SW Radio Africa (London)
Tererai Karimakwenda
17 June 2008
Haile Menkerios, the UN assistant secretary general for African affairs, arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday on a critical mission to evaluate the situation on the ground ahead of the presidential runoff poll on June 27th.
On the same day, Robert Mugabe addressed supporters at a rally in Kadoma, threatening to arrest MDC officials for the political violence that has gripped the country. Kadoma residents reported that many were beaten and forced to attend the rally by Mugabe's youth militia.
Reports say Menkerios met with Mugabe on Tuesday in Harare. It is likely that Mugabe conveyed this false information about the violence to the UN official. But the situation on the ground as they met on Tuesday told a different story. More abductions of MDC officials and their families were reported, and observers who arrived last week were informed of the incidents.
Political analyst Dr. John Makumbe said he believes the violence will eventually end, but he believes that it may simply be a ploy by ZANU-PF to create an atmosphere that is not conducive to holding free and fair elections. This would then give Mugabe grounds to postpone the run-off election due next week and extend his governance. Makumbe added that ZANU-PF would then continue to destroy the MDC and to loot whatever wealth is left in the country.
The outspoken analyst said Menkerios will be shown evidence that will prove beyond a doubt that it is indeed ZANU-PF that is sponsoring all the violence. He said there are videos and testimonies from the victims and Menkerios will also be brought to meet some of the injured people being treated.
Makumbe said on Monday that some of the observers in the country were taken to a particular location where they met and spoke with victims of Mugabe's brutality. He would not reveal the location for fear of further victimisation of those who are exposing the truth about the ruling party's thugs.
"At the end of the day the evidence will point to ZANU-PF as the real perpetrators of the violence and thuggery that Mugabe is denying" said Makumbe.
Menkerios is due to stay in Zimbabwe until Friday. It is hoped that he will now meet with MDC officials and visit some of the victims of political violence, if his visit is to reflect the real state of affairs in Zimbabwe.
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I think thats a pretty fair reflection what will probably happen. Zimbabwean MDC supporters will flood into South Africa. More violence in South Africa as the Zimbabweans compete for the very few jobs, and the same will apply to the other bordering countries of South Africa. And the whole SADC will have done nothing to stop it. So they are meeting? What are they going to do? Voice their disapproval again? Very short sighted approach, and they will have the blood on their hands.
This will change nothing, the election is already won by Bob and Zimbabwe will continue it's slide into total anarchy. Nothing can stop it. Not even the death of Bob or half the leadership of the Government. They have too strong a grip on the country. Zimbabwe is headed back into the days of Shaka and the only difference will be that there will be Chinese guns instead of spears. Mbeki, watch South Africa is next. You have 10s of thousands of refugees amongst your millions of poor, both just waiting to rise up and over throw your oh so civilized society. The attacks on foreigners is only the start. I tell the West to keep it's hands off, as it is the only way that Africans will be able to have a made in Africa solution to the problems of Tribal Violence. Let the forests run red with blood, to feed the tree that will be a new Africa emerging out of the dark age to come.