Zimbabwe: The turmoil, reconciliation, and the future!

Southern Africa: SADC Begins Zim Mission

The Herald (Harare)

April 13, 2007
Posted to the web April 13, 2007

Harare

SADC executive secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao yesterday began the region's mission to rescue the Zimbabwean economy from the illegal Western economic sanctions with a series of meetings with President Mugabe and senior Government officials.

Dr Salomao's mission has been given impetus by a growing feeling within the Sadc region that Zimbabwe should receive financial support from the International Monetary Fund since it has cleared its arrears under the General Resources Account.


Zimbabwe paid a total of US$193 million to the IMF over 13 months between 2005 and last year to clear its arrears with the critical GRA.

Following the repayment, the IMF was supposed to have resumed financial assistance to Zimbabwe but the United States and Britain blocked the resumption of aid.

"The feeling in Sadc is that Zimbabwe, in terms of Article 4 of the rules of the IMF, has cleared its debt and is therefore entitled to access support from the IMF," said a source closely following the Sadc mission.

Speaking to journalists after meeting President Mugabe at Zimbabwe House, Dr Salomao said it was important for Sadc to support Zimbabwe.

He said the meetings were part of the consultations he was undertaking to come up with a programme to rescue Zimbabwe's economy, which is bleeding under Western-imposed illegal sanctions.

"I am here to implement what was decided by the (Sadc) Heads of State and to have some consultations.

"We are always hoping that the situation, although complex, we need to work hard. What's good for Zimbabwe is good for the region. What's bad for Zimbabwe is bad for the region.

"I think it's time to talk less and do the work," said the Sadc chief.

Yesterday Dr Salomao met with members of the National Economic Recovery Council to get an insight into the National Economic Development Priority Programme, which Government is implementing to turn around the economy.

Headed by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, the NERC is a multi-stakeholder organisation which brings together the economic ministries as well as the private sector.

Dr Salomao said he would also meet the Minister of Finance, Cde Samuel Mumbengegwi; the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr Gideon Gono; and the head of the European Union in Zimbabwe.

The Sadc executive secretary was tasked by the Sadc leaders at the Dar es Salaam extraordinary summit in Tanzania last month to study the economic situation in Zimbabwe and see how the region could help it overcome the economic sanctions.

Relevant Links

Southern Africa
Zimbabwe
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The summit also urged the West to remove the illegal sanctions and called on Britain to honour its obligations to pay compensation to farmers whose farms were acquired for resettlement.

Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Thomas Mandigora, were present in the meeting between President Mugabe and Dr Salomao.

The Sadc secretariat has its offices in Botswana.

JK

so what are your arguments on the above article?

DrWHO,
kuna wanaodai eti kuna smart sanctions especially designed kumuumiza Mugabe na viongozi wakuu wa Zimbabwe. ukweli ni kwamba IMF na WB wakikukatia pesa, basi hakuna taasisi yoyote ile ya fedha ya nchi za magharibi itakayokufungulia mlango.

maendeleo yote yaliyopatikana kabla Mugabe hajaomba ushauri wa WB na IMF yanapotea. Hali ya maisha ya Wazimbabwe imeharibika baada ya Mugabe kuanza ku-implement structural adjustment programme[SAP] za IMF/WB.

Hata WB/IMF wameandika ripoti kwamba SAP rolled back the achievements[in health,education,small scale farming] that were attain by Mugabe. MDC is an off-shot of ZANU labour movement, and was founded in protest of the negative effects of SAP on the welfare Zimbabwean workers.

Jinsi MDC na ZANU walivyo-switch alliances inanikumbusha vita ya Ogaden, ambapo Ethiopia na Somalia, walibadilika na kuwa pro-USSR, na pro-USA, respectively. Hawa wakubwa wana permanent interest hawana permanent friends. MDC ambao walikuwa anti-west, anti-IMF/WB, sasa ndiyo wamekuwa vipenzi vya wakubwa baada ya Mugabe kutaifisha ardhi, na kugomea mpango wa SAP.

Kosa la Mugabe ni kuchukua ardhi ya wazungu, na kuingilia kijeshi ktk vita vya DRC. Majeshi ya Zimbabwe yalipigana Mozambique kwa muda mrefu sana, mbona uchumi wa Zimbabwe uliendelea kukua? Ukweli ni kwamba Mugabe alikuwa anapigana Mozambique kulinda Uchumi wa Zimbabwe ambao largely ulikuwa ukimilikiwa na Wazungu/Wakubwa.

Sababu za mwanzo za vikwazo vya IMF/WB kwa Zimbabwe zilizotokana na Mugabe kupeleka nusu ya jeshi lake kumsaidia Laurent Kabila. Hakuzingatia kwamba Wakubwa walikuwa na hasira na Kabila kwasababu aliyatimua makampuni ya madini ya nchi za magharibi.

Wakati Zimbabwe wanakatiwa msaada wa pesa kwa kushiriki kijeshi DRC, Rwanda na Uganda waliendelea kumiminiwa mapesa na mashirika hayo na nchi za magharibi. IMF/WB claimed that the war in DRC would drain ZIM's economy. But, how come they let UG and RW which were poorer than ZIM, run havoc in the DRC?? Ukweli ni kwamba UG na RW walikuwa wanapigania maslahi ya nchi za magharibi, wakati Mugabe alikuwa anapigania maslahi na heshima ya Wacongo.

Njaa ya Zimbabwe imesababishwa na ukame wa muda mrefu uliotokea nchi za kusini mwa Afrika. Hata Zambia, msuluhishi wa vita vya Congo, was not spared from drought and famine. Njaa hiyo haitokani na kutaifishwa kwa ardhi. Credible records indicate that 60-70% grains in Zimbabwe were produced by small scale farmers.

Wakulima wadogo waliopewa ardhi wameshindwa ku-produce kwasababu ya ukame, na kukosa msaada toka kwa serikali yao iliyowekewa vikwazo.

Kwa kifupi hakuna nchi ya Kiafrika inayoweza kupigana vita nzito na ya gharama kama ya Congo[half of Zim's army was in the DRC], ikabiliane na ukame na njaa, na mwisho ihimili vikwazo vya uchumi. Hapa suala si Mugabe kama wengine wanavyopenda tuamini, bali ni mfumo mzima wa uchumi na fedha duniani.

Wakubwa wali-miscalculate uwezo wa Mugabe ktk ku-energize rural community to vote for him. Walipumbazwa na matokeo ya constitutional referendum ambapo urban zimbabweans/MDC walimuangusha Mugabe. They forgot that Mugabe was complacent and did not campaign for constitutional amendment.

Zaidi, kitendo cha Wakubwa kumpinga Mugabe katika suala kama la ardhi ni sawa na kumpa chizi rungu. Vita ya ukombozi, which Mugabe led so effectively was a fight for the right to land ownership. Wakubwa walionywa kwamba, if land became an election campaign issue, Mugabe would win. That is exactly what happened.

Wakati wakubwa hawataki kukubali matokeo ya uchaguzi Zimbabwe, nchi nyingi za Kiafrika zinaona uchaguzi uliompa ushindi Mugabe ulikuwa HURU na WA HAKI, kwa STANDARD za AFRIKA. Nchi za SADC zinaamini kwamba hata kama kulikuwa na kasoro ktk uchaguzi wa Zimbabwe, kasoro hizo hazingeweza kubadili matokeo ya KURA.

Niliwahi kuzungumza na mwanadiplomasia toka nchi moja ya SADC, na aliniambia kwamba Mugabe alishinda uchaguzi kihalali kabisa. Huo ndiyo mgogoro mwingine wa wakubwa na nchi wanachama wa SADC. Why do they think they can convince Mbeki to remove Mugabe frm power while he[Mbeki] believes that elections in Zimbabwe were free and fair?

Kwa hali ilipofikia sasa hivi nadhani itakuwa vizuri kama Mugabe ataachia ngazi. Uchumi wa Zimbabwe ni tegemezi, na nchi haiwezi kusonga mbele ikiwa itaendelea kuhujumiwa na vikwazo vya nchi za Magharibi. I dont see western countries working with Mugabe's led government.

Historia itakayoandikwa na mwafrika itamkumbuka Mugabe mema aliyoitendea Zimbabwe na Afrika. Ni Raisi gani wa Kiafrika anayeweza ku-commit nusu ya jeshi lake kusaidia nchi nyingine ya Kiafrika? I mean hata iwe kwa ubinafsi? Wananchi wa Zimbabwe naamini watamkumbuka kwa jinsi alivyosambaza elimu, na afya vijijini, mpaka Zimbabwe ikasifiwa na mashirika ya maendeleo ya jamii. Wananchi wa Mozambique watakumbuka jinsi Mugabe alivyosaidia nchi yao isiangukie mikononi mwa makaburu wa Afrika Kusini.

Tuzungumzie Somalia Vs Ethiopia (Tanzania's influence in African Union)

Waheshimiwa mabibi na Mabwana nnalo suala linalonitatiza, nalo ni uvamizi wa Ethiopia (Makao makuu ya AU) ktk nchi ya Somalia.

Hii inakera kwani Ethiopia ilivamia Somalia wakati ambapo Somalia walau ilipata amani, usalama na utulivu chini ya 'Muungano Mahakama za Kiislamu' UIC.

Namkumbuka Hayati Mwl. Nyerere aliijengea heshima nchi yetu kwa vile alivyoweza kutetea maslahi ya wanyonge na kukemea wakandamizaji japo hata kwa maneno.

Nadhani sasa umefika wakati wa serikali yetu kuikemea na kuilani Ethiopia kwa kuvamia Somalia na kwenda kutibua amani iliyokuwa imeanza kupatikana chini ya uongozi wa UIC.

Umefika wakati wa kutumia ushawishi wetu ndani ya AU kuwashawishi 'other major powers in Africa' ku-suggest kuondoa makao makao makuu ya AU Ethiopia na kuyapeleka nchi nyingine ambayo haina tabia za kivamizi, kikandamizaji na kibeberu, huu ukiwa ni msimamo wetu wa kuonyesha kutombetezewa na walichokifanya Ethiopia dhidi ya Somalia.

Waafrika wote wa dini zote na wale wasiokuwa na dini tumechoka na mauaji ya watoto, wazee, wanawake na nguvu kazi ya Somalia. Hasa pale Somalia waliposhupalia kuvamia na kuwaondoa UIC ambao walikuwa wameanza kuleta matumaini kwa wananchi wa Somalia.

Mungu Ibarika Afrika

The East African:
A while back, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe told his critics to go hang. Interestingly, he said this in the company of President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, one of the countries in the Southern African Development Community out to resolve Zimbabwe crisis. He pulped his main opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai. The Movement for Democratic Change legislator and spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, was equally badly beaten. In fact the opposition figures had to seek the court’s intervention to leave the country.

Yet Mugabe can thumb his nose in the presence of Kikwete because he knows that the Tanzanian government is not without blemish, like many other African countries. Whether it is Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon or Malawi, the story is the same: the leaders are tainted. A few years ago, Tanzania police invaded the semi-autonomous Zanzibar and Pemba and clobbered people senseless. In Uganda, the army stormed the High Court, beat up a lawyer and dragged away accused people who had been granted bail. In the Sudan, Darfur is a genocide any way you look at it. The brutal force with which President Hosni Mubarak’s government descends on political dissent, mainly the Islamic Brotherhood, must have been copied by Mugabe. The list of atrocities is endless.

With all this “talent” across Africa, who will dare confront Mugabe? No wonder we hear talk of quiet diplomacy and that they are not going to interfere in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe. It is truly a see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-it-is-an-internal-affair approach. The kind that let the genocide in Rwanda go unchallenged leading to the slaughter of nearly a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The international community seems spineless in the face of dictators like Mugabe. The United Nations is aloof, while the African Union is toothless and has neither the ability nor courage to bark. As Zimbabwe goes up in flames, Nepad with its peer review mechanism is nowhere to be seen nor heard. Are there Mugabe peers who are doing an evaluation of Zimbabwe and telling him to account for it?

The way forward is for African leaders to clean up their act, at least to give them leverage in correcting their wayward colleagues. Meanwhile, it is crucial that President Mugabe steps down. It needed the courage of the late President Mwalimu Nyerere to get Tanzania to move into Uganda and remove Idi Amin. That is an option African leaders fear to pursue, because they are all tainted.

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Moses Auta
Nairobi

http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Opinion/Opinion1604078.htm

Mugabe alionyesha dharau ya hali ya juu pale aliposema maneno hayo sio kwa Wazungu pekee hata kwa WTZ ambao rais wake alikuwa pale. Je tunajifunza nini?

Kwenye hiyo barua ya huyo jamaa hapo juu, napata picha moja ambayo jirani zetu hawa wameamua kuijenga kuhusu nchi yetu, japo kwa ujumla wa kijuujuu unaweza kudhani anamlenga Mugabe.

Katika barua yake anaitaja Tanzania mara nne (ukihusisha na Kikwete na Mwalimu) katika kumzungumzia Mugabe.

Anasema polisi wa Tanzania walipiga watu Zanzibar na Pemba: ina maana Zanzibar si Tanzania, na Pemba si Zanzibar?

Anapomtaja Mwalimu ni kwa kumuonyesha kama mvamizi na haonyeshi kuwa Tanzania ndiyo ilivamiwa.

Katika mifano yake ya udhalimu wa serikali na viongozi wa Afrika, ingependeza kama angeitaja pia Kenya pale vikosi vya serikali vilipovamia kiwanda cha magazeti na kuharibu magazeti yaliyokuwa tayari.

Anapomtaja Mwalimu ni kwa kumuonyesha kama mvamizi na haonyeshi kuwa Tanzania ndiyo ilivamiwa.

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not very sure about this kwani info zingine zinasema kuwa sisi ndio tulianzisha hii proxy war

Mwanagenzi

Good points na ndio hapo unaona jinsi Kenya wanavyoiona Tanzania on their side, Je huu muungano ambao sasa wanaulilia kutokana na soko walilonalo la bidhaa zao itakuwaje? Tanzania jinsi inavyojiimarisha kiuchumi na ikitengemaa watauza wapi bidhaa ambazo tayari zina soko Bongo? Wenzetu wanataka sisi tuendelee kuwa soko lao wakati sisi hatuna plan B. Tunafuata kama mbwa kwenye mnyororo.

DrWho,
Madai ya kwamba sisi ndiyo tulianzisha vita dhidi ya nduli ni hizo hizo kampeni za kutupaka matope. Nataka kuamini kuwa kama ingekuwa sisi ndiyo tulianzisha vita basi tungekuwa tumejiandaa kwanza mapema na vizuri zaidi, tofauti na ukweli kwamba mwanzoni mwa vita TULICHAKAZWA KWELIKWELI, mpaka ikabidi tuvunje daraja la Mto Kagera ili kuwazuia jamaa wasizidi kuingia ndani ya nchi yetu.

Kumbuka pia mwaka 1972 Amin alishambulia mji wa Mwanza kwa ndege. Na akaanza matusi na daharau kwa Baba wa Taifa.

DrWHO said:

not very sure about this kwani info zingine zinasema kuwa sisi ndio tulianzisha hii proxy war

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kwanini tusiianzishie burundi muda wote ule?....kama ilikuwa sisi?

kwanini hatukuingia rwanda wakati ule wakiwachinja watu....kama ilikuwa sisi?

mi nadhani hiyo itabaki kuwa story ya baadhi ya watu[ukweli wake hasa unahitaji uchambuzi wa kina],lakini kama ingekuwa sisi,basi sidhani kama ingekuwa vigumu kuingia kwenye hiyo mikoa isiyoyetu ila ilikuwa yetu kabla mjarumani hajashindwa vita!.....mpenda vita ni mpenda vita tu...hawezi kuokoka![kama wasemavyo walokole]

DrWHO,Mwanagenzi,Dua,
Obote alipinduliwa wakati akihudhuria mkutano wa Commonwealth. Nadhani mkutano huo ulikuwa Srilanka. Baada ya kutoka huko alifikia Ikulu DSM.

Inasemekana bendera ya Raisi wa Uganda iliendelea kupeperushwa Ikulu ya DSM kwa muda wa wiki 2. Inasemekana kitendo hicho kilimuudhi sana Iddi Amini Dada.

Wako wakimbizi wa Uganda waliokimbilia Tanzania. Wakimbizi hao waliruhusiwa kufanya mazoezi ya kivita. Kuna jaribio la kumpindua Amini lililoshindwa na wahusika wa jaribio hilo walitokea Tanzania.

Mwaka 1972, Tanzania na Uganda zilisaini mkataba wa Amani. Mkataba huo ulisuluhishwa na kusainiwa Mogadishu, Somalia. Makubaliano ya mkataba huo ilikuwa ni pamoja na Tanzania kusitisha kutoa mafunzo ya kijeshi kwa wakimbizi wa Uganda.

Mkataba wa Amani wa Mogadishu ndiyo uliolazimisha wakina Museveni kuhamishiwa kwenye makambi ya FRELIMO yaliyokuwa kwenye maeneo yaliyokombolewa. Sote tunaelewa kwamba TPDF walikuwa wakitoa mafunzo kwenye makambi hayo.

Inasemekana vita ya Uganda ndiyo iliyoporomosha uchumi wa Tanzania. Kuna kipindi Mwalimu aliulizwa kuhusu suala hili alielekea kuonyesha kujutia uamuzi wa kupigana vita ile.

NAJUA USHINDI WA VITA ILE NI FAHARI KUBWA SANA KWA WATANZANIA. INASEMEKANA NDANI YA BARAZA LA MAWAZIRI THERE WERE "DOVES" WHO WERE AGAINST THE WAR. KIZAZI HIKI KINAPASWA KUJIULIZA: WAS IT WORTH IT??

Naona Waingereza wameamua kweli kweli...

A campaign has been launched at Westminster to remove an honorary degree presented to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe by Edinburgh University.

The degree was handed out 23 years ago for "services to education in Africa".

Nigel Griffiths, a former Labour minister, said he wanted it "swiftly withdrawn" in protest over Mr Mugabe's "oppressive and brutal regime".

A Commons motion, tabled by the former Edinburgh University student, expressed his "dismay" at the president.

He said Mr Mugabe had "reduced his people to poverty, a state of terror, and the brutal suppression of his political opponents".

Zimbabwe has the world's highest annual rate of inflation - 1,700% - and only one person in five is in full-time work.

Nigel Griffiths is a close ally of Gordon Brown, who was rector at the university while also a student.

The motion has been signed by fellow Labour MP Kate Hoey.

It was also supported by Edinburgh University's rector, Mark Ballard.

He said: "The university's position is becoming increasingly untenable and he should indeed be stripped of the degree.

"Members of the Alumni Association are gravely concerned at what this is doing to the reputation of the university - the university must act."

An Edinburgh University spokesman said: "The university is acutely aware of ongoing developments in Zimbabwe and the issue of Robert Mugabe's honorary degree remains under active review."

Zimbabwe: Gono Challenges Church Over Illegal Sanctions

The Herald (Harare)

April 18, 2007
Posted to the web April 18, 2007

Harare

RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono has implored the church to engage the international community for the removal of targeted and undeclared sanctions on the country that have hurt the economy over the past few years.

Building diplomatic bridges between Zimbabwe and the international community could be done through approaching embassies, non-governmental organisations and international bodies.


Addressing business representatives and the clergy in Mutare last Friday, Dr Gono said the church had a critical role to play in the economic turnaround process, and one such way was to engage the international community.

Sanctions imposed on this country had continued to hurt the economy so much. Most of the challenges bedevilling the economy, which included foreign currency shortages and high inflation, were largely a result of sour relations between Zimbabwe and some members of the international community.

"The church should help tell the real story about Zimbabwe, about how sanctions are hurting this economy, particularly the ordinary person.

"Foreign currency shortages cannot be divorced from the credit rating effects of sanctions. Capacity underutilisation in the productive sectors cannot be divorced from foreign exchange shortages.

"Precipitous statements by multilateral institutions, that occupy strong positions of influence in the world of finance and commerce are working to systematically slide Zimbabwe into a crisis," said Dr Gono.

Sanctions had caused a "systematic and brutal decimation" of the economy through direct and indirect blockages of policies and programmes that could have made a positive difference in building prospects of economic recovery, he said.

This was contrary to the widely held view that sanctions in this country were isolated to a few individuals with travel restrictions.

The church could, thus, complement efforts by Sadc leaders to have the sanctions imposed on this country removed to allow for sustainable recovery and growth.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Presiding Bishop Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe and chairman of the Heads of Christian Denominations Zimbabwe Bishop Trevor Manhanga said the church was fully behind efforts to stabilise the economy.

"For our part as church leaders, we want to assist all efforts that seek to lift the burden of poverty and suffering that oppresses our people. I can assure you that we as the church leaders would not want to be found wanting at this late hour.

"So we make the appeal to put Zimbabwe first, before self, before profits, before any other affiliation or alignment. We owe it to ourselves, our nation and future generations to make the effort, the sacrifice that is necessary for success to be realised," he said.

In recent weeks, the church has sought to play a key role in the formulation of a social contract as a foundation for sustainable economic recovery.

It is against this background that last Friday Rev Manhanga and his team invited Dr Gono to address the clergy and the business community in Mutare on the social contract.

This was the second such meeting after the first one held in Harare last month.

In an interview, Rev Manhanga said the church was organising similar meetings in other towns and cities to induce a deeper understanding of the social contract thrust and to assist in bringing economic rejuvenation in this country.

Rev Manhanga was confident that the economy would recover soon, particularly through the proposed social covenant.

Dr Gono said the church could also play an instrumental role in the national healing process as he appealed for Zimbabweans to be more tolerant of one another, denouncing violence as an enemy of economic turnaround.

Differences would be settled through dialogue and moral suasion.

"The high level of mistrust among social partners provides an opportunity for the church to play a pivotal role in the social contract discussions as part of the national healing process, emphasising on the need to build a Zimbabwe rich in diversity, tolerance, conforming mutual respect and dignity," said Dr Gono.

The church, through its diverse membership, was better positioned to dissipate impediments to social dialogue through the cultivation of public tolerance, engagement and shunning counter-productive activities.

Relevant Links

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Zimbabwe
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In this regard, the church had already taken a positive step to build consensus around national issues through the "Zimbabwe We Want" initiative launched last year.

Dr Gono also challenged social partners to expedite agreements to various protocols put forward so far.

Zimbabwe, he said, could not afford any delaying tactics by any social partner as doing so would be costly to the economy.

Zimbabwe: Anglican Bishops Rap Sanctions

The Herald (Harare)

April 20, 2007
Posted to the web April 20, 2007

Caesar Zvayi
Harare

THE Anglican Church Province of Central Africa has added its voice to the growing condemnation of the illegal Western sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and called for their scrapping, urging Britain to honour its obligations to fund land reforms in the country.

In their Pastoral letter issued at the end of their Episcopal Synod in Harare last week, the 14 bishops and one canon, among them the head of the Province of Central Africa, the Most Rev Bernard Amos Malango, acknowledged that the economic situation in Zimbabwe stemmed from illegal sanctions.


"We, the bishops, are concerned and pained at the distressing occurrences that have been taking place in Zimbabwe; the deteriorating economy has rendered the ordinary Zimba-bwean unable to make ends meet.

"This, we note, has been exacerbated by the economic sanctions imposed by the Western countries, these so-called targeted sanctions (presumably) aimed at the leadership of the country have affected the poor Zimbabweans who have borne the brunt of the sanctions . . .

"We, therefore, call upon the Western countries to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, we further call upon the British government to honour its obligation of paying compensation to the white farmers."

The Anglican Bishop's pastoral letter exposes the patently political nature of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop's Conference that released its own letter ahead of the Easter holidays, accusing President Mugabe and the Government of corrupt governance and human rights abuses.

The Catholic Bishops, led by the head of the Bulawayo Diocese -- Archbishop Pius Ncube -- and two of his colleagues from South Africa, Archbishop Buti Tlagale and Bishop Kevin Dowling, held an opposition rally on April 12 under the auspices of the Save Zimbabwe Convention and pledged to facilitate illegal regime change in the country.

Turning to the recent orgies of violence, the Anglican Bishops urged the Government to provide a framework for peace by creating an environment conducive for dialogue.

"As bishops, we denounce all forms of violence perpetrated by whatever source as a means of resolving conflict as this is a degradation of those created in the image of God."

Last month, MDC factions embarked on orgies of violence disguised as a "defiance campaign," through which they sought to depose the Government in the streets. When their attempts were thwarted, they launched terrorist activities that saw them assault police officers, burn private and public property and carry out 11 reported petrol bombings on police stations and private property.

The statement by the Anglican Bishops was in line with the theme of the 27th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, "Uniting Against Sanctions," and the resolution on Zimbabwe at the extra-ordinary summit of Sadc heads of state and government at the end of March in Tanzania.

At the summit, Sadc leaders reaffirmed their support and solidarity for the people and Government of Zimbabwe, called for the lifting of the illegal sanctions, recognised the legitimacy of the electoral system and urged Britain to honour its obligations to fund land reforms in Zimbabwe.

They also pledged a rescue package to mitigate the effects of the sanctions and tasked South African president Thabo Mbeki to facilitate dialogue between the Government and the opposition.

Apart from Archbishop Malango, other bishops who signed the Pastoral Letter dated April 12 2007 were Right Revs: Christopher J. Boyle (Northern Malawi), Albert Chama (Northern Zambia), Elson Jakazi (Manicaland), Derek Kamukwamba (Central Zambia), Nolbert Kunonga (Harare), William Muchombo (Eastern Zambia), Ishmael Mukuwanda (Central Zimbabwe), Robert Mumbi (Luapula) Trevor Mwamba (Botswana), David Njovu (Lusaka), Wilson Sitshebo (Matabeleland), Godfrey Tawonezvi (Masvingo), James Tengatenga (Southern Malawi), and Rev. Canon Michael Mkoko, Vicar General of the Diocese of Lake Malawi.


The Anglican Bishop's pastoral letter left egg on the face of the head of the church, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Willams who, last month, tried to pressure his bishops, among them Dr Kunonga, to join the bandwagon of condemning the Government for alleged human rights excesses.

Dr Williams went to the extent of holding a one-on-one meeting with Bishop Kunonga on the sidelines of the Anglican Conference on Tackling Poverty held in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he urged him to drop his "soft stance" towards the Government.

In the wake of the meeting, Dr Williams was criticised by church members who said Bishop Kunonga, who is well-known for his progressive sentiment, should not be pressured into telling falsehoods about his country.

Huko nyuma tumezungumzia mambo ya vita/amani na jirani zetu na umuhimu wa kuwa MACHO wakati wote...

Nimeona kipande hiki...

"According to a Ugandan military source, the government of Kampala may order military equipment worth $4 million from Iran to face up to its internal and regional security obligations..."

Source: ION 14/04/2007

Thereafter, first, there was the spectacle about TSVANGIRAI being in "intensive care" with a broken skull and left arm. But, during an Easter interview on SABC, he disclosed that his South African doctors had given him a clean bill of health. Suffice to observe that fractures do not heal that fast for people of TSVANGIRAI's age. Grace KWINJEH, similarly, was spirited out to South Africa by the Australian Ambassador amid a lot of fanfare, draped head to toe in mummy-like bandages, obviously Doctor GWATIDZO's news grabbing handy work, but a few days later she appeared on SABC all healed and spruced up. Again, she forgot to mention her earlier allegations, widely covered on the Internet and cited in the Congress, Commons and EU Parliament debates, that a CIO operative had sneaked into her hospital ward in Harare, posing as a doctor, and injected her with a substance that she thought to be lethal.

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the rest of the article at:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200704250443.html?page=2

Cleric calls for Mugabe to resign

BBC NEWS: One of the most outspoken clerics in Zimbabwe has again called for President Robert Mugabe to resign. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube also urged Zimbabweans not to be intimidated by President Mugabe. In an interview for BBC One's Heaven and Earth programme, which was aired on Sunday, the archbishop says the Zimbabwean government is corrupt. President Mugabe has warned bishops against becoming too political.

The archbishop says the situation in Zimbabwe is getting steadily worse but even though people's morale has been broken they should not be intimidated. "As far as I'm concerned he [President Mugabe] must go," he said. "You can't negotiate with him. It's useless. African presidents have tried to negotiate with that man to no avail." The archbishop also said opposition politicians in Zimbabwe needed to do more to prove themselves despite having been jailed and tortured.

This week President Mugabe warned his country's Catholic bishops that they were on a dangerous path if they became too political.

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Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6629215.stm

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube Ameamua kula sahani moja na Mugabe mpaka aachie madaraka. Ndio marais wetu wanajiona wao ni watu special!

Published: 2007/05/06 01:13:10 GMT

Huyu askofu anataka kujitafutia "ajali ya gari" isiyo ya lazima

Mzee Mwanakijiji

Unakumbuka huyu Archbishop alisema yuko tayari kusimama mbele wakati wa maandamano na wakitaka wampige risasi. tunahitaji watu shupavu kama huyu kwenye kuwasaidia wale ambao hawawezi kusema kutokana na kuogopa, kufaidi binafsi au kutokuwa na uwezo.

The Herald (Harare)
NEWS
7 May 2007
Posted to the web 7 May 2007
Harare

SADC will not abandon Zimbabwe while no amount of sanctions and isolation will make the West's regime change agenda work, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has said. In an interview with the New African magazine, Mr Kikwete said Western countries were pushing for Zimbabwe's isolation, but Sadc would maintain solidarity with Harare. "Sadc cannot abandon Zimbabwe.

We cannot abandon the people of Zimbabwe. There are others who want to isolate Zimbabwe. That is tantamount to abandoning Zimbabwe. But we say we cannot abandon the people of Zimbabwe. "We have solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe. We work together with the people of Zimbabwe. We will try to help them sort out their problems," said Mr Kikwete.

Asked if the illegal economic sanctions and other forms of isolation against Harare would achieve the intended goal of getting people to stage an uprising against the Zimbabwean Government, he said: "Of course, this is the assumption, but it is not a one-plus one equals two. "Our societies are different. Subsistence peasants have very little interaction with the world outside their farms or homesteads. It is only when they go to hospital, and people don't fall sick everyday, that they may have something to do with government institutions.

"My aunt (the younger sister of my late father who is now 91), she has never been to hospital. I fall sick, but she doesn't fall sick. Of course, you may say this is a rare case, but that is the situation we have in Africa. Under normal circumstances, to think that this Masai roaming the plains with his cattle is going to go into the streets because you have isolated the government of Tanzania, he doesn't give a damn! All he needs from the government is to allow him to take his cattle to the market. He finds beauty in having a large herd of cattle; he doesn't want to have anything with street protests."

Mr Kikwete added: "Yes, isolation may work in urban areas, but the rural population anywhere in Africa far outnumbers the urban population. Isolation may work in urban areas but will never work in rural areas. And this is precisely what happens -- you go to elections tomorrow, the government loses in urban areas but the rural areas continue to vote for it, and the government remains in power. " He said Western leaders want their African counterparts to condemn President Mugabe and have him removed from power.

"Oh yes, everywhere, everywhere! Zimbabwe is a big story of huge interest everywhere. There is a lot of dissatisfaction in Europe and beyond of what is going on in Zimbabwe, and they see President Mugabe as some kind of devil, somebody who shouldn't have been there, and they think that we in Africa should have done something to have him removed." But President Kikwete said Sadc would engage Zimbabwe in dialogue and help it solve its problems.
"We have always had differences with the international community. They want us to join in the chorus of open condemnation of Zimbabwe but we have been saying: 'Fine, you can condemn when something is not going right, but our approach has been let's talk about the issues'."

The Tanzanian leader said certain people were mistaken to think that the recent Sadc extraordinary summit in Dar es Salaam was called to read the riot act to Zimbabwe. "Of course, there are those who thought the summit should have discussed the removal of President Mugabe. Well, I told them, removing Mugabe was not on the agenda. The objective has always been how do we help Zimbabwe? Legally Mugabe is the President until the next elections."

Mr Kikwete said Sadc was confident its initiative to help Zimbabwe would work although it needed time and the lifting of the illegal sanctions. "We know it will take time. But we need to send the message across. Isolation, which is the strategy that has been adopted by the Western countries and their allies, will work only, in fact its effectiveness depends on submission. You isolate countries to force them to submit. This is the idea. But how long will it take for Zimbabwe to submit? So I think the best way is to look at the issues, bring them to the negotiating table, and not wait until the Government submits to isolation. It may take many years and during these many years, so many people would have suffered. "

Mr Kikwete said there should be limits to freedom in response to a question on the limitless freedom demanded by the opposition MDC.
"We are putting across the same message, that we have freedom but we cannot give anybody the freedom to demolish the country and say it is my freedom to do so. So freedom cannot be limitless. There must be certain limits."

He said it was puzzling that there was so much interest on Zimbabwe in the West and its media but little concern about the Democratic Republic of Congo where 100 people were killed and 200 injured in three days of fighting recently. "Of course, it is something interesting, something really interesting. But maybe there isn't much interest in Congo as it is in Zimbabwe. That surprises me too."

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LIMIT OF FREEDOM? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE SO CALLED LIMITS?