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Zimbabwe Report

Post the Evian G8 NEPAD African begging bowl conference

June 9, 2003

Open letter forum

Rubbing hands with glee, SA President Mbeki is now guiltily admitting that Africa may not have the ability and infrastructure to absorb all the U.S.$ that has been promised by the "blameworthy G8" towards another African "renaissance" and their alleged mission of gaining of "dignity and self-respect". Mbeki, Obasanjo, and their other brain limited looting comrades, now want unmonitored "aid" to be given to regions rather than specific countries, i.e. money donated to the deserving and respected Botswana may well be diverted to Mugabe.

From this the message is clear--history again repeats itself. Mbeki will soon witness the typical "fast track" African solution, where many more Swiss and Cayman Island Bank Accounts are opened to solve his declared dilemma.

He complains that the W.T.O. and western agricultural "protectionism" denies Africa an ability to compete in the global marketplace. Africa still cannot even feed itself, so what is the fuss about?

It is beyond his comrades' capability and imagination to compete with South America with drug production--it is easier to loot foreign aid than to actually do any creative and productive work.

What is new about global stupidity?

When will African leaders stop blaming all others for the fact that their brains and bodies are still resting on the ground, or that their posteriors are still in a non-moving, probably stolen, wheelbarrow? Mbeki, and his true solidarity friend, know too well how to get a few Daimler Benz's for free.

Walter Hurley


Double standards grow by the day

The Herald Monday June 2, 2003 headlines--"We will enforce court order: ZRP."

"Police said yesterday the High Court order compelling the opposition MDC to stop its illegal mass action will be enforced to its fullest, and anyone defying the order would meet the full wrath of the law." In the same article it says: "Friendly members of the ZNA were by yesterday patrolling most parts of Harare. In Chitungwiza, members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) told the people over loud hailers "we are a friendly force." Farmers and farm workers know only too well that few, if any, High Court orders have been enforced on their behalf. In fact the opposite could be said.

The ZNA telling the people in one voice that they are a "friendly force," when during the hours of darkness they unleash terror and torture in the high-density suburbs. They beat anyone known or thought to be supporters of the legitimate opposition party. They beat and torture people for exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest.

Yes, these brutalized people know only too well what it is like to "meet the full wrath of the law." However, where there is darkness, there is always a glimmer of light peeping through. One of the victims of yesterdays brutality said "my body has been beaten but my spirit is strong"--these are the unsung hero's of Zimbabwe's struggle for a peaceful transition to democracy.

Kerry Kay


Interpol

Dear Readers

Perhaps Interpol responded to all that protested regarding Chihuri. Zvwakana provided the email address of Interpol.

This is the response from Interpol:

Zimbabwe police commissioner resigns honorary Interpol title

LYON, France--Augustine Chihuri, Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, has given up his title as an honorary Vice President of Interpol's Executive Committee. Mr Chihuri was one of seven former members of the committee named as honorary members after their terms expired in October 2002.

Mr Chihuri informed the Interpol President, Jesus Espigares Mira, and Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble, in a letter dated May 28, 2003, that he would step aside because of the continuing controversy over the honorary title and to avoid politicising Interpol.

Mr Espigares Mira said that in light of how the matter had become politicised after a Zimbabwean police spokesman's inaccurate comments to the media, he understood why Mr Chihuri chose to resign.

"Mr Chihuri has done the correct thing," Mr Espigares Mira said. "The appointment was not meant to endorse the actions of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, or Mr Chihuri's work as Commissioner."

Secretary General Noble said he very much regretted that in a comment to news media on May 6, a Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesman had suggested Mr Chihuri's honorary title was an endorsement of the actions of the police in that country.

"That statement was inaccurate," Mr Noble said. "Mr Chihuri's honorary title was one of several given by the Interpol Executive Committee to outgoing members and has been a customary way for Interpol to recognise their work on that committee. " The fact that a ZRP spokesman attempted to use Interpol to fight off political criticism has caused Interpol to be unfairly and unnecessarily attacked."

The General Assembly, Interpol's supreme governing body, decided in 1994 that such honorary titles should be conferred on outgoing Executive Committee members for a period of three years. As an honorary Vice President of the Executive Committee, Mr Chihuri received no special benefits, rights, or privileges. He, like all individuals named to such honorary posts, was not permitted or expected to discharge any duties on behalf of Interpol.

Mr Chihuri was first elected to Interpol's Executive Committee by delegates to the organization's General Assembly in 1996. In 1999, he was elected by delegates to the General Assembly to serve another three-year term, this time as the Executive Committee's Vice President for Africa.

Interpol is a democratic and apolitical institution, which allows delegates from its 181 member countries to elect whomever they wish to the Executive Committee. Interpol was founded in 1923 to enhance police co-operation and is now the largest international police organization in the world. Article 3 of the Interpol constitution forbids it from becoming involved in any activities of a political nature.

Ruth Evans


I had to respond and stated that we did not need a police spokesman, (the one who never knows anything, perhaps?) to draw our attention to the police commissioner. We never knew why he was involved with that "august body." We hope he is brought before the International Criminal Court (if there is such a thing) at some stage.

Petra


All letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions of the submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice for Agriculture.