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By Peta Thornycroft In Harare
Last Updated: 7:26PM BST 26 Aug 2008
The event, supposedly a grand occasion, opened with Mr Mugabe arriving at parliament in a gleaming Rolls Royce, once used by Lord Soames, the last Governor of Rhodesia.
Two dozen mounted soldiers rode alongside him and traditional chiefs, clad in pith helmets, waited to greet him along with judges in wigs and red gowns.
But MPs from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change snubbed Mr Mugabe by staying firmly in their seats when he walked into the chamber. They soon broke into song, denouncing his Zanu-PF party as "rotten".
This was probably the first time that Mr Mugabe, who is shielded from public criticism, has ever faced an openly hostile audience.
He was jeered when he talked of the negotiations with the opposition, mediated by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, which are now stalled without agreement.
"Landmark agreements have been concluded, with every expectation that everyone will sign up," he said, expressing his increasingly unlikely hope that the MDC will sign up to deal.
The anger on the opposition benches rose to a crescendo as Mr Mugabe launched into one of his characteristic denunciations of the West and the supposed sanctions that he claims have reduced Zimbabwe to penury, rather than his own mismanagement.
The volume reached its peak when Mr Mugabe referred to the carnage inflicted by thugs loyal to him following the first round of the presidential election in March, which saw the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai pull out of a run-off.
"Happily, all political parties in the country have acknowledged culpability in this violence," said Mr Mugabe.
"Zanu is rotten," sang the opposition MPs.
At times Mr Mugabe was drowned out by the heckling, having to raise his voice to be heard, and with his humiliation broadcast live on Zimbabwean state television for the entire nation to watch.
With MDC backbenchers drumming their hands on the seats in front of them, Mr Mugabe displayed his characteristic ability to see events his own way.
He told the house: “I wish to pay tribute to all Zimbabweans for having exercised their democratic right in our recent election (jeers) in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the regrettable and isolated cases of political violence (…inaudible through the heckling…) in the run-up to the presidential election run-off.
“Happily all political parties in the country (jeers) have acknowledged culpability in this violence, itself an important step towards putting behind us the odious habit of election-related violence,” he added, to more heckling.
Over and over again, the MDC MPs chanted in harmony: “Zanu is rotten, MDC is for the people.” Nonetheless Mr Mugabe is a past master at hiding his emotions, and his features remained impassive. But Eldred Masunungure, professor of political science at the University of Zimbabwe, said: “He won’t take kindly to that. He is not used to that sort of behaviour.
“It is happening in what is supposed to be an august house by august MPs. Going by his track record he is likely to respond in quite a vindictive manner.”
Mr Tsvangirai's party has been emboldened by its success in choosing one of its own MPs, Lovemore Moyo, as Speaker of parliament. Instead of boycotting the state opening, the MDC attended in order to allow Mr Moyo to preside over the event.
"The purported opening by Mugabe, the illegitimate usurper of the people's will, is illegal and of no force and effect," said its spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
I am beginning to buy the adage that high level education makes you irrelevant to practical political arena. You get so knowledgeable that you loose touch with ordinary people on the ground. I feel strongly that most Zimbabwean Professors are better off as political analysts than politicians, because most of them have proved to be liabilities.
I think Zimbabwean leadership should comprise not highly educated people because they consult,unlike most of these Zimbabwean Professors who seem to know everything .They bost with their theory forgetting that life itself is the best teacher.They take other people for granted,worse still as empty shells.This in effect make them to exist in their own world where you cant find the masses.
In support to my new discovery I will start with Proffessor Jonathan Moyo.Jonathan Moyo was my hero in the past I should admit.He used to critize the Robert Mugabe regime with vernom,until he escaped the country once because of this issue.I remember that time there was also Bill Saidi who used to call a spade a spade.I was shocked beyond repair to hear that Jonathan Moyo was now heading the constitution referendum on behalf of ZANU PF.Sooner rather than later he became Minister of Information and he started creating a hell for Zimbabweans.He is responsible for most of the media draconian laws which has caused extreme suffering and even death of the Zimbabwean people.After ZANU PF had finished with him they threw him into the cold which made him to wail like a child.Soon he was in the streets with no job.He shamelessly came back to the opposition and started throwing stones and ZANU PF claiming he was hard core opposition .He even went necodimously to Tsvangirai to ask to be spared in his constituency.Today I am now shocked that Jonathan has joined ZANU PF again which leaves me with one conclusion.Jonathan is a political prostitute who might soon suffer from political HIV Aids.
Now enter the rocket scientist Authur Mutambara,he is a former student leader like me.When he came he had all the theory right and we thought he is going to make a change to our impoverished and dangerous political arena.When we were student leaders the likes of Authur ,Brian Kagoro,Fortune Mguni(Daniel Molokela) and Jongwe were legends to us.I shall not say much,but his actions have been weird of late and we hope that he shall not betray the people.I want him to realize that the new generation where he belongs is looking at him with hawk eyes,and the new coming Zimbabwe might not have a place for him.
HARARE – Zimbabwe opposition chairman Lovemore Moyo was on Monday elected Speaker of the House of Assembly, the first time since the country’s 1980 independence from Britain for a member of the opposition to head the key lower chamber of Parliament.
Under Zimbabwe’s system of government, Moyo as Speaker becomes the fourth most powerful man in the troubled Southern African country and can act as president in the absence of President Robert Mugabe, his two deputies and Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku
The three pillars of government – which are intended to be independent of each other – are the Executive headed by Mugabe, Judiciary led by Chidyausiku and Parliament.
But Parliament had over the years under successive speakers from Mugabe’s ZANU PF party been subordinated to the Executive with the sole function of rubberstamping decisions taken by Mugabe and his Cabinet.
In his acceptance speech, Moyo signaled that a new era had begun in Zimbabwe’s politics declaring the House of Assembly will no longer be a “rubberstamping authority”.
Moyo said: “I assure you of utmost professionalism. This is the beginning of a long journey, there will be obstacles and spanners thrown our way. This House ceases to become a rubberstamping authority but will provide robust and constructive debate.”
Moyo – who polled 110 votes against Paul Themba Nyathi of a breakaway MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara and who was also backed by ZANU PF but managed 98 vote – promised the Assembly will at last “provide the oversight to the Executive” that is its duty under the Constitution.
Nyathi had appeared favourite to land the speaker’s job given the 10 seats controlled by his faction and 98 seats controlled by ZANU PF, which would have meant him clinching 108 votes. Moyo was guaranteed 99 votes after police arrested an MDC parliamentarian before the selection of speaker began.
But there was clear rebellion within the ZANU PF/Mutamabara faction alliance which saw 11 votes from the alliance going to Moyo.
The House of Assembly has 210 members. But 208 voted for speaker after the arrest of the MDC parliamentarian and the recent death of a ZANU PF legislator.
ZANU PF, which opted to back Nyathi to prevent the MDC from winning the speaker’s chair, sounded gracious in defeat, congratulating Moyo on his election and describing the opposition chairman as a “man of integrity”.
“On behalf of my party I say congratulations,” said Emmerson Mnangagwa, ZANU PF’s legal affairs secretary.
Nomalanga Khumalo of Mutambara’s faction of the MDC was chosen deputy speaker. The House of Senate chooses its president and deputy president later this afternoon. – ZimOnline
Dear all
It gives me great pleasure to post my first blog on my site. The long awaited Zimbabwe saga seems to have died down and people seem to have lost interest in my beloved country .....again!.. why I wonder, is it that everytime we have an election and when our dear leader (by force), Cde Mugabe wins, we just seem to lose all hope??
I remember hearing the internationl community talking about how tough they are going to be on Zimbabwe and how they are going to tighten up the sanctions (already imposed on the leaders of Zanu). I remember not so long ago, how people were ready to take the war to the "white house " of Zimbabwe and how they were going to root Mugabe and his henchman out of power.All that seems to be just but a memory of the past. History has already proven it that no matter how tough the sanctions are on Zimbabwe they are not having the desired effect. The effects are being felt by the majority of Zimbabweans who are barely surviving. There is no food in Zimbabwe, so even if one as the money, it still wouldn't buy you any food.To say that Zimabweans are suffering, is an understatement. The whole population has been totally annihilated as if it has been wiped out by some biblical bubonic plague, and all this being caused by one man and his handful of cronies. Shakespeare puts it right when he says the world is not fair.
The question in my mind and I believe in many a indiidual's mind is what re we going to do? What do you do when people around you are crying out from hunger, when they are not even sure of when they are going to have their next meal. It's a shame, a downright disgrace that we cn just stand byand see such human suffering and do nothing about it.?? I remember howSaddam Hussian was hunted down and later found in a hole not evenbig enough for him to stand in it. Ironic that he should havebeen found in a hole, for the saying goes ashes to ashes, dust to dust,,,, destiny??? perchance...
Isnt it time that Mugabe was made to run as well?? To feel the rage of the Zimbabwe people .Isn't it time for him to percieve the consequences of his actions?? who will strike the frst blow is the question? Who really wnts o go into war?That I am afraid is something I cannot answer.
However, the last kicks of a horse are always its strongest. Here is a thouroughbred that has run its course and is finally feeling the pinch of all its treking.I believe in a higher power that all mankin should and will report to at the end time.I believe that all judgement is left to the almighty God and I believe that as we pray and put our petition to God, He will hear us and deliver us and bring us back to the "promised land." When al seems to fail, remember there isa God who will never leave nor forsake us, the God of Abraham and Moses, He who ws, who is and who will be. So to the people of Zimbabwe, I say AlutaContinua!!!! The strugle continues, but lets be more prayerful and give it our all in one accord.
To Mugabe and his henchmen, beware for our God is an awesome God,,,fear Him, for behold he cometh to redeem his children,, enough blood has been spilt!!! Arise Zimbabweans,, arise and take your places....
July 14, 2008
Tanonoka Whande
I MUST admit that seeing MDC faction leader, Arthur Mutambara, standing in front of Robert Mugabe and grinning like a convict whose sentence had just been commuted made me sick to my stomach.
How do some people do it?
Do they relieve themselves of their conscience in order to do those things that would revolt even a dog that calls its own vomit a meal?
And yet it all started with Robert Mugabe.
Unsure of the effect his gimmick of planting Simba Makoni as a decoy presidential candidate would actually yield, Mugabe called Makoni a prostitute.
Makoni had done nothing to deserve such a label. He did not deserve it because he was always Zanu-PF.
So, I sit here wondering if Mugabe can identify a political prostitute if he met one, which he actually did but failed to recognize him.
And with the way he and Mutambara were holding hands and patting each other on the upper arms, like a goalkeeper being congratulated for saving a penalty, I could see that to some people, the nation does not matter.
Mutambara and Mugabe? Strange. But then, now more than ever, Mugabe needs political prostitutes more than a man emerging from a 20-year jail term.
With the ever present sell-out of them all, Welshman Ncube, in attendance, the “opposition party” was having a ball.
Followers of the Ncube/Mutambara MDC must be as confused as chickens trying to escape from a snake in a locked henhouse. They do not know what they ought to believe in or stand for. There is no ideology to protect, promote or broadcast.
They are just made to follow a person.
Ncube and Mutambara are making themselves the biggest and most shameless political prostitutes Zimbabwe has ever produced. Why do they always appear to muddy the waters at critical times?
Ncube almost murdered the Movement for Democratic Change. And if it were not for his mollycoddling Zanu-PF, there would not have been a run-off election that demanded from us the lives of our fellow innocent Zimbabweans.
After installing Arthur Mutambara as “President of the MDC” and with the help of Thabo Mbeki, the man who, behind Mugabe, has caused the deaths of more Zimbabweans than anyone else, Ncube went to work for his masters and diverted attention from Mugabe.
Thus, MDC factions spent most of their time hurling insults and abuses at each other and using press conferences to deny what the other group had said.
Precious attention and time were diverted from campaigning against Mugabe, with the spotlight on Ncube’s group and its constant verbal abuse of Tsvangirai and his followers.
Charges and counter-charges went flying as Mutambara’s people forgot their ‘mandate’ and spent time bad-mouthing the wrong party and leader.
However, Tsvangirai prevailed because people saw Ncube and his group of termites for what they were: destructive insects that chew a house from inside.
Then came the elections and Ncube, knowing fully well that he had no support even along tribal lines where he had hoped would keep him and his troupe afloat, flirted with the idea of rejoining Tsvangirai and fight elections together.
Again, they were seen for what they truly are and the deal fell through.
Then Simba Makoni made a belated entry into the presidential elections race.
As soon as Makoni confirmed his participation, Ncube urged his poor abused followers to back Makoni who kept refusing to denounce Zanu-PF but just continued telling people that he was not running against Mugabe but was running for the people, whatever it is he was trying to say.
Sure enough, Mutambara held “meetings” with Makoni resulting in his faction’s support and endorsement of Makoni.
In spite of that, Makoni got no more than eight percent of the presidential vote and Mutambara, Ncube and their “top leadership” all failed to win parliamentary seats.
Please don’t go away. If you smell anything funny, it’s because, we are approaching the brothel.
Nevertheless, Tsvangirai triumphed but a run-off election was cooked up.
Ncube and Mutambara, once again, actually spent time scratching their heads trying to figure out who to support in the run-off election: Mugabe or Tsvangirai.
They held “talks” with Tsvangirai’s MDC but, in the end, would not tell their followers to vote for Tsvangirai.
We can fill in the blanks, thank you.
Meanwhile, Mbeki was being embarrassed (as if he has any political decency to care) by what was going on in Zimbabwe.
He lied, as usual, that he had the Zimbabwean issue under control.
But wherever he went, at home and abroad, Mbeki was confronted by his ineptitude and failure exemplified by his pathetic stand on Zimbabwe.
So last week, like he has always done when going somewhere where he knew Zimbabwe would be an issue, Mbeki went to Zimbabwe first before flying to Japan for the G8 Summit.
As usual, the media was told a lot of crap that Mbeki had presented a plan to Zimbabwe’s political leaders “that would allow Robert Mugabe to remain as a titular head of state but surrender real power to the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who would serve as prime minister until a new constitution was negotiated and fresh elections held.”
Mbeki keeps presenting the same rejected “solution” over and over again.
This time, we were told, the MDC party leadership “found itself in surprising agreement with much of what Mbeki was proposing…”
Then Mbeki flew to Japan to tell the world that he was “making progress” in Zimbabwe.
That’s a load of manure. To my knowledge, it’s only beetles that can use dung to sustain life!
Tsvangirai denied agreeing to anything Mbeki brought.
He is even reported to have boycotted a meeting with Mbeki who went on to meet with Mugabe.
Guess who else met Mbeki? Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube, of course!
Who they were representing, on
