Eye on Zimbabwe
Reuters: African Development Bank praises Zimbabwe plan
Zimbabwe has made an impressive start on an economic recovery plan which warrants support from the international community, African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka said on Thursday.
AFP—UN talks with Mugabe ‘positive’: aid official
A top U.N. aid official said she had held positive talks yesterday with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe about finding ways to combat a raging cholera epidemic and food shortages. Catherine Bragg, the assistant secretary general for humanitarian affairs, met Monday with Mugabe and new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the long-time opposition leader who joined a unity government this month. She said her five-member team was focusing on the cholera epidemic that has so far killed 3,806 people and spilled into neighboring countries.
Reuters—Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai calls for reconciliation
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai called for national reconciliation and forgiveness this weekend, saying that the time had come to address poverty and hunger head on in the country. “This nation needs national healing. It has endured so much violence. Let’s forgive those who have transgressed against us,” Tsvangirai said. Zimbabwe’s new government urgently needs to find a solution to the country’s economic meltdown that has led to the world’s highest inflation and a worthless currency.
-Steve Wilson & Chandler Smith
Check out this post from our friends at Amnesty International USA.
-Margaret McDonnell
My work with Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) brings me in close communication with the brave persons fighting for their civil, economic and social rights in Zimbabwe. This includes labor rights activists and civil society members, but the majority of this contact centers on a group of women human rights defenders. AIUSA chose this group of women as a special focus case of Individuals at Risk for 2008-2009. In my work, I have the privilege of interacting with Jenni Williams, co-founder of Women of Zimbabwe Arise. Jenni shares inspirational words about the power of activists around the world to keep her safe from government brutality. She states that knowing her plight is broadcast around the world every time she is imprisoned for asking for such things as the equitable distribution of food aid, provides comfort for her in her cold, dank prison cell because she knows people are mobilizing to secure her release and safety.
Through peaceful protest Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), and their sibling organization, Men of Zimbabwe Arise, focus attention on the problems in Zimbabwe that directly affect them and their families, such as food security issues, freedom of speech and assembly, health care and corruption. Jenni has been imprisoned more than 20 times, often beaten and harmed while detained, and yet continues to bravely march forward to provide a voice and motivation for all Zimbabweans struggling for a better life. Everyone has certain people in their lives they admire and respect for their skills, talents or other qualities. For me, that person is Jenni. She is a rock star. She marches out onto the streets of Zimbabwe, knowing she could be harmed for her beliefs but does it anyway in the hopes of improving the lives of all her fellow citizens.
Last week over 100 WOZA members were arrested and detained for marching in Harare and Bulawayo. Jenni and WOZA’s other co-founder, Magodonga Mahlangu, were not arrested in the demonstrations, but will be brought before the courts on February 26 for charges of disturbing the peace related to a protest in October 2008. Amnesty International USA currently has two actions you can take as we work to create safe operating space for all human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. The first action asks activists to send Valentines to Mugabe, showing that love is the greater power. The second action, found here, calls on the Minister of Justice to drop the trumped up charges against Jenni and Magodonga and not continue with their trial. Both of these actions will continue for the next two weeks.
Finally, you can see a documentary clip of Jenni speaking about the challenges of operating as a human rights defender in Zimbabwe. I hope you take the time to watch the video, are as inspired by these brave women as I, and will participate in these actions.
-Sarah E. Hager, Chair, Southern Africa Co-Group, Amnesty International USA
Today ONE members are taking action to make sure the African Union keeps its promise to put Zimbabwe on the right footing and show the world that it is serious about change. The African Union (AU) will serve as guarantor for the new Zimbabwe “unity government” and it is critical that they take immediate action to ensure Zimbabwe takes steps in the right direction.
In recent weeks, Zimbabwe has attempted to form a “unity government” between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Show the African Union that the world is watching to make sure it keeps its promise to this new government, by signing our petition to the newly-elected African Union chairman Muammar Gaddafi.
Petition text:
Please ensure that the African Union executes its role as guarantor of the new Zimbabwe unity government.
In the past weeks and months we’ve been keeping you posted on the ONE Blog about the increasingly volatile and dangerous situation taking place in Zimbabwe. After suffering through a botched and violent election last year, Zimbabwe remains a land of devastation. 28 years of increasingly dictatorial rule by President Robert Mugabe have led to hyperinflation, food shortages and a breakdown of basic public services.
Take action now by adding your name to our petition asking the African Union to do its job as guarantor of the unity government, and work to end the political repression that has crippled Zimbabwe.
Thank you for your voice,
-Chris Scott
NY Times: Mugabe Foe Sworn In as Zimbabwe Prime Minister
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has taken office as prime minister in a deal with old rival President Robert Mugabe aimed at saving Zimbabwe.
WSJ: Zimbabwe Chooses an African Delusion (opinion-editorial)
Mr. Tupy, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute suggests that the West has to recognize this fundamental lack of political freedom and accountability in Africa. That is especially important now that tens of billions of dollars have been promised to Africa as part of a new push for African development agreed at the 2005 G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland. Mr. Tupy states that bad government in Africa is tolerated and sometimes even encouraged. Zimbabwe’s power-sharing agreement is not a solution, but a delusion.
-Chandler Smith & Chris Scott
Zimbabwe’s parliament just unanimously approved an amendment that will allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister of Zimbabwe. We’ve been keeping you posted about these developments as they occur at our Zimbabwe page , so be sure to check the ONE Blog for further news.
Details of the amendment below, article here
The move allows a power-sharing deal to go ahead with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining the president.
Mr Mugabe is expected to sign the amendment on Friday and Mr Tsvangirai is due to sworn in on 11 February.
The power-sharing deal was agreed in September 2008 but has been mired by bitter disputes.
Last week, southern African leaders, who have been mediating the deal, persuaded Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to join a joint administration despite their concerns over Zanu-PF’s commitment to sharing power.
-Chris Scott
- Britain expressed skepticism yesterday about Zimbabwe’s new coalition government, but pledged support because of the suffering of the population, indicating a shift in the West’s stance on the crisis. The comments followed a similar shift of tone from Washington since opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to enter a power sharing government with President Robert Mugabe last week. “We’re skeptical but we’ve got to try and help this work,” a British official said, saying Britain and others would be generous donors if the agreement succeeded.
- A look at the collapsing education system in Zimbabwe shows that of the country’s 130,000 teachers, roughly 60,000 have left the country or the profession because hyperinflation rendered their salaries worthless. The collapse is even more stunning considering it was not many years ago that Zimbabwe boasted the highest educational standards in Africa. Its literacy rate, for instance, rivaled America’s, and 96 percent of its children attended school.
-Steve Wilson
The New York Times is reporting that Zimbabwe’s opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has decided to join a power-sharing government as prime minister with President Robert Mugabe. This decision was reached unanimously at a meeting of the opposition party’s leadership in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. The Times reports that it will “usher in a new phase in the opposition’s decade-long struggle against Mr. Mugabe, 84, and his almost 30-year grip on power.” We’ll bring you any further developments as they occur.
Excerpts from the breaking news below, full report here
Mr. Tsvangirai now faces the daunting job of reviving Zimbabwe’s moribund economy and rescuing an increasingly famished, sick and impoverished population with a partner, Mr. Mugabe, whose security forces have viciously beaten Mr. Tsvangirai and thousands of his supporters over the past two years and abducted and allegedly tortured dozens more in just the last few months.
But after more than four months of deadlock and uncertainty following Mr. Tsvangirai’s signing of the power-sharing deal with Mr. Mugabe, his followers reacted with hope that he might be able to stop the country’s accelerating downward spiral.
The challenges are monumental, and the distrust of Mr. Mugabe is so deep that it is uncertain whether the United States and European nations will lift sanctions and infuse substantial new aid for the reconstruction of Zimbabwe until they have solid evidence that he will agree to sweeping changes in the country’s disastrous economic policies, the restoration of the rule of law and democracy.
-Chris Scott
