Zanu chefs’ kids deported

‘s cronies sent home from their cosy nests in western capitals.
The wires burned as Zimbabweans around the globe responded to the challenge to identify the whereabouts of these offspring. A brisk exchange of views ensued about whether the children should be punished for the sins of their fathers. But the evidence of the destruction of the education system by the ruling elite, and the consequent condemnation of millions of young Zimbabweans to a life of ignorance and poverty, has triumphed.
The Australian government has been the first to respond to the call. In a clear demonstration that the will of the people must prevail, Prime Minister John Howard last week deported eight children of top Zimbabwean officials who had been studying in Australia.
The move sent shock waves through ruling party circles, now terrified that other Western countries will follow suit.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the suspension of student visas, was an extension of the targeted sanctions against the ruling party, provoked by the Mugabe regime’s ongoing trampling of democratic principles and human rights.
Last week Howard called Mugabe an “undemocratic bully” while briefing the media on talks with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and Rural Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa were reported by the US-based Voice of the People radio station to have travelled to Johannesburg to pick up the young deportees – Sylvester Chihuri and Emmerson junior.
Australian sources told VOP that the deportees included the three children of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, and offspring of Economic Planning Minister Sylvester Nguni, Science and Technology Minister Olivia Muchena, Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo, and Harare Provincial Governor David Karmanzira.
Ironically, the young deportees were sent home on the same plane that carried Tsvangirai back to Zimbabwe after his highly successful visit.
In a clear sign that they are aware of the disastrous effects of their own policies, ruling party officials rarely even send their children to government primary and secondary schools – preferring the private school option – let alone tertiary institutions such as UZ. Furthermore, in direct contradiction of government’s much touted Look-East policy, they send their children only to institutions in the west, never to China, Malaysia or Russia.
In a characteristic backlash, fortunately rendered ineffective by the power and scope of cyberspace, the government recently black-listed 41 websites run by Zimbabweans in exile – including ZimDaily, SW Radio Africa and The Zimbabwean.