South Africa leader arrives in Zimbabwe

NF Reporter · 04-12-2008, 10:41 AM

AP - African leaders hoped to find a resolution to Zimbabwe's deepening political crisis Saturday at an emergency summit in Zambia, but state media reported that President Robert Mugabe would not attend the "unnecessary" meeting.

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waltky · 04-19-2008, 01:11 AM

Granny says, "Mebbe he's smugglin' in some o' dem Chinese weapons"...

S. Africa won't block Chinese arms
April 17, 2008 -- Ship carrying 3 million rounds of ammunition, mortars, rockets, paper reports; Chinese freighter anchored off Durban, South Africa; Proper procedures for arms transfers followed, South Africa says

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South Africa will not intervene to stop a shipment of Chinese-made weapons from reaching Zimbabwe, even though the political situation in the neighboring nation is "dire," a government spokesman said Thursday. Spokesman Themba Maseko said as long as administrative papers are in order, South Africa cannot intervene to prevent weapons being transported through its territory to its landlocked neighbor, despite concerns about mounting tensions in Zimbabwe.

But he issued the strongest comment on Zimbabwe so far by the South African government, saying: "When elections are held and results are not released two weeks after, it is obviously of great concern. The situation is dire." The ship, the An Yue Jiang, was anchored just outside Durban harbor after receiving permission late Wednesday to dock.

The Beeld newspaper reported it is carrying nearly 3 million rounds of ammunitions for small arms and AK-47s, about 3,500 mortars and mortar launchers, as well as 1,500 rockets for rocket-propelled grenades. The paper said it had a copy of the ship's cargo documentation, finalized on April 1 -- three days after Zimbabwe's election.

A South African government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed that there were weapons on board but gave no further details. Durban port authorities and police explosives inspectors could not be reached for comment. Defense Secretary January Masilela confirmed to South African radio that the National Conventional Arms Control Committee granted approval for the transit of the weapons.

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Zimbabwe Arms Shipped by China Spark an Uproar
April 19, 2008 — A Chinese ship loaded with armaments for Zimbabwe steamed into the port of Durban this week and set off a political firefight, putting newfound pressure on South Africa — and now China — to reduce support for Zimbabwe’s government as it cracks down on its rivals after a disputed election.

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Dock workers at the port, backed by South Africa’s powerful unions, refused to unload the ammunition and weapons on Friday, vowing protests and threatening violence if the government tried to do it without them. Meanwhile, the Anglican archbishop of the province appealed to South Africa’s High Court to bar transporting the arms across South Africa, arguing that they were likely to be used to repress Zimbabweans. The court agreed, and by late Friday the ship had pulled up anchor and set sail.

The arms shipment was ordered from China before the elections, but its arrival amid Zimbabwe’s political crisis illuminated deep fissures within South Africa over how to respond, and brought new scrutiny on China at a time when its human rights record is already under fire for suppressing protesters in Tibet and supplying arms to the government of Sudan. Three weeks after Zimbabwe’s presidential election, officials there have yet to announce the outcome. Independent monitors believe the governing party trailed behind its main rival, the Movement for Democratic Change, but the government has responded by systematically beating, arresting and harassing its opponents, human rights groups say.

The Chinese ship, packed with ammunition, rockets and mortar bombs, quickly became a symbol of clashing approaches to the Zimbabwean dilemma: Should South Africa confront Zimbabwe’s autocratic president, Robert Mugabe, in power for 28 years, or continue to pursue the policy of quiet diplomacy that has drawn international criticism? For China, long an ally of Mr. Mugabe’s, the opening of a new front of controversy is equally thorny. Despite its sensitivity to criticism as it prepares to hold the Olympic Games this summer, it is wooing African nations in hopes of building its diplomatic clout and securing access to minerals and other resources.

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waltky · 04-22-2008, 03:28 AM

Fearless W gonna put a stop to it after they do an end run through Angola...

Washington Hopes To Block Chinese Arms Bound to Zimbabwe
April 21, 2008 - U.S. diplomats hope to prevent a Chinese ship loaded with weapons from reaching Zimbabwe for fear President Robert Mugabe will use the arms to clamp down on opposition.

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The U.S. State Department's top envoy to Africa, Jendayi Frazer, is visiting Africa this week to put pressure on South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola to prevent the ship from docking. Reports says the An Yue Jiang, loaded with large amounts of weapons and ammunition, was prevented from docking at South African and Mozambique. Intelligence agencies tracking the ship say it is enroute to Namibia for refueling before heading to Angola.

Washington is concerned the weapons, which include mortar grenades and bullets, will be used by Mugabe's security forces to expand its clampdown against the opposition which have been protesting the latest election results.

Kurtis Cooper, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, on Monday endorsed the position taken by South Africa's main trade union confederation, which called on workers in other African countries not to allow the Chinese vessel to unload or transport its cargo. Cooper said the electoral crisis in Zimbabwe is a serious matter and that fears the weapons could be used against opposition party members are valid concerns.

Washington Hopes To Block Chinese Arms Bound to Zimbabwe | April 22, 2008 | AHN

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Crisis Leaves Zimbabweans Hungry, Beaten
April 22, 2008 - Election Results Still Hidden, Opposition Claims Brutal Crackdown, World Slow To Help

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The opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change says Zimbabwe is a war zone. The MDC claims 10 of its supporters have been killed by President Robert Mugabe's henchmen, more than 500 attacked, 400 arrested and more than 3,000 families displaced. Several MDC supporters in hiding described to CBS News seeing camps set up by military officers and members of youth militias. The claims are confirmed by a report released on Saturday by Human Rights Watch, which said "torture camps" had been set up in rural areas.

Three weeks after the March 29 election, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not released the results of the presidential race. The MDC has lost repeated appeals to the High Court to force the commission to announce the results. Instead, the commission has begun recounting votes in 23 districts, where Mugabe's ZANU PF party claims there were counting irregularities. Government soldiers went into the electoral centre last week and removed the ballot boxes. No independent observers were allowed to remain with the boxes or given any information about a possible recount. There has been no further information on the location or security of the ballot boxes since.

Help From A Neighbor:

Across the border in South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has decided to circumvent President Mbeki and deal directly with the players in the Zimbabwe crisis. The move came after Mbeki said there was no crisis in Zimbabwe, following a meeting eight days ago with his long-time ally Mugabe. Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said his party had decided to dump Mbeki as chief mediator in the crisis. Tsvangirai has asked the Southern African Development Community to recall Mbeki as the organization's negotiator.

More Crisis Leaves Zimbabweans Hungry, Beaten, Election Results Still Hidden, Opposition Claims Brutal Crackdown, World Slow To Help - CBS News

waltky · 05-30-2008, 05:31 PM

President for life...

Robert Mugabe will never leave office: Wife
30 May 2008, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe will never leave his office nor will he hand over power to Morgan Tsvangirai even if the Opposition Leader wins the presidential run-off slated for next month, his wife has said.

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Grace Mugabe, 40 years her husband's junior, told ruling Zanu-PF party loyalists that Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would not be allowed to take power in the African nation under any circumstances. "Even if people vote for the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai will never step foot inside State House. He will only get to hear about what it looks like inside State House from people who have been there.

"Even if Baba (Mugabe) loses, he will only leave State House to make way for someone from Zanu-PF," British newspaper The Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying. Grace Mugabe's comments came after she accompanied her husband to the rural area of Shamva, north-east of Harare, to tour a homestead the government claimed was burned down by MDC followers.

"What we saw really touched us. We are not animals but humans. If you burn down someone's house you want to destroy their life. We want to warn the MDC they'd stop immediately this barbaric campaign of burning and destroying people's homes," the Zimbabwean President said.

While Mugabe has laid the blame for post-election violence at the feet of the MDC, the United Nations and other human rights group claim that Zanu-PF is responsible for the lion's share. The opposition MDC maintains that at least 50 of its activists and supporters have been killed by Mugabe's thugs, with many more being been beaten and burned out of their homes.

Source

waltky · 06-24-2008, 09:00 AM

Oh, yea, like the UN is going to do something about it...

US says Mugabe government illegitimate - wants UN action
Monday 23rd June, 2008 - The United States said Monday the government of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe cannot be considered legitimate in the absence of a presidential runoff election.

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In the wake of opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's forced departure from the campaign, the Bush administration is pushing for action in the U.N. Security Council. The State Department is expressing understanding for Mr. Tsvangirai's decision to quit the race, and deep disappointment that the Mugabe government made a free and fair runoff election impossible with its violent campaign against the opposition.

In a written statement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it is abundantly clear that President Mugabe is determined to thwart the will of the Zimbabwean people, and that the United States condemns the violence in the strongest terms. Rice said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party must work together on behalf of the Zimbabwean people and said the Mugabe government 'cannot be considered legitimate' in the absence of a runoff.

The Secretary further said Mr. Mugabe and his government have forsaken the most basic tenet of government, the protection of its people, and must be held accountable by the international community. In a talk with reporters, State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said that Rice's remark about the legitimacy of the Mugabe government is a statement of the obvious, given the situation.

'Can we stop with the legal niceties here? This is a government that has no legitimacy in the eyes of its people, in the eyes of the United States or in the eyes of the international community absent a free and fair election,' he said. 'That's what it means. And whether there will be policy consequences to that or not depends on the action that this government takes in light of our statements, in light of actions in the Security Council, and in light of the discussions they're having with other regional leaders.'

More US says Mugabe government illegitimate-wants UN action

waltky · 09-28-2008, 03:50 AM

Zimbabwe in food crisis...

New PM: Zimbabwe facing starvation
September 27, 2008 -- New PM: Zimbabwe urgently needs government to address food crisis; Robert Mugabe blames country's economic collapse on sanctions

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Zimbabwe urgently needs to form a new government in order to address a food crisis in the nation and prevent starvation, newly designated Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told reporters Saturday. Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said there was a "deepening food insecurity" in the country. "We need to respond to this crisis with utmost urgency," he said. "It is therefore imperative that a government be formed in the next few days and begins to implement plans to insure that our people have food and do not die of starvation." Zimbabwe industries are operating at about 10 percent of capacity, and the food and manufacturing industry will not be able to deliver sufficient food supplies to markets.

Tsvangirai signed a power sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe on September 15 but the two have not yet agreed on the distribution of Cabinet posts. Earlier this week, Mugabe told the press that only four posts were still to be agreed on. But Tsvangirai said in response, "I think to minimize the remaining issues to only four issues, it is to underplay the whole process. The issue is that the negotiation must be concluded I think the matter will be solved once all the principals are back in the country." Mugabe has been in the United States for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. He is expected back in the country after Saturday.

Zimbabwe has been facing a collapsing economy for nearly a decade, and is plagued with high unemployment, food shortages and at least 80 percent of the population living below the poverty line. This has been accompanied by dizzying levels of inflation -- now officially at 11.2 million percent, the highest in the world. Once an exporter of food, Zimbabwe has been a net importer of food since 2000, when Mugabe's government embarked on a controversial and violent land reform program that displaced some experienced commercial farmers, most of them of European origin. Tsvangirai said he has consulted with food security experts and was told the country needs to import 800,000 tons of maize (corn) to avoid starvation until the next harvest in April.

New PM: Zimbabwe facing starvation - CNN.com