SW Radio Africa (London)

Zimbabwe: After Sham Election Mugabe Disbands Militia Bases

Lance Guma

4 July 2008


A week after Robert Mugabe's 'smash and grab election,' police in the country were instructed to forcibly close down Zanu PF militia bases. Residents in several suburbs expressed their surprise at police beating up some of the Zanu PF supporters manning the torture camps, telling them their services were no longer required.

Observers say the reasons for these forced closures is that Zanu PF no longer requires these structures of violence, after the election run-off. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa says the whole exercise is a PR campaign to try and make the government look good.

The state media is also flighting adverts from the police, naming perpetrators of violence, such as war vet Gilbert Moyo, known for his terror campaign in the Chegutu area. 7 MDC MP's have also been named for crimes ranging from 'public violence to attempted murder.'

If the government was serious about stopping the violence, they could at any time pick up war vets like Moyo. But what they do is target MDC officials.

MDC Information Director Luke Tamborinyoka reacted angrily to the latest naming of the MDC for crimes, saying this will hurt any chances of dialogue. 'How can we go to the table when half the leadership is either on the run or in police custody.' This week MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai demanded the release of all political prisoners as a pre-condition to any dialogue.

Other analysts argue Mugabe wants to whittle down the opposition's majority in parliament and will continue with his dirty tactics, to achieve this. Under the country's laws an MP convicted of a criminal offence can be expelled from parliament. The MDC has also expressed fears the regime might even consider assassinating their MP's to force by-elections that will be won violently. Since the March 29 first round election, which was won by the MDC, over 103 MDC activists and officials have been assasinated.

Meanwhile Lionel Saungweme our correpondent in Bulawayo reports that over 200 soldiers were involved in an intimidating display of support for Mugabe in the city on Friday.

The soldiers jogged through the city centre wearing pro-Mugabe t-shirts with the slogan '100 percent Empowerment' and while singing liberation war songs. In another attempt at intimidation a police anti-riot tanker parked menacingly outside the MDC offices between 9th Street and George Silundika Avenue.

Read comments. Write your own.

More News on allAfrica.com

Copyright © 2008 SW Radio Africa. 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.

AllAfrica - All the Time
Author: kingswood
Sat Jul 5 23:06:05 2008

“Give me control of the economics of a Country; and I care not who makes her laws” ………………………………… Amsel Rothschield

In the human family there are three psychological types of personalities and most Military generals know of them It is vital to them prior to the physical or financial occupation of a Country or Territory. These three Types are (1) The warrior class ---They by nature will defend their family home land to the death conclusion not very easily defeated uncontrollable (2) The nurturing class ---They will bend and go to great lengths to hold their family and country together ---Conclusion-------(compromisers) not trustworthy (c) The opportunist class-----They are driven only by self interest ,(Controllable) makes excellent surrogates They most often have no scruples and will betray friends, family and country for their own personal gains A predatorily Country will always seek out and collaborate with the their targeted country’s opportunistic class, whom they usually use to destabilize the target Country or state. prior to its financial or physical attack on that country. The Opportunistic class will usually serve their Imperial master interest and themselves. They have no interest in serving the greater good of the state or Country and the citizens in it Always be cognizant to the fact that a countries and its peoples interest are always diametrically apposite and is always in conflict with outside Imperial Interest

"The most diminutive (small) of birds will fight for her young ones in her nest against the owl, all is the fear and nothing is the love…"... Macbeth

May Mother Africa Protect Mugabe…

Author: djoser35
Sun Jul 6 02:13:22 2008

Excellent!

Author: the west
Sun Jul 6 08:34:23 2008

You mean spam! Wouldn't be so bad if it was not copy and pasted every thread! Becomes boring!

Author: reality
Mon Jul 7 07:22:43 2008

You think,speke and write EVIL.

Author: buddhamate
Sun Jul 6 14:12:41 2008

Mr Kingswood,all your comment was able to deliver on a subject like this,was nothing short of tidbits and rhetorical quotes.There is no doubt in my mind that you condone violence and murder as an election tool.I suggest you read such things and use what you learn to give positive perspectives and imput on this tragic situation.


SELECT
SELECT

Topics