Renson Gasela, a fine gentleman who I had met and spent some time with here in Atlanta GA was tragically killed in a road accident over the weekend.
My utmost and sincere condolences the family and friends of such an outstanding man who was filled with integrity and a willingness to see change.
I am deeply saddened and will never forget our time spent together.
This is a loss not only to MDC, but to Zimbabwe and the world.
May you rest in peace?
Monday, April 26, 2010
Iran strikes secret nuclear mining deal with Zimbabwe's Mugabe
The agreement was sealed last month during a visit to Tehran by a close aide to Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president who last weekend celebrated 30 years in power, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
In return for supplying oil, which Zimbabwe desperately needs to keep its faltering economy moving, Iran has been promised access to potentially huge deposits of uranium ore - which can be converted into the basic fuel for nuclear power or enriched to make a nuclear bomb.
"Iran secured the exclusive uranium rights last month when minister of state for Presidential affairs, Didymus Mutasa visited Tehran," said a Zimbabwean government source. "That is when the formal signing of the deal was made, away from the glare of the media."
Mr Mutasa is the former lands minister in the Zanu-PF administration and one of Mr Mugabe's most senior aides.
The revelation came after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, visited Zimbabwe last week to show his support for Mr Mugabe. At a lavish official dinner in his honour on Thursday evening, Mr Ahmadinejad blasted what he termed "expansionist countries" for exerting "satanic pressures on the people of Zimbabwe", adding: "We believe victory is ours, and humiliation and defeat is for our enemies."
In return for supplying oil, which Zimbabwe desperately needs to keep its faltering economy moving, Iran has been promised access to potentially huge deposits of uranium ore - which can be converted into the basic fuel for nuclear power or enriched to make a nuclear bomb.
"Iran secured the exclusive uranium rights last month when minister of state for Presidential affairs, Didymus Mutasa visited Tehran," said a Zimbabwean government source. "That is when the formal signing of the deal was made, away from the glare of the media."
Mr Mutasa is the former lands minister in the Zanu-PF administration and one of Mr Mugabe's most senior aides.
The revelation came after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, visited Zimbabwe last week to show his support for Mr Mugabe. At a lavish official dinner in his honour on Thursday evening, Mr Ahmadinejad blasted what he termed "expansionist countries" for exerting "satanic pressures on the people of Zimbabwe", adding: "We believe victory is ours, and humiliation and defeat is for our enemies."
Mugabe backs Ahmadinejad on nuclear Iran
Robert Mugabe has backed Iran's "just cause" on seeking nuclear power, as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continues his Zimbabwe visit.
Zimbabwe's leader said both countries had been "unjustly vilified and punished by Western countries".
Mr Ahmadinejad has opened a trade fair in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo.
Iran's leader also castigated Western nations, saying: "They want to seize the markets of the countries [Iran and Zimbabwe] and destroy their economies,"
The visit has exposed the deep divisions in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government.
The Movement for Democratic Change of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has condemned the visit and did not send anyone to welcome Mr Ahmadinejad at Harare's airport on Thursday.
It said inviting him to open a trade fair was like "inviting a mosquito to cure malaria".
Zimbabwe's leader said both countries had been "unjustly vilified and punished by Western countries".
Mr Ahmadinejad has opened a trade fair in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo.
Iran's leader also castigated Western nations, saying: "They want to seize the markets of the countries [Iran and Zimbabwe] and destroy their economies,"
The visit has exposed the deep divisions in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government.
The Movement for Democratic Change of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has condemned the visit and did not send anyone to welcome Mr Ahmadinejad at Harare's airport on Thursday.
It said inviting him to open a trade fair was like "inviting a mosquito to cure malaria".
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Zanu PF and it's thugs back on the attack
15 Zanu (PF) youths on Friday stormed the Gwanda Municipal offices
and severely assaulted the Director of Housing and Community services in a
row over 400 residential stands.
According to the Gwanda Mayor, Lionel DeNecker, the 15 youths who were
coming from Bulawayo and on their way to Manama High School to attend Vice
President John Nkomo's victory celebrations assaulted Sipho Mdlongwa with
clenched fists and booted feet.
Clr DeNecker said the youths stormed the council chambers at about 1pm and
demanded to see Mrs Sipho Mdlongwa whom they were accusing of insulting
President Mugabe.
"The 15 youths arrived in a white pick up truck inscribed Zanu (PF) Bulawayo
Province and demanded that she comes outside, dragged her and proceeded to
assault her with clenched fists and booted feet while accusing her of
insulting the President," he said.
However, DeNecker said the youths were not happy with the way Mrs Mdlongwa
was distributing the 400 housing stands in the town but chose to hide behind
the accusations of insulting the President.
and severely assaulted the Director of Housing and Community services in a
row over 400 residential stands.
According to the Gwanda Mayor, Lionel DeNecker, the 15 youths who were
coming from Bulawayo and on their way to Manama High School to attend Vice
President John Nkomo's victory celebrations assaulted Sipho Mdlongwa with
clenched fists and booted feet.
Clr DeNecker said the youths stormed the council chambers at about 1pm and
demanded to see Mrs Sipho Mdlongwa whom they were accusing of insulting
President Mugabe.
"The 15 youths arrived in a white pick up truck inscribed Zanu (PF) Bulawayo
Province and demanded that she comes outside, dragged her and proceeded to
assault her with clenched fists and booted feet while accusing her of
insulting the President," he said.
However, DeNecker said the youths were not happy with the way Mrs Mdlongwa
was distributing the 400 housing stands in the town but chose to hide behind
the accusations of insulting the President.
Arrest for not standing
Political tension is intensifying in Mashonaland Central between MDC and
ZANU PF supporters, resulting in two provincial leaders from the MDC-T being
arrested on Tuesday for allegedly disrespecting ZANU PF governor Martin
Dinha.
The MDC said their chairperson for Mashonaland Central Tongai Jeki, and
district treasurer Saymore Mhenhe, were arrested because they didn’t stand
up during independence day celebrations in Bindura, disrespecting the
governor.
ZANU PF supporters, resulting in two provincial leaders from the MDC-T being
arrested on Tuesday for allegedly disrespecting ZANU PF governor Martin
Dinha.
The MDC said their chairperson for Mashonaland Central Tongai Jeki, and
district treasurer Saymore Mhenhe, were arrested because they didn’t stand
up during independence day celebrations in Bindura, disrespecting the
governor.
WOZA Women Experienced Hell In Prison
Four members of the Women Arise of Zimbabwe (WOZA)
arrested on Thursday outside ZESA headquarters, Jenni Williams, Magodonga
Mahlangu, Clara Manjengwa and Celina Madukani, have finally been released
from police custody after spending five nights in cells.
"The four women endured hellish conditions in the cells - the worst that
these veteran activists, who have been detained on numerous
occasions, have ever seen. All women require medical treatment for a rash
all over their bodies and diahorrea due to the filthy conditions
and flu symptoms from the cold conditions. Their bodies also ache from being
forced to sit and sleep on cold concrete for six days,"
arrested on Thursday outside ZESA headquarters, Jenni Williams, Magodonga
Mahlangu, Clara Manjengwa and Celina Madukani, have finally been released
from police custody after spending five nights in cells.
"The four women endured hellish conditions in the cells - the worst that
these veteran activists, who have been detained on numerous
occasions, have ever seen. All women require medical treatment for a rash
all over their bodies and diahorrea due to the filthy conditions
and flu symptoms from the cold conditions. Their bodies also ache from being
forced to sit and sleep on cold concrete for six days,"
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The violence continues
16 families from Hoya ward 17 in Charunda village of Chief Kasekete in
Muzarabani yesterday fled their homes at night to seek refuge at St Albert
business centre to avert organized terror from a group of more than 200 ZANU
Pf youths hired from Chiwenga ward.
Earlier this weekend, in an insidious criminal act of impunity that has left
the village paralyzed, Paradzai Chabayanzara and a group of unidentified
ZANU Pf youths are reported to have burnt down the Charunda village AFM
church and Kafuramutowa's house member of the MDC. Speaking to ROHR
Zimbabwe, the district chairman for Muzarabani, Freddie Matonhodze said the
church was burnt because the ZANU Pf supporters are alleging that it's a
church for the MDC people.
Muzarabani yesterday fled their homes at night to seek refuge at St Albert
business centre to avert organized terror from a group of more than 200 ZANU
Pf youths hired from Chiwenga ward.
Earlier this weekend, in an insidious criminal act of impunity that has left
the village paralyzed, Paradzai Chabayanzara and a group of unidentified
ZANU Pf youths are reported to have burnt down the Charunda village AFM
church and Kafuramutowa's house member of the MDC. Speaking to ROHR
Zimbabwe, the district chairman for Muzarabani, Freddie Matonhodze said the
church was burnt because the ZANU Pf supporters are alleging that it's a
church for the MDC people.
Easter Mugabe Style
INSTEAD of commemorating the Biblical suffering, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ during Easter, some Christian families in Muzarabani and Shamva
had to endure their own suffering - but for political reasons. Reports from
rights organisations, Victims Action Committee (VAC), Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition and the Restoration of Human Rights (Rohr) Zimbabwe said some
churches were last week persecuted for political reasons.
VAC said 28 people, including 10 children under the age of 12 and two
teenagers, were on Wednesday forced to flee their homes after being
threatened with violence.
A Zanu PF supporter, Ishmael Jeni is alleged to have threatened the victims
at a prayer meeting held at Zhanda village of Chishapa area in Shamva.
"Jeni threatened to descend on them with a group of Zanu PF youths at night
to destroy their houses to drive them from the village for being supporters
of the MDC," VAC said.
"The families faced a similar fate during the round of violence in March
2008 and now they are squatting in the nearby bushes with no access to food,
water and shelter."
Jesus Christ during Easter, some Christian families in Muzarabani and Shamva
had to endure their own suffering - but for political reasons. Reports from
rights organisations, Victims Action Committee (VAC), Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition and the Restoration of Human Rights (Rohr) Zimbabwe said some
churches were last week persecuted for political reasons.
VAC said 28 people, including 10 children under the age of 12 and two
teenagers, were on Wednesday forced to flee their homes after being
threatened with violence.
A Zanu PF supporter, Ishmael Jeni is alleged to have threatened the victims
at a prayer meeting held at Zhanda village of Chishapa area in Shamva.
"Jeni threatened to descend on them with a group of Zanu PF youths at night
to destroy their houses to drive them from the village for being supporters
of the MDC," VAC said.
"The families faced a similar fate during the round of violence in March
2008 and now they are squatting in the nearby bushes with no access to food,
water and shelter."
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