Mozambique's President Armando Emilio Guebuza talks during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Mozambique's capital Maputo, November 5, 2009. Regional leaders held a summit in Mozambique on Thursday hoping to prevent the collapse of Zimbabwe's unity government, threatened by the most severe political standoff since it was formed in February.
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai walks out of the building as they break for lunch during their the Southern African Development Community Troika on Politics, Defence and Security meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, South Africa, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009. Southern African mediators are meeting in Mozambique aimed at preventing the collapse of Zimbabwe's unity government.
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister and opposition Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai attends the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Mozambique's capital Maputo, November 5, 2009. Regional leaders held a summit in Mozambique on Thursday hoping to prevent the collapse of Zimbabwe's unity government, threatened by the most severe political standoff since it was formed in February.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, left, with his counterparts President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, center, and President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, right, walk as they break for lunch during their SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, South Africa, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009.
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister and opposition Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai attends the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Mozambique's capital Maputo, November 5, 2009.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe attends the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Mozambique's capital Maputo, November 5, 2009.
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai speaks to journalists at the end of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009. Tsvangirai has called off his party's boycott of the unity government with President Robert Mugabe.
A member of South Africa's Ndebele tribe attends a gathering of traditional leaders from all over the country in Pretoria on November 5, 2009 at Freedom Park in honour of former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The Ndebele people are African tribes located in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
A member of South Africa's Ndebele tribe attends a gathering of traditional leaders from around the country in Pretoria on November 5, 2009
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of Former South African President Nelson Mandela dressed in Xhosa tribe garbe attends a gathering of traditional leaders from all over the country in Pretoria on November 5, 2009 at Freedom Park in honour of former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe leaves at the end of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009. Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called off his party's boycott of the unity government with President Robert Mugabe.
WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: U.S. President Barack Obama shakes meets with President Ian Khama (L) of Botswana in the Oval Office of the White House on November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. The presidents met to discuss Botswana and southern Africa including political issues in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe batsman Christopher Mpofu, face to camera, greets Brendan Taylor, who scored a hundred during the fifth and the final limited overs cricket match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Bagladesh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009.
Bangladesh batsman Zunaed Siddique, left, walks back after being dismissed as Zimbabwe's Christopher Mpofu, second left, Hamilton Masakadza, third left, and Elton Chigumbura celebrate during the fifth and the final limited overs cricket match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009.
Bangladesh's batsman Roqibul Hassan, left, looks on as his bails fly in the air during the fifth and the final limited overs cricket match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. On the right is Zimbabwe's wicket keeper Brendan Taylor.
Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor reacts after scoring a hundred during the fifth and the final limited overs cricket match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Chittagong, India, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Non striker batsman Christopher Mpofu is also seen, background.
Zimbabwe batsman Stuart Matsikenyeri, left, is bowled out as Bangladesh wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, right, reacts during the fifth and the final limited overs cricket match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009.
Zimbabwe:The Race for Country's Resources
It is much clearer today in 2009 that every African country governed by a former popular black African struggle movement against Caucasian international Western colonialism, is under severe pressure.
This includes particularly those countries that trade with China, who bear the brunt of the interfering US/UK/EU/Canadian/Australian/Israeli punishment. African countries included in this unfair war-of-attrition and destabilisation are Kenya, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar and of course, Zimbabwe.
During the times of the Cold War there was a balance of power between the Soviet Bloc of nations and the international West. History reveals that 'the Soviet and Cuban intervention was to undermine China's influence in Africa rather than to help the MPLA (Angola's ruling party) to win for its own sake, or even to weaken Western influence'. In fact, this is documented as early as in April 1976, in two essays in the book After Angola: The war over southern Africa - The Role of the Big Powers by Colin Legum, and How the MPLA won in Angola, by Tony Hodges.
It is recorded history that the Chinese backed Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe in his struggle against colonial British Rhodesia.
RACE FOR ZIMBABWE'S RICHES
Meanwhile, the Rhodesian lobby has finally come out in full force. Their influential lobby, well used by the international West, has to date worked hard at destabilising and isolating Zimbabwe in order to retain its interests in agriculture, mining and resources, otherwise also known as 'land'.
Their henchmen have been deployed and have thrown their considerable weight behind the protection of the forever hopeful deputy minister of agriculture in Harare, the MDC's Roy Bennett, as well as the CEO of British mining company African Consolidated Resources plc (ACR), Andrew Cranswick. Both have made their respective contributions to political party MDC-T, led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
Bennett, a white commercial farmer in Zimbabwe, is a known funder of the MDC-T. Researchers in history and politics delved into the background of Roy Bennett as well as that of Andrew Cranswick. They claim that Bennett was a member of the notorious Selous Scouts. Bennett also served as a policeman in Ian Smith's Rhodesian government.
His colleague, David Coltart, revealed that Bennett had served in the British South African Police, founded by the British arch-conqueror of Africa, Cecil John Rhodes.Roy Bennett was also a member of Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front (RF) political party. As soon as that had fallen apart, Bennett assisted to create two white, right wing political parties and later threw his weight behind the MDC, urging his fellow Rhodesians to follow suit.
Then there is Andrew Cranswick, the Rhodesian born Zimbabwean, shareholder and CEO of the British mining company, African Consolidated Resources. In their admission to the London Stock Exchange's AIM, on 30 June 2006 ACR plc stated under the sub-title 'Operational Focus' in paragraph seven:
'Zimbabwe is a highly rich mineral province - in 1975 the country was ranked as the fifth largest gold producer in the world. Zimbabwe also has one of the best documented geological databases of the world's developing nations, with a sophisticated mining environment and continues to possess an excellent logistics infrastructure when compared with most other African states.'
Andrew Cranswick publicly threatened that Zimbabwe is under US/UK/EU/Canadian/Australian/Israeli sanctions, 'a fate that would befall anyone who dared to take a stake in the diamond fields (of Marange)'. ACR plc took over the diamond claim of Marange in Zimbabwe from De Beers. The global diamond cartel distanced itself from its diamond fields at independence of Zimbabwe in April 1980. Only two years ago, Cranswick and his British ACR went into operation of Marange.
Zimbabwe's ministry of mines as well as the judiciary would be well advised to re-visit the agreement De Beers entered into with the Rhodesian regime. It would make good sense if an astute team of expert researchers and mining and contractual law specialists would re-visit the transfer of the diamond mining rights from De Beers to ACR plc in 1980.
It would also make good business sense to investigate the agreements since then and whether or not the land had been dormant and thus, the DeBeers 'sale' of the Marange licenses would by now have been forfeited. Which government and which ministry signed those mining rights over to ACR plc, when and under what conditions?
Meanwhile, ACR offered the Zimbabwean government (whom exactly?) an equity partnership in this venture and still seems to await a response. According to Cranswick, 'the board remains hopeful that good sense will prevail and the deposit can be exploited for the good of all Zimbabweans'. Zimbabwe's minister of finance, the MDC's Tendai Biti, backs the aforementioned approach.
It is the same similar tactic the world diamond cartel, De Beers, has pushed through in many of the diamond producing countries. These include Botswana (DebTswana), Namibia (NamDeb) and South Africa (De Beers).
It seems Zimbabwe would have to follow that example. Until this has happened the diamond cartel will stop at nothing to discredit Zimbabwe's diamond industry. Zimbabwe could be facing expulsion from the international diamond community and the Kimberly Process Certification. The diamonds could even be declared as 'illegal blood and conflict diamonds'.
THE STRUGGLE FOR SUCCESSION
Zimbabwe's president Mugabe expressed his disapproval of senior officials' involvement in the diamond industry. He described it as an industry where 'suspicion could easily be raised'. Mugabe asked, 'How do you become involved in this sort of thing when you are a Politburo member, partnering white businessmen, why?'
Retired general and war hero, Solomon Tapfumanei (directly translated: How did you get this rich?) Mujuru, alias Rex Nhongo, is the only Politburo member who is publicly known to have a direct interest in Zimbabwe's diamond fields. As a Zanu PF member of parliament he serves on the board of the diamond field, River Ranch Limited.
General Mujuru is allegedly also a close friend and business ally of Andrew Cranswick. His legal counsel at River Ranch Limited is George Smith. Smith is a retired judge who served under Ian Smith and Robert Mugabe as a cabinet secretary. It is interesting to observe that Mujuru's role is never publicly questioned, as he remains a war hero. Meanwhile, he has amassed great wealth over the years.
The Zanu PF committee of Matabeleland North under its governor, the current minister of mines, Obert Mpofu, also comprises Solomon Mujuru, Thoko Mathuthu and former minister of finance, Simba Makoni.
It is further alleged that Mujuru is often labelled as Zanu PF's 'kingmaker'. This misconception seems to come from some of his loyal army supporters. If this would be the case, President Mugabe would have long been ousted, as the retired general is certainly not on the side of the president.
The fugitive director of the failed NMB Bank in Harare, James Mushore, is Mujuru's nephew. Mushore allegedly exposed the rather limited influence of his uncle when he flew to London early 2004.
Despite his wife, Joyce's position as deputy president of Zimbabwe, retired General Mujuru's political influence seems waning. According to well-informed sources, Mujuru has no presidential ambitions, yet wants to have his ally as president of Zimbabwe.
But, Mugabe's criticism of Politburo members' participation in Zimbabwe's diamond run seems to have marginalised Mujuru further. His wife Joyce is of lesser influence than ever before, the same senior sources say. Like in most African countries, the above-mentioned financially and politically ambitious elite could at best be described as the 'native assistants of the G-8'.
Dr Tafataona Mahoso, head of Zimbabwe's Media Commission described the above scenario in an article of the New African news magazine aptly, 'The Africans in these business bodies are mainly managers or subsidiary shareholders of a residual Rhodesian rump capital which does not want a proper African national business class.' In fact, such behaviour undoes what Mugabe tried to build in his lifetime.
THE HISTORIC OUTCOME
In above context, the likes of Tsvangirai, Biti, Mukoko, Bennett, Cranswick, the Rhodies and their MDC simply are non-starters, despite, or most likely because of their aggressive support of the international West.
Their sponsors push them. It is realistic fact that not one of the heads-of-state of the SADC region will allow any one of them to mislead them, no matter what Tsvangirai tells Mozambique's Guebusa, South Africa's Zuma, Angola's Dos Santos or DR Congo's Kabila. The 'Government of National Unity (GNU)' stands. That's fact too. SADC heads-of-state would find it difficult to support an old colonial, race-based order, where their kith-and-kin have no access to land and the wealth of their land.
The international West led by Washington DC and its sanctions against Zimbabwe ordered the MDC-T's Tsvangirai to take out the chestnuts from the burning fire. In other words, Tsvangirai would have to get his party colleague Roy Bennett out of the serious trouble he finds himself in. Honestly now, which head-of-state would allow that?
Meanwhile, the Zanu PF-led government under President Mugabe remains under international Western pressure in their hope for a 'regime change'. And of late, the diamond industry is being used to assist.
The foreign-funded and owned 'civil society' has long showed its hand as the tool to implement destabilisation on a grand scale. The foreign ownership of 'civil society' and their aims and goals for all SADC members are also known to the respective heads-of-state.
A further tactic to isolate Zimbabwe from the SADC raised its ugly head. A Namibian on-line community publishes its virulent attacks against Zimbabwe's diamond industry on the Internet. After some research, the reality came to the fore - it is just another tactic to destroy the relations between the two countries and isolate Zimbabwe further. When Zimbabwe's senior minister Emerson Mnangagwa visited Windhoek, Namibia recently, his hotel room was broken into and all his belongings were stolen. Both above mentioned actions are not Namibian. Namibia's name is being abused.
All of Africa's wars, strife and problems are of typically ruthless materialistic nature. But, they are not an African creation. Greedy colonial-racist interests are the common historic cause for Africa's woes.
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Kasukuwere called upon all Zimbabweans to respect those who selflessly lost their lives to win freedom enjoyed today. Does that include Talent Mabika and others, mate?
Harare — Zimbabwean youths should reaffirm their support for the country's leadership so that they remain in power and defend it from being recolonised, a Cabinet minister has said.
In an interview following the return of more than 130 youths from Chikumbi Freedom Camp in Zambia on Sunday, Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, urged the youths to rally behind the country's Presidium, which was under siege from Western imperialists.
"We must hail the current leadership led by President Mugabe as it has managed to address the colonial injustices by giving people back their land," he said.
Minister Kasukuwere called upon all Zimbabweans to respect those who selflessly lost their lives to win freedom enjoyed today. (What of those killed, those torture, forced into exile and a whole wailing nation subjected to morden day satanic rule by thugs masquerading as liberators)
"This is not a negotiable legacy because real Zimbabweans died. (So, ONLY Zanu PF thugs are real people?)
We must always remember the sacrifices of those who took practical action to fight invaders. It is important to pay respect to our fallen heroes buried in other countries," he said.
He said as Government, they were prepared and determined to preserve the values of Independence, which were the basis upon which the liberation struggle was prosecuted.
More than 130 University of Zimbabwe students visited Chikumbi Freedom Camp, a former liberation war camp, over the weekend to honour hundreds of gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who were brutally massacred by Rhodesian forces 30 years ago.
The trip, organised by the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, was aimed at conscientising the youths on the history of Zimbabwe and to remind the future leaders to work for the prosperity and development of the nation.
Over 420 Zimbabweans perished on 19 October 1978 at the Freedom Camp after being bombed by the Rhodesian forces, in a move meant to pre-empt military incursions into Rhodesia by Zipra forces.
University of Zimbabwe student, Luckson Kandemiiri, described the trip as an eye opener to many youths.
"It is important to have these visits because it gives us a chance to be closer to what our fellow Zimbabweans went through. We have seen the truth and it should not end with us, but must spread to our peers so that they also know the significance of our independence," he said. (The Herald)
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