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Archive for the 'Elections 2008' Category

Serial killer on the loose

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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 by Brenda Burrell

Sifting through the spam than inundates my inbox at work, I spotted this one – “Serial killer on the loose”.

Made me think that spam has gotten to be rather like google advertisements – smart enough to reflect the context of your present situation!

The magnitude of the state organised violence in Zimbabwe is mind blowing. In previous elections, zanupf did whatever it could to prevent people trying to vote. This time round they’re forcing people to go and vote for Mugabe in the presidential run-off election.

Their threats include post-election beatings of anyone ‘found’ to have stayed away or voted the ‘wrong way’. In true Mafia-style, they have threatened to beat the extended family of recalcitrant non-voters.

Long gone is any notion of a secret ballot. People are being told that they will have to report to a zanupf representative after they vote. They will be required to provide the receipt number on their ballot paper together with their national identity number. This way the ‘authorities’ will supposedly know how they voted.

The public are also being ‘informed’ by zanupf zealots that they will arbitrarily choose and beat the same number of people living near a polling station as there are votes NOT cast for Mugabe.

All very bizarre now that we know the run-off election is a one horse race.

There is indeed a serial killer on the loose.

Spreading the word

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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 by Bev Clark

News from around the country, from community based sources

Chiredzi and Zaka
Got the email below this morning and yes it is true, this message is being passed to voters in the Lowveld and we have no doubt now that the ZANU militia and military are capable off carrying this threat out.

Folk here are being given a number with which to vote with.  They have been threatened that if they don’t vote they will have their heads cut off. They are asking what do they do?

I have a solid report that there are 52 unidentified bodies in the Chiredzi hospital morgue.

At 200pm war vets and militia cut down trees on the side of the main road to Chiredzi, to make road blocks to stop motorists and force them to go to their pungwe’s, where they had to show their allegiance to Mugabe.

We have many MDC officials and supporters who have no means of support; they have lost their homes and jobs.

Chegutu
MDC Senator Violet Panavaviri had her house stoned and vandalized by Zanu PF youth on 23-06-08. Four houses belonging to MDC supporters were stoned and vandalized at Alaska Mine. No injuries were reported. Fifteen houses belonging to MDC supporters were destroyed at Shackledon Mine. Five MDC supporters were injured in the attacks and a woman had her leg broken. Fifty people were displaced and are staying at the MP’s home. Food aid is urgently needed.

Chinhoyi
An MDC youth, Harris Gutsa was attacked and beaten to a pulp by Zanu PF militia in the morning for wearing MDC party regalia. He is currently hospitalized at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.

Zvimba West
Fifteen people from Ward 4 were displaced after their homes where attacked and vandalized by Zanu PF youth.

Makonde
Four houses belonging to MDC supporters were burnt to the ground today by a marauding band of Zanu PF militia. The victims are staying at the MP’s house in Chinhoyi and food aid is urgently required. Ward 10, where the Provincial Chairman resides was attacked last night by Zanu PF militia. Women and children were beaten up and property was looted.

Banket
Three houses including the MP’s were vandalized by Zanu PF militia yesterday. The families have sought refuge in Chinhoyi.

Hwange
The hospital that the wife of Mike Phiri (Prov administrator) works has been accused of “harboring” MDC supporters and she has been asked to leave.

Binga
This morning a text message came in from Elvis the lawyer. “In Binga all shops were ordered to close.  They tried to force us into vehicles so that we attended a meeting in Manjolo”.

Use your X, not an Axe

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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 by Dennis Nyandoro

Zimbabweans, wherever you are,
whatever you are doing, or thinking of.
The only smart way of exercising your right
on the 27th June 2008, and in future
is your X, and not your Axe.

However, violence, can be stopped
In this beloved country Zimbabwe today
And in future if we all mark X with a pen
And not with an Axe.

An Axe is used for destruction, taking away
Life from our natural resources and humans.
A pen is used for nation building, making records
For future generations and future office bearers
Let’s all be wise, to use a pen to save lives.

An Axe doesn’t have records, hear me Zimbabweans
It only destructs nature, kills lives just like fire.
Wherever you go today, in prison, offices, schools,
Hotels, at a dip tank, even at a pre-school
You find a pen because it reflects peace and stability.

So, take the pen to stop violence, take the pen
To make records, take the pen to make history.

The history of Zimbabwe, was recorded with a pen!

I Won the Presidency*

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Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 by Amanda Atwood

Read/sing to the tune of Bob Marley’s ‘I shot the Sheriff’

I won the Presidency
But I didn’t say I beat the President, oh no oh!
I won the Presidency
But I didn’t say I beat the President ooh o-ooh o-ooh!

Yeah! all around in Zimbabwe,
They’re trying to track me down;
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For winning the Presidency,
For the office of the Presidency,
But I say:

Oh, no, no. oh!
(I won the Presidency.) – the Presidency.
(but I swear the people chose me.)
Oh, no! (ooh, ooh, oo-oh) yeah!
I say: I won the Presidency – oh, lord! -
(and they say it is a capital offence.)
Yeah! (ooh, ooh, oo-oh) yeah!

Chef Bob always hated me,
For what, I don’t know:
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow -
He said kill them before they grow.
And so:

Read it in the news one day:
(I won the Presidency) oh, lord!
(but I swear the people chose me.)
Who said I beat the President? (oo-oo-oh)
I say: I won the Presidency,
But I swear the people chose me (oo-oh) yeah!

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah!
All of a sudden, I saw Chef Bob
Trying to cheat me,
So I declared – I declared – I declared that I had won and I say:
If I am guilty I will pay!

(I won the Presidency,)
But I say (but I didn’t beat the President),
I didn’t beat no President (oh, no-oh), oh no!
(I won the Presidency.) I did!
But I didn’t beat no President. oh! (oo-oo-ooh)

Justice had got the better of me
And what is to be must be:
Every day the bucket a-go a well,
One day the bottom a-go drop out,
One day the bottom a-go drop out.
I say:

I – I – I – I won the Presidency.
Lord, I didn’t beat the President, yeah!
I – I (won the Presidency) -
But I didn’t beat no President, yeah! no, yeah!

* Tribute to Tendai Biti, Eric Matinenga and all political detainees in Zimbabwe. Adapted by Alex T. Magaisa – for the known and unknown victims of political repression in Zimbabwe – wamagaisa [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk

Presidential Motorcade

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Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 by Bev Clark

Masi, Jamu and I
wave our hands to the President.
The windows of his limo
are tinted
and are always closed.
The motorcade travels fast
but Masi and Jamu say
the President waves back.

We wave our hands
every time the motorcade passes
in the hope it will stop
to drop a coin.

But we hear
the chauffeur does not know
the ‘Give-way’ sign
nor the ‘Stop’ sign.

~ Julius Chingono, Zimbabwean poet, 1996

Mugabe after Tsvangirai’s announcement

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Monday, June 23rd, 2008 by Bev Clark

www.johncoxart.com