Mugabe vows Zimbabwe election win

[quirk]

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president, has made a defiant campaign speech, vowing the opposition will never rule the country while he is still alive.

Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980, made the comments to thousands of supporters at an election rally in Harrare, the capital on Saturday.

"It will never happen as long as we are still alive - those [of us] who planned the liberation struggle," Mugabe said.

In his speech, he also threatened to expel companies from former colonial ruler Britain after the March 29 polls.

Mugabe, who is running for a sixth term in office, dismissed the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), saying they were supporting British interests.

"You in the MDC, it's treasonous to continue assisting the British to make sure they have a say here," he said.

The opposition denies any direct links with Britain.

British companies threatened

Mugabe warned the UK to stay out of Zimbabwean politics if it wanted to safeguard the interests of British companies working in the former colony.

"They still have companies which are still here and we did nothing to them ... 400 British companies and so they must take care," he said.

Britain and other countries have criticised Mugabe for violating political and human rights in his country and leading it into a disastrous economic crisis.

The UK says only 40 British firms remain operating in the country.

Both unemployment and poverty rates in Zimbabwe hover above 80 per cent and at least a quarter of the population has fled misery to seek economic refuge elsewhere.

Mugabe made no mention of Simba Makoni, who has broken ranks with the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) to stand against Mugabe as an independent.

He has in the past called Makoni a "prostitute" for taking him on and the former finance minister was expelled from the ZANU-PF last month after announcing his challenge.

Opposition warning

Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, has warned that the March 29 poll could be rigged in favour of Mugabe and has threatened to pull out of the elections if presidential ballots are counted at a separate venue from concurrent legislative and local votes.

He told a news conference on Thursday that independent investigations had revealed that 90,000 names appearing on the roll for 28 rural constituencies could not be accounted for.

His MDC has also deplored new electoral regulations passed this week by Mugabe which allow police officers into polling stations during the elections.

The regulations allow policemen in polling stations to assist illiterate or physically challenged voters.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1A04E7AC-6443-46E6-9A35-8B48C3A36650.htm

[socrates]

Mugabe is a racist and has completely destroyed his country. The sooner he dies the better.

[enviro_freak]

And the reason the UN and/or other countries should continue providing aid is????

[An Céachta Dearg]

And the reason the UN and/or other countries should continue providing aid is????

Aid should be distributed through charitable organisations, however I agree with you in that Bi-Lateral aid should be completely cut whilst Mugabe is in power. Infact I'm against Aid for anyone Fairtrade is a better option but thats for a different debate

[Viv]

Vote count under way in Zimbabwe

The counting process is likely to take several days
Vote counting is under way in Zimbabwe, with the main opposition MDC claiming it is winning the battle to oust President Robert Mugabe.

The MDC said it was ahead in most constituencies but continues to fear the vote will be rigged.

Results may not be finalised for some days and the government warned the MDC not to declare an early victory.

Mr Mugabe is battling the MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai and independent Simba Makoni for president.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said early results showed it had won the poll.

"We have won this election," said its secretary general Tendai Biti early on Sunday. "This trend is irreversible."

He [Mugabe] is going to get the shock of his life because they are not voting for him. Mugabe will be out by Monday night

Bomba Zimbo, Harare


Zimbabwe votes: At a glance
Election day: In quotes
He said early results posted at polling stations showed Mr Tsvangirai would win 66% in Harare.

But BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says the MDC is working on the basis of partial, unofficial results.

President Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF have always had majority support in the countryside, our correspondent says, and the rural areas may decide the outcome of the elections.

Mr Biti also claimed the MDC was making inroads in the rural areas, including Mr Mugabe's home province of Mashonaland West.

Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on a Western plot

Zimbabwean Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu accused Mr Biti and the MDC of "speculation and lies" and "causing unnecessary havoc".

The state-run Sunday Mail quoted the ministry's secretary, George Charamba, as saying that if Mr Tsvangirai declared himself president "it is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled".

Mr Biti said the MDC was just "protecting its vote" and would not make the "mistake" of the 2002 and 2005 elections when it did not claim victory.

Rigging fears

Before the election, state-run media predicted Mr Mugabe would win 57%.

A candidate needs 51% in the presidential vote to avoid a run-off.


Morgan Tsvangirai said he was confident of victory

The MDC has repeatedly expressed fears the election would be rigged.

Across the country on Saturday, there were reports of voters not being allowed to cast ballots - either because their names were not on the voters' roll or because they were trying to vote in the wrong ward.

A presidential decree ahead of the elections had permitted police to go into polling stations, ostensibly to help illiterate voters.

The opposition feared many voters would be intimidated and stay at home.

Pan-African Parliament observers have also written to the electoral commission, saying that more than 8,450 voters had been registered on a patch of deserted land in Harare.

Most Western observers were banned from the election.

Some voters told the BBC they had been turned away but others that the system had worked efficiently and the atmosphere was good.

After voting in Harare, Mr Mugabe dismissed concerns of vote-rigging, saying: "We don't rig elections. I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged."

President Mugabe, in power since 1980 and seeking a sixth term, said of his chances: "This time around, like the last time, very good... we will succeed and we will conquer."

Of the possibility of a second round, he said: "We are not used to boxing matches where we go from round one to round two. We just knock each other out."

Inflation

Mr Mugabe's rivals were also confident.

Mr Tsvangirai said: "Victory is assured in spite of the regime's attempt to subvert the will of the people."


Mr Makoni said: "I feel good, I voted for the best candidate, I voted for Simba Makoni."
The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy.

The country has the world's highest inflation rate, at more than 100,000%, and just one adult in five is believed to have a regular job.

The chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army prison service and intelligence services warned on Friday that violence after the polls would not be tolerated.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7321114.stm

Why do I get the feeling it won't be allowed to pan out just as easily as this...

It could be assumed vote-rigging would take place here, but if they are saying he is going to be voted out, perhaps not.

It would be truly a wonderful day if he is democratically removed, but might be worth taking great care over personal security if you were the opposition leader.

[Viv]

Here we go...

Zimbabwe's election commission has announced the delayed first results of presidential and legislative elections.

The 24 parliamentary constituencies were equally split between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has lost his seat, east of Harare.

The delay in announcing results had fuelled speculation about vote rigging, after the MDC claimed its leader Morgan Tsvangirai had defeated Mr Mugabe.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7321938.stm

If it is accurate that Zimbabwe has inflation of 100,000% and only 1 in 5 people is employed, how can anyone vote for Mugabwe at all? What could he possibly say to convince them it is a good idea?

Of course it is not clear how much of this reporting is accurate and how much information is disseminated or understood by the voting public.

If it's widely known and people have actually voted for him, that is worth analysing...

[Chookie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7325286.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7321756.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7323667.stm


It seems that Mugabe is on the way out. I bet he takes all his ill-gotten with him though (and his off-shore accounts).

Zimbabwe will be the better for his going.

[Viv]

Thanks Chookie. Do you know anything of Tsvangirai's history?

[Chookie]

Not much,but anything has to be better tham Mugabe. I

[Enver]

While watching Newsnight there something was gnawing at the back of mind about this whole Zimbabwean situation and the fervent opposition to Mugabe's government and the ZANU-PF. It would undoubtedly seem that the man has failed his people through corruption and mismanagement, but let's not forget the fact that Zimbabwe is receiving virtually no foreign aid while facing severe economic sanctions, which are the true cause of the plight that ravages Zimbabwe.

I'll have to research this further, but it would seem to me that the UK is punishing the people of Zimbabwe because they have a disobedient government. Much like the sanctions on countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, which were almost genocidal.

[Gareth]

No, Mugabe being a dictator is the true cause of the Zimbabwean conflict. The sanctions were rightfully applied, he is at fault for not responding to them. Secondly, the man is a racist, he has expressed this in his treatment of white farmers who provided a lot of the populace jobs. In addition to sanctions he has been destroying his own economy.

[greektzon]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080406/D8VSD4M80.html

President Robert Mugabe's ruling party demanded a vote recount and a further delay in the release of presidential election results, the state Sunday Mail newspaper reported, prompting outrage from the opposition party.
The Movement for Democratic Change, which claims its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the March 29 presidential ballot outright, said it would not accept a recount, did not want a runoff and pressed ahead with legal attempts to force publication of the results.
"How do you have a vote recount for a result that has not been announced? That is ridiculous," said opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
He accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of vote fraud, saying that police have told opposition leaders that the ruling party has been tampering with ballots since early last week.

"These claims are totally unfounded and they are only meant to justify ZANU-PF's rigging," he said.
The ruling party cited "errors and miscalculations in the compilation of the poll result" and asked the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to defer announcement of the presidential election results because of the "anomalies," the Sunday Mail reported.
The report came a day after Tsvangirai called on Mugabe to step down and accused the 84-year-old longtime ruler of plotting a campaign of violence to bolster his chances of winning an expected runoff.
Eight days after the election, the commission has yet to announce the results. Unofficial tallies by independent monitors show Tsvangirai won more votes than Mugabe - but fewer than the 50 percent plus one vote required to avoid a runoff.

The high court heard testimony Sunday afternoon from opposition party lawyers who lodged an urgent petition demanding publication of the election results. Reporters were not admitted to the court hearing. Armed police prevented opposition lawyers from entering the court on Saturday but there was no police presence Sunday.
The Movement for Democratic Change maintained its resistance to a runoff.
"We are not going to accept the so-called runoff. It is going to be a 'run-over' of Zimbabwe. People are going to be killed," Chamisa said. "We are not so naive a leadership to lead our people to slaughter."

Tsvangirai on Saturday stopped short of saying the party would boycott any runoff. But he voiced concerns that the state would mobilize the armed forces, feared youth brigades and war veterans to terrorize voters into supporting Mugabe.
Mugabe has been accused of winning previous elections through violence and intimidation. Scores of opponents were killed during the 2002 and 2005 campaigns.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga dismissed fears of violence as "a lot of nonsense."

The law requires a runoff within 21 days of the initial election, but diplomats in Harare and at the United Nations say Mugabe may order a 90-day delay to give security forces time to clamp down.
Mugabe has ruled here since his guerrilla army helped overthrow white minority rule in 1980. His popularity has been battered by an economic collapse following the often-violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms since 2000.
A third of the population has fled the country and 80 percent are jobless. Inflation is raging at more than 100,000 percent.
Official results for parliamentary elections held alongside the presidential race showed Mugabe's ZANU-PF losing its majority in the 210-seat parliament for the first time in the country's history. Final results for the 60 elected seats in the senate gave the ruling party and the opposition 30 seats each.

The government banned most foreign journalists from covering the elections and barred Western election observers.
Several foreigners, including New York Times correspondent Barry Bearak, remained in custody Sunday after being charged with "illegally observing an election without official accreditation," according to lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa. She said the offense carried a maximum penalty of a fine and/or two years in prison.
They were charged Friday under Zimbabwe's media laws, but this was dropped after the attorney-general said it was without foundation. But instead of releasing them, police recharged them with the same offense under the electoral law.
Mtetwa said she was filing an urgent application for their release from Harare's central police station. Asked how they were, Mtetwa replied: "As well as you can be in that filthy place."

An imprisoned South African satellite technician needed hospital care because he was running out of his medication for diabetes, according to his employer Globecast, which provided satellite services to some broadcasters covering the election.
Globecast spokeswoman Melanie Gibb said another technician needed medication for bronchitis.
The two men were arrested on March 28. They were acquitted of contravening the information and protection of privacy act on Friday, but re-arrested as they left court.
Globecast said the men had received the necessary accreditation to work in the country.

[Viv]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080406/D8VSD4M80.html

President Robert Mugabe's ruling party demanded a vote recount and a further delay in the release of presidential election results, the state Sunday Mail newspaper reported, prompting outrage from the opposition party.
The Movement for Democratic Change, which claims its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the March 29 presidential ballot outright, said it would not accept a recount, did not want a runoff and pressed ahead with legal attempts to force publication of the results.
"How do you have a vote recount for a result that has not been announced? That is ridiculous," said opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
He accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of vote fraud, saying that police have told opposition leaders that the ruling party has been tampering with ballots since early last week.

"These claims are totally unfounded and they are only meant to justify ZANU-PF's rigging," he said.
The ruling party cited "errors and miscalculations in the compilation of the poll result" and asked the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to defer announcement of the presidential election results because of the "anomalies," the Sunday Mail reported.
The report came a day after Tsvangirai called on Mugabe to step down and accused the 84-year-old longtime ruler of plotting a campaign of violence to bolster his chances of winning an expected runoff.
Eight days after the election, the commission has yet to announce the results. Unofficial tallies by independent monitors show Tsvangirai won more votes than Mugabe - but fewer than the 50 percent plus one vote required to avoid a runoff.

The high court heard testimony Sunday afternoon from opposition party lawyers who lodged an urgent petition demanding publication of the election results. Reporters were not admitted to the court hearing. Armed police prevented opposition lawyers from entering the court on Saturday but there was no police presence Sunday.
The Movement for Democratic Change maintained its resistance to a runoff.
"We are not going to accept the so-called runoff. It is going to be a 'run-over' of Zimbabwe. People are going to be killed," Chamisa said. "We are not so naive a leadership to lead our people to slaughter."

Tsvangirai on Saturday stopped short of saying the party would boycott any runoff. But he voiced concerns that the state would mobilize the armed forces, feared youth brigades and war veterans to terrorize voters into supporting Mugabe.
Mugabe has been accused of winning previous elections through violence and intimidation. Scores of opponents were killed during the 2002 and 2005 campaigns.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga dismissed fears of violence as "a lot of nonsense."

The law requires a runoff within 21 days of the initial election, but diplomats in Harare and at the United Nations say Mugabe may order a 90-day delay to give security forces time to clamp down.
Mugabe has ruled here since his guerrilla army helped overthrow white minority rule in 1980. His popularity has been battered by an economic collapse following the often-violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms since 2000.
A third of the population has fled the country and 80 percent are jobless. Inflation is raging at more than 100,000 percent.
Official results for parliamentary elections held alongside the presidential race showed Mugabe's ZANU-PF losing its majority in the 210-seat parliament for the first time in the country's history. Final results for the 60 elected seats in the senate gave the ruling party and the opposition 30 seats each.

The government banned most foreign journalists from covering the elections and barred Western election observers.
Several foreigners, including New York Times correspondent Barry Bearak, remained in custody Sunday after being charged with "illegally observing an election without official accreditation," according to lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa. She said the offense carried a maximum penalty of a fine and/or two years in prison.
They were charged Friday under Zimbabwe's media laws, but this was dropped after the attorney-general said it was without foundation. But instead of releasing them, police recharged them with the same offense under the electoral law.
Mtetwa said she was filing an urgent application for their release from Harare's central police station. Asked how they were, Mtetwa replied: "As well as you can be in that filthy place."

An imprisoned South African satellite technician needed hospital care because he was running out of his medication for diabetes, according to his employer Globecast, which provided satellite services to some broadcasters covering the election.
Globecast spokeswoman Melanie Gibb said another technician needed medication for bronchitis.
The two men were arrested on March 28. They were acquitted of contravening the information and protection of privacy act on Friday, but re-arrested as they left court.
Globecast said the men had received the necessary accreditation to work in the country.

He's going to fight it then. No surprises there...

[Chookie]

................let's not forget the fact that Zimbabwe is receiving virtually no foreign aid while facing severe economic sanctions, which are the true cause of the plight that ravages Zimbabwe.

The true cause of the problems in Zimbabwe is the fact that when Zimbabwe was receiving foreign aid (which it did not actually need before Mugabe) is that he was siphoning a good bit off the top - as were his cronies and underlings.

[Murgi]

Mugabe is not only a racist, but also a leech. Foreign aid will only give him the strenght to remain in power.

[An Céachta Dearg]

The true cause of the problems in Zimbabwe is the fact that when Zimbabwe was receiving foreign aid (which it did not actually need before Mugabe) is that he was siphoning a good bit off the top - as were his cronies and underlings.

But before Mugabe it was Rhodesia and was ruled by the minority white class. However I think Mugabe is a Despot and must be removed from power. Also I'm complety opposed to Aid anyway.

[Chookie]

But before Mugabe it was Rhodesia and was ruled by the minority white class.

Rhodesia needed no foreign aid. Zimbabwe, as it then became, needed no foreign aid. It was, and can be again, one of the richest countries in Africa.

Mugabe and his cronies have destroyed the hope of generations.

[Don melQuiades]

Rhodesia needed no foreign aid. Zimbabwe, as it then became, needed no foreign aid. It was, and can be again, one of the richest countries in Africa.

Mugabe and his cronies have destroyed the hope of generations.

Mugabe pretty much betrayed his people, even if he came in with good intentions.

[Viv]

This drags on...today I heard a radio interview with a Zimbabwean claiming intimidation is under way by Mugabe's forces.

An update on Mugabe's response to Gordon Brown's recent attempts to press for the result and pressure him against violence:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7340000/newsid_7344300?redirect=7344338.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&asb=1

Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe has called Prime Minister Gordon Brown "a little tiny dot on this world".

He was responding to Mr Brown's warning to Mr Mugabe that he is "appalled" at the latest developments in the country.

"Brown is the world? Sure, the world is losing patience, but I know Brown is a little tiny dot on this world," Mr Mugabe said.

Zimbabwean police have banned political rallies amid growing tension over the disputed presidential election.

'Completely unacceptable'

The prime minister said the world was running out of patience with President Mugabe, with results still not released almost two weeks after the election.

In a fresh appeal Mr Brown said: "We cannot wait any longer for the announcement of these results.


The eyes of the world are on Zimbabwe now

Miliband's letter on situation

"It is in the interests of Zimbabwe's future that President Mugabe and his Zimbabwean electoral commission publish these results."

"I think it is important that we are vigilant about what happens after that. If there is to be a future election, that there is proper international monitoring of what is going on."

He added: "It is appalling if there is intimidation and violence. It is completely unacceptable and the whole eyes of the world are on Zimbabwe now."

Mr Brown was speaking ahead of a regional summit in Zambia to discuss the crisis.

Members of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Saturday.

In a further development, Foreign Secretary David Miliband sent a letter to shadow foreign secretary William Hague to update him on the situation.

He said: "It is clear that there was a majority of people who voted against President Mugabe, despite the conditions under which the vote was held."

He went on to estimate that approximately 14,000 British nationals in Zimbabwe would be eligible for consular assistance from the UK.

'No crisis'

Last weekend Mr Brown held private talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki, spending more than two hours trying to persuade him to use his influence to end the crisis.

Despite growing tensions, Mr Mbeki said there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - which claims to have won the election - has called for a strike starting on Tuesday to put pressure on the authorities.

The ban on political rallies comes two days before a planned demonstration by the MDC in the capital Hararehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7344336.stm.

[Viv]

This was copied directly from the official website of the Zimbabwe Government and is an excerpt from the Ministry of Home Affairs Report on Violence in Zimbabwe.

I was expecting to see a record of violence throughout the country, perhaps police reports on crime. However, to me it appears to indicate that all violence (which the government is interested in reporting) is attributed to the opposition party's activities and seems to be nothing more than a record of the movements of that party with the intention to discredit and intimidate them. Even goes so far as to detail what was eaten after one meeting, which must be an indication of spies in the camp...

A link to the homepage, this report is linked through the Ministry of Home Affairs section:

http://www.gta.gov.zw/

Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
1. Introduction
All opposition forces in Zimbabwe and beyond our boarders have been, for a long time, working either individually, separately or jointly in strategising for regime change in Zimbabwe. These forces include the following:
�� Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) anti-Senate
�� Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pro-Senate
�� National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
�� Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
�� Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe
�� Women/Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA)
�� Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
�� Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
�� Christian Alliance
When all these opposition forces realised that their concerted effort and agenda for regime change, were not bearing desired results; with advice from their sponsors and supporters in the West, they came up with the Broad Alliance whose agenda is still the same- to mobilise people for regime change in Zimbabwe.
.
Diplomats above from left to right: A British Intelligence Officer, Holland Deputy Ambassador Leoni M Cuelenaere, Reuters Journalist Young Rath, Spanish Ambassador Santiago Matrtinez-Caro, British Ambassador Andrew Pocock and Sweden Ambassador Sten Rylander . The pictures was taken a Rotten Row Court on 13 March 2007
1 January to 15 March 2007
1
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
The Broad Alliance’s defiance campaign for regime change and over throw of the democratically elected Government of Zimbabwe has resulted in a plethora of criminal activities and political violence in the country, especially in Harare, where people have been attacked, buses stoned and cars burned to ashes, police officers seriously injured, etc as seen in some pictures below.
Trudy Stevenson at Avenues Clinic after being attacked by MDC supporters 04-07-2006
MDC supporters smashed this bus, reducing it to a shell during its violent campaigns in Harare
2. Activities of the Opposition Broad Alliance
The leaders of all these opposition forces have been addressing numerous meetings across the country, drumming support for anti-Government activities and civil disobedience. With the hardships being faced by the people of Zimbabwe, the opposition forces intensified their campaign hoping to capitalise on these hardships. It has been observed that financial inducement is being used to attract people to attend meetings and participate in demonstrations. The pie chart below illustrates the distribution and levels of participation of each of the opposition forces in criminal activities.
30%20%18%6%16%6%4% MDC ANT-SENATENCAMDC PRO-SENATEZINASUWOZACRISIS COALITIONCHRISTIAN ALLIANCE 1 January to 15 March 2007
2
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
Some of the incidents contained in this document confirm this.
A). Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) anti-Senate
i. On 20 January 2007 from 1400 hours to 1500 hours, MDC anti-Senate President TSVANGIRAI addressed a meeting at Chisuma Business Centre, Chisumbanje where he castigated Zanu PF for failing to fulfill its promises since 1980. He said he is against the idea of holding Presidential elections in 2010, saying Zimbabwe should be led by young people not President MUGABE.
ii. On 21 January 2007 from 1400 hours to 1600 hours, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) House of Assembly Member for Glen View, Paul MADZORE convened an MDC anti-Senate rally at Kuwadzana 4 Municipal Park, Harare. Two thousand five hundred (2500) people attended. The following speakers addressed the meeting:
�� Morgan FEMAI MDC anti-Senate Harare
Provincial Chairman
�� Sekai HOLLAND MDC anti-Senate Secretary for
Policy and Research Training
�� Willas MADZIMURE MDC anti-Senate House of
Assembly Member for
Kambuzuma
�� Elias MUDZURI MDC anti-Senate National
Organising Secretary
�� Tendi BITI MDC anti-Senate Secretary
General
�� Nelson CHAMISA MDC anti-Senate House of
Assembly Member for Kuwadzana
The speakers indicated that they would violently oppose harmonisation of Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2010. They said MDC anti-Senate is going to change the Constitution before 2008. They were also mobilising people to support it against the harmonisation of elections in 2010 anticipating that a referendum would be held or they would demonstrate against the harmonisation of elections in 2010.
1 January to 15 March 2007
3
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
During the early hours of Monday the 12th of March 2007 some MDC activists set ablaze an omnibus that was used by cross-border traders after looting their goods in Kuwadzana.
In picture below are remains of the omnibus.
iii. On 23 January 2007 at 1100 hours, Save Zimbabwe Campaign fliers headlined Sounds of Freedom were picked outside Pioneer House at corner Fife Street and 8th Avenue, Bulawayo. The fliers written in English and Ndebele are calling upon Zimbabweans to hoot, clap, whistle, scream and shout for a better Zimbabwe every Wednesday from 1300 hours to 1310 hours, starting from 24 January 2007. They are indicating that people will vote in 2008 under a new Constitution.
iv. On 24 January 2007 from 1300 hours to 1310 hours, twenty (20) MDC anti-Senate youths from MDC anti-Senate Headquarters, Harvest House, Harare demonstrated in Harare City Centre. The youths were deployed from corner Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street to Parliament Building. They whistled and clapped hands.
At the same time three youths came from Harvest House carrying A4 khaki envelopes with the usual Save Zimbabwe Campaign fliers, which they threw at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street. Motorists were incensed
1 January to 15 March 2007
4
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
and responded by hooting from the intersection towards Parliament Building. The three youths quickly went back to Harvest House and no one was arrested.
v. On 28 January 2007 from 1300 hours to 1600 hours, MDC leader TSVANGIRAI addressed six hundred (600) people at an open space in Glen View 1, Harare where he urged his party supporters to prepare for mass action against the Government, which he said would be staged this year 2007. He said the mass action is aimed at assisting his party to assume power adding that his party is prepared to face the challenges and account for its actions. He said by calling for the extension of his Presidential term from 2008 to 2010, President MUGABE does not have the people of Zimbabwe at heart. Lastly, he said the MDC anti-Senate would continue with its preparations for the 2008 Presidential elections.
vi. On 01 February 2007 at 1135 hours, a group of fifteen (15) MDC anti-Senate supporters engaged in an illegal demonstration near Fife Avenue Vegetable Market, Bulawayo. They incited vendors to join them but nobody showed interest. They marched along Robert Mugabe before turning right into 9th Avenue past Chronicle offices.
While at corner 9th Avenue and Main Street, the group swelled to fifty (50) people. The group was then intercepted by Police Reaction group and they discarded their placards and disappeared into the crowd. Police arrested one of the demonstrators, Traceford MASINA of house number 74212 Pumula North, Bulawayo. MASINA indicated that he was given $1 500 to board commuters to town by MDC anti-Senate Pumula North District Chairman, Ephraim NCUBE.
The demonstrators were holding placards inscribed the following messages:
�� Free the mind, free the people
�� We want democracy now
�� We demand jobs
�� No to lifetime President
�� Pat the teachers, workers, farmers 1 January to 15 March 2007
5
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
�� Vendors, students unite for change
�� Pay the Police
�� Lets save Zimbabwe
�� Morgan TSVANGIRAI hezvoko
�� Time to act
�� We want free not fee education
�� To hell with evil regime
�� I will vote in 2008
�� Free the nation
�� Tiri muhondo naRobert
�� No to ZINWA in Bulawayo
�� We demand a robust education system
�� MUGABE and Zanu PF must go
�� ZvechiZanu PF povo yaramba
�� Morgan TSVANGIRAI for President
�� We demand a new Constitution
�� Murombo munhu ngaadzidze
�� Change is certain
�� GONO shut up
�� Zeros at State House
The following were notable figures among the demonstrators:
�� Amen MPOFU MDC anti-Senate Bulawayo
District Ward 2 Councillor
�� Artwell SIBANDA MDC anti-Senate Bulawayo
Provincial Youth Secretary
�� Joseph MANNING Bulawayo Vendors Association
Treasurer
vii. On 01 February 2007 from 1130 hours to 1400 hours, MDC anti-Senate Mashonaland West Provincial Treasurer, Biggie HAUROVI convened and addressed an MDC anti-Senate meeting at Magunje dip-tank attended by forty (40) people. He said the agenda of the MDC was to remove Zanu PF from power. He said President MUGABE was daydreaming by intending to hold Presidential elections in 2010. He said MDC was already campaigning for 2008 Presidential elections.
viii. On 03 February 2007 from 1500 hours to 1700 hours, MDC anti-Senate House of Assembly MP for Glen View, Paul
1 January to 15 March 2007
6
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
MADZORE convened and addressed an MDC anti-Senate meeting at Matongo Shopping Centre open space in Mabvuku, Harare which was attended by six hundred (600) people. MDC anti-Senate House of Assembly Member for Mbare, Gift CHIMANIKIRE said President MUGABE can not be removed from power through the ballot paper, saying he is a dictator and can rig any election. He added that dictators are removed from power through violence and cited the removal of Mobutu Sese SEKO of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Laurent KABILA as an example. Lastly, he called for mass actions. During the meeting the usual Save Zimbabwe Campaign flyers were distributed.
ix. On 04 February 2007 from 1300 hours to 1700 hours, MDC House of Assembly Member for Glen View, Paul MADZORE convened an MDC anti-Senate meeting at an open ground near OK Supermarket in Mufakose, Harare. About seven hundred (700) people attended the meeting that was addressed by the following:
�� Thamsanqa MAHLANGU MDC anti-Senate National
Youth Chairman
�� Gift CHIMANIKIRE MDC anti-Senate House of
Assembly MP for
Mbare
�� Nelson CHAMISA MDC anti-Senate National
Spokesperson and House of
Assembly MP for
Kuwadzana
�� Tapiwa MASHAKADA MDC anti-Senate House of
Assembly MP for Hatfield
�� Isaac MATONGO MDC anti-Senate National
Chairman
MAHLANGU said 2007 is a year of action to topple President MUGABE from power. He called upon youths to be on the forefront during anti-Government demonstrations of which the leadership will be behind them. He advised the gathering that MDC anti-Senate will have structures in all colleges, universities, Police and Army camps. He urged youths to demonstrate in large numbers to remove Zanu PF from power.
1 January to 15 March 2007
7
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
CHIMANIKIRE told the gathering that they would fight until they assume power in 2008.
MATONGO informed the gathering that MDC anti-Senate would launch its Presidential elections campaign at Zimbabwe Grounds on 18 February 2007 and urged the people to attend in large numbers.
x. On 28 February 2007 at 0420 hours, six (6) suspected MDC anti-Senate activists blocked the road at the intersection of 1st Street and Chesvingo Drive, Masvingo using the wreckage of a car and burning tyres. Constable CHIPENGE who resides along the street heard the noise outside and discovered the burning tyres. He telephoned Police Masvingo Central who attended the scene. No one was arrested.
At the same time, some tyres were set ablaze on the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road near Mucheke Bridge. At Pangolin Business Centre, Masvingo another group cut down gum trees with a hack saw and blocked Jairos Jiri Road. They also blocked Charumbira Street opposite Mandava Service Station with stones.
xi. On 01 March 2007, MDC anti-Senate engaged on a campaign to mobilize people to attend a rally at Budiriro 1 Shopping Centre, Harare on 04 March 2007 in defiance of the prohibition Order on political meetings. Some MDC anti-Senate youths were distributing fliers advising the public about the above rally. Police recovered fifty-six (56) posters abandoned in at Kules Bar at corner Chinhoyi and Charter Streets, Harare. The youths were paid bus fares and promised Z$60 000,00 each for participating in either rallies or demonstrations.
xii. On 04 March 2007 from 1000 hours to 1545 hours, MDC anti-Senate President, Morgan TSVANGIRAI addressed a meeting at Chiwetu Business Centre in Rusape. The agenda was Presidential election campaign. Seven hundred (700) people attended the meeting.
1 January to 15 March 2007
8
Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence
TSVANGIRAI lamented the ban of meetings in Harare and Bulawayo. He said this does not stop people from saying what they want. He added that elections would not be held under this current situation where the Police, CIO and Army conduct elections. After the meeting people were fed with sadza and beef from a beast donated by MDC anti-Senate Shadow House of Assembly Member for Makoni West, Webber CHINYADZA.
xiii. On 6 March 2007 at 1430 hours, sixteen (16) MDC anti-Senate youths demonstrated at Cameroon Square, Kadoma.
The demonstrators were singing political songs displaying placards inscribed the following:
�� War veterans remember one man one vote
�� Free and fair elections 2008
�� Zanu PF yaora
�� Bvisa MUGABE achembera chinja
�� MDC to save Zimbabwe
�� MUGABE must go
�� Chikorokoza zvacharamba MUGABE must go
Upon seeing Police officers approaching, the demonstrators dispersed but Police managed to arrest the following:
�� Ketai MAKOSA aged 37 years of number 12 Cenderella Clos Eiffel Flats (MDC anti-Senate District Chairman)
�� Alex CHIKWANDA aged 30 years of number 4413 Ingezi Township, Kadoma
�� Tsungirayi MUKOBVU aged 21 years of number 4513 New Ingezi Township, Kadoma
Accused persons were charged for contravening Section 37(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 “Participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry”. Police Kadoma Central RRB... 213126 refers.http://www.moha.gov.zw/violencereport1.pdf