SYLLOGIST!
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 28, 2007
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In August, President Robert Mugabe's neighbours declined to criticise
Zimbabwe's human rights record.
Tutabanana hapa hapa mimi siendi popote labda mni- DITO.
Zimbabwe has banned observers from Western countries from monitoring elections later this month.
Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said African countries would be allowed to send monitors, as would allies such as China, Iran and Venezuela.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, 84, says that Western countries are trying to remove him from government. Two credible challengers are running against Mr Mugabe in the 29 March poll - Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai.
"Clearly, those who believe that the only free and fair election is where the opposition wins have been excluded since the ruling party, Zanu-PF, is poised to score yet another triumph," Mr Mumbengegwi told the state-owned Herald newspaper. But Mr Tsvangirai's faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the move showed the government had "a lot to hide".
"If everything was being done in a fair and transparent manner, there would be no need to exclude other countries," the MDC's Innocent Gonese told the AFP news agency. "Those who have been invited will hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil and endorse a flawed election."
Wary
Regional body, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), will be one of the main observer groups for the polls. Last month, both factions of the MDC said they felt betrayed by Sadc for failing to facilitate talks between the opposition and Zanu-PF to pave the way for free and fair elections. They said Zanu-PF had reneged on an agreement to enact a new constitution before the polls.
But Mr Mumbengegwi said the electoral commission would not be partisan and the talks with the opposition had resulted in the relaxing of tough security and media laws, the Herald reports. He also urged diplomats to be wary of allegations of electoral fraud.
"All those who do not expect to win the election would want to discredit the process. Therefore, you will come across all sorts of allegations in volumes and volumes," he said. "My appeal to you is please try your best to ensure that any allegation that is made is verified." The country is suffering an economic crisis, with annual inflation of 100,000% and unemployment at 80%. There are also severe food and fuel shortages.
Mr Mugabe, who came to power in 1980 when Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain, blames the state of the country on Western sanctions imposed following allegations that he rigged the 2002 polls. The sanctions are targeted at Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are subject to a travel ban and an assets freeze in the European Union and the US.
This week, Mr Mugabe accused Britain of backing his former finance minister, Mr Makoni, who is standing as an independent.
He urged supporters at a campaign rally to "bury British regime-change schemes", the Herald reported.
Blair Atafurahi Kweli Kweli..kwani Support Yake Kwa Bush Iraq Italipa!wazungu Itabidi Warudishiwe Maestate Yao huko Zimbabwe Halafu Wazawa Warudi Kwenye Vibanda na vichochoroni huko Harare na kwingineko!Simsupport Mugabe lakini wananchi wa Zimbabwe wasisahauliwe inapokuja kwenye rasilimali za nchi yao!
Mimi sijaelewa hapa .Blair afurahi?
Wana JF,
Zim si shwari hata kidogo kwa sasa,wapinzani sasa wanaadhibiwa kwellikweli.Zipo taarifa za watu kuteswa wanaompiga mheshimiwa na wameanza kupata ukimbizi ndani ya nchi yao.
Binafsi sikuwa nimewahi kumlaumu mgabe kwa kuwa niliamini matatizo ya wazim yanatokana na hawa wazungu walifikiri wanamkomoa mgabe kumbe wanawatesa wananachi wa zim waso na hatia.Sera ya ardhi kwa ujumla ilikuwa sahihi,na uamzi wa mgabe ulitokana na uingereza kutotimiza makubaliano waliyofanya mwishoni mwa miaka ya sabini kati ya Rhodesia wakati huo na Uingereza
Kwa kuanza kuwatesa wananchi na nafikiri sasa huyu mzee sasa kapoteza mwelekeo
Zimbabwe's soaring inflation hit an annual rate of almost 165,000% in February, official figures show.
Continuing shortages of food and fuel helped to push up inflation from January's rate of 100,000%. Government officials say the shortages make it hard to work out inflation with any degree of accuracy. About 80% of the country's population lives in poverty and it is estimated that three million people have left the country for a new life in South Africa.
New notes
The economy has been in trouble for several years, with supplies of basic foodstuffs, cooking oil and petrol all running low.
The central bank has introduced new banknotes to cope with the spiralling prices. Last month it issued a 10 million Zimbabwe dollar note.
The leadership of Zimbabwe is in doubt following elections last month. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will not contest a run-off election unless certain conditions are met, a spokesman for his party says. Mr Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), believes he won last month's election against President Robert Mugabe outright.
tatizo ni kuwa mugabe anachukiwa na vibaraka wa wakoloni...kwa hiyo wanajitahidi kuonyesha hata picha za watu wenye magonjwa ya ngozi kisha wanamsingizia shujaa bob.
mi kwa hilo haliniingii akilini na ninaungana na wewe.
Vanguard said:Nigeria
Written by Jide Ajani, Political Editor
Friday, 25 April 2008
Morgan Tsvangirai flew into the country, arriving in the very early hours of Monday, April 21. He headed straight to Obasanjo Farms, where Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigerias immediate past president, has his country home. There, Tsvangirai held a press briefing with a few journalists.
Vanguard got there, and by providence and creativity, got this exclusive interview with Tsvangirai.
For a man whose election victory had become a matter of unrighteous disputation, his visit to Nigeria, a leg in the multi-legged internationalisation of the Zimbabwean struggle for the enthronement of democracy, was a suggestion that Obasanjo, even out of power, remains a rallying point of sorts for matters beyond Nigeria.
Tsvangirai, who pleaded with Vanguard to make the interview very brief because of a flight schedule he had to keep, spoke in a manner which signposts him as an individual with a clear vision of what he wants, how he wants to get there and, most importantly, how to work with fellow Zimbabweans including, if it comes to that, Robert Mugabe, the man who has ruled the country for all of 28 years.
*Tsvangirai and Obasanjo at Otta Farms
When he was asked what would happen if a compromise arrangement were to be worked out, Tsvangirai attempted to parry the question. But he had to answer the question:
Were the Kenyan situation to emerge out of the Zimbabwean imbroglio, what would be you reaction, that is, a sort of power sharing arrangement between your party and Mugabes party.?
It would be a lesson....It is an African solution with an African problem. But I will say that I hope the Zimbabwean crises does not escalate like that of Kenya in the interest of the people.
My question subsists, would you be agreeable to such an arrangement putting in mind that Mugabe had always...?
"I am sure that at the end of the day any transition has to be by negotiation. I think it can be negotiated. I think it should be negotiated for a win-win situation for every body in Zimbabwe."
At the end of the session, Tsvangirai made a huge impact. Which is that, even as you engage an advocacy and activist agenda, there is need for equilibrium between the desire accomplish and the capacity to deliver.
In fact, bringing that aphorism (need for equilibrium between the desire accomplish and the capacity to deliver) closer home, the opposition struggle in Zimbabwe is one which Nigerias opposition politicians should draw lessons from.
Whereas Tsvangirai made himself available to the people of Zimbabwe through his many struggles and battles with Mugabe, not engaging Mugabe because he lost out in a major power game but because he had the interest of Zimbabweans at heart and has remained consistent, not wavering or attempting to negotiate his way through, the agenda of mind-bending was solely relied upon by the opposition. To some extent, the approach succeeded.
But it may be crumbling as the only means of relevance today is a constant reaction to every government policy. Even the issues which require sobriety are quickly politicised for sake of publicity.
But the opposition in Nigeria too has tried in its own little way to assist in the enthronement of true democracy. Its strategy, however, remains, largely, self-serving and the people are beginning to see through all these (see story on Adamawa State gubernatorial elections):
Excerpts:
People are wondering why it has taken Zimbabweans this long to vote out President Robert Mugabe?
It is a process. You must understand that Mugabe came from the liberation history. And not until a whole generation who are not part of the liberation process had emerged, this mind-set or paradigm would not have come up.
Talking about African leaders, there was time when Robert Mugabe was to be sanctioned by the European Union, insisting that he would not be allowed to be part of a meeting with the EU, but African leaders refused and rebuffed the EU, demanding that unless Mugabe was part of that meeting, they were not going to participate, they would boycott. What does this say of African leaders and what is happening in Zimbabwe today, especially against the backdrop of the opposition to Mugabe?
I think it is informed by leadership solidarity of African leaders. I think that what is important is that African leaders must find a way to bring erring leaders to order. We can not expect anybody else to tell us who is erring or not. We have to take that responsibility on ourselves.
Some will look at you and feel very appreciative of your efforts, having been able to eyeball Mugabe all these years, what is that thing that keeps you going?
I am inspired by the determination of the people.
I am inspired by their patience. I can tell you that the people of Zimbabwe are still determined to usher in a new era.
When I see the hope in the eyes of the old and young Zimbabweans, I feel inspired. I am also driven by the overwhelming belief they have in the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC.
But then there are allegations that you are a stooge of the West?
That is not true. The fact that I enjoy the support of the people of Zimbabwe, what they stand for, what they represent, what they desire and what they aspire to become, does not mean that Zimbabweans are stooges. The people of Zimbabwe know what they want and they have given me their mandate to deliver them.
Mugabe, before the elections swore that it will be over his dead body for you to become the president of Zimbabwe?
The statement shows that he doesnt respect the will of the people. It means that he is destroying the will of the people.
Is that what is demanded of a good leader?
He is not committed to democratic principles. It means that the will of the people is defiled.
And what does Africa say of people who defy the wishes of the people?
Were the Kenyan situation to emerge out of the Zimbabwean imbroglio, what would be you reaction, that is, a sort of power sharing arrangement between your party and Mugabes party.?
It would be a lesson. It requires early intervention for people who are not full time in their job to come to Zimbabwe for a negotiation. It is an African solution with an African problem.
But I will say that I hope the Zimbabwean crises does not escalate like that of Kenya in the interest of the people.
My question subsists, would you be agreeable to such an arrangement putting in mind that Mugabe had always...?
I am sure that at the end of the day any transition has to be by negotiation. What is at stake here is a dispute not around the election, but Mugabes resolve not to allow for transfer of power.I think it can be negotiated. I think it should be negotiated for a win-win situation for every body in Zimbabwe.
But the Zimbabweans who voted for you might at the end of the day not agree to such an arrangement because of some inherent contradictions, would you think that will be in the best interest of Zimbabwe?
It will be in the best interest of Zimbabweans to have a peaceful transition. Even if it will mean an all inclusive process. I think it will be necessary. Hence it will worsen the leadership crisis in Zimbabwe.
At the end of the day when you look at what you and Zimbabweans have gone through, what lessons do you think Africans can draw from it?
I think that Africans will realise that democracy is something that needs the commitment of everybody. It means that we have to move away from our paradigm of concentrating on power and not respecting the will of the people. That is one lesson.
Another lesson is that we are going through so many things. - economy and politics is in this one. But we should focus on what to do in order to bring prosperity to our people.
We should also focus on how to make them economically prosperous.
Were you to assume power fully without sharing with anybody, what are those fundamental things that you would put in place in your first few weeks as president?
There are two things. First is the governance issue. That is the freedom of the Zimbabwean people. The return of power to the people and not an individual. We need to make sure that there is a constitution that respects and is respected. That is where the rule of law comes in. And it is very critical.
The economic recovery progarmme is essential. We do have a plan that will address the economic needs of the people.
At the end of the day when you look at what Zimbabweans have been put through and your presence here today, how does that fit into the entire arrangement of wrestling power from Mugabe?
It's all part of the game.Its part of ensuring that we have a smooth transition. Africa will play a part. We will play our part. And at the end of the day we must find a formula that will bring about a win-win for a peaceful transition.
Were you invited to Nigeria or you came here on your own volition to seek former President Olusegun Obasanjos support?
No we requested for it as part of this whole process.