Behind doors conversation with Mugabe at the AU Summit

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has reported to the AFP that there were attempts behind closed doors to convince Mugabe to deal directly with Morgan Tsvangirai. According to Wade's account, Mugabe predictably stated such negotiations would be impossible from his position.

"Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade said his Zimbabwean counterpart had snubbed the idea of sharing power with the MDC after it was floated by Mbeki in closed-door talks at the summit.

'He (Mugabe) told me this is not possible, that he has his supporters," said Wade. "I reminded him that the MDC is a real force and that if a prime minister had to be chosen by his level of representation, it could only be Tsvangirai.' "

The articles conclusion is thoughtful, as now the difficulty comes in whether or not the MDC should participate at all, at any level, even local government. Having won a majority in Parliament, do they now take these seats? Or do they completely boycott participation given the bogus presidential election?

" Analysts have said that while Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the election intensified criticism of Mugabe, the opposition will likely be forced to negotiate with the veteran leader or face being sidelined.

Takura Zhangazha, director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, told AFP on Wednesday the MDC's position "has to be very clear to the people of Zimbabwe."

"The question is will they participate in local government, parliamentary, or senatorial and activities?" he said.

"That is a critical point and if they are not clear, Mugabe and his government will use that to their advantage to divide them." "

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Treasurer goes missing

The Zimbabwean (Online) reports the following Alert on July 1st:

"ZCTU Alert

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has learnt that the Treasurer of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Ladistous Zunde, has gone missing and the union is fearing for his life.

Mr Zunde has been in hiding since Friday 27 June 2008 after unknown people visited his home, tried to abduct his son and harassed his wife. The same visitors have been visiting his house on several occasions in three cars one of which has a registration number AAC 2022.

According to PTUZ, on Monday, 30 June 2008, the visitors became aggressive demanding access to Zunde’s house and sensing danger, the union decided that Zunde leave Harare. However since he left Harare in a bus, nothing has been heard about Zunde as his phone continue ringing without anyone answering.

The ZCTU is informed that other strange visitors in a Zanu PF car also visited PTUZ offices in Bulawayo, 400 km from Harare, looking for the union office secretary. Fortunately she was not in the office.

PTUZ has since closed its head office in Harare saying lives of its officers was in danger."

Such news indicates that the campaign against progressive forces in Zimbabwe has not stopped with the election of June 27th.

"Mwanawasa's stroke threatens political turmoil"

On the eve of the African Union summit in Egypt, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa suffered a stroke and has since been flown to Paris for treatment. As this July 2nd, 2008, IRIN article describes, this may lead to political turmoil in Zambia. Mwanawasa's stroke is also a set back for Zimbabwe as he has been a strong voice, along with his diplomatic counterparts in Botswana, in criticizing Mugabe and the abuses of power during the presidential run-off campaign. He has also been critical of South Africa's "quite diplomacy".

In Zimbabwe: "the Grind Goes On"

An informative article from IRIN (The Integrated Regional Information Networks) interviews workers in Harare and explains their sense of dejection this week after the "one-man" election of Mugabe. One worker, explains the mood and his own economic woes, and this is someone with a decent job:

"This is no joke - people have been operating like zombies," he told IRIN. "People are listless, dejected, have no interest in their work and there are now very few smiles and laughter at the work place."

"Dejected" perhaps fails to convey the strength of Shamhu's feelings. When Mugabe lost the first round of the presidential race to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on 29 March, he said he had dared to hope that change could finally come to Zimbabwe after eight straight years of recession and increasing political repression.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had won a majority in parliament, and Tsvangirai almost scored an overwhelming majority in the presidential vote, which would have given him a first-round victory against Mugabe, 84, who has ruled since independence in 1980.

"At the time I was ready to skip the country and go to South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique or Zambia, but when the government lost the election my hopes were revived that a better Zimbabwe, with jobs and a normal life, was about to return." ...

Instead, Tsvangirai pulled out of the 27 June run-off, citing the political violence that had driven thousands from their homes, had injured hundreds, and claimed the lives of over 80 MDC officials and supporters since March.

Rather than the financial aid and goodwill that was likely to have greeted a new government, Mugabe's swearing-in as president and apparent determination to ignore international condemnation of the ballot has left Zimbabweans to struggle along with daily shortages of the most basic household needs, and an inflation rate that could be as high as 10 million percent.

"To put it simply, I earn Z$300 billion a month. The bank only allows a maximum withdrawal of Z$25 billion a day. Bus fare for one person to town is Z$10 billion, which means I spend $20 billion per day on transport," Shamhu said. Today's exchange rate is roughly Z$30 billion to US$1.

"A decent meal in lunch-break costs Z$25 billion, and it also means I have to spend four hours in a queue every day. At home my wife and I do not have maize-meal [the staple food], sugar, milk, soap, electricity and water. I have had to park my car because fuel is not available. With the prospects of another five years under Mugabe, how can you expect anybody to look forward to the following day?"

Psychologist Paddington Japajapa said people appeared to have symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder - a condition associated with horrific experiences. "The condition manifests itself through profound sadness, fear, depression, apprehension, failure to concentrate, failure to participate in usual activities." "

AU makes some criticism of Mugabe, but stops short of serious critique

Cris Chinaka, writing for Reuters, gives a good summary of what the African Union did and didn't achieve in terms of recognizing Mugabe's "sham" election as president of Zimbabwe.

The strongest criticism came from Botswana's Vice-President Mompati Merafhe, who issued a statement requesting that Mugabe be excluded from AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meetings:

"'In our considered view ... the representatives of the current government
in Zimbabwe should be excluded from attending SADC (Southern African Development
Community) and African Union meetings,' Botswana Vice-President Mompati Merafhe
said, according to a text of his remarks."

However, as Chinaka reports, Egypt and South Africa do not agree:

"South Africa, the designated mediator in Zimbabwe, has resisted open
condemnation. The AU summit, in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, called
for SADC mediation, led by South African President Thabo Mbeki, to continue.
"

German Paper firm stops supplying paper for Zim Currency

After pressure from the German government and others, the large German paper firm, Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, which supplies Zimbabwe with the banknotes needed to keep the hyperinflation printing spree going, has announced it will stop supplying paper to the GOZ.
See Reuters Story

Mugabe's Run-in with British Journalist at the AU Summit

The video is Here.