Systematic Political Abductions
- Details
- Written by: John Burke
- Hits: 1757
From a purely human rights perspective, what is going on in Zimbabwe, at this moment, can only be described as Political Intimidation and Political Murders.
Currently, there appears to be 13 main opposition party members [including 3 sitting Mp's] behind bars without charge. These abductions are in addition to the horrendous murder and mutilation of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali, and Mr Tuesday - again brutally murdered.
This vicious campaign is typical of the violent nature of the Zanu PF leadership [if you could call it Leadership - as it resembles a military cabal rather than a government]. Indeed, Amnesty International in their 2021 end of year report on Politics in Zimbabwe states:
""The human rights situation continued to deteriorate, with the government demonstrating hostility to human rights defenders, protesters, political activists and journalists. They were harassed, arrested, prosecuted and subjected to prolonged pretrial detention; one activist was killed allegedly by supporters of ZANU-PF, the ruling party. The state weaponized Covid-19 lockdowns to restrict political activity. Security forces carried out unlawful killings. The Supreme Court quashed a 20-year prison sentence against two opposition supporters. Thousands were forcibly evicted from their land. Public hospitals remained underfunded and poor healthcare infrastructure put women’s and girls’ health at risk. Many people were at risk of becoming stateless..""
With an assessment like this you would think that the current regime's tenancy would be short lived - but No, this is 42 years since independence!
This has to end. SADC {Southern African Development Community} and the AU {African Union} with respect, must put it's 'collective' House in Order. For the incoming Chair of SADC this is a difficult task for His Excellency; Dr Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia. We wish to alert him to the facts of the matter from a Human Rights perspective, and to trust that the Zanu PF officials are not whispering their justifications in his ear - Zanu PF seem to be under the impression that Zimbabwe is simply a "One-party State".
The African Union {AU} at its meeting on 17th July 2022 needs to uphold its core values on democracy and Human Rights - as the sitting Zimbabwe regime seems not to comprehend a single word of the AU's "Values" published here:
""Agenda 2063 envisions a continent in which there is a universal culture of good governance, democratic values, gender equality, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. The AU works with member states to develop and implement policies that aim to building strong well governed institutions and enact laws that will ensure Africa’s citizens are fully engaged and involved in policy making and development initiates and that these citizens are provided the safe and secure environments in which to live.""
In the United Kingdom, and given the fact that the sitting 'regime' wishes to be included, once more, into the Commonwealth - with Economics Minister Mthuliu Ncube currently in the UK begging for some sort of support and looking for "Investors" it is incumbent upon the FCDO to at least intercede upon these clear intimidation tactics by the regime.
We as Human Rights defenders wish to petition all of the above to try to influence the regime to accept the democratic process, rule of Law and the existing Constitution of Zimbabwe - all of which are deficient in terms of justice, any aspect of morality or even empathy towards their fellow citizens. All these aspects need to be bolstered - to protect the citizens from a deliquent 'government' of 'occupation'!
It is self evident that Zanu PF are both an illegal government [rigged 2013 elections] and are unworthy of the title of government - they are a "Lootocracy" and an affront to Human Rights or any form of the democratic process. They must change.
As if this issue is not bad enough, the economic mismanagement of inflation and the doomed [to repeat the currency chaos of 2008] real-time gross settlement (RTGS) dollar has impoverished most Zimbabweans see our article "Workers being Robbed..... It's not as if the Zanu PF regime has been warned time and time again - to keep making the same mistakes see this item from December 13th 2019 and see if it still applies today - or is it worse? An excellent article by Keith Jefferis, Econsult Botswana, Peace Operations and Peacebuilding Consultant, ISS Pretoriaellent.
Free Moreblessing Ali
- Details
- Written by: John Burke
- Hits: 1256
Petition by: Kennedy Masiye- recipients: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, US Department of State, Commonwealth Heads of States, EU Parliament, Freedom House, SADC, The African Union, The United Nations - High Commissioner for Human Rights, Lord Oates, House of Lords - 'co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Zimbabwe', HM United Kingdom Government
Why the 'Attack' on Traditional Chiefs
- Details
- Written by: John Burke
- Hits: 2103
On the 17th December 2021 two apparently unconnected "assaults" on the Traditional Chiefs have been effected by the ruling Zanu PF [Military Junta] with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Friday [17th] issuing a chilling threat to traditional leaders, warning that they would be stripped of their positions for criticising the Zanu PF government. President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy corralled traditional chiefs in Harare, furious over rare public criticism of his regime.
This assault is perverse, to threaten hereditary Chiefs, and is not the domain of the cabal in Government. The traditional Chiefs have prior authority and a much longer history than the current clowns within Zanu PF. It is hardly in-keeping with the apparent Zanu PF 'desire' to be taken back into the British Commonwealth as stated previously, again at COP26, and with the delegation of Zimbabwean Bishops to the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace in the UK.
The obvious analogy is of the current UK Government attempting to remove the Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth - the Government has no such power - in fact it is Royalty that has historically permitted the elected Government to run the Nation on behalf of the Monarchy!
Two articles appeared in ZimLive Article 17th December 2021 regarding Chief Ndiweni [an attack on Chief Ndiweni] - for pushing for democratic reform [Diaspora Vote]. The second and far more sinister ZimLive Article 18th December 2021 Threats to Chief Murinye published on the 18th, but referring to comments made by VP Chiwenga on Friday the 17th December 2021
Clearly Zanu PF feel so threatened by the voices of reason, that they are retaliating in the only way they know - threats of violence, and corrupt judiciary. Laws do not create morality, and bad laws should be resisted in a [claimed] "democracy" - but it would be naive to use the democracy 'umbrella' when evidently Zimbabwe is a dictatorship, and a Military Dictatorship at that!
With regards to the activities of Chief Ndiweni in the UK since October 2021, at ZHRO we can testify to the involvement of the Chief at COP26, the Petition to 10 Downing Street on the 21st October and the 11th November. In addition as the Chief was the co-author of the highly successful petition regarding the Diaspora Vote [and the ZEC failure to be independent]. Indeed Chief Ndiweni personally handed over that petition on the 2nd December at 14:00 along with myself and two other ZHRO members [see photo].
That particular petition has also led to involvement within the House of Lords - this august body of Hereditary Peers [akin to the Traditional Chiefs] and experienced retired Politician's usual role is to oversee Government [in terms of the House of Commons - called the "Lower House"] the House of Lords is also referred to as the "Upper House". The Upper House has in effect tremendous power - insofar as they can interrogate the sitting Government and hold them to account. Support here is extremely useful in respect of the diaspora vote.
Furthermore, the appearance of Chief Ndiweni at COP26 in Glasgow on the 1st and 2nd November 2021, contrasts very strongly with the failure of the 130 strong Zanu PF "Team" that took part, and made a laughing-stock of Zimbabwe globally with their "Booze-Cruise" antics. In addition the ineffective Mnangagwa, talking to empty halls and 'hovering' around World Leaders added to the embarrassment heaped upon Zimbabwe as a Nation by the clowns from Zanu PF UK and Europe - who triggered the farcical behaviours for a "party" on the 31st October.
Chief Ndiweni will be making a Public Statement today [18th December 2021] to refute the political theatre of his "Arrest Warrant" THE CHIEF CALLS FOR MNANGAGWA'S RESIGNATION [CLICK HERE].
The extent to which the Chiefs should be apolitical is being foolishly misinterpreted with the following disinformation.
How Many Ministers to Change a Lightbulb
- Details
- Written by: John Burke
- Hits: 1941
How many Ministers does it take to change a lightbulb?
The new game for COP26 Delegates
Let's just look at the impressive array of posts, titles and ministries in the Zimbabwe delegation. Then let's assess the current state of the economy and the environment.
The results are a massive mismatch. In fact, the list below must surely be the target for who to sack, fire, dismiss or even made to "Walk the Plank” for gross dereliction of duty. It's a list of SHAME, of a group of "hangers-on" who have a grand sounding titles but NO ABILITY. You're Fired is the only solution!
COP26 an Opportunity Squandered
""A government which is there to serve would never ever do this and sleep at night. No one with a conscience can! Criminals on the other hand would have no problem with it. Even Robert Mugabe did not go this low. The money used in this ego trip, no pun intended, is not seen as money which belongs to the people of Zimbabwe by the free loading wolves that call themselves a government. It is seen as easy money, money acquired in a bank heist. This is how criminals spend ill gotten loot, carefree and recklessly. I'm disgusted. Totally disgusted."" Chokwadi Chizere
Unfortunately, we seem to be unable to find any photographs of this delegation as a "team" - we do have a photo of some of these hangers-on disembarking from the chartered plane, but that's about it! So, was it a "Team Effort" or just for show - have some of these grandly entitled individuals got any ability, in their "chosen profession"? There are economists in various Ministries, there are Climate Scientists too - but what are they actually doing in Zimbabwe? There is scant evidence of any of these jokers achieving any impact on the dire state of Zimbabwe. ON all measures Zimbabwe is at the bottom of the charts - except inflation - where they have been at the top for some number of years. When Professor Steve Hanke's says that Mnangagwa is "Ignorant of Economics" it would appear that his Ministry of Finance is also in that description.
- Zimbabwe and COP26
- Climate Crisis or Gravy Train?
- Mnangagwa ‘Totally Ignorant’
- Zanu PF See Money in the Climate Targets
- Why are Zanu PF UK Here? (2)
- ZHRO Says NO to 'Green Bombers'
- Nick Mangwana Loses his Mind
- The Zambia Impact
- Zimbabwe - A Government at War with its People
- No! to Constitutional Amendment Zimbabwe
Page 10 of 40
