What a brilliant article this is? This is a well researched piece, full of facts that no one, not even satanists like Zungairwa, Awt, Prem, Brit35, Julhman, Chachacha, Litsho Ka Chirumhanzu and others too numerous to mention, can dispute.

When imperialists get to the business they know best - demonization - the truth is always the casualty. The truth and facts are sacrificed on the Alter for selfish interests.

Ever since I can still recall, I have never heard that there were militias in Iran but today we are constantly bombarded with "facts" that "militias" are beating up peaceful demonstrators. Just like after the Kenyan elections, we are told that "millions" of protesters are on the streets of Teheran in support of the loosing candidate who happen to be a favorite of the imperialists.

In Zimbabwe we continue to be told that there are "Green Bombers" who beat up opposition MDC supporters. Even in cases where MDC thugs commit acts of violence and terror against innocent Zanu-pf supporters, the blame is apportioned to non-existent "Green Bombers" or "Zanu-pf militias".

As Cde Reason Wafawarova rightly put it; "It is time we as Zimbabweans refuse to be distracted from the progress to which we have committed ourselves and we realize that efforts to divide us will only result in the ruin that we saw in the last ten years. That chapter cannot be repeated again. It is time to rebuild and time to re-unite as children of one country bonded by one history and one heritage".

This should be the spirit, the rallying cry in Zimbabwe right now so that we are not distracted from our focus, from our target, from our aim and from our goal - the GOAL TO UNITE OUR PEOPLE, CONSOLIDATE THE GAINS WE HAVE MADE SO FAR AND DEVELOP OUR COUNTRY for the betterment of our people. Our eyes should remain focused on the ball no matter what!!

full of facts? The first word... in caps... "Opinion". More to follow.

To him, "facts" are everything he agrees with, and "opinion" (or its synonym, "lies")is anything he disagrees with. Just a quick primer in translating Stupidese to English.

Rather ironic that this article is trying distract us from the beatings and tortures of Zimbabweans at the hands of the govenrment, by saying that writing about these things themselves are distracting from the GNU.

You can talk as much as you want, but bottom line is that the ZANU PF is an evil incarnation that doesnt give a crap about its own people and is happy to beat and torture and murder them to stay in power, and keep its hand on its illgotten gains.

The world watches everything. Be sure your sins will find you out. The world isnt stupid! The world knows everything, and you cant hide the torture of your own people, and the theft of all of your countries finances!

Total Empowerment!

Simply because you mentioned me (thank you, I appreciate the invitation), I HAD to read the article......

Sadly, there were no significantly real "facts", a lot of interpretations of history though - which is what the Herald usually does to avoid asking why ZANU-PF has not accomplished anything for Zimbabwe despite being in power for almost 30 years!

Tak, was anything the Minister said before she was appointed to government untrue? We don't KNOW whether ZANU-PF had a "hit list" of opponents or not, but their actions following the March '08 election leading up to the June '08 "election" would lead any reasonable person (one of whom we all know you are not) to conclude the suggestion that ZANU-PF did actually have a "hit list" of opponents more plausible than not.

Anyway, you and your ZANU-PF apologists should be flattered these days..... imitation is the SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY..... the Iranians have taken a page from your ZANU-PF playbook..... They falsified an election too, except it doesn't look like they're even going to bother with a sham run-off election. They're seen you one fraud, and raised you another in an grotesque, surrealistic ballet of totalitarian poker!

Oh, by the way, who is now leading El Salvador's government after several democratic elections (despite alleged and proven U.S. "involvement") that were far more transparent and democratic than anything we've seen in Zimbabwe and Iran? What was the "body count" after El Salvador's many elections as compared to current-day Iran and ZImbabwe?

How many people have died of cholera or Iran or El Salvador in the last 18 months?

You want to talk about facts but all you do is rely on obfuscations from the Herald. Instead of blaming others, ask yourself why ZANU-PF/Mugabe inherited a nation of great promise and turned it into the mess it is now? The only common denominator over almost 30 years of post-liberation Zimbabwe is Robert Mugabe/ZANU-PF.

Surely your nation's leaders have not been entirely dependent on the indulgence of donor nations for all 30 years, have they? Then why are things so terrible in ZImbabwe, what sort of self-sufficiency has Robert Mugabge and his cult of personality built in Zimbabwe over 30 years of leadership?

What have they built?................

NOTHING! and the people of Zimbabwe suffer as a result - NOT because anything the "West" has done, but through ZANU-PF/Mugabe's own malfeasance!

Let's put it this way, even if you rig an election like they did in Iran, or if a liberation era party surrenders power (like the Sandinistas) only to win it back in a genuinely free election recently........ Compare that to Zimbabwe and the difference is?.................

Their schools and hospitals didn't close. They didn't have to abandon the sovereign currency. They didn't have 4,000 of their citizens die from an easily preventable/treatable hygenic disease! Their drinking water is generally clean and safe to drink. They haven't had such a large proportion of their population leave the country........

Name for all of us the single greatest achievement of Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF in the last 30 years and then tell us how that "achievement" improved the daily lives of the vast majority of Zimbabweans. ("liberation" doesn't count as a ZANU-PF "achievement" - remember ZAPU?).

Name us a single "achievement that is apparent in Zimbabwe today........ If only Zimbabwe had hopes of their citizens enjoying a quality of life such as they have in El Salvador or Iran!

How "Totally Empowered" is that?

Does it really even matter what the "West" says in our "puppet" press anyway if you are so "Totally Empowered"?

Would a great many of us even be on this board if things were not so egregiously bad in ZImbabwe? Even if there was an "disputed" election, how much would any of us here in the real world even care if the people were well fed, the schools and hospitals were well-staffed and supplied, and if the water was clean and safe to drink?

Those are some of the things that happened in Zimbabwe that enrage so many of us here on this board that are not Zimbabwean! That actually compelled us to post on this board - some of us actually aren't "Rhoadies", but are just outraged at the injustice that is present-day Zimbabwe!

ZImbabwe DID NOT HAVE TO TURN OUT LIKE THIS! How do you defend how the people of Zimbabwe have suffered under ZANU-PF/Mugabe? Why is it always somebody else's fault when somebody here dares to criticize them for how badly they've messed things up?

Even WORSE! They've enriched themselves obscenely despite the vast suffering of the people they supposedly "govern"!

The FACTS of ZANU-PF/Mugabe's stewardship are badly tilted against you. It doesn't matter what we in the "West" say in our press - ZANU-PF has failed to produce ANY improvement for the people of Zimbabwe under the guidance of Comrade Bob.

They've had 30 years to "Totally Empower" Zimbabwe......

Honestly, how do you think they've done?

By the way, I've noticed several new minikers on this board lately.

Welcome.......

I hope we have a constructive (if sometimes maddening) discussion of the present-day state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

AND........ where's Richerson88?

"Total Empowement!"

P.S. I really think what is happening in Iran may actually be a tipping point for Zimbabwe............. ZANU-PF/Mugabe is NOT in as strong a position as Khameini/Ahminidinjiad........

Julman, hope you dont mind me borrowing your "Total Empowerment" slogan.

I love the irony.

Full of facts? more like total fiction just the same as Tokolosh. We all know the herald is just a propaganda machine of ZanuPooF. Tak thinks, o yes I can read the herald on line, poor destitue Tacky, how can he pay his zesa bills with the money he doesn't have or is he running his generator ( which is stolen) with the diesel, ( which he has stolen) from my brothers farm, of which he stole. So i take it, all the reports which have come out of Zimbabwe with video evidence is just made up by the CIA ( who invented homosexualality). In othe words tacky i have one thing to say to you , IDIOT.

The weapons of mass distraction in Zimbabwe is the extended body guard ( The army)of robert mugabe. They go out and distract the population in a violent way whilst the politburo manipult the voting system. Iran has learnt a lot from Bob.

you need to understand that this idiot lives in Australia and is paid by the Herald to write these articles that always have the same 2 themes. They praise Mugabe and Zanu/PF and they condemn the West. How can he possibly understand or have credible comment about what happens in Zimbabwe. If you understand this then they may provide you with the same amusement that they provide me with. They are actually quite a giggle.

First of all, your ENEMIES are expected to say nasty things about you! No surprise there. Your FRIENDS (Chinese, say) on the other hand, are expected to be nice to you. Now, the beastly and bigoted brits are historical and relentless racist ENEMIES of ALL Africans! It therefore does not sit well with them, the fact that the Zim Patriot heroes defeated and dispossess the racist and criminal invaders, and restore African Self-determination and African Lands, Wealth, Resources & Opportunities to their RIGHTFUL African owners.

Chinese own and control Chinese space?

Indians own and control Indian space?

Europeans own and control European space?

Then of course, Africa for Africans! Africa for Africans! Africa for Africans!

So what you are saying is that all Africans living outside of Africa need to return to Africa and give their land that they have bought back....

Like wise all asian people that have land out side of asia have to give it back.

What a load of nonsense!

Omugabe what an insincere moron! Your slogan "Africa for Africans" is bogus so stop your crap. An African is anyone who is born in Africa irrespective of race, colour or creed. "African" is non racial and yet you do not accept those Africans who are white, let alone your very own Zimbabweans who happen to be white. To give you an example, when you talk of "Americans" or "British", you are talking of a huge spectrum of ethnicity of people and to be precise, people from ALL over the world, all existing as one nation. Of course there are racists like you but that is another matter but which does not take away one's place of birth or of naturalization. So don't say something you do not mean or are ignorant of.

Kjrs, Omudognuts cannot see colour at all, cause he hasn't payed his tv liscence, It's all black and white to him. I , myself am a white african as is my father and mother and going back 5 generations, so I am white african. Just as the descendents of Kunte Kinte' are black Americans. ( Roots). These fools don't seem to realise such things.

awt, i thought you appointed one of your own as Minister of home Affairs (the twin) and is he now arresting some of his own. With all the time that these politicians wasted fighting for the Home affairs ministry, it looks like they have no control at all if MDC supporters continue to be arrested on trumped up charges as you allege. Tell your own Minister to wake up and do his job you appointed hime to do, protect MDC supporters. It looks like the other twin is competent in protecting ZPF supporters.