Notwithstanding his loss, Mr Robert Mugabe is clinging on to office against the will of the people. For what good reason did Zimbabweans waste their precious time on the 29th of March 2008, if Mugabe would seek to subvert the will of the electorate by failing to respect it?
To Mr Robert Mugabe, the former President of Zimbabwe, I say: “Please, Sir, your time is up. Leave the office of the president to the winner, and that is Morgan Tsvangirai, or you will be very sorry in the not-so-distant future”.
This is my piece of advice, which you will do well to heed. The people of Zimbabwe have had enough of your ruinous policies and track record.
FRANCIS MOYO, Johannesburg
Letter to Thabo Mbeki…
I am writing this letter on behalf of all Zimbabweans living in South Africa, particularly in Pretoria where I am the District Chairman of the MDC, which won the elections in Zimbabwe and is still waiting for the keys to the State House.
Your excellency, you know very well that we are not comfortable here in your country where we live by God’s grace because of the treatment you allow your countrymen to give us. Our people are robbed, killed, despised every day by your people and you have said or done nothing to bring the situation to normality.
Our hope was in the removal of the trouble-maker R.G. Mugabe through constitutional means, but as the dictator said before the elections, he and his band will never accept an opposition win. They would rather play a coup. They have done it by denying the rightful government to take over.
But what worries me is you stopping any UN intervention in Zimbabwe whilst Zimbabweans are suffering at home and in your country under Mugabe and your people and your government, which has given less than one per cent of Zimbabwean asylum-seekers proper documentation. May I exclude a few South Africans who are trying their level best to support us and feel for us from among your people.
We kindly ask for your sincere protection from Mugabe as well as your people. I don’t think arresting and sending us back to face what we ran away from is protecting us. I don’t think allowing your people to treat us with contempt is either.
You better give us guns if you want us to face Mugabe or restrain your people if you
We do not need gumbagumbas, but your protection and your support, Sir.
LOVEMORE CHIKANDIWA, MDC Pretoria District Chairman
…and a letter to all southern Africa’s presidents
Dear Presidents Ian Khama, Dos Santos, Mwanawasa, Kikwete, King Mswati, Pohamba, Thabo Mbeki, Jugnauth, Ravalomanana and Kabila. This is a letter from a son of the soil. I appeal to your inner souls and voices of reason as you tackle the cancerous Zimbabwe issue.
As much as Robert Mugabe was a hero for Zimbabwe and for the region, his time is up. No matter how brilliant, how energetic one may be, 28 years in power is simply too long. Think of your countries, how many presidents or leaders have taken office and stepped down between 1980 and 2008? Just a few examples in case you cannot remember, Botswana has had more than three, Honorable Masire, Mogae and now Khama. South Africa, young as its independence is, has had two, and if Mugabe sticks longer he will rule to see the third president Jacob Zuma. Mozambique emerged from war to see two respected presidents exchange power, Tanzania changed hands from Nyerere, Mkapa now to Kikwete.
As you think of these simple case studies of stepping down peacefully and democratically, ask yourselves why Robert Mugabe cannot dare step down. Is it for the love of the people of Zimbabwe that he cannot imagine any other leader taking the reins while he is alive? Is it truly in defence of the country from colonisers and why only him and no other young leader even in Zanu (PF)?
Is it not a stumbling block to the country’s healing and forward movement? Why does Mugabe never talk about succession? Can Zimbabwe afford the cost of Mugabe hanging around any longer? Can the region sustain the cost of a prolonged crisis in Zimbabwe?
Remember, as soon as you endorse Mugabe’s actions in this past election, millions more Zimbabweans will be at your doorsteps. Those who decided to stay behind will simply pack and come to your countries, legally and extra legally.
I humbly appeal to you to think about the following people in Zimbabwe: Mothers who are turned away from hospitals because there is no medicine or vaccine to save their children’s lives; innocent children who are going to school only to spend the day playing, as there are no teachers (Most of the teachers are now in your countries). Young, educated, honest, hard-working but unemployed Zimbabweans who roam your streets in search of menial jobs. Rural and urban people who despite all the propaganda turned out in their millions to vote for change but never got to know of the most important result – the presidential election results. Pained and traumatised Zimbabweans who spent sleepless nights listening to their radios, TV and other forms of media in hope for a true, unrigged presidential result from their vote. The pain suffered by those many villagers who are at the mercy of Zanu (PF) militia and war veterans. The once beautiful country that has little left to admire.
If you think of these issues, I humbly ask for three things from you on in my capacity as a citizen, a native of SADC and by extension your subject: Think rationally; do not be blinded by the propaganda Mugabe will present. Disabuse yourselves from the idea that Mugabe is genuinely in love with Zimbabwe; his actions after the elections aptly demonstrate that he is at the service of a few in the military and in his party who want to continue to plunder the country.
Zimbabweans are not blind enough to elect a puppet government. Their voices should be allowed to stand. Election results of the presidential race should be announced unaltered. Let courts decide how or what to amend, not an interested player, Zanu (PF).
Engage Mugabe and Tsvangirai to ensure that a second round of voting takes place in 21 days as the law stipulates. Condemn acts of intimidation to those who stood for democracy by serving as polling agents for Zanu (PF), opposing and all parties and mostly those who took roles as election officers. They are being harassed for no apparent reason. Courts should be the ones to charge them and it is not for Zanu (PF) to mete instant justice.
You will forever be remembered and honoured by SADC citizens for standing up to your roles in a principled way if you take heed of the four issues raised above. Remember, the tone of your message to Mugabe is going to determine whether you achieve anything or remain the lame ducks you have been accused of being when it comes to Zimbabwe. Do not talk just about the way elections were conducted, talk about the way the result was announced or not announced. Talk about the mature way ordinary Zimbabweans have been abused by not getting the results of elections they peacefully and graciously participated in. Talk about how Zimbabwe’s issue can be resolved once and for all. Talk about the need to get SADC to double its election observer teams should a second round be decided. Talk about the need for the observer teams to be headed by a retired SADC president. Talk about the need for the
SADC observer teams to arrive in Harare a day after the date for the second round in announced and depart two weeks after results have been announced.
A unity government between MDC and Zanu (PF) is an option, but without Mugabe.
He should get a new role that befits an 84-year-old elder statesman. Decide what it can be.
This is candid advice and a humble appeal from a son of the soil. In love of Africa and Southern Africa. Another Zimbabwe is possible.
MUTIRO, by email
It goes without saying: Mugabe has lost
EDITOR – Can somebody tell us why election results in Zimbabwe have not been made known to voters? Why are they being held? Why at the least is a reason not being given out as to what holds it back?
Could it be that Zanu (PF) gave instructions that if MDC had won, results should not be made known? Or could it be that so far not all the votes have been counted? Are they still counting? What’s wrong? If there is not outright winner, then why don’t they tell the voters that you will have to vote again.
Something must be said. Why this deafening silence?
My conclusion, it goes without saying: Mugabe has lost!
ANON, by email
Cum tacent, clamant
EDITOR – The ancient Romans would have described the present post-election silence very succinctly: Cum tacent, clamant. By keeping silent they shout.
LUDWIG REAL, by email
Let us pray every day at noon
EDITOR – Let us one and all Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora PRAY, 2 Chronicles 20:12, for Zimbabwe every twelve noon. Let us use the prayer of King Jehoshaphat for Zimbabwe: “O our God, we are helpless, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are fixed on you”. Let us read, memorise , meditate and pray this prayer every day at 12 noon for a few seconds, for the month of April. Each of us should tell people by of word of mouth and the electronic media until the whole nation of Zimbabwe knows and kneels in prayer to God.
To get the whole story and the results of the prayer, read the whole of 2 Chronicles chapter 20.
Thank you Zimbabwe for joining me in prayer for our blessed lovely nation.
“Mwari wedu, tapererwa asi meso edu akangotarisa kwamuri”
“O Nkulunkulu wethu sesiphelelwe, kodwa amehlo ethu akengele kwakho.”
ANON, by email
Join world in jamming Zanu’s communications
EDITOR – There is a very serious effort now taking place to force Zanu (PF) and Mugabe to rightfully concede defeat and give us our country back.
A phone campaign started on Monday evening on Newzimbabwe.com has swept across the globe and Zimbabweans abroad are taking action by phoning top Zanu (PF) people, government departments and others associated with refusal to hand over power to the people. Due to the presence of Zimbabweans across all time zones in the world, we have managed to disrupt Zanu activities and spark the fear of people power deep in their hearts. They have not been able to sleep and are very confused as we speak. We have effectively jammed their lines of communications!
They took away our diaspora vote but they cannot silence our voices.
Please do your bit and call today and tell them we want the presidential results out; we want Mugabe out of office, and we want our country back.
If you wish to hide your number, use phone cards, dial 141 first if in the UK, *67 in Canada, etc. Do not be afraid to call. There are literally thousands doing so right now. If you get a busy tone, congratulate yourself because someone else has got through.
Please pass this on to everyone you know abroad and let’s show them how much we want our country back.
MISTY, by email
People want to return and help rebuild
EDITOR – My good lady and I had the foresight to take the gap in 1990. For me, the writing was on the wall. The day we left I cried, my tears for not only what we were leaving behind but also for the friends we had whom could not leave.
I was astounded when my wife turned to me ten days ago and said that she would love to return and help rebuild the country if Mugabe was to stand down. I had thought of returning many times but it was illogical to return to a country in such obvious trouble where one family could not make an iota of difference.
There must be thousands of Zimbos, black, coloured and white, who would return and endure enormous hardships if we were to return and help re-build much as East Germany was rebuilt by returning ‘Westerners’ when the wall came down.
Now we are in limbo. Were we living in cloud-cuckooland when the parliamentary results were announced? Did we really expect the former president to step down and grow old gracefully in Libya or China?
Incidentally friends, what has happened to Edgar Tekere? Have I missed some news along the way? I always thought Tekere would be a likely candidate to outgun Bob! I hated Tekere when I saw him on Brit TV before 1980 thinking him a vitriolic, unstable man. Then, when he was accused of murder in the early ’80s, I detested him. Having seen him on TV many times since I thought he had mellowed enough to become a well-respected elder statesman of Zimbabwe. A former freedom fighter that had taken reconciliation by the horns and turned the bull.
I once thought the same of Big Josh. I met him once in a little dorp when I was a sales tech for Chloride. We got to chatting one evening after dinner, somewhere like Kwe-Kwe or Kadoma. I found him to be an articulate man, very pleasant company and thought he would have led a government of national unity much more progressively than our present president.
ANON, by email
Start an agricultural revolution
Mugabe should have been charged a long time ago at the international court. He gad more than 20,000 Matabeles killed. What are you waiting for?
Hopefully the new government will bring back white knowledgeable farmers. Do a deal with them. Their farms are large. Select black farmers and allocate unused land to them; the white farmer to be responsible for their training and advice. Give the whitey a fair share of the profit. Go to the rich countries for financial support for implements, fertiliser and seed. Start an agricultural revolution and make Zimbabwe the breadbasket it was.
As a 76-year-old , all I can do is pray for Zim’s recovery.
UNCLE JOSEF, by email
Mbeki: hard at work losing credibility
EDITOR – Speaking in London soon after the Zimbabwe elections, Mbeki said: “I must say that we have been very pleased with the manner in which the elections have gone. For the first time, the opposition parties had access to everywhere in the country, including the urban areas.”
What he accidentally acknowledged was the fact that the past elections, in which the opposition MDC had been denied access to rural areas and some urban areas, were not free and fair, yet he had endorsed them as the opposite of their true nature.
Mbeki has even gone a mile further as he has attempted to legitimise the Zimbabwean regime internationally. It was on Mbeki’s watch, after all, that the Mugabe regime stole the 2000 and 2005 parliamentary poll and the 2002 presidential elections.
In all three instances, the Zimbabwean government’s handling of the elections was queried by the international community, except the Southern African Development Community dominated by South Africa. Similarly, Mbeki’s envoy to the UN Security Council sidelined a debate on Mugabe’s human rights abuses.
Mbeki is bound to be asked to give feedback on the standpoint of his mediation efforts at the heads of state summit in Zambia. However, he will be doing so in the presence of Mugabe as the head of state for Zimbabwe when the presidential election results have not been announced. How is he going to put it? Nicely, with the ego and feelings of his friend Robert in mind? Or is he going to be man enough this time to call a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel?
He should condemn all the ills of the Zimbabwean elections and urge all African leaders to exert pressure on Mugabe using a very simple method: declare him as an illegitimate leader of Zimbabwe as long as the results have not been announced. By so doing, he would be on the road to recovering his credibility
Cognisant of Mugabe’s hunger for legitimacy in the eyes of other SADC heads of state, he could act swiftly by instructing the release of the much-awaited results not only by Zimbabweans but by the world at large. To add icing on to the cake, we must have Tsvangirai attend this summit as a head of state as there is no official information suggesting otherwise, then SADC will have the daunting task of showing their pan-Africanism.
Mbeki, whatever stance you take on this matter, please know that not only is the future of Zimbabweans dependent on it but that of SADC’s relevance and your credibility too (if you have much of it left considering the happenings in your political endeavours in the rainbow nation).
Thabo Mbeki we are watching and listening.
ZVENYIKA DAWU-NDUMBA-IZIMNYAMA PLUMTREE, by email
ZESN should explain vote count error margin
EDITOR – Most Zimbabweans seem to have faith that the results that will be announced will be the actual results. Even world leaders seem to be making this assumption.
There are two results to talk of. The first is the actual result that sent Mugabe, Chiwenga and Zanu (PF) into shock. It showed a landslide by Tsvangirai. It necessitated the withholding of results and the military taking over government with Mugabe as the puppet figurehead. If the actual results had shown a possibility for a run-off they would have been no need to withold them.
The second result is the tampered with, manufactured result to ensure a run-off. The CIO have been busy tampering with the boxes using duplicate serial numbers to reduce Tsvangirai’s tally to below 50 per cent. The ZESN gave Zanu (PF) this idea by projecting that Tsvangirai will end up with 49 per cent.
Suddenly, Zanu (PF) were handed a game plan. ZESN should have been responsible enough to say this was from random samples, which in reality have an error margin of five per cent. This means their projections still give Tsvangirai a possible 54 per cent. They never published the error margin, which made it look like 49 per cent for Tsvangirai was set in stone and thus gave Zanu (PF) a lifeline by which to manipulate the results. They owe Zimbabweans an explanation of their error margin.
SAMOAH, by email
Chinese Embassy ‘lost’ my passport
EDITOR – I am not happy with the Chinese Embassy, whom I strongly think ‘lost’ my passport after I gave it to them for the visa application process. Since October last year, they have failed to justify why only mine is not found.
You all know with these corrupt police officers nowadays that my case is not yet attended to fully. Should I continue to suffer from the consequences of their acts without compensation? Or should legal practitioners assist me. Anyone who can help can email gamanya009@yahoo.com.
T GAMANYA, Harare
Mugabe: the out-going opposition leader
EDITOR – Over a fortnight since the Zimbabwean General Elections, tichiri pachirangano. Zimbabweans are at the crossroads, in the dark, evil mist of the Zanu (PF). There are no words in the English, Shona or Ndebele language to express how we are feeling! Even the international community is tasting that sour taste of oppression.
Like Morgan Tsvangirai, I am now refusing to call Mugabe the ruling leader of Zanu (PF). He is the opposition out-going leader of Zimbabwe. That is undoubtedly a fact. It’s not clear on what Robert Mugabe is planning, but I do know it’s going to be an uphill battle worth fighting for. Right now it is a political see-saw. Millions of Zimbabweans, MDC and now the International Community on one side, whilst Robert Mugabe with his Zanu (PF) supporters are on the other. The see-saw is slowly tipping to the MDC, every single weight and pressure matters.
The Zimbabwean Electoral Commission who have the legal entity and moral obligation to announce results, have failed their job and obviously are being given directions by Mugabe to doctor the ballots. Certain rights can never be granted to the government, but must be kept in the hands of the people, and this view should be taken in the coming week as the MDC have called for a national strike.
This is the weight needed to overthrow Robert Gabriel Mugabe from his fakse throne. There are different attempts too, like the extraordinary emergency SADC meeting called by Zambian President and SADC Chairman Levi Mwanawasa. This meeting could hopefully be a spark or light that will guide the much-deserved Zimbabwean people out of darkness and hunger.
Gordon Brown, the British Prime Minister, has said the international community’s patience with Mugabe’s regime is “wearing thin”. Gordon Brown, like others cannot understand why it is taking so long to announce the result of the March 29 presidential elections.
I could give him a few accurate guesses why. Mugabe and his cronies could be buying time to burn away evidence of corruption that has become a common activity in the Zanu (PF) party, or strategically planning ahead for a presidential run-off by threatening rural areas with violence and propaganda, so when the run-off arrives, the community will be intimidated, so might not turn out to vote or be forced by propaganda to vote for Mugabe. Gordon Brown is appalled by the signs that the regime is once again resorting to intimidation and violence”.
As we are now riding into a new wave, the MDC and political comrades have stepped up a gear to force Zanu (PF) officials and Mugabe out and to regain our beautiful, resourceful country. This is now the time for action. Let’s jump on the see-saw and send the jongwe packing! It’s now just a matter of time before our will and wishes are granted; the only thing we don’t know is how? By law, force or nature?
Let us not lose our faith, missions and goals no matter what the devil-sent army or militias do! “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to your mountain, ‘MOVE!’ and it WILL move…and nothing will be impossible for you!” (Matthew 7:20). Move Mugabe! Ishe komborerai Zimbabwe, tiripachirangano.
HILARY NYAMANDE, by email
Non-voters and those who left – the blame lies with you
EDITOR – So the SADC has come out with what everyone has been saying for the last two weeks, but is it all that surprising? Theodore Roosevelt, a US president of the 1940s once said: “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the area, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again and, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, actually strives to do the deed. He knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion; spends himself in a worthy cause; best knows that in the end the triumph of high achievement and at worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. His place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
We are now staring defeat in the face and for sure the Old Man is going to win by hook or by crook when, not if, there is a re-count and run-off as the Government agents now have control of the exercise.
We are our own worst enemies and, given the low voter turn-out, the number one on my list of failures can be laid at the door of those who could but didn’t vote at all. In the face of fears of intimidation etc those who wanted to vote did, so don’t try to make an excuse for your apathy and don’t complain when you once again get a Zanu government.
Number two on my list are the “I’ll hold your coat while you hit them” brigade who dug under the fence to get out or paid to fly out if they could afford it in an effort to get away from the daily grind that is Zimbabwe today. Saying that they couldn’t make it back due to transport or financial restraints or some other excuse doesn’t wash with me – you got out and, if you really wanted to, you could have made it back home for the vote if you really cared about us at home.
Thanks guys and dolls. It looks as if I’m going to be stuck with another Zany lot for the foreseeable future but, who knows, just maybe the counting guys might just make it past ten fingers and ten toes in a dayâ€â€but I’m not holding my breath; education has been in intensive care for too long now.
BHERI, by email
Mbeki needs psychiatric help
EDITOR – Thabo Mbeki’s denial that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe beggars belief and is unforgiveable. By his latest failure to deal decisively with the tyranny of Robert Mugabe, Mbeki has demonstrated that not only does much of the blame for the crisis in Zimbabwe rest with him. Worse still, by his ongoing stewardship of Mugabe’s despotism Mbeki is plunging all of southern Africa into a crisis of confidence.
If blatant, serial electoral theft, denial of an oppressed people’s vote for change, state-sanctioned violence against political opponents, racially motivated seizure of private farms, 80% unemployment, mass starvation and misery coupled with ongoing flight of refugees does not constitute a crisis then Mbeki needs psychiatric help.
His smug attempt to deny the critical circumstances that prevail under Mugabe’s jackboot regime are an insult to our constitution. Having pledged to uphold the right of South Africans to a democratic society based on the will of the people when he took the oath of office as President, how can Mbeki deny that right to the people of Zimbabwe?
Mbeki’s supine posturing towards Mugabe’s comprehensive destruction of Zimbabwe is not only destabilising all of southern Africa by the message it projects, but after eight years enough is enough. Mbeki must go. He is an abject failure as a leader. Allied as he is to Mugabe, he is an embarrassment to all who proclaim to uphold fundamental human rights and a free, open and democratic society.
It is naive to say that history will deal harshly with Mbeki. History will deal harshly with all of us if we do not demand his resignation.
DUNCAN DU BOIS, by email
Worker shot, men scalded, bodies in burn-out village
EDITOR – I have a long story to tell, but putting it on paper would take too long. I have personally witnessed the atrocities and destruction in Nymandhlovu, Tshotholo, Nkayi, Gwampa and Vic Falls, in Matablele Province, during the 5th Brigade deployment in those areas.
These men under the command of General Perence Shire and his second-in-command Maj. Mondevu, were totally responsible for the murderous action of their men.
I have seen many bodies of men, women and children, spread around their burnt out village. Two men, who had been accused of being sell-outs, had their feet submerged into boiling water. Another man was beaten up and, with his broken arm, was dragged to his place of work and, in the presence of all the other workers, was shot – a warning that the same would happen to them should they be discovered as being sell-outs.
I cannot disclose how I managed to get through the many 5th Brigade roadblocks during the 24-hour curfews, nor do I want you to publish my name as I am well known in Zimbabwe, where I have many friends and family.
What I have written and heard is nothing in comparison to what I have seen and heard from drunken 5th Brigade individuals.
ANON, by email