Mugabe is a "gandanga" requiring other tactics!

From  nyatsimba_mutota@yahoo.com  
My problem is with employing "tabloid tactics" to bring down Gandanga fanika Mugabe. Now all we see are these so called "analytical" stories that carry too many inconsistencies, misconceptions and even lies. Its a joke to write about Zimbabwe to a Zimbabwean audience and put it wrong. It destroys the whole credibility about the article. This is why we have a serious gap between Africa and the west when it comes to Mugabe/Zimbabwe because such a story lacking in factual truth can fly abroad but not in Africa and SA. I mean tabloids tactics just embarass you, but I would like to see how a gandanga is being embarassed by most of these stories. Maybe Madonna will give up the baby, but even she goes on with her life.

It seems we seem to forget the basics of who we are and how we live when it comes to our own country. Perhaps its because we live in foreign countries, perhaps its because siding with western powers and media is the way to go, but what really does it do to Mugabe save for the fact that such stories add more coffers and time to organizations working in Zim?

When people talk of hunger at home, they do not talk of maize from white farms. Our population is mainly rural with more than 70% living in rural areas. The other 15-20% in town actually rely on subsistence farming for food so what really affects these people is drought not land redistribution. I mean we have had 2 serious droughts before with white farmers in place so whats new?

"The suggestion that drought was and is the cause of crop failures has been proved to be a false story put about by Mugabe in order to account for famine in Zimbabwe. Craig Richardson (Associate Professor of Economics at Salem College in the United States) in a comprehensive independent report tabled at the United Nations, proves conclusively that the only ‘drought’ in recent times was in 2001-2002."

The problem in Zimbabwe is leadership. We do not have concensus in what we want and how we want it. How to move and who we are as a people. We want land reform only in theory not practice. We want democracy in theory and only if democracy means removing Mugabe.

A lot of you Zim guys in SA even think that white people is the answer because you have not been exposed to the notion of doing it for yourself. Most of you attacked Arthur until you beat him into a pulp only for Biti and company to start having HOTEL rallies with Robertson and Robinson. Only for Biti and company to start calling for companies like Barclays to pull out! And we still Mugabe rigs the elections? Who in their right frame of minds would tolerate such nonsense?

In as much as I think its good to solicit for funding, we need to do so with firm understanding, belief and strong will of who we are and what we want as people. Tiri kufarira n'anga neinokwira mai!

I think this is a misguided perception!

Itayi Garande 20.JAN.07

Foreign powers cannot "impose" political or economic solutions on Zimbabwe, a senior Mozambique official said today. "Each time you try to impose a solution from the outside, the results most of the time are not what we like," Henrique Banze, the Mozambique's deputy foreign minister, said.

"We cannot define a plan for them although we are indirectly affected. They have to design it and come to us." Banze said Mozambique was frustrated with its inability to get Mugabe's government to embrace negotiations with political opponents, but he added that the former Portuguese colony would continue to apply diplomatic pressure on Harare.

In 2004 Mugabe rejected a United Nations proposal that would have seen Joaqim Chissano, the ex-Mozambican President, mediate between Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Zimbabwe's economy, once one of the most promising in Africa, is suffering from a lengthy recession marked by high unemployment, chronic shortages of fuel and food and an inflation rate of 1,281%, the world's highest.

Some Zimbabweans moved to SA in search of work The crisis, which critics blame on mismanagement by government of Robert Mugabe has disrupted trade links in southern Africa and led many Zimbabweans to move to Mozambique, South Africa and other countries in search of work.

Zimbabwe is Mozambique's second largest trading partner in Africa after South Africa.

 

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I, Mufaro Stig Hove, think its completely stupid to think that the Zimbos need a "Foreigner" to confuse them.

There is no freedom of speech in Zimbabwe.

No-one can suggets anything in Zimbabwe.

There is P.O.S.A. and A.I.P.P.A and so one can only "hear" Zimbos on Radio Stations like SWRADIOAFRICA, V.O.P., and STUDIO 7 (VoAmerica.)

What this means is:

No idiot should say "foreigners...blah...blah..." when no Zim can suggets anything!

I hope I'm making myself clear (inspite of my emotion.)

Rev M S Hove....The Radical Soldier.

Cell: 0791463039 mufarostig@yahoo.co.uk

Message from the "Concerned Zimbabweans Abroad!"

Mugabe is planning another clean -up. This is very unfortunate but I believe
will send a strong messege to the United Nations for its failure to make a
follow up of Anna Tibaijuka's damning report.
Why is nobody doing nothing to stop the madaness that has gripped our
country? On Monday, the chairman of SADC was in Britain and was confronted
by the courageous Free Zim Youths on the plans he had on countries like
Zimbabwe. The reply was wishie washie.He just chewed his words and by the
end of his replying statement, he had actually said nothing.
Who then shall save our nation? Demonstrations are met with live bullets,
beatings and torture. I believe it is time we admit that we have failed to
remove Mugabe democratically. So what now?
We need to stop another tsunami sweeping over our country. In the previous
so called clean-up, children were killed, people got hurt, families broke
up, many were forced into exile and some had to move into the rural areas to
do nothing except retire at tenage stages. As untrained youths, what would
one expect then to do in tyhe rural areas.
We in the diaspora have to act now and thwart any moves by Mugabe to destroy
peple's homes again. I want to believe President Thabo Mbeki could act as
the pivot to thwart the moves by the tyrant to get more people out of the
country.
As CONCERNED ZIMBABWEANS ABROAD, we have already delivered a letter to the
president of S.Africa citing our concerns over the move by the Zimbabwean
governement to destroy more homes and the livelihoods of the poor.
It is very unfortunate that no neighbouring country is prepared to help us
equip ourselves militarily. Not even any other country in Africa. We believe
this is the only option left, if we do not have to wait till he is on the
hearse to the Heroes Acre.
Where many are going wrong is that they think that Mugabe holds all power.
It is a wrong assumption to make. The people hold the power and it is they
who have allowed Mugabe to do what he has done. Many of the people have
actively assisted in destroying the country. For a start, many actively
assisted Mugabe destroy Zimbabwe's food security and supoporting
infrastructure. In this way, they handed their power to Mugabe. Now the
people have to beg Mugabe to provide food to feed their children. It is
inconceiveable to imagine that a nation would not only allow, but its
citizens would actively partake in destroying a country's entire future. We
have brought this upon ourselves. If only we could take the time to look at
ourselves in the mirror and acknowledged this one fact, then maybe we will
finally take full responsibility upon our shoulders and, as individuals, do
something about it. Unfortunately, we are nowhere near the point of
recognising our collective irresponsibility.
There are many things that can be done to speed up change towards a
prosperous and happy Zimbabwe. Of that, we have no doubt. Our future is in
our hands. The problem right now is that we have become totemless and behave
like servants, not citizens.
Jay Jay Sibanda
CONCERNED ZIMBABWEANS ABROAD ( 072 363 0700 )

Zimpolitics opposed to Opposition Unification!

Opposition Unification

The most Zanu like idea and non democratic idea there is!
How do you call yourselves democratic yet embarking on a non democratic
promotional campaign? Anyone who is calling themselves academic or
politician seem to not understand what democracy stands for. What is this
idea about removing choice?
I know and understand what the current administration under Mugabe has not
performed as well as expected and corruption and all that is destructive to
the nation has taken place. We still should not be obsessed by Robert
Mugabe. The focus on the president has taken energy and the ability to be
innovative and creative (which was lacking already). It is not necessarily
the inability for a president to run the country that takes a nation to what
Zimbabwe is and going. It is the millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
Running from their responsibilities. As thinkers and innovators, businessman
and civic organizations should have been creating an environment that is not
conducive to corruption and perpetuation of incompetence.

A coalition is the road to a one party state. Mutambara and Tsvangirai
should remain separate one or two more parties should join the field and
citizens should be educated to vote their conscience and not what someone
else think is the way to go. Mugabe can rule till he dies if Zimbabwean vote
for him. And they should be allowed to vote for him if that is what they
prefer. It is the members of paliament that matter. As long as the president
does not have a majority and the constitution is followed and is for the
people, one should not obsess on Mugabe. If there are crimes committed with
a majority that is not Zanu then Justice should and will take its course.

It however appears to me that until the nation reeds itself of these Zanu
like propensities we are destined to be like Kenya and the rest of the
African States. Change from one dictator to another. As it is we all know
that Tsvangirai and his predecessor from the other group are dictators in
the making.

Businesses need to create jobs, legislators and civic organizations need to
teach job skills and help start small businesses.

Civic organizations in Zimbabwe are little businesses that founders use to
finance their businesses and feed their families rather than do what they
have put themselves to be representing.

As much as mugabe is to blame for the state of the nation, it is time to get
over him already and quit the obsession. We have a judicial system. It may
not be were we want it to be but we have one. Gukura hundi for instance --
We can start prosecuting and filing civil suits and ask the international
courts to start indicting the lowest ranking soldiers that we all know for a
fact that they carried out the atrocities and follow the chain of command
from there. A lot of these will not want to go down on their own so they
will rat on the others and we follow the trail to Mugabe or at least someone
higher up the chain. We can do this with everything - the media, city
council, labor etc.

Lets do something that works and quit the finger pointing and obsessing on
Mugabe. He may die in power and no one will know what to obsess on when he
is gone. Leading to another state of paralysis.
4:16 AM, January 17, 2007
Zimpolitics can be found on www.zimpolitics.blogspot.com .

"GUKURAHUNDI RE-VISITED!"

Compiled by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe, March
1997
<http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pix/mugabefrail.cut-copy.jpg> REPORT ON
THE 80S ATROCITIES IN MATABELELAND AND THE MIDLANDS
<http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pix/mugabefrail.cut-copy.jpg>

THE DAMNING EVIDENCE THEY DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SEE

Please kindly note the whole Report is now available on
<http://www.gukurahundi.blogspot.com> www.gukurahundi.blogspot.com

All the material has been got from <http://www.newzimbabwe.com>
www.newzimbabwe.com

and is fully ackowledged.

Rev M S Hove....The Radical Soldier.Cell: 0791463039 RSA.

_____

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Please click below then go to "Call-back" of Week-end 13 Jan, 2007.

http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/archives.php

Thanks.

M S Hove...Rev.

Cell: 0791463039 RSA.

Please listen to SWRADIOAFRICA on Sat evening!

I've been recorded by SWRADIOAFRICA for "CALLBACK" and it will be aired on
Saturday Evening at about 19.10 Zim time.

If you miss it, click on www.swradioafrica.com and go "Archives".

There go to "Sat 14th January, 2007" and click on "Callback."

Their "archives" is kept for 14 days so you can get it even up to the 27th
of Jan.

But, of course, listen to the said Station every evening.

God bless us all!

The Radical Mindset.

A disclaimer:

If I post any views I get from the members of the public, IT DOES NOT MEAN I
AGRRE WITH THEM!

Its only Democracy at work!

Your duty is to contribute to that debate and present your views.

Thank you.

The Radical Mindset.

From the Radical's In-box:

From: CHANDA MATEMAI [mailto:nyamuhumbe@yahoo.com]

Hi,
Its nice that some people out there see things without blindfolds.
Only a man with stature can unsit undoubtedly a true Hero of Zim, Africa and
the world over, Comrade, Commandant (Cubans say), RG Mugabe.Its only that
too many enemies are ganging around him.Tsvangirai stands no chance at all,
all the dead in Zim will turn in their graves.
Mugabe has set the Standard and quality of a leader that ZIM should have and
deserves.Kwete vanaTsvangison, ngavaende vanofudza mombe, or to join
maDiasporan on menial jobs to survive, its better that way, than to be paid
for destroying what some men are building.

nyamuhumbe@yahoo.com

Setting the Zimbabwean Agenda for 2007:

Reflections from the Opposition
5^th January 2007; Harare, Zimbabwe

The National Mandate
Zimbabwe enters 2007 still embroiled in a crisis that has both political and socio-economic manifestations. The economic aspects are inextricably linked to the political matters. We are tired of describing the pain of our people. Our challenge and obsession should be on redemptive action: What should be done in 2007? We need to focus on the nexus between politics and economics in identifying lessons from the past as we chart a path into the future. We have a duty and obligation to confront our plight as a nation, and deliver change. We owe it to posterity.

The Political Agenda
The democratic forces in Zimbabwe must take stock of the effectiveness of their efforts in 2006. There is need for clarity on what works and that which does not. It must be understood within the opposition that there is absolutely no alternative to working together. Self-serving bickering and infighting among the democratic forces must be shunned. All political leaders must put national interest before self interest. The two MDC formations have neither monopoly of political wisdom, nor the immutable right to represent the people of Zimbabwe. In 2007 they must quickly resolve and achieve a framework of effective cooperation. If they do not accomplish this as a matter of urgency, the people of Zimbabwe must reject them completely and develop other alternatives. In 2007, it is shape up or ship out.

The people of Zimbabwe must not brook any nonsense that serves the interest of the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe. They must not accept a dysfunctional opposition that seizes defeat from the jaws of victory. None of the political leaders in the opposition are indispensable. Zimbabwe is not short of capable leaders. In any case, leadership is about creating leaders, not followers. All of the current leaders in the opposition can be replaced, and the struggle will continue unabated. The leadership of the two MDC formations must accept this without equivocation. They must pledge to put national interest before misguided personal ambition. There is need to re-energize the core opposition supporters while inspiring and attracting non-core constituencies.

It must be clearly understood that the cooperation of the two MDC formations is a necessary but not sufficient condition for democratic change in Zimbabwe. Even if reunification of the two MDC formations is achieved, it is not enough, to dislodge ZANU (PF). We have to grow the democratic forces beyond the traditional MDC support base. This should be done by attracting reform minded people from within ZANU (PF), other political parties, and those who are not currently in active party politics. Furthermore there should be enhanced cooperation with Zimbabwe civic society organizations, thus unlocking synergies amongst all democratic forces. Organizations such as NCA, Crisis Coalition, ZCTU, ZINASU, WOZA, MOZA, Women Coalition, and the Churches have shown spectacular courage under vicious attacks.

A results driven, broad based democratization alliance should be established. This should be characterized by inclusiveness, transparency, agenda clarity, effective communication, and sustained collusive efforts and activities. Isolated individual acts of defiance, grand standing, sectarian glory seeking, publicity stunts, pursuit of partisan credit, and legitimacy competition should not be tolerated. The agenda should be the immediate democratization of Zimbabwe through effective, collective and direct action. The experiences from Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, and elsewhere clearly demonstrate that the opposition has to break the ruling party before it can contemplate success in an uneven political playing field such as ours. The opposition has to break and destroy ZANU (PF), both as an institution and a culture, as part of our strategy to victory.

The dissension in ZANU (PF) over Mugabe’s intention to extend his misrule has presented a unique opportunity to build a national consensus for change. As the opposition we cannot even begin to work on this momentous task when we are a bunch of bickering self-destructive democratic forces. Shame on us! In 2007 things have to be drastically different. We have to quickly put the opposition house in order. Only then can we be relevant and effective in the democratization of our country.

While the apparent discontent in ZANU (PF) should be leveraged, the opposition forces should not base their strategy solely on this aspect. Why would the opposition bank on ZANU (PF) authoring its own destruction? We cannot pin our hopes on 10 ZANU (PF) MPs rebelling in Parliament to support the 41 MDC MPs in blocking insecure and incompetent Robert Mugabe’s insatiable lust for power. The fight has to be broader than participating in ZANU (PF) institutions. In 2007 we will take the struggle to the streets, villages, valleys, and jails of Zimbabwe. We must defeat Mugabe and his bootlickers with or without ZANU (PF) dissension. We should never allow the people’s revolution to depend on those ZANU (PF) cowards who are, for all intents and purposes, Mugabe’s wives.

We believe that the ideal framework for our struggle in Zimbabwe is that we should fight for a people driven democratic constitution before any future elections, followed by an internationally supervised national plebiscite. In 2007 we will pursue this objective by any means necessary. We will not respect any unjust and criminal laws. We will not allow the dictatorship to prescribe to us how we should fight it. We will set the agenda and determine the arena and instruments of combat. The opposition must now lead from the front, by setting the agenda, and not merely responding to ZANU (PF) projects. In addition to participating in electoral and institutional processes we will embrace all forms of democratic resistance. We intend to bring this regime to its knees. 2007 is the year of the people’s revolution.

As we pursue the agenda of a new constitution and internationally supervised elections, we should not be naïve and too idealistic. We must have a plan B. Zimbabwean national elections could be held in 2008 or 2010 before a new constitution, and without international supervision. It is hence imperative for us to clearly understand the current flawed and uneven electoral processes. The issue for us is to clearly establish how they are abused and manipulated, and thus develop anti-rigging mechanisms. In addition we need to carry out comprehensive voter education and registration, protect and guarantee secrecy of the vote, train effective polling agents, and establish functioning party structures throughout the country. The challenge should be; how do we make the flawed electoral processes and institutions work for us? How can we use the rules and laws of the dictator against the dictator? If, for example, the voter turnout was more than 70% in every constituency, and the opposition garners more than 80% of that vote while deploying effective polling agents, it will be very difficult for ZANU (PF) to manipulate such results. One of the rigging opportunities for the regime lies in manipulating the unspent vote and the narrow margins of opposition victory in some constituencies. Thus our challenge in this illustration is: How does the opposition ensure that there is 70% voter turnout throughout the country and that 80% of those voters are against the regime? Only a united, all-embracing, but focused and disciplined opposition can even begin to address this challenge. The struggle in Zimbabwe requires inspiring and transforming leadership, innovation, creativity, and thought leadership. It can not be business as usual.

The Economic Agenda
On the economy the opposition must debate and establish clarity and consensus around their economic vision and its corresponding strategy. In the year 2007 as a country we must establish what we want to be known for; our national brand. In order to establish a globally competitive economy the notion of country branding is vital. We must seek to be known for clean and competent government, efficiency and commitment to excellence. This will attract and retain both domestic and foreign investment. Investors should do business with Zimbabwe because they know that the government is clean, competent and transparent. Our laws should be predictable and not selectively applied. There must be demonstrable respect for property rights, the rule of law, and security of tenure. We must be known for meritocracy; i.e., Zimbabwean life chances and business opportunities must be based on talent and ability. Foreign and domestic investors can bid for projects not on the basis of patronage but on merit. For all our citizens, we must guarantee equal opportunity, not necessarily equal outcomes. It takes time to build a country brand. The starting point is that we must have a country, products, and services worth branding. We must be “famous for something” and focus on brand delivery, not advertising slogans. There is need to find the brand-building triggers, and make these happen. Once a country’s brand is damaged and compromised, its global competitiveness is severely undermined. The ZANU (PF) regime has immensely damaged the Zimbabwean brand. In 2007 we have to embark on a Zimbabwean brand development strategy. The stage for country’s branding on a global scale is already well laid out with the large number of successful Zimbabwean professional and business people in significant and strategic locations across the globe. These are the vehicles for marketing a branded global Zimbabwe.

We need to develop and own our economic models. The starting point is learning from those countries that have successfully transformed their economies such as Mauritius, Ghana, Singapore, Malaysia, India and China. We must also consider the traditionally strong economies of the US, Western Europe, and Japan. In these case studies we need to focus on the interplay between politics and economics in identifying lessons for high economic growth. More significantly, we should learn from ourselves (inside out approach); our local business experience, entrepreneurial instincts, work ethic, institutional memory, values, culture, wisdom, and indigenous knowledge systems. We need to understand and leverage our strengths: excellent human capital, strong natural resource base, and robust physical infrastructure. In this way, we can establish our own unique economic signature processes and institutions. Countries adopt industry best practice to stay competitive, but high-performing economies do more. They embrace unique signature processes that reflect their values and strengths. While adoption of global best-practice provides a level playing field, it is necessary but not sufficient. Signature processes, are idiosyncratic, part of national and local institutional culture & heritage; hence very difficult to replicate. A combination of signature processes and global industrial best practice enhances competitiveness and economic performance of a nation.

Innovative and creative strategic thinking must always inform our approach, so that national weaknesses can be turned into opportunities. For example, rather than continuously mourn about the brain drain and how to reverse it, why not think in terms of how we can benefit from the export of human capital and thus build an export industry centered around educational products and services. Under globalization no country can totally reverse the brain drain. We are living in an age of the global citizen and sovereign individual, where geography, national boundaries, and distance are of less significance. The logical conclusion of a completely global economy is a world without national citizens, but global customers. National governments will just be competing service providers. The challenge is how to turn national loss of human capital into an economic opportunity. In 2007 we must think outside the box. In fact, we must think as if there is no box! The thought processes that got us into a crisis cannot constitute the framework of redemption.

For any economic model to work there must be total ownership and buy in by the nation. We cannot borrow economic systems lock, stock and barrel. There has to be customization and adaptation. However, once a national economic model has been designed it cannot be static or stagnant. There must be continuous reinvention, and improvement. It is innovation or death. What makes a nation successful today will not be necessarily effective in the future.

Currently Zimbabwe is completely out of step with the economic vision, value system and frameworks that are being developed regionally and globally. Clearly the dysfunctional Zimbabwe economy cannot be properly integrated into Comesa and SADC, with regional inflation benchmarked at 20% while Zimbabwe experiencing four digit inflation levels. SADC as a grouping will continue to be affected and the success of COMESA is put in jeopardy. Equally significant and important to note is that countries in the region are also experiencing social impacts from mass migration from Zimbabwe into those countries.

It is imperative for SADC and the AU to realize that Zimbabwe’s failure is their demise too. They must understand that when Zimbabwe coughs, SADC catches a cold. Under globalization there is no country that can prosper and stay competitive without effective regional integration. The global survival paradigm is regional economic integration predicated upon regional sovereignty that supersedes national sovereignty. Any economic meltdown in one regional member is catastrophic to the group’s strategic, economic and political interests.

A Clarion Call for Revolution
We remind the generality of the people of Zimbabwe of the saying that “people get a government that they deserve.” Is this ZANU (PF) tyranny, misrule, corruption and economic mismanagement the best leadership this country can offer? Surely Zimbabweans can do far much better than this. The power is within us, to stand up and be counted. We must be masters of our own destiny. This is a clarion call for revolution. Lets all participate in the democratization and economic transformation of our country. History will never absolve us if we abscond. Ask not, how others will change Zimbabwe, but rather what you can do in your own personal way to deliver change. Be a player, not an observer. We must all play a role in the development of political and economic solutions for our country. There is no activity or contribution that is insignificant. 2007 is the year of national action; the year of people driven political and economic change in Zimbabwe. We must restore our sense of duty and national pride; concern ourselves not only with our personal well-being but also the interests of our entire nation. There is strength in unity of purpose and action. That is the only way forward. We all have to be risk takers, and abandon risk aversion. There is nothing as irresponsible as sleeping through a revolution.

The Struggle Continues Unabated.
Defeat is not on the agenda & Victory is certain.
Arthur G.O. Mutambara
MDC President