Gibson Sibanda, who died at age 66 in his home city, Bulawayo, was a life-long fighter for democracy, a former legislator, and a trade unionist who was detained for his activism by both Rhodesia and Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF administration.
Sibanda was the deputy president of the MDC when it became a political party 10 years ago, and had been on a committee promoting national healing and reconciliation within the 18-month-old unity government when he died.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is also president of the main MDC party, said Sibanda's name "shall remain an indelible imprint in the sad narrative of our determined and brave march towards a new Zimbabwe."
Tsvangirai spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Mr. Mugabe's refusal to declare Sibanda a national hero was motivated by "cruelty, contempt and revenge."
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Two state prosecutors tortured for sending war vets to jail
Two state prosecutors who were based in Matobo in Matabeleland South
province fled the country earlier this month, after they were severely
tortured for their role in sending three war vets to prison for stock theft.
In July, the state eventually convicted the war vets and sent them to serve
15 year jail terms for stealing cattle from a farm that belonged to the late
Matabeleland South Governor, Stephen Nkomo. A younger brother to the late
Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, Stephen died in 2003.
But mystery surrounds the release of the three war vets from incarceration
after barely three weeks into their long prison terms. When they were
released they reportedly teamed up with CIO's in Matobo to crackdown on Moyo
and Chaita.
The two public prosecutors were picked up and held incommunicado at a
torture house, where they were severely beaten by the state security agents.
It was alleged they had been sent by the MDC to ensure that the war vets
were convicted.
province fled the country earlier this month, after they were severely
tortured for their role in sending three war vets to prison for stock theft.
In July, the state eventually convicted the war vets and sent them to serve
15 year jail terms for stealing cattle from a farm that belonged to the late
Matabeleland South Governor, Stephen Nkomo. A younger brother to the late
Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, Stephen died in 2003.
But mystery surrounds the release of the three war vets from incarceration
after barely three weeks into their long prison terms. When they were
released they reportedly teamed up with CIO's in Matobo to crackdown on Moyo
and Chaita.
The two public prosecutors were picked up and held incommunicado at a
torture house, where they were severely beaten by the state security agents.
It was alleged they had been sent by the MDC to ensure that the war vets
were convicted.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Amnesty for killers
The Movement for Democratic Change and human
rights activists on Monday expressed outrage at Robert Mugabe's
call for amnesty to perpetrators of politically motivated crimes.
Mugabe told people at the national shrine on Monday in Harare that the national
healing programme was not going to criminalise political violence perpetrators.
"We have embarked in earnest on the process of national healing,
reconciliation and integration. For the sake of our children and posterity,
I want to urge all of you to note that the process of reconciliation is
national.
rights activists on Monday expressed outrage at Robert Mugabe's
call for amnesty to perpetrators of politically motivated crimes.
Mugabe told people at the national shrine on Monday in Harare that the national
healing programme was not going to criminalise political violence perpetrators.
"We have embarked in earnest on the process of national healing,
reconciliation and integration. For the sake of our children and posterity,
I want to urge all of you to note that the process of reconciliation is
national.
War Vets leader threatens to squash Tsvangirai like a ‘fly’
Notorious war vets leader Jabulani Sibanda has threatened Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, comparing him to a ‘fly’ that could be easily killed by
swatting it against a window. Sibanda who has made a political career out of
terrorizing and killing MDC supporters was addressing villagers at Mashoko
Business Centre in Bikita West over the weekend.
According to a report by Newsday Sibanda is terrorizing villagers in Bikita
with the help of a group of war vets and ZANU PF activists. ‘Tsvangirai is
just like a fly in a kombi or a bus. The fly can sit on the driver’s seat
but that does not make it the one in charge of the bus. He can be eliminated
in the political set-up anytime and life will go on,” Sibanda ranted against
the Prime Minister.
Morgan Tsvangirai, comparing him to a ‘fly’ that could be easily killed by
swatting it against a window. Sibanda who has made a political career out of
terrorizing and killing MDC supporters was addressing villagers at Mashoko
Business Centre in Bikita West over the weekend.
According to a report by Newsday Sibanda is terrorizing villagers in Bikita
with the help of a group of war vets and ZANU PF activists. ‘Tsvangirai is
just like a fly in a kombi or a bus. The fly can sit on the driver’s seat
but that does not make it the one in charge of the bus. He can be eliminated
in the political set-up anytime and life will go on,” Sibanda ranted against
the Prime Minister.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Unity Government far from working
Tsvangirai told party supporters during a rally at Old Lwendulo Grounds in
Hwange that the coalition government was not working adding his party could
only deliver on its pledges if it had the "full authority" to govern.
"The process of transition is an irreversible process to a free and fair
election, because we can not continue to have this mule powered government
as it is not doing much," Tsvangirai said.
The MDC-T leader said only a new "free and fair" general election would
solve what he described as a "governance crisis" in the country.
"This coalition is just a temporary arrangement. We want a permanent
solution to the crisis of governance in this country," he said
Parties to the coalition government appear resigned to holding fresh
elections, possibly next year, after failing to reach agreement on a number
of so-called outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA).
Hwange that the coalition government was not working adding his party could
only deliver on its pledges if it had the "full authority" to govern.
"The process of transition is an irreversible process to a free and fair
election, because we can not continue to have this mule powered government
as it is not doing much," Tsvangirai said.
The MDC-T leader said only a new "free and fair" general election would
solve what he described as a "governance crisis" in the country.
"This coalition is just a temporary arrangement. We want a permanent
solution to the crisis of governance in this country," he said
Parties to the coalition government appear resigned to holding fresh
elections, possibly next year, after failing to reach agreement on a number
of so-called outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA).
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Mugabes thugs attack a cop
KWEKWE - A senior police officer here is nursing 10 stitches on his
forehead, after he was attacked by suspected supporters of President Robert
Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party two weeks ago.
Junior police officers in this small Midlands town told The Zimbabwean that
Superintendent Richman Madiro, already in the radar of Zanu (PF) terror
gangs after continuously repelling their attacks on the MDC in the district,
was severely beaten by two men and left for dead at his Redcliff home on
July 25.
forehead, after he was attacked by suspected supporters of President Robert
Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party two weeks ago.
Junior police officers in this small Midlands town told The Zimbabwean that
Superintendent Richman Madiro, already in the radar of Zanu (PF) terror
gangs after continuously repelling their attacks on the MDC in the district,
was severely beaten by two men and left for dead at his Redcliff home on
July 25.
President Obama calls it like it is
President Obama focused attention on Mr. Mugabe further Tuesday in calling
Zimbabwe's plight untenable.
"I'll be honest with you," the American president said. "I am heartbroken
when I see what has happened in Zimbabwe."
In a White House meeting with a group of young Africans, Mr. Obama added:
"Mugabe is an example of a leader who came in as a liberation fighter and -
I'm just going to be very blunt - I do not see him serving his people."
Mr. Obama said Harare must signal more convincing reforms are being
implemented before Washington will consider lifting travel and financial
sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle.
A spokesman for Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party called Mr. Obama's criticism
"hogwash." Rugare Gumbo accused the West of causing the suffering of
Zimbabweans by imposing sanctions over the past decade.
Sydney Chisi, one of the three Zimbabweans attending the White House youth
forum, said Mr. Obama's remarks were on target, adding that Harare invited
sanctions by engaging in gross human rights abuses.
Zimbabwe's plight untenable.
"I'll be honest with you," the American president said. "I am heartbroken
when I see what has happened in Zimbabwe."
In a White House meeting with a group of young Africans, Mr. Obama added:
"Mugabe is an example of a leader who came in as a liberation fighter and -
I'm just going to be very blunt - I do not see him serving his people."
Mr. Obama said Harare must signal more convincing reforms are being
implemented before Washington will consider lifting travel and financial
sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle.
A spokesman for Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party called Mr. Obama's criticism
"hogwash." Rugare Gumbo accused the West of causing the suffering of
Zimbabweans by imposing sanctions over the past decade.
Sydney Chisi, one of the three Zimbabweans attending the White House youth
forum, said Mr. Obama's remarks were on target, adding that Harare invited
sanctions by engaging in gross human rights abuses.
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