Hi!
Something else about Zimbabwe.
There seems to be great frustration - and rightly so.
Harry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Godfrey Dunkley Tel/Fax: (021) 788 - 6015 Email : <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear . . . . . . .
On Friday evening Eddie Cross presented an update of conditions in Zimbabwe and things are getting rapidly worse. In spite of this our RSA government continues with their quiet diplomacy of doing nothing and insisting that things are not bad and are getting better. Absolute lies!
The question comes to mind: "What hold does Mugabe have over Mbeki?" What is Mbeki afraid of?
We know that Mugabe is afraid of loosing control because he could then be had up for human rights abuse over the last twenty years. He started by having his Fifty Brigade kill and maim hundreds of thousands of the opposition. I know this for a fact.
During Mugabe's recent visit to Paris, his wife spent PDS 75 000 in three hours (Approx. US$100 000) whilst half the nation is starving.
At last Pres. Bush has taken a firm stand against Mugabe and his henchmen. What can be done to encourage the rest of the world to follow suite in spite of the support that Zim was given in Malasia.
Specifically, Alanna, can you make use of the work and contacts you have developed against war in Iraq to insist on taking Mugabe before the International Court for human rights violation?
Comments from all of you would be appreciated. What can be done to stop the chaos? How does a totally destroyed nation rebuild? Their national debt is 150% of their GDP and the infrastructure has fallen apart through neglect and lack of funds.
Backing up the messages that we have been receiving from Eddie Cross there is the message below from Cathy Buckles, a new source, that you should find interesting.
Regards,
Godfrey.
----- Original Message ----- From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>A message form Africa To: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 10:41 AM
Subject: Cathy Buckles from Zimbabwe
Good day Godfrey,
It was our pleasure to meet you at Eddie's talk last night. Thank you also for the gift of your book. I'm afraid that Marilyn has hijacked it so I'm going to have to wait until she has read it. Many thanks.
I have communicated with Cathy Buckle earlier this morning requesting that she adds you to her weekly. However, I thought I would send you a copy of this week (just arrived). It is below this email.
Best regards Chris & Marilyn Tel 021-6717821
Cathy's letter:
Dear Family and Friends,
A month ago two of the most important African Presidents said that they would not support a renewal of Zimbabwe's suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth. Nigerian President Obasanjo and South African President Mbeki said they had been reassured by the Zimbabwean government that the land seizures were over. They were also told that all white farmers who had been thrown off their land would be given another farm in a policy of one farmer, one farm.
They were lied to because in the last 10 days thirteen farms have been listed for state seizure and 24 others in Karoi have been served with 90 day eviction notices and none of us have been given back a farm on which to grow food for our starving country. The African Presidents also said that they were satisfied with assurances from our government that public repression would stop.
Again they were lied to because since their visit 280 people have been arrested under the Public Order and Security Act. This number includes 73 women on a peace march; 19 priests and clergymen on a freedom of worship march; 1 human rights lawyer, 1 Bishop and 1 American diplomat. It also includes a well known civic rights leader who was assaulted whilst in police custody and 26 opposition MDC supporters whose vehicle was stopped as it drove past State House. The 26 were taken into the grounds of State House, detained and physically assaulted for wearing MDC T shirts. Another 70 MDC supporters were dragged out of their homes by police in the early hours of the morning after having attended an MDC rally.
Africa's two most important and influential leaders were not the only ones who were taken in by lies. The International Cricket Council said they were satisfied with reassurances by Zimbabwean police that cricket fans would be allowed to demonstrate peacefully at world cup matches here. In fact, 41 were arrested for demonstrating after the match against Holland, 28 after the game with Pakistan and 5 after the game against Australia. In a number of cases those arrested were held for as long as 4 days without being allowed bail and many were assaulted, kicked and whipped whilst in police custody.
People carrying newspapers not written and owned by the State were not allowed to take them in to the grounds and one man was detained and interrogated because he wore a black armband. All queues, whether for food or fuel, were banned on roads leading to cricket grounds and people went hungrier than before. There was nothing at all peaceful about the world cup cricket matches that were held in Zimbabwe and frankly we are glad it's over.
Contrary to all the arguments that the cricket matches would highlight our plight, in fact they exacerbated it. Not once did we see film footage of protesters or even close up shots of our two brave players who wore black armbands. All the world saw were ridiculously romantic pictures of lions and elephants and Victoria Falls during the game breaks and not people queuing for fuel, lining up for bread, waiting for world food aid or being arrested and bundled into police cars for carrying banners calling for democracy.
The oppression of all Zimbabweans, men and women, black and white, priests, professionals and peasants has increased dramatically recently. Arrests, unlawful detentions and assaults in police custody are now everyday occurrences and there are 9 pages carrying public statements by human rights and civic groups in this weeks Independent newspaper.
Zimbabwe's all powerful police found themselves unusually impotent when the remnants of Cyclone Japhat hit us this week. The worst storm in Marondera deposited 40 mms (1.5 inches) of rain in just half an hour and 3 days later nothing whatsoever has been done to repair the damage inflicted by the wrath of God. Storm drains uncleared for over a year still spew rivers across the streets. Pot holes have become craters; suburban tar roads have become slippery tracks with as little as 18inches of width still in tact.
Cemeteries are flooded, graves and headstones have subsided into mud and dirt roads have become slippery accidents waiting to happen. Nothing is being done because the councils have no money. They have no money because their biggest source of revenue came from the commercial farmers, 85% of whom have been evicted by the State.
Things are falling apart very rapidly in Zimbabwe. This week the National railways announced the suspension of trains between the country's two main cities, Harare and Bulawayo, because of damage to the line. The damage was not caused by Cyclone Japhat but by illegal gold panners who have been left unchecked for months.
They have now dug their trenches for gold right under the main rail line and it is no longer safe. No one knows yet how the goods carried by the daily train will now reach Bulawayo - petrol, diesel and food. People are hungry and angry, infrastructure is collapsing and still our own African neighbours will not condemn our governance. There are none so blind as those that will not see. Until next week, with love cathy. Copyright cathy buckle, 8th March 2003.
Both of my books, "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears" are available from <http://www.exclusivebooks.com>www.exclusivebooks.com and <http://www.kalahari.net>www.kalahari.net
****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
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