MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
WEEKLY BRIEFING NOTE
19 August 2002
For Further Information, Please Contact:
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"Zimbabwe is currently reeling under the effects of Mugabe's dictatorship with millions facing certain death from disease, starvation and state-sponsored violence and yet Mugabe's message to the nation was a promissory note for more misery and death," said MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai following Mugabe’s Heroes Day Speech (12 August 2002)
"..The MDC has never developed a position or policy that advocates armed intervention. The position of the MDC is that the crisis in Zimbabwe requires a political solution by Zimbabweans themselves and not armed intervention from the UN or any other party for that matter", said MDC Secretary General Welshman Ncube in response to comments attributed to MDC MP Roy Bennet in The Times (UK) newspaper. (14 August 2002)
"The priority now should be to impose a series of constructive measures aimed at tackling the food crisis. Land reform is important, but it is secondary to feeding the country…Contrary to the views of our detractors, the MDC's criticism of the decision to evict over two-thirds of white farmers does not mean that we are opposed to land reform. Indeed, the party has consistently stated that we fully support Mugabe on the principle of land reform, however, as a party committed to the rule of law we cannot support the illegal and violent tactics used by the Mugabe regime to achieve land reform objectives," said MDC Shadow Agriculture Minister, Renson Gasela, in response to the eviction of white farmers. (8 August 2002)
Food Crisis
Over 300,000 farm workers and their families who have been left homeless as a direct result of Mugabe’s irresponsible land reform policies face starvation unless food aid is provided as a matter of urgency.
An article published in the Daily News on 13 August alleged that the Mugabe regime was starving more than 100 households in Mhondoro (Mashonaland West) on suspicion that they support the MDC. Mhondoro and Kadoma Central were the only constituencies in Mashonaland West, Mugabe’s heartland, that returned MDC MPs in the June 2000 parliamentary elections.
Bread prices have shot up between $75 and $100 on the black market in Bulawayo as the shortages of the essential basic commodity continue to worsen.
Plans to import 500,000 tonnes of white maize are becoming increasingly remote due to logistical problems and the scarcity of the commodity in South America.
International
EU
The EU has unveiled a £23m emergency food package for Zimbabwe. Commenting on the decision to substantially increase the level of humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe, a spokesperson for the European Commission said "Zimbabwe’s food shortages are due to a combination of an unresolved political and economic crisis, resulting in sharp economic decline, compounded by the undermining of commercial agriculture by the fast track land reform and the drought which has affected southern africa more widely."
New Zealand
Helen Clark, the New Zealand Prime Minister, has called for tighter sanctions against Zimbabwe and its expulsion from the Commonwealth.
Australia
Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, has said that tougher action needs to be taken against the Mugabe regime in response to the regime’s continued campaign of retribution against opposition supporters and its refusal to restore the rule of law.
Pacific
Leaders of the Pacific Island Forum, meeting in Fiji, have called for strong action to be taken against Mugabe if he fails to restore the rule of law.
Libya
According to industry sources, Tamoil, the Libyan state-owned oil company is faced with bankruptcy over its dealings with Zimbabwe. Libya currently supplies 70% of Zimbabwe’s oil. It is alleged that Mugabe has handed over the deeds of Zimbabwe House in London to Gadaffi as a surety for the oil supply.
Asia/Middle East
A stagnant and fast deteriorating economy and increasing pariah status within the international community have encouraged Mugabe to seek out new friends in Asia and the Middle East. Mugabe recently visited Malaysia in an attempt to procure material support for his failing regime and last week dispatched three of his leading sycophants to Iran. Stan Mudenge, the Foreign Minister, who was part of the delegation sent to Iran informed local press that Zimbabwe plans to open new diplomatic missions in the Middle East, starting with an office in Tehran next month.
Political Violence/Intimidation
MDC Youth Leader Arrested
Nelson Chamisa, the MDC Youth Chairman, has been arrested and charged with treason by police under the draconian Public Order and Security Act. Police have charged Chamisa on the spurious grounds that he "had private meetings where subversive material was discussed".
MDC Official Escapes From Captors
Fanuel Marange, the MDC’s district co-ordinator for Mutare South, who was abducted by a group of Zanu PF youths, escaped from his captors after six days of torture.
Journalists Take Moyo to Court
The Independent Journalists Association of Zimbabwe is to take Information Minister Jonathan Moyo to court on the grounds that certain clauses contained in the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act violate Section 20 of the constitution. The clauses in question compel journalists to be registered with a media commission and to pay registration fees.
Amnesty International Condemns Violence of Mugabe Regime
In a press release issued last week, Amnesty International condemned the violent tactics being used by Zanu PF ahead of the local council elections in September. AI said it was deeply concerned that the police and the Zanu youth militia were engaged in sinister activities aimed at frightening MDC supporters away for polling stations.
The same press release also focused on the disgraceful treatment of MDC MP Fletcher Dulini at the hands of the Zimbabwe authorities. AI said that the treatment of Dulini was incompatible with Zimbabwe’s international obligations under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
Political Violence: Cumulative Totals 1 Jan 02 – 31 July 02
Murder – 59
Unlawful Detention – 170
Torture – 1046
Abduction/Kidnapping – 220
Political Intimidation – 294
Arson/Malicious Injury to Property - 786
Zanu PF Steps Up Violent Campaign
In a desperate attempt to recapture ground lost to the MDC, especially in urban areas, Zanu PF have embarked upon a violent campaign against suspected MDC supporters ahead of the local council elections in September. In Buhera (Manicaland), the home town of MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwe Human rights NGO Forum have recorded a disturbing increase in attacks on MDC supporters in recent weeks. Below are just afew recorded examples of Zanu PF violence in Buhera:
A group of Zanu PF supporters, support unit police officers and Zanu PF militia attackd GM for not attending Zanu PF meetings and being an MDC supporter. The victim’s wife was also assaulted.
TC (MDC women’s league chairperson) was attacked by 7 masked people whilst at home.
WP was arrested and taken to Buhera Police Station where he was assaulted by police officers
EM could not buy maize from the Grain Marketing Board because he was an MDC supporter.
LV is an MDC Vice Chairperson who was assaulted in police cells
MDC activist, Cosamu Mudzimuirema, was assaulted by members of the riot police and died as a result of his injuries.
General News
Fuel Crisis
Zimbabwe’s fuel crisis could worsen in the next few weeks as British Petroleum’s Mozambique arm is refusing to allow an oil tanker with fuel for Zimbabwe to off load its cargo because it is owed more than US$3 million by the state-run National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM).
WHO Meeting
Health Ministers from ten southern African countries and senior officials of the World Health Organization meet from 26 - 28 August in Harare to examine the response of the health sector to the acute and large-scale humanitarian crisis facing the region.
Farmers Evicted
Farmers who have received Section 8 notices and who have ignored the August 8 deadline to leave their farms have received threats from the ruling authorities that they face arrest if they continue to obstruct the plans of the incumbent regime. To prove that their threats are not simply idle rhetoric, the ruling authorities have instructed police to start arresting intransigent farmers; over 140 were arrested over the course of the weekend.
ZBC Facing Financial Ruin
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, an integral part of the Zanu PF propaganda machine, faces financial ruin as a result of accumulating debts of upwards of $Zim655m.
Comment
Whilst attempts by the Mugabe regime to deprive suspected MDC supporters of vital food aid are increasingly documented by local and international civil society groups and brought to the world’s attention by the international media, the issue of state sponsored political violence is being somewhat overlooked.
Depriving suspected MDC supporters of food aid and using state security forces and the Zanu youth militia to perpetrate violence against innocent civilians form one of the central tenets of Mugabe’s campaign of retribution against the MDC and its national structures in the aftermath of the Presidential election.
As we approach the local council elections, scheduled to be held in September, the level of state sponsored political violence shows no signs of abating, in fact it is on the increase. In Manicaland in particular, MDC structures and supporters appear to be under systematic assault from the Zanu youth militia. Assaults, beatings and arbitrary arrest are almost commonplace, and set the pattern for a course of events that is likely to be repeated across the county in the next few weeks.
In these circumstances, the likelihood of the local council elections being free and fair are looking increasingly remote. The MDC is unable to campaign in large parts of the country and is still denied access to the voters roll, a fundamental requirement in any democratic and free and fair election process.
Zanu PF’s refusal to adhere to internationally accepted democratic norms is an indirect acknowledgment of its deep unpopularity in Zimbabwe. It is unable and unwilling to risk subjecting itself to a free and fair vote. Zanu’s desperate campaign to regain lost ground to the MDC, especially in urban areas, and their insatiable desire for propaganda, increases the likelihood of a free and fair ballot being subverted.
A failure by the Zimbabwe authorities to conduct and ensure a free and fair poll that adheres to agreed SADC norms and standards for a free and fair election, would deserve widespread condemnation and censure from the international community, in particular SADC countries.
END
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