Of Mugabe rhetoric and poverty - by Justice Sibanda

On Thursday 26th of September President Mugabe addressed the General Council of United Nations. In a speech littered with the usual rhetoric and blaming the West for all for Zimbabwe's problems. Our favourite line from his speech was " Our small and peaceful country is threatened daily by covetous and bigoted big powers whose hunger for domination and control of other nations and their resources knows no bounds". Where do you even start breaking down that statement, these big words I am sure would have in the past brought ululations and cheers from Zimbabweans. They now offer very scant consolation or comfort to millions of us whose children go to bed with empty stomachs, million of us who are struggling to send our children to school, the millions of us who dare not speak up for fear of reprisals, the millions of us who are unemployed with no hope for a bright future and the millions of us who are exploited by the few rich elite and earn peanuts that can not see us to the next pay day.

Let me throw a few statistics at you; Contrary to Zanu PF assertions that it has alleviated suffering through the controversial land redistribution exercise and indigenisation, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) poverty analysis report shows grinding poverty has worsened with the rural average consumption per person per month standing at US$4,70, compared to US$87 for urbanites. Poverty currently stalks 62% of the country’s estimated 13 million people, mostly in rural areas and high-density suburbs.

The Zimstat report defines poverty as the prevalence of households or people in households whose consumption expenditure per capita are below the upper line, while extreme poverty represents households whose per capita consumption expenditure falls below the food poverty line (FPL). The Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey (Pices) 2011/2012 says most of the poverty stricken households are resettlement and communal areas.

Matabeleland North is the hardest hit by poverty at 81,7% despite vast natural resources in the province. The province boasts of the largest game park, Hwange National Park, vast coal and gold deposits, tourist attractions including the world-famous Victoria Falls, and cattle ranching.

Mashonaland Central is also stalked by poverty with 75,4% classified as poor while President Robert Mugabe’s home province, Mashonaland West, has poverty levels of 72,4%.

In Matabeleland South, 70,8% are poor while Manicaland, which has rich diamond fields has a 70,6% poverty level, while Mashonaland East and Midlands stand at 67%.
Poverty levels in Masvingo are at 63,7% while the metropolitan provinces have the lowest poverty levels with Harare at 35,7 % and Bulawayo 34,5%.

Of the 62% wallowing in poverty, 16,2% are in extreme poverty while 76% of the rural households are poor compared to 38,2% in urban areas. About 30% of rural people are extremely poor compared to 5,6% in urban areas.

These shocking figures suggest one of the striking legacies of Mugabe’s rule is countrywide poverty, although some mainly an elite in Zanu PF and its connections live lavishly. Before talking about wanting transparency and accountability in the UN Security council, shouldn't we be talking about transparency in your own Government, transparency in our electoral system, stemming and eradicating rampant corruption, making the security forces more accountable to the people, and not a tool of repression and imprisonment of opponents, after-all aren't they there to serve us.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Spare a moment of thought for the victims, families and the nation of Kenya by Kwanele Khupe

Kwanele Khupe

The Government targeting all those who stand up for human rights by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/09/24/beatrice-mtetwas-trial-resumes/

Confidence in the rule of law is at its all time low after a human rights lawyer faces charges of obstructing the course of justices after she demanded to see a warrant before letting  the police search her client's premise. What's alarming is that this was within her rights to ask for a warrant but she is still facing criminal charges.

So what's become apparent is that in a country like Zimbabwe the rule of law does not apply to everyone and the police can operate with no impunity. Just like in animal farm some animals are more equal than others.


Kwanele Khupe

In Zimbabwe it's against the law to express yourself by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/09/24/chiredzi-man-convicted-after-hitting-mugabe-portrait-in-ange

This is sad that even a simple case of justified anger can land you in trouble in Zimbabwe. The insult laws are ridiculous and an infringement of the people's rights of expression. It's pretty obvious that the current regime will go to great lengths to stifle and severely punish any form of dissent. This farcical trial was a complete waste of tax payers money which could've been used for better things.

A letter to Robert Mugabe – Melusi Sibanda

Your Excellency,

33 years ago we entrusted you with the privilege of inspiring and transforming our beautiful country and the lives our wonderful people for the better. However instead of the ‘elevation of lifestyle’ we all yearned for our people and once prosperous country, you have managed to mutate it into a land of misery and unending suffering.

You rig elections, you punish dissent and imprison opponents. You threaten, harass and even shut down media or any organisation that is there to defend human rights and our right to self-governance. You are bigoted.

To establish and maintain your power, you and your cronies practise rampant corruption both in our courts and our economy. You continue systematically terrorize your own people. You do not respect our dignity!

You then criss-cross the world screaming and shouting about how the West has tried and failed to bring you and Zimbabwe down, and how our natural resources are now enriching real Zimbabweans. Since you came in to power you have managed to turn our economy to one based almost entirely on a few natural resources whose value will continue rise and fall based on the prices of world commodities. The resources you speak off are all in the possession of the corrupt and powerful few. These rich few take their profits and out of the country the same way the international companies did. They (you included) have set up base abroad. They (you included) have foreign bank accounts, their children (yours included) all attend foreign schools and universities, and even their health (you included) issues are dealt with abroad. Talk about a lack of faith your own building work – you built your house but sleep outside in-case it collapses.

Meanwhile we as a country are still considered too risky for investment due to our lack of transparency, shortcomings in rule of law and an almost non-existent economy.  Mr President, the diamonds will not last forever, yet you still give your army and the Chinese free reign over what could have been our only way out of this ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe inflicted predicament.

You have destroyed our beautiful land and brought shame and pity to our proud people. You rule by repression and corruption. We have languished and lamented enough at your hands.

Your Excellency – you are tremendous disappointment!

Melusi Sibanda

Human Rights Agenda for President Mugabe – by Justice Sibanda

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/09/04/zimbabwe-human-rights-agenda-president-mugabe

Officially opening Zimbabwe’s first session of the eighth Parliament Tuesday morning, President Robert Mugabe said his administration will complete the job of aligning laws to the new constitution and take steps to improve food production to avert hunger. As we have learnt in the past, talk is cheap when it comes to Mugabe and Zanu-PF's promises.  Along with other Human Rights Organisations we hope Mugabe's government takes concrete steps to fulfill the country's human rights obligations. Human rights watch has identified the following key priorities;

• Reaffirm rights provisions in new constitution

Reaffirm the rights provisions in the new constitution, immediately amend or repeal laws as necessary to bring them in line with the new constitution, and ensure that government officials respect and protect these rights.  

• Ensure accountability for past human rights abuses

Investigate cases of serious abuses, including during the 2008 elections, and prosecute those responsible in accordance with international standards. Those prosecuted should include members of the security forces implicated in killings, arbitrary detention, and torture and other ill-treatment.  Provide appropriate redress to victims of government abuses.

• Uphold Rights of  interested Zimbabweans  and Human Rights Defenders to organize and work in civic affairs

Send a clear public message to Zimbabwe’s people that the new administration will honor its human rights obligations and not interfere with the rights of nongovernmental organizations to freely operate across the country and without fear of harassment, intimidation or arbitrary arrest. 

• Protect Media Freedom

Carry out policies that encourage, not weaken, freedom of the press. Ensure that the rights to freedom of association and assembly are fully realized, and promote free expression and communication. Amend or repeal repressive laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Public Order and Security Act, and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

• Strengthen the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission

Take immediate steps to ensure that the legislation establishing the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission complies fully with international standards. Ensure that the commission has adequate resources and has competent, independent and non-partisan secretariat staff. Expand the commission’s mandate to allow it to investigate human rights abuses in 2008.

The government of Zimbabwe has important legal obligations under African and international human rights treaties that require it to respect the rights to life, bodily integrity, and liberty and security of the person, as well as freedoms of expression, association, and assembly.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

15th of September- International Day of Democracy by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_statement-on-the-international-day-of-democracy/

On the 15th of September the world commemorated the international day of democracy which was established by the United Nations in 2007.

Sadly as the world celebrates ordinary Zimbabweans bemoan the death of democracy and freedom of expression.

Kwanele Khupe

No end to the violence by Kwanele Khupe

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_zanu-pf-supporters-invade-shamrock-farm/

Zanu-pf youths and supporters are on a state sponsored spate of violence and no one is safe. The farm invasions and intimidation have risen and the police are turning a blind eye.

When police are called no arrests are made and the poor civilians of Zimbabwe are the mercy of the Zanu-PF thugs.

Kwanele Khupe

A moment of thought for our Gay, Lesbian and Transgender community in Africa – by Melusi Sibanda

In these days of the Syrian War and the unrest in Egypt we tend to forget the strife of others across the globe suffering from human rights injustices.

 

Today I would like to make a special mention of our Gay, Lesbian and Transgender community in Africa. Our laws, traditions and cultures in Africa criminalise consensual same-sex relations and acts. In many countries those who challenge sexual or gender norms face arbitrary arrest and detention, physical attacks, blackmail or extortion, and discrimination in the areas of employment, education, and access to health care. 

We have Presidents, namely one Mr R G Mugabe (his excellency????), publicly denouncing gays and lesbians as worse than pigs and dogs. In his latest inauguration speech President Robert Mugabe castigated same sex marriage calling it a ‘filthy, filthy, filthy disease’.  He went on to make a reference to the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah, unwittingly re-iterating and re-enforcing his well documented preference of genocide to a pure loving relationships between consenting adults.

This has to change!! We as Human Rights activists have to help to force Africa to wake up and smell the coffee.

That said, I’d like to applaud groups like Gays & Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), OUT and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) for their progressive humans efforts and work. They lead the way through dedication to human rights advocacy on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We have to emulate local and international organisations such as these in order for us to help those with no voices to be heard.

Melusi Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary ROHRZIM Bradford Branch

Mugabe cabinet taking us forward to yesterday

Interesting article and well worth a read by  Luke Tamborinyoka . I can already here the excuses that ZANU-PF have lined up for the inevitable failure of this Cabinet.

http://nehandaradio.com/2013/09/11/mugabe-cabinet-taking-us-forward-to-yesterday/

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch

Post-election retribution continues on those that supported MDC-T

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/09/03/mdc-t-condemns-endless-attacks-on-its-supporters/

Worrying reports are growing about violence against those who voted or supported the opposition of Zanu-PF. The Zanu-Pf militia are on a campaign of violence and intimidation of people as punishment for going against the fraudulent government. In Zimbabwe freedom of expression and democracy are dead and the innocent are constantly suffering.

Crushing Black Imperialism - By Vince Musewe

Fascinating and honest article by  Vince...

http://zimbabweelection.com/2013/09/03/crushing-black-imperialism/

SADC report casts doubt on fairness of Zimbabwe election

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has cast doubt on the fairness of the July 31 elections held in Zimbabwe noting that although they were free and generally credible, some irregularities had cast doubt on fairness.

The SADC observer mission to Zimbabwe was headed by Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe and today they released their report congratulating Zimbabweans for holding free and peaceful elections. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission dominated by Mugabe apologists and former state security operatives, declared Mugabe the winner with 61 per cent of the vote against Tsvangirai with 34 per cent. Tsvangirai refused to accept the result arguing that Mugabe abused his control of the electoral process.

The MDC-T raised issues of a skewed voter registration exercise, a doctored voters’ roll which was kept secret, overprinting of ballot papers (more than 35%), use of fake ink and double voting by Zanu PF supporters. No UV lamps were used to detect removal of visible ink that allowed double voting, use of fake registration slips obtained from Zanu PF officials, high number of assisted voters, and bussing in of people from other constituencies.

Zanu PF threatened to evict resettled families, used soldiers to intimidate villagers, traditional leaders to force bloc voting, abused and monopolised the state media and the chaotic special vote allowed double voting of its supporters.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) who brokered a power sharing deal in 2008 after Mugabe lost elections have called this year’s “free and peaceful” but have avoided saying the election was fair.

The MDC-T meanwhile has demanded a forensic audit of the electoral processes in particular the voters’ roll, the ballot papers, where they were printed, the special vote; voter displacement and voter registration certificates.

The party said it is determined to pursue all peaceful, legal, political, constitutional and diplomatic remedies to resolve the current crisis and once all the remedies have been exhausted, Zimbabweans should be allowed a fresh opportunity to freely and fairly elect a government of their choice.

Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch