Mugabe unleashes his dogs

Violence and fear mark the new Zanu-PF campaign of retribution

While the world waits for the results of Zimbabwe's presidential election, the people of Zimbabwe don't have to wait for Mugabe's revenge. The defeated President and his defeated party have launched an orgy of violence against known activists and supporters of the successful MDC.

The party youth militia, the so-called war veterans, the secret service agents, all the paramilitary might that Robert Mugabe can call on has been going into action in specifically targeted areas. For the record, here's a loose compilation of the reports coming to me.

People in the rural Matabeleland district are, of course, suffering more than most. I have had reports of intimidation from Plumtree, Binga, Nyamandlovu, Hwange, Insza and Lupane - all areas where it is thought MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai triumphed in the recent polls.

"The war veterans descended upon us yesterday," said Ndabambi Ndlovu, who fled his home in fear of his life. "They demanded that we leave the area, or be killed. They said we had sold out by supporting the opposition, and that we would not be allowed to vote in the re-run."

In Lupane, 600 kilometres south west of Harare, more than a thousand villagers are said to have been assaulted by soldiers using rifle butts. Among the casualties were two Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials. They showed the soldiers their ZEC cards - and were immediately beaten more severely.

The militia are also targeting known supporters of Simba Makoni's bid for the presidency. I'm told that one of his campaign team leaders, Stanley Wolfenden, was raided at his farm in Nyamandlovu, and only barely escaped. He is now in Bulawayo.

In the Midlands town of Gweru four MDC youths were severely injured when assaulted by 13 soldiers and two policemen. One of the youths, Celestine Masvibo, was treated by a local doctor, but the fate of the other three is not known and there are fears they may have been abducted.

In Masvingo province, starving pro-MDC villagers in Zaka West were forced to stand and watch while officials driving a government truck delivering maize made sure the only people who received it were accredited Zanu-PF supporters.

In Murombedzi district youth militias and war veterans are said to have erected road blocks, barricading the way to Chinhoyi. Motorists are being stopped and told to produce Zanu-PF membership cards.

The intimidation is even evident in Harare itself. Residents of the high density suburb Mabvuku-Tafara fled for their lives when heavily armed police descended on the community and began beating people indiscriminately.

This last incident resulted in a choice quotation from Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena. He said: "I have not hear any such news. It must be false as police do not beat innocent civilians."

These have been just a few of the incidents reportedly taking place across Zimbabwe, and the suffering of the targeted and defenceless people puts the problems of our few remaining white farmers into perspective. Nonetheless they remain under severe attack.

According to the Commercial Farmers Union, more than 60 farmers have been evicted in this new wave of land-grabs, most of them white, but apparently two of them black.

CFU president Trevor Gifford said that the scenario was disastrous for the country, which is already expecting its worst maize harvest since independence. "We are expecting less than 300,000 tonnes. It is catastrophic," he said.

Meanwhile in the High Court, Judge Tendai Uchena may have ruled that he has jurisdiction over the election results, and he may have ruled that the matter can be considered urgent. But his ruling on whether the results should be published is still not with us. And latest word is, it may be delayed for several days.

Meanwhile,  the situation can only get worse. Appeals to the international community to intervene fall on deaf ears. Robert Mugabe is refusing to take calls from other African leaders. And depresion and fear amongst those who oppose him grows by the day.

Comments

[McPaul]

As predicted it has started. I wonder if the population of Zimbabwe have enough guts to do something about it this time round?

[Titus]

BeezleBob must go and go now. It's our only hope.

[RMacleod]

It is of little consolation or comfort at the moment to those people in Zimbabwe who are being beaten or killed by Mugabe's thugs but once JACOB ZUMA takes over the reins of power in SA, Mugabe and the top dogs in Zanu PF will be finished off for good.

Below is the latest transcript from the BBC.

South Africa's governing party leader Jacob Zuma has criticised the delay in publishing the results of presidential elections held in Zimbabwe 11 days ago.

Mr Zuma said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) should have announced the results by now.

"I think keeping the nation in suspense, and as you know, the Zimbabwean issue has become an international issue - it is almost keeping the international community in suspense - I don't think it augurs very well," the African National Congress leader said.

Mr Zuma beat President Thabo Mbeki to the leadership of the governing ANC last year, and is favourite to become president new year.

[Kisslaw]

A change for the zimbabweans wil ill them coz up to now,they ave faced wat they did wish to,Pliz mugabe step down dont bring that country lk wea kenya is,its time for the eck to say tha truth.