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The World must give Zimbabwe Financial support
Related to country: Zimbabwe

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Indeed, the inclusive government has subsisted against pronounced forces that have been militating against its existence from the very start. Despite a lukewarm welcome by the West, African brotherhood and solidarity has assisted the government to remain afloat, albeit, in a modest way. Recently, some African countries have crafted a US$400million to assist Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe needs support from the international community to stay afloat, however, in the absence of a credible financial rescue plan by the donor community, the economic recovery of Zimbabwe remains a "Dream". Despite some commendable steps being taken by the Government, some sceptics still want to strangulate us by failing to reverse some disastrous Sanctions imposed on the country, both covertly and overtly.

The recent trip by the Finance Minister to the US and Britain should become a firm basis to develop a mutually reciprocal reengagement process between Zimbabwe and the world at large.

Individually, some EU countries have begun to sent emmisaries to Zimbabwe to explore business opportunities....this posture is commendable and a progressive stance.

As a progressive Zimbabwean, the US government must take a lead to buttress the inclusive government because every country takes a cue from the US foreign policy position.

Zimbabwe needs support not isolation. Forward Zimbabwe!!!

___________________________________________________________
Written by Augustine Zhanje- a Zimbabwean business executive

May 4, 2009 | 8:55 PM Comments  0 comments

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Zimbabwe Presidential Elections- Wayforward
Related to country: Zimbabwe

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

ZIMBABWE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS- WAYFORWARD

Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the MDC from the Zimbabwean presidential run-off elections on 22 June 2008, the national elections body- Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) went "full steam" ahead with the "one-man election" in the vain hope of legitimatizing an already flawed and discredited electoral process.

Interestingly, the announcement of the "sham" election result took place a lightning speed than was the case in the first round of the Presidential Election held in March 2008. In this event, the electoral authorities published the run-off results barely two days after the "so-called Presidential run-off election" was conducted whereas the March 2008 Election results were announced after over one (1) month of inordinate wait.

The underlying premise for the quick inauguration of Robert Mugabe was to give him a facade of legitimacy at the AU Summit that was taking place in Egypt. The international community has roundly condemned the Election as a "Sham". Emerging out of this, the US and its European allies are now ratcheting up pressure on the AU, UN and SADC to ensure that the Mugabe government is declared "Illegitimate".

At the recent G8 Summit, the world leaders agreed to craft a raft of financial sanctions to incapacitate the Mugabe regime.

Zanu (PF) stance is that the run-off election results is "irreversible and legitimate" whilst the Tsvangirai-led MDC is calling Mugabe's re-election a" Legal nullity".

In view of the foregoing, the Mbeki- mediated talks need to be allowed a final round before any punitive financial and political measures are taken by the US, Britain and their allies, as these measures will scuttle the inter-party talks currently underway.

The best wayforward for the Zimbabwe is a negotiated political settlement that will bring about a Government of National Unity. The AU and SADC must look at broadening and deepening the mandate of the mediation team for "win-win outcome" to be realized in the Zimbabwean political stalemate.

Written by Augustine- a Zimbabwe-based business executive. He is a former student leader and politician.

July 9, 2008 | 11:34 AM Comments  1 comments

Tags:


Zimbabwean Presidential Elections- Recent developments
Related to country: Zimbabwe

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The main Opposition party in Zimbabwe –MDC held a press conference on Sunday, 22 June 2008, in which it formally withdrew from the electoral race citing heightened and unrelenting “murder, arson, rape, kidnap and targeted arrest of its supporters by Zanu (PF) supporters”.

In this direction, the possibility of the Elections going forward on 27 June 2008 have been thrown into serious doubt after the main opposition contender -Morgan Tsvangirai has effectively withdrawn from the election race.

The people of Zimbabwe have received the news with mixed reactions. However, in the Zanu (PF) quarters, the news has been accepted with a ‘sigh of relief’ since the ruling party was the “underdog” going into the presidential election run-offs slated for 27 June 2008. The first round of the harmonized Elections saw Zanu (PF) losing its parliamentary majority, for the first time since 1980.

It is instructive to note that Zanu (PF) was thrown into disarray after it lost its March 2008 Presidential elections and was saved by the fact that the elections did not produce a decisive victor after all contestants failed to garner the mandatory 51% votes.

Zanu (PF) has since redoubled its efforts to reclaim lost ground by using a ‘war-like’ campaign to cow the masses into toeing the party-speak in an effort to retain the country’s Presidency. The Zanu (PF) election campaign has aped the USA’s Iraq strategy of “shock& awe”, with the results showing a positive return, in its deep-seated political objective to perpetuate the residency of Robert Mugabe at Zimbabwe State House.

On the other side, President Mbeki’s mediation efforts in the Zimbabwean’s political crisis have dismally failed to produce “tangible deliverables”. To complicate matters, recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa has vindicated the long held argument that Mbeki lacks the political critical mass to provide beneficial leadership to the obtaining political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Pursuant to the latest news that Tsvangirai has pulled out of the Presidential race, the international community has roundly condemned the Zimbabwean Government for failing to address security and other democratic imperatives that guarantees a free and fair election.

The dire consequences that are set to emerge out of the political stalemate in Zimbabwe are too ghastly to contemplate. Emerging out the political crisis is the unflinching free-fall of the local currency against the greenback (US$) and further erosion of the quality of life on the back of the hyper-inflationary environment ,which has seen the country’s inflation breaching the 1 800 000% mark.

In the absence of a negotiated political settlement within the context of a Government of National Unity (GNU), the future of the Zimbabwe remains bleak. However, the initiative needs national, regional and international buy-in by the important stakeholders i.e. political parties, Civil society, SADC, AU, UN and other credible bodies.

The power sharing arrangement should see the executive powers of the President being split through a constitutional amendment. The office of Prime Minister will need to be created as part of raft of measures to create an acceptable Government of National Unity (GNU). Importantly, the sharing of cabinet posts must be an all-inclusive process which covers all ethnic mixes.

In view of the foregoing, the last chance for Zimbabwe remains solidly premised on the success of the coalition talks that explore the feasibility of constructing an all-inclusive National Authority (GNU).

By letting the political crisis to subsist any day longer, this will set a precedence that complicates and diminishes our future as a country.

Unity is now the “Wayforward”

Let’s put Zimbabwe first!!!!!




June 29, 2008 | 5:33 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


Presidential Elections 27 June 2008- The Scenario
Related to country: Zimbabwe

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

As a Zimbabwean, who is conscious and better placed to analyse the events obtaining in his country, it is terribly remiss on my part not to put across my personal views as regards the obtaining political crisis.


The ruling party Zanu PF must stand guided by the SADC Election guidelines as it did pre-March elections than to create hurdles whilst having unfettered access to the public media. In view of the foregoing, it is maximising its media campaign whilst thwarting the same democratic space to the official opposition MDC. In the face of the unrelenting media blackout, harrassment, torture and arrest of opposition leaders, the elections are without doubt, irrevocably tainted to deliver a free and fair verdict.


Insofar as the ruling party has unfettered access to the State Machinery, the playing field shall, undoubtedly, remain 'uneven". The concept of using the Police , Army and other security apparatus to mobilise support ,both in urban and rural areas must be strongly condemned since the Constitution is clear and absolute in that these arms of the State are absolutely apolitical.


Regrettably, even the Secret Service operatives are moving fully clad in Zanu (PF) party regalia, when they are with Mugabe on his campaign trail. Equally, pronouncements by service chiefs that they will not accede to the election outcomes that delivers Tsvangirayi to the State House is a worrying statement from " servants of the State."



On the other side, MDC must stop this nonsense called "boycott". If it is a serious body politic, it must participate in the electoral process. Its legion of supporters will be dealt a massive body-blow if it goes ahead with its intentions of withdrawing from the race. By withdrawing from the election run-off, Tsvangirayi will have proven ,beyond a shadow of doubt, that he lacks Presidential credentials to lead Zimbabwe........He must stay the course or he is will deliver the country back into the hands of Mugabe and his cronies.


In this vein, Zimbabwe must take up their democratic right to vote and resolutely express their wishes and aspirations through the ballot box without fear.


Lets take a solid now or we will regret forever.



Ahoy Zimbabwe!!!

June 22, 2008 | 9:05 AM Comments  2 comments

Tags:


Zimbabwe Presidential Elections- Recent developments
Related to country: Zimbabwe

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The main Opposition party in Zimbabwe –MDC held a press conference on Sunday, 22 June 2008, in which it formally withdrew from the electoral race citing heightened and unrelenting “murder, arson, rape, kidnap and targeted arrest of its supporters by Zanu (PF) supporters”.

In this direction, the possibility of the Elections going forward on 27 June 2008 have been thrown into serious doubt after the main opposition contender -Morgan Tsvangirai has effectively withdrawn from the election race.

The people of Zimbabwe have received the news with mixed reactions. However, in the Zanu (PF) quarters, the news has been accepted with a ‘sigh of relief’ since the ruling party was the “underdog” going into the presidential election run-offs slated for 27 June 2008. The first round of the harmonized Elections saw Zanu (PF) losing its parliamentary majority, for the first time since independence in 1980.

It is instructive to note that Zanu (PF) was thrown into disarray after it lost its March 2008 Presidential elections and was saved by the fact that the elections did not produce a decisive victor after all contestants failed to garner the mandatory 51% votes.

Zanu (PF) has since redoubled its efforts to reclaim lost ground by using a ‘war-like’ campaign to cow the masses into toeing the party-speak in an effort to retain the country’s Presidency. The Zanu (PF) election campaign has aped the USA’s Iraq strategy of “shock& awe”, with the results showing a positive return, in its deep-seated political objective to perpetuate the residency of Robert Mugabe at Zimbabwe State House.

On the other side, President Mbeki’s mediation efforts in the Zimbabwean’s political crisis have dismally failed to produce “tangible deliverables”. To complicate matters, recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa has vindicated the long held argument that Mbeki lacks the political critical mass to provide beneficial leadership to the obtaining political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Pursuant to the latest news that Tsvangirai has pulled out of the Presidential race, the international community has roundly condemned the Zimbabwean Government for failing to address security and other democratic imperatives that guarantees a free and fair election.

The dire consequences that are set to emerge out of the political stalemate in Zimbabwe are too ghastly to contemplate. Emerging out the political crisis is the unflinching free-fall of the local currency against the greenback (US$) and further erosion of the quality of life on the back of the hyper-inflationary environment ,which has seen the country’s inflation breaching the 1 800 000% mark.

In the absence of a negotiated political settlement within the context of a Government of National Unity (GNU), the future of the Zimbabwe remains bleak. However, the initiative needs national, regional and international buy-in by the important stakeholders i.e. political parties, Civil society, SADC, AU, UN and other credible bodies.

The power sharing arrangement should see the executive powers of the President being split through a constitutional amendment. The office of Prime Minister will need to be created as part of raft of measures to create an acceptable Government of National Unity (GNU). Importantly, the sharing of cabinet posts must be an all-inclusive process which covers all ethnic mixes.

In view of the foregoing, the last chance for Zimbabwe remains solidly premised on the success of the coalition talks that explore the feasibility of constructing an all-inclusive National Authority (GNU).

By letting the political crisis to subsist any day longer, this will set a precedence that complicates and diminishes our future as a country.

Unity is now the “Wayforward”

Let’s put Zimbabwe first!!!!!




June 22, 2008 | 9:05 AM Comments  0 comments

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