German bank gets impound order
for Chinese ship's Zimbabwe-bound cargo...
Famous last words !
Quote:
"We did not know at any time that the ship was carrying weapons," Strumpf said. "We would have never accepted weapons." :wry:
Quote:
BERLIN: A German bank obtained a court order to impound the cargo of a Chinese ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe as it tries to recover unpaid debts from the southern African country, officials said Tuesday.
But KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, a subsidiary of Germany's state-owned KfW development bank, was unaware that the An Yue Jiang was carrying arms when it obtained the order from a South African court last week, spokeswoman Dela Strumpf said.
On Thursday, KfW IPEX-Bank obtained an court order in Durban, South Africa, to impound the ship's Zimbabwean-owned cargo because the Zimbabwean government still owes the German bank about €40 million (US$63 million at current rates), Strumpf said.
A quiet coup de etat in Zimbabwe
U.S. envoy Jendayi Frazer told reporters that Morgan Tsvangirai was a clear winner in the election and "My preferred option would be that the will of the people will be accepted. That Mr. Mugabe does the honorable thing and steps down."
Quote:
In an interview with CNN, Frazer said: "We are certain that Morgan Tsvangirai won based on the reporting of the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network and other independent monitors.
"I think he (Mugabe) is -- with this great delay in announcement -- trying to steal the election. He is intimidating population and election officials as well. (We've) also heard reports of the police stuffing ballots."
Frazer also raised the possibility that Mugabe was no longer running Zimbabwe and that it was the security forces which are refusing to acknowledge the election result.
"There are reports that are generals are the ones who said to him we will not accept your defeat, we will not accept victory of Morgan Tsvangirai. That is what is being reported," she said. "And the way the security apparatus has fanned out across the country many are saying there has been a quiet coup de etat.
State of Confusion - "myopic stooges"
Angola allows arms ship to dock :rolleyes:
Quote:
Zimbabwe needs to arm itself more than any other country in Africa today for the simple reason that it has been targeted for destabilisation
Quote:
Angola's government has authorised a Chinese ship carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe to dock, although it says it will not be allowed to unload weapons.
In a statement, the government said the vessel would only be allowed to deliver goods intended for Angola.
Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper condemned the country's neighbours as "myopic stooges" for refusing to let the cargo dock. "Zimbabwe is... under attack from the former coloniser and its allies. As such, Zimbabwe probably needs to arm itself more than any other country in Africa today,"
Try a new approach with Mugabe?
Sarcasm is a far better response to The Herald's statement, as reported above.
I can hear Gordon Brown announce 'The UK has decided that the vital supplies of emptying ballot boxes from Zimbabwe, the world's leading democracy, are in danger from overuse and I have authorised HMS Gunboat to sail immediately to Harare. We expect Robert Mugabe to release all the detained ballot boxes in time for their use here on 1st May 2008, in our local government elections when we will win all the votes'.
Sorry two glasses of wine after a long day and despair at the situation in Zimbabwe. Church leaders declare genocide is in prospect in Zimbabwe and we focus on a Chinese arms shipment.
davidbfpo
While I get where your coming from
Quote:
Originally Posted by
davidbfpo
Sarcasm is a far better response to The Herald's statement, as reported above.
I can hear Gordon Brown announce 'The UK has decided that the vital supplies of emptying ballot boxes from Zimbabwe, the world's leading democracy, are in danger from overuse and I have authorised HMS Gunboat to sail immediately to Harare. We expect Robert Mugabe to release all the detained ballot boxes in time for their use here on 1st May 2008, in our local government elections when we will win all the votes'.
Sorry two glasses of wine after a long day and despair at the situation in Zimbabwe. Church leaders declare genocide is in prospect in Zimbabwe and we focus on a Chinese arms shipment.
davidbfpo
I tend to always be quite wary when someone tries to bring fuel to an already hot situation just waiting for the sparks. I tend to think if their bringing fuel their probably bringing something to light it with too.:(
I haven't seen what Nigeria or South Africa are actually doing to help avoid that genocide though. Kinda on hold waiting to see what comes of that.
Check on Opposition "King"
Well here we go. Mugabe moves to check Tsvangirai's King, who must now move his piece or lose. Of course if he accepts a run off, then the cycle of beatings and killings starts anew with greater intensity.
Quote:
Official: Mugabe will retain power if no run-off voteJOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- President Robert Mugabe will win re-election by default if opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai declines to participate in a run-off, the head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission told CNN on Thursday.
1 of 3 His remarks came as the verification process, at which party officials were to review voting figures, began Thursday afternoon.
Neither Mugabe nor Tsvangirai attended, sending representatives instead. However independent candidate Simba Makoni attended himself.
Journalists were allowed inside for only a few minutes as the process began, The Associated Press reports.
Any chance of outside observers with laptops
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tom Odom
Well here we go. Mugabe moves to check Tsvangirai's King, who must now move his piece or lose. Of course if he accepts a run off, then the cycle of beatings and killings starts anew with greater intensity.
tied to an internationally approved voting machine going around the country (with escort) and letting the people know by their presence that whether they ending up being punished or not their sacrifices won't be in vain?
If not my next guess would be the opposition making a concerted effort to bolster physical resistance against expected physical attacks. And somehow I doubt the term civil disobedience will apply:(
We have a winner - well sort of
Mugabe losses but no one gets 51% => re run and another chance to 'get it right'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7380445.stm
Opposition leader to return for run-off
Is there any chance leaders from some of those countries with influence there to make Mugabe feel responsible for ensuring his opponents safety since he's so confident he will win on his own merits?
It would seem only representative of a truly great leader that he be able to win through election and not the representative cowardice of intimidation buuut since we have to realize that he really can't control what some of his younger more (shall we say enthusiastic) supporters do, that he would never-the-less be able to ensure the safety of his counter-part in the election.
Does this seem like an unreasonable request to anyone?
And if not how do you make it stick, or in other words if he can't provide that protection what are the consequences, if any?
500m Zimbabwe dollar and Chinese Flying Dutchman
Zimbabwe bank issues $500m note
Quote:
The central bank has issued a 500m Zimbabwe dollar banknote, worth US$2, to try to ease cash shortages amid the world's highest rate of inflation.
The previous highest denomination note was for Z$250m, issued 10 days ago. At independence in 1980, one Zimbabwe dollar was worth more than US$1.
Let hope not blind us to Mugabe’s ruthlessness
Quote:
As it turns out, it’s hard to mediate between good and evil. Zimbabwe’s high court left Mugabe in control of the votes (expected), but freed MDC activists from detention (minimally laudable). Despite scornful rhetoric from the west and Zimbabwean civil society, Mugabe will survive yet again, absent bold action.
Last month, we were treated to the saga of the Chinese Flying Dutchman, bearing arms for Mugabe but barred entry by South African dock workers, and even the Angolan government. It turns out the arms got through Angola anyway, while the media focused on supposed African unanimity in keeping Zimbabwe arms-free.
A fine idea — an arms embargo against Zimbabwe. A nice symbolic move, with little practical effect. Yet symbolism that conceals that foolish hopes, uninformed by common sense, can be worse than no hope at all.
Too many commentators let their happy hopes obscure reality, suggesting that Mugabe was on the — democratic! — way out. Alas, the “soft power” of moral suasion, diplomatic pressure, and pointed outspokenness is essential but inadequate for countries struggling to throw off tyranny. Even soft power demands a moral backbone, and sometimes a boldly waved stick. Good wishes for Zimbabwe are everywhere, but even the words are timid.
Chinese weapons reach Zimbabwe
Still catching up on missed news and several reports on the Chinese arms shipment being unloaded. This is quite detailed, note South African Navy refuelled the ship and a UK-reg'd, Zimbabwe-based air transport operator moved the weaposn to Harare.
Read on: http://www.sundayherald.com/internat...ach_mugabe.php
davidbfpo
SAfrican Generals discover Mugabe is violent
Subject: Zimbabwe violence "shocks" SA generals - Business Day, 14 May
RETIRED South African army generals investigating post-election violence in Zimbabwe have uncovered "shocking levels" of state-sponsored terror, sources close to them say. The continued violence makes any chance of a peaceful runoff election "almost impossible", they say.
When President Thabo Mbeki visited Harare last week, the team's leader, Lt-Gen Gilbert Lebeko Romano, briefed him on their findings. The violence intensified after it was confirmed that President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu (PF) had lost to the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the March 29 poll.
Senior members of the investigating team said their findings were "alarming" and that most of the violence was state sponsored, although the opposition had also retaliated. "What we have heard and seen is shocking. We have heard horrific stories of extreme brutality and seen the victims," said one of the generals.
"We have seen people with scars, cuts, gashes, bruises, lacerations and broken limbs, and bodies of those killed. It's a horrifying picture."
The incident which has shocked the investigators most happened at Chaona village in the Chiweshe area last Monday. A Zanu (PF) MP is believed to have led an armed gang of 45 in an attack on MDC activists, leaving four dead. Three other victims died later and at least 50 people were seriously injured.
"It was a ferocious onslaught on the village. We have never seen anything like that before. The village is still in a state of shock and we now live in fear," said an eye - witness at the Avenues Clinic in Harare, where some of the victims have been admitted.
The team of generals has met government, Zanu (PF) and opposition officials, civil society leaders and other interest groups.
I'll not comment.
davidbfpo
Military are really in charge?
Appeared in The (UK) Daily Telegarph today, based on an un-named diplomatic source:
Leading story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-power%27.html
Short profiles of Mugabe's military cabal: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2084...ary-cabal.html
I am sure specialist analysts, e.g. Africa Confidential have reported this aspect or conclusion before. Note it appeared after the US-UK diplomatic incident.
davidbfpo
The solution is closer to home
Much diplomatic and media comment has been expended on urging Zimbabwe's neighbours, notably South Africa, and the wider African community to pressurise Zimbabwe to allow free elections. Alas South Africa's current government shows little sign of changing its policy, which is effectively to do nothing.
The only people who can change Zimbabwe, to allow free elections, are those in charge now - ZANU-PF and their police / military partners. An unlikely prospect.
So who can bring change? The people of Zimbabwe in the forthcoming presidential election, if they vote and do not vote for Mugabe.
There was a BBC radio report today from a rural part of Zimbabwe, which traditionally voted for ZANU-PF, that suggests the voters have decided not to vote for Mugabe. Alas the election is not going to be free, fair and counted in a way we would understand is democratic. Refer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...nt/7452828.stm
A few hours ago the BBC reported a speech by Mugabe that he would go to war to stay in power. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7454569.stm
Just found a report that some are violently reacting to ZANU-PF: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...we-846947.html
davidbfpo
I get the wierd feeling that
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Norfolk
If there was any doubt about ZANU-PF's determination, indeed desperation, to hold on to power, the fact that they are sending "war veterans" who have spent less time on this Earth than I have in pubs to dragoon the party's very own political/tribal base into submission does indeed remove any such said doubt. One wonders just what the final ZANU-PF indignity will be that may cause the country's collective twig to snap...and the results of that would not be a pretty sight.
Thats a lot closer than we might think. Would almost be willing to bet its one of those lines you cross without knowing it, and I think they may already be there:(