Zimbabwe: The face of oppression

[Caano Geel]

Zimbabwe

The face of oppression

Mar 15th 2007 | JOHANNESBURG

From The Economist print edition

 

Another ugly political crackdown. But also signs of hope

 

THE opposition in Zimbabwe suffered another grievous blow this week. On March 11th, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was arrested together with about 50 protesters and opposition leaders. He was on his way to a prayer rally organised by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign, a group of political, religious and civic groups pushing for political change. But security forces were waiting and grabbed Mr Tsvangirai before the rally even started, sparking clashes with hundreds of assembled protesters.

 

One activist was shot dead and Mr Tsvangirai, who limped into court with a swollen face and a nasty head wound two days later, was badly beaten up while in police custody, as were others detained with him. Following his short court appearance, when he was greeted by cheers from his supporters, he and several others were taken to hospital to have their wounds looked after. Mr Tsvangirai himself was admitted to the intensive-care unit with a possible skull fracture, but vowed to continue the struggle against President Robert Mugabe. Their ill-treatment provoked outrage from the UN, the European Union and America—but not, as usual, from Zimbabwe's immediate neighbours, such as South Africa.

 

Mr Tsvangirai's arrest is the latest episode in a series of failed protests. Sporadic street marches organised by trade unions, NGOs and other pressure-groups have been violently dispersed over the past few months, and their leaders have been routinely arrested and beaten up. Mr Mugabe's government recently banned all political rallies and the regime has become increasingly more repressive and brutal. Nonetheless, trade unions are planning another national strike next month.

 

They will be following in the footsteps of doctors and nurses who, unable to feed their families, went on strike in January to protest against the plummeting value of their salaries. Inflation, now running at over 1,700%, is the highest in the world and is expected to worsen. Once the regional bread-basket, Zimbabwe is again going to go hungry this year. The economy has shrunk by half since 1999, and unemployment is thought to be at least 80%. Many people survive thanks to the black market and money or food sent by the 3m or so Zimbabweans who have left the country.

 

Despite the attempts to protest on March 11th, the disparate opposition has so far been too weak to organise mass rallies or demonstrations. The MDC even split in 2005, although recently it has been trying to mend its divisions. Change is more likely to come from within the ranks of the ruling ZANU-PF, which itself is showing signs of cracks. At the party's annual congress last December, Mr Mugabe suggested that presidential elections, expected next year, should be organised instead alongside parliamentary ones in 2010. But several delegates reacted with something less than the usual enthusiasm to this idea; it was put on hold until a meeting of the party's central committee which is due to be held later this month.

 

During an interview for his 83rd birthday bash last month—for which the government spared no expense—Mr Mugabe openly acknowledged the growing tensions within ZANU-PF by lashing out at the various factions within the party, accusing them of vying for power. Particular targets of his wrath were his vice-president, Joyce Mujuru, and her husband, an influential ZANU-PF stalwart who used to head the army.

 

Divide and rule

 

Mr Mugabe had kinder words for Emmerson Mnangagwa, once the speaker of parliament, who is also thought to be a presidential hopeful. The International Crisis Group, a pressure-group based in Brussels, argues that there is now a chance that Mr Mugabe will be forced into retirement by his own party, leading to a power-sharing government between moderate ZANU-PF leaders and the MDC until elections can be organised under a new constitution.

 

It may not be as simple as that, however. Mr Mugabe has now said that, if elections were to take place next year, he would be ready to run again, despite earlier suggestions that he would retire. It is by no means certain that rivals within his own party—moderate parts of which are said to be talking to the MDC—can muster enough muscle to push him to go. Mr Mugabe still commands deep-seated loyalty within the army and the intelligence services. Although the security forces are also suffering from the country's economic disintegration, key units such as the presidential guard receive special treatment.

 

Those within ZANU-PF keen to see Mr Mugabe retire have also been divided among themselves. Mr Mnangagwa tried to block Mrs Mujuru's appointment as vice-president in 2004. The former speaker is making a political comeback, but this may be little more than a shrewd attempt by Mr Mugabe to weaken the Mujuru faction, whose ascendancy he now resents.

 

What is certain is that Mr Mugabe has so far shown no appetite whatsoever for leaving office. The idea to postpone the presidential election until 2010 could well be dropped, as it will be hard to obtain enough votes in parliament to secure the necessary constitutional amendment. But the alternative is likely to be a presidential election next year. If Mr Mugabe runs in that, and the election is as rigged as previous ones, Zimbabweans may have worse to look forward to.

 

source

 

[xiinfaniin]

Zimbabwe is another victim of western tricks. It’s brutally decapitated simply because its President opposed some western ambitions or broke with his previous promises by daring to carry out his farm reform initiative.

 

Admittedly his was untimely policy but that shouldnt hide West’s disproportional response, which ultimately is to blame!

[Caano Geel]

^ no the west is trying to bring him down, but do you blame them .. Mugabi's credibility or any claims he had to Africanism died with his policies long ago

 

Look at his track record over the last 10 years, we have a nation that used to be known as "Africa's Breadbasket" to hyper inflation, forced mass migration and mass poverty .. if for nothing else he should of moved on long ago since his presence and actions have done nothing but slowly suffocate Zimbabwe

[xiinfaniin]

^^Of course I do blame them. But he could have been a lot smarter, I agree. His behavior played a big role but that doesn’t tell the full story. It’s like Iraq they punish them and isolate them and try to blame the predictable consequences of the policies they impose on whoever happens to be ruling the target country. It ‘s all common knowledge now adeer.

[Caano Geel]

sxb, in the words of McEnroe "you cannot be serious"

 

granted his régime has been subject to economic isolation but in some ways it has been limited, he has still traded with non EU-US countries, though this isn't as profitable, his main down turn was his economic mismanagement, nepotism and despotic behaviour.

 

It was his land reform that killed the country economically, he threw out the industrial farmers and gave the land to subsistence farmers that could not run them. Land reform was desperately needed but it was done politically - only his supporters received plots, hundreds of thousands of farm labourers lost their lots and job. He arrested anyone that made mention for reform that didnt favour his and his parties stay in power, and looted what ever was productive - incidentally the largest landowner in ZW in Nicholas Van Hoogstraten a british gangster umm so much for africanism

 

This man is a mad man and a despot, no other type of man would turn his brethren into beggars, because that is what Zimbabweans have become in SA, were as once it was the south africans that used to go to Zimbabwe for work.

 

We africans always complain of foreign involvement, but this is a clear cut case of a nepotist and a despot running his people to ruin

[Fabregas]

Even the American torture combatants or enemies of the state, that they deem to be a threat to nuclear security. Although i do not condone such things, i am not suprised British spies, who are attempting to overthrow the government are giving a lesson or two. But i again i don't support such actions.