Andile Mngxitama, editor of New Frank Talk wrote a telling piece in the Mail and Guardian [25 April-May 5, 2011] titled “SA’s poor must shun the polls.”  Its basic thesis is that as South Africans got to the polls, “there is no benefit in voting for a hollow democracy that serves only the rich and elite.” His beef is that the ANC has little to claim for the people’s vote, and so does the main opposition the Democratic Alliance as the poor are still wallowing in poverty, years after the coming of democracy despite all the promises by the ANC.

It read like an analysis of the Zimbabwe situation. When analysts here call for the boycott of elections – usually because of political violence – Zanu PF is always quick to spring and label such calls as emanating from enemies of the revolution etc. It is interesting that as we will sooner or later have our own election, Zimbabweans are obviously asking themselves if it is worth the effort this time because of all the undelivered promises since 1980.

Yet others have said rather with an idealism that Mngxitama will do doubt dismiss that bad governments are chosen by people who do not vote. Still our history has shown since 1980 that even if people come out in their numbers to vote, they still manage to vote in a very bad government! The logical thing then would be not to waste one’s vote and simply stay away!

In our past elections voter apathy has ruled the day without any overt calls from any civic groups to stay away from the polls yet the people  are surely tired of voting for politicians only that they continue looting national resources. It is interesting in itself that calls to boycott elections have been directed at parties contesting against Zanu PF not the voters themselves who no doubt hold the leverages of power in any functioning democracy.

The other week Minister Obert Mpofu came to the rescue of debt-ridden Highlanders football club in Bulawayo, and the obvious question that emerged from the average dude – excluding the beneficiaries of the largess no doubt [something about looking the gift horse in the mouth] – was that where does a minister get that kind of money when these government officials have always complained to Biti that they are getting a pittance in the name of salaries. Even with the increment of ministers’ salaries a couple of months ago, would anyone be able to afford such magnanimity?

It is pedestrian to say it is abnormal for an African government minister to be poor, yet it has to be asked for how long will the people of Zimbabwe be used as doormats and blindly continue voting for men and women who have no regard for African laws of modesty but flaunt their obscene wealth, sagging bellies, ready-to-explode cheeks, right in front of impoverished voters.

The tragedy of it all perhaps is that we still find jobless energetic men and women in our midst doing the rounds coercing residents to join long queues under the cruel African sun to vote, claiming that those who are exercising their right not to vote are doing so at the bidding of forces hostile to the land reform project!

It’s EASTER and according to NEWSNET the only news that we can expect is TOMANA, Shamu and the rest of the apparatchiks ‘”celebrating” EASTER bashing other “religious types” as they only manage to look ridiculous wearing flowing garbs their consciences are screaming to get out of. The other worthy news becomes the “abysmal performance” of some R’n'B artist some of us do not give hoot about but is still expected by Karikoga other such types to “sell ZIM tourism” to the rest of the world. The guy invited to be part of a long list dubious of “performers” (check this out to read about Akon for a few laughs) “snubbed” local fans was no doubt ridiculed by NEWSNET form our “national news” and of course we have to ask if he will be pointing his “chums” to Zimbabwe as a destination of easy money after being “exposed” by NEWSNET. Anyone who expects better ought to be steaming through the ears, be it Tsvangirai, Biti and other women and men of goodwill because as we can all see, there are many who imagine that this country’s woes are going to be solved by a bunch of spoilt post-independence free-spirits dancing the night away to some crappy, neo-liberal, pseudo-Woodstock “make-love-not-whatever-crap”.

Since attending a SAPES Seminar last year where Jonathan Moyo presented on the topic NGOs, Donors and Zimbabwe’s Transition, I’ve harboured a deep suspicion that he is in fact an evil genius the likes which have only previously been seen in comic books as the antagonist to some super naturally inclined being, and mere mortals, like myself, don’t stand a chance against his superior intellect. Today Professor John Makumbe confirmed my suspicions:

I think he is insane. He has the capacity and the intelligence to expose the reality of ZANU PF, but he goes beyond that and makes ZANU PF more evil than it actually is. Instead of accepting ZANU PF, you are revolted by it as a result of what Jonathan Moyo has done to it. He has transformed it into a monster, literally. He is an intelligent guy, a brilliant guy…but anything he does, if he’s doing something good he will do it so well, if he’s doing something bad he will [also] do it well! When he loves, I think he loves fully, and when he hates, he hates totally. That’s Jonathan.

I never forget when he became Minister of Information and Publicity and the journalists were screaming… and he said ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet!’ and for sure, he banged them left right and centre.

If he is not managed, Jonathan Moyo will very easily ensure ZANU PFs demise … complete demise.

Obviously, I’m intrigued. If you are reading this Mr. Moyo, won’t you grant me an interview to either confirm or deny my suspicions?

4  April, 2011

ZUJ alarmed by increase in politically motivated violence against journalists by Zanu PF and  MDC T

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZUJ, would like to express its shock and alarm following the increase in politically motivated attacks against journalists by officials and supporters of the main political parties, Zanu PF and the MDC T in the coalition government.

We are deeply concerned that the spokesperson of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, Nelson Chamisa, who is also a government minister, verbally abused  freelance journalist, Comrade Nkosana Dlamini at a Press Conference held at the party’s headquarters, Harvest House recently.

Chamisa accused Comrade Dlamini of ‘bringing  Zanu PF proganda to Harvest House’ after he had asked Prime Minister Tsvangirai a question.

Cde Dlamini has indicated in his letter of complaint that the act amounted to harassment.

The Union is  concerned about the safety of our members when senior party officials appear to incite their supporters against journalists.

A few days after the incident, Cde Xolisani Ncube, a journalist with The Daily News  was assaulted  outside the MDC’s offices and had his camera stolen  by the party’s supporters while on assignment. As a Union we strongly condemn the attacks against journalists and  demand that the MDC T leadership should guarantee the safety of journalists at their press conferences and their forth coming congress.

ZUJ would also like to condemn in very strong terms, the beating up of Cde Priviledge Musvanhiri, a freelance journalist and the theft of his professional equipment by Zanu PF supporters in Harare. Musvanhiri was punched and had his recorder stolen by Zanu PF supporters while Cde Clarkson Mambo of New Ziana was man handled  by the same Zanu PF supporters.

We call on the Zanu PF leadership to warn its supporters to desist from  attacking journalists. Equally, we demand that Zanu PF should guarantee the safety and protection of journalists while on assignment at their functions or anywhere else.

As we approach the referendum and the elections, journalists will become more vulnerable to attacks by politicians and party supporters.

We call on the two main political parties to declare zero tolerance against journalists or any Zimbabwean citizen.

Foster Dongozi – ZUJ Secretary General

In principle, I don’t have a problem with the idea of an anti-sanctions rally. Anyone who still clings to the myth of them being targeted or a grand illusion orchestrated by our Dear Leader, needs to face reality: sanctions are real, they are not targeted, and they are wrong.

As with most things, ZANU PF took the recent anti-sanctions rally much too far. Now what would have been a rallying point for all Zimbabweans, has been reduced to little more than an exercise in futility and the beginning of ZANU PFs campaign for debatable elections. By no stretch of the imagination can anyone claim that it was a legitimate expression of the peoples’ wishes. For one thing, the people were told to go. A friend called me in distress, after the technicians at a printing concern near downtown Harare were ordered (after an ID check) to attend the rally, and his indigenously owned and operated business lost time, money and customers.

Happily, there are reports the police walked out of the rally during the President’s speech, leaving members of the public with better things to do to do the same.

Forced attendance is nothing compared to the relentless assault on the intelligence of ordinary Zimbabweans. The injury is made worse when you recall that it is the same regime that in the early 80′s instituted a policy of education for all, punctuating the savanna with numerous schools and teachers’ colleges. Or that during Gore reNzara, the same regime bragged to anyone who would listen that even ana ambuya vekumusha understood economic concepts like the drivers of hyperinflation. Yet yesterday they saw fit to treat the assembled masses like drooling five year olds.  Zimbabwe supposedly has some of the most educated members of government in the world, and these same people chose to publicly offer moronic platitudes like comparing Our Dear Leader to Cremora – a bland white powder, or saying

“There is no president the world over who has degrees like President Mugabe. He is brainy and that’s why he is feared.”

I quite doubt that anyone could be in fear of an 87 year old man who didn’t command a vast army, no matter how ‘brainy’ he was.

Do they think we’re stupid? Yes.

While Our Dear Leader and his cohorts make an embarrassing spectacle of lamenting sanctions, they forget and distract us from realising that we are slowly becoming South Africa and China’s client state. Zimbabwe manufactures very little. Redistributing what pittance is left of foreign owned companies would not change that. It will not change China’s increasing ownership of the ‘people’s resources’ neither will it stop the influx of South African goods onto supermarket shelves.

This statement from Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) describes the harassment currently being experienced by their members:

Seven members, two beaten, all spending night in custody in Bulawayo and were denied food brought in by relatives.

At noon, today 28 February 2011, three Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) members were arrested in Entumbane at a member’s house. Police came into the house where the members were meeting. They made the men present; numbering about 15, hold out their hands. They then arrested Proud Pandeya, Noah Mapfuma who they said had black hands, and according to them this is a sure sign that they smoke cannabis. At this point Gift Nkomo walked in and was also subsequently arrested. They were taken by these plain-clothes police officers to their local police station. One of the police officers fisted Proud four times in the face when they were arrested. They were released them after 2 hours. At five pm, police officers then came to re-arrest them and tried to arrest a fourth member who was not at home. The were said to be being taken to Bulawayo Central Police station for questioning but the feeding team could not locate them there.

At 4pm today, another 4 members were arrested, three women and one male.  They were arrested in the Mabutweni suburb of Bulawayo at the home of  Sitshiyiwe Ngwenya. They were sitting in the house and counting burial society contributions. The four who include Joyce Ndebele, Moreblessing Dube, one a nursing mother, and the male member Kholwani Ndlovu were arrested by plain clothed police officers from Western Commonage police station. They were loaded into a white van and taken to Western Commonage police station in Mpopoma south. The lawyer, Lizwe Jamela of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights was unable to see them as they were being relocated to Bulawayo Central police station.

Relatives, who sacrificed to buy food at a food outlet, as there was no electricity to cook food, arrived at the police station to give the food to the activists but were detained for an hour. Police Officer George Levison Ngwenya, threatened to arrest them for bringing ‘bought’ food but another police officer told them to leave with the food. Kholwani was obviously in pain from being severely beaten and him and the three women arrested at Mabutweni were seen by their relatives in the Law and Order department and were being made to answer profile questions and were due to be relocated for a third time to Sauerstown police station along the airport road.

WOZA leaders wish to express concern for members arrested and for the two male members beaten by police. We also express concern about the whereabouts of the 3 members arrested in Entumbane who were not to be found at Bulawayo Central police station.

WOZA is currently consulting members on the introduction of a development programme to be entitled Demand Dignity – Demand Development. This programme is based on the works of Mahatma Ghandi who combined an obstructive and constructive programme to mobilise independence to the Indian people. The CONSTRUCTIVE (productive and practical) Program emphasises on “cooperating with good” whiles the OBSTRUCTIVE (disruptive and defiant) Program’s emphasis is on “resisting evil.”