One of the few good things that can be said about Mr Mugabe is that he is creating a country of Maths geniuses, and future weightlifting champions.
Nowhere else in the world does your average 6 or 8 year old sent out on an errand to buy a loaf of bread have to deal with numbers in the millions tens of millions without parental help, carrying currency around by the bucketload.
This note is 10 milli
So Gordon Brown decided to be a Blair to George Bush in return for a US policy which would be tough on Mugabe and give Brown some sort of foreign policy victory.One caricaturist portrayed Brown as a lapdog where Bush is seen to be commenting'this doggy even better than the last one'.One would have thought that it was not ideal timing to give a lecture to the British Public on our 'buy one get one
Vitaly Churkin, the Russian Ambassador to the UN, was quoted as justifying their veto of the recent UN Resolution on these grounds: “This draft is nothing but the council’s attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of a member state.”Now although I know there are strong arguments against sanctions (Simon Jenkins made some excellent points in the Guardian), 'interference' is already happen
Sadly, a proposal for sanctions against Zimbabwe has been voted down.Sanctions can sometimes do more harm than good.Take Iraq, when an embargo on medicine caused great hardship among innocent civilians.But not in the case of Zimbabwe, where an arms embargo, an assets freeze and travel restrictions were proposed to put pressure on the despotic President Robert Mugabe.The idea of anyone selling arms
I decided to buy myself a piece of history - a Zimbabwe 100,000,000 dollar note. When it was issued on 2nd May 2008 it was, according to OandA, worth slightly more than £1725. Today it is worth slightly more than 0.25p. It is literally not worth the paper it is printed on.When I visited Zimbabwe in the mid-1980s there were white settlers there saying that the place was going to the dogs. By c
China has defended its decision to veto proposed UN sanctions against Zimbabwe's government saying they would "complicate", rather than ease, conflict in the troubled African country. China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to impose international sanctions on key members of Zimbabwe's government, damaging diplomatic efforts to isolate the regime and inflicting a histo
President Mugabe sits comfortably in power in Harare in the aftermath of a blood bath conducted by his forces against anyone who dared challenge his right to power. The petty tyrant apparently has decided he must now display the face of openess to the world in order to eliminate the smell of murder and brutality [...]
Two days ago the Zimbabwean civic organisation Sokwanele published this photo on their blog.It is of the mutilated and burnt corpse of Joshua Bakacheza, MDC driver for Mashonaland West and discovered late on Saturday. Many people apart from the 103 confirmed dead are also missing. It had taken his family two weeks to find it.Joshua and another MDC supporter, Tendai Chidziwo, had been assisting mur
The Group of 8 countries with large economies - representing perhaps 60% of world GDP, have supported stronger action against Zimbabwe.
The G8 leaders have agreed to push for UN trade sanctions against Zimbabwe, British officials have confirmed.
Italy and Russia have fallen into line with demands to extend existing sanctions, after initially opposing tougher action against the African country, wh
The Guardian has a video of vote-rigging in progress in the recent Zimbabwe election. The video shows the organisation of the rigging process.
As has been documented before, basically there is no such thing as a secret ballot in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe. That means of course that there is no democracy.
Playlist for Spin The Globe - 4 July 2008as heard on radio KAOS - 89.3 FMWe honored the coincidence of two cultural events -- USA Independence Day and the opening day of 2008's Zimfest -- by alternating music from Zimbabwe and the US in the first hour, followed by more widely ranging tunes in hour 2. I was dearly hoping to play "The Flintstones Meet the President" by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band --
The Guardian has an astonishing underground video of vote-rigging in the Zimbabwe election as well as how the violence is organised and of MDC Deputy Tendai Biti, a heroic man, in prison.The video was shot by a very brave police officer. Police were made to vote in front of 'war veterans' - no secrecy.Shepherd Yuda, a 36-year-old prison officer, fled the country two nights ago. His wife and childr
Sokwanele:The new week dawned with even more dramatic news. The USD, trading at over 30 billion to 1 on Friday opened the day at over 60 billion.As the cash crisis grows, the disparity between the street and the business rates widened as the former relies on the availability of hard cash. When it is in short supply, desperate relatives of economic exiles compete for the ever diminishing ZWD by re
I have to say, I believe Mugabe is thrilled with all the attention he is receiving. Who would of thought that the President of the poor nation of Zimbabwe could have become just as famous and hated as George Bush. It seems like ruining your country and making it hard for your people is the [...]
Mugabe giura per il sesto mandato. Interviene Ban Ki-moon: le elezioni «non riflettono volontà del popolo»TOKYO Il risultato delle elezioni in Zimbabwe «non è legittimo, perché non riflette la reale volontà del popolo». È l’opinione del segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite, Ban Ki-moon, diffusa oggi con un comunicato.Il monito dell'OnuSecondo Ban Ki-moon «sono venute a mancare le co
The wound has been festering long enough and chucking Zimbabwe out of the Full Members league looks a fait accompli as ICC goes into a huddle in Dubai.I don't doubt the reasons either. Probably Mugabe stands for all the vices of the world and the money meant for the players are finding their way to Peter Chingoka's account too. So ICC should not be worried about any backlash even if they slam the
Gilbert Wandera — Reports From Kenya
One US dollar exchanges at 6.2 billion Zimbabwean dollars — What a ‘Mugabean’ mess!
PICTURE: A child with wads of notes in Harare — 200,000 Zimbabwean dollars exchange at 1US cent.
Zimbabwe continues making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Southern African country’s future is in oblivion, following political turmoil t
The nations of Africa including many of its leaders such as Nelson Mandela have decried the tragic events in Zmbabwe in which Robert Mugabe has conducted one of the most vicious and cruel elections in the history of the continent. He has killed at least 80 members of the opposition, beaten and tortured hundreds and [...]
One of my best friends, Karl Teichert, is a missionary with OC International in South Africa. Karl and Jenny were part of the team that helped start Lake Hills Church in Castaic nearly 20 years ago. For the past ten years, God has used them to train and develop church planters in South Africa. Please read this email I received from Karl today and pray and fast for Zimbabwe from June 26-29:In this
Autores:
José Alberto López Rafaschieri y Luis Alberto López Rafaschieri
www.morochos.orgEl dictador africano Robert Mugabe, a quién Hugo Chávez le entregó una réplica de la espada de Bolivar aquí en Venezuela, desea extender su mandato en unas nuevas elecciones fraudulentas.Este personaje lleva 28 años en el poder, acostumbrado a imponer su voluntad por la violencia y organizando eleccio
This entry is part 13 of 12 in the series Zimbabwe Election - Mugabe Monitor
Zimbabwe under Mugabe is thoroughly undemocratic. It has become the worst kind of dictatorship, the kind that doesn’t even bother to hide the disgusting things that it is doing, and just ignores, beats up, or kills anyone who disagrees with it.
Mugabe [...]
The British Government have taken action to force the English Cricket Board to cut cricketing ties with Zimbabwe, and cancel pending tours.
Jonathon Agnew interviewed Andrew Burnham MP, the UK Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, on Radio 4 at lunchtime in the New Zealand vs England One-Day Match.
A Mr R Mugabe shockingly won the "Zimbabwe's Got Talent" TV show at the weekend. Mr Mugabe attended the three week talent show along with thousands of others. Shockingly he managed to do away with the other contestants over a short period of time to take the prize. Who said Democracy hasn't got a place in modern Zimbabwe????? Further news:- Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden have strange
In an article titled "Who's Africa's Worst Dictator," Slate correspondent Peter Maass argues that Robert Mugabe is not the worst dictator in Africa. That honor belongs to Teodoro Obiang, who has been more ruthless than Mugabe both in crushing opposition and in oppressing the general public of his country of Equatorial Guinea. In fact, reading the article, I agree: Obiang is a master of dictators
I'm still on video, but this is on a more serious note.
This is the first edition of Zimbabwe Tea Chicken News, made a week ago before the Movement for Democratic Change withdrew from the Zimbabwe Elections after extensive violence and intimidation, including getting on for 100 killings.
TC and Maud present the ZTV news. Headlines include Mugabe's speech about war, Biti behind bars, SADC observer
Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of the run off election. Only the current Dictator Robert Mugabe is left, and he will win the vote, which is still scheduled for this Friday, June 27th.There are now two major schools of thought: that Tsvangirai should have stayed in, even though his supporters had basically been intimidated into submission, and that he was right to pull out.I personally sympathiz
via Sokwanele.
We have added the details for 66 murders to the political violence map. This figure falls short of the last confirmed figure we had last week, which was that 85 people have been killed in the violence so far.
We have more to add.
I have nothing add, either.
1. Help a Zimbabwean return home to voteA diaspora focussed campaign is aiming to help Zimbabweans return home to vote on Friday next week. It is being coordinated by the Peace and Democracy Project (PDP) and the Southern African Women’s Institute for Migration Affairs (SAWIMA).Sponsorship options include assisting an employee with a return ticket, paying for one or more seats on a bus via the w
(Revised version of a cross-posted comment at Matt Yglesias' blog)I apologize for the lack of blogging lately - the baby's been keeping me busy, plus I've had a case of writer's block. In any event, the rapidly deteroriating situation in Zimbabwe has inevitably resulted in the question: what, if anything, should be done?In my view, this is a clear case where the need to defend others against the b
Next Monday the TUC have called a demonstration to support trade union freedom in Zimbabwe.The demonstration will take place at 12:30pm until 2 outside the Zimbabwean Embassy, at 429 Strand, London, WC2R OJR.You can get to the Zimbabwean Embassy from Charing Cross Station, which is on the Bakerloo and Northern lines, as well as being served by National Rail. Various buses including the 139, 15 a
South African President Thabo Mbeki has been holding talks with Zimbabwe's presidential rivals amid concerns over violence ahead of next week's poll. Mbeki wants to ensure Mugabe uses violence in a democratic way.
As highlighted by Iain Dale, this site is run by Zimbabwians who plan to protect Zimbabwe's voters from intimidation and ensure a free election.Iain Dale says that the site is trustworthy, and I trust him.You can donate via Paypal by following the link on the site's front page.And it's got NOTHING to do with imperialism or the West lecturing Africa, before anyone complains about that!Here is the s
I've posted about Zimbabwe several times in the last month. If the new "Post Series" plugin is still working you should be seeing a list of articles on the right.
This article identifies a number of ways you can support humanitarian relief and civil society by making donations from the UK.
President Robert Mugabe has abandoned any pretense that he will adhere to democratic principles of conducting an election by unleashing his dogs of war to impose their brutal tactics on the people of Zimbabwe. Soldiers and militia belonging to the ruling Zanu-PF of Mugabe, made inhabitants of Rusape gather in an open field where they [...]
The current crisis in Zimbabwe has made many Africans painfully aware they confronted a similar situation a few months ago that eventually was resolved without a massive collapse of the nation. Raila Odinga, who was cheated of an electoral victory for the presidency, put aside his anger and agreed to cooperate with President Kibak in [...]
A quick Zimbabwe alert.
I am told that Zimbabwe Election blogging will be featuring on BBC R5 Pods and Blogs tonight at 2am GMT.
I will put the piece in the Britblog Roundup podcast for this week.
By the way - the Britblog Roundup this week should put some Pepper in your Porridge.
I've added Election web feeds to the Magazine Front Page of the Wardman Wire.
One is the feed for the Returning Officer's Blog at Henley.
The other is the Zimbabwe Election feed for Sokwanele.
There is a bit of a contrast.
Matt Wardman has followed up on my post, Mugabe, al-Qaida links alleged and very helpfully reviewed Zimbabwean information sources from my list. NB: these are all 'civil society' sources, there's also a host of expat media sources. Here's the media sources which Robb Ellis (aka 'the bearded man') uses:All Africa News (Zimbabwe)Financial GazetteJan Lamprecht's 'African Crisis' SiteIRIN News (Zimbab
The BBC has published evidence that abuses, beatings, intimidation and undermining of the democratic process are being co-ordinated in Zimbabwe by the police and army (vua Paul Canning).
It is possible to keep track of what is happening on the ground via Net Feeds provided by various civil liberties bodies. This is an updated version of a Wardman Wire post "Scrutinise the Zimbabwe Elections using
El nivel de crimen y de terror patrocinado por el estado en Zimbabwe ha escalado a tal punto que no sólo vemos la sistemática demolición de la democracia y de los derechos humanos en aquel país, sino también algo no muy alejado de una matanza en masa en cámara lenta al estilo de Birmania.
Seguir leyendo... >>
Anteriormente llamado Rhodesia, es un país de una gran belleza y de importantes recursos naturales. La mayoría de la población es negra y pertenece a dos grupos mayoritarios:
Shona y Ndebele. Los blancos han gobernado este país hasta 1.979 hasta el 18 de Abril de 1.980 que se fundó la República de Zimbabwe. Salisbury la capital, tomó el nombre de Harare.
Seguir leyendo... >>
Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC), insists he will continue his campaign to gain the presidency in the June 27 run-off even as there were increasing signs a “victory” will only result in a “defeat.” The Zimbabwe government and the ruling Zani-PF party have made it clear they are not going to [...]
La organización detiene su trabajo en el terreno, siguiendo las órdenes del gobierno del país.La inestable situación política en la que se encuentra Zimbabwe, sumada a la escasez de alimentos – según los expertos, este año habrá un déficit de 1,4 millones de toneladas de maíz – dibujan un serio problema de inseguridad alimentaria que puede alcanzar su punto más grave en el mes de ag
La organización detiene su trabajo en el terreno, siguiendo las órdenes del gobierno del país.La inestable situación política en la que se encuentra Zimbabwe, sumada a la escasez de alimentos – según los expertos, este año habrá un déficit de 1,4 millones de toneladas de maíz – dibujan un serio problema de inseguridad alimentaria que puede alcanzar su punto más grave en el mes de ag
I have been running a Flick-R photo feed about abuse and violence meted out by Robert Mugabe's followers and thugs to those opposing his regime in the elections in Zimbabwe for several weeks, from the Zimbabwe Civic Action Support Group.
There is also a Twitter feed at which is updated from time to time. Here are the entriues since it was launched in late May (read from the bottom). Harrowing.
Wh
More ideas for Chavez electoral strategy. Mugabe has decided that it was unsafe for Morgan Tsvangirai to attend his political rallies:
The party said it had received a written notice from the police that rallies it had planned in impoverished townships of the capital, Harare, would have to be canceled because the safety of party [...]
Police block Tsvangirai from rally HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean police blocked opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai from reaching a rally on Friday in his campaign ahead of a presidential run-off vote later this month, a Reuters photographer said.Tsvangirai was stopped from reaching a rally outside Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo, after police put up a roadblock. His Movement for Democrat
The crisis in Zimbabwe is becoming even more dangerous for the people of that unfortunate land as there is increasing evidence leaders of the Zimbabwe armed forces have, in effect, instituted a coup in order to maintain President Robert Mugabe in power. General Constantine Chiwenga and his fellow thugs have decided the prospect of a [...]
Zimbabwe's government has indefinitely suspended all field work by aid groups and non-governmental organisations.The suspension of all field operations by private voluntary organisations (PVOs) and NGOs ordered by Zimbabwe's government comes nearly a week after President Robert Mugabe banned some aid agencies from the country.One of the largest organisations, Care International, was forbidden to w
Morgan Tsvangirai was released today after being held for eight hours without serious charges. Most commentators see this as intimidation and disruption to his campaign. I see it as the first of a series of arrests. Maybe the third or fifth time Tsvangirai is taken in for questioning he'll "resist" and not make it back.While it's good that he's out, I still hold by my near-alarmist post yesterd
Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested today.He is the leader of the current opposition party of Zimbabwe, and his party won resoundingly in the recent elections. He got more votes than current President-cum-Dictator Robert Mugabe, but neither candidate got over 50% of the vote. That is if you believe Mugabe's government's count. Tsvangirai claims get got 50.6% and doesn't need to engage in a run-off.U
ROME (AP) — Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe defended land policies blamed for devastating his country’s agricultural sector, asserting at a U.N. food summit Tuesday that the West was trying to cripple the nation’s economy.
Mugabe’s presence at a summit addressing high global food prices sparked protests from some world leaders. He is blamed for the economic [...]
Días atrás hablamos acerca de los nuevos billetes de Zimbabue, realizados para facilitar el traslado de dinero debido a la hiper inflación que actualmente atraviesa el país.
Y decimos facilitar, por que antes de las nuevas emisiones (millonarias), el traslado de dinero se realizaba de esta manera:
En la imagen un hombre con miles de billetes se [...]
A top leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe was arrested and became the most senior members of MDC to be thrown into jail. Arthur Mutambara was accused of insulting President Mugabe whose wife several days ago charged the MDC as the group responsible for fostering violence in the nation. Mutambara was [...]
Video from the Solidarity Peace Trust. Inflation in Zimbabwe has now hit 1,700,000%, and it is forecast to hit between 1,800,000% and 2,000,000% by next week.The government is now printing money on ordinary office paper.
The coming runoff election in Zimbabwe is already a farce even before the first ballot is cast. President Mugabe’s wife has publicly declared her husband will never surrender power to the Movement for Democratic Change and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Gorden Moyo, a Zimbabwean civil rights leader states bluntly “Mugabe will not transfer power to [...]
Grace Mugabe, wife of Robert Mugabe, told followers of her husband’s ruling Zanu-PF party that even if he loses, Bob will never step aside to allow Morgan Tsvangirai to assume the position of president of the nation. “Even if people vote for the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai will never step foot inside State House. He will [...]
Morgan Tsvangirai, who most probably won the election held for president this March, returned home from his self imposed exile in South Africa to a nation which is bset by government organized gang activitie that beat, torture and even kill political opponents. Many members of his MDC party are disappointed Tsvangirai remained in South Africa [...]
The Indian people and the government are both quaking with fear with inflation hovering at around 8%. The people can barely make two ends meet with prices soaring, and the government knows that if prices don't fall, the government will.But India is not the only nation grappling with rising inflation. The entire world is. So which are the nations with highest inflation rates? Read on. . . Zimbabwe:
Tsvangirai to return to ZimbabweZimbabwe's opposition presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to return on Saturday after six weeks abroad to begin his run-off campaign.His return last weekend was delayed amid allegations the army planned to assassinate Mr Tsvangirai with snipers.The ruling party rejected opposition claims of a plot as a fantasy.The presidential election run-off is s
Despite fears of an assassination plot, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced that he will return home tomorrow.
Tsvangirai, currently in South Africa, also said that Zimbabwe's problems were causing regional violence.
The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe has led to an exodus from the country.
More than three million Zimbabweans are said to be living in neighbouring
The terrible attacks against civilian voters in Zimbabwe are leaving behind hundreds of mutilated and injured men, women and children, many of whom have also had their homes burned and all their possessions destroyed. Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation (ZBF) is coordinating and funding a series of emergency assistance projects to send medical supplies, blankets, food packs and basic building materials di
Ormai il regime despota di Robert Mugabe sta portando lo Zimbabwe in una situazione che potremmo definire di non ritorno. Quasi come tutta l'Africa del Sud, che attraversa un periodo davvero non facile. Ormai il tenore di vita dello Zimbabwe è addirittura al sotto dei limiti della sopravvivenza. Il Pil si è più che dimezzato e le esportazioni sono ormai pari a zero. La politica e la giustizia
Ormai il regime despota di Robert Mugabe sta portando lo Zimbabwe in una situazione che potremmo definire di non ritorno. Quasi come tutta l'Africa del Sud, che attraversa un periodo davvero non facile. Ormai il tenore di vita dello Zimbabwe è...
(continua su RDM20)
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) has decided not to return to Zmbabwe to contest the run-off election against President Mugabe due to reports of an assasssinatin plot against his life. His spokesperson, George Sibotshiwe, said’ “We have received information from a credible source concerning a planned assassination attempt.” On Friday, US [...]
Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change, whose leader Morgan Tsvangirai captured a plurality of votes in the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections in March, has agreed to participate in a June 27 run off election. The MDC has vowed to "bury" Mugabe in the second round.
MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe told about 10,000 supporters in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo that the opposi
The second-round run-off in Zimbabwe's disputed presidential election will be held on 27 June, the government says. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the first round, but not by enough to avoid a run-off. President Robert Mugabe said the poll was "disastrous". Mr Tsvangirai says he will contest the second round, after originally threatening to boycott it. He has accused Mr Mugabe's party o
Thanks you mister Seaman, you started a small coffee stand on Lusaka International Airport. You know what a traveller needs at the beginning of the day: good coffee. You started this small coffee...
Read about the whereabouts of independent Africa Correspondent Arjen Westra. travelling the continent and reporting on things he sees and hears and.... smells.
The nation of Zimbabwe continues to suffer from a president who makes up laws as he goes along his merry way to maintain power are any cost to the people of his country. First, presidential election results were delayed several weeks in order to provide opportunities for his cronies to arrange the vote so that [...]
A pro-govrnment rights outfit in Zimbabwe has urged President Robert Mugabe to consider declaring a state of emergency to stem a tide of post election violence. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Justice(ZLJ) said a state of emrgency would help protect lives and property from violoence that it blamed on opposition activisits. “In view of the current [...]
Robert Mugabe lost an election for the first time in his life and his efforts to ensure that never again occurs has resulted in an escalation of violence within Zimbabwe as thugs and goons for his Zanu-PF party roam the land beating and even killing those who oppose his election. Agustino Zacarias, speaking for the [...]
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Patrick Chinamasa, made it clear his government would not allow international observers to monitor the run-off election. He said the ruling Zanu-PF party would not succumb to outside pressure from either the opposition or other nations of the world, but would defend their right to control an election. “We will not [...]
Since the March election for president of Zimbabwe which was won by Morgan Tsvangirai, the Movement for Democratic Change leader has been forced to flee the nation in order to avoid either being arrested or killed. Speaking at a South African press conference, he told Robert Mugabe and the world: “I shall return to Zimbabwe [...]
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has been holding talks with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. The couple were seen enjoying their close friendship after they had participated in the Miss Hula Girl 2008 Beauty Pageant.
The Zmbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights has released a report which expresses their concern over escalating cases of organized violence and torture and the increasing intimidation of medical personnel. They have documented over 900 victims of violence in the post election period. But, they believe their figures grossly underestimate what is happening because [...]
In its most outspoken statement yet on Zimbabwe, the Bush administration has made it clear that it is taking steps to bring down President Robert Mugabe’s government. US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner announced the shift in US policy in a statement on August 21. He told reporters that Mugabe’s government was “illegitimate and irrational.” “We do not s
Mugabe's tyranny is well known, but a report in today's New York Times pulls back the curtain in a particularly revealing manner. Opposition supporters, even professionals like teachers, have faced major repression by the government.
Aid workers say they have been warned by government officials to suspend their operations, lest they be seen as meddling in the nation’s affairs. Teachers, who served as nonpartisan supervisors at polling stations, have been systematically singled out, with 496 questioned by the police, 133 assaulted by thugs and 123 charged with election fraud, according to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe. Teachers who worked for the opposition also said they had been attacked.
The regime's rhetoric is getting more menacing as well:
A member of ZANU-PF’s Politb
A delegation from the Southern African Development Community arrived in Haare for talks with Zimbabwe leaders about the importance of holding a democratic election. The Afri an Union has been under pressure from the UN and western nations to take the lead in helping Zimbabwe to have some form of democracy. Kenya Prime Minister Raila [...]
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC) finally got around to announcing results in the presidential election heeld at the end of March. The ZEC figures give opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai 47.9% of the total which falls short of the necessary 50% to avoid a runoff. But, the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) insists their tallies, which were taken [...]
No Candidate Topped 50%, Officials SayWashington Post Foreign ServiceSaturday, May 3, 2008; A08HARARE, Zimbabwe, May 2 -- Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won more votes than President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe's presidential election but not enough to avoid a runoff, according to official results released Friday after a delay of more than a month.The electoral commission said Tsvangirai won 47.9 percent, compared with 43.2 percent for Mugabe. An independent candidate, Simba Makoni, won 8.3 percent.
Zimbabwe's Election Commission coughed up the results of March's presidential polls today, showing MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai won nearly 48% of the vote, beating Mugabe. However, not winning a majority forces a runoff, and the MDC is not happy.
Tsvangirai has raised doubts over whether he would take part in a run-off and has been out of the country since shortly after the vote, trying to keep up international pressure on Mugabe.
But if he refused to take part, then Mugabe would keep his hold on power.
Tsvangirai has suggested he could only contest a second round if it was monitored by United Nations-led foreign observers. The main international observer group during the first round was from Zimbabwe's neighbors.
The opposition accuses the ruling ZANU-PF party, which lost its parliamentar
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, announced his group rejects results of a presidential election that took place five weeks ago but took until now for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commissiion to finally get around to offering final poll results.Tsdvangirai insists his poll studies reveal he won 50,3% of the vote which [...]
The Zimbabwe election for parliament and the president took place five weeks ago, but it now appears the final results will get around to being published. Actually, we will not be receiving the final vote of election day, but a subsequent tally that dragged on for weeks in order to assist incumbent President Robert [...]
In 1991, A prominent African leader stood up against injustice in a neighbouring land. “The cry for freedom, as well as the cry for justice, stops at no border,” he declared.
That leader was Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe. He was speaking in Harare, opening the Commonwealth meeting that would decide to begin lifting the people-to-people [...]
Mystery surrounds alleged sightings of a troop of 20 armed Chinese soldiers, said to be patrolling the streets of Mutare, the eastern border town, shoulder-to-shoulder with Zimbabwean security forces this week.The Chinese, witnesses say, patrol in full uniform, and carry pistols, and their sudden appearance has terrified some local residents. The unit formed part of a heavy security deployment in the city centre, used to crush the MDC's nationwide strike designed to force the release of the election results. More...
This morning the NY Times reports that reports of violence streaming out of Zimbabwe are on the rise:
Farmers from Masvingo, Mashonaland East and Manicaland Provinces who worked on behalf of the opposition and were interviewed by telephone in the past week described a pattern of ruling-party gangs visiting under the cover of darkness to beat and evict them….
A three-person team from the American Embassy in Harare drove to Manicaland Province on April 19-20 and captured images of the burned and demolished homes in the settlement where [some of the farmers] lived. The photographs and videos focus on the more than 200 people made homeless in that campaign to terrorize those who voted for the opposition….
As the wait for the outcome of Zimbabwe’s presidential election has dragged
The Zanu-PF party of President Robert Mugabe once again failed to obtain a majority in Parliament even after the Election Commission made a fervent effort to overthrow its loss in the parliamentary election results. The Electoral Commission said results were unchanged in 18 of the 23 seats where recounts had taken place. The Zanu-PF needs [...]
Situated between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, Zimbabwe is a popular South African country that is full of natural beauty. It is a country made up of plateaus and full of fabulous views and scenery. Zimbabwe has a diverse range of landscapes with many mountainous terrains and grasslands. The highest point of Zimbabwe is Mount [...]
