Dumisani Muleya
27 March 2008
Johannesburg — ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has put his security forces on alert ahead of elections on Saturday to quell the disturbances that are expected if he wins.
The move reveals anxiety within the corridors of power that there might be anti- government riots similar to those that rocked Kenya after that country's disputed elections in December, if Mugabe and his ruling Zanu (PF) win.
Security sources said Zimbabwe's military and police forces have been told to be ready to act after the poll results because the government fears there could be street protests.
Sources said yesterday Mugabe was most likely to scrape through with at least the required 51% of the vote.
But if Mugabe fails to get 51% there would be a run-off which many analysts say he will lose to either opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai or formed finance minister Simba Makoni. Tsvangirai says Mugabe is likely to rig the elections as he did in 2000 and 2002.
Sources also said Zimbabwe could take delivery of jet fighters from either China or Russia this week to prepare for the feared violence. A team of Russian military experts arrived in Harare this week to discuss delivery.
Zimbabwe has bought arms from Russia and, mostly , China to strengthen its arsenal which was largely depleted by involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo civil war between 1998 and 2002.
The opposition has said there is overwhelming evidence of manipulation of the polls through ballot fraud, voters' roll tampering and gerrymandering. Mugabe's regime denies the charges.
"The army, police and other key security agencies have been put on alert because government fears that there could be an eruption of protests and violence after the elections," a senior government official said.
Opposition and civil society organisations, and SA's African National Congress, have condemned thinly veiled threats of a military coup by pro-Mugabe diehard army generals. Mugabe has warned he would crush any anti-government demonstrations. State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa also said government would deal with protesters.
Police said on Tuesday that they would ruthlessly deal with any anti-Mugabe mass action.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 Business Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
well as i see it no he will not give up the power he craves so much. been born and razed in zimbabwe i have seen the destruction of an emerald land.I even worked for a minister who was up and coming.This particular minister would hang his own grand mother to please Mr Mugabe in fear of the reprisals that would follow if he did not. Mr Mugabe knows that when he is eventually defeated he will be tried and hung for the killing of thousands of people in Matabele land just because they were Matabele and nothing else.I owned a tourist bussiness and traveled around Matabeleland with clients giving them a small taste of the great african culture only to find a village of approx 200 people i visited a week befor was now goneburnt and bulldozed down to nothing . So I have seen the destruction first hand that the 5th brigade is capable of. Zimbabwe is no longer governed by politics it is now a nation of if you the wrong tribe you are nothing but dirt. History is repeating its self tribe against tribe color has nothing to do with it any more except when Mr mugabe doese not get what he wants then its the whites fault. The only thing that really bothers me is when he is beaten and replaced some other country will say you can hide here and enjoy political assylum here spend all those millions you have and die in peace when a country that was self sufficiant now owes the world billons of dollars.He is no better than Saddam Hussien and should be treated as such.
Forgive my submission: But I have had no way of submitting our Message since allAfrica removed their E-mail address due to abusive E-mails: Below is our message: To: The Assignment Editor,
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Representing the Plight of the People of Matabeleland
Who we are? – Our introductory Message and Announcement
We are working as a body called Umhlahlo we Sizwe sika Mthwakazi - The brainchild of the victims of Matabeleland – a people who have endured one of the worst Government sponsored cruelty, ethnic cleansing, suppression and torture- carried out by the Mugabe-ZANU PF Regime of Zimbabwe Agents.
Umhlahlo we Sizwe is an umbrella body of Civic Groups and all Activists of Matabeleland who united in the cause of the truth, morality and justice for all nationals: to help all affected people – ‘Matabeleland minority Groups of all Tribes and Races’.
The Announcement - Requesting immediate Release to the public:
We are requesting all Media and Press Organisations, Groups and individual Journalists to help us publicise our below stated *position ‘preferably before the Zimbabwe Elections of the 29th March 2008.
Our *Position concerning the Zimbabwe Elections due on 29 March 2008 Speaking on behalf of Umhlahlo we Sizwe sika Mthwakazi, our *position concerning the Zimbabwe Election process is that: - We, the people of Matabeleland of all Tribes and Races, wish to make it known that we have nothing to do with the above Zimbabwe Elections.
However we support and wish the huge population of Zimbabwe which now lives in Matabeleland all the best; even as we support all helpless hurting people of Zimbabwe (a country which is also known as Mashonaland) – wishing success. There is a huge population of people from Mashonaland who live in Matabeleland: and we shall always support them whenever we can, in their good attempts.
We also wish if only provisions, in many more countries, should have been created to help Zimbabweans (or Mashonaland nationals) enabling them the environment or premises to Vote: So that (as we have done in Matabeleland) the people from Mashonaland could have been given a chance to make their contribution towards determining the direction of their country – i.e. by being able to vote from wherever they may be outside their country: Considering the fact that millions of them now live abroad outside their country Zimbabwe (or Mashonaland). This help could have been best created in Countries where this population is concentrated; like Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and in the UK: Sadly, the UN and concerned host countries have been silent about enabling the large population of the people of Mashonaland the ability to Vote from these countries. End of Our Announcement.
The Invitation to members of the Press
We wish to inform and invite you to attend our Press Conference which is called to highlight the Plight of the people of Matabeleland And launching the Campaign seeking support and assistance for the Process through which we seek redress.
Pointers to the Press Conference Message are: - (I. & II.)
I. The Remedy to address the Plight of the People of Matabeleland
II. SECURITY 1. Security for the victimised and traumatised people of Matabeleland Due to lack of security, people of Matabeleland, our elders and leaders cannot freely speak – not even about this course of action we are now taking.
2. Security for members of the Press and all professional Media services a. We all know that most Media Bodies have, for a number of years, been officially forbidden by the Mugabe-ZANU PF-Zimbabwe Regime, banned from carrying out Media coverage of whatever has been happening - affecting the people of Matabeleland. b. We, the people of Matabeleland, believe in freedom of the Press. c. And we consider the Media / Press services crucial and helpful to human development and key to every country’s economic success. d. The banning of Press Freedom is a very concerning and discomforting matter to us: and we consider the whole secretive activities detrimental, dangerous and disadvantageous to the survival of the people of Matabeleland.
3. Security for Development - is crucial to us
4. Security for Private Property: Considering many of us have been officially robbed
5. Security for Investment and Security for Investors
6. Security for Tourists and for all foreign nationals
Objectives of the Press Conference We are appealing for assistance and seek support as we embark on a Process - (which shall be covered at the Press Conference) - through which we seek redress to end the humiliating predicament in which we find ourselves.
We (the people of Matabeleland) have endured the worst traumatising experience over a period of no less than 11 decades: (87 years under the Oppressive and Racial Regimes, succeeded in 1980 by the worst Mugabe-ZANU PF Iron-fist rule, which, for almost 30years now - has continued to perpetrate the worst cruel methods upon us using the majority Shona Tribe.
The presenter of this document / Representative of the Process
My name is Sithabiso Primrose Ncube: I am the External Envoy at International level -representing our cause - and presenting the remedy and Process towards addressing the Plight of the People of Matabeleland).
Once again may we appeal to members of the Press / Media, to help publicise our message - of making our *position clear to the International Community - particularly before the end of the Zimbabwe Election process.
Your assistance in announcing the above, your attendance to our Press Conference and your support shall for-ever be sincerely appreciated.
Thank you
Yours faithfully For - The Restoration of the Kingdom of Matabeleland
Ms Sithabiso Primrose Ncube External Envoy
PS. CONTENT a. Our Announcement / Press Release relating to Zimbabwe Elections - 3 Pages b. The Press Conference Schedule of 30-03-08’ on Sunday at 16:00 - 1 Page
To: The Assignment Editor,
We wish to inform and invite your representation at our Press Conference. The Press Conference Purpose, Venue, Date and Directions 1. To present the Remedy which is appropriate to address the Plight of the People of Matabeleland 2. And launching the Campaign seeking support and assistance for the *Process through which we seek redress. The Press Conference and Campaign Launch shall be held in the UK –in the London Borough of Harrow. Harrow is one of the best easily accessible areas in London.
Date: 30th March 2008
Time: 16:00 (4pm) – to 18:00
The Press Conference Venue: The Quality Hotel – which is situated not far from Harrow-on-the Hill Tube Station Transport -Tube & Bus Station: Harrow-on-the Hill - Which is well served by a good Underground/Tube and Bus services The Conference Room: The CHURCHILL - (30m across the main Quality Hotel)
The Speaker: Sithabiso Primrose Ncube The Matebele External Envoy
Please remember to confirm your attendance – either by phone and or E-mail, in order to help us prepare the Room. To confirm your attendance – Please use the below contact details: - E-mail: primrose_rs@yahoo.co.uk Mobile: (VOI) Address: 12-22 Pinner Road, Harrow, Middx, HA1 4HZ. Hotel Telephone: 020 8427 3435 Map and direction - please visit: The Quality Hotel Website on: www.harrowhotel.co.uk
well as i see it no he will not give up the power he craves so much. been born and razed in zimbabwe i have seen the destruction of an emerald land.I even worked for a minister who was up and coming.This particular minister would hang his own grand mother to please Mr Mugabe in fear of the reprisals that would follow if he did not. Mr Mugabe knows that when he is eventually defeated he will be tried and hung for the killing of thousands of people in Matabele land just because they were Matabele and nothing else.I owned a tourist bussiness and traveled around Matabeleland with clients giving them a small taste of the great african culture only to find a village of approx 200 people i visited a week befor was now goneburnt and bulldozed down to nothing . So I have seen the destruction first hand. Zimbabwe is no longer governed by politics it is now a nation of if you the wrong tribe you are nothing but dirt. History is repeating its self tribe against tribe color has nothing to do with it any more except when Mr mugabe doese not get what he wants then its the whites fault. The only thing that really bothers me is when he is beaten and replaced some other country will say you can hide here and enjoy political assylum here spend all those millions you have and die in peace when a country that was self sufficiant now owes the world billons of dollars.He is no better than Saddam Hussien and should be treated as such.
Now that it is clear rigging is to take place and the army has been deployed to quash any protests what next . what should the citizens do ?
t what did he do to Smith when we attained Independencce?He will go quietly I tell you.Lets be civilized.We will loose bloodbaths and chaos by realising this or else he will behave like cat put into a corner.Lets move forward,Mugabe is our Hero!Listen to Dabengwa.Don,t forget there are surrogates like Didymus Mutasa,Chombo,Manyika,Chinotimba.
Does anyone seriously expect Mugabe to step down if he actually by some cosmic accident loses the election? Having troops at the ready should also be seen as just another way he reminds the voters who has the power--and who will keep it regardless of the outcome. --Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds, a novel of the Congo