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Elections in Zimbabwe, Human rights, Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe, United States, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front
One of the problems in maintaining democracy in third world countries is that heads of states are so tolerant of their erring colleagues in other countries. Mugabe and the ZANU PF regime have survived in part because neighboring states, notably South Africa, have been so reticent to act against him or even to criticize his worst record on human rights abuses. From Mbeki, Motlanthe to Zuma, they have all failed the citizens of Zimbabwe by entertaining Mugabe’s lies and he has taken full advantage of that. There is not one single speech that the old man delivers in which he does not mention that African problems belong to Africans. Clearly, if that is the case, you wonder why African heads of states do not rise up against each other to restore the rule of law and democracy.
By: TAURAI ZUVA – HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
For Mugabe, the road has been both rough and smooth. Rough in the sense that MDC has been creating unwanted problems for him and his regime but also smooth in the sense that there is always a backup plan that lets get his way (violence and torture).
The June 2000 election was marked by violence and intimidation as war veterans, police, army and the CIO turned on MDC supporters. Even so, the new MDC party won 57 out of 120 seats.
The next election was the presidential poll. By that time the regime had set up youth militia and rural areas became no go areas for the opposition. Rape, torture and violence cases were all recorded across the nation by journalists and Human Rights Organisationss from all over the continent. Mugabe went on to win the election and the EU and the US refused to recognize Mugabe’s mandate and Zimbabwe was suspended from the commonwealth. A lot of White farmers lost their land which was rewarded to his loyal regime which had helped him grip on to power.
In 2008, presidential and parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008. The three major candidates were President Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Simba Makoni, an independent candidate who later on formed the Mavambo party.
2008 has so far been the worst election in Zimbabwe as no candidate received an outright majority in the first round according to media reports. After losing the first round of elections and also losing parliamentary seats to opposition, any normal human being in their right state of mind would have stepped aside and paved the way for the victor, but not within Zimbabwe and ZANU PF. This led to a killing rampage ahead of the scheduled second round of the presidential polls.
With the MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai pulling out of the race as a result of violence and torture against his supporters in the June run – off presidential poll, clearly this was the cherry on top of Mugabe’s dessert. This gave ZANU PF an outright majority needed to acquire victory after Mugabe decided to run the race alone despite widespread condemnation.
A government of National Unity was formed on 13 February 2009 after a deal that was brokered by Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa on the 15th of August 2008. This led to the inaugurations of Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister and Thokozani Khupe and Arthur Mutambara as Deputy Prime Ministers. The formation of the inclusive government by Mugabe and Zanu-Pf was only a way of covering up all the torture and violence they had unleashed to the opposition supporters a few months back.
Now with the Mugabe regime calling for elections this year, things will only get worse. The regime has already started bribing voters by enforcing the indigenisation and nationalisation of foreign companies. The old man and his regime claim that it is the empowerment of black people and that it is time to give the wealth of Zimbabwe to the young people of Zimbabwe.
Certainly, even a blind man would notice who the benefactors of all these strategies. Mugabe and his regime account to less than five percent of the population but yet own 95 percent of the country’s wealth a statistic that led them to forcefully take the white owned farmland in Zimbabwe. (1% of the white minority owning 70% of the land) – Very unfair.
To all my Zimbabwean people, remember power lies in your hands. The moment this government starts making decisions that are unpopular with the people, it simply means that there is need for regime change just the same way they did in some parts of the Northern part of Africa.
There is also a lot of people out there who are fooled by Robert Mugabe’s “Zimbabwe will never be a colony again” rhetoric, let me be very clear to you – Robert Mugabe and his cronies have accosted a nation’s vibrant economy for their own personal agendas since the day they emphatically lost a referendum on a new constitution in 2000. They have turned into baboons and greedy bastards who will use anything to keep a solid hold on power.
The struggle will only be resolved when you make your voice be heard. I will stand at summit of the highest mountain until I have been heard. This is a national crisis and we all need to stand up as one voice. MUGABE AND HIS CRONIES MUST GO NOW.
Tonderai said:
Thank you for the post Taurai, the Mugabe regime has destroyed the country out of selfishness. Its up to us the youth of Zimbabwe to stand up against the regime. I admire such courage and come rain come thunder there shall be peace again in our beautiful Zimbabwe. Viva MDC
Sinyoro said:
We all need to rise up to the streets and demonstrate the Lybian style. Mugabe and his fellow murderers will never give up at their own accord. With the proceeds from the diamonds Mugabe feels he does not need any hepl to grip on to power.
Pasi NeZanu said:
How can anyone in his right mind assault someone who is trying to bury their dead right at the cemetery? Kumwe kusakwana hakuite. Where is the common sense gone to in Zimbabwe. My heart bleeds with anger every day and night.
Frank said:
Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has gone, Mubarak has gone, Gbagbo has gone, Muammar Gaddafi is on the verge of collapsing and Mugabe is next. No eveil will go unpunished on earth.
Takunda South Africa said:
ZANU PF is a party of dictators for sure. Let us all keep the pressure on the regime. One day change will come. To all my brothers and sisters keep up the good work and let the whole world know what a murderous party Zanu PF is. Its time for action now.
Madzibaba Zimbabwe said:
@ Frank that is very true Mugabe is next. All these events happening in Africa are sending messages to all these dictators. You guys need to raise your voices from the outside. Its too dangerous to do so from Zimbabwe. An inside job will never work on Mugabe and the international community need to stand up on its feet and say enough is enough.
Paul said:
Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans. Mese imimi munonyepa and you are western puppets. You will all be tracked down and the mighty security forces will be waiting for you. Mugabe will never be toppled. Munangagwa is waiting for you so trade carefully.
Steven Satak said:
As a western puppeteer, let me assure you, Mugabe will go the way of all flesh. And it’s ‘tread carefully’, you illiterate fascist.
changamire said:
you are speaking the truth Taurai,,hope more youth like you are doing the same to secure the futures of the next generation.
Hidden for good said:
Well thought out article young one, the only thing is hide and really hide, this is treasonous in the eyes of the state, there is a bullet set aside for you already. This is not the middle east, where people can drum up support to topple a government. Remember the constitution of Zimbabwe is just two words, “oppression and repression”. I dare you to set foot in my despotic motherland.
Gushungo Ngaaende said:
The winds of change are blowing through to Southern Africa. There are mass protests against King Mswati III in Swaziland at the moment so be warned Zanu PF. All of you shall rot in jail for your crimes against human rights.
Kukura Kurerwa said:
A tyrant is a person who governs oppressively, unjustly, harshly and in a cruel manner and this is exaclty what Zanu PF tyrants are doing. Chihuri, Mugabe, Munangagwa, Chiwenga and Zanu PF you have blood in your hands that will never be washed away. No one can ever save you and the International Court is waiting for you. Who ever thought Saddam would be toppled so your days are numbered and we call upon the international community to do more.
Angry Widow Zambia said:
After loosing my husband in the June 2008 election violence every single day is a nightmare for me. Life is not the same anymore and the wounds keep getting bigger knowing that justice was never served. I am inspired by all you that are standing against the Zanu PF regime. One day justice will be served.
Moyo said:
Its time for Mugabe & co to call it quits. They should focus on national reconciliation and not dehumanising and persecuting their fellow Zimbabweans!
Zimbabwe Ndeyeropa said:
We will never have free and fair elections in Zimbabwe and no one will never intervene in our affairs. Our comrades, solders, police, war veterans will stand by the mighty Gushungo. Tsvangirai will never seat on the crown or set his foot in the state house. Zimbabwe belongs to war veterants and we will be waiting for you all western puppets. Pamberi ne Zanu, Pasi natsvangirai
Tired of Mugabe said:
I wish Mugabe could read this so that he knows how much he is hated by zimbabweans……….mugabe is the biggest enemy of zimbabwe
Yes We Can!!! said:
Yes we can make it happen, Yes we can overthrow the Mugabe regime, Yes the Mugabe regime will rot in jails, Yes there shall be everlasting peace in our Zimbabwe. Watch out Mugabe your days are numbered.
Grace Gono Mugabe said:
Heaven only knows. What we cant see with our own eyes someone up there is watching. The peaceful people of Zimbabwe might not be able to stand up and take arms to destroy you Mugabe but the Lord of the people will judge you one day and punish you accordingly.
Angry Zimbabwean said:
Robert Mugabe, and ZANU PF have become a cleptocrat, a disgrace to those Zimbabweans and all Africans who gave their lives for freedom and equality. It is time for them to go, before even more people are tortured, impoverished or starve to death.
Pasi nevaurayi said:
At 87 one would be expected to be enjoying the last years of life looking after grandchildren or acting as a father figure. But not in Robert Mugabe’s case, instead he spends the taxpayers money travelling around the globe recruiting for master minders to help him plot murders against his own people. Mugabe is a murderer who deserves nothing but death as punishment. We call upon the world to do something against this dictator before more innocent civilians campaigning for change die.
Sekuru Mukwati said:
Mugabe and ZANU PF must learn from what is happenning to other dictators in North Africa. How embarrassing will it be to be captured the way Gbagbo was captured especially after having liberated Zimbabwe from colonial rule. Run away now before your own people come for your blood and wherever you go please take your fellow murderers with you. You know who they are
Soroti said:
Mugabe all the people you killed are turning in their graves calling for justice. Zanu PF is party of violence and crime. People should be allowed to choose their own leadership.
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Claudia said:
It is inspiring to see a lot of people and organisations calling against the Mugabe regime. We also call upon the International community to do more before the situation gets worse. We want free and fair elections in Zimbabwe and crimes commited against hummanity should never go unpunished. All the murderers should be tried and all stollen properties and wealth should be frozen and given back to the people of Zimbabwe. Mugabe’s regime is a racist ragime and is using programmes such as land reform and indiginisation to cover up for the crimes the party is commiting. Zimbabweans should rise up and protest. To save Zimbabwe Mugabe and Zanu must go and never come back
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