Zimbabwe: 2007 till Mugabe resigns

[davidbfpo]

Taken from a contribution to the EBO thread:

Look at Zimbabwe briefly. The rule of law was maintained for many years after independence in 1980, although the police quickly became partisan. Now on the verge of change any new government will find the courts stacked against it, with ZANU-PF appointees. Then look wider, 3m Zimbabweans have left; on the BBC Radio 4 this morning most of them professionals, with doctors to the USA and nurses to the UK. How to get the professionals back to help reform Zimbabwe? (This paragraph copied to the Zimbabwe thread).

With far better salaries, not the weather though, how will Zimbabwe get them back from higher salaries? No, don't just say aid packages. I am aware lots of Afghan exiles have returned - from anecdote and reading around.

davidbfpo

[tequila]

I am aware lots of Afghan exiles have returned - from anecdote and reading around.

Yes, but the vast majority of Afghan exiles were not the educated elite, but rather just ordinary folks pushed into Iran and Pakistan. Iran just forced several hundred thousand to return.

[Tom Odom]

CNN is reporting that the GOZ raided opposition party headquarters as what may be part of a crackdown....


More as this develops


Tom

OK more information makes it look like the "raids" are targeting journalists so we shall see what happens.

Sources: Zimbabwe forces raid Harare hotel, 4 journalists seized
Posted: 03:00 PM ET
HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) — Zimbabwe security forces Thursday increased their checks on foreign reporters in Harare, raiding one hotel and seizing four unaccredited journalists, diplomatic sources and a witness at the hotel told CNN.

[Stan]

Notice how Ahmed Tejan Kabbah has suddenly gotten involved in GOZ business. With little else to do, tried and true experience in the field of being jerked from power by his own military, spared once again by either the Brits or UN, and Pres once again, the old fart is trying to sell his opinion to Mugabe. If only Mobutu was still around....

First it was a leak reported by the New Zimbabwe.
Now the foreign journalists have been arrested...no credentials...no Sierra

[Tom Odom]

Mugabe's party agrees to presidential runoff

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Zimbabwe's ruling party said Friday that President Robert Mugabe would be willing to face Morgan Tsvangirai in a runoff election.
The announcement was made before official results of the March 29 presidential race were announced by the Electoral Commission, which has the final say in whether a runoff will be held.

A runoff is required when neither candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote.

Zimbabwe's electoral commission was expected to release final results of last week's election Friday amid a crackdown on the opposition and media.

So there was a show of force in a limited sense and now ZANU-PF "agrees" to a run off after most say the opposition won cleanly. Expect more intimidation efforts and delays.

Tom

[Stan]

Zimbabwe Veterans March in Show of Force Against Opposition

He still manages to get his veterans fired up !

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Hundreds of veterans of Zimbabwe's guerrilla war for black rule marched through the capital Friday, silent but leaving little doubt they were out to intimidate President Robert Mugabe's political opponents.

Hmmm, were these Vets the very same that ended up with all the farm land ?

[Tom Odom]

Hmmm, were these Vets the very same that ended up with all the farm land ?

That would be an affirmative along with key ZANU party hacks. Then again Mo could always get the DSP to march, could he not? Of course when the 31st Para marched, it was called a "pillage."

[Stan]

Moeletsi Mbeki, the outspoken brother of South Africa’s President, this week revealed why he believes that SADC has continued to support Robert Mugabe, despite his obvious failures and their negative effect on the region.

Writing in The Sunday Tribune in South Africa, Mbeki said he believes that Zimbabwe's neighbours are “mollycoddling” Mugabe because they have short-sighted leadership and a fear of the more democratic political forces that are emerging in Zimbabwe.

... the emergence of these “new, well-organised, cosmopolitan and vocal constituencies that were no longer interested in the politics of race, but in the accountability of governance, has struck fear in the hearts of established rulers, not only in Zimbabwe, but in the whole of Southern Africa.”

All Africa - SADC Steps Into the Fray

"The summit was not a reaction to Zimbabwe's problems, but probably a response to pressure from donor nations..."

"SADC has given ZANU-PF comfort to do what it is doing".

... the MDC was not just a threat to ZANU-PF, but also to SADC as it was representative of civil society and most governments in southern Africa were "nationalist parties, created by black elites during the colonial era, who saw themselves as colonial equals.

They see themselves as superior to the black masses."

[davidbfpo]

A website I belong to has published an un-confirmed confidential list with explanatory footnote supplied by a senior member of the Zimbabwe military, who is extremely annoyed and frustrated by the ongoing attempts of the military to achieve the impossible, and provoke a reaction from the mass of Zimbabweans who voted for the end of Mugabe's regime. The plea is that it is essential that the regional and international community see the extent of the determination by the military to subvert the expressed will of Zimbabweans. Despite such efforts, it is increasingly clear, both within and outside Zimbabwe, that there is a determined resolve to see an end to Mugabe's regime, which no amount of dirty tricks can prevent.

In total, 200 serving senior officers of the armed forces will be participating in the exercise. They will be commanding other war veterans and Zanu pf thugs. The teams will be deployed on 8th April 2008 to campaign for RG Mugabe in the run off under the guise of war veterans. With the exception of two, all the deployed officers are senior serving officers of the armed services. It is understood that Lt. Gen. PV Sibanda will command the operation with the assistance of Maj. Gen. Nick Dube. General Chiwenga will be the overall commander of the operation. He is being assisted by Maj. Gen Last Mugova and Col. S. Mudambo.

I've deleted the names for brevity.

davidbfpo

[jcustis]

I just read the more generic mention of just what you posted David. I can crystal-ball a spate of violence soon, akin to Noriega in Panama. This is not looking good.

But I wonder, did Mugabe actually leave the country to go to the summit in Zambia? Perhaps he is not overly concerned about the outcome of any political issues, and doesn't see any threats.

[Stan]

According to recent VOA releases, Mugabe will be attending the emergency summit together with Tsvangirai. I think you're right, JC. Mugabe doesn't see a threat, nor is he concerned too much about leaving the country. One could speculate that Mugabe is on his quiet way out, never to return. But, he just reinstalled his former cabinet, and stashed the electoral commission into a secret location That said, it doesn't look like he's at all concerned.