Zimbabwe: The Fall of A Tyrant?

From: New Era (Windhoek)

Press Release

Zimbabweans go to the polls tomorrow. The election fever that has gripped the country and the world for the past few months will come to a crescendo. Zimbabweans will cast their ballots to elect their Councillors, Senators, Members of the House of Assembly and President in the first harmonized polls to be held in the country.

It is a moment when Zimbabweans have to display their political maturity in defense of their sovereignty and natural resources.

They ought to correctly identify the source of the difficulties they are facing, which are the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe after the land acquisition and redistribution exercise.

The purpose of sanctions is to force people to make a choice that they would otherwise not make when not under pressure. It is an extreme form of coercion and manipulation. But throughout history at such trying times those that have displayed an indomitable spirit and remained resilient have triumphed.

The authors of the sanctions know that the decision that President Mugabe took to deliver his liberation war promises to the people was not only a right but also popular decision. Yes, he had delivered on his promises regarding education and health for all, he had delivered peace but he was yet to deliver the big one, which was the land and the control of the wealth of the country.

This is a decision that would set Zimbabwe on the path of prosperity and complete independence from the former colonial masters. In so doing, it would be setting a precedent for the rest of the African continent – that Africans can be their own masters. Now, we find ourselves in an invidious position where the people are being coerced to repudiate that heroic act.

The question before us is whether or not we will choose to stand for the truth and up-hold what is right. President Mugabe, who goes into a presidential election tomorrow against candidates that represent neo-colonial positions, is a living symbol of that anti-colonial stance, hence his repeated declarations that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.

What voters need to understand is that this is not a normal election. It is not an election that is not seeking a change of government but of regime. It is not just seeking to change the occupants of the government positions but to reverse the whole political and economic system, removing the liberation ethos that has characterised the rule of ZANU-PF.

This is why ZANU-PF is campaigning under the theme, “Defence of our land and sovereignty; economic prosperity through empowerment”.

What ZANU-PF is appealing to voters for is patience so that it can bring to fruition the economic empowerment programmes that it has initiated and thus complete the revolution.

The MDC is offering false, quick solutions. At their rallies their message has been about the “friends” whom they claim will bring money to revive the economy. They do not say what the money would be in exchange for.

There is no precedent anywhere in the world where the MDC’s western friends have poured out money gratis. Where they have effected regime change people have ended up worse off. Recent examples of regime changes are there for people to see in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The truth is that Zimbabwe’s prosperity will only come out of hard work and bringing full value of its natural resources. Zimbabwe simply needs to produce its own food and to produce more than it consumes.

Now that the people have taken control of their land and will be taking control of mines and other centres of production, what remains is for them to have a production mindset and not a consumption one.

That is the only sure way of bringing prosperity to the people. Prosperity will not come from western “friends”, it will come from producing and adding value to the products before exporting them.

Campaigns

Supporters of various political parties vying for office have been canvassing for voters in a peaceful manner. The level of political maturity is to be applauded. Prophets of doom in the donor driven Non-Governmental Organization sector, who derive their livelihood from perpetuating a bad image of the country, have been left with egg on their faces because so far there have been not been any significant incidents of violence except the intra-party skirmishes in the Morgan Tsvangirayi faction of the MDC.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission

In a briefing on 24 March 2008, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission revealed that it was on course to successfully holding the four-in-one elections and that the chaos predicted by some of the country’s detractors would not occur. More than 90 000 polling officers have been deployed to polling stations countrywide. The ZEC has identified 8 998 polling stations countrywide and each polling station would be controlled by a presiding officer and 10 polling officers.

On 24 March 2008, postal ballots were sealed in the presence of various political parties. The police applied for 8 000 postal ballots. The postal ballot papers will be counted with other ballot papers cast on March 29 in those respective wards.

The accreditation of observers and journalists, both local and foreign, has gone well. A total of 2 400 local and 70 foreign observers had been accredited by 24 March 2008; 400 local journalists, 9 from the SADC region and 5 international reporters have been accredited.

There has been an interest in the election from the international media with war correspondents from CNN and BBC applying to cover the elections. More than 300 foreign journalists have applied to cover the polls.

SADC Observer Mission

The SADC Observer Mission which is headed by Cde Jose Marcos Barrica, the Angolan Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture said on 19 March 2008 that the climate was right to hold elections. Cde Barrica further told the EU and other Western Ambassadors that they should not prejudge the polls. The SADC Observer Mission has deployed more than 130 observers. Cde Barrica has held several meetings with political parties, civic society and ambassadors accredited to the Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

SADC Electoral Commission Forum

SADC ECF head Reverend Felix Mokobi said the regional elections body was impressed with preparations put in place by ZEC for a free, fair and transparent election. – Zimbabwe Embassy

Guards for African leaders battle; dozen injured

From Samson Ntale

CNN

KAMPALA, Uganda (CNN) — A fight between Ugandan and Libyan presidential guards sparked chaos during a ceremony attended by the heads of state from 11 African nations on Wednesday. Several of the guards to the visiting heads of state from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Mali, Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti sustained serious injuries in the fight, which included punches, kicks and the drawing of guns.

No leaders were hurt in the melee, though several were knocked over. Several journalists also were caught up in the fracas and suffered injuries or lost their grips on cameras and recorders.

The incident occurred at the opening of a massive Gadhafi National Mosque in Kampala, a structure begun by the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1972 and completed with financing from Libya, according to African media reports.

Minutes after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and his host, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, jointly unveiled a plaque to mark the event, the Libyan guards pushed away the guards of other delegations at the mosque’s entrance.

The Ugandan guards — who had traded hostilities with the predominantly-Arab Libyan guards at every joint event since Gadhafi’s arrival in the country Sunday — reacted with fury and fought back.

Museveni briefly lost his balance when a hefty Libyan guard pushed him to a wall. Another Libyan guard pushed Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who also lost his balance but was caught by his own guards.

The vice president of Tanzania was knocked over by fighting guards as he was taking his shoes off to enter the mosque.

Guards to the rest of the visiting presidents and prime ministers kept their respective leaders out of the fray, with some drawing their guns as the dignitaries looked on in disbelief. Some leaders — notably those from Somalia, Burundi and Djibouti — were visibly uneasy as guns were drawn on all sides.

By the time the fight was over more than six minutes later, about a dozen presidential guards were left bleeding from compound fractures and the Libyan and Ugandan protocol officials traded bitter accusations of disrespect and racism.

“What are your people up to? Do you want to kill our leader?” a Libyan protocol official said to his Ugandan counterpart.

The Ugandan official, who declined to be named, shouted back, “Why do think you’re superior? What makes you think Uganda has any ill intention against Gadhafi?”

The Ugandan official said Museveni’s guards were simply doing their job as security for the host country and had a right to respond when the Libyan guards pushed them back.

It has taken 36 years to complete the giant mosque on a hill in the heart of Kampala. It used to be a colonial fort named after British Capt. Frederick Lugard.

The mosque can accommodate as many as 17,000 people at one time, according to the engineers, who call it the largest mosque in sub-Saharan Africa.

Many Muslims interviewed said the mosque’s opening evoked sweet memories of Amin, the deceased dictator.

“It is a great day and thanks be to Allah for the completion,” said Salim Abdul Noor, 39. “This should remind us that while Amin is demonized as Africa’s worst dictator, there are many things he did for this country that successive governments largely depend on, and much of the completed installations and structures like this beautiful mosque was Amin’s dream, may Allah rest him in peace.”

The Swedish vice president of the European Islamic Conference, Adly Abu Hajar, 57, said the mosque heals rifts in a religion introduced to Uganda in 1844 by Arab slave traders.

“I find this complex has brought unity among Muslims in Uganda. There have been so many factions, but this attraction has brought them together, identifying themselves with a common home.”

The fight prompted a crisis meeting by Ugandan security authorities, after which invited diplomats from mainly the European missions in Uganda expressed dismay.

“It’s disgrace. It shows there is something wrong yet unknown between the two parties,” said the head of one European mission in Kampala, who declined to be named.

The police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, and the head of the army, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, declined to comment on the fight.

But Capt. Edison Kwesiga, the spokesman of the Ugandan Presidential Guard Brigade, confirmed their hostile relationship with the Libyans.

“It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of any visiting head of state. We have to do our job using any means. But our Libyan brothers always want us to fail. True, it’s not the first time they come and act as you see,” Kwesiga said.

Kenya military operation targets gang

By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago

The military sealed off a region of western Kenya where land disputes have flared into violence, and witnesses said helicopter gunships were strafing the area Thursday to try to drive gunmen from forests and caves.

“Always in this country, people are fighting over land,” said Lucy Okello, head nurse at Kitale District Hospital, where four girls were being treated for severe burns after their village was attacked, allegedly by the Sabaot Land Defense Force, a militia fighting for the redistribution of land.

The oldest girl, 15-year-old Joanne Temuko, wailed and held her head in her hands as nurses applied balm to her scorched back.

Thirteen other civilians were hacked, shot or burned to death in the attack last week. There was no claim of responsibility. A militia member said at the time that his group was simply trying to “correct historical injustices.”

The military operation at Mount Elgon comes despite a power-sharing agreement designed to end a wave of violence that erupted after a disputed election last December. The violence awakened decades-old tensions over land and inequality.

Police manning checkpoints Thursday along dusty roads lined with banana trees and onion farms leading to Mount Elgon ordered journalists and aid workers to turn back.

There was no word on casualties in the military operation, which began Monday around Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano near the border with Uganda, where spectacular caves, waterfalls and hot springs draw hikers and other adventure tourists.

“This is a serious government operation,” said an officer at a checkpoint in Namangofulo, the last village before the foothills of Mount Elgon, about 300 miles northwest of Nairobi. “You only go through if you have a uniform.”

In Nairobi, government spokesman Alfred Mutua said journalists were being kept out of the area for their own safety.

Gunmen “have been killing people indiscriminately. We don’t want them to start killing journalists and for (journalists) to be caught in the line of fire. So it is basically keeping away journalists for their own security,” he said.

The Dec. 27 vote tapped into a well of resentment that resurfaces regularly at election time in Kenya, but this year’s bloodshed has been the most brutal and sustained by far.

The election, which international and local observers say was rigged, unleashed weeks of bloodshed that has killed more than 1,000 people and exposed simmering resentments over land and President Mwai Kibaki’s Kikuyu ethnic group, long dominant in politics and the economy.

Mutua said the aim of the military operation at Mount Elgon was to flush out and arrest suspects in killings and other crimes. He said some suspects had tried to flee across the border into Uganda.

Abdul Mwasera, the provincial commissioner in the region, said 187 people had been arrested.

“The operation will continue until these criminals surrender or are wiped out to allow peace to prevail,” Mwasera said.

Several villagers outside the area sealed off by the military said they have seen helicopter gunships firing for several days now, most recently before dawn Thursday.

“I was seeing fire,” said Jeff Ngeti, 18. “Men were running.”

Jacqueline Kamello, 27, who was working on an onion farm, said there were at least three helicopters flying in the area Thursday morning.

“I am happy about this military operation,” she said. “These land militias have been bothering us, carting away our animals, attacking our neighbors.”

The region sees frequent clashes over land, with some 800 people killed since 2006, said Ken Wafula, executive director of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in the Rift Valley.

Much of the tension can be traced back decades. Western Kenya was flooded by Kikuyu settlers when white farmlands were returned to Kenyans after independence in 1963.

The Kikuyu quickly prospered, growing into the most powerful of Kenya’s 42 ethnic groups, controlling land and running businesses and politics.

Kibaki and his rival, Raila Odinga, have now agreed to share power. Late Thursday, Kibaki named a six-member panel to investigate the election. Such a probe had been agreed to under the same deal that led to the power-sharing accord.

A former South African constitutional court judge, Johann Kriegler, will chair the panel, said a statement from Kibaki’s office. Kriegler chaired South Africa’s electoral commission in 1993 ahead of elections that saw Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela become the country’s first black president.

Despite the political accords, western Kenya has not seen an end to violence, much of it unleashed by land disputes.

The Sabaot Land Defense Force, members of the Sabaot ethnic group, are unhappy with recent attempts to settle land grievances and have turned on groups they believe were unfairly ceded land.

The violence has been worsened by guns smuggled into Kenya through its porous borders. The Sabaot militiamen and other raiders increasingly have been spotted with assault rifles.

Okello, the head nurse at Kitale District Hospital, said more patients are coming in with gunshot wounds, as well as injuries from weapons such as bows and arrows.

“We started receiving so many more people this year, with these wounds,” she said. “I have cried for these victims so much, I can cry no more.”

Kenya’s peace pact faces new hurdles

Published from The Herald

NAIROBI. Kenya’s newly signed power sharing agreement between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga is facing fresh hurdles after a senior official appeared to whittle down the powers of the yet to be created office of premier.

The agreement which was signed late last month creates the position of prime minister, which analysts have described as very interesting in terms of what exactly would be the responsibilities of the two offices, the president and the PM.

Head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura said late on Monday that in spite of a power-sharing deal, the office of an all-powerful presidency remains intact.

But his statement was immediately dismissed by the opposition, Orange Democratic Movement, who argued that Muthaura was usurping the role of parliament which is expected to debate and put into the constitution the power sharing agreement.

According to Muthaura, who is also the secretary to the cabinet, the president will retain the powers to appoint the prime minister, deputy prime ministers and cabinet ministers under the power- sharing agreement brokered by Kofi Annan. But a group allied to ODM immediately protested at the move by Muthaura saying he lacked the powers to interpret the power-sharing deal.

“Any statement clarifying, interpreting or explaining the content of the National Accord must be jointly released by the two principals — Kibaki and Raila,” an ODM’s statement read by former cabinet minister Amukowa Anangwe said.

“The prime minister shall have authority to coordinate and supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the government, including those of ministries,” he said. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Muthaura seemed to imply that even though the office of the premier would be created, the president would continue to enjoy unbridled executive powers in a business-as-usual kind of situation.

He sought to lower the stature of the PM’s office, which he said, would come third in the protocol pecking order, and therefore it would be unlikely that the PM would supervise the VP if the latter holds a ministerial position.

“The vice president, prime minister, deputy prime ministers and all ministers are directly responsible to the president. The president will continue to chair the cabinet,” Muthaura said.

The opposition party also said the power sharing pact encapsulated what it described as “the genuine desire of Kenyans.” ODM said that Kenyans had begun the slow process of healing, reconciliation and rebuilding their shattered lives and “would not accept to be dragged back to the period of mayhem, violence and disruption by retrogressive forces bent on resisting changes.” — Xinhua.