Or are they broadly supportive of the Nut-case Mugabe?
Where are the UN peacekeeping forces in all this?
Invade the place and IMPOSE martial law.
At least it would bring some sort of order!:*

Who said that Democracy was necessary?

Now there's a good question. One early proponent was Woodrow Wilson but I have never been persuaded he was right. Then there was another Mr Wilson, across the Atlantic. He had all the answers too.

"Who said that Democracy was necessary?"


Not me, that's for sure.

Plenty of benevolent dictatorships around, mostly doing a reasonable job for their people. Might even benefit the UK.

Although presumably Mugabe's supporters regard him as a benevelont dictator.

I wonder how many of those supporting Mugabe do so for genuine reasons that they believe him to be the best option, how many out of 'mob rule' mentality and how many out of fear? Is it simply a 'party' thing, perhaps?
Likewise those who supported Saddam Hussein?
Maybe the alternative candidate(s) aren't that attractive?

It's easy for those of us not directly involved to form opinions which are, of course, purely based on reports in the media (who may have an 'agenda', or, in fact, be devoid of true facts or fed propaganda). Are things really as bad as 'we' think (I suspect that they are and may be worse), but what are the residents being fed for information? Are they being shielded from the truth?
Is there such a thing as unbiased reporting?

How do things get as bad as we believe without the majority of the population rising up and deposing a tyrant such as this? Can gang rule persist against the odds?

What percentage of the people do you need control to be able to manipulate the rest?

Are we correct in the belief that a free (and fair) election would produce the result that outsiders expect? (Bear in mind that some may not vote.)

How can outsiders (or residents) ensure that the genuine will of the majority is enacted? Surely, if any outside body sought to enforce reform by force then they would be just as guilty as the current 'government'?

And finally, are the citizens of the USA content that recent elections have produced the 'right' result?

To cover one particular point :Is there such a thing as unbiased reporting? Well the answer has to be no in the sense that the person reporting must themselves have a viewpoint.

The reporter may be the most decent and upstanding person but their own viewpoint has been established by their own experiences,both good and bad.

I have to say I know nothing of the opposition MDC party or of the leader.It seems pretty clear that he is a more decent sort of cove than Mugabe,but that would certainly be damning with faint praise.

Pre war some pretty clued up people thought Hitler not an entirely bad egg.I think we can be inclined to leap to conclusions,but certainly it's difficult to see anyone being as bad.Another thing that occurred to me,given his age and the degree to which he is shielded,can we be certain that Mugabe isn't totally gaga?

It seems pretty clear that he is a more decent sort of cove than Mugabe, but that would certainly be damning with faint praise.Sort of 'Best of a bad bunch'?
Maybe some 'retired' governor (such as Clinton) should be parachuted-in to run things?
After all, isn't that how big corporations have operated in the past by importing manager from the 'civilised' World?
Another thing that occurred to me,given his age and the degree to which he is shielded,can we be certain that Mugabe isn't totally gaga?You mean like Reagan?

How do things get as bad as we believe without the majority of the population rising up and deposing a tyrant such as this? Can gang rule persist against the odds?
One of the ways things can get as bad as they are is by creating a polarised population. It is the "middle ground" that stabilises a country's politics and once that is absent, two "groups" are left, the rich and the poor. Mugabe achieved this polarisation by his policy of repossessing farms and giving them to his favoured associates as well as to ordinary black Zimbabweans. The effect of this was to deprive the country of its sources of food which had a domino effect on many industries.

Farmers (and Merchants) left the country in droves and the new owners of the farms were incapable of running them as commercial prospects and simply let them go to ruin. Those people who could, mainly what we would call the "middle" classes, got out while they still could leaving a smaller number of rich people and a very large number of poor people ... a polarised population.

Most of the rich were either cronies of Mugabe or people who had been given positions that would ensure their becoming wealthy, and thus ensuring their loyalty to Mugabe. They want for nothing and their wealth ensures they can get anything they wish. The poor people had nowhere to go (although many of them have sought refuge in nearby South Africa) and are fed a steady diet of propaganda that the current troubles are either the legacy of the previous white regime or are being caused by those who would like to see white rule again in Zimbabwe.

Since many of the poor people are under-educated, and many are not old enough to remember how much better things were even under Apartheid, these fabrications are accepted as truth. Since the average life expectancy in Zim is now about 34 years, few people remain who can tell the younger folk how much better off they were in days gone by when Rhodesia, as it then was, was the breadbasket of the country.

Few of the poorer people would be educated in politics and would be unable to see for themselves what Mugabe has achieved by simply deleting the stabilising middle classes from the country's political equation. A very effective policy if one wishes to remain a dictator.

The result of getting rid of policemen who know what they're doing in order to fulfil racial quotas. The problem is widespread in SA. Is it any wonder crime is out of control? The ANC getting their thugs in place to keep hold of power perhaps?

This particular cop is from a police station local to me.

Cop arrested for ATM bombing
22/06/2008 15:33 - (SA)

Thabisile Khoza


Hendrina - A Gauteng policeman accused of bombing an ABSA automatic teller machine (ATM) in Hendrina, Mpumalanga, will appear in court on Tuesday.

Inspector Mpho Lebakeng, 38, of Sinoville police station in Pretoria and co-accused Lebatlo Michael Thole, 37, of Mamelodi were remanded after their previous appearance in the Hendrina Magistrate's Court last week.

They have not been asked to plead yet to charges of armed robbery, attempted murder, theft of motor vehicle and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Thole was arrested on the scene on June 3 after a shootout with police, while Lebakeng was arrested at his house in Pretoria on June 6.

An off-duty constable who lives nearby the ATM had woken up to the explosion and called for back-up.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi said that three men drove past the constable and fired shots at him.

The occupants of two other vehicles, a Toyota Camry and grey VW Golf 5 without registration plates, also shot at him.

Back-up police arrived swiftly and the suspects jumped out their vehicles and escaped on foot.

Thole was shot in the right leg and caught, but the others got away.

Police are still searching for six other suspects.

Inspector Lebakeng has other criminal cases pending against him, including a murder case in Richards Bay where he is implicated in an armed robbery and shootout with security guards.
He also faces kidnapping and perjury charges, and he was out on bail when he was arrested for the Hendrina bombing.

Anyone with information about the other six suspects in the Hendrina matter is asked to call (013) 249 1071.


Dad kills robber in SAPS jacket
23/06/2008 09:28 - (SA)


Virginia Keppler, Beeld

Johannesburg - A Centurion man has shot dead an armed robber who was wearing a bulletproof vest and police jacket in what was the second armed attack on the man's family and home.

The 36-year-old father also shot two other armed men, who were also wearing bulletproof jackets, during the "little war". For security reasons, the family does not want to be identified.

The attack took place on Saturday morning at 05:30 after about nine men broke down the security gate and front door.

The man's 28-year-old wife and their three children (aged five, two and eight months old) went to hide in the main bedroom along with her mother-in-law and brother-in-law as the robbers and her husband fired at each other.

Fled in two cars

The man said he woke up when his brother shouted "they are breaking in".

The robbers at the time were still breaking down the front door.

"I jumped up, grabbed my firearm and ran to the front door. The first robber stood in the half-open door and shouted that he was from the police an then the guy behind him started shooting".

"I shot back and hit the first guy in the head. I shot a second one in the chest and another one somewhere on the body".

"Their friends picked them up and fled".

"I am almost sure they were wearing bulletproof vests as there was no trail of blood on our yard or outside. But I know for a fact that I shot them", said the man.

He had only six bullets in his firearm and ran back to his room to get more ammunition when the attackers fled.

On Friday night people in a black Golf without number plates had questioned the domestic worker. At 20:00 the woman saw a white Chrysler Voyager near the house and when she went to look, it drove off.

"The night of the incident, the robbers fled in the same two cars", she said.

Police spokesperson Captain Agnes Huma said police were investigating the possibility that the deceased was a policeman or reservist.

She also said the firearms found on the suspect, looked like police service pistols and that the serial numbers had been filed off.

R4, 9mm and .22 as well as shotgun cartridges were found on the scene.


Bring us the casings, says cop
23/06/2008 23:10 - (SA)


Loraine Kalp and Herman Wiid


Botshabelo - "You pick up the casings and bring them to us."

That's what a policeman reportedly told Boet Robberts, owner of Ke-a-Rona Butchery in Botshabelo, after an armed robbery.

"It's just unacceptable!"

Harry Nel, 50, said on Monday he had been taking money out to the bakkie that was parked in front of the butchery.

He had been putting the last two bags of money in the bakkie when two men appeared behind him as if from nowhere.

Nel said that just as he had wanted to lock the bakkie and turn around, one of the men grabbed his right arm.

One of the robbers said: "Just stand still."

Grabbed the money bags

Nel said he knew there was trouble. He began struggling with the men and a shot was fired into the air.

He said he kicked one of the men, who fell. He slammed the bakkie's door and locked it. Nel said a second shot was fired through the windscreen.

The robbers shot at him and grabbed the bags of money from the bakkie.

Robberts and the butchery caretaker, Simon Mosie, 38, heard the shots and ran outside. Mosie said he had been trapped inside the butchery while the robbery was taking place.

When the robbers stopped shooting and fled, he chased after them. "I had a gun, but it was dark. They ran to their getaway car and I tried to shoot, but I fell and they drove off."

The three robbers fled in a yellow Toyota Corolla.

Robberts said his wife, Elize, phoned the police and said there had been a shooting at the butchery. "The police hung up on her."

He said they waited for the cops to show up and finally another man went to fetch the police.

Told to pick up the evidence

Robberts said the police did show up later. Mosie said the police officer who came to the butchery told them they had to go to the police station to give their statements.

Robberts said he had asked the police officer what they should do with the evidence.

"He said I should pick it up myself and take it to the police station. So, I did."

Tsvangirai has sought and found sanctuary in the Dutch embassy.
Which is no more than a temporary solution to his immediate safety problem, and no doubt will lead the Madman to take a revenge on Dutch interests and Dutch aid workers ...
Yet for once I am pretty proud of my government.

Seems no one but the grim reaper will take action here.
And then what; total tribal chaos?

Juud:
I´m sure you´re proud of your government for once. It must have learned after Srebrenica.

Well said Juud, and they have told him he can stay as long as he wants. How is GB going to make us proud of our government I wonder.

It is significant that Lord Ashdown (Paddy) has said what a lot of us would like to see, and perhaps hope for, that the time is approaching fast when the troops will have to intervene to avoid another Rwanda.


Although presumably Mugabe's supporters regard him as a benevolent dictator.


Money speaks and they probably get invited to his palace for lots of fun!

A number of Zimbabwean immigrants to SA (illegal or otherwise) have voiced their support for Mugabe on local radio. How schizo is that?:hmm:

It must have learned after Srebrenica.

Ouch.


Now that Mugabe has played out his hand, I'll be interested to see what if anything the UN or other regional organizations will do.

Has there been any response from Mugabe yet? Rubbing of hands in glee? Strutting and crowing? Claiming a God-given victory? There's been absolutely nothing in the news here in Oz ... how about anywhere else?

CPTN, Yes exactly like Reagan and his (and Maggie's) support for the Mujahadeen,now Taleban.

AL FAKHEM - you Sir, are out of order. Just go back and read about Srebrenica and the Dutch involvement. Would really like to see your reaction to being confronted and heavily outnumbered by a bunch of very well armed thugs who made it very plain that if the Dutch showed any resistance they would be wiped out. At that stage the Dutch had no way of knowing the kind of genocide their attackers had in mind and Dutch resistance would have been futile.
If you are in any doubt about the courage and fortitude of the Dutch you might also want to read about their resistance to Germany during WW2 and the fact that many, many of them died of starvation to wards the end of the war if they had not already been shot for collaboration or shipped off to the concentration camps, not to mention the many family's that gave support to allied forces during Operation Market Garden particularly but not exclusively the people of Oosterbeck (spl?).

As usual Mr. Simpson has the real goods on Zim today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7470483.stm

I said it before the first election all those weeks ago - why did the British media waste their time and everyone elses time banging on about how the MDC might win and Mugabe might go - Mugabe will never go by democratic means. Only someone who knows nothing about the man would believe otherwise. Another Mobutu and no mistake.

West Coast said: Now that Mugabe has played out his hand, I'll be interested to see what if anything the UN or other regional organizations will do.

The military there is just waiting for that. Anything to be able to smile and shoot the fu:mad:ker in the back of the head, and then gallop in to 'save' the country from him. I imagine, after a period of 'stabilisation' which I imagine, would involve martial law for a bit, they will announce free and fair elections (dates tbc).

Parabellum:

If I had not read extensively about the Dutch involvement at Srebrenica I would not have mentioned the incident.

The bottom line is that they were there to maintain the peace (as in "peacekeeping") but they clearly did not achieve this. Mission not accomplished.

I can´t remember, however, having brought into doubt the anti-German credentials of most Dutch people during WWII, so why do you bring this up?

Al Fakhem - This mission was impossible.

The mission was NOT impossible.

The Dutch had 400 troops there and as far as I know, did not once engage the enemy. They fired warning shots and illum but nothing worse than that. We can only speculate why the CO CloggieCon was photographed drinking with Mladic (sp?) that night, and I accept too that Air which he asked for was never tasked. I accept as well, that the UN was totally absolutely useless by that stage, and that the enemy held Dutch hostages.. but he had 400 men under his command, and only 4 sq miles or so to cover. He was tasked with protecting those people and he did not achieve that - that is the bottom line. He should have done lots more, can you imagine Mad Mitch capitulating so completely?

Too little, too late. ANC 'dismayed'. Bless.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7471105.stm

Well, it's a start. Now ... if they could work themselves up through a few more stages such as displeasure, annoyance and indignation, they might arrive at a sense of moral outrage, at which point, they might actually DO something.

At least we all know how lucky the world is to be rid of that rotten old Ian Smith.

Nice one Davaar!

I don't think the UN 'do' outrage.

I´ll second that, Davaar

I don't think they do very much of anything do they, frosty?

Fear naught. David Milliband is on the case.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/britain-unveils-plan-to-criticise-mugabe-out-of-office--200806231038/

A spoof but frighteningly close to the bone...:ooh:

Cosatu ready to "kill for Zuma" to curb house price inflation

JOHANNESBURG. Cosatu has defended its own "kill for Zuma" statement, saying that it was part of a strategy to make housing more affordable. "Each time we say 'kill for Zuma', another 10,000 middle-class people emigrate," said spokesman Trotsky Matabane. "If we say it five or six times, that's 50,000 nice suburban houses that are suddenly available at bargain prices."

The trade union has come under fire for echoing the call to arms of ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, but Matabane said Cosatu's statements were being taken out of context by "counterrevolutionary estate agents".

"There are still about 4 million bourgeois whites in this country," said Matabane, "and if you add 2 million so-called Black Diamonds to this burgeoning bourgeoisie, we are looking at 5 or six million nice suburban houses that could come on the market very soon at reasonable prices."

Leading estate agent Maurice Weltschmerz confirmed that he had had a surge in enquiries from sellers after Malema threatened to kill in defence of Jacob Zuma.

"A lot of our clients are selling because they prefer to live in countries where senior government officials don't promise to commit mass murder against their own citizens," he said.

Meanwhile Cosatu has rejected with contempt assertions that its inflation-busting strategy is focusing too heavily on luxury homes, and that this tactic goes counter to the aims of the socialist revolution in South Africa.

"Rampant materialism is regrettable," said Matabane, "but Marx never said anything about Tuscan-style villas with built-in braai and heated pool."

He added that the "revolution was about having equal rights to knock through the bedroom wall to enlarge the en-suite, and to replace the melamine countertops with imported granite".

Meanwhile ANC's Malema has remaining tight-lipped about whom he intends to kill should Zuma be threatened, although an anonymous insider suggested the hit-list might include "people who didn't give him enough hugs when he was small, a girl who laughed at him when he was in Grade 9 for the second time, and pretty much anyone who looks at him funny".

I used to work next to a South African woman who moaned ( amongst other things ) " if only Zimbawe had oil they - the U.S. etc - would have steamed in, all guns blazing, years ago...

There seems to be a reasonable cause for the U.N. to react with nasty pointy things varying from a sniper to a tactical nuke.

Snag is, dare I say it, the Africans seem to put up with this current treatment - they are used to it, and we could well do without them becoming united as another superpower ( sometime after we've all gone to bed ).

Genocide before bedtime is just another day...and yes I have worked with these people, who smiled happily 'yes I know' with complete misunderstanding - fortunately that was only a camera system, though if ever used properly ( it wasn't ) that would be the key to air strikes...

Tin pot dictator mentality already well established farther South. Of course the race card is played to justify the actions of thugs accompanying political figures...

...KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele declined to comment, saying this week he was busy preparing for the weekend's ANC provincial conference.

He referred queries to Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Cele.

However, Cele said he believed the complaints were from people who had a problem with "darkies" driving cars with blue lights.

Motorists who have fallen foul of the blue light brigade in less than three weeks include:

* Tina Allison, who was allegedly blocked by a bakkie with a flashing blue light at the uMvoti Toll Plaza on June 7. She is the widow of Mike Allison, who was killed in a collision with Arts and Culture MEC Weziwe Thusi's car last September.

* A woman in a white VW Golf who was reportedly instructed by a Metro policeman via a loudspeaker to get out of the f***** way while driving on the Chief Albert Luthuli (M4 Southern Freeway) on Thursday.

* Peter Driver, a 63-year-old Durban man who was allegedly punched a number of times and nearly concussed when he failed to make way for six men who had flashed their blue lights to try to get him out of his lane. The incident happened last Friday, June 13.

* Deena Mutharay, 34, of Chatsworth, reportedly had a metal object thrown at his car by the occupants of a white minibus on the same day. Travelling on the Durban-bound carriageway of the Higginson Highway, the Independent on Saturday reported, he had failed to make way for a blue-light-flashing minibus when it wanted to overtake him from the middle lane. This was after it had been unsuccessful in ordering a black VW Jetta out of the fast lane. The metal object left a dent on Mutharay's car door.

Shot at

* Angus Kenard, 28, of Ladysmith, who said he was slapped at least 20 times by the occupants of three SUVs while travelling to Durban on the N2 near Estcourt on June 5. At least one of the vehicles, a BMW X5, is registered to the SAPS Protection Services.

* Dan Mathee, 84, said he was almost pushed off the road and shot at by occupants of a white minibus with a flashing blue light and loud sirens on the Southern Freeway. This happened on the same day as Kenard's ordeal.

Last month, the biker who allegedly punched a VIP protection driver at an accident scene near Camperdown on the N3 was subsequently applauded by motorists fed-up with speeding blue light convoys. Cele, citing the incident, said, "These people who ride bikes - don't you think, by slapping a policeman, they are asking for trouble from the police?"

The MEC said he did not believe there was a problem with the speed at which government convoys were driving or the manner in which emergency blue lights were being used.

He said, "There are certain types of South Africans with an attitude that needs to change. That attitude maybe has to do with the skin colour of the drivers. These people who are complaining...

Her Majesty's Government is to inform Zimbabwe that Britain is no longer prepared to play cricket (I think it is).
That should sort things out and bring them to book . . .

Does anyone think this other chap would do a good job?
Or more business as usual?

He'd be good for a while, particularly as he would have a lot of support from Britain, USA and South Africa. Eventually however the rot would set back in and corruption would take hold. I doubt he'd be as brutal as Mugape but in Africa you never know.

The problem with Africa seems to be tribal allegances that seem to split countries into groups that hate each other.Imagine the UK split between religions on political lines.It gets vicious enough as it is.

Or more business as usual?

I reckon the latter Tin. He is a politician after all.

Snouts & troughs, they're all the same, only the style may vary.

Your'e probably right Gainesy, but he used to be a shopsteward
for some union or other in Zim, so you could be forgiven for
thinking that he would (Probably) have some, hopefully, higher
sympathies for his fellow beings than the present W:mad:nker.
As someone said earlier, in Africa you never know. And that is
a CERTAINTY. You don't.
It's a real blow about the cricket though!

Effluentman, The UK split on religious and political lines?
A bit like Ulster do you mean?:rolleyes:

Yes,exactly what I meant.Maybe it's a phase they will pass through.

Not quite, there are more than two religions extant in England, Scotland and Wales.

YES - and it won't be long now.

:p

G-CPTN. Not during the "Troubles" as I recall.

Agreed, and, of course the division was pretty acute.
I merely hinted that non-Christian elements are significant now on the 'Mainland'.

Northern Ireland is not part of the UK but subject to its central government!

"The mission was NOT impossible.

The Dutch had 400 troops there and as far as I know, did not once engage the enemy. They fired warning shots and illum but nothing worse than that. We can only speculate why the CO CloggieCon was photographed drinking with Mladic (sp?) that night, and I accept too that Air which he asked for was never tasked. I accept as well, that the UN was totally absolutely useless by that stage, and that the enemy held Dutch hostages.. but he had 400 men under his command, and only 4 sq miles or so to cover. He was tasked with protecting those people and he did not achieve that - that is the bottom line. He should have done lots more, can you imagine Mad Mitch capitulating so completely?"

Mad Mitch had a fully supported battalion, (I was there), and vastly outnumbered the active enemy of the day, and I do mean vastly. Comparing apples to oranges won't make your point. The CO of the Dutch unit having a drink with the enemy was probably staged and the result of the huge intimidation presented due to the Dutch being greatly outnumbered and with no hope of either protecting the locals or surviving themselves if they had tried to, "400 men and 4 square miles to cover" don't know much about that kind of fighting do you? The mission to protect the locals was, militarily, impossible. You are right, all efforts to get outside support failed.
Maybe you just don't like the Dutch?

If you were there, then you’ll know that Mad Mitch was exploiting into a local, surprised population of 80,000 with next to no infrastructure. By contrast, the Dutch were operating within a prepared defensive area with the principles of defence all catered for, and facing a less well equipped enemy which was vastly outnumbered in terms of cohesive assets. One of the Principles of Defence is ‘offensive spirit’ and he showed none. He had 400 men for god's sake! Mad Mitch may have had a btn battle group but how many of those was he able to commit to the fray with total confidence? That has nothing to do with the Cloggies who I think are an utterly charming people, despite your curious statement about me not liking them. I find it beautiful that Dutch children care for our war graves, and I think back to us losing some guys in Roermond and their reaction, and I am still humbled.

Of course that drink was staged, but it affords an insight too. I would have been like a kid at Christmas with his manpower available, his advantages and his TAOR. I accept it would be frustrating not to have Air but many commanders couldn't get air for various reasons and I know too, how dysfunctional UN C3 was. I also know how frustrating it was not to have French and American jets snoop below the clouds (it confirmed my belief, should I ever need it confirming, that the RAF has without a shadow of a doubt, the finest bunch of ‘can do, will do’ fliers possible), and I will always be grateful to them and their tittle tattle as they bogged out back to tea and toast at Aviano.

But that does not excuse OC CLOGBOSBATs actions, no matter how its dressed up. He was the man on the ground, he made the decision to withdraw unilaterally despite all the int screaming at him to do the opposite and he had 400 men!!! With regards to your other point, and having been an infanteer for over 20 years and having gone there twice to do TACP, I probably do have an insight into the Principles of Defence in general, and of that area and local tactics in particular. I wish him no ill will, but it is my considered opinion based on my experience and knowledge - he ceded prepared and semi hardened Key Terrain and Vital Ground without a murmur.

Can we please stop it with the hijack attempts? What the Dutch did or didn't do, and the questions of religion and Northern Ireland are certainly deserving of their own threads but this thread is about Mugabe and Zimbabwe.

Australia has decided to try and exert a little pressure (http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKSYD23777620080625) on South Africa in an attempt to get its government to take a harder line over the Zimbabwe situation.

Now if they could just get Mbeki to say something ... :rolleyes:

Snifferdog, I stand corrected.
But I do find it confusing that, whilst Ulster is not part of
the UK, they do have MP's in Parliament.
I seem to recall that Jerry Adams and his mate were elected
as MPs, but refused to take their seats at Westminster because
that action would have involved an Oath of Allegiance to the Queen?
An odd situation. No offence intended.
But I found it odd that someone APPEARS to have forgotten that
there was an almighy split on Religious and Political grounds here.
Sorry about this side-tracking Bluey, just needed to add my bit.
I'll wind my neck in now.

Blue Diamond,

I am not trying to hijack anything - it is a tiny aside in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps you might like to consider the irony of wanting to discuss the situation in a country like Zim whilst laying down edicts about free speech.

Now if they could just get Mbeki to say something ... :rolleyes:

From today's Australian...
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6109690,00.jpg

Mugabe will get an award for his contributions to end global warming.
By slowly de-populating his country.First by killing all the colonists,starving overbreeding tribes that supported and worked for the colonists for the last two centuries.His continued homicidial tendencies of mass murder should rid an already overpopulated part of the world from the infestation of overbreeding humans that are destroying the planet one one farm at a time .By ending the enviromental disaster of modern farming in Zimbabwae .The greens will eventually recognize his great contribution to save the planet from over population .
The greens will eventually see he shares their anti-human views and reward his genocidial tendancies with some kind of recognition for saving the planet from menace of overbreeding mess of humanity .Eventually the land will revert back to jungle just what the world really needs .More jungles and less farms :E

They're taking his Knighthood away!

'Bout bloody time too.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Mugabe knighthood to be withdrawn (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7473243.stm)

They're taking away his 'nighthood? His missus can't be none too pleased about that.

Lets hope he finishes up like that other tosser with a honorary Knighthood,
Ceauşescu.
:suspect:

First by killing all the colonists,starving overbreeding tribes that supported and worked for the colonists for the last two centuries.

Colonists? Two centuries? Errr, wouldn't that make them Zimbabweans/Africans having been born and raised there for many generations?


As an aside, I believe the Zim banknotes will be printed on two ply in future to make them worth something. Z$9000 000-00 to US$1-00 on Saturday.:(

A waste of blood and organs...

Why 'Little Thabo' Is In Awe Of Mugabe
He's stubborn, belligerent and apparently determined to shrug off the pressure of the international community.
It's an accusation that isn't just being levelled at Robert Mugabe, but his old ally South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki is the chief mediator on Zimbabwe for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but as the organisation holds emergency talks in Swaziland he has declined to attend.

His spokesman claims he was not invited, SADC officials say the invitation was issued and turned down.

Either way, his absence is bizarre and so is his muted response to the crisis unfolding on his doorstep.
It's in stark contrast to the growing chorus of condemnation of Robert Mugabe from other African leaders and even Mbeki's own political party. ANC President Jacob Zuma said Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF was now "distorting the principles of democracy and majority rule".

Zimbabwe's opposition, the MDC, has been so dismayed at Thabo Mbeki's apparent appeasement of Mugabe that it has called for him to be replaced as mediator.

To be fair to Mbeki, negotiating with an 84-year-old despot is not an enviable job, but it's made even more difficult by the fact that he seems to regard Mugabe with awe.
The Zimbabwean leader liberated his country from minority white rule more than a decade before the ANC won the same struggle in South Africa. Mbeki himself was in exile in the UK during much of the battle to overthrow apartheid, giving him a special respect for those who joined the liberation movements back home.

But the respect does not appear to be mutual. Mugabe reportedly refers to Mbeki as "little Thabo" and those who have observed meetings between the two men say he treats him with disdain.

Mbeki has good reason to get tough with Mugabe. South Africa has been flooded with three million refugees from Zimbabwe and the rand has taken a battering on the international currency markets because of the chaos next door.

The Zimbabwe issue could even overshadow South Africa's biggest international event since the end of apartheid, the World Cup in 2010.

And yet still he favours "quiet diplomacy" over overt criticism, and those who know Mbeki do not expect a change soon.

Like Mugabe, he still sees the shadow of colonialism in Western criticism and it is more likely to prompt defiance than an admission that he's made a mistake.

They're taking his Knighthood away


This Government certainly knows how to to put the boot in. That'll teach him not to mess with us.

I just wonder what has got to occur in Zimbabwe before somebody steps in. Between the UK and the US, we have many fine special forces chaps, who are perfectly capable of getting rid of this boil on Zimbabwe. So what perplexes me is why it has not been done?

Nevermind all the beatings ,burnings ,murders,and rapes .It must be getting serious now as they cancelled the Cricket tour :eek::eek:

Perhaps you might like to consider the irony of wanting to discuss the situation in a country like Zim whilst laying down edicts about free speech.There is absolutely nothing stopping you from discussing your subject, Al R ... you have all the free speech you could ever want in that regard. However, common courtesy requires that you do not hijack someone else's thread to introduce your own agenda.


You gotta love the Brits ...

"A Foreign Office spokesman said they would continue to focus on improving life for ordinary Zimbabweans but added: "We can no longer justify an individual who is responsible for a consistent campaign of human rights violations and the disregard for the democratic process retaining an honour."

No longer justify it? It has been okay so far, then?

Will someone tell Bush that Mugabe has Weapons of mass destruction hidden in his palace.
That should do the trick.

Zimbabwe's ruling party has rejected criticism of its leadership by former South African President Nelson Mandela.
A ruling Zanu-PF official described Mr Mandela's comments as unacceptable and unfortunate for a man of his stature.
More at:- BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Zimbabwe rejects Mandela rebuke (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7474718.stm)

Mr. Mandela´s comments come too late only. Also, he is uttering them from his birthday party in London (why London?). He should go to Harare and voice his concerns there only.

ZANU PF, MDC, now a BIRTHDAY PARTY? Whatever next?:D
LIB DEMS?:eek:

From his behaviour and age I think that there is a serious possibility that he has lost his marbles.After all, who is going to tell him that,would you?

I think that there is a massive dearth of marbles on the
entire continent of Africa. Doesn't surprise me at all that
Mandela has lost his.

Blue Diamond pontificated thus: There is absolutely nothing stopping you from discussing your subject, Al R ... you have all the free speech you could ever want in that regard. However, common courtesy requires that you do not hijack someone else's thread to introduce your own agenda.

.. who do you think you're talking to, you twerp? Not that I need to justify it, but the only thing that 2 posts out of almost 600 is ever in danger of hijacking, appears to be the sound of your own voice.

AI R, Calm down a bit. Free speech ain't it?
Or perhaps NOT?
I think all that stuff about the Dutch hit a
nerve somewhere.
We should have stuck to the "Who hates Mugabe
the most?" mode.
PS I married a cloggy 41 years ago. She's still
hanging in there, despite all the drawbacks of
being married to someone who kept disappearing
to various parts of the World for weeks or months
at a time. Good old girl.
Problem is I'm retired now, so she has to put up
with me all the time!

Para

At that stage the Dutch had no way of knowing the kind of genocide their attackers had in mind

And if they had would the outcome have been different?

Would they have found the balls to do the right thing? They had the means and I suspect the ability to resist. They choose not to and many died. You can spin it anyway you want, but the Dutch were party to the event and have the blood of those they were charged with protecting on their hands.
The Dutch played poker and were bluffed out of the game, innocents payed the tab.

SA not far behind. Many police have a side line business as armed robbers in addition to their day jobs. Now this....

SAPS and metro cops exchange fire — one dead

Protesting Metro police caused chaos yesterday when they sealed-off the Johannesburg CBD, preventing thousands of motorists from leaving the city centre and sparking a deadly clash with the South African Police Service.



UPDATE: Metro police plan more protests


The violence may have resulted in the death of one metro officer, but the SAPS were unable to confirm this last night. Seven metro officers were injured.


The clash came after hundreds of metro policemen, in full uniform, blocked access to highway on-ramps and off-ramps ringing the city last night, in protest over a salary dispute with their employer.


SAPS officers fired rubber bullets to disperse their unruly metro colleagues, said spokesman Supertintendent Eugene Opperman.


He said the metro officers returned fire with live ammunition. The police are now investigating cases of attempted murder against the metro police officers.


Terrified motorists told The Times how officers had threatened motorists and brought traffic to a standstill. At some intersections, officers used concrete bins to block the path of motorists trying to make their way home.


The situation had quietened by late last night, but was still tense.


Johannesburg Metro Police department spokesman, Chief Super intendent Wayne Minnaar, was at a loss for words as he tried to make his way to his headquarters in Loveday Street to find out what was going on.


The protest followed a failed meeting between senior metro police management and the SA Municipal Workers’ Union, representing the metro officers.


Minnaar told The Times before 6pm: “I don’t know what’s going on as I can’t get through this traffic. The officers on the ground who provide me with information have all switched off their cellphones.”


At 6.30pm, Minnaar said he was still trying to get to the scene. “I’m trying, I’m trying!” he exclaimed, the frustration clear in his voice.


A motorist told The Times that angry motorists and pedestrians threatened to storm the protesters.


Penny Michael, 27, said she accessed the M2 highway at Mooi Street and found traffic had come to a standstill: “We heard protesters up front and some motorists and pedestrians became agitated.


‘‘I just rolled up my windows. I’ve never been so frightened in my life,” Michael added.


Another motorist, who asked not to be named, said she witnessed a group of uniformed metro police officers trying to pull a truck driver from his vehicle. She said the metro cops were extremely aggressive and banged on the truck’s doors.


Samwu spokesman Dumisani Langa at first denied the metro cops were staging a protest when The Times contacted him before 5pm.


He later said metro police officers became furious after negotiations over salary structures failed.


Vincent Vena, a Samwu organiser, said last night that a female metro officer was shot and killed by the SAPS. He said: “We are very sad about what has happened. This is what we were trying to avoid, there was no need for police to use force.”


He said a metro officer was arrested by the SAPS when the officer went to a police station to report losing a firearm.


The metro police have vowed to stay away from work today.

No point taking military action, no one is interested, no natural resources. Now if they had Oil, Gas etc, they'd queuing up at the borders.
Wonder what percentage of the vote he'll get. If it is less than 50% he'll probably want to nuke the place.:hmm:

Should be,(Theoretically) 100%
Betyer it's not!

It is apparently being said (in Zimbabwe) to the electorate that the numbers on the ballot papers will be used to identify who has voted how, and retribution will be taken.
So much for secret ballots then . . .

G-CPTN:

very much like Singapore-style voting, sir.

Actually (and at the risk of thread drift, for which I apologise), Northern Ireland IS part of the United Kingdom. It is NOT part of "Great Britain".

The title of the state is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

Great Britain refers to the main island of the British Isles, which comprise all of Ireland, the Isles of Man & Wight, the Hebrides, Lundy, and loads of other godforsaken wind- and rain-swept lumps of rock (such as Canvey Island and Thanet ;)).

:bored: Sorry Captain Stable, but that's yesterday's quibble.
I think it's moved on since then, thank goodness.

Anyone care to hazard a guesstimate on how much
longer Pres' M will hang on for? I think about a month!
There again, it could be for the next 5 yrs if the rest
of the World shows it's unswerving resolve to settle
the matter!:sad:

Long enough to bargain his way to a nice place of exile and to ensure his pension fund is safe.
:cool:

The replacement may not be much of an improvement :eek::eek:

The replacement may not be much of an improvement

Every fool that re-marries should be forced to sign an acknowledgment of this rubric!



The process with politicians is a bit different, however. By and large one expect politicians to wear badly in a democratic system. With a free press and laws requiring disclosure of factual information about government actions and finances, the people soon discover that the much anticipated newly elected saviour of the nation is not exactly perfect. After some number of iterations, the current one is voted out and the next begins his/her cycle.

With a revolutionary turned despot, however, there is no visibility, no accountability, and no incentive for discussion about political cause and effect. All dictators tend to remain officially god-like until the grim reaper or the assassin's craft takes them down. Mugabe is deep into a tight race to see which will collect him first.

Can you imagine how much difficulty he would have, taking out an ordinary insurance policy? At age 84, in Africa, he would be already in the written-off category, survival wise. Add to that the thought some small number of individuals might wish him ill, and it is hopeless. Were the query posed at Lloyds, the laughter might be quite heartening.

Wanting to save their own ample posteriors, his generals and other hangers-on will sell him out in progressing increments, perhaps leaving the Harare teens with sticks to finish him off in a Zim-style de-election.

Apparently, Mugabe has asked for a recount . . .

Has it ever ocurred to anyone that Bob might have been playing the lead role in an African version of "Weekend at Bernie's" and that that stuffed doll with the Hitler moustache we see prattling on on CNN every week or so might just be a taxidermist's marionette with a collective Zim General's/ventriloquist’s hand up his arse?

Sadly, I don't think the actual situation is far removed from this.

Captain Stable - don't wish to be pedantic, but I think there's quite a few of us over here in the Republic of Ireland that would be somewhat dismayed to hear that Great Britain includes "all of Ireland" :eek:

And people (ok not all i know!) in Northern Ireland will tell you they are 'British".

Just exactly why do BBC/UK media fuss so about this man? By sub-Saharan standards, he follows rich precedent - the Central African Republic fellow Bokassa, Idi Amin ...demagoguery, deletion, re-education...White Nations can do nothing about it, neighbours will do nothing about it lest the fashion catch on.
Some upstart will do him down when omitted from his largesse.

Just my point. The African Nations accept it as it is.
The rest of us just sit on our bums and tut-tut about
it all. Terrible, Shouldn't be allowed, Naughty Mugabe,
Etc etc ......

A missionary friend of mine said the best that the average African can hope for is a benevolent dictator.When Mugabe is gone some will say these were the good times in Zimbabwae.After all he did get rid of the white racists running Rhodesia.Even if he only replaced them with Black racists:E:E

Perhaps the USA (under the new 'black' President) will appoint contractors to rebuild the infrastructure and establish law and order?
After all, the work in Iraq must be running out . . .

ERRRR, Yes, if you say so!:hmm:

<sigh>

aidanf, I didn't say that Great Britain includes all of Ireland. I said that the main island of the British Isles is "Great Britain" and that the British Isles include all of Ireland.

Hope that's straight now.

Zim will implode either just as soon as some of ZANU-PF start to decide it would be in their interest to negotiate non-prosecution deals with other countries and do a runner, or just as soon as the Police and/or Army insist on being paid in foreign currency 'cos what they're being paid in at the moment is worth less than the wallpaper. Uncle Bob can't survive without the support of BOTH these groups. If either goes, he goes.

Yet another African leaders' summit coming up. What's the bet it'll degenerate into a mutual arse kissing excercise with the leaders of other African nations once again praising Mugabe for doing such a great job of promoting the ideas of democracy and freedom? One or two groups in the AU are already declaring the election a success and recognising it as being legitimate.

You couldn't make it up....:(

Sadly that would be an accurate assessment Solid RT.

Still someone else's fault. The fact that money paid to the Zim govt for land claims wound up in greedy little pockets and Swiss bank accounts is neither here nor there with this mob...:rolleyes:

It's Britain's fault - ANC
Article By:
Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:41
Britain, as the former colonial power, is largely responsible for the current crisis in Zimbabwe, the African National Congress said on Friday.

This was chiefly the case in terms of land issues in that country, the ruling party said in its weekly newsletter, published on the ANC Today website.

"The ANC is very mindful of the obligations Britain assumed in relation to Zimbabwe at the Lancaster House talks. Chief among these was resolution of the land question, ie undoing the consequences of well nigh 100 years of British colonial domination.

"A large measure of responsibility for the current crisis is attributable to the ex-colonial power because it has reneged on that undertaking," it said.

Colonialism in Zimbabwe, as in the rest of Africa, was a system of "arbitrary, capricious power exercised by a distant colonial office and delegated to local white settlers who wielded it as agents of the imperial power".

The newsletter noted the people of Zimbabwe, under the leadership of the Patriotic Front, had waged a liberation struggle for "national self-determination, to be attained through democratic elections in which all adult citizens ... would have the untrammelled right to elect the government of their choice.

"Restoration of the land seized during colonialism to the indigenous people was a central plank of that programme as well."

The ANC said it was now "deeply dismayed" by the actions of the ruling Zanu-PF government, which was "riding roughshod" over hard-won democratic rights.

On a way forward for Zimbabwe, it said there could be no solution except through a "dialogue in earnest" among all the political players in that country.

"The ANC will play its role, within the framework of the SADC mandate, in searching for a solution that will bring an end to the suffering of the Zimbabwean people.

"We have noted, with grave concern, the statements of the Zimbabwean government to the effect that the run-off elections will proceed as planned.

"We urge the government of Zimbabwe to apply its mind, dispassionately, to the situation at hand in its country and our region. We appeal to the government to take up the challenge of finding a negotiated settlement to the current impasse," it said.

Sapa

This from the ANC who is fast moving ZA in the same direction as Zimbabwe :yuk:

The ANC will always side with Zim against the former
colonial powers, even if it does mean the the whole
of Zuid Afrika could follow the same route.
Solidarity between African nations comes first to them,
and they don't seem to give a fig about what could happen
around the corner as long as the decisions made are made
by themselves, and not influenced by former imperialist powers.
Dis-regarding the fact that the new, Shall we say, Eastern,
imperialists are already at work all over the Continent.:suspect:

Sanctions? Will they impose those sanctions against SA as well for aiding and abetting Mugabe? It's no wonder those in the West tar all African countries with the same brush as one great big festering bottomless cesspit.:(

Washington - US President George W Bush said on Saturday he had directed that sanctions be drawn up against the "illegitimate" government of Zimbabwe after a run-off vote boycotted by the opposition.

"Given the Mugabe regime's blatant disregard for the Zimbabwean people's democratic will and human rights, I am instructing the Secretaries of State and Treasury to develop sanctions against this illegitimate government of Zimbabwe and those who support it,"
Bush said in a statement.

The president said the United States would also be pressing for "strong action" at the United Nations, including an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and travel ban on regime officials, following the "sham election" on Friday.

The UN failed to agree on Friday on a statement declaring the run-off illegitimate in the face of South African opposition, merely issuing a statement of regret.

Zimbabwe's veteran leader Robert Mugabe was unopposed in the vote after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out, saying violence against his supporters had made a fair vote impossible.

Sanctions? You gotta be kidding me, why would making the life of the poor guy on the street even more difficult be a solution?

Bullet - Gun - Bang!

Try and rebuild the country again.

The poor guy in the street is already so deep in it there's not much left to lose.:( Sanctions have been imposed against govt officials and Mugabe himself but they seem to be of no consequence as they're not enforced.

Standing by for the AU sponsored whitewash to come rolling in any time in the next few days. Ops normal in Africa then...:hmm:

Mugabe sworn in before results
29/06/2008 13:31 - (SA)


Harare - President Robert Mugabe was preparing to be sworn in for a new term on Sunday, extending his nearly three decades in power after a discredited election overshadowed by violence against the opposition.

Ministry of Information officials alerted reporters to be at the presidential residence for the 15:00) inauguration ceremony before results from Friday's presidential run-off had even been announced. Attempts to reach government spokespeople for comment were not immediately successful.

African and other world leaders had condemned the election, in which Mugabe was the only candidate. It followed a campaign that saw opposition supporters targeted by brutal state-sponsored violence, human rights groups said.

Violence

Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition candidate, pulled out of the run-off because of the attacks, which left more than 80 dead and forced 200 00 to flee their homes.

Marwick Khumalo, a member of parliament from Swaziland who led a team of election observers from across the continent under the auspices of the AU-sponsored Pan-African Parliament, said on Sunday: "The current atmosphere prevailing in the country did not give rise to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections."

Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Sunday that Mugabe supporters beat people who couldn't prove they voted.

State radio on Sunday quoted Mugabe, 84, who has been Zimbabwe's president since independence from Britain in 1980, as saying he was confident of winning and thanking voters for their support.

Residents living near State House, Mugabe's official home, reported vehicles from an events staging company driving into the compound. A single air force jet zoomed across the sky.

Open to talks

Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round of presidential voting in March, but not enough for an outright victory. African mediators have in recent days been pushing for Mugabe and Tsvangirai to negotiate a power sharing agreement.

Mugabe said on the eve of the vote he was open to talks, but pressed ahead with the election, apparently hoping a victory would give him leverage at the negotiating table. But it now appears he will be able to draw little legitimacy from the run-off.

Khumalo, the observer, called for conditions to be put in place for fresh elections to be held "as soon as possible" and urged African and regional leaders to "engage the broader political leadership in Zimbabwe into a negotiated transitional settlement."

Contrary to the state-run newspaper's report of a "massive turnout" in the runoff, Khumalo's observers reported a low turnout and said the few Zimbabweans who went to the polls did so only out of fear.

With the election discredited and attention turning to the possibility of negotiations, the role of Mugabe in any future government could be a sticking point.

Mbeki's support for this murderous regime should be ringing warning bells all over the world.

Uku Khala Aku Size! (Zulu - What does Crying Help)

Does anyone know what the conditions are like in Zim now? I have a friend whose 93 year-old father just died there and she wants to go back for the funeral.. Any info on conditions on the ground there wuld be appreciated.

So, can anyone put their hands on their heart and say any African country is now better off than when it was when British Colonial power was in situ?

A lot of fat cats at the thin end of the pyramid, at the top, but no benefit to those at the bottom, most are much, much worse off.

Any of our liberal fraternity on PPRuNe care to comment?

Thought not, liberalism is purely theoretical.

Parabellum, that's the art of politics.
People get degrees in it!:eek: Innit?
It's totally dependent on how you
define "better off".

The Left are wont to lament "If only the right people were in power"

The Right (the truly-liberal/liberty-loving right) will say "The only proven path to a common prosperity is strict limits on the power of government"

:(

Jemavion

Conditions are not great. Rampant inflation, high unemployment, a collapsing infrastructure and shortages of everything from food to fuel mean a desperate population who will do just about anything to survive. As a holder of foreign currency she should be OK but she would need to travel and move about with a local who knows the lie of the land to avoid trouble. Expect hassles from petty officialdom and anyone supporting Mugabe as they're all pretty xenophobic. If they think she's a journalist she may have a great deal of trouble.

The official rate of exchange is a joke. Family connections may know of a better rate once she's in country. The money is pretty much worthless and has novelty value only as it's littered with zeros and almost impossible to change back to foreign currency on her departure.

Well said Stormin. Useless degrees, useless people, blind to reality.

Only take small denomination currency, US $ or Euro.
Only carry small ammounts with you. You could lose
it all if not careful!

Thank you Parabellum.
I did think of taking a degree in Political Science,
but decided to do something useful instead:)
Like grow tomatoes.
For a further insight to my sort of politics see
my post #374 on the Rant pages.

The really sad thing is that no-one has the courage to do anything.

A few 'You're a naughty boy' and expressions of slap on the wrist intentions, and nothing will happen.

Would love to be proved wrong.

Thanks for your info. She's been going back about 2 or 3 times a year and has always got a lift from Harare airport to town with a couple of old friends. She's now afraid they may be too nervous to do this anymore. Her travel agent in UK tells her UK Gov are advising against travel there and her insurance would be invalid. So far, on all her trips, she's been hassle-free. As you say, the local ex-pats know how to get around the difficulties, so I'll advise her to go for it. Thanks again, Jim MCQ.

Expats? Zimbos, mate. Most were born and raised there, as were any number of their ancestors. They have nowhere else to go...:(

I don't want to be too pessimistic about things Jemavion,
but I do wonder if it would be wise to go there at present.
The situation is very serious out there at the moment I
would imagine, and, not having any direct contact with
anyone actually there, I personally would not go, At the
present moment. Perhaps in a few weeks???? Who knows?
The whole situation is very volatile.
HM Gov do not advise it at present I believe ?
You say that the locals know how to get around situations,
The problem is, Does she?

My friend left today on an Air France flight. Suppose a funeral can only wait so long. Her father was her last living relative in Zim; don't think she regards herself as a Zimbo having spent the last 30 some years in the UK fairly successfully. Jim Mcq.

Well, best of luck to her.
I hope that she has a safe trip, and that all
goes well for her under the cicumstances.
She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

The West forced a govt on Zim once before and are now trying to change the consequences of those actions by doing it again. Go figure....:ugh:

As for Mbeki and his mob showing unswerving support for Mugabe, well we know what's in store for SA.:(

Mbeki rejects EU demands on Zim: South Africa: News: News24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2350470,00.html)

Mbeki rejects EU demands on Zim
02/07/2008 08:00 - (SA)

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki has rejected European Union (EU) demands that Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai must lead a future government in the southern African country, the SABC reported on Wednesday.

"The result that comes out of that process of dialogue, must be a result that is agreed by the Zimbabweans and we certainly - and certainly the African continent - has not made any prescriptions about the outcomes of what the Zimbabweans must negotiate among themselves," Mbeki told the public broadcaster after an African Union summit ended in Egypt.

The two-day summit called for a power-sharing deal between Zimbabwe's political foes. Robert Mugabe indicated that he is willing to engage in talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Illegitimate government

But the EU issued a statement after the summit, saying it would only accept a government in Zimbabwe under Tsvangirai's leadership.

"The European Union will not accept a government other than one led by Mr Tsvangirai," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told France 2 public television.

"The French presidency, along with the (European) Commission, is clear: the government is illegitimate if it isn't led by opposition leader Mr Tsvangirai."

But Mbeki disagreed, saying: "The AU and SADC (Southern African Development Community) cannot dictate the outcome of negotiations between Zimbabwe and political parties.

"Everybody is convinced that it is only via an instrument of an inclusive government, that includes all of these political parties of Zimbabwe, within a framework that they themselves would agree, that this is the only way you can take Zimbabwe forward."

Maintenant? Entree du Legion des Etrangers?

The Zimbabwe Situation (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jul1c_2008.html)

Mugabe wigs out (http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=1640107138)


Documents show Mbeki knew of Selebi's criminal links

702 Radio 12/02/2008 07:42:20

New damning evidence that President Thabo Mbeki and several other senior government ministers knew about the strength of the Scorpions case against National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi has emerged, this despite Mbeki consistently denying it.

The details are contained in an affidavit filed in the Pretoria High Court yesterday as part of Selebi's attempt to get that court to stop the National Prosecuting Authority's case against him.

In the affidavit signed by Mokotedi Mpshe, the acting NPA boss makes it very clear just how much Mbeki and his cabinet knew about the case against Selebi.

He claims suspended NPA head Vusi Pikoli held no less than ten meetings with Mbeki to keep him abreast of developments.

Pikoli also informed at least six senior ministers including Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula about the charges against the top cop.

Mpshe insists that there was constant communication between Pikoli, Mbeki and Mabandla.

The acting NPA boss goes so far as to say it was apparent that the decision to prosecute Selebi was of concern to the president and that motivated him to appoint a panel to review the case.

Over the past few months Mbeki has repeatedly said that no one had come forward with evidence to show the national commissioner had done anything wrong and if that did happen, he would act on it.

These new claims have now cast doubt on the integrity of those comments.

Questioning Mbeki's integrity? What integrity?:confused:

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he is open to talks on ending the country's political crisis, provided the opposition accepts him as leader.
"I am the president," he said. "Everybody has to accept that if they want dialogue."
(From:- BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Opposition 'must accept Mugabe' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7489472.stm) )

Good to see the effort by the West in the '70s to put Mugabe in power wasn't wasted. He's really giving them their money's worth....:hmm:

Mugabe sworn in before results
29/06/2008 13:31 - (SA)


Harare - President Robert Mugabe was preparing to be sworn in for a new term on Sunday, extending his nearly three decades in power after a discredited election overshadowed by violence against the opposition.

Ministry of Information officials alerted reporters to be at the presidential residence for the 15:00) inauguration ceremony before results from Friday's presidential run-off had even been announced. Attempts to reach government spokespeople for comment were not immediately successful.

African and other world leaders had condemned the election, in which Mugabe was the only candidate. It followed a campaign that saw opposition supporters targeted by brutal state-sponsored violence, human rights groups said.

Violence

Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition candidate, pulled out of the run-off because of the attacks, which left more than 80 dead and forced 200 00 to flee their homes.

Marwick Khumalo, a member of parliament from Swaziland who led a team of election observers from across the continent under the auspices of the AU-sponsored Pan-African Parliament, said on Sunday: "The current atmosphere prevailing in the country did not give rise to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections."

Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Sunday that Mugabe supporters beat people who couldn't prove they voted.

State radio on Sunday quoted Mugabe, 84, who has been Zimbabwe's president since independence from Britain in 1980, as saying he was confident of winning and thanking voters for their support.

Residents living near State House, Mugabe's official home, reported vehicles from an events staging company driving into the compound. A single air force jet zoomed across the sky.

Open to talks

Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round of presidential voting in March, but not enough for an outright victory. African mediators have in recent days been pushing for Mugabe and Tsvangirai to negotiate a power sharing agreement.

Mugabe said on the eve of the vote he was open to talks, but pressed ahead with the election, apparently hoping a victory would give him leverage at the negotiating table. But it now appears he will be able to draw little legitimacy from the run-off.

Khumalo, the observer, called for conditions to be put in place for fresh elections to be held "as soon as possible" and urged African and regional leaders to "engage the broader political leadership in Zimbabwe into a negotiated transitional settlement."

Contrary to the state-run newspaper's report of a "massive turnout" in the runoff, Khumalo's observers reported a low turnout and said the few Zimbabweans who went to the polls did so only out of fear.

With the election discredited and attention turning to the possibility of negotiations, the role of Mugabe in any future government could be a sticking point.

Politicide Warning: Zimbabwe

19 June 2008

Zimbabwe's run-off Presidential elections on 27 June will take place
in an atmosphere of terror. ZANU-PF militias, the Zimbabwe army and
police, and ZANU-PF mobs have pushed Zimbabwe to Stage 6, the
Preparation stage immediately preceding political mass murder.

Families of Zimbabwe's opposition leaders are being targeted for
brutal execution. The mutilated body of Abigail Chitoro, wife of the
Mayor-elect of Harare, was found on Tuesday. Mr. Chitoro said, "The
body was butchered. They had used heavy objects to crush the head. She
still had the blindfold that my kid said they put on her head when
they took them away."

"In the last week there have been three reports of local MDC officials
who fled their homes from marauding Zanu PF mobs and who had their
homes burnt down. In each case their wives were put to death, two
burnt alive, the other battered to death."

Murder and torture victims have had their ears, lips, and sexual
organs cut off. Mutilation of bodies is one of the surest signs of the
de-humanizing of targeted groups during genocide and politicide
(political mass murder.) ZANU-PF's hate speech, torture, and murder
have terrorized Zimbabwe since the Movement for Democratic Change
defeated Mugabe and the ZANU-PF in March's elections. Now ZANU-PF has
stepped up its violence to openly kill leaders of the MDC and their
families. Such acts are prelude to every politicide or genocide.

A sign of the gravity of the danger is the phenomenon of "mirroring,"
a strange but common psychological mechanism of denial used by mass
murderers. ZANU-PF spokesmen accuse their victims of being traitors or
terrorists, when in fact ZANU-PF is the real perpetrator.

The terror campaign is being directed by Air Marshall Perence Shiri,
who was commander of the infamous North Korean trained Fifth Brigade,
which carried out Mugabe's genocide against the Matabele in 1983-84.
Working with him is General Constantine Chiwanga, Commander of the
Zimbabwe Army, and Sidney Sekeramayi, Minister of Defense, both of
whom were senior officers directly involved in the 1983-84 genocide.

The military has taken effective control of Zimbabwe. With military
support, gangs of ZANU-PF marauders sweep through villages at night,
killing, torturing and raping MDC supporters.

President Mugabe's open declaration that his followers would go to war
rather than accept defeat in the election is a sign of the high
probability that Zimbabwe is headed for a bloodbath. His termination
of relief aid to his own starving people shows his complete contempt
for human life.

* Genocide Watch calls on South African President Mbeki to inform
President Mugabe that if the election is followed by mass killing,
South African troops will intervene to stop it.

* Genocide Watch also calls on the United Nations Security Council to
refer the situation in Zimbabwe to the International Criminal Court,
so that those perpetrating the crimes against humanity there,
including Mugabe himself, will be brought to justice.

Dr. Gregory H. Stanton
President
Genocide Watch
POB 809
Washington, DC 20044
1-703-448-0222
E-mail: genocidewatch@<hidden>
Website: Genocide Watch (http://www.genocidewatch.org)

Dear all,
>>>
>>> It has been quite a weekend.
>>>
>>> We were made very aware of impending problems on our Mount Carmel
>>> farm before it even started. Various letters came in as well as
>>> verbal warnings from concerned people all over the district.
>>> People were told
>>> that Mt. Carmel cattle and potatoes would be dished out to them. The
>>> election campaign is being fought on "one hundred percent
>>> empowerment"
>>> ie. taking everything that belongs to people who are not black and
>>> giving it to Party faithfulls. The Party has got nothing else to
>>> offer the people...
>>>
>>> People were told if they did not come they would be beaten.
>>>
>>> President Mugabe arrived in our little town of Chegutu that
>>> afternoon and people were only informed that morning.
>>>
>>> Everyone had to suddenly go to his rally whether they wanted to or
>>> not.
>>> He apparently told the people that if the opposition got in it
>>> would be war. The unexpected Presidential rally must have thrown the
>>> organisation for the Mount Carmel "programme" [as it was referred to
>>> in a letter from one of the organisors].
>>>
>>> That evening we only ended up with about 500 of the expected 1500
>>> people that were to come. They were bussed in from all over on
>>> tractor trailors, lorries, car and busses. We even had one bus from
>>> Shamva hundreds of kms away.
>>>
>>> The drums and chanting started soon after dark. Nearly fifty fires
>>> were lit all around. The leaders were waving guns around and had
>>> everyone doing their bidding. The chanting and sloganeering was
>>> military style - all in unison for hour after hour after hour all
>>> the way through the night. We could not sleep.
>>>
>>> When dawn broke and the birds started to call the chanting broke
>>> into a noise that sounded like a terrible swarm of bees on the
>>> rampage.
>>> We knew that the beating had then started and we prayed.
>>> It turned out
>>> that anyone who they believed had been polling agents at polling
>>> stations was covered in cold water. We had frost that morning and
>>> it was cold.
>>>
>>> They were then told to beat each other with sticks while the crowd
>>> egged them on. The noise went on for a few hours. Some of them had
>>> already run away. Those people will not vote; still less be polling
>>> agents in the next election because you have to vote in your own
>>> ward I understand and they are designating which polling station
>>> too so that they can check who you voted for.
>>>
>>> They had been searched for any cell phones so that they not relay
>>> any atrocities on to anyone. They were told that they would be
>>> killed if information leaked out. Everyone is tight lipped about
>>> what went on.
>>> Today they go through the day mechanically with terror written all
>>> over them.
>>>
>>> A neighbor, Marius Erasmus, drove past on the main road and was
>>> stopped at a road block that they had set up on our road.
>>> He managed to
>>> get through that but at the next one they put burning logs on his
>>> bonnet and tried to get into the car. A couple of hundred people
>>> came out from the packshed where the indoctrination was taking
>>> place. He managed to reverse and turn around and get through the
>>> other road block taking some rocks on his windscreen and other
>>> places on the car.
>>>
>>> Meantime Bruce [Lauras brother] had been at the Chegutu police
>>> station trying to get police out. We had been there on five
>>> occasions the previous week trying to tell Chief Inspector Gunyani
>>> and Inspector Manyota and Assistant Inspector Bupera of what was to
>>> take place. We had given two letters for the attention of the
>>> officer in charge, Chief Inspector Gunyani.
>>>
>>> Bruce waited for six hours at the police station but could not get
>>> a reaction to stop the beating and dismantle the road blocks.
>>> He saw Chief
>>> Inspector Gunyani, Inspector Manyota and Assistant Inspector Bupera
>>> amongst others. It is clear that they are under orders not to react.
>>>
>>> Our electricity went down and both cell phone networks also ceased
>>> to operate. We were left with no communications and our way out onto
>>> the main road was sealed off by a road block. We prayed and read
>>> psalm 118.
>>>
>>> Bruce eventually decided to come out himself.
>>> Miraculously, just
>>> before he arrived, the road blocks were dismantled and everyone
>>> disappeared. Shortly after the guards came to tell us of thieves in
>>> the maize - about 30 people were just helping themselves. We caught
>>> some of them and chased them off and recovered their booty.
>>>
>>> That evening we got a call from Nettie Rogers who was very badly
>>> beaten up with her husband six weeks ago by Gilbert Moyo and his
>>> gang.
>>> They had also had everything from their house and workshops stolen
>>> in that raid including even their clothes. Gilbert Moyo was taken
>>> into custody by police but was then let out again as a hit man.
>>> He "hit"
>>> Billy and Nova Nicholson in the area a few nights ago and they had
>>> half an hour to get out of their home and off their farm or end up
>>> the same way as Bruce and Nettie had.
>>> We do not know what has been looted there yet.
>>>
>>> Bruce and Nettie were staying in a cottage on another farm when
>>> Gilbert Moyo arrived with thirty people and said he was taking the
>>> farm for Senator Madzongwe. They managed to get to the main
>>> homestead with the Etheredge brothers while I went to police with
>>> Dirk Visagie.
>>>
>>> We spent an hour at the police station but they refused to react
>>> as it was an "issue of land." I told them that disposession of ones
>>> home and assault of ones workers were matters that were important
>>> for them to deal with; but after Bruces six hours fruitless wait for
>>> a reaction that morning I knew we were wasting our time; and so we
>>> eventually proceeded to Stockdale to give whatever support we
>>> could.
>>>
>>> As it happened an army Major by the name of Indora spoke to Gilbert
>>> Moyo and the Etheredges and Bruce Rogers eventually ended up
>>> transporting Moyo and his gang back to their base 20 km away on
>>> Ranwick farm in the early hours of the morning as the "hit" had not
>>> got official sanction. They got to a road block of 50 ZANU people on
>>> the main Concession Hill road but they were allowed through and back
>>> without incident.
>>>
>>> Such road blocks are now common at night to stop observors and
>>> anyone from "outside" getting to any pungwes and seeing the
>>> atrocities that are taking place. A friends worker went to their
>>> rural area near to the Nyamapanda border post to see his elderly
>>> mother last month. In these areas any movement needs official
>>> sanction from the Party and written ZANU permits are even required
>>> to visit the next ward in many places. I have seen such permits.
>>>
>>> The friends worker was stopped at a road block and had to wait 2
>>> days to get someone to vouch for him. During that time 4 people who
>>> had not got anyone to vouch for them were asked if they wore long
>>> sleeves or short sleeves. The first replied "short sleeves".
>>> They cut his right arm
>>> off at the top with an axe. The other three replied "long sleeves".
>>> They cut each of their right hands off.
>>>
>>> He said that he saw the hands wriggling on the ground detatched
>>> from their owners. Those hands can not vote any more. I have heard
>>> of many other hands like that.
>>>
>>> It seemed macabre that Bruce who was so badly assaulted by Moyo 6
>>> weeks ago was taking him back to "his" home scott free. Presumably
>>> all Bruces worldly possessions are now in that place that they took
>>> him to.
>>> Nettie asked Bruce to look out for their dog which also disappeared
>>> on the 6 May; but they most probably killed it. Bruce saw no
>>> evidence of it.
>>>
>>> There appears to be no sign of any SADC observors out here. A
>>> friend said he had seen some sipping drinks and reading the
>>> newspapers in the Meikles hotel in Harare over the weekend. Voter
>>> registration goes on even now.
>>> The old people at Greenways Old Peoples home say they are now off
>>> the voters role but the ones that are dead are still on...
>>>
>>> Meanwhile the atrocities go on at the all night pungwes and the
>>> people tremble with fear. I read that the observors are officially
>>> not allowed out after dark because their safety can not be
>>> guaranteed.
>>> They need to
>>> defy that and get out and see with their own eyes these things if
>>> they care at all.
>>>
>>> We ask you to pray and send brave people and peace keepers to stop
>>> the atrocities before they get even worse. Maybe I write this in
>>> vain; but I write this crying.
>>>
>>> With love in Christ who is our Saviour whatever happens,
>>>
>>> Ben.

UNSEC sanctions against Mugabe vetoed by Russia and China (no surprise there then).:rolleyes:

Meanwhile Mbeki continues to push his lips firmly up against Mad Bob's bottom. It's ironic that the ANC fought the old SA regime who they called illegitimate, yet prop up the illegitimate regime in Zimbabwe with a view to doing the same in SA in future.

It appears the liberation struggle was nothing more than a grubby little power grab with the aid of a gullible West.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/BlueDiamond01/MugabeKiss.jpg

:(

:hmm:

There's a problem with legitimacy as perceived by that useless form of governemnt termed western democracy sees it.
The pre 1994 South African government was illegitimate because it had not been elected by a majority of the whole population of citizens. Mugabe has been so elected, although the abuses in that process are common enough knowledge.
Whatever one may feel about the situation in Zimbabwe emotionally; the situation nonetheless is an internal one. Mugabe does not have weapons of mass destruction and if he chooses to deny Africa the fruits of his agricultural export market, that is his affair and that of the electorate.
Russia, China, Vietnam and Libya voted as they did, ostensibly for those reasons. Of those countries, only China would appear to have a vested trade interest in Zimbabwe.
South Africa on the other hand is in a rather difficult position. There is the stream of refugees which are at the moment playing some havoc with Johannesburg and surrounding areas. Mugabe may not have much control over the southward flow in terms of restrictions but he is certainly in a position to increase it. This is something which the South African government and probably most South Africans would prefer not to happen.
There is the military side of the equation too. Were South Africa to seriously irritate Mugabe, it could look for some sort of military posturing or worse along its long border with its northern neighbour. It is argueable that, if matters ever really came to a head, the South African untested conscript army could get the better of Mugabe's well trained and combat experienced troops. South Africa would not want a military or aeronautical confrontation with Zimbabwe under any circumstances.
Overlooking he purported familial or tribal relations between Mbeki and Mugabe we can now move on to the business community in South Africa.
Here is where you will find the real villains who have been supporting the Mugabe regime.
The shares of Implats, Impala Platinum, have risen from a 52 week low of some R17,000 to a 52 week high of R36,800 and while the share price has dropped back a little, given the present turmoil, Implats may look forward to greater economic gains in Zimbabwe. The same success story in that sorry country north of the Limpopo may also be claimed by Rio Tinto. South African banks have lent heavily in the past to Zimbabwe and may well still be doing so. Their rates of interest form a remarable profit base for them, or so it is rumoured at any rate.
So South Africa has done very well indeed out of its policy towards Zimbabwe. It has avoided any form of military conflict, contained a refugee problem within reasonable limits, possibly fomented a jingoistic reaction amongst its own citizens to drive some of the refugees back north of the border, and lined its pockets very lucrativly during the Mugabe years.
No indeed, I would say, with a very cynical but sane eye, that in these days of western style democracies, South Africa has played its Zimbabwe foreign policy with great aplomb and success. Furthermore, there will never be any serious recriminations no matter what happens with government in Zimbabwe. South Africa will be far too important a neighbour to offend when the time comes to rebuild the agricultural wasteland that is now what was Rhodesia. Mind you, it will not take too many years for that wasteland to extend as far south as the Karoo, but that, old bean, is another story still lost in the mists of the future. Still, I doubt that Anglo would ever let the rot get as far south as Kimberly.:D

Interesting points CC. Just one small inaccuracy - SA has a volunteer army, not conscripted. Unfortunately that army is a half trained rabble riddled with HIV and spring loaded to the offended position prepared to stand on their human rights at the smallest imagined slight should they be asked to actually do their jobs, murdering their officers willy nilly if they don't like the orders given them. As you say, Zim will wipe their feet on what's left of the SA military.:(

As for the rest of your points, many I agree with, while I've not entertained much thought about the others. Interesting that you think big business has tentacles in the pudding bowl nonetheless....

The Foreign Military Assistance Act is an act of parliament aimed at preventing SA citizens working for foreign militaries (700 odd SA squaddies in the Brit military) as well as denying external work to those who are unable to get a job in SA (fired from SA military and police for having the wrong colour skin or having a non govt sanctioned point of view). Strangely enough it doesn't seem to apply to this person:

'Torture chief a South African'

2008-7-11 07:11 Johannesburg

A senior Zanu-PF politburo official implicated in torture, kidnapping and a secret plan to harass and drive out opposition supporters in Zimbabwe is a South African citizen.

This is despite the fact that dual citizenship is outlawed by the Zimbabwean constitution.

Joshua Teke Malinga, 64, a former senator and mayor of Bulawayo, is a member of President Robert Mugabe's inner circle, and has been accused of establishing a "torture centre" near the Bulawayo central police station.

He also is accused of being one of the authors of a document setting out "covert operations to decompose (sic) the opposition" during recent presidential run-off elections.

'Dirty tricks' operations

The "action plan" drafted by senior members of Zanu-PF in Midlands province, called for supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change to be harassed and driven out of Zanu-PF strongholds.

Other dirty tricks operations included declaring "no-go areas" for the MDC in rural parts of the country, and writing threatening letters to "resettled" farmers purporting to come from the MDC and "harassing" them in MDC T-shirts so that they voted to defend their land.

South Africa, however, would have no jurisdiction to act against Malinga - who, like dozens of other senior Zanu-PF officials, has business ties to South Africa and owns property here - for crimes committed in Zimbabwe.

The wheelchair-bound Malinga, who owns three sectional-title units in Hillbrow, was until recently a director of the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD), a Cape town-based organisation that champions the rights of the disabled in Africa.

After queries from Beeld, however, the organisation announced that Malinga had been booted off the board.

South African by birth

SADPD's chief executive officer Kudakwashe Dube said the organisation "dissociated" itself from Malinga's political activities and condemned "in the strongest possible manner the violence that is prevailing in Zimbabwe".

He said the present board was "in the process of being replaced". Malinga had served with the secretariat since 2004.

Dube said: "We condemn the implementation of a discredited run-off 'election' and the harsh economic and political conditions that disabled people are experiencing."

He said the organisation did not have programmes running in Zimbabwe because of the "unstable and unacceptable" political situation there.

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that Malinga, who is on international sanctions lists in much of Europe, the United States and Australia, is a South African citizen by birth and is listed on the Population Register.

Detained at airport

"The department does not require citizens to disclose their occupations so the department would have no record that Mr Malinga was a politician in Zimbabwe," said spokesperson Siobhan McCarthy.

In 2002, Malinga and his wife were detained after they tried to board a flight to New York at Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom.

They were subsequently deported for violating European Union sanctions banning top Zanu-PF officials from travel abroad.

Malinga claimed the deportation order was a "violation of my human rights as a disabled person".

In March this year, SW Radio Africa - which broadcasts to Zimbabwe from London - reported that Malinga "is thought to have sanctioned two separate abductions of MDC activists".

'Supplying drugs daily'

Last month, The Zimbabwean newspaper, reported that Malinga had established a "torture centre" in Bulawayo. According to the report, "several MDC members have been kidnapped and taken there to be tortured".

"Malinga is understood to be supplying the youth militias with opaque beer (masese) and drugs on a daily basis."

Malinga denied the charges saying the "centre" was merely a "temporary" Zanu-PF office.

After last month's one-man election, Malinga was quoted as saying that "nobody on this earth" could stop Mugabe.

Malinga did not respond to e-mail questions sent to him by Beeld.

I'm wondering why there's no condemnation for the vetoes by China and Russia.

Or support for that matter. After all, China and Russia have said 'the UN shouldn't meddle in a country's internal affairs.'

Isn't that the charge that the usual suspects like to use against the US and allies regarding Iraq and Afghanistan?

Wrt Iraq & Afghanistan I would tend to agree with 'the usual suspects'.

And that's fine. I just look for them to apply their outrage consistently.

'If'n' they or you are against interfering with the internal workings of a nation despite the barbarity being applied to the citizens, then why no offerings of thanks to China and Russia for their stance on Zimbabwe?

This is a virtual soap box, good for posturing but that is about all. When one finds a suitable topic for that then the chocks are pulled and the rhetorical juggernaut rolls, crushing all in its path.

The U.S. thirst for ethanol is causing Africans to starve. Ooh, ooh! That makes 11 on the moral outrage scale that only runs to 10.

The peace-loving Chinese socialists are propping up Mugage. Err, we give that a 5 on a "slow news day". Otherwise it is just business as usual and it is extremely picky to single this sort of thing out.

Thabo Mbeke sees "no problems" in Zimbabwe. Yes, well, that is not for us to judge, really, so that gets a big, fat zero.

Tennis without a net, anyone?

Brick, haven't you discovered Iowahawk or Hayibo yet? You aren't trying to squeeze some sense out of Jet Blast are you?

...And Mbeki supports these people. God help us....:(

The Dirty Half-Dozen: The generals who are even more ruthless and bloodthirsty than Mugabe
By Andrew Malone
Last updated at 12:35 AM on 05th July 2008

His Excellency was perspiring, even though there was frost on the ground. In the palatial gardens of State House, the oak-panelled home of former British colonial rulers, Robert Mugabe's face glistened with sweat as he was declared President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. He pulled at his cuffs and glanced over his shoulder.

After 28 years of bloody rule - and two hours before the election results were announced 'live' on state-controlled TV - Mugabe appeared anxious as he was sworn in for a record sixth term this week. His opponents had been killed or forced at gunpoint to vote in rigged elections.

Yet it wasn't the international outcry over this that worried him. No, beneath the megalomania, what he must know is that he has already lost power, not to the persecuted opposition Movement for Democrat Change (MDC), but to a bloody - and secret - cabal.



Sitting behind Mugabe at the ceremony, as Chinese-built fighter jets screamed overhead, six men glowered and followed their dictator's every move.


Thickset and bursting out of their heavily decorated military uniforms, the watching men were The Generals - a group of cold-blooded killers who have seized power in Zimbabwe and revel in nicknames such as The Butcher and The Son Of God.

Dubbed the Dirty Half-Dozen or The Gang Of Six by Zimbabwe's traumatised people, The Generals have formed a military junta with terrifying plans to 'eliminate all opponents'. They forced Mugabe to hand over power to them at a meeting in State House, his HQ in Harare, the capital, days after he lost the first round of elections on March 29.

In a chilling turn of events, they arrived in a fleet of black Mercedes on April 5 and issued the President with an ultimatum: withhold the election results, stand aside and let them do their work to ensure they never again face a challenge to their lucrative, blood-thirsty rule.

Faced with exile and disgrace after this unthinkable defeat, not to mention the threat of being tried by the UN for war crimes, diplomats say Mugabe could see no way out.

He could agree to the deal in return for staying on as a figurehead president - or face the wrath of men responsible for some of Zimbabwe's bloodiest massacres, where pregnant women have been cut open and their unborn babies thrown down wells.

According to palace insiders, even Grace, Mugabe's wife, has turned against her husband. She was working as a security guard at State House when the President first spotted her and she officially became Zimbabwe's First Lady after Mugabe's first wife died. Grace relished the role, commandeering the country's aircraft for shopping sprees in Paris, London and Milan.

Now, however, she is furious at the prospect of losing the perks of office, which include five mansions and the delivery of boxes stuffed with millions of U.S. dollars to her home each month. She told Mugabe, 40 years her senior, to accept the deal offered by The Generals. Reluctantly, he agreed.

Mugabe ceded power to men schooled in torture and political assassinations at the infamous Chinese military academy in Nanking. At meetings held under their junta - called the Joint Operational Command (JOC), which controls the secret services, army, air force, police and prisons - The Generals decreed 'they will never give up power'.

To keep their promise, they have created a highly sophisticated state terror apparatus to quell future dissent. They are led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, a founding member of the notorious Crocodile Gang, who tortured and murdered white farmers during Mugabe's guerilla war against white rule in the late Seventies.

But Mnangagwa's cruelty was not confined to attacks on whites. He was also notorious for his role as director of intelligence during Operation Gukurahundi ('the rain that washes away the chaff'), a genocidal campaign against a breakaway guerilla faction led by Joshua Nkomo during the war of independence.

After being jailed during the days of white rule for his part in atrocities, he rose through the ranks of the ruling ZANU-PF party following independence in 1980. With an elaborate network of informers, Mnangagwa was responsible for directing the paramilitary Fifth Brigade against black enemy targets, particularly the supporters of Nkomo in Matabeleland in the south-west of the country.

Trained by North Korea and armed with the latest weapons, the Fifth Brigade has been blamed for the deaths of up to 20,000 people during the Matabeleland Massacres between 1982 and 1986. Many were killed at public executions. After being told to dig their own graves, with family and friends forced to look on, the victims were shot. Others were burned alive in their huts. Women and babies were thrown into boreholes used for water.



Along with Grace Mugabe and others in The Gang Of Six, Mnangagwa - who calls himself The Son Of God and claims to be accountable to no one - made millions by ordering troops into the Democratic Republic of Congo during the late Nineties.

In a war that claimed more than three million lives, the soldiers battled for control of the Congo's diamond mines - and Zimbabwe's state airline was used as part of an elaborate gem-smuggling operation that made an estimated £5 billion for those involved.

All this has made Mnangagwa - who has replaced Mugabe as chief of the Joint Operational Command - the wealthiest man in Zimbabwe. He has a magnificent walled palace in Harare with a helicopter pad, and a sprawling ranch.

His chief partner in crime is General Constantine Chiwenga, the head of Zimbabwe's defence forces, who lives in a sparkling white villa with swimming pools and servants' quarters, in splendid isolation on a hill overlooking the squalor of Harare.

Brusque and with a volcanic temper, Chiwenga led the Fifth Brigade during the genocide against Nkomo's Ndebele tribe. Known as The Butcher Of Matabeleland, he is reputed to have thrown suspected Nkomo supporters out of helicopters.

The behaviour of Chiwenga's wife, Jocelyn, a former prostitute, has not done much for his recent mood. She shops with an entourage of soldiers to push the poor out of the way - and once shouted at Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition, that she would 'take his manhood' when she spotted him in the street. She has also seized two farms from white owners, saying she would 'taste their blood' if they refused to hand over the land.

Along with Augustine Chihuri (head of the police), Paradzai Zimondi (head of prisons), Perence Shiri ( airforce) and Gideon Gono (in charge of funding), these are the men who intelligence sources in Harare say are in control of the country and 'running a regime within a regime.'

And they are as determined as any dictator that they will not give up power. As well as being wanted for war crimes, they suffer none of the hardships faced by millions of Zimbabweans every day. While many are reduced to killing wild animals and living off berries, The Generals live in Borrowdale Brook, an exclusive development in the north of the city.

At their own exclusive supermarket, stocked with goods smuggled in by road and air, the families and relatives of The Generals browse through a selection of fresh seafood, including lobster and tiger prawns, as well as the finest French wines and cheeses.

At a clandestine meeting with one dissident Zanu-PF source, down a dirt track surrounded by elephant grass that had grown to head height, I was shown documents purporting to outline the junta's 'final solution' against enemies of their regime.

In a strategy with chilling echoes of the Matabeleland Massacres, the documents reveal that the killing has only just started - and provide conclusive proof that ballot boxes were stuffed all over the country, 'watched by death squads with orders to kill opposition MPs'.

Of course, we cannot be sure that they are genuine, but they also apparently reveal that if Tsvangirai's MDC had not pulled out over fears of a bloodbath, the election 'results' would not have been released and he would have been charged with treason and hanged.

They state that the killing must continue even after Mugabe has cheated his way to power, 'with terror to be unleashed after the elections . . . [With] voting patterns to be assessed to determine where terror should be unleashed'.

As Tsvangirai remains in hiding at the Dutch Embassy after threats on his life, his supporters are on the run in the face of a brutal new crackdown. With foreign journalists banned and radio broadcasts from neighbouring countries blocked, the strategy is designed to ensure the scale of the onslaught does not reach the outside world.

Doctors at hospitals I visited reported a harrowing new medical phenomenon: the kidneys of victims 'exploding'. 'The blood cells burst during prolonged beatings, clogging the kidneys, which can't cope,' one doctor said, to the background noise of screaming from victims in the wards.

'The kidneys collapse and the patients die. It's horrible. It's ugly and it's getting worse. The Generals have killed and killed and killed. It is crude torture with horrific consequences. It's like there is a war - with only one side fighting it.' Lovemore Zilika, 47, was asleep at home when a gang high on drink and drugs started throwing rocks through his windows.

They pounced when he went to investigate, beating him using crude clubs with nails sticking out. Lifting his dressings to show masses of red, shredded flesh, Lovemore also had both legs broken in 20 places. His legs are in plaster up to his groin and they may have to be amputated.

'These people are killers,' he said. 'They only left me because they thought I was dead. As they beat me, they kept asking why I wanted to support the MDC. These people are not human.'

One woman said she was beaten and taken to a hut in the bush, where she was repeatedly raped. 'There were ten,' she said, weeping.

Another victim, a 42-year- old man who gave his name only as Gudzai, told how he was dragged from his home at night. As his arms and legs were broken with iron bars and rocks, he kept slipping into unconsciousness. 'They would throw water over me to make me come round,' he said. 'Then they started beating me again.'

This has prompted warnings that the people will rise up - and wreak awful revenge on their rulers, with the country sliding into civil war. Yet even the most committed MDC activists were last week in hiding fearing the 'final solution.'

After being called late at night this week, I was taken to a safe house - one of dozens used to hide 'enemies of the regime' before they can be smuggled out of the country. After a raft of elaborate security precautions, I was introduced to three MDC officials whose names are on death lists distributed by the junta.

Kimberley, 26, was held at four torture camps last week. He was forced to simulate sex with a hole in the ground and beaten with logs. He was put in a cell with two rotting bodies for 24 hours and was denounced by fellow opposition supporters, who had been beaten for hours into submission.

'They kept shouting at me that I was a sell-out,' he told me, grinning despite his injuries. 'They burned my home and those of my relatives. They blindfolded and tortured me. I was eventually dumped in the bush. They thought I was dead. I couldn't walk, but villagers helped me.'

The interview was interrupted. A car had been heard. Kimberley told me to go before 'they' came.

Asked if he had a message for the West, he said: 'The world needs to mobilise to get rid of these people. I have a baby daughter and I want her to grow up without fear. That's all any of us want.'

But The Gang Of Six has too much to lose. As one Western diplomat told me before I slipped out of Zimbabwe: 'These men will not give up power. They are in too deep. They have too much blood on their hands. They have shown they will stop at nothing to keep what they have got.'

Pity the brave people of Zimbabwe. For I suspect that even the removal of Robert Mugabe will not be enough to save them.

So much for democracy....:rolleyes:

More trouble for Malema? 14/07/2008 22:19 - (SA)

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance is asking the SA Human Rights Commission to investigate a reported statement by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema on the "elimination" of the DA.

"In the context of Mr Malema's previous exhortation for people to 'kill in support of Jacob Zuma', it is not unreasonable to assume that Malema is calling for the killing of members of the DA or those who are earnestly working in our judicial institutions to ensure that justice is dispensed without fear of favour," said DA parliamentary caucus leader Sandra Botha on Monday.

"Malema may have adjusted his vocabulary, but his intentions clearly remain the same."

Botha said the DA wrote to the SAHRC on the matter on Monday.

Counter-revolution

In a speech prepared for delivery at a funeral on Sunday, Malema said that as the country prepares for the 2009 general elections, questions need to be asked in relation to how service delivery can be accelerated, and poverty halved by 2014.

He said this could only have meaning if "we rise above our petty differences and work together in building a South Africa we can all be proud of.

"We must also intensify the struggle to eliminate the remnants of counter-revolution, which include the DA and a loose coalition of those who want to use state power to block the ANC president's ascendancy to the highest office of the land."

The DA said that given the high levels of violence prevalent in South Africa and the country's history of intolerance, "such comments are not only reckless in the extreme, they constitute a clear and present danger to our constitutional order".

Botha said Malema's comments would create a "climate of intolerance and an acceptance of violence" to further political ends.

The party believed it important that the SAHRC clamps down on similar statements made in the future.

More synonyms for kill

By Malema's assurance that he will never use the word "kill" again in public, the DA believed the SAHRC had created the space for Malema to undermine democracy.

"If the HRC fails to take swift action against Malema now, then it is likely that we will see Malema merely finding more synonyms for the word "kill" in future statements."

During a Youth Day rally in Thaba Nchu in the Free State in June, Malema said: "We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma."

He said the word "kill" was meant to demonstrate love and passion for Zuma.

A week later Congress of SA Trade Unions secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said: "So yes, because Jacob Zuma is one of us, and he is one of our leaders, for him, we are prepared to lay our lives and to shoot and kill."

Monday is the deadline the SAHRC set for Vavi to apologise.

Ah, but the West is taking positive retaliatory action. Bob and the six generals must be shaking in their boots (http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/156414)

They'll be completely devastated to hear that news. :rolleyes:

They'll be completely devastated to hear that news.

When will the horror stop?



Cincinnati's already been pretty devastated....







I know, way too obvious..

Mugabe hires foreign fighters to spread terror - 16 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: World / International News (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10521789)

World Story
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mugabe hires foreign fighters to spread terror
5:00AM Wednesday July 16, 2008



Robert Mugabe has scores to settle with the opposition. Photo / AP
Foreign mercenaries have joined so-called "war veterans" and militiamen attacking opposition supporters in rural parts of Zimbabwe, human rights workers say.

Witnesses say the men are more vicious than their Zimbabwean counterparts, with the marauding gangs attacking suspected members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), forcing them to renounce the party.

They dress in army fatigues, carry Russian-made guns and are accompanied by interpreters when out with the militias.

Patrick Chitaka, the MDC chairman in Manicaland province in the east of the country, said the foreigners had been identified in the past two to three weeks supporting Government-backed men.

"Some of the people leading the violence are foreigners because they speak a different language and they do not understand our local languages. The tactics they are using are not peculiar with Zimbabweans ... they are cutting out the tongue, removing eyes and genital parts. We are not sure where they come from."

It is the first time reports of foreigners fighting alongside Zanu-PF have surfaced. Since losing the presidential vote on March 29, Robert Mugabe and an inner circle of military and intelligence chiefs have launched a military campaign of violence against opposition areas which voted against him and his party.

More than 100 people have been killed, thousands injured and more than 200,000 displaced as gangs target one-time MDC strongholds.

Mugabe was re-elected in a run-off last month after his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out.

The claims of violence were supported by human rights workers in Manicaland yesterday. A spokesman for one group who did not want to be named said observers on the ground had witnessed "tens, if not hundreds" of foreigners accompanying Government-backed militias. He said the soldiers were not from neighbouring countries but were more likely from farther north in Africa, possibly Rwanda, Kenya or Uganda.

Local people claim the irregular forces are Hutus from Rwanda, but the human rights representative said he could not be sure. There are an estimated 4000 Hutu refugees living in Zimbabwe, some of whom took part in the genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994. Many fled the country, seeking asylum after the killings, which destabilised neighbouring countries especially the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The human rights official said: "These men do not speak any local languages and are extremely violent. They are attacking people in their homes and as they get off buses, giving them terrible beatings. We do not know what these people are doing in Zimbabwe. There is a problem identifying these people. You cannot go to the police because they say it is political - they are not interested."

The spokesman said observers in two constituencies - Makoni South and Makoni West - west of Zimbabwe's third city of Mutare, had calculated there were up to 200 foreigners spread across both areas.

Chitaka said: "They have gang-raped women and abducted them. People are missing but families are too afraid to look for them."

Rwandan refugees fear they may be sent home if an MDC-led Government came to power. Despite internationally backed efforts to rehabilitate Hutu refugees, fears remain among exiles that those returning will face persecution from the government of President Paul Kagame.

Among those Hutus staying in Zimbabwe is said to be Protais Mpiranya - the former head of the Rwandan presidential guard during the 1994 genocide.

He is on the wanted list of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, but is suspected to have strong business links with senior Zimbabwe Army officers.

- INDEPENDENT

He's in good company then. Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia and Jean-Bertrande Aristide of Haiti are already living the high life in Zim and SA respectively. No doubt on the backs of the taxpayers of those countries.:rolleyes:

So...is it a case of.....Africa for Africans, hmm? Is SA following the rest??

:confused:

Unfortunately yes, if you mean "Africa for uncivilised tribal black people who refuse to evolve into decent human beings".

If you have an argument which proposes that the white people who have inhabited South Africa for 10 generations are somehow not actually Africans, I'd love to hear it.

Ooooh! Arguement baiting! This should be good. Bring it on! :ouch:

Good column in NY Times today by Tom Friedman, he hits the nail on the head with this one. For all those who can't wait for a world without the US, and dominated by Russia and China, we have a glimpse of what it will look like: I am neither a Russia-basher nor a China-basher. But there was something truly filthy about Russia’s and China’s vetoes of the American-led U.N. Security Council effort to impose targeted sanctions on Robert Mugabe’s ruling clique in Zimbabwe.
The U.S. put forward a simple Security Council resolution, calling for an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, the appointment of a U.N. mediator, plus travel and financial restrictions on the dictator Mugabe and 13 top military and government officials for stealing the Zimbabwe election and essentially mugging an entire country in broad daylight....

...No matter. Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, argued that the targeted sanctions that the U.S. and others wanted to impose on Mugabe’s clique exceeded the Security Council’s mandate. “We believe such practices to be illegitimate and dangerous,” he said, describing the resolution as one more obvious “attempt to take the Council beyond its charter prerogatives.” Veto!
Mugabe’s campaign of murder and intimidation didn’t strike Churkin as “illegitimate and dangerous” — only the U.N. resolution to bring a halt to it was “illegitimate and dangerous.” Shameful. Meanwhile, China is hosting the Olympics, a celebration of the human spirit, while defending Mugabe’s right to crush his own people’s spirit.
But when it comes to pure, rancid moral corruption, no one can top South Africa’s president, Thabo Mbeki, and his stooge at the U.N., Dumisani Kumalo. They have done everything they can to prevent any meaningful U.N. pressure on the Mugabe dictatorship.
As The Times reported, America’s U.N. ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, “accused South Africa of protecting the ‘horrible regime in Zimbabwe,’ ” calling this particularly disturbing given that it was precisely international economic sanctions that brought down South Africa’s apartheid government, which had long oppressed that country’s blacks.
So let us now coin the Mbeki Rule: When whites persecute blacks, no amount of U.N. sanctions is too much. And when blacks persecute blacks, any amount of U.N. sanctions is too much.
Which brings me back to America. Perfect we are not, but America still has some moral backbone. There are travesties we will not tolerate. The U.N. vote on Zimbabwe demonstrates that this is not true for these “popular” countries — called Russia or China or South Africa — that have no problem siding with a man who is pulverizing his own people.
So, yes, we’re not so popular in Europe and Asia anymore. I guess they would prefer a world in which America was weaker, where leaders with the values of Vladimir Putin and Thabo Mbeki had a greater say, and where the desperate voices for change in Zimbabwe would, well, just shut up.

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=38735


'They jumped on her': South Africa: News: News24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2358800,00.html) This happened less than a mile from where I live.:(


Couple's killers took nothing: South Africa: News: News24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2350375,00.html)

Jesus, Rusty, I hope you're packing; possessions to get out, and heat while you're still there.

Faith.

If you have an argument which proposes that the white people who have inhabited South Africa for 10 generations are somehow not actually Africans, I'd love to hear it.


I agree, BlueWolf! No argument here! :ok:

Let's not get carried away here! I don't think Africans really need to "evolve." The problems are with the rulers and not the people, aren't they?

If you want to get all huffy about the Russians and the Chinese at the U.N. well, I seem to recall that the good old U.S.A. was lined up supporting the Khmer Rouge and Saddam Hussein too, not so long ago. Funny thing, that...

Does that sort of thing say more about the basic validity of what goes on at the U.N. than it does about just how much "morality" you find in high-level diplomacy? You know, people say it is all about promoting your own country's national interests and letting those elsewhere go hang, hence some of the obscenities you see perpetrated.

Zimbabwe introduces $100 billion note - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/20/2308681.htm?section=justin)

And one of them won't even buy a loaf of bread. The muppets just don't get it.

Cheaper to wipe yer butt with it than buy toilet paper. :uhoh:

My local pub in Norfolk has banknotes pinned to the ceiling (just for a change).

One, in pride of place, is a $2 Zim note. Apparently, when it was put there it was worth a packet of peanuts. Now, you'd need some millions of $Zim for a peanut.

Good work, Mr Mugabe - a real success at running a country. Soon, you'll be able to abandon currency altogether and go back to bartering.

The calibre of leader and the level of intellect we have running SA.

We're fecked.....:(

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=39001

:hmm:

Yes but if the hijackers think as he does, he's almost certainly correct in what he says.

It is interesting to note that Gordon Brown, that well known Scotchman who would like to be thought of as British, has just pledged something like £30 million to Pakistan. On almost, if not quite the same day, he figuratively threatened to wipe Iran off the face of the earth, by the use of sanctions, if it did not abandon its nuclear weapons program. Without providing any proof that Iran has such a program, Gordon Brown went on to say that he had always, since childhood, been pretty much of an Israeli himself.
Thus, in the space of a few short days, the stalwart Scotch has managed to insult the Sunnis in Pakistan, where much of international terrorism is rumoured to arise, by supporting Israel, and the Sufis in Iran by giving monetary aid to Pakistan, whose Sunnis do not get on particularly well with the Sufis in Iran. In fact, in the past, the two tribes of Islam have rivaled each other in the more humanitarian exercise of minefield clearance.
Now with the latest news that Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai have signed a mutual non aggression pact, the canny Scotchman may be expected to wend southwards to Zimbabwe in order to claim credit for stabilising the country that was so thrown into strife by his party predecessor, Harold Wilson. While one cannot quite expect Mr Mugabe to be offered the honour of a knighthood one might reasonably suppose that an aircraft of The Queen's Flight would be put on standby to safely transport him away from the wrath of his military backers to his new home in Seychelles, where, it is more than rumoured, he has been offered sanctuary and citizenship. This has of course come at a price. Passports and citizenship of Seychelles were last reported on the market for $100,000. Mr Mugabe will likely have paid far more than that for the same privileges for his wife and entourage. Mr Mugabe will thus join a long line of distinguished personages in exile who, like Archbishop Makarios before him, made their home in Paradise. It is understood that once Mr Mugabe is established in his sea view mansion on Mahe, Mr & Mrs Blair and Leo will be joining the Mugabe's for part of the coming Christmas holidays. A wing of the Mugabe mansion is being decorated especially to accommodate Mrs Blair's taste for the bizarre and birth control devices will be fitted as standard in the twin bathrooms.:cool:

Could this (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aesIa58aMqFA&refer=africa) really be the breakthrough it seems to be? An agreement, facilitated by South Africa, has apparently been signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai with regard to opening talks aimed at developing a "unity government."

Is it just possible that Mugabe will do the right thing by his country? Or is this, somehow, just another move from the Dirty Tricks Dept?

Sadly, it would seem that Mad Bob isn't even really in charge anymore; so if the Chinese-backed Military Junta which has propped him up these past few years, and which runs things behind the scenes, wants to add a new character to the Puppet Show, it will make little difference.

Morgan Thingummy apparently isn't very popular with the South Africans, there is another chap who is more favoured by Mbeki in particular - name of Welshman Ncuma or similar (bizzare I know, but there you go) who will probably replace him when Morgan gets knifed in the back and Uncle Bob slips off, either to exile or from this mortal coil.

Then things will look all pretty for the world, nothing will change for the average Zimbabwean, China will re-currency the place, the mines will go into overdrive, the tobacco plantations will flourish again, and everyone will be happy, unless they're Zimbabwean, but especially if they're Chinese or Western.

:ugh:

Don't think much of any value will come of it: Mbeki using it as a face saving ploy while Tsvangirai tries to get a foot in the door which will be slammed on him when Bob and the generals get tired of the charade. Mugabe and company will not relinquish power as long as there's a slim chance of holding on so the whole thing is futile while ZANU-PF still pulls the strings.


I'd like to be proved wrong but I think BW pretty much has it.:(

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/Badyin/Mugabwe.jpg

So, now they've lured Morgan out of the Dutch Embassy, all bets are off ... I'll give him six months, unfortunately...

Are Zuma supporters threatening war?

July 24 2008 at 04:01PM

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) intends bringing an application for a stay of the prosecution of ANC president Jacob Zuma, it announced on Thursday.

It would intervene as an interested party should a similar application by Zuma fail, ANCYL president Julius Malema said in Johannesburg.

Under the banner of the Progressive Youth Alliance, the ANCYL and a number of other organisations had threatened to bring Pietermaritzburg to a standstill when Zuma went to court on August 4.

He would be applying for the corruption trial against him to be declared unconstitutional.

The alliance contended that there had been a plot to ensure Zuma did not become president of the country.

Asked whether President Thabo Mbeki was behind the plot, Malema said he did not know.

The people conspiring against Zuma were to be found "everywhere", including business, the media, political parties, the ANC, the opposition and the judiciary.

The alliance claimed that organs of state were being abused to wage the campaign against Zuma, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

The alliance said it had possession of a document outlining an NIA request for an extension of the surveillance it had conducted on the ANC's national conference in Polokwane in December.

"What threat did delegates pose other than ousting Mbeki?" asked Young Communist League national secretary Buti Manamela, submitting that state institutions could not be used to support "a particular political route".

"You can't have state institutions being abused," he said.

The alliance also claimed the fraud case against Zuma's former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was part of the plot, as was the complaint against Cape Judge President John Hlophe.

Shaik was found to have made "corrupt payments" to Zuma.

Hlophe had been accused of approaching some of the Constitutional Court's judges improperly while they were deliberating cases involving Zuma.

"We doubt people will stand back and watch (Zuma) walk into jail for things manufactured [to destroy his public profile]," said Manamela.

Manamela said the Umkhonto we Sizwe Veterans' Association (MKVA) and the ANCYL had sought legal opinion on their course of action.

"We are now consolidating all these particular processes to ensure we have one uniform process," he said.

Their legal team had met with Zuma's legal team.

Said Malema: "We have concluded this issue is not a criminal case, it is a political case.

"There should be a political intervention," he added, explaining that it was this action that the alliance would be undertaking.

It would go from street to street and door to door in villages, townships and everywhere else mobilising students, the youth, women the elderly and soldiers in the runup to the trial.

The people who would ensure Zuma got a fair trial were "militant and radical" but "disciplined" members of the ANC, he said.

"You will see us in action. You will see what militant means. We are not going to tolerate any situation that undermines the president of the ANC," he said, but stopped short of suggesting that they might take up arms.

"We'll take our masses along, for as long as we've got our masses on our side, we'll win this revolution," said Malema.

Among the actions which would be undertaken by the alliance ahead of Zuma's court appearance was a signature campaign in support of its call for a permanent stay of prosecution, it said.

Zuma supporters would hold a night vigil the Sunday before his appearance and into the Monday and Tuesday when the court would be in session. - Sapa

Oh, the irony........:rolleyes:

"What threat did delegates pose other than ousting Mbeki?" asked Young Communist League national secretary Buti Manamela, submitting that state institutions could not be used to support "a particular political route".

Perhaps Australia can help by banning Zimbabwian overflights?

ZIMBABWE is using Australian air space to ferry to China high-ranking military officials and war veterans, some responsible for political thuggery and violent disruption of elections under Robert Mugabe's repressive regime.
Flights from Harare, also carrying tonnes of illicit goods including ivory, gold and diamonds, pass directly through Australian air space en route to Singapore before touching down in Beijing and southern China.

Source:
Exposed: Mugabe's secret flights | theage.com.au (http://www.theage.com.au/world/exposed-mugabes-secret-flights-20080721-3iri.html)

I suspect the flights don't actually overfly Australia - merely pass through the FIR....

"The Zimbabwe dollar will be redenominated by a factor of one to 10, which means we are removing 10 zeros from our monetary value.
Ten billion dollars today will be reduced to Z$1... effective from 1 August,"
(More at:- BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Zimbabwe introduces new currency (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7532702.stm) )

Bet even Mugabe won't have the nerve to do a Harold Wilson - 'Of course, this will not affect the dollar in your pocket'.

Investigators are probing multimillion pound payments from Britain through secret accounts to a key ally of President Robert Mugabe

Britain’s BAE Systems, the world’s fourth biggest arms company, has paid over £25 million (US$49.5 mn.) to a company whose majority Zimbabwean shareholder is a long-time business ally of President Robert Mugabe’s regime. The multiple investigations into BAE’s role in the affair, which appear to be nearing conclusion, are likely to have serious political repercussions in Britain and South Africa.


Arms and the men | Article | Africa Confidential (http://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/2723/Arms-and-the-men)

By eTN | Jul 30, 2008

ZIMBABWE (July 30, 2008) - The Foreign and Commonwealth Office today changed its travel advice for Zimbabwe. Due to an increase in the intensity of violence we now advise against all but essential travel to Zimbabwe. The relevant summary point now reads:

"We advise against all but essential travel to Zimbabwe at this time. The
situation remains unpredictable and incidents of violence across the country
continue - it could deteriorate further, without warning."

You think...?

Zanu-PF baulks at Tsvangirai for PM
Njabulo Ncube Published:Aug 03, 2008


Hardliners in Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF are resisting a proposal to have opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai appointed as prime minister under a power-sharing arrangement.

President Thabo Mbeki is expected to address the issue when the talks resume in Pretoria today. The talks broke down last Tuesday despite Tsvangirai’s willingness to work with Mugabe in a new government comprising members of Zanu-PF and Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change.

Speaking from Senegal on Thursday, Tsvangirai intimated that the talks would run well beyond their deadline of tomorrow when he remarked that the date was “not inflexible”.

Mbeki reportedly told Mugabe this week that no government of national unity would be possible as long as he held executive power.

One Zanu-PF insider told the Sunday Times: “We will not accept anything other than that President Mugabe remains the executive president as he won the presidential run-off on June 27. Tsvangirai must be content with the third post of vice-president.

“The Zanu-PF politburo has resolved that while the party is committed to the talks, the issue of president is non-negotiable and we will reiterate the issue when we resume talks (today) .”

An MDC official also at the talks in Pretoria said the party wanted Tsvangirai to be prime minister. He said if Zanu-PF accepted this the negotiations would be concluded in less than a fortnight.

“Tsvangirai won the March 29 election, but we are willing to compromise . .. What we have a problem with is him being made a third vice-president, which is largely a ceremonial post,” the official said.

According to Zanu-PF and MDC sources, the issue of who would wield “real” power in the negotiated settlement is one of four contentious issues that led to the breakdown of the talks.

Other sticking points are the duration of the transitional period, the constitutional amendments required to allow the transitional government and the establishment of a commission to probe atrocities under Mugabe’s rule.

"We will not accept anything other than that President Mugabe remains the executive president as he won the presidential run-off on June 27."

WTF!?



Meanwhile, farther South ....

Mbeki rejects arms deal allegations
Sapa Published:Aug 03, 2008



The report which purports to be a result of a six months’ investigation is but a hotch-potch recycling of allegations

The presidency has rejected renewed allegations of arms deal corruption involving President Thabo Mbeki, and denied he received any bribes from contractors.


"The presidency has noted today’s [Sunday] front page article of the Sunday Times headlined: ’Mbeki took R30-million and gave some to [ANC President Jacob] Zuma’," a presidency statement said.

"The report which purports to be a result of a six months’ investigation is but a hotch-potch recycling of allegations that have from time to time been peddled against the government’s strategic defence procurement package.

"This time the Sunday Times outdoes itself by placing a spurious allegation in the public domain, ie President Thabo Mbeki received a bribe of R30 million from MAN Ferrostaal.

"The presidency would like to place it on record that President Thabo Mbeki has never at any stage received any amount of money from MAN Ferrostaal.

"The Sunday Times or anyone who has evidence that the President or anyone else received bribe(s) in the procurement process should, as we have emphasised before, approach the law enforcement agencies," the presidency said.

The findings of the joint investigation into the arms deal had found no evidence of "any improper or unlawful conduct by the government".

Earlier on Sunday, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille urged Mbeki to appoint a commission of inquiry into the renewed allegations and explain his alleged involvement.

"If the President facilitated a R2 million bribe for Jacob Zuma and R28 million for the ANC, it would show that the ANC is rotten to the core," she said.

It would explain why Mbeki and the ANC had "blocked every attempt to investigate the arms deal".

"President Mbeki must now explain himself to the nation in a televised address without delay. We have the right to hear his side of the story.

He has the right to tell his side of the story. But we want the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"Whether he admits or denies the allegation, the President must appoint a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, headed by a judge of impeccable reputation and with full powers of subpoena, to fully investigate every aspect of the arms deal," Zille said.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said he was "disgusted" by the allegations.

"But we are not surprised. Can we trust the ANC leadership — both Mbeki and Zuma? Mbeki and the ANC have been asked many times to appoint a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

"It explains why the newly elected lynch mob that controls the ANC is reluctant to trust the judiciary, because they are aware of these shady dealings and schemes," Holomisa said.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille also called for an independent inquiry.

The latest allegation of corruption were in line with information contained in the original "De Lille Dossier", she said.

"It is high time that all the allegations in the De Lille Dossier are investigated by an independent judicial commission of inquiry that can lead to the prosecution of all those implicated in the Arms Deal," De Lille said.


The Dud Submarine
Megan Power and Jocelyn Maker Published:Aug 03, 2008

Vessel stuck in dry dock after a litany of problems

The first of the three German Type 209 submarines bought in South Africa’s notorious arms deal has spent most of the past six months out of the water.

SAS Manthatisi S101, delivered to Simon’s Town in April 2006, has been plagued by serious defects, including hull valve problems, and the vessel has languished in dry dock for months.

Problems are not new to this vessel. On its maiden journey to South Africa from Germany, its snort-mast (air intake for diesel engine) housing imploded, putting the boat and its crew at risk.

Some weeks ago, on returning to the water, S101’s batteries were flat. Contrary to correct procedure, the boat was connected to an onshore power supply, causing an implosion. As a result, the submarine is back on land again. The Sunday Times has also established that:

# The SA navy has only enough crew to man two of the three submarines;

# As quickly as the navy trains submariners, they’re poached by the private sector for higher salaries;

# The navy doesn’t have enough money to fully or properly operate more than two frigates and one submarine, and even less money available to maintain four frigates and three submarines;

# When SAS Queen Modjadji S103, which arrived in Simon’s Town a few weeks ago, had to undertake its first safety dive in Germany, the South African crew refused to take part as they were too afraid;

# A new navy arms deal is on the cards to acquire the kind of vessels that should have been bought in the first place; and

# Cabinet has approved the purchase of a fifth corvette, an option built into the 1999 arms deal.

Yesterday, Department of Defence spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi sai d that the S101 submarine had had “normal” problems, including “hull valve challenges” that had been rectified.

“Additional engineering changes for the entire class are planned to be carried out as the boats are being optimised for local conditions,” he said.

He confirmed that crew numbers were a problem, saying that after spending a lot of money training submariners for the 209s, they had been lost to the private sector.

“We want to ask the private sector to recruit and train their own people and to stop poaching ours,” said Mkhwanazi. Submarine allowances to retain crew were in the pipeline, he sai d.

South Africa’s military strategy, he said, was to operate two submarines in peacetime and only bring in a third in the event of war.

He denied that the crew of S103 had been afraid to do safety dives in Germany, saying they were not “contractually allowed” to complete sea acceptance trials prior to the handover.

In the new arms deal, the navy wants to include at least six offshore patrol vessels, costing around R280-million each, and one or two helicopter landing vessels , capable of carrying troops, equipment, jeeps, helicopters and even a mobile hospital. These carrier vessels were designed specifically for peacekeeping and disaster relief work.

Tenders for this new equipment could go out as early as next year.

Mbeki’s justification for spending R30-billion on the arms package was so that South Africa could become the dominant peacekeeping force in Africa. But navy experts and inside sources say submarines are offensive weapons, not designed for peacekeeping purposes, and that the four frigates also do not meet the navy’s pressing need for vessels to protect SA’s fishing rights, gas resources and to deter the growing incidence of piracy and smuggling.

Mkhwanazi said no final decisions had been made on new purchases and that the department was “engaged in internal processes” aimed at implementing a cabinet decision to buy the fifth frigate.

Skullduggery that is being swept under the carpet by the govt disbanding the only independent investigating team in the country and passing legislation to allow those caught with their fingers in the till to slither off the hook.

Just another third world banana republic....:(

Okay, I just have to ask;

As quickly as the navy trains submariners, they’re poached by the private sector for higher salaries;

Submarines, private sector?

There are private sectors that own and operate submarines? I do realize of course that drug smugglers from Mexico and Colombia have used some very primitive semi-submersible type vessels, but not proper submarines.

Any ideas on that SRT?

Not a clue. It's an excuse they've used in the past regarding Air Force pilots leaving for the airlines. Wonder if it wasn't just said in the hope the public would fall for it again while they continue to lose skilled people from all branches to the private sector due to poor salaries, lack of leadership and dwindling career opportunities.

The SA military is completely dysfunctional and has an HIV infected personnel rate of around 50%. Skilled people are leaving in droves to be replaced by those with no experience and minimal skills.


Meanwhile, the ANC continues to plunder the country.:(

Okay, using that context I guess it makes sense. Very sad really, as I have been told by many US Military personnel that the old SA Armed Forces were very professional and admired. Of course that was in the old WWII days.

Have you ever read any of Wilbur Smith's books/novels? If so, does he accurately portray life in old and modern day South Africa?

Believe it or not I've read nearly all of his books, many that I could not get in the US, I was only able to find them when I was flying internationally.

CP, you don't have to go back as far as WWII to find good soldiers from SA, I have had the pleasure of "serving" with many more recent "exers" who were as professional as it gets and a reassurance to have around.

They had a solid training, based on and combined with experience of genuine individual combat, a common sense attitude (rare in some ex military types...) and an overarching esprit de corps which, to their comrades that made them stand out.

In all kinds of scenarios, I've never known one to lack initiative & balls.

(Etienne... if you're reading this, thanks for saving my ass :E)

mini - biased... :ok:

PS, for many years, my best workmate was a ret'd US Marine Colonel, still get a lump in my throat when I think of his passing. Amazing guy. Didn't have that local empathy though... loads of stats etc but just didn't get it...

mini - biased...

You're not biased when you are correct mini. :ok:

5km from where I live. Right next to my local airport.:(

'No, my love'... then 7 shots
04/08/2008 07:47 - (SA)

Virginia Keppler, Beeld

Pretoria - An elderly man from Doornpoort in Pretoria was shot several times and his wife was assaulted early on Saturday morning, before they were robbed.

Emilio Couto, 67, collapsed and died in a pool of blood where the robbers shot him.

His wife, Maria, 59, tried to push the bedroom door closed while the robbers fired shots through the door.

She said her husband's last words were: "No, my love."

The robbers broke the burglar bars on the kitchen window and then unlocked the kitchen door.

Emilio woke up first. Maria said: "I heard him say, 'No, my love,' and I woke up because I thought he was having a nightmare."

When she realised what was happening, she tried to push the bedroom door closed.

Then, it was quiet

"At that stage, I didn't realise that my husband wasn't in the room with me anymore. Then I heard four shots as they were shooting at me through the door."

Emilio was fighting the attackers outside the door. Maria said: "It was God's hand that one of the shots did not hit me."

Maria said she heard shots again and then it was quiet. The robbers then kicked the door open and hit her on the head and shoulder with a firearm.

"I screamed and they shouted: 'Keep quiet, keep quiet.' They wanted to know where our safe, guns and cellphones were. I said we didn't have a safe or guns."

The robbers took the couple's four cellphones, some jewellery and a laptop. They dropped the plasma-screen television and it broke.

After the robbers had fled, Maria pressed the panic button. She said the security company, Computer Alarm, did not respond.

Took part in march

"Eighteen years ago, my mother Deloris de Freitas, 66, was murdered in her house in Johannesburg.

"I even took part in the march against crime, but they (the murderers) just come back," she said, crying.

"I had a wonderful husband. He was always protective and loving. I'm going to miss him."

A suspect, who worked for the couple some time ago, has been taken in for questioning.

An employee at Computer Alarms said the owners of the company were not available for comment.

Ironic really....:suspect:



04/08/2008 09:01 - (SA)

Erika Gibson, Beeld

Simon's Town - The navy is going to dedicate its only extensive visit abroad this year to supporting the government's diplomatic relations in China and other eastern countries, at a cost of about R30m.

In the past and due to the navy's limited budget, these types of visits usually focused on training and joint exercises with naval allies.

"Strategically seen, the saying is that you keep your friends close and your enemies closer," said military analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman.

"China is a future colonial power in Africa and it makes sense for South Africa to seek favour now.

This will mean that South Africa will become a client rather than a colony of China in the future.

And another strand is added to the tangled web...

LONDON (Africa Confidential) 1 Aug 2008

Investigators are probing multimillion pound payments from Britain through secret accounts to a key ally of President Robert Mugabe

Britain’s BAE Systems, the world’s fourth biggest arms company, has paid over £25 million (US$49.5 mn.) to a company whose majority Zimbabwean shareholder is a long-time business ally of President Robert Mugabe’s regime. The multiple investigations into BAE’s role in the affair, which appear to be nearing conclusion, are likely to have serious political repercussions in Britain and South Africa.

The recipient of the payments was British Virgin Islands-registered Kayswell Services, whose signatories include majority shareholder John Bredenkamp, Jules Pelissier and Graham Andrews, according to company records seen by Africa Confidential. BAE made the payments in mid-2003 through its Red Diamond Trading subsidiary, also registered in the British Virgin Islands. Within a year, Kayswell had transferred more than £10 mn. to Bredenkamp.

BAE’s secret agents
Through his network of military equipment companies, such as Aviation Consulting Services and Raceview, Bredenkamp became an important supplier to the Zimbabwe Defence Force and a supporter of Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Chairman of the Joint Operation Command (AC Vol 49 No 15). Bredenkamp has indefinite leave to remain in Britain. ACS, which is registered in both Britain and Zimbabwe, was the Southern African agent for BAE and Italy’s Agusta military aviation company.

However, Bredenkamp’s spokesman said his client had not ‘to the best of my knowledge supplied military equipment to the Zimbabwe government since European Union sanctions were introduced (in February 2002).’ BAE’s payments to its agents are being investigated in several jurisdictions. Richard Alderman, the Director of Britain’s Serious Fraud Office, which has been under fire since it halted an investigation into a BAE arms deal with Saudi Arabia, pledged on 30 July to reinforce efforts to conclude its investigations into BAE’s £1.6 billion deal with South Africa. Bredenkamp denies he played any role in the BAE arms deal, but SFO and Ministry of Defence officials raided his offices in Berkshire in October 2006.

Asked about why BAE had paid Kayswell over £25 mn., Bredenkamp’s spokesman said ‘it would be inappropriate to comment while the investigation is continuing.’ A spokesman for BAE also declined to comment on matters that were ‘commercially sensitive’.

BAE’s £1.6 bn. arms deal with South Africa, under which it is to supply 24 Hawk fighter trainers and 26 Gripen advanced light fighters, will come under more scrutiny after recent progress in the investigations. Until now President Thabo Mbeki has resisted pressure to open a probe into the entire arms deal. South African investigators have focused on the Thales deal, to which Mbeki’s rival Jacob Zuma is linked. Now the African National Congress is pressing for a full investigation.

Mbeki chaired the ministerial committee in 1997-98 that controlled the evaluation of bids in the arms deal. It was Mbeki and his ministers who decided to accept the deal despite opposition from the heads of the armed forces, who argued that the BAE planes were too expensive and did not meet the SA Air Force’s technical requirements. The then Chief of Air Staff, General W. H. Hechter, said he would only accept the BAE Hawks if ‘politically obliged’ to do so.

A spokesman for John Bredenkamp contacted Africa Confidential on the morning of 31 July and wanted to the make the following points: 'Mr Bredenkamp was not personally involved with the BAE Systems deal in South Africa. He knows nobody who was on the BAE Systems side of the deal in South Africa. And likewise Mr Bredenkamp doesn't know anyone on the South African government side of the deal.'

The spokesman also confirmed that Mr Bredenkamp remains happy to cooperate fully with the British SFO's investigations into the commissions paid on BAE's £1.6 bn. arms deal with South Africa.

Twotter, I can only admire your restraint in your posts here. Zimbabwe is one of those situations where anybody capable of thinking would be better off rendered incapable.

I know whenever I read of the latest farce over there, and it's all just another episode of the same enduring farce, I find myself so frustrated and angry that these things could happen that I have to switch off.

There are so many things in my own world which threaten my mental equilibrium that to attempt to encompass the magnitude of what is happening to a whole country is utterly beyond me.

I know there are permanent basket cases all over the world, but it is the fact that Rhodesia was (sorry for the cliche) the bread basket of Africa and has been almost single handedly destroyed by a megalomaniacal muderous thug that makes it an exceptional case.

My sympathies go out to all those trying to eke a living there, and I don't blame anyone who seeks to escape to a better life. I don't think anybody resents Seth Effricans or Zimbabweans attempting to make a life in Oz.

Keep up the fight, even though you know it's futile. When the time comes to escape, I'll do all I can to help you over here. (Not that that is likely to be much.)

Pretoria News, August 04 2008 at 06:42AM

By Deon de Lange

No Zuma, no country. That's a chilling warning issued on Sunday to the rest of the country by the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA).

The threat came on the eve of Zuma's appearance in the Pietermaritzburg high court on Monday, where his legal team is to ask for their client's prosecution on fraud, corruption, money-laundering and tax-evasion charges to be dropped.

The MKMVA made it clear that a legal defeat for ANC president Jacob Zuma "will not be tolerated".

"We want to make this message very clear. We are not going to allow this country - or any other country - to destroy the ANC or its leader, comrade Jacob Zuma. We are going to make sure that Zuma becomes the next president of this country, no matter what. No Zuma, no country," the organisation's deputy national secretary, Ramatuku Maphutha, told Independent Newspapers on Sunday.


Maphutha said "platoons of MK soldiers" - who he said would number over 1 000 - would be "deployed" across the country, including Pietermaritzburg, to send a clear signal of support for Zuma and "to make sure the judge does not make an arrogant decision".

He said though the "soldiers" would not be carrying conventional weapons, they would be armed with their "military politics".

He said some of the "soldiers" would be identifiable by their MKMVA affiliation badges, but others would be "in the trenches awaiting orders" and would be ready to "challenge the system" if called upon to do so.

He did not say what such a "challenge" would entail.

After years of relative obscurity, the MKMVA has risen to some prominence on the back of their outspoken support for Zuma in the run-up to the ANC's watershed Polokwane conference.

On Friday the organisation announced that it would be collecting one million signatures to hand over to the National Prosecuting Authority to signal the "public outcry" over Zuma's prosecution.

But the latest threat is reminiscent of the notoriously violent role that veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle have played in contemporary politics in that country.

The so-called Zanu-PF war veterans have become something of a second army for Robert Mugabe, who has unleashed this non-statutory force on those who oppose him or his controversial land reform policies.

Maphutha also waded in on the latest corruption allegations contained in weekend newspaper reports.

He questioned the timing of the Sunday Times allegation that Zuma received R2-million of a R30-million kick-back allegedly paid to President Thabo Mbeki by the German shipbuilding company that won the contract to supply submarines worth more than R6-billion to the SA Navy.

"They (the Sunday Times) should not be bringing this stuff and making these allegations now. It is aimed at discrediting the ANC president as he goes to court," he said.

Asked if he thought the allegations should at least be investigated, Maphutha said: "No. Why? This thing has been done by the enemies of Zuma.

"They (the allegations) should just be dismissed. We cannot allow it."

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) also ratcheted up its rhetoric ahead of Zuma's appearance, slamming his prosecution as a "grave political injustice" and saying "no stone must be left unturned in his defence".

The league on Sunday also repeated its demand for Mbeki to be recalled by the ANC and for early elections to be held in South Africa.

This position was this weekend officially adopted at the first meeting of the league's new national executive committee, which was elected at its second conference last month.

This, after the first conference in Bloemfontein was abandoned when the conference deteriorated into a water-bottle missile fight infamously characterised by the display of naked buttocks and mock coffins as various camps openly ridiculed and humiliated opposing candidates.

The new leadership, which includes eight newly-elected members of the national working committee (NWC), re-affirmed its support for Zuma, insisting that he "will be the face of the ANC election campaign" and that he "will become the country's next president".

"(The NEC) expressed its utter distaste at the continued manipulation of important institutions of our democracy by individuals who are determined to advance their agenda, which seeks to destroy the ANC president and the ANC itself," the league said in a statement.

Newly-elected league spokesperson, Maropene Ntuli - who is also mayor of Siyanda District Municipality - said the league "remains confident that justice will prevail and our courts will rise above partisan political agendas in dealing with the (Zuma) matter".

The league called on its members to join pickets outside the Pietermaritzburg high court or the courts in their respective provinces to demonstrate their support for Zuma "in these trying times".


Oh, the irony...:rolleyes::ugh:

...(The NEC) expressed its utter distaste at the continued manipulation of important institutions of our democracy by individuals who are determined to advance their agenda...

Is this an admission of guilt by the Chief Kleptocrat?

From News24.com


I'll expose everybody - Zuma


05/08/2008 21:02 - (SA)


Pietermaritzburg - African National Congress president Jacob Zuma on Tuesday vowed he would take down other officials if the state continued to pursue him for alleged corruption in South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal.

Speaking at the end of a two-day court hearing on the legality of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges laid against him last year, Zuma told his supporters that the "whole truth" about the arms deal might be revealed if he were put on trial.

"Thirty million, thirty million," the crowd chanted in response, referring to a weekend report alleging President Thabo Mbeki had taken money from a German arms dealer on behalf of the ANC.
Zuma on Monday applied to the Pietermaritzburg High Court to have the charges against him quashed because he wasn't given the opportunity to make representations in the case before he was indicted.

Judgement reserved

Judge Chris Nicholson reserved judgement in the application until September 12.

The main case has provisionally been set down for December 8.

Addressing about 2 000 people crammed into a square opposite the courthouse, Zuma slammed the media for accusing him of using delaying tactics to stave off his day in court.

Speaking in Zulu he said he was only exercising his constitutional rights by challenging the State's case in several courts before it went to trial.

He added, however, that he had not ruled out the possibility that he might go to jail, saying he would serve any jail term should he be convicted.

"In 1963, while fighting for freedom that we now enjoy, I was wrongly charged, convicted and imprisoned for 10 years by a judge.

"We might see a repeat of that situation as they can still wrongly convict me even though I [know I] am innocent," Zuma said. He added that he "is not afraid of anything".

Politically inspired

Zuma's supporters allege that the case against him is merely a politically-inspired attempt to bar him from becoming president in 2009.

The ANC has named Zuma as their candidate to succeed Mbeki when his second term expires at next year's general elections.

Some of Zuma's supporters point the finger for his prosecution directly at Mbeki, who lost the ANC presidency to Zuma in December last year.

"We're convinced that this conspiracy is being led by the (state) president against our president," Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the ANC Youth League, said.

"Before you go to him you must kill the youth of this country.

"We're prepared to die for Zuma," said Malema, who recently declared he would "kill" for Zuma.

In a sign of the animosity among Zuma supporters towards Mbeki, one youth torched a photo of Mbeki at Tuesday's rally. - dpa / Bheki Mbanjwa, The Witness



Just another banana republic...

sabcnews.co.za


'Zuma's court case pushing country to the brink'


Nzimande warns about current political situation around ANC President Jacob Zuma's trial

August 05, 2008, 21:15

South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Blade Nzimande has warned that the current political situation around ANC President Jacob Zuma's court case is pushing the country to the brink.

Nzimande was speaking to ANC supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The court will decide on September 12 whether Zuma's corruption trial should proceed.

Nzimande says the only solution to the impasse is for authorities to drop all charges against the ANC President.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) says the issue of corruption within the ANC-led government remains the biggest crisis facing the country. This has been highlighted at the media briefing held in Durban where Nadeco was unpacking its strategies for the coming general elections.

Nadeco says voters who are anti-corruption should give them an opportunity to clean it out and speed up service delivery.

Zuma lashes out at media
Earlier, Zuma lashed out at the media in an address to his supporters outside court today. He spoke to his supporters mainly in isiZulu after Judge Chris Nicholson adjourned the hearing.

He criticised the media for accusing him of using delaying tactics in the case that started as early as 2003.

After his address, he sang his trademark song Umshini wami (Bring me my machine gun). – Additional reporting by Sapa


Max du Preez was one of the ruling ANC regime's most vocal apologists a few years ago. Reality's a bitch, eh Max?:hmm:

News24.com


ANC leaders have let us down

06/08/2008 08:31 - (SA)


Max du Preez

Never before have so many politicians showed their true colours so clearly in such a short time as the new ANC leadership had done the last few days.

I'm not talking about the ANC Youth League's Julius Malema. He is just an immature, attention-seeking clown. I suspect he isn't blessed with too much grey matter either. When he says he's "prepared to die for Zuma", my instinctive thought is: show us, please comrade.

(If you're one of those scared whiteys who gets nervous when Malema threatens violence, remember that the Youth League couldn't even organise its own congress, never mind get it together to paralyse the country.)

I'm also not talking about Cosatu's Zwelinzima Vavi. He is so jealous of the publicity Malema is getting for huffing and puffing and making hollow threats that he is trying to out-Malema Malema to also get on TV. For someone who attacks Zanu-PF so often, he really sounds like a Mugabe thug. We can never take Vavi seriously again.

I'm not even talking about the SA Communist Party's Blade Nzimande. We've known since before Polokwane already that he's not worth the shadow of former SACP leaders like Chris Hani and Joe Slovo. Nzimande is an intellectually dishonest weakling.

Heavyweights

No, I'm talking about heavyweights like Mathews Phosa, Gwede Mantashe and Baleka Mbete. Leaders we thought were going to revive our dreams and bring us a government closer to the people after the next election.

Phosa is a former premier and chair of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut. He is a poet (in Afrikaans, nogal) and he is a smart and decent guy. Or so I thought.

Mantashe is the intellectual giant from the trade union movement who was destined to bring a sane voice to government and the ruling party on behalf of the working class. Or so they said.

Mbete is the Speaker of the National Assembly who has risen from a shaky start in politics to being a powerful, respected leader. Or perhaps I was really mistaken when I thought that.

Instead of being leaders, these three were doing the Zuma toyi-toyi like cheap populists outside the Pietermaritzburg court and bad-mouthing the judiciary in tandem with the Youth League delinquents.

Instead of serving the greater good, or even the real interests of the ANC as a whole, these politicians were simply ingratiating themselves to Zuma and his cheering commando.

Pass me my machine gun and screw the constitution, seems to be their message.

Silence

And then there is the Presidential Vice-President, now a cabinet minister, Kgalema Motlanthe. At least he didn't take part in the Pietermaritzburg circus, but his silence was louder than Malema's hysterical shouting.

I would have thought he, and former Defence Force chief and MK heavy Siphiwe Nyanda who was sitting in the court's public gallery, would have thought it dangerous for a former guerrilla commander (in uniform in the streets in front of the court) to threaten "no Zuma, no country". Not a squeak from either man.

But perhaps they know deep down that MK could never organise a piss-up in a brewery, so we shouldn't be frightened by their cheap threats.

I do not believe for one second that bright people like Motlanthe, Phosa, Mantashe and Mbete really believe that Zuma will not get a fair trial in the High Court. They know he will. Their charge that he won't is opportunistic and reckless.

I was all for the New ANC after Polokwane. But if this is the leadership that is going to surround President Jacob Zuma after next year's election, then we were better of with the Essop Pahads and Manto Tshabalala-Msimangs.

I think I need a drink.

I guess Morgan wants to be more than just a figurehead for Mugabe to appease the West.:hmm:

sabcnews.co.za

Zimbabwe talks in danger: Zanu-PF official


A Zanu-PF official says the talks are in danger of failing

August 11, 2008, 20:15

Power-sharing talks between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai were in danger of failing this evening, a ruling Zanu-PF official said.

"It looks like we have reached some kind of stalemate which is threatening the whole dialogue. Tsvangirai is moving goalposts, forcing us to negotiate issues which we had already agreed upon," said the official on condition of anonymity.

Both sides are under pressure to reach a deal that could end a post-election political crisis and increase the chances of economic recovery.

The source said Tsvangirai was asking to reopen talks on the issue of Mugabe leading a new unity government, which Zanu-PF says is not open to negotiation.

"This is an issue that we had settled and he (Tsvangirai) is also suggesting that he must be given full authority to appoint any new government."

MDC officials were not immediately available for comment. - Reuters

What really defeats my imagination when I consider it is, what was Mugabe's aim for the country when he took over?

He's made himself very rich and he has near total domination over the people, but he's also ruined the economy like no other.

Greedy, brutal, incompetent, yes. But what was he trying to achieve?

Interesting question.

If he was not an ignorant, malicious, moronic, murderous meglomanic he might have made (or kept) the economy of the country successful and made even more money for himself and his pack of jackels.

One image I continue to remember is that of an older fat woman holding a great length of barbed wire with some cloth as a handle, using it as a whip, with a big grin on her face, during one of the suppresions of the opposition.

That's interesting, RollingThunder, as it is my African experience that most of the womenfolk are placid and too busy trying to look after and feed all their children. Let's not mention Winnie M here though! There's always the exception to the rule.

frostbite,
I do believe you have answered your own question

"He's made himself very rich and he has near total domination over the people,"

Is that not what African politics is all about???

That's a thought.

So, was I being naive in thinking that he might have started out with some actual ambition for his country as well?

Regardless of any ambition or aim he might have had, it could be that he doesn't have the intelligence to run the country.

I do not think that could be said of Mugabe, anyone who can manage the chaos he has caused, and still be in power, and laughing at all the superpowers efforts to dislodge him, must have intelligence, if only to supplement the animal cunning.

While the neighbour continues to spiral around the drain in an increasingly lawless society....

Police make breakthrough in ATM bombings

Police have lauded their special ATM bombing task team following the arrest of eight alleged bombers on Thursday.

The suspects were apprehended during a helicopter chase just moments after bombing an ATM in Ridgeway in southern Johannesburg.

Police recovered large sums of money tucked into the robbers’ clothes.

The police's Eugene Opperman says they also seized weapons including AK47'S and R5 and R4 rifles.

There have been more than 300 ATM bombings - most of them in Gauteng - this year.

The men, aged between 25 and 45, will face charges of theft and various charges under the Explosives Act.

They'll also face charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

It has been reported that the modus operandi of bombings indicate that they were generally carried out by highly organised groups of individuals armed with assault rifles and explosives.

Already, at least two SAPS members and a member of the South African National Defence Force have been implicated in recent attacks.

Authorities have now indicated they will be training and re-training officers in ambush related attacks after several officers were killed when responding to ATM bombings.

Banks have also stepped up security around the cash machines with some resorting to drastic measures of shutting down ATMs at night in order to protect staff.

Meanwhile, back at the Crazy Horse Saloon.....


news24.com

Tsvangirai's passport seized
4/08/2008 13:55 - (SA)




Roy McKenzie

Harare - The passports and travel documents of Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and two senior officials have been seized as they were about to leave Harare International Airport.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesperson George Sibotshiwe told News24 that Tsvangirai, Secretary General Tendai Biti, and Secretary for International Relations, Prof Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, were prevented from flying to Johannesburg on Thursday, where they were due to attend a meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state.

They were detained and released shortly afterwards, but their passports were not given back to them.

"This is simply an attempt to prevent Morgan Tsvangirai from attending the SADC meeting, to which he has been invited," Sibotshiwe said.

"This is a demonstration of lack of sincerity on the part of the government of Robert Mugabe," he added.

news24.com

Mugabe plans to form govt
13/08/2008 14:46 - (SA)



Angus Shaw


Harare - President Robert Mugabe is preparing to form Zimbabwe's next government, with or without his main political rival who is balking at a power-sharing deal, state media reported on Wednesday.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, has refused to sign up to an accord brokered by President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki denied that the talks had collapsed and said that the parties "need a bit more time to reflect".

Mbeki told journalists there was one key sticking point, which he didn't identify.

The most contentious issue has been the amount of control 84-year-old Mugabe is prepared to cede.

Mugabe reportedly wants to retain as much authority as possible as president, while Tsvangirai reportedly wants sweeping executive powers as prime minister.

The official Herald newspaper accused Tsvangirai of raising objections on Tuesday on the orders of a "Western embassy" - the government often accuses Tsvangirai of being a stooge of Britain and the US.

The newspaper said Mugabe had reached agreement with Arthur Mutambara, head of an opposition faction.

It quoted an unidentified source as saying that Mugabe and Mutambara had agreed "they cannot wait any longer and the nation demands progress". Mutambara was due to give a news conference later on Wednesday.

'Determined to find a solution'

"President Mugabe will go ahead and form the next government and parliament will soon sit," the newspaper quoted the source as saying. The Herald is an official government mouthpiece and its sources are often top government officials.

Tsvangirai's officials could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. He was stony-faced as he stormed out of the negotiations at a Harare hotel late on Tuesday.

Tsvangirai's faction has 100 seats in Parliament, and the ruling Zanu-PF 99. Mutambara, whose faction holds 10, agreed to form a Parliamentary alliance with Tsvangirai after the March elections.

If he now switches allegiances, it will give the majority to Mugabe's party though it is uncertain whether all members of his faction would follow him into Zanu-PF's arms.

Mbeki, who arrived in Harare on Saturday and stayed longer than expected, said "negotiations must continue".

"I am quite certain that all the of the parties are determined to find a solution," he said on Wednesday, adding that the solution has to be "within the context of power-sharing negotiations".

Mbeki left Zimbabwe for Angola before a regional summit that starts in SA at the weekend. Angola chairs a key regional security committee and is traditionally a close Mugabe ally, though it criticised the irregularities and intimidation during the elections.

And something from the other side. The Zimbabwe Herald is a govt owned and controlled newspaper.

Tsvangirai’s U-turn: The facts

By Political and Features Editor

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed 13 agreements with Zanu-PF and the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC formation before abruptly pulling out of the South African-facilitated talks on Tuesday evening, it has emerged.

Documents seen by The Herald show that Tsvangirai’s negotiators in the inter-party dialogue — Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma — were authorised by their party leader to append their signatures to the 13 agreements as and when they were reached.

However, on Tuesday, Tsvangirai presented the other two principals — President Mugabe and Mutambara — with a fresh position paper titled "Notes on the Dialogue to Date", which appeared to repudiate all the agreements already signed and would have set back the status of the negotiations by weeks.

At the time that Tsvangirai said he could not sign the final agreement, which President Mugabe and Mutambara had already endorsed, only four issues remained on the agenda.

It is understood that President Mugabe and Mutambara subsequently agreed on these issues, paving the way for Cde Mugabe to form a new Government and for the Seventh Parliament to start sitting following elections held earlier in the year.

The parties were putting their signatures to agreements as and when they were reached, meaning that the final settlement is a compendium of documents that had been assented to by the three principals.

The main issue that Tsvangirai was not amenable to, insiders revealed, was the framework of a new Government, which is an issue that was laid on the table on July 28, 2008.

Other outstanding issues were legislative agenda priorities (tabled on July 25), and implementation mechanisms and electoral vacancies (both tabled on August 5).

Below are the agreements:

l On the 25th of July, Tsvangirai agreed that sanctions were not targeted and the Western economic embargo was hurting the nation and should be lifted as a matter of urgency.

l Part of that agreement, titled Restoration of Economic Stability and Growth, reads: "All forms of measures and sanctions against Zimbabwe (must) be lifted in order to facilitate a sustainable solution to the challenges that are currently facing Zimbabwe."

l The three principals also agreed on the same date that there was undue external interference in the country’s domestic affairs and they would not tolerate the subversion of the sovereign will of the people of Zimbabwe by outsiders with vested interests that ran contrary to national aspirations.

l "The parties reaffirm the principle of the United Nations Charter on non-interference in the internal affairs of member countries.

"The parties hereby agree that the responsibility of effecting change of Government in Zimbabwe vests exclusively in and is the sole prerogative of the people of Zimbabwe through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means," they said.

l They added that they would "reject any unlawful, violent, undemocratic and unconstitutional means of changing governments" and that "no outsiders have a right to call or campaign for regime change in Zimbabwe".

Despite this earlier agreement, it is understood that in his new position paper Tsvangirai unconstitutionally wanted the foundation of the next Government to be premised on the results of the inconclusive March 29 elections — a demand that has been the cornerstone of Western opposition to Zimbabwe’s electoral processes.

Another interesting agreement that was reached was on the issue of land reform.

l On the 25th of July, the three parties said Britain must honour its Lancaster House obligations to fund land tenure reforms in the country.

l The parties called "upon the United Kingdom government to accept primary responsibility to pay compensation for land acquired from land owners for resettlement".

l It was also agreed that the issue of multiple farm ownership and productivity on farms be dealt with as a matter of urgency by the Seventh Parliament through the institution of a holistic land audit.

l On the issue of freedom of expression and communication, in an agreement that was also signed on July 25, the parties said: "(We) call upon governments that are hosting and/or funding external radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe to cease such hosting and funding."

l Zanu-PF, MDC and MDC-T also urged those journalists working for these pirate radio stations to return to Zimbabwe, get proper accreditation and start working for the good of the country rather than for its enemies.

l Other agreements signed were on State Organs and Institutions, Rule of Law, Respect for the Constitution and Other Laws, and Free Political Activity on July 25.

l The next day the parties signed agreements on the Security of Persons and Prevention of Violence, the National Youth Training Programme, Freedom of Assembly and Association, Traditional Leaders and Humanitarian and Food Assistance.

l On August 5, the parties signed an agreement titled Promotion of Equality, National Healing, Cohesion and Unity.

The insiders said everyone had been caught unawares when on Tuesday Tsvangirai brought to the table a document that made it appear as if no agreements had been reached.

It was at this point that the other two parties, in the presence of President Thabo Mbeki, decided they could not start the negotiations all over again and would proceed with the formation of an inclusive Government and the convening of Parliament.

Tsvangirai, the insiders said, would be accommodated in the new Government when he was ready to sign.

However, according to AFP news agency, Tsvangirai yesterday issued a statement in which he said: "We knew negotiations would be difficult, but a resolution that represents anything other than the will of the Zimbabwean people would be a disaster for our country.

"We are committed to a solution that recognises that the people spoke on the 29th of March, 2008," said Tsvangirai, in reference to the harmonised elections that failed to produce a winner in the presidential poll in which he was leading.

This result was overturned in the June presidential run-off election that President Mugabe won resoundingly and Tsvangirai has not challenged that result in the courts.

Insiders said Tsvangirai was parroting the same sentiments expressed by the United States, European Union and Britain.

He also repeated the same demand that Government should unban the NGOs that were being accused of sponsoring opposition activities in the

country with Western sponsorship.

"Without further delay, we are demanding that NGOs be allowed to resume humanitarian assistance — distributing food, medicines and life-saving assistance. This destructive policy of banning humanitarian assistance can be reversed with one letter," said Tsvangirai.

On the eve of the talks on August 8, the governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK and US, and the European Commission issued a similar demand.

"The magnitude of the humanitarian crisis requires the immediate and unconditional lifting of the suspension on all NGO field operations. Harassment of NGOs must cease immediately, and protection for humanitarian workers must be guaranteed. Timing is critical. Steps must be taken now in order for food to be available to those in need in future months," said the statement.

The government has accused these NGOs of using food to campaign for the MDC-T in the rural areas, which are the traditional stronghold of the ruling Zanu-PF.

No doubt the taxpayer will end up taking the knock either way, even if Zuma gets let off the hook along with the expected whitewash.:hmm::rolleyes:

sabcnews.co.za


Taxpayers to foot Zuma’s legal bill


Taxpayers are expected to foot the legal bill of ANC President Jacob Zuma

August 14, 2008, 19:00

Taxpayers will foot the burgeoning legal bill of ANC President Jacob Zuma. The State's attorney has a difference of opinion with Zuma's legal team on itemised billing. There is also a dispute over payment for Zuma's pre-trial applications.

Meanwhile, there is still no agreement between Zuma’s lawyers and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on future court dates. The legal teams square up at the Pietermaritzburg High Court tomorrow. They must provide Judge Chris Nicholson with final dates. However, they are still bickering over dates for pre-hearing documents for the permanent stay of prosecution application.

The actual trial date is also still in dispute. It is expected to be finalised on December 8.

Law experts say the failure by Zuma's legal team and the NPA to agree on suitable timelines will not hinder the case. Former Unisa law professor, Marinus Wiechers, says the judge will have the final say in the matter.

Senior legal counsel can charge from between R18 000 to R30 000 a day. The Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust said it received pledges totaling R6 million. His previous corruption trial had a staggering R10 million price tag. The State picked up that tab because the alleged offences were committed while he was the sitting Deputy President.

Ordinary South Africans will be taxed with what could be an astronomical legal bill. But, should Zuma lose, he will have to pay back every penny. He is accused of corruption, racketeering, fraud and tax evasion.

Hayibo....

Mboweni "open to third term" after 28 percent pay rise

PRETORIA. Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni has confirmed that he is open to serving a third term after he received a 28 percent pay rise this year. Mboweni's salary is now reportedly R3.8 million a year, or roughly equivalent to what a teacher earns in 27 years and a police constable in 40. "It's a dirty job," he said, "but someone's got to step up and take one for the team."

"Or take 3.8 million ones for the team, as the case may be."

Speaking to journalists this morning in Pretoria, Mboweni said that had not yet made a final decision over his future but would make an announcement once he had carefully considered his options.

It is believed most of his options are stock options in BEE companies with government contracts to build, demolish and rebuild public toilets in the Karoo.

Mboweni conceded that he had sometimes got tired of earning his previous salary, which was R2.9 million a year, and had at times yearned to "just be an ordinary Member of Parliament, spending weekends throwing empty whisky bottles over the wall, shredding wire-tap transcripts and doing donuts in my Beemer".

However he said that he had stayed on in the job out of a sense of duty, and because nobody else in the country, or indeed the world, could do what he did.

"Being Governor of the Reserve Bank is incredibly complicated," he said. "But fortunately I am almost supernaturally clever.

"Anyone other than myself who tried to do this would die instantaneously.

"They would whimper and then their heads would explode."

Asked why inflation was running at 12 percent while he was being paid R3.8 million a year to keep it between 3 and 6 percent, he explained that "numerous forces were at work".

He named these as "the Americans – both the superpower and the Cape Flats gang – oil, wheat, Helen Zille, the big machine they're building under Alaska that can control the weather, Helen Zille, malaria, space chimps, and obviously Helen Zille".

He also used the opportunity to announce that he would no longer be referring to himself as part of South African society in future statements.

"I cannot in good conscience continue to say things like 'We must all strive to tighten our belts as we face some severe economic challenges'," he said.

"I need to be honest with myself and with you, and let you know that from now on, you're on your own.

"So to recap: you need to tighten your belts, and you need to face some severe economic challenges, while I bathe in dachshund milk and have my scalp Botoxed."

The press conference ended on a sour note when one journalist asked him if he was turning into a fat cat.

A furious Mboweni denied that he was fat, insisting that he was "just big-boned" before storming out.

If the statements attributed to Mboweni are correct, and surely no one could ever make up statements like that, it would appear that the biggest bone is the one between his ears

" A furious Mboweni denied that he was fat, insisting that he was "just big-boned" before storming out."

Apologies if this has already been posted. Came from a Zimbabwean friend now living in UK


Subject: Zimbabwe - Food


Why should Zimbabwe tremble?
Many of you will not believe this but this was a true interview!!!
Comment from The Cape Times (SA), 26 July: My Zim contact explains why fasting is good for the people
Doc Mtusi must be one of the few people who understands Zimbabwe's economic policy. He knows what's going on even better than his boss, Finance Minister Samuel Mumbengegwi, who announced in Masvingo (Old Fort Victoria) that there was no need for people to hoard food.
"But if people don't hoard food, what will they eat when all the shops run empty?" I asked him, after he agreed to be interviewed this week.
"Who says they'll run empty?" retorted Doc, who made me promise I would report him faithfully.
"Shelves are already empty of basic foodstuffs," I pointed out.
"Then we'll just order shopkeepers to fill them again," said Doc. "We've already jailed quite a few who refused to. It's simple economics. We will also jail anyone who hoards food, because that is what empties the shelves in the first place."
"Sorry to cross swords with you on this, Doc, but your government is forcing shopkeepers to sell all their existing stocks for less than they paid for them. How can you expect them to buy in more supplies at the wholesale price if they know that by selling them at the government's retail rate they'll make an even bigger loss. It's a quick way to go bankrupt."
"No one ever said saving Zimbabwe's economy would be easy," explained Doc. "We all have to make sacrifices."
"My point is you can't blame shoppers for thinking that, unless they quickly buy up what's left, there'll soon be no food to buy," I said. "They are not stupid. They can see that all the shopkeepers will either be bankrupt or in jail."
"And my point is that the unpatriotic hoarding of food gives the impression that we have a problem, which clearly we haven't, except in the South African media's mind," said Doc. "I'm surprised Mbeki still lets you write this nonsense. We are relying on Comrade Zuma to make you change your tune, once he takes over."
"But until then, Doc, why have you now even passed a law to stop Zimbabweans importing food from South Africa? If they can't hoard food, they have to get it from somewhere. Otherwise they'll starve."
"We don't call it starving," said Doc, "we call it fasting. Fasting is actually good for you. Lots of famous people have fasted for the benefit of their people. Gandhi, for instance. In our case, the people themselves will be encouraged to fast, thereby strengthening themselves against the onslaught of colonial imperialism."
"I'm sure they really would prefer to eat," I said. "Most people do."
"We have no objection in principle to people eating," conceded Doc. "Those of us in government all eat, but only because persons in our important positions have to. What we must guard against, though, is the belief that ordinary people have the right to break the law if they are hungry."
"That's how the French Revolution started," I said.
"Thank goodness we won our revolution 27 glorious years ago," declared Doc. "So there's no need to worry."

That "fat cat" one is from hayibo.com, a satirical website. It is a send-up, in other words.

chuks,
Thanks for the heads up on that website, Afraid I must be very politically incorrect, many a laugh found there.

Robert Mugabe and his chauffeur were driving down the highway when suddenly they hit a pig crossing the road and killed it instantly.

Mugabe tells his driver: "Go to da farm over dere and hexplain to da honer of da pig what happen."

One hour later, Mugabe sees his driver coming back from the farm, his clothes all wrinkled, a bottle of wine in one hand and a cigar in the other.

"What happen to you?" Mugabe asks.

"Well, the farmer gave me a bottle of wine, his wife, the cigar and their 19 year old daughter made wild passionate love to me."

"My God! What did you tell dem?" asked Mugabe.

The driver answered: "Good evening, I am Robert Mugabe's chauffeur and I have just killed the pig."

There goes Mugabe again, banging on in the "coalition" acceptance speech about Britain "interfering" in Zimbabwe's affairs. The raving loony just can't help himself.

Why didn't the SAS go in years ago &.... :mad::mad:

President Robert Mugabe, in office for 28 years, has unilaterally declared that his party will retain ministries that control the military and the police,
In recent days, Mugabe's party has been making the case that he is still in charge of the government
(More at:- Mugabe says he'll keep main cabinet posts - International Herald Tribune (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/11/africa/zimbabwe.php) )

Too many fat cats on both side of this powersharing arrangement.

I don't expect to see starving MDC leaders, but some trimmer figures would give you more confidence.

That's African politics for you. Very few malnourished politicians but they lay the misery on with a trowel to extract sympathy and dollars while they siphon off the cream.

Regional leaders toothless in Zim crisis

MICHAEL GEORGY | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Nov 11 2008 07:02


Southern African leaders are highly unlikely to ever force Zimbabwe's rival parties to implement a power-sharing deal, and their lack of resolve will continue playing into the hands of President Robert Mugabe.

An emergency weekend summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) failed to break the deadlock in talks on Cabinet posts, which threatens a September 15 power-sharing deal seen as the best chance to rescue Zimbabwe from economic collapse.

SADC was more assertive than usual, saying Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai should share control of the powerful Home Affairs Ministry and quickly form a unity government.

But Tsvangirai rejected the idea and Mugabe quickly capitalised on that, apparently seeking to portray the MDC leader as a spoiler and vowing to form a unity government "as soon as possible."

Aware that SADC is divided and lacks the will to force the sides into a deal, Mugabe knows he has time to wait.

"They [SADC] would love to have this go away and have it swept under the carpet. It's difficult for them to come out and impose anything on Mugabe's regime," said Mark Schroeder, director of risk analysis for sub-Saharan Africa at Stratfor.

Mugabe has held power since 1980 with what critics say is patience, cunning and ruthlessness. He has already survived international isolation and sanctions imposed by Western foes.

Few options
Although neighbouring countries are struggling with millions of refugees fleeing Zimbabwe and fear a total meltdown there, they have few practical steps to take even if they could agree on the need to take stronger action.

While Botswana and Zambia have taken a tough line on Mugabe, others still respect him as a former African liberation hero.

"You have this mythological figure. Robert Mugabe is like George Washington, he can't be touched," said one Western diplomat.

Influential regional politicians who have made the strongest calls for an agreement in Zimbabwe also have more pressing issues to worry about.

Jacob Zuma, leader of the ruling African National Congress in regional powerhouse South Africa, has said Zimbabwe's parties must be forced into a deal.

But he is distracted on the home front after senior ANC members defected to form a breakaway group in the biggest political upheaval since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Analysts believe South Africa's caretaker president, Kgalema Motlanthe, cannot make a difference before South Africa's election next year, which is expected to put Zuma in power.

Zambian President Rupiah Banda is fighting opposition accusations he rigged last month's presidential election -- which might make it harder for him to champion Tsvangirai's assertion that Mugabe cheated him of election victory.

Collapse
Zimbabwe's economic decline, once seen by the opposition as the only factor that could weaken Mugabe, has been worsening while he digs in for a prolonged power struggle that now centres on the Home Affairs Ministry -- seen as crucial to the veteran leader's survival because it controls the police.

But Mugabe knows the economy cannot get much worse.

Inflation is officially 231-million percent. Even under government price controls, the cost of bread is doubling every week and all food is in short supply. Zimbabwe is dependent on handouts and malnutrition is on the rise.

With Mugabe keeping a strong hold, the chances of badly needed aid and investment from Western countries are nil.

"Mugabe will not listen to anybody at this stage because he is resigned to fate. He knows nothing will change about the economy, even if he continues to hang on to power, because it has already gone down," said prominent Lusaka economist and political analyst Chibamba Kanyama.

"There was so much hope that there would be change in Zimbabwe and donors had begun to reposition themselves to bail out the country, but now Mugabe realises that the bail-out will not come quickly because of the global financial crisis and as such he will hang on to power."

Zimbabweans can expect more of the same -- talk of a unity government, new accusations and counter-accusations, calls for SADC intervention -- while Mugabe keeps the upper hand.

Western countries, pre-occupied by their own worries, are unlikely to do much more and had in any case always emphasised that it was the region that needed to play the main role.

An exasperated Tsvangirai complained at the weekend summit that SADC leaders told opposition parties to leave their meeting while they formulated a resolution but allowed Mugabe to stay on as what he called a judge of his own case.

"SADC is made up of a group of leaders that are friends of President Mugabe. Many of them have been in power for a long time and do not respect democratic decisions," said Fernando Macedo, political analyst and professor at Luanda's Lusiada University

. -- Reuters

Hmmm,

USA gets closed, Venezuela gets closed, all other politics banned - but Zimbabwe lingers on.

Mugabe really is untouchable.... :ooh::ooh:

Hmmm,

USA gets closed, Venezuela gets closed, all other politics banned - but Zimbabwe lingers on.

Mugabe really is untouchable...

You noticed that as well did you? :p

Mugabe really is untouchable....
Nahhh..that was Robert Stack. ;)

Nahhh..that was Robert Stack.

Oops, forgot about him, right you are. :ok:

The arrogance and excesses of those in power isn't confined to Zim.

Blue lights scandal
Article By:
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:27

An incident, in which a VIP guard of KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Meshack Radebe shot out the tyre of a motorist on a busy highway, has angered opposition parties, with the Democratic Alliance calling for him to be dismissed.

The DA's transport spokesperson Radley Keys said the DA was calling for Radebe's "immediate dismissal" and that: "The horrific incident concerns a member of Radebe's staff and he needs to take responsibility for it."

The Inkatha Freedom Party's provincial leader Lionel Mtshali said: "This attitude on the part of the MEC's staff clearly filters down from the top. The MEC's arrogance, not least in connection with the provincial government's security arrangements, is well known and well documented.

Nevertheless this last incident is indicative that the ANC government and its staff have crossed the line of acceptable behaviour."

Superintendent Henry Budhram said the policeman, who is part Radebe's VIP protection unit, is expected to appear in the Camperdown Magistrates Court on Monday, where he faces 12 charges of attempted murder.

A law unto themselves?

On Saturday Budhram said a black Mazda that was heading towards Durban on Saturday morning was being followed by a police collision unit vehicle, when a black Volkswagen Golf with flashing blue lights sped up behind them.

The police vehicle pulled over to allow the Golf to pass, but "at that moment the driver of the Mazda could not pull over as he was passing a truck".

Budhram said that it is alleged that when the Mazda had then passed the truck and pulled over, a passenger in the Golf, which had dark tinted windows, opened the window and shot the tyre of the Mazda.

"The driver of the Mazda lost control and his vehicle went into the oncoming traffic colliding with a bakkie in the north-bound lane."

He said that the Golf sped off and the police's collision unit vehicle could not catch up with it and the officers decided to render assistance to the injured.

There were six people in the Mazda and six in the bakkie, eight of whom were injured. The police's dog unit recovered a spent cartridge.

Keys said the incident highlighted the "absolute arrogance" on the part of VIP members assigned to provide so-called protection to MECs in KZN.

"This latest incident shows their scant disregard for all other people on the road and is the worst display to date of the attitude displayed by blue light bullies" he said.

"They are a law unto themselves who treat citizens, their lives and property with absolute disregard. Clearly the ANC are not interested in providing a safe travel environment for South Africans."

The latest in a series of events

Mtshali said: "The users of blue lights are law unto themselves. This last incident demonstrates that the obsession with trappings of power within the provincial government and its staff will stop at nothing."

In May, an angry motorcyclist punched a KwaZulu-Natal provincial VIP driver after the VIP driver had crashed into the back of another car, seriously injuring its occupant on the N3 near Camperdown.

In April 2007 the Witness newspaper reported that its switchboard was flooded with calls from motorists who said they were pushed off the N3 by a blue-light convoy, identified as being that of ANC president Jacob Zuma.

It also reported at the time that a Pietermaritzburg man, Faizel Mooideen, had a rifle pointed at him and his family by security officers who tried to push them off a lane on the highway.

At the end of the same month a motorist used his cell phone to provide the newspaper with video footage of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele's convoy doing 160 kilometres an hour on the N3.

Sapa

Now, even Jimmy Carter can't get a visa to Zimbabwe... "It is obvious the government is determined to prevent our entry in Zimbabwe," said Carter, adding that Mugabe's regime was "immune to reaching out for help for their own people."
Zimbabwe's economy has been in free-fall for years, leaving 80 percent of the population in poverty and nearly half the country in need of emergency food aid by January, according to the United Nations.
The country suffers the world's highest inflation rate, last estimated at 231 million percent in July, causing a breakdown in water and sanitation that has sparked an outbreak of cholera that has killed 294 people in recent weeks, according to the US ambassador.
Carter, Annan denied entry to Zimbabwe - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081122/wl_afp/zimbabwepoliticsdiplomacy)

Ironic, isn't it, given that Carter was once Mugabe's biggest supporter:When voters in Zimbabwe, the former Rhodesia, elected a black Methodist bishop, Abel Muzorewa, the Carter Administration would not lift the sanctions in place to protest colonial rule that served as a barrier to U. S. trade and investment in the African nation. When the sanctions forced a second election, and voters chose Mugabe as their head of state (mostly, as the Freedom House report on the balloting indicates, at gunpoint). The Carter Administration not only lifted sanctions but gifted the new prime minister millions in U. S. aid.
Carter Administration Curricula (http://www.campusreportonline.net/main/articles.php?id=467)

There's just no let up....

Cholera victims flee Zim
Article By:
Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:54

Scores of Zimbabwean cholera patients have crossed into South Africa, desperately hoping to survive the nationwide outbreak that has killed nearly 300 people, health officials said on Monday.

The United Nations says at least 294 people have died while more than 6000 cases of the deadly water-borne disease have been detected.

Zimbabwe's hospitals and clinics struggle to provide patients with even basic drugs and equipment, prompting scores of people to seek help in neighbouring South Africa.

Health officials in the South African border town of Musina say their local hospital has treated 168 cholera patients so far, with 27 still in hospital.

Three people have died in Musina, said Phuti Seloba, spokesperson for the city's health department, while a fourth died last weekend in the southeastern coastal city of Durban.

The death in Durban, of a truck driver who had just returned from Zimbabwe, has raised alarms across South Africa that the nation could be at risk.

Tackling the outbreak

Health experts from the two countries met at the weekend to lay out a plan for tackling the outbreak, Seloba said.

"During the meeting, held in the Zimbabwean border town of Beitbridge, we all realised that the problem is neither Zimbabwean nor South African," he said.

"We realise that Zimbabwe lacks health equipments and drugs," he said.

"This is our common problem and we need to solve it jointly. We need to look at the health gaps and find a way to fill them by tackling the source of the problem," he added.

But health experts say the source of the problem is Zimbabwe's decade-long descent into economic chaos, crushing the nation's infrastructure under the weight of the world's highest inflation rate, last estimated at 231 million percent in July.

Basic water and sanitation services have broken down across the country, and with the start of the rainy season, raw sewage and drinking water are flowing into each other in towns around the country.

Death toll stands at 281

Zimbabwe's official death toll stands at 281, but even the government acknowledges that cholera is appearing in new towns almost every day.

"We have put maximum efforts to control the spread of the disease to different places throughout the country," said Madzudzo Pawadyira, head of the Civil Protection Unit.

The charity Doctors Without Borders estimated last week that 1.4 million people, just in and around the capital Harare, are at risk of the disease.

Zimbabwe's health system was once the envy of Africa, but now doctors and nurses say they struggle to treat even simple ailments in a country with one of the world's worst Aids epidemics and chronic food shortages.

The United Nations estimates that five million people, nearly half the population, will need food aid in January.

The response to the cholera crisis has been hampered by Zimbabwe's political turmoil following disputed elections earlier this year.

President Robert Mugabe, the country's only ruler since independence in 1980, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed a power-sharing deal two months ago but have yet to agree on the composition of a unity government.

South Africa will host new talks on Tuesday to salvage the deal, with the ruling party leader Jacob Zuma warning that repeated delays were claiming people's lives.

"Let us find a way to implement the agreement for the sake of Zimbabweans," he told reporters. "It is now an urgent matter, because people are dying."

AFP

'There is no cholera in this country'
11/12/2008 12:07 - (SA)




Harare - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday that "there is no cholera" in his country, saying doctors have tamed an outbreak, despite UN reports of a growing death toll.

"I am happy to say our doctors have been assisted by others and WHO (the World Health Organization)... so now that there is no cholera," he said in a nationally televised speech.

He also denounced calls by Prime Minister Gordon Brown of former colonial power Britain and US President George W Bush for him to step down.

"Because of cholera, Mr Brown wants a military intervention," he said. "Bush wants military intervention because of cholera."

"There is no cause for war any more," Mugabe said. "The cholera cause doesn't exist any more."

- AFP

UN: Zim cholera deaths rising
11/12/2008 13:48 - (SA)



Geneva - The death toll from cholera in Zimbabwe has risen to 783, with 16 403 suspected cases, the UN said Thursday, even as President Robert Mugabe said that "there is no cholera" in his country.

The capital Harare has the highest toll with some 199 deaths and 8 042 suspected cases as of December 10, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

- SAPA

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....

SA declares cholera emergency


Musina - South African officials have declared the border with Zimbabwe a disaster area because of the surge of Zimbabweans fleeing a cholera epidemic in search of treatment, a Limpopo provincial government spokesperson said on Thursday.

The outbreak has killed nearly 800 people in Zimbabwe and spread across the busy border. The collapse of Zimbabwe's economy and health care system has left cholera victims to fend for themselves and driven many to try to escape to South Africa.

"The whole of the Vhembe district has been declared a disaster," Mogale Nchabeleng, a spokesperson for the Limpopo provincial government, told Reuters. The district includes Musina and Madimbo. The provincial government took the decision after an emergency meeting earlier this week.

"Extraordinary measures are needed to deal with the situation," Nchabeleng said.

South Africa has said it has no plans to quarantine Zimbabweans crossing over to Musina or other border towns.

At least 774 Zimbabweans have died from cholera and more than 15 000 are believed to be infected with the easily preventable disease, according to the World Health Organisation. Zimbabwe's government has said the epidemic is under control.

The Limpopo health department said the number of Musina cholera cases had risen to 664 on Wednesday, from 645, according to Sapa.

Anyone else see a resemblance between Mugabe and Comical Ali?

Except that Ali was comparatively likeable and there is a smidgeon of truth in what he prophesied and..... oh, maybe not.

With each passing day he becomes more and more like ZaNuLabour's Gordon Clown.

http://www.z5net.com/robbie-gordon.jpg

Cholera doesn't recognize people in uniform or carrying baseball bats, axes or guns. One can only hope those charged with carrying out Mugabe's thuggery with apparent abandon relish are suitably afflicted. Maybe this terrible disease will turn out to be Mugabe's downfall.

Mugabe's alleged syphilis has not stopped him over the past decade, which is probably why he wouldn't even notice the Cholera :ugh:

Still off with the fairies.....:rolleyes:

Zim accuses UK of 'genocide'
12/12/2008 22:32 - (SA)


Harare - Zimbabwe's information minister on Friday accused former colonial power Britain of starting the country's cholera epidemic in a bid to commit a "genocide of our people".

"The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe is a serious biological, chemical war force, a genocidal onslaught, on the people of Zimbabwe by the British," Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told a press conference.

"It's a genocide of our people," he said.

"This was a calculated warfare," Ndlovu said. "There are forces who are continuing to plant anthrax and cholera disease."

Ndlovu spoke one day after President Robert Mugabe claimed the cholera outbreak was over, sparking an international outcry as aid groups warned the epidemic could last for months.

On Friday the government mouthpiece Herald newspaper quoted presidential spokesman George Charamba as saying that Mugabe had been making "his argument through sarcasm, noting that efforts deployed so far towards containing the outbreak were beginning to yield positive results".

Charamba denounced the BBC and France 24, which he said "deliberately distort and misrepresent President Mugabe's remarks".

"Clearly, these two Western networks have chosen a path of wilful distortion of a clear statement and argument by the Zimbabwean president, in order to advance the war and regime change agenda of their expansionist governments," Charamaba said in the Herald.

He added that Zimbabwe still wanted international assistance to fight the disease, which last week was declared a national emergency.

Zimbabwe's crumbling infrastructure has helped spread the disease across the country, as broken water and sewage pipes have left many neighbourhoods without clean drinking water or adequate sanitation.

- AFP

The man is a complete bastard who cares nothing for the people in desperate straits. He claimed yesterday that Zimbabwe had "defeated" cholera (http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-12-12-outcry-over-mugabe-cholera-denial)... to the absolute astonishment of the WHO and aid workers. He has since done a 180 degree about-face but it just goes to show what the lunatic is capable of.

The true tragedy in Zimbabwe is that no action is taken. Yes, even his former supporters among black African leaders are beginning to see him as an embarrassment, but none of them - least of all the otherwise always vocal ANC politicians - will actually do anything. The lesson for all and sundry is: if you are an African politician, you can get away with anything, be it murder, genocide, you name it. Other example: Congo.

The UK, as the former colonial power who, by sidelining Ian Smith, have a particular responisibility for the current mess, also seem to feel no urge to depute a few SAS guys (that's all it would take) to bring a happy Christmas to the people of Rhodesia.

also seem to feel no urge to depute a few SAS guys (that's all it would take) to bring a happy Christmas to the people of Rhodesia

Whilst I agree 100% with your sentiment viktor, I will never understand why this tactic was not employed by the US with Saddam Hussein.

Unless of course - - - - - :suspect:

I'm sorry, but he longer this SAGA goes on I think the
stronger Mugabe becomes.
He's just revelling in the situation all the time, and the rest
of the World just leave him to it.
Yes, he is an evil dictator who has absolutely ruined a once
beautiful country that was formerly the best place in Africa,
but the rest of Africa couldn't care less. And the non- Africans
are just terrified of interfering because they don't want to
"upset" the former Colonies. Many will die before Mugabe does.
Hopefully it will not be TOO long to wait.
He looked REALLY ill the other night as he gave his "No cholera
in Zimbabwe" speech. Do get a move on Robert.

Ah, but whoever intervenes is then lumbered with the cost of it all. :confused: Who wants to pay for that mess?:confused:

http://www.zasucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/no_zd5.jpghttp://www.zasucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/no_zd2.jpg

http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr239/Bingo10/PPP.gif

Shamelessly nicked from Bingo on another forum.

El Grifo:

I will never understand why this tactic was not employed by the US with Saddam Hussein.

Unless of course - - - - - http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/cwm13.gifUnless of course, what?

Iraq under Saddam was a Baathist regime modeled on the worst that Europe had to offer, namely Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and Stalinst Russia. Hard to get a sharpshooter in the midst of that lot. If you remember, Saddam massacred hundreds in the city of Dujail after a failed assassination attempt.

Mbeki, dos Santos, and the toady appeasers at the UN have much to answer for in this terrible Zimbabwean episode.

Unless of course there was an ulterior motive.

I do not believe for one second that if the US wanted to take out Saddam or Saddam and his entourage that they would have had any problem whatsoever.

However, we best be careful, this is modfood :ok:

The young miner already recognised the sound of dogs as a terrifying harbinger of death but the dull thud of the helicopter blades was something new.

Minutes later a Zimbabwean air force helicopter swept over the hundreds of fleeing illegal diamond miners and mowed down dozens with machine-gun fire. After that the police arrived and unleashed the dogs that tore into the diggers, killing some and mutilating others. The police fired teargas to drive the miners out of their shallow tunnels and shot them down as they emerged.

How many died in the assault two weeks ago is not clear but the miners say it was at least scores. Some bodies remain unclaimed and unidentified in Mutare hospital mortuary.

"First we heard the helicopter and we knew it wouldn't be good but I thought it would just deliver soldiers," said the young miner, a former student who gave his name only as Hopewell.

"Then it came over us and started shooting. There was a man next to me, he had been digging near me, and the bullet went right through his head. Everyone was in panic. People ran but they didn't want to leave their finds behind so they were stopping to grab them and getting shot ... The police were waiting for us with the dogs. I was lucky. A dog ran for me but there was this woman, she was slower than me and it attacked her. I don't know what happened to her. I went back to my diggings a few days later but she hasn't come back."

The police and military have for weeks been conducting a bloody campaign, which Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has described as "resembling a war", to drive thousands of illegal miners out of a recently discovered diamond field that some in the industry believe might be the richest in years.

The miners say hundreds have died. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says it has the names of 140 people killed although there is common agreement that many have been buried without a word.


Chris McGreal: 'Bodies have turned up riddled with bullets' Link to this audio
The diamond fields around Chiadzwa, about 20 miles north-west of the town of Mutare in Zimbabwe's eastern Manicaland province, are a collection of shallow tunnels and open gullies dug out after the discovery of gems close to the surface two years ago set off the rush.

Thousands of illegal diggers moved in - estimates run between 10,000 and 30,000 including foreigners from across southern Africa - spending days or even weeks to discover only tiny diamonds worth no more than a couple of hundred US dollars. But that is several months' pay for many Zimbabweans as their country collapses under the weight of hyperinflation.

Many of the miners are professionals, such as teachers and civil servants, who have abandoned jobs that do not pay enough to feed their families. Others are students who have dropped out of university in the hope of making a quick fortune and subsistence farmers whose land has not produced a crop in years. And some have got very rich.

Mutare, on the border with Mozambique, has taken on the air of a frontier town filled with brash young men touting US dollars and an air of menace. The hotels are filled with miners and dealers. Luxury cars prowl the streets. Shops have filled with imported goods sold for American dollars and South African rand. Spend any amount of time in a hotel bar and periodically someone will approach with diamonds for sale.

The governor of Zimbabwe's central bank, Gideon Gono, has estimated there are more than 500 syndicates handling more than $1bn a month in illegally dug diamonds that are swiftly smuggled out of the country.

Now Zimbabwe's government, or at least members of its discredited ruling elite, are apparently trying to take control. The military and police have moved in to try to drive the illegal diggers out of plots the miners say are claimed by Grace Mugabe, the president's wife, and Joice Mujuru, the vice-president. Both areas are now known by the women's names.

Legal and opposition political sources in Mutare say the prime mover behind the military assault is the Zimbabwean air force chief, Perence Shiri, the former commander of the notorious Fifth Brigade which massacred about 20,000 people in Matabeleland in the mid-80s.

Shiri oversaw the bloody military campaign of beatings and killings in Manicaland earlier this year that terrorised voters into supporting Robert Mugabe in June's presidential election.

He sent the helicopter gunships into the diamond fields three weeks ago. The police were already letting loose ferocious dogs, killing some miners and maiming others. One police tactic is to use teargas to drive them out of the tunnels, causing stampedes in which some have been crushed. The miners say that in some cases the police shoot down the men, blinded by teargas, as they flee.

One described how there is shooting nearly every day and particularly at night. "There were three of us mining together. In the night a policeman came and shot my friend, twice in the chest. We ran away but came back. He was still alive. We carried him to a hospital but he died," he said.

A policewoman working in Chiadzwa said she saw a pile of 50 bodies after one helicopter attack. "There were a lot of bodies. They were piled up. I don't know what happened to them. Some of the dead are just buried secretly," she said. "Miners are killed every day. The orders to the police are to shoot them if they find them digging but many of the police do not want to carry out those orders. These are ordinary people like us."

The situation has got so bad that some miners are now arming themselves and fighting back. The state-run press has reported that several police officers have been killed in shoot-outs.

But none of that deters the men who continue to work the diamond fields. "The risks are worth it," said Hopewell. "Some miners have run away but most of us don't leave for long. We hear stories of giant diamonds. I've already sold enough to make more money than I have made in five years. I have bought food for my mother and father. I have bought a television and a DVD from South Africa. Next I will buy a car. If they don't kill me," he says, and laughs.

A De Beers subsidiary held the exploitation rights to the fields but let them expire in 2006 because, according to industry sources, it believed the diamonds to be of poor quality. A British firm, African Consolidated Resources, bought the rights but it was ousted by the government when large quantities of high quality diamonds were discovered a short dig under the surface. Theoretically the diamond fields were then taken over by the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation but the illegal diggers moved in so fast it was unable to assert control.

Some economists speculate that Zimbabwe's rulers look on the diamond fields as a new source of US dollars now that the country's foreign reserves have largely been spent and the collapse of agriculture, industry and tourism means there is little new money coming in. But given the bitter experience of recent years Zimbabweans have little reason to believe that if the ruling elite gets control of the diamond fields, the revenues will be used to rescue the country.

Zimbabwe blames cholera on Britain (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/12/20081212112525295564.html)

Zimbabwe's information minister has blamed the British government for a cholera outbreak which has killed almost 800 people, claiming his country has been a victim of a "biological" attack.

Sikhanyiso Ndlovu made the accusation on Friday, a day after Robert Mugabe, the president, said his government had brought the epidemic under control.

"I would like to affirm with factual information on how cholera was brought to Zimbabwe," Ndlovu said. "This is a serious biological-chemical weapon; a genocidal onslaught on the people of Zimbabwe by the British [who are] still fighting to recolonise Zimbabwe and using their allies."

Ndlovu said his government needed more foreign aid to help arrest the raging epidemic. "We need all the support we can get from peace-loving nations," he said.

Ndlovu's plea for help appeared to contradict Mugabe's comments on Thursday when he told a crowd "we have arrested cholera"...............

George Charamba, the president's spokesman, told the state-run newspaper The Herald that the president had spoken with "sarcasm".......

:ugh::ugh::ugh:

ORAC, are you suprised at this?

As you well know, if you make the lie big enough people will believe you, at least those who concern you. The rest can go hang. :ugh:

Here is a link to a cartoon picture of Mugabe from yesterdays Sunday Times newspaper.
http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/Scarfe_081214_448692a_g.gif

Rather a good likeness, don't you think?






P.S.
How does one post a picture directly, so that it is embedded with your message?

Look in the Hysteria & Neuralgia forum and all will be revealed.

Like this, second button from the right on the formatting bar, the one with the picture of mountains like you get on the dial of a camera for panoramic pictures.

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/Sca..._448692a_g.gif

Hayibo.com

Mugabe says there is no cholera in Zim and Heidi Klum is his girlfriend

HARARE. Zimbabwean tyrant Robert Mugabe says there is no cholera outbreak in his country, and has also announced that Heidi Klum is his girlfriend. The news has reportedly left long-time partner Thabo Mbeki heartbroken. "Robert said he was always working late because of the cholera," sobbed Mbeki. "Now I hear it wasn't cholera. It was that German hussy."

Mugabe's announcement this morning was briefly delayed after it was discovered that a herd of goats was grazing on the drapes in the media briefing room of the Presidency. However once the goats were removed with teargas the media were treated to a breakfast comprising one egg shared between 43 people and bacon harvested from the front grille of Mugabe's limousine.

"There is no cholera in Zimbabwe," said Mugabe, sipping on a smoothie made from the stem cells of babies. "It is lies. And also Heidi Klum is my girlfriend."

He confirmed that there had been a small outbreak reported in certain rural regions, but that Zanu-PF doctors had identified the disease as homosexuality and would be treating affected people with invigorating beatings with truncheons and subscriptions to the Zimbabwe Herald.

However he said it was much more important that the world recognised that Heidi Klum was now his girlfriend.

Asked if he was making it up, Mugabe said he did not need to invent girlfriends when he could order them over the Internet.

Meanwhile jilted partner Thabo Mbeki said he had held out a vain hope that Mugabe had been talking about him and not the German supermodel.

"Robert has all sorts of names for me," sobbed a devastated Mbeki. “Thabo, Thabo-baby, Thabsickle, The Hotness, Gwyneth, The Great Apologist. Things like that.

"I just though 'Heidi Klum' was a new one."

He said he "should have seen it coming", adding that Mugabe had been working long hours lately and had seemed increasingly distant.

"I thought it was the cholera," said Mbeki. "I feel so embarrassed, as if the whole world is laughing at me."

Asked about his future with Mugabe, Mbeki said he had always felt a special connection with the Zimbabwean.

"That's why I sold every last shred of moral high ground the ANC had after 1994 to keep him out of the International Criminal Court in The Hague," said Mbeki.

"Now I realise I was just like Amy Winehouse and he was like Blake. They wanted to make him go to rehab in The Hague, but I said no, no, no.

"But now I'm not sure."

I am deeply ashamed of the useless, incompetent, corrupt ANC government....

Zim under fire at UN
Article By:

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Monday slammed "the denial of reality" by Zimbabwean President Mugabe's regime as the UN Security Council reviewed the dire situation in the southern African country.

The closed-door meeting, also attended by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, heard a briefing from UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Zimbabwe's mounting woes, including a political stalemate, economic meltdown and a deadly cholera epidemic.

US diplomats had initially hoped to have the council adopt a non-binding statement condemning Mugabe for his failure to protect his people from the cholera outbreak, but a Western diplomat said the plan had run into South African opposition.

Another Western diplomat made it clear that there was no consideration of a statement at Monday's meeting.

And Rice also told AFP that she was not disappointed, insisting that the ministerial session was not meant "to have an outcome".

Asked whether there would be another council meeting on Zimbabwe before the end of President George W. Bush's administration next month, she replied: "I don't know. But I think it is high time to do something about Zimbabwe."

Fresh push

Some Western council members said they hope to make a fresh push for adoption of such a statement in January when South Africa will no longer sit on the council.

"We believe that this meeting needs to mark the restart of Security Council engagement on this issue," Miliband said. "I hope the Security Council will continue in the weeks ahead to continue to engage."

Miliband told reporters after a closed-door council ministerial session that Ban presented a "shocking" picture of "the disintegration of state institutions, the collapse of the economy,...the collapse of health and education services and the shocking fact that cholera has returned to Zimbabwe."

He said speakers highlighted the humanitarian urgency in Zimbabwe where a cholera epidemic has claimed nearly 1000 lives and stressed the need for Zimbabwe's neighbors and the African Union to "take a stronger role" in the resolution of the crisis.

The United States blames Mugabe for Zimbabwe's political deadlock, economic meltdown and humanitarian crisis, including the cholera outbreak.

"Profound multi-sectoral crisis"

In his briefing, Ban deplored the fact that "neither the (Harare) government nor the mediator welcomes a United Nations political role... This clearly limits our ability to effectively help find immediate remedies to this crisis."

"The current cholera epidemic is only the most visible manifestation of a profound multi-sectoral crisis, encompassing food, agriculture, education, health, water, sanitation and HIV/Aids," he added.

He stressed that the mediation by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) "needs result fast."

"The people of Zimbabwe cannot afford to wait any longer. The international community cannot afford to watch as the situation gets worse," Ban noted.

State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said Washington has been talking to South Africa and other Security Council members about how to "start a process that will bring an end to the tragedy that is unfolding in Zimbabwe".

Countries with leverage should use it to press for change in Zimbabwe, McCormack said.

A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, proposed on Thursday that Zimbabwe's neighbours, particularly South Africa, close their borders with the country.

Zimbabwean Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu however told the state-owned Herald newspaper on Monday it was "improper" for western countries to try to put Zimbabwe on the UN Security Council agenda.

AFP

Obstructive window licking f**ktards!:*

Sadly, not much is reported about the Zim situation in Britain and nothing is ever reported about the crime situation in SA.:confused:

Flame Lily FX,

Probably because neither are good news and both make depressing reading.

Like Solid Rust Twotter says,


I am deeply ashamed of the useless, incompetent, corrupt ANC government....



Not particularly surprised, but ashamed? YES!!

unstable load

I agree entirely and it's an extremely sad day when 4 Royal Marines get killed in Afghanistan.

One can always hope that the gangster and his cronies all come down with a dose of the non-existent Cholera.....it would give them time toreflect as they lay dying.

Ah, daydreams.

In a column today, even the highbrowed Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung questions the sanity of some of the cabinet ministers in Zimbabwe and suggests it would be interesting to hold an opinion poll among the population there to find out what they might think about re-colonialisation. They are certainly spot on by pointing out that even under the "racist" government of Ian Smith, the country was booming and the black people of Zimbabwe did not have to worry about getting killed (least of all by their own government).

18 March 2007 - Is It the End for Mugabe. - Page 1

Nearly 2 sodding years and 37 pages later and the insane baboon is still clinging on. Where the hell did the free world's balls go? Surely it would be a doddle to make sure that he had an SAS induced "accident"?

Indeed, it's way past time for something nasty, slow and painful to happen to him, but the thing that is beginning to bother me is that the opposition MDC are showing signs that they may not be a much better alternative.

Hope I'm wrong.

Unfortunately you're not. Something about frying pans and fires....:(

Glad that Bob told us the Cholera epidemic was over!

News - South Africa: Cholera hits Gauteng (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090105153826222C973807)

:ugh::ugh:

NPA 'elated' over Zuma ruling
12/01/2009 12:31 - (SA)


Bloemfontein - The National Prosecuting Authority is "elated" by the Supreme Court of Appeal's ruling on procedures related to Jacob Zuma's case on Monday, its spokesperson Tlali Tlali said.

They were pleased about the "correctness" of their approach being endorsed by the court.

Tlali said there was no indication of a plea bargain.

The SCA upheld an appeal by the National Director of Public Prosecutions against a court ruling that effectively halted Zuma's corruption prosecution.

In a unanimous judgment, a bench of five judges harshly criticised the high court ruling, but dismissed an application to have a "political meddling" finding scrapped.

However, the NDPP won part of its appeal, which means presidential front-runner Zuma still faces charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and tax evasion.

"The appeal is upheld with costs," said acting deputy judge president Louis Harms.

- SAPA

:hmm:

The Zimbabwe Situation - Zimbabwe News updated daily (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/)

Health in Ruins: PHR Reports on the Man-Made Health Crisis in Zimbabwe (http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/report-2009-01-13.html)

Reports that Mugabe's regime deliberately restricts supplies of water, grain, and other essentials from rural regions, and targets healthcare professionals, for political purposes.

:mad:

Such a tragedy for the people of Zimbabwe!

Would it have been better if Zim had never been colonialized? Would it had been better if the West had left Ian Smith and his government alone, as they were managing a prosperous economy?

I don't know the answer, but I sense serious mistakes have been made, both in the assumptions of the 70's and the global paralysis of today.

The lesson for everyone is to think hard about who and what movements you support and think through the consequences.

Would it have been better if Zim had never been colonialized?
I honestly don't have an answer to this one. Different nations seem to have different reactions to colonizations, at different times. Britain also colonised Kenya, South Africa and India, which bounced back in different ways.

I don't expect to find a comprehensive answer to that question, and even if I did, who cares? The past is past, beyond your control, but you can control the future. IMHO, it's this constant dwelling on historic grudges that held Ireland back for so long, compared to Scotland - and no, I don't care to enter a discussion on "which suffered most", which would be pointless. :oh:

Zim most definitely benifted from "colonisation", the infrastructure and administrative investment alone made it a viable exporter - which it should still be...

UDI in hindsight, was a curve ball, delaying the inevitable.

Bob et al have succeeded in sending it down the toilet.

Momentum has been lost in the interim, Zim has been consigned to the basket case. :{

bnt, I do think there is relevancy in looking into (not dwelling on) the past.

We (the world) have two (at least) countries under "Guardianship government" (Afghanistan, and Iraq), and potentially several more in the wings (Zimbabwe, Somalia, Palestine, etc. etc.)

The actions of the international community in the past are greatly responsible for a lot of the situations we have today, and if there are valuable lessons, it would be a good idea if we learned them!

DISCLAIMER: I make no claim to what are or were good/bad decisions, or that we would actually learn from past mistakes :suspect:

My only recommendation is to force everyone in troubled countries to own property and have a mortgage they have to work to pay for, to help incentive's them to have something to look after and protect.

There, I've just solved all the troubles in the world... I think I'll go reward myself with another whiskey and cigar! :E

Dr Robert earned his doctorate at the London School of Economics.

He understands the true meaning of Quantitative Easing.

Here's what it looks like in reality:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/The_Forester/ZimDollars.jpg

I wonder if Malcolm Fraser (for those who don't recognise the name, the trouser-losing ex-Australian PM who played a major role in putting Crazy Bob on what was to become his throne) ever stops to congratulate himself for the wonderful job he did with Zimbabwe.

Like all those now late middle aged people in the West who demonstrated so passionately in their youth against UDI, I suspect he doesn't give it a thought.

I don't know if Comrade Bob started out as a competent administrator, but he (or rather Zimbabwe) has certainly wound up in the Dictator Trap. There is no effective mechanism for handing over the reins of government to an opponent; even though that mechanism technically exists.

South Africa, by way of contrast, is able to change and renew government and policy.

The Malcolm Fraser criticism is unfair, nobody could have foreseen the present disaster and Comrade Bob was democratically elected.

The key requirement for good government is not necessarily Parliamentary Democracy (although it is a very successful model).

Key is the ability to change policy, and leaders, routinely without civil disturbance ( which is where the Chinese model is largely effective)

Comrade Bob and his clique have buggered up a potentially wealthy and healthy country - as we all agree.

South Africa, by way of contrast, is able to change and renew government and policy.

Only by throwing out the former govt and attacking them in the media it seems. We still have people willing to kill for their candidate demonstrating in public and prepared to cause havoc to make their point.


The Malcolm Fraser criticism is unfair, nobody could have foreseen the present disaster and Comrade Bob was democratically elected.

The original democratically elected candidate (Abel Muzorewa, a moderate) wasn't considered the right one by Fraser, Carter, Young and others who then refused to accept him as Zim President. They pushed for Mugabe to take power against the wishes of the Zim people and against warnings from people who knew what Mugabe was and who forecast this disaster back then.



Meanwhile, farther South....

Thursday, January 01, 2009
A Rainbow Nation no more
Reverse racism in South Africa. A sad story by Sharon van Wyk. This one is a familiar tale for many of us. We know of these type of queue jumpers, those who feel a sense of entitlement simply because they belong a certain race.

Gold Reef City, Joburg - I'm standing in a queue. It's my son's 14th birthday and we've brought him and two of his mates from school to Joburg's favourite theme park and one of its biggest tourist attractions. And another six people have just shoved their way past us, joining a growing group further up the line, extending our wait for a few seconds of adrenaline pumping thrill for a few more minutes.

The man next to me is getting angry. So the next group of queue jumpers that barges through is blocked by him, as he asks them, politely, in English, not to push in and requests (again, politely) that they join the end of the queue, far behind us, out of sight around one of many landscaped bends.

"Don't you tell me what to do, you white pig." My mouth drops as I look at the dark-skinned young man who has challenged my neighbour's right to send him to the end of the line. "I am joining my people up there and you can't stop me." He and his four friends push past, muttering in their vernacular as they go.

The man next to me is as gobsmacked, and as white as I am. He is from Oxford in the United Kingdom, here in South Africa on holiday with his wife and two teenaged children.

A lady to the man's left is Xhosa-speaking and tells me sadly that the young men swore at the man as they pushed past him, saying that he is a boer and needs teaching a lesson about who is in charge now. She is disgusted and apologises for the young queue jumpers. She is also Mr "Oxford's" wife of twenty years.

Another group of three young women pushes past us.

"Don't make trouble, mum" asks my son, looking perturbed, which he shouldn't be on his birthday. But I needn't worry.

The man's wife challenges them in their own language and a full-blown argument breaks out.

A small group of oriental tourists behind us in the queue looks shocked at the disturbance and one can only assume that the hurried whispers between them are explanations for what they think is happening. They stop talking and look decidedly worried when, from ahead of the queue, a large, black man pushes his way towards us. As he reaches us he asks, in English, what the problem is. Mr "Oxford" explains that the girls, now in a heated Xhosa exchange with his wife, were jumping the queue. The man says "Let them through, we are a group."

Things are getting tense now, and a white couple to my right start pitching their 10c worth in, causing the oriental group to start jabbering, excitedly this time.

"We are a group too," says my neighbour with an Afrikaans accent. "But the rest of us are further down the queue. What gives you the right to have your group push in front of us?"

The black man's repose now crumbles.

"You boertjies must wake up, neh. You can't call the shots any more. These are my people and they are joining me, and if you have a problem, take it up with Zuma."

With that, he herds the three girls, still arguing with Mr "Oxford's" wife, away, pushing past people now looking the other way, unwilling to get involved, to his position far ahead of us.

Mr and Mrs "Oxford's" children are near to tears, their mom is shaking she's so angry and Mr "Oxford" apologises to everyone and leaves the queue.

"I'm sorry," he says to me as he leaves. "This has spoiled our day."

I am livid. My son and his friend are embarrassed.

We take the ride in silence. The incident leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouths.

In three subsequent queues similar incidents occur. My husband challenges one group, to be similarly accused of being a racist boer, this time by a strident black woman who doesn't see anything wrong with allowing eight adults to join her "group" of six by pushing past families waiting patiently for their turn.

We opt to go home, preferring the drive to Pretoria to the tension steadily building with the heat of mid-day.

My heart is sore for Mr "Oxford", branded a racist by a young man who is more a bigot than the Englishman will ever be.

But more than anything my heart is sore for South Africa.

In a couple of days' time it will be a whole new year. And another year further away from the day when this country supposedly became a rainbow nation.

Obviously, for some, the rainbow's significance is lost, hidden by a brand of racism more insidious than anything which prevailed under apartheid and one which threatens to tear this country apart.

You see, I can forgive that black man his enmity. He is old enough to remember the dark days of disenfranchisement and riots. But his kids, and the majority of his "people" who joined him in that queue are not. From the looks of them they were not even born when Mandela walked to freedom and this country supposedly changed for the better.

They have learned their bitterness and hatred for whites from him and others like him. And learned that to get by in life all they have to do is play the race card and watch the white folks cringe and cower.

They are bullies, pushing their way through life like they do queues, demanding that everything be given to them because they are black.

Watching their behaviour in those queues at Gold Reef City, and watching how so few people, black or white, challenged their rudeness and bad manners, I suddenly realised how people like Robert Mugabe are able to stay in power so long and how our future, and with it that of Africa, is so tenuous unless someone, somewhere has the balls to stand up and call a spade a spade (for want of a better phrase) and tackle the inherent racism that still pervades our society and this new breed of racists who have never known discrimination, and yet persist in perpetuating it.

For those of you who think that those queue jumpers were just being rude, and not racist, I say wake up and let's call a thing by what it is, and not what it is not.

There's a bad joke which goes along the lines of "What's the difference between a tourist and a racist - about 20 minutes."

I leave the last word to Mr "Oxford", a tourist in our country, and the husband of one of its proud daughters. I bumped into him as we were leaving, checking out of the Protea Gold Reef City hotel.

"I thought apartheid was dead," he said, sadly. "I was wrong."

"It is bad to be oppressed by a minority,
but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority."
- Lord Acton

"The Malcolm Fraser criticism is unfair, nobody could have foreseen the present disaster and Comrade Bob was democratically elected".

I would say the criticism is not unfair, and neither is your statement about democratically elected accurate, from Wikipedia

"Elections were held, and the UANC won. Josiah Gumede was the first President, Muzorewa became prime minister and the country's name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia. But both Mugabe and Nkomo denounced the arrangement, the war continued, and no international recognition was forthcoming because the external Marxist leaders had not been included in the elections. The civil war that Ian Smith hoped to stem when he worked out the "internal settlement" continued unabated."

Marxist leader's continuing the war after an election left them out is hardly Democratically elected.

I am most intrigued to see that the old socialist Mugabe is taking long holiday in Malaysia (it is reported he is checking on his assets stashed overseas) while his people are dying.