MDC unite for presidential race
By Violet Gonda
16 March 2007

The leaders of the opposition and civic groups, who were brutalised by the police this past week, held a press conference as a united group in Harare on Friday. The pro-democracy groups said they would continue with their defiance campaign to force the Mugabe regime to accept the need for democratic reforms, a new constitution and free and fair elections.

This is the first time since the split in 2005 that the two MDC factions have come together and agreed to forge a united framework. The President of the Mutambara faction of the MDC said unity is most important and he will not contest his rival Morgan Tsvangirai in the next election. Mutambara said, “So we are saying Arthur Mutambara will not contest against Morgan Tsvangirai in an election. Morgan Tsvangirai will not contest against Arthur Mutambara in any election.”

He reiterated that all democratic forces won’t be contesting against each other in any election in Zimbabwe but will choose a single candidate to contest against one single enemy - Robert Mugabe.

When asked who will decide or determine on the single candidate, Mutambara responded by saying: “That is a different discussion and Zimbabweans who spent time in the trenches on Sunday, Zimbabweans who spent time in prison cells, Zimbabweans who are brutalised by Mugabe can solve that simple little mathematical problem.” Mutambara added that they were going to manage their differences and concentrate on the common core business of driving Mugabe out.

He said: “So Mugabe and ZANU PF have any illusion that they are facing a divided opposition – we have news for them. We are united in our fight against Mugabe. That is the essence and the meaning of the past six days of defiance.”

Also present at the press conference on Friday was National Constitutional Assembly chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku and Tendai Biti the Secretary General of the Tsvangirai-MDC, who read a speech on behalf of Morgan Tsvangirai who is recuperating at home. The opposition leader who was assaulted severely in police custody could not attend the press conference as he was only discharged from hospital also on Friday. It is reported he sustained a fractured skull. Five other opposition officials, including Grace Kwinjeh and Sekai Holland, are still in hospital at the Avenues Clinic. Scores of opposition activists, together with the leadership, were arrested on Sunday as they attempted to hold a prayer rally in Highfields, Harare.

Mutambara said all the pro-democracy groups reiterated their resolve to work together and to put their weight under the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. Also speaking to us after the press conference Dr Lovemore Madhuku confirmed that the highlight of the press conference was a united voice from the democratic forces.

Despite the severe injuries they suffered at the hands of the police Madhuku said: “We are prepared to face more brutality. We are prepared to pay the ultimate price. And if more and more of us (participate), as is becoming very evident, Mugabe cannot brutalise thousands and thousands of us.”

Dr Madhuku said the regime must be made to accept the need for a new constitution, otherwise elections are meaningless if they are held under the current conditions. He said: “A new constitution will among other things, provide for an anti-rigging mechanism as the rigging machinery, which Mugabe uses, depends on the current constitution.”

The groups hope to see independent institutions that will run elections and an electoral process that will allow international supervision of polls. These provisions are not provided for under the current laws.

Mutambara said they are taking a common position on the 2008 election. “If that election does not come with a new constitution and new electoral laws – we reject that election lock, stock and barrel.”

Tanzanian President grills Mugabe
By Tererai Karimakwenda
16 March, 2007

The images of battered opposition leaders and activists in Zimbabwe are grabbing headlines around the world, bringing strong condemnation of the Mugabe regime. But the man at the centre of it all has remained stubborn, accusing the opposition of initiating violence by attacking the police. It was hoped that a visit by the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to Harare Thursday would help pressure Robert Mugabe to obey the rule of law, but at a press conference after their talks, Mugabe said the West could “go hang.”  Speaking on Al Jazeera TV on Friday Mugabe also threatened diplomats criticising his regime, saying they  would be thrown out.

Observers said the young Tanzanian President looked as if he was in awe of Mugabe, and may have been the wrong choice to take on the defiant dictator. But political analyst and lecturer Dr. John Makumbe said these impressions are incorrect. He described the Tanzanian leader as “a tough cookie.” Makumbe recounted how Kikwete, soon after he was elected, removed the Tanzanian ambassador to Zimbabwe who was seen as a ZANU-PF “boot licker” and replaced him with a much stronger one. Makumbe said Kikwete had grilled Mugabe for 5 hours during his visit. “What SADC leader has ever kept Mugabe’s attention for that long?” he asked.

Makumbe explained that as chairman of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security, Kikwete has the responsibility to deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe, as SADC have finally decided to take the situation more seriously. Observers say he should have also visited the opposition officials who are recovering from police inflicted injuries. Mugabe stated that the Tanzanian president was visiting as a brother and ally, and no details of their discussions were revealed.

More developments came from South Africa where it was reported that Mugabe had been pressured by that country to harmonise presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. This would help South Africa avoid negative publicity during the World Cup in 2010, when parliamentary elections due in Zimbabwe were likely to produce violence. The plan has been criticised by Zimbabwean analysts who said South Africa has maintained a hands-off approach towards the crisis next door, but was now concerned about tourism during the world football finals. The Mail & Guardian newspaper reported that insiders within Zimbabwe’s ruling party said they will use the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to justify the 2008 harmonisation.

Also in South Africa, the Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu had strong words against police brutality in Zimbabwe. He said: “As Africans we should hang our heads in shame,” and “How can what is happening in Zimbabwe elicit hardly a word of concern let alone condemnation from us leaders of Africa?” South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki is one of the leaders Tutu was criticising. According to Associated Press news agency Mbeki used his weekly African National Congress newsletter to urge South Africans to use the annual Human Rights Day next week to address racism in his country. But there was not a mention of Zimbabwe.

In Namibia the National Society for Human Rights held a demonstration Friday to protest what they said was their “government’s disturbing silence on the situation in Zimbabwe.’ NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh said Namibia should make it clear that the human rights, humanitarian and human security situation in Zimbabwe is totally unacceptable. He called upon the SADC region to collectively and publicly reprimand Mugabe, condemn violence and human rights abuses,  and impose additional targeted sanctions against the Mugabe regime.

Five opposition youths arrested and tortured over Bulawayo protests
By Lance Guma
16 March 2007.

Opposition youths in Bulawayo’s Tshabalala suburb barricaded roads and burnt tyres Thursday morning as tension in the country continues to grow following the arrest and torture of MDC leaders. According to Gertrude Mthombeni, shadow secretary for Labour and Social Welfare in the Tsvangirai MDC, the situation in the city is tense with party supporters reacting angrily to the beating by police of party president Morgan Tsvangirai. She says as early as five in the morning youths blocked roads using stones and boulders on the streets of Tshabalala, while others burnt tyres to show their displeasure with the ongoing police brutality.

Riot squads later cleared the roads and arrested five youths. Mthombeni told Newsreel that those arrested have been severely tortured in custody. ‘People are very angry and are reacting in different ways,’ she said. 19 youths were arrested the previous day at the MDC offices in Bulawayo after trying to demonstrate. Police also arrested the former Chief Executive of the banned Daily News, Sam Sipepa Nkomo in the same crackdown. Mthombeni says the group arrested with Nkomo was released Thursday evening. The 5 youths arrested over Thursday’s protest are still in custody.

The police are said to be patrolling several suburbs and approaching any group that numbers more than 3. They are also apparently making arbitrary arrests. In just one week more than 190 activists across the country have been locked up. Its further reported that Zanu PF’s politburo met on Thursday to debate the possibility of imposing a state of emergency. The MDC has already said the fire bombing of police stations in Harare and Gweru was instigated by state security agents and is an attempt to justify imposing a state of emergency. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa has also confirmed that several of their members were arrested over the bombing allegations and are still locked up.

Gweru Mayor Sesel Zvidzai was arrested on Tuesday with 10 others after organising a solidarity demonstration, while in Kwekwe 10 activists were also picked up for demonstrating. On the same day Mutare police arrested 140 MDC activists including the entire Manicaland provincial executive. On Wednesday police in Harare raided the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union offices in the morning and held staff inside against their will. Riot police were also deployed at the MDC Harvest House headquarters following the release of Tsvangirai from custody. 3 student leaders and 3 members of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition were arrested at the magistrates court in Rotten Row for showing solidarity with arrested opposition leaders. All have since been released.

Tandare burial set for Monday in Harare
By Tichaona Sibanda
16 March 2007

It has emerged that the late MDC activist Gift Tandare died from trauma caused by excessive bleeding from a single gunshot wound, amid reports that he will now be buried in Harare and not Mount Darwin.

Tandare’s elder brother Stephen told Newsreel on Friday Gift’s burial is now set for Monday at Granville cemetery just outside Harare. He said they were forced to switch plans for his younger brother’s burial because of unrealistic demands by Chief Kandeya from their home area in Mount Darwin.

Initially the Chief had refused to allow Gift’s family to bury him at Mashanga village on Saturday, on the grounds that he was an MDC activist. Now Chief Kandeya is demanding four head of cattle as payment to allow the deceased to be buried in his area. The elder Tandare feels it is against the family’s principles to pay a chief for the sake of burying his young brother.

‘Instead the decision to bury Gift in Harare has been welcomed with joy as everyone wanted to attend his burial. We’ve been humbled by the generosity and assistance given to us by the MDC. I am sure we have made the right decision,’ said Stephen.

He told us a pathologist’s report stated that Gift lost a lot of blood when he was fatally shot trying to scurry for cover in an attempt to avoid a volley of bullets fired by the police. It is believed police fired a high velocity weapon like an FN or AK assault rifle because the bullet travelled through his body.

‘The bullet entered through his right arm went through his chest causing internal trauma as it ruptured vital organs in his chest before exiting through his left arm. The way it has been explained to me by those with a medical background is that he died instantly and on the spot,’ Stephen said.

Those who have worked with Gift have praised him for his ‘incisive wit’ and said he was a ‘master of detail’ when it came to party activities. A well-known figure in Glen View, Tandare has been described a remarkable activist, a man of rare vision, integrity and courage.

MDC discover name of policeman who shot and killed Tandare
By Tichaona Sibanda
16 March 2007

Concerned officers in the Zimbabwe Republic Police have leaked to the MDC the name of the officer who shot and killed Gift Tandare in Highfields on Sunday.

Youth assembly secretary-general of the MDC Solomon Madzore said they have also been supplied with names of all those who savagely tortured party president Morgan Tsvangirai and others at Highfields police station the same day.

Madzore, who was about five metres away from where Tandare was hit and fell, said it took paramedics at least four hours to get to their mortally wounded colleague.

But by the time paramedics got to him he was already dead. In the aftermath of the shooting and brutal attacks police issued a statement defending their actions, insisting that they had fired 18 warning shots.

Those who were in the crowd have disputed this. Madzore said activists saw one officer grabbing a gun from another policeman clad in riot gear and firing indiscriminately at the crowd. At no time did anyone fire warning shots. It’s believed the officer who discharged the firearm could be the individual responsible for shooting dead Tandare.

‘We have passed on the names of those who beat our leaders to the necessary individuals in the party and they have promised us that those responsible will one day stand trial for their atrocities,’ Madzore said.

The full interview with Solomon Madzore will be broadcast on the Hidden Story on Monday after the news.

On the Pulse
This week the programme captures the sombre mood in Zimbabwe and plays protest and revolutionary music. Bob Marley’s Get up Stand Up, Zimbabwe, Jimmy Cliff’s Suffering in the Land, and Thomas Mapfumo’s Mamvemve and Jojo are played on the show. Lance Guma and Brilliant Pongo team up to talk about the arrests and torture of opposition activists in Zimbabwe. The messages in the songs played are also analysed and applied to events in the country.

Hot Seat
The US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher Dell, is the guest on the programme Hot Seat with Violet Gonda next Tuesday. Ambassador Dell was at the Rotten Row Court House where he witnessed the injuries suffered by the opposition and civic leaders. Dell was also present when police defied an order from the attorney general to bring those who needed medical attention to the hospital.