Zimbabwe
South Africans face starvation as 90% of white farms taken by government fails
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 10:45March 3, 2010 by evl
Submitted by evl on Wed, 2010-03-03 10:45South Africa - South Africa the once 1st world country that was given over to the slum lords of 'we want more' and the white man 'has too much' is facing starvation.
Zimbabwe: Abuse of human rights continues under unity government
Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 20:20February 11, 2010 by Anonymous
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-02-11 20:20
Amnesty International today called on President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai to fulfil their promise to reform state institutions, in a bid to end human rights violations that have continued in the country since the formation of the unity government one year ago.
Torture, harassment and politically motivated prosecutions of human rights defenders and perceived opponents have persisted, while villagers in parts of Zimbabwe have suffered ceaseless intimidation by supporters of former ruling party ZANU-PF.
"The Attorney General's office, police and army have been left to freely violate human rights in pursuit of a political agenda," said Erwin van der Borght, Africa Director at Amnesty International.
"By delaying reform, the situation in Zimbabwe remains fragile as perpetrators continue to escape justice and are instead effectively given the all clear to continue violating human rights."
Amnesty International called on the unity government to end on-going harassment of human rights defenders. Several peaceful protests organized by civic movement Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were violently broken up by police in 2009.
Seventeen human rights and political activists who were abducted by state security agents in 2008 continue to face charges that are widely believed to be trumped up. One of them, Jestina Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, had her prosecution permanently stayed by the Supreme Court in September 2009 because of overwhelming evidence that she had been tortured.
"The government must end the incessant harassment of human rights activists and take steps to seriously protect rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly," said Erwin van der Borght.
The Zimbabwean army and intelligence services, as well as the Attorney General's office, have remained under ZANU-PF control, following an agreement brokered by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in 2008. The police are co-chaired by ZANU-PF and MDC-T ministers.
"The onus is on President Mugabe and ZANU-PF to ensure that key institutions under their control are reformed to end the culture of impunity that still threatens stability in the country," said Erwin van der Borght.
Amnesty International's call for reform comes amid reports that villagers in parts of Zimbabwe are being threatened with violence by army backed supporters of ZANU-PF, in an attempt to force them to endorse the heavily criticized Kariba draft constitution.
The Kariba draft constitution, agreed by unity government parties in September 2007, has been strongly criticized by some civil society organizations as an attempt by the parties to impose a constitution without consultation.
Villagers in Mutoko, Muzarabani and MT. Darwin are reportedly being warned that they will face beatings unless they support the ZANU-PF position. Similar threats were made and materialised in the run up to the June 2008 presidential elections..
"These are early warning signs that the situation could deteriorate if no urgent measures are taken to stop state security agents from carrying out violent political campaigns."
"Past involvement on their part has resulted in gross human rights violations, including deaths and torture of perceived opponents."
The government has so far failed to investigate gross human rights violations allegedly carried out by security forces during the run-up to the second round of the 2008 presidential elections, which left at least 200 people dead, over 9,000 injured and tens of thousands displaced.
"The unity government must investigate past and present allegations of human rights violations by state security agents, including torture and ill treatment of detainees," said Erwin van der Borght.
Gross human rights violations have also been taking place within the army.
At least two soldiers were tortured to death in October 2009 while being interrogated by intelligence and military police officials in Harare. Another soldier was reported to have committed suicide while in solitary confinement and several others are still receiving medical treatment for injuries caused by torture.
The victims had been arrested along with at least 95 others, on suspicion of breaking into an armoury at Pomona barracks and stealing 21 guns.
"Zimbabwean state bodies are riddled with human rights abusers that in many cases carry out violations with impunity," said Erwin van der Borght.
"Without genuine reform of institutions this abuse is very likely to persist."
To arrange an interview, please contact Elisabeth Vikman, Amnesty International Press Officer at elisabeth.vikman@amnesty.org or +44 7778 472109.
Cameroon - Authorities urged to account for two journalists held incommunicado by intelligence agency
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 19:09February 9, 2010 by Anonymous
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-02-09 19:09
Reporters Without Borders calls on National Security Chief Emmanuel Edou to immediately explain what has happened to two journalists, Simon Hervé Nko'o and Serge Sabouang, who were arrested by members of the General Directorate for External Investigation (DGRE), an intelligence agency, on 5 February. There has been no news of them since then.
“The unacceptable manner in which these two journalists have been arrested resembles the ‘abductions' of journalists in Zimbabwe at the height of the repression orchestrated by Robert Mugabe,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Such practices have no place in a country such as Cameroon which claims to respect the rule of law.”
The press freedom organisation added: “The authorities must publicly state what offence these journalists are alleged to have committed and where they are being held. The journalists must also be allowed to communicate with their families.”
It is believed that Nko'o, a reporter for the Douala-based weekly Bebela, and Sabouang, the editor of the fortnightly La Nation, are being held at DGRE headquarters in Yaoundé. When Nko'o was arrested, his home was searched from top to bottom and was ransacked shortly thereafter.
Bebela publisher Henriette Ekwé said Nko'o was arrested “because he had a document that is compromising for powerful people in Cameroon,” adding that this included Laurent Esso, the secretary-general of the president's office. The document, about a questionable transaction, has been described by Esso as a fabrication designed to discredit him.
Agence France-Presse reported that, according to a local source who requested anonymity, the publishers of two other privately-owned newspapers, Bibi Ngota of the Cameroun Express and Robert Mintsa of Le Devoir, were also briefly detained in the same case on 5 February.
Four journalists – Ananie Bindzi, Alex Azebaze, Thierry Ngongang and Aboya Manassé – were meanwhile questioned today by the public prosecutor in connection with the comments they made on the STV programme “Cards on the Table” in June 2008 about judicial proceedings in an anti-corruption drive known as Operation Sparrowhawk.
The four journalists are facing up to three years in prison and fines of 5 million CFA francs. The case has been adjourned until 9 March because additional defence attorneys have been named.
Zimbabwean migrants to be taxed to retain voting rights
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 12:02Zimbabwe considering charging their citizens who lives abroad to be a able to vote and retain their citizenship. Tendai Biti Zimbabwe's finance minister made the proposal in London, stating t
Zimbabwe back to basics - trading preferred to money
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 23:37In Zimbabwe there is not much use for money for some people. Most of them are poor and have only meager livestock and grows their own maize to make mealie-meal, Africa's staple diet.
Dictator Mugabe reelected for Zanu PF leader
Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 22:15Zimbawe's dictator Robert Mugabe was reelected on Saturday as the leader of Zanu PF ( ZImbabwe African National Union / National Front).
The new great trek to the Congo
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - 16:47While most of the country still dont want to think about BOER history and while the current government breaks down our monuments and shoots our farmers there is a new great trek underway.
BIPPA proves South Africa's complacency toward farm invasions
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - 11:58
By signing the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) has shown the world that they agree with the invasion of farms in Zimbabwe but no one is taking notice.
ANC supports genocide against farmers in South Africa
Monday, November 30, 2009 - 14:04
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa recently said that farmers "exploit foreign nationals by reducing them to cheap labour" this then he said resulting in the killing and g
