Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday Zimbabwe elections will go ahead next year, despite infighting that continues to hamper the government's power-sharing agreement.
Zimbabwe's unity pact between Mugabe and rival Tsvangirai has held back progress which has stood in the way of elections. "When we emerge from the constitutional reform program an agreed timeframe for elections will be outlined," Tsvangirai told a news conference in South Africa, during a trip to meet with supporters.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Australia have it right
The Australian government has insisted that Robert Mugabe must be out of Zimbabwe’s political picture, before international aid will be available to help rebuild the country.
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent in Canberra, Australia this week, the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, said his government wanted Mugabe to go before financial aid for reconstruction can be extended to Zimbabwe.
“Our position is that Mugabe should move off the stage to allow a new beginning,” he told the Independent on Tuesday. “The coalition government has failed to implement the global political agreement in full because of Mugabe. He should move off the stage if the country is to reengage with the international community.”
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent in Canberra, Australia this week, the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, said his government wanted Mugabe to go before financial aid for reconstruction can be extended to Zimbabwe.
“Our position is that Mugabe should move off the stage to allow a new beginning,” he told the Independent on Tuesday. “The coalition government has failed to implement the global political agreement in full because of Mugabe. He should move off the stage if the country is to reengage with the international community.”
CIO do it again.
Two student leaders from the Zimbabwe National Student’s Union (ZINASU) were hospitalised on Friday after they were abducted and severely assaulted by Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives.
The pair, Godfrey Kurawone and Alec Tabe, was scheduled to address a students gathering at Masvingo Polytechnic before they were picked up by the CIO Thursday. They were later taken to Masvingo Central police station and on Friday were ordered to pay US$20 fine each for public disorderly charges. According to the MDC the two leaders have been admitted to a private hospital and are receiving treatment for the injuries sustained.
What will Mugabe stop at?
The pair, Godfrey Kurawone and Alec Tabe, was scheduled to address a students gathering at Masvingo Polytechnic before they were picked up by the CIO Thursday. They were later taken to Masvingo Central police station and on Friday were ordered to pay US$20 fine each for public disorderly charges. According to the MDC the two leaders have been admitted to a private hospital and are receiving treatment for the injuries sustained.
What will Mugabe stop at?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Women beaten as violence spreads
The violence of Zimbabwe's politics have now touched even this tiny, rural hamlet, leaving behind a badly injured and shattered woman - her life changed in one night. (Pictured: Attacked by Zanu youths, Abigail Bamhare was rushed to hospital after being beaten and hit with stones.)
A group of supporters of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) suddenly arrived at the dusty cluster of mud and log huts, dragged out Abigail Bamhare and almost beat her to death.
"I was preparing to go to the shops to buy vegetables when six Zanu youths led by a Zanu official said 'nhasi tazokuwana' (we have finally met)," a tearful Bamhare related. "They lifted a big stone and crushed my back and shoulder."
She said her mouth was slashed with a sharp object. The sight of so much blood sent the youths fleeing from the scene of the attack.
The group of men then went to a nearby hut and attacked another victim suspected of supporting the MDC.
Neighbours rushed Bamhare to hospital where she had to have 11 stitches and treatment for other serious injuries. She reported the case to police.
No-one came to help the woman as she was beaten; most men were away and the women and children in the hamlet were cowering in their huts, listening to the cries and thuds.
A group of supporters of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) suddenly arrived at the dusty cluster of mud and log huts, dragged out Abigail Bamhare and almost beat her to death.
"I was preparing to go to the shops to buy vegetables when six Zanu youths led by a Zanu official said 'nhasi tazokuwana' (we have finally met)," a tearful Bamhare related. "They lifted a big stone and crushed my back and shoulder."
She said her mouth was slashed with a sharp object. The sight of so much blood sent the youths fleeing from the scene of the attack.
The group of men then went to a nearby hut and attacked another victim suspected of supporting the MDC.
Neighbours rushed Bamhare to hospital where she had to have 11 stitches and treatment for other serious injuries. She reported the case to police.
No-one came to help the woman as she was beaten; most men were away and the women and children in the hamlet were cowering in their huts, listening to the cries and thuds.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Poll sets Mugabe panicking
Mugabe's fears were highlighted in a recent speech by Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara.
Mutambara, also leader of the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) said: "A recent survey I saw said Tsvangirai will win by 88
percent if elections are held next year. So, do you think Mugabe will go
into elections knowing that he will lose?"
Mugabe announced in February that Zimbabwe will have elections in 2011, with
or without a new constitution.
Political observers said they believed the date was still feasible despite
numerous delays in coming up with a new supreme law, caused mainly by Zanu
(PF)'s fears of losing power.
A shadowy pro-Mugabe outfit calling itself the Zimbabwe Movement for Peace,
Reconciliation and Unity last Friday published another of its long-running
full-page advertisements, under the headline: "No to early elections".
Through a mixture of threats that Zanu (PF) will resort to violence if
defeated to wild claims that countries like China and Russia, seen as
favourable to Mugabe, would not accept a Tsvangirai victory, the group made
a tenuous case for an extension of the life of the GNU (Government of
National Unity).
Tsvangirai has refused a poll before a new constitution is put in place. He
recently told the Americans, during his visit to that country, to receive a
human rights award that he was optimistic a referendum for the new
constitution would be held next year.
Arthur Mutambara.
Mutambara, also leader of the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) said: "A recent survey I saw said Tsvangirai will win by 88
percent if elections are held next year. So, do you think Mugabe will go
into elections knowing that he will lose?"
Mugabe announced in February that Zimbabwe will have elections in 2011, with
or without a new constitution.
Political observers said they believed the date was still feasible despite
numerous delays in coming up with a new supreme law, caused mainly by Zanu
(PF)'s fears of losing power.
A shadowy pro-Mugabe outfit calling itself the Zimbabwe Movement for Peace,
Reconciliation and Unity last Friday published another of its long-running
full-page advertisements, under the headline: "No to early elections".
Through a mixture of threats that Zanu (PF) will resort to violence if
defeated to wild claims that countries like China and Russia, seen as
favourable to Mugabe, would not accept a Tsvangirai victory, the group made
a tenuous case for an extension of the life of the GNU (Government of
National Unity).
Tsvangirai has refused a poll before a new constitution is put in place. He
recently told the Americans, during his visit to that country, to receive a
human rights award that he was optimistic a referendum for the new
constitution would be held next year.
SADC must set roadmap for polls
Morgan Tsvangirai on Sunday called on the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to urgently convene a summit
that should set a "clear roadmap" to fresh elections to choose a new
government to replace his uneasy coalition with President Robert Mugabe.
The SADC alongside the African Union is a guarantor of the 2008 political
agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai that paved the way for the two to
form last year a unity government that has been able to stabilise Zimbabwe's
economy but remains threatened by a dispute between the two former foes over
power-sharing and appointment of senior public officials.
"The party urges the immediate convening of a SADC summit to resolve the
matter which SADC summit should clearly discuss the road map to an election
and guarantees to the legitimacy of this election," said Tsvangirai who last
year temporarily suspended his MDC party's participation in the unity
government in protest against the arrest of his top ally, Roy Bennett.
Tsvangirai was speaking after a meeting of top MDC leaders to review
progress of the coalition government.
Bennett is accused of illegal possession of weapons of war and plotting to
assassinate Mugabe. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
But Tsvangirai says charges against Bennett are politically motivated and
false, and told journalists yesterday that the state's decision last week to
appeal against Bennett's acquittal by the High Court was part of: "ZANU PF's
(Mugabe's party) continued persecution and prosecution of Bennett
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to urgently convene a summit
that should set a "clear roadmap" to fresh elections to choose a new
government to replace his uneasy coalition with President Robert Mugabe.
The SADC alongside the African Union is a guarantor of the 2008 political
agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai that paved the way for the two to
form last year a unity government that has been able to stabilise Zimbabwe's
economy but remains threatened by a dispute between the two former foes over
power-sharing and appointment of senior public officials.
"The party urges the immediate convening of a SADC summit to resolve the
matter which SADC summit should clearly discuss the road map to an election
and guarantees to the legitimacy of this election," said Tsvangirai who last
year temporarily suspended his MDC party's participation in the unity
government in protest against the arrest of his top ally, Roy Bennett.
Tsvangirai was speaking after a meeting of top MDC leaders to review
progress of the coalition government.
Bennett is accused of illegal possession of weapons of war and plotting to
assassinate Mugabe. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
But Tsvangirai says charges against Bennett are politically motivated and
false, and told journalists yesterday that the state's decision last week to
appeal against Bennett's acquittal by the High Court was part of: "ZANU PF's
(Mugabe's party) continued persecution and prosecution of Bennett
ZANU PF block food aid to HIV orphans
officials and war veterans in Mberengwa district in the
Midlands province are blocking food aid to HIV/AIDS orphans demanding that
they should join the party's youth league first.
The inclusive government has embarked on a feeding programme to benefit
children orphaned through HIV/AIDS in Mberengwa. The children receive food
hampers containing packets of beans, cooking oil, mealie-meal, rice, soap
and many other items on a weekly basis.
However some Zanu (PF) officials and war veterans in Mudavanhu area in the
district have taken over the programme and are demanding that all
beneficiaries should join the party's youth league if they want to continue
receiving food.
Midlands province are blocking food aid to HIV/AIDS orphans demanding that
they should join the party's youth league first.
The inclusive government has embarked on a feeding programme to benefit
children orphaned through HIV/AIDS in Mberengwa. The children receive food
hampers containing packets of beans, cooking oil, mealie-meal, rice, soap
and many other items on a weekly basis.
However some Zanu (PF) officials and war veterans in Mudavanhu area in the
district have taken over the programme and are demanding that all
beneficiaries should join the party's youth league if they want to continue
receiving food.
2 years on and the GPA has not worked
The GPA signed by Zanu (PF)'s President Robert Mugabe and the two Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) faction leaders Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and his deputy Arthur Mutambara in 2008, has stalled due to outstanding
issues regarding the swearing in of MDC's Roy Bennett as deputy Minister of
Agriculture, the reversal of appointments of Gideon Gono as Reserve Bank
Governor and Johannes Tomana as Attorney General as well as the removal of
western sanctions on Zimbabwe, among other issues.
for Democratic Change (MDC) faction leaders Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and his deputy Arthur Mutambara in 2008, has stalled due to outstanding
issues regarding the swearing in of MDC's Roy Bennett as deputy Minister of
Agriculture, the reversal of appointments of Gideon Gono as Reserve Bank
Governor and Johannes Tomana as Attorney General as well as the removal of
western sanctions on Zimbabwe, among other issues.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Leaders slam unity govt
African leaders on Friday criticised the formation of coalition governments
on the continent following flawed or disputed elections.
Two African countries - Kenya and Zimbabwe - are now ruled by power-sharing
governments following contested polls which also sparked political crises.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga - named to the post in a 2008 deal with
President Mwai Kibaki whom he accused of rigging his re-election the
previous year - said their agreement should not be replicated.
"The Kenyan example is not a model to be followed. It is a compromise that
has been reached as a result of a crisis," Odinga said during the World
Economic Forum on Africa being held in Dar es Salaam.
"It is not an example for Africa to follow. Zimbabwe followed because it was
seen that the incumbent has lost and refuses to leave power (and) there is a
danger of disintegration of the state," he added.
South African President Jacob Zuma - whose predecessor negotiated the
Zimbabwe deal - defended the agreement, but said lack of implementation was
undermining it
on the continent following flawed or disputed elections.
Two African countries - Kenya and Zimbabwe - are now ruled by power-sharing
governments following contested polls which also sparked political crises.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga - named to the post in a 2008 deal with
President Mwai Kibaki whom he accused of rigging his re-election the
previous year - said their agreement should not be replicated.
"The Kenyan example is not a model to be followed. It is a compromise that
has been reached as a result of a crisis," Odinga said during the World
Economic Forum on Africa being held in Dar es Salaam.
"It is not an example for Africa to follow. Zimbabwe followed because it was
seen that the incumbent has lost and refuses to leave power (and) there is a
danger of disintegration of the state," he added.
South African President Jacob Zuma - whose predecessor negotiated the
Zimbabwe deal - defended the agreement, but said lack of implementation was
undermining it
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