Untold numbers of women, old and young, have been raped during weeks of state-orchestrated terror in Zimbabwe, but shame and stigma has prevented most from speaking out.

Several female activists from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have been dragged from their homes and gang-raped; still more common has been the sexual assault of women abducted in place of their politically active menfolk.

But perhaps the least known and most numerous groups are the young girls forced to join the ruling party’s own militia, who are systematically raped to cow them into submission and forced to carry out acts of violence against their own neighbours or face more brutality themselves.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe, reaching a new low.

Technorati Tags: Zimbabwe, rape, Mugabe, Movement+for+Democratic+Change, rape+as+political+weapon

It is actually sickening to some extent  to hear the likes of Gordon Brown comment on how the international community will not recognise the vote. Stop stating the obvious.

Although I am a Labour supporter.

You have powerful allies and immense power to do something about it.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday called for the suspension of Robert Mugabe from the African Union, until he allows a "free and fair" election. When will that be?

Other observers have pointed to a possible power sharing coalition which he himself is under as Prime Minister, with Mwai Kibaki as President.

Why should this happen? Morgan Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round and if the elections were fair he should have bern the President to begin the restoration of democracy and peace.

Power sharing talks are ridiculous and should not be encouraged. It is like the story of the two women in the Bible who dispute over the ownership of a baby.

Peace is stupidly restored in the eyes of the hierachy by cutting the baby in half. Even though, it may have been difficult in those times to find out the baby's true birth parents, allowing Mugabe to remain in the government spells trouble.

He should be forced to flee Zimbabwe and never return; or face being held accountable in a civil court for all he has done wrong.

He has also called for a deployment of troops in Zimbabwe.

It is very very clear that talking will make not even a iota of a difference.

Troops should have been deployed in the country after the first round of elections ended. When the results were delayed for so long and there was a recount, surely this should have been anticipated.

Despite the fact that Zimbabwe are a major source of trade, what people forget is that they are an LEDC.

It is not as if the world is dealing with a powerful Western country such as America or a powerful Eastern country like Russia.

Let's get even: Match Mugabe's violence with the world's violence towards him.

We have come to expect a certain bit of electoral wrangling from Presidents in countries which are relatively new democracies, and who have been in power for decades (28 years in Mugabe's case). Its hard for these people to let go of power after such a long grip- it's a kind of grasping, clinging to power that's especially pronounced in some politicians.

But I never would have expected the unbelievable violations which have occurred during this election in Zimbabwe, in which Mugabe's ZANU-PF faced off against Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change. I first noticed what was happening when the parliamentary elections were held, showing that the MDC had won control of parliament, and it appeared that Mugabe may even have lost the Presidency. It appeared at that time that the ZANU PF and the state machinery were delaying the election results, with fears that the results would be tampered with, and ultimately a peaceful transition of power overturned by election rigging.

As the MDC was vocal in insisting that the election results be released, also filing legal claims demanding that the results be released, the state began to harass the MDC. Finally, the results were released, showing that Tsvangirai had received 47% of the vote to Mugabe's 43%, requiring that a run-off election between the two candidates be held.

Since the declaration of the run-off Mugabe and his party seem to have decided on a strategy of escalating intimidation, violence and legal harassment to prevent the opposition MDC and Tsvangirai from being able to compete equally. I would imagine that it has moreover had the effect of making the people of Zimbabwe feel that they are once again going to be prevented from making a free and fair choice. A sense of resignation would set in among many people, that the "Big Men" will not actually allow them to vote as they wish, and that there is little hope for change. No doubt some of the most committed to the opposition would endure, but perhaps not enough to hand victory to Tsvangirai.

One of the things Mugabe is perhaps best known for is his forced takeover of commercial farms from white landowners, handing them over to war veterans. While it makes some sense to redistribute land, I think it's something which should be undertaken cautiously, in a way which respects the rights of all involved. South Africa also has a program to redistribute land from white landowners, but it has been far more restrained, and handled through legal processes. It has been criticized, however, for proceeding far too slowly.

In Zimbabwe's case, some commentators have alleged that Mugabe's motive in the land distributions was actually political, a kind of populist move to shore up support at a time when his popularity was declining. Not only was the forced takeover rather harsh in its treatment of the former landowners, but it happened so rapidly that there was virtually no transition, and no training for the new farmers, such that the economic output of the farms declined dramatically, with a ripple effect on the rest of the economy.

One of Mugabe's first moves after the announcement of the run-off election was to raise the specter of more forced land acquisitions. Again it appears like a calculated political move, rather than one with the true interests of Zimbabwe's people at heart.

A sampling of recent events in Zimbabwe:

-The wife of the mayor of Harare is abducted and killed

-The Secretary-General of the MDC is detained and charged with treason, a crime punishable by death, for claiming victory after the initial elections, and preparing a provisional plan of action should the MDC take power

-Tsvangirai is stopped by police and detained temporarily on several occasions

-The MDC claims that 66 people from their party have been killed during the campaign. BBC writes in a 12 June article that thousands have been beaten, and "many more driven from their homes"

-Aid agencies are suspended from doing work in the field, Mugabe tells aid workers not to meddle in politics, while the World Food Program estimates that 600,000 people in Zimbabwe need food aid

-The BBC claims to have attained a document proving that the military is coordinating ZANU PF's campaign, using food and the war veterans as tactics

-While the ZANU PF perpetrates an incredibly high level of violence, they accuse the MDC of being the ones committing acts of violence

-ZANU PF enjoys a monopoly on coverage on the state controlled media while BBC is banned and city dwellers are being told to take down their satellite dishes

-The MDC is prevented from campaigning at all in many areas, and its offices are raided

-ZESN election monitors have been beaten

A Channel 4 (UK) Newscast Showing Torture Camps in Zimbabwe- Truth or Propaganda?

In the most recent update, in the context of these unbelievably adverse consequences, Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the runoff election and has taken respite in the Dutch Embassy. Mugabe insists that the run-off election will be held with him as the only candidate.

Meanwhile, a wide range of diplomatic actions have been undertaken to try to influence Mugabe and ZANU PF to stop the violence. Many African leaders, often reticent about criticizing Mugabe who is still respected by some as an independence leader, have become more vocal in their criticism. Kofi Annan called for Mugabe to meet with Tsvangirai to discuss how to resolve the impasse. Forty African leaders have signed a letter urging and end to the violence and intimidation in the run- up to the election. Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister of Kenya has been critical of Mugabe, while the government of Botswana has formally registered its protest over the pre-election environment to the Zimbabwean government. Jacob Zuma, rivaling Thabo Mbeke in power in the ANC in South Africa, yesterday said that a free and fair election in Zimbabwe is impossible (see video below). SADC is meeting to discuss the crisis, with Zambia's Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been vocally critical of Mugabe. Of leaders in Africa that I am aware of, only Thabo Mbeke has been reserved in criticism, while Ghadafi of Libya has thrown full support behind Mugabe.

The British government has said that they will not recognize the legitimacy of Mugabe's government. Other Western countries have been critical and at first called for an end to the violence and intimidation, then recently for efforts to resolve the conflict through dialogue. The UN Security Council is to discuss the problem as well, but it is doubtful whether this will bear fruit as Russia and China may protect Zimbabwe's government from any UN action.

The fact, especially, that so much criticism of Mugabe and the ZANU PF has come from other African leaders is especially damning I think, since Mugabe cannot claim that they are motive by colonial or racist motives.

I am aware that there are many other issues about Zimbabwe not addressed here, such as the legacy of colonialism, race, conflict over economic policy and self- determination, the policies of the IMF, etc. This post was intended to cover the main points about the atmosphere of violence and intimidation in the run- up to the election. Hopefully, in a post tomorrow, I will discuss these interesting issues in more detail.

Mugabe's actions and the actions of the state structure which support him are utterly reprehensible. It absolutely fills me with a deep sense of disgust. These kind of tactics, verging on state terror, should be unacceptable in the modern age. Provided that the parties involved are not extremists in some form, the people of a country should be allowed to choose who they want to vote for in a fair campaign environment, no matter what the ideological position of the parties involved.

Kenyan TV Broadcast Showing Jacob Zuma's Comments

See my second post on Zimbabwe, which contains links to other blogs on Zimbabwe (click here)

Most Recent BBC Article on Zimbabwe: Africans Urge Zimbabwe Poll Delay

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The only campaign rally the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were officially allowed to hold was interrupted by Zanu-PF supporters who were allegedly bussed in on Zimbabwean military vehicles. Tsvangirai claims the MDC has been barred from entering rural areas and from using their own election observers. Despite having no opposition the run-off will take place as planned.

Many international governments as well as the UN security council have condemned the climate of violence that has taken over Zimbabwe. It's a pity that no one saw this coming or we could be seeing a very different Zimbabwe today. Nobody would have been able to predict back in 2000 Robert Mugabe would be a power hungry tyrant you would do anything to cling to power. Except that little incident of a rigged 2001 national election might have given a clue.

If the international community had reacted back then with condemnation and economic sanctions Mugabe might have been forced, at least, to adopt a government of national unity. If that had happened then perhaps the slow-motion plane crash that is the Zimbabwean economy would have been avoided. But there is no point in "what ifs now," what is important is that the global community acts in unity against Mugabe.

It should now be unarguably clear that Mugabe is a tyrant who will do anything to cling to power. He is no more the rightful ruler of Zimbabwe then I live in a giant chocolate factory with an army of Oompa Loompa's at my command. He should be condemned and the topic should move to how can he be deposed so that the people of Zimbabwe can once again have a say in their future.

The South African government, more specifically Thabo Mbeki, were given the task of aiding Zimbabwe's transformation into a democratic state. The results have been less then what was hoped. Mbeki continued to punt his quiet diplomacy tactic, much like trying to build a sand castle with a sieve, despite evidence that the man he supports is a brutal dictator. But he is just a man idling through the last few months of his term and watching a legacy come down in flames. And finally the SA government has been forced by circumstances to admit that their is a massive problem in Zimbabwe.

There is a refugee crisis going on in South Africa, we have refugees streaming in from many Southern African states. By far the largest refugee population comes from Zimbabwe. The policy followed has been on of capture and deportation. I believe this is a limited, negative and useless policy. All that happens is people try again and again to get into a relatively prosperous African country.

Its time to realise that the refugee problem is not going to go away and the current methods of dealing with it probably contributed to the rampant xenophobic violence that recently swept South Africa. I'm not saying that it is the only cause, but it definitely played a factor in the way foreign nationals are regarded in this country.

There is a difference between migrant labourers and refugees but my money is on an ever-increasing flow of refugees, particularly in light of further violence in Zimbabwe.

I think its time to stop trying to kick out the refugees. Rather open the gates, open proper refugee camps operated by the UN. Let's be able to properly document and process the people who can no longer live a free life in their own country. This is the only solution that makes sense. If South Africa is not going to help the people of Zimbabwe by trying to get rid of their power-mad ruler; can't we at least offer them some measure of sanctuary.

Who does he think he is, I wonder, that he may dare to invoke such evil in the sole name of himself? He wants to be feared, but in actuality, he is the one who possesses the fear. He'll destroy a life without a second thought, but he is so afraid of losing his power that he has to resort to sheer violence, as he has lost the respect and support of his fellow countrymen. The man is in his eighties - he'll be dead in a decade if not sooner. How on earth is any of this worth it as far as he is concerned?

I also wonder what is going on in the minds of those who carry out the torture. Don't they have families they care about? Can't they look the trembling pregnant woman they're about to beat with an iron bar in the eye and feel even a slight pang of guilt? And what is in it for them anyway? Safety and survival, I presume. Such animals. Doing whatever it takes to make it through another day, they are. But I wonder if these young men have grasped the bigger picture. Zimbabwe in ten or twenty years has the potential to be a very different country than it is today, and they could play a crucial role in facilitating that change, if they were just opened up to the idea.

An interesting letter on the Guardian website by Robin Gill claims that this terror is about more than merely winning an election. Rightly so, Gill points out that it would be simple enough to rig the vote count with the amount of manpower Mugabe possesses, but that rather he seems intent to declare his message of violence to the rest of the world so that they, too, might fear him.

It is true that there is little hope for the future of Zimbabwe without help from the outside world. What will it take for us to do something significant? And who could orchestrate such a feat? I hope the answers to those questions can be found sooner rather than later.

Photo World Economic Forum (Eric Miller)

African politicians met at the 2008 World Economic Forum on Africa, where they discussed a variety of issues, including the current situation in Zimbabwe.

Simba Makoni, a former finance minister in Zimbabwe, said the chance of a free election in Zimbabwe was low: “Conditions have been created in the country as a whole, but particularly in the rural areas, where there is no prospect of any semblance of a free and fair election.”

The Secretary General of the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change, also criticized the upcoming elections, saying that they were “merely legitimizing the kleptocracy.”

He continued his speech to the forum. "The regime is increasing the decibels of insanity. At every level it is telling the international community in a loud and clear voice that it is not prepared to play by the rules, it is not prepared to listen to logic, and most importantly it is not prepared to listen to democracy and the voice of its people.”

Zanu PF militants wearing army uniforms petrol bombed an MDC office at Jerera growth point in Masvingo killing 3 officials on Tuesday.

A statement from the MDC said a truckload of militants arrived at the party offices at midnight and fired shots into the building. The attackers later petrol bombed the building that was also housing victims of political violence in the area. At least 4 activists are missing and presumed dead while another 2 suffered critical injuries and are detained at St Anthony's Musiso Hospital. The charred remains of 3 bodies lay on the floor in the burnt out MDC offices and all had bullet wounds.

Tonderai Ndira kidnapped, tortured & murdered in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean: In 2002 he told BBC’s Panorama: “We are prepared to die. It is just the same, we are still dying in Zimbabwe. We are dying by hunger, by diseases, everything, so there is nothing to fear, nothing to [be] scared [of].”On the morning of May 14, they came. Around nine armed men in [...]

This very distressing information alert from Advocacy & Community Organizing Centre for Community Development In Zimbabwe (CCDZ), via SW Radio Africa:

We can’t believe that the youthful, soft-spoken,humble, truthful, dreadlocked Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activist, Tonderai Ndira is no more. Today we give this eulogy for a courageous men who stood against evil. Tonderai Ndira was abducted last week at his Mabvuku home by members of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).

We have just received the news that Tonderai’s body was found near Parirenyatwa Hospital with the lips and tounge cut off. Tonderai was a community mobilizer, a leader and someone who always stepped in to help people either as an associate of the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ).

Ndira was a selfless human rights defender who assisted many people and organizations run their advocacy campaigns for a better Zimbabwe. The forces of evil responsible for murder, abduction and torture of opposition activists shall be

The Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) urges all MDC activists and members of civic groups like Crisis Coalition, National Constitutional Assembly, Combined Harare Residents Association, Zimbabwe Elections Support Network, Youth Forum, Zimbabwe National Students Union, Women of Zimbabwe Arise, Zimrights, International Socialist Organization, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Restoration of Human Rights and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum to be on the lookout out against the forces of evil.

We have it on good record that the Central Intelligence Organization would like to wipe out leaders of the above mentioned organizations before the presidential run-off scheduled for the 27th June, 2008. We urge all the political leaders to take precautionary measures and avoid isolated places where they can be easily ambushed by the notorios CIOs.

We urge prominent lawyers in Harare and Bulawayo who have handled MDC cases and the journalists who have provided coverage to the MDC to exercise extreme caution in the face of these assasinations and abductions.

We salute You Tonderai Ndira, you are Our Hero. Our message is that the tree of Liberty that has been watered by your blood, shall forever grow. Rest in Peace. We shall continue to fly high the flag of liberty that you left behind.

Advocacy & Community Organizing Centre for Community Development In Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
+263912962381

The Zimbabwe crisis has finally made it to the United Nations Security Council. [we never knew it was working it's way there]They are to be briefed on Tuesday by the MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti

a nation's internal elections is matters for the security council now?
look at bug whitey rock

afrol News, 25 April - Six members of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change have reportedly been shot dead by the loyalists of the ruling Zanu-PF of President Robert Mugabe.
Four MDC members have been killed in Guruve, seven shot in Rusape, and one of them on his way to the hospital.
One MDC activist in Hurungwe North, Tapiwa Mubwanda was reportedly killed by Jawet Kazangarare and Private Peter Madamombe, a militia of the Zanu-PF and soldier of Zimbabwe National Army, respectively.

Hundreds of people, including children, have fled to Harare from rural areas, seeking medical attention after the ZANU-PF government launched "Operation Mavhoterapapi" (Who did you vote for?) in the wake of their parliamentary election defeat and an anticipated second round of voting in the presidential ballot.

A pamphlet is being distributed today purporting to come from the Movement for Democratic Change and advocating violence against members of Zanu PF and the destruction of their property and businesses.
The MDC has never advocated violence in any form. We disassociate ourselves from the content and purpose of these pamphlets and call on our members and supporters to continue to observe our peaceful non-violent means of democratic resistance to the illegal regime led by Robert Mugabe.
Our call for a national "stay at home" campaign was precisely for this purpose; to provide ordinary Zimbabweans with a chance to show their displeasure at the refusal of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release the results of the recently held elections that were clearly won outright by the MDC.

It is the view of the MDC that these pamphlets are a crude attempt to incite the people to commit acts of violence and thereby justify the present violent clamp down on all MDC structures around Zimbabwe and against MDC supporters. It will also be used to justify a state of emergency and this can only further heighten tensions and exacerbate the existing crisis in the country.
The MDC urges all its members to ignore this call to violence and to recognise that this is a just another attempt to force an escalation of the tensions and chaos in the country.

Nelson Chamisa
Secretary for Information and Publicity.

Tapiwa Mbwada, an MDC organising secretary for Hurungwe East in Karoi, was beaten to death on Saturday night. His wife and brother were badly beaten and are in a serious condition. A local Zanu-PF councillor from Kazangarare named as Jawet, and an ex-soldier identified as Madamombe, have been named as the culprits.
A teacher in Mudzi in Mashonaland East, was murdered and 8 women from the same area were abducted.

BBC: Deal 'close' for Mugabe to leave -- The outline of a deal has almost been reached for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down, opposition sources have told the BBC.

BBC: Zimbabwe run-off poll predicted -- Zimbabwe could be heading for a presidential run-off within three weeks, according to the state-owned Herald newspaper.

In one of my previous posts, I wrote how I admired Mr. Mugabe for his refusal to sell out to the West and taking back the lands that the colonial invaders took from the people of Zimbabwe through massacre. I also noted in that piece that he is a dictator but what I agreed with him was bigger (at least philosophically) than what I disagreed with him - especially his insatiable appetite for power even as he is looking at death right in the eyes. The guy is 84 and still wants to be president. You get the picture. Moving on...

Now, Mugabe's opponents for tomorrow's elections are Simba Makoni, his former finance minister, and Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader of the Movement for Democratic Change. Both competitors are definitely better option than Mr. Mugabe's increasingly totalitarian rule. However, I don't find Mr. Tsvangirai trustworthy due to his "intimate" relationship with the British. So that leaves only one person: Mr. Makoni. Ladies and gentlemen, the East African Philosopher is officially endorsing Simba Makoni for the presidency of Zimbabwe. He is clean and independent. He is running on a platform of fixing the Zimbabwean economy, which used to be one of the best economies in Africa, if not the best.

Also, Simba (meaning 'lion' in Swahili, by the way) is a highly respected man who left Mr. Mugabe's administration because he did not want to serve as Mugabe's yes-man on his increasingly crazy economic reforms, as well as his authoritarian rule. Although he could've joined the MDC and run on their ticket, he chose to stay independent and run as independent. Perhaps Mugabe will once again manage to rig the election to stay in power but at least this time Zimbabweans will get a good option to voice their frustrations and despair against Robert Mugabe by voting for Simba Makoni.

Background: Equal Opportunity In Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai-Lead Opposition Dissolves Women’s Assembly

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