Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Conspiracy

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:46:27 -0400

It is now clear that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is in cahoots with Robert Mugabe to throw elections his way.

The ZEC has shut down its electoral command center before it released results, all the while claiming it needed time to process and release results. With the center shut down, it is long obvious that the results are known but not admitted -- a crushing defeat for Robert Mugabe.

Why would the ZEC not release news of the opposition victory? Only because Mugabe ordered it not to through its placeman, disgraced judge George Chiwese.

What’s new about all this? It’s been obvious for 8 years and more than Mugabe is rigging (experts say all elections back to 1985 were riggged. It just became more obvious as the competition improved), and that Chiwese is one of the puppets in the ventriloquist’s closet.

What’s new is, shutting down operations and claimig they have nothing to release is nothing short of a bald admission of a joint conspiracy to rig and manipulate elections, using the legal concept of secret, joint effort to frustrate the law, in which Mugabe and Chiwese are ringleaders. Yes, electoral theft is still a crime in Zimbabwe, as is conspiracy. In the end, Mugabe will probably get his retirement party paid by the state, and Chiwese, criminal charges.

Zimbabwe: rain a good omen

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:24:12 -0400

2 days of rain in Harare, a good omen, according to a report on the BBC.

In the semi-tropics of southern Africa, much of the year is dry with a reliance on intense rainy seasons to fill the corn cribs. “Peace, rain and prosperity” goes one saying.

“We've just had two days of heavy rains, which people see as a good omen.”

BBC

Zimbabwe: Herald propaganda failing

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:16:21 -0400

Zimbabweans laugh at The Zimbabwe Herald’s headline, “Tsvangirai begs for VP Job.” according to the BBC.

The Herald’s propaganda is failing. The purpose of poropaganda is not to make you believe lies are true, but to make you believe nothing you hear is true. It is to corrode trust. Without trust, people can not organize and unify to assert their rights.

But the Herald’s failure is a double failure. It misses its primary purpose, and it has entered a new stage.

We are witnessing an unprecedented degree of a few loyal generals inside Mugabe’s last, shrinking pillar of support dictating headlines -- hence the crudeness of the electoral victor “begging.”

This can only be good for opposition forces, as usually, editors skilled in psychological manipulation hold this post. This can only build resentment on the Herald staff.

Expect worse, unbelievable headlines in the next 7 days -- in a fail bid to pull the wool over people’s eyes.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe’s Strategy to hang on until April 18

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:03:14 -0400

Robert Mugabe’s strategy is to hang on until Independence Friday April 18 and hold an election the next day.

Until then, he will hem and haw and delay -- witness the upcoming regional SADC crisis meeting. April 18th is Independence Day, when Mugabe usually portrays himself as a hero and military colors -- one of his last standing pillars of support along with the party, though battered -- are in full fly.

As long as there is no real pressure inside Zimbabwe, he believes he can withstand outside pressure. After all, this is one of the purposes in creating a pariah state.

Civic groups seem to have no ready strategy for forcing his hand. This makes the opposition MDC feel not weak, being in the right in their win, but at least vulnerable, so Mugabe and the handful of army chiefs propping him up believe he can hold on.

Zimbabweans will have to work on a strategy to prevent him making it to the 18th.

One strategy might be to isolate the two generals who are standing naked around Mugabe, having a lot to lose in a new dispensation, whereas the loyalty of the majority of armed forces seems to be shifting to the country and the constitution over serving one man. Generals Chiwenga and Phiri are the hard-liners who, having launched massacres in the 1980s, are holding Mugabe in place to protect their own freedom.

The international community should up the pressure, withhold funds where appropriate, and repeat the calls for his accepting defeat.

Name and shame -- the IC should come after the two generals as well, should that be part of Zimbabweans’ strategy.

There’s the challenge: seven days to plan rigger robber Mugabe’s retirement party, turning the 18th from independence to retirement and completing the full circle on Mugabe’s years in power.

Zimbabwe: Europe calls for Mugabe to step down

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:57:46 -0400

European Commissioner has said today that Robert Mugabe should respect the will of the people, accept the election results, and step down.

Calls are growing in all quarters for Mugabe to step down.