Section 14 says: The Summit urged the electoral authorities in Zimbabwe that verification and release of results are expeditiously done in accordance with the due process of law. Summit also urged all the parties in the electoral process in Zimbabwe to accept the results when they are announced. By due process of law, Summit understood to mean that: a) the verification and counting must be done in the presence of candidates and/or their agents. If they so wish, who must all sign the authenticity of such verification and counting; b) SADC offers to send its Election Observer Mission who would be present throughout such verification and counting.
Bikita belongs the the MDC
EDITOR – The recounting exercise might be carried out as planned by Zanu (PF), but the truth is that people from this district will still vote for MDC. The re-run will not change our minds. We will only think otherwise if Mugabe gives the presidency to someone else. Fed up with the tyranny and his propaganda. Siiravo vamwe mudhara.
ANON, by email
Putting football before people’s lives
EDITOR – The guys in our leadership who were arrested last year on trumped up charges of being involved in petrol bombing etc. are now being looked for, so the real clamp-down is beginning. Who in the legitimate opposition party leadership (prior to the dissolving of parliament on 28th March 2008, and who are now legitimately people-elected leadership of the new government of a New Zimbabwe) are safe?
This is the greatest attack on democracy I can think of. I personally challenge Mbeki to say once again there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.He deserves to be tried in the ICC for genocide by complicity and SA deserves through him to lose the 2010 world cup. No football matches can take the place of millions of lives. I rest my case.
ANON, by email
April 18 – what independence?
EDITOR – The oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. Why? A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me.The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. Madiba, let’s wear black on April 18 to mourn humanity, democracy, freedom.
ANON, by email
Power is not your personal property
EDITOR – We have had enough of this guy. He should just go for the sake of our future. Mudhara, you have destroyed this country for far too long. Your time is up. It’s better you give power to those who really deserve it; it is not your own personal property. For the sake of us, the future men and women of tomorrow, so that we can shape a better tomorrow.
THE LONE SOLDIER, by email
Professor says Mbeki had hallmarks of drunkard
EDITOR – I was very pleased to read the following, as it is about time we all heard this:
Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro, a top aide of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, on Tuesday launched a powerful attack on Thabo Mbeki and questioned if the South African president was sober when he claimed there was no crisis in Zimbabwe.In a stinging rebuke of Mbeki’s widely criticised quiet diplomacy’ towards Robert Mugabe, Mukonoweshuro said his statement that all was well in the country bore the hallmarks of a drunkard’.Mbeki met Mugabe in Harare on Saturday on his way to the regional summit in Lusaka, Zambia to discuss the post-election situation. He surprised the world when he said There is no crisis in Zimbabwe’ – urging people to wait for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to announce the results.The question everyone should be asking now is – was Mbeki sober when he made that statement? The man has literally spent his presidential term trying to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe and all of a sudden he says there is no crisis. To me that sounds like a man who was heavily intoxicated,’ Mukonoweshuro said.The newly elected MDC MP for Gutu South, who is also the party’s secretary for International Affairs, said Mbeki consistently fails to deal with the crisis.My belief is that Mbeki is a spent force in the ANC and everyone is distancing themselves from him at this time. He is therefore open to attack without much fall-out that I can see.
I still say that he is not and never was an honest broker. If he was fair and reasonable, there would be a picture of him holding hands with MT at some stage or another. The truth is that MT has only had the opportunity to meet with him once or twice as far as I know and that says something very loudly to me.
I feel that SADC should be advised that this guy is now rejected and that someone new, if anyone, should be appointed. Yes, I know the MDC got a concession to have the results posted outside each polling booth but since then, how far has it got Zimbabwe?Zimbabwe now needs a mediator who has the strength of character to take on Mugabe. Thabo doesn’t have the mettle or the inclination to help Zimbabwe do this. So if MT stays out of it, and his lower ranks start doing what Professor Mukonoweshuro has done, I’d be as pleased as punch.If we want quiet diplomacy to die, we should be raising the tempo on Mbeki. That’s my opinion, for what it’s worth and Zimbabweans need some aggression put out in the right way at this time so Mbeki would be a great start.
ANON, by email
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Apology from the Director of the Jibilika Dance Contest
EDITOR – May you please allow me space in your widely read publication to retract and correct information erroneously carried in an advert in The Zimbabwean and its sister publication dated April 3-9 and April 6 for the Jibilika Dance Contest.The advert wrongfully refers to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe as one of the sponsors of the festival. As a matter of fact, the arts body is neither a sponsor nor a partner, but simply a regulator assisting with the registration in line with its mandate. The contest remains the mandate of Jibilika Entertainment and any misconception perceived is sincerely regretted.
PLOT MHAKO, Project Director
Looks like we want Mugabe for life president
EDITOR – What happened to the brave 5,000 youths who were going to render Zimbabwe ungovernable: should Mugabe pull a fast one in the election? Well, my friends, Mugabe HAS pulled a fast one and what are we doing about it? NOTHING. We as a Zimbabwean people (both inside and out) lament that we’re hard-done by, but when it comes to DOING we are spineless – what happened to the stay-away? Most of us are hungry anyway and any sensible employer would welcome it if you failed to come to work for a good cause. In fact let’s all vote for Mugabe to be president until he dies – it looks like that’s what we want: bend over baby, let’s do it again.
S. TAYLOR, by email
We need UN military force
EDITOR – How possible is it to lobby the EU or UN to issue an ultimatum to intervene with a UN force if the people’s right to choose their leader is not upheld?A SADC or AU force would be more ideal, but since the African leaders are scared of Mugabe, we need an unbiased military force.Mugabe at the moment needs to be treated as the criminal and illegal ruler that he is, just like Sadaam. His army knows they have the military strength needed to force him into power and block demonstrations. The Chiwengas and Chihuris need to be dealt with by a world force that shows that the world wants justice in Zimbabwe.
We Zimbabweans within and out of Zim are more than willing to sign a petition requesting intervention so that it is clear that WE are requesting this intervention. To hell with the puppets of the West nonsense!
As part of the build-up to this intervention, I also suggest that the failed court action turned down by the biased high court be taken further collectively by both the MDC factions and Makoni to a higher international court.
ANON, by email
Please send us your used postage stamps
EDITOR – In many places decision-making has come to a standstill, meetings are being cancelled until further notice. A meeting’s intent can be so easily misconstrued, even wedding and funeral invitations are being rejected.The annual Bass Classic fishing competition held at Kyle Camp has been disrupted and abandoned the first time ever, with many competitors from over the border. I am an executive member of the Lions Clubs International and a Past President of the Lions Club of Hatfield, and we have cancelled all meetings and functions, including our 30-year Charter Anniversary Dinner.Speaking of Lions Clubs, this brings me to the main reason for this particular communication. Lions Clubs and indeed ALL charities are finding it more and more difficult to raise funds for their various beneficiaries, such as children and senior citizens. Our club at Hatfield calls these our VIPs. We used to support these organisations with donations of hundreds of dollars, then thousands of dollars, then hundreds of thousands of dollars, then millions of dollars.Now, some of these homes need billons of dollars to get through each day. Bread is so scarce, that many have to resort to buying fancy breads (outside of Government control) at Z$14m a loaf. A 500g packet of margarine costs Z$160m. Forget the jam! It all quickly adds up to a billion dollars a day.
The Lions Club of Hatfield has identified a potential fund-raiser – used postage stamps and, in particular, used high-value Zimbabwean stamps, such as those used on registered mail and postal packets. Most of these unfortunately get sent out of the country.We have made an appeal through Lions Clubs to see if these can be harvested in the areas that they have been posted to, such as the UK and South Africa, where the majority of the diaspora is.We are truly desperate and would appreciate any help with this project. We feel that 90% of these stamps will end up in the waste paper recycle sacks. We are also appealing to multinationals, such as banks, insurance companies and such conglomerates that must receive lots of mail., both here in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. You can contact me at colin@zarf.co.zw.
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COLIN MOXHAM, Hatfield
POEM
The Sounds of Silence
BY SAD TRIO
Zimbabweans are silent’,
Zimbabweans are professional’,
They, Zimbabweans, are civilized’,
Zimbabweans are this and that.
Is this true?
Beware of the sounds of silence.
The people have exercised their RIGHT
They voted and elected their choice
They chose somebody they trust
They did that honestly and earnestly
Through the ballot, silently they cast their votes
Now they are engulfed in an unpronounced wave of silence
Silently they are making lots of noises
Beware of the sounds of silence
Silently they are waiting
Waiting and waiting for the outcome
They are waiting to celebrate the people’s victory
Waiting for the will of the people to be confirmed
Patience pays they think,
But it seems not to be so
Democracy is taking long to be weaned.
Silently they are grumbling and complaining
Sounds of silence are being made everywhere
Leaders are borne, they are not made.
War credentials cannot make you a good leader
We want a leader not a ruler
We want a leader by the people
Not a self-imposed and self-acclaimed ruler
We want real democracy not pseudo-democracy
Zimbabweans are silently saying this
The silence is speaking for itself
Their silence is bellowing up and down the streets
Their silence is very loud and everyone is hearing it.
Their silence is deafening and sonorous
They are silently waiting
Silently they are sobbing
Where is the Zimbabwe we fought for? They silently ask.
They are crying for the Zimbabwe they WANT.
Take note of the sounds of silence
If ever there is time they NEED change,
It is NOW!
They want the change they can trust
The change for the better
One thing for real, they are showing this
They are silently and patiently speaking and talking about this
Beware of the sounds of silence
The time shall come and already has
When the real change will be inevitable
The time when the people’s will will be respected
The time when the people’s choice will not be undermined
The time when the people will fight tooth and nail for their VOTES
The time when silence will be replaced by defiance
The time when resilience will be replaced by vengeance
The time when no more patience but violence
Do not be fooled by that faked silence
Rather be wary of the SOUNDS the SILENCE is making.
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