I was sent this from Africa via email and asked to post it here.

A letter from Zimbabwe
Sent in by John Winter:

I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF.
The darkest hour is always before dawn.
We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next........I mean they are actually plowing down brick and mortar houses and one white family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK's and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was "too close to the airport".. so we are feeling extremely insecure right now. You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know – how can you help?
Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your
guardian angels to be with us - that is a help - but I feel so cut
off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what's going on here simply
because you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave
so that is not an option. I just ask that you all pray for us in the
way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us
and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in
denial and pretend its not going on. To be frank with you, its
genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the
Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are IN level
seven (level 8 is after its happened and everyone is in denial). If
you don't want me to tell you these things then it means you have
not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you
are turning your back on our situation.
We need you to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully
dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say
- oh well, that's what happens in Africa. This government has GONE
MAD and you need to publicize our plight or how can we be rescued?
You can't just say "oh you attract your own reality". The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food water, shelter and bedding are a reality.
Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two
small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep
outside. We already support 8 people and a child on this property
and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water. How can

I take another family of 4 - and yet how can I turn them away to
sleep out in the open?
I am not asking you for money, or a ticket out of here - I am
asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger
and I want you to pass on our news and pictures and don't just
press the delete button for God's sake. Help in the way that you know
how.
Face the reality of what is going on here and SEND OUT THE WORD.
The more people that know about it, the more chance we have of United
Nations coming to our aid.
Please stop ignoring and denying what's happening. Would you like
to be protected from the truth and then if we are eliminated how
would you feel? Surely you would say "if only we knew how bad it
really was we could have helped in some way". I know we chose to
stay here and so we "deserve" what's coming to us. For now we
ourselves, have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for
the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they start
on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I
want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold
of those I can't fight for my rights.
We no longer have SW radio which told us everything that was
happening because the government jammed it out of existence - we
don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If
we had reporters here they would have an absolute field day. Even
the pro government Herald has written that people are shocked,
stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of
everyone's homes which are supposed to be "illegal but which a
huge percentage of them actually do have licenses for. Please - have
some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal
reports so that something can be DONE.



Zimbabwe’s secret famine
By Daniel Howden in Matabeleland

As a UN envoy arrives to investigate Mugabe’s ‘Operation Drive Out Trash’, thousands of people are dying in rural poverty

Zimbabwe is in the grip of a hidden famine and as a United Nations envoy begins a tour of the country today - June 27 - The Independent can reveal a deadly nexus of Aids, starvation and depopulation of the cities that is sending tens of thousands to a silent death in rural areas.
One month into President Robert Mugabe’s brutal campaign of demolition and displacement, which has cost at least 400,000 people their homes and livelihoods, the scale of the humanitarian disaster is emerging. The victims of this forced expulsion – which has been compared to the devastating policies of Pol Pot in Cambodia – are arriving in the already famine-stricken countryside, where, jobless and homeless, they are waiting to die.

Unofficial estimates obtained by The Independent suggest the death rate is already outstripping the birth rate nationwide by 4,000 a week. The UN has responded by dispatching a special envoy, Anna Tibaijuka, who arrived in Zimbabwe last night, to assess the position. The Tanzanian official, head of the UN Habitat programme, is expected to be taken on a carefully organised visit to urban areas where evidence of the pogrom has been hastily cleared.
The St Anne’s Catholic mission in Brunapeg will not be on her government-controlled tour. The remote outpost, south of Bulawayo, has found itself on the front line of this new battle for survival. A grinding two-hour drive along a rocky dirt track from the main road linking Bulawayo to the Plumtree border crossing into Botswana, the mission provides the only prospect of medical help for a hundred miles in all directions.

Each day scores of starving and sick people come trekking out of the bush in search of a doctor. Many barefoot and exhausted after walking for up to 12 hours through the night, they form a queue outside the spartan concrete compound and wait. Pedro Porrino, a Spanish physician who has been working at the mission for three years, says that what is unfolding is an unprecedented crisis.
“For the first time I am seeing people who are literally starving to death,†he says.
“There are people coming to the mission asking to be admitted just so they can eat... Out in the bush families are living on one meal a day.â€
HIV infection rates in Zimbabwe have soared to the highest in the world and in combination with the growing impact of malnourishment - in a country where the United Nations World Food Programme estimates that four million people need immediate food aid - the effects are devastating.
“Ninety per cent of the people I see are HIV-infected,†says Dr Porrino. “Most of the time I wouldn’t even need to perform the test; I can see as soon as I look at them that they have HIV. I am seeing men of 25 and 35 weighing 45 kilograms and it’s because they have Aids but it’s also because they don’t eat at all.â€

With proper nutrition and medical care, HIV sufferers in the West typically take up to 10 years to develop full-blown Aids. For the starving Zimbabweans, their immune systems already weakened by malnutrition, the transition is now a matter of months.
“The speed of the transition is related to malnutrition. Every day I am seeing the evidence of malnutrition among non-HIV patients so you can imagine what is happening to HIV-infected people,†Dr Porrino says.
According to one senior consultant surgeon in Bulawayo, who preferred not to be named, the scale of the Aids epidemic has so far masked the extent of the famine.
“Put simply, people are dying of Aids before they can starve to death,†he said.

Brunapeg is typical of the drought-ravaged areas into which Mr Mugabe is driving the urban poor. The hospital and school rise out of the low scrub, the only buildings of any kind for miles around. Rusting petrol pumps stand idle at the filling station, there hasn’t been a fuel delivery in Brunapeg for years.
“Now that people are being forced to come out here what’s here for them? Nothing,†says the Spanish doctor. “There are so many people here who have never been into town. The only thing they know is to eat and to survive and now they can’t even do that.â€

With the rural famine gaining lethal momentum, the gap between the political rhetoric of Mr Mugabe, in the capital, Harare, and the situation on the ground has reached surreal proportions. Mr Mugabe, in power since 1980, has pronounced himself pleased with the results of the campaign that he has titled Murambatsvina, which means “drive out the rubbish†in Shona.
The wholesale destruction of shantytowns, squatter camps and street markets from the outskirts of Harare to the majestic Victoria Falls, is hailed by the ruling Zanu PF as an overdue clampdown on illegal settlements and the criminal element on the fringe of society. The Education Minister, Aeneas Chigwedere, has insisted “people had been moved to an appropriate placeâ€, adding that there is “nobody in Zimbabwe who does not have a rural homeâ€.

But David Coltart, an MP with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said what had happened was nothing short of a pogrom against the government’s opponents. The state now exercises total control over media and movement inside Zimbabwe. The last two dissenting voices, SW Radio Africa and the Daily News, have been forced to close.
A recent headline in The Chronicle, a government mouthpiece, told its readers that Britain was following Zimbabwe’s lead and demolishing up to 400,000 homes in a similar clean-up campaign.
Foreign reporters have been expelled and millions of pounds have been spent on strengthening the secret police force, the CIO, in order to infiltrate civil society and opposition groups. In this atmosphere of intimidation and misinformation many Zimbabweans have little idea of what is happening outside their immediate surroundings.

In the hospitals of Bulawayo there are no queues to speak of. But the reason is that people are dying before they can reach a city hospital, according to Dr Mike Cotton, a consultant surgeon. “People have lost confidence in the health service. They don’t believe it’s worth the time and money to get to a hospital where there is little that can be done for them. They’d rather stay and die where they are,†he said. In antenatal clinics, HIV infection rates are running at 50 per cent.
Tests conducted in army barracks show infection rates in excess of 80 per cent. Zimbabwe, alone among the countries of southern Africa is seeing negative population growth. According to official figures the population stands at 12 million. A senior health official, speaking on condition of anonymity said the real figure could be as low as 9.5 million. Average life expectancy in Zimbabwe has plummeted to just 33.
In Brunapeg, Dr Porrino says: “People ask me why they should bother to be tested for HIV. They ask what I can do for them if they are infected. And I have to tell them the truth: nothing.†And the doctor has a question of his own: “Does anyone in the outside world know what’s going on here? What are people waiting for?â€



Clean-up claims six
A snapshot from The Zimbabwe Standard, 26 June

At least six people, among them four children, have died so far in circumstances related to the controversial Operation Restore Order, which has left thousands of people homeless, The Standard can reveal. Some were crushed to death by structures that remained after police partially demolished their homes, while others died after exposure to cold.
A fortnight ago, two-year-old Charmaine Nyika of Old Tafara died after a wall, that police had partially destroyed, collapsed on her while one-and -half-year-old baby Terence Munyaka, died last week under similar circumstances in Chitungwiza. Early this month, 30-year-old Onward Duwa of Chirumhanzu committed suicide after a misunderstanding with his father over accommodation, following the demolition of his house in Harare.

In Bulawayo, where about 10 000 people have been displaced, eight month-old Aleck Sibanda from Richmond suburb died of pneumonia last week after excessive exposure to cold following the demolition of his parents’ house. Sibanda was buried last Wednesday in a tense mood, with churches, civic groups and concerned citizens condemning the operation.
The police destroyed Sibanda’s house, burning blankets and food, leaving the family in the open and exposing the child to the harsh winter cold. Speaking to The Standard at the gravesite, the deceased boy’s mother, Sandiso Mutupidzi, said she would seek advice on taking legal action against the government for the loss of her only child.

“This boy lying dead here was my only child and I don’t know what to do. I am making efforts to see that justice prevails. I am a poor person but what happened to my son needs God’s intervention because we are fighting a powerful force that does not care about human life,†said a grief-stricken Mutupidzi.
Aleck’s father, Crispen Sibanda, cried while at the same time trying to console his distraught wife. The Sibandas had spent almost a week in the open. “Had it not for the destruction of our house, burning of our blankets, food and other personal belongings, this boy could not have died. We are poor but we were going to look after our child,†fumed Sibanda.

Pastor Patson Neta of the New Life For All Fellowship Church said he was disturbed that an innocent life had been lost as a result of the government’s exercise. “As I speak to you right now, my church is taking care of over 2 000 displaced families. By Tuesday I had 1 126 people at my church, who came seeking food, accommodation and clothes whilst others were asking for transport money so that they return to their respective rural homes.â€
“The situation is so pathetic, disturbing and I hope God will provide. The only appeal I would like to make to the government is that they have to provide land for these people so that they start preparing for the next rainy season.â€

In another related incident, 10-year-old Takudzwa Taroyiwa from Mutare died of pneumonia after spending nights in the open. Mutare, which is situated in the Eastern Highlands, is one of the coldest areas in Zimbabwe. Woman from Mutare, Chido Nhongo, also died of pneumonia leaving behind a five-month-old baby. Chido’s husband, Enock Nhongo, said although his wife was not feeling well before undergoing an operation, her illness worsened after being exposed to the winter temperatures.
“My baby son is now surviving on bottled milk and sleeping in the open like us grown ups,†Nhongo said. Post-mortems conducted at Mutare provincial hospital confirmed the two died of pneumonia.

The Red Cross Society of Zimbabwe on Thursday started setting up tents for displaced families who had camped at Sports Oval Grounds in Sakubva. However, Mutare executive mayor, Misheck Kagurabadza, says the assistance by Red Cross is just a “drop in the ocean†as the city estimates 120 000 people have been displaced by the operation. Kagurabadza said Mutare was likely to have more deaths related to sleeping outside in the cold.
Home Affairs Minister, Kembo Mohadi, refused to comment referring all questions to Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, who was not available for comment. “We can’t be public relations officers of another ministry, you talk to Chombo because we are just a law enforcement agency,†Mohadi said.

Thanks. We all need to pass it on to our senators, congressmen and other civic and religious leaders to see what can be done for Zimbabwe. We have enough AR members in each state and other countries to do so.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Thanks. We all need to pass it on to our senators, congressmen and other civic and religious leaders to see what can be done for Zimbabwe. We have enough AR members in each state and other countries to do so.

Hi Guys

I know we are back again onto politics and this thread proberbly needs to be moved off the Africa Forum ...

WE all know the true situation in Zim's and we have basically known it for the past 4 or 5 years, which is the country is in crap and the dictator must go, whats new so to speak.

The problem or reality of the situation is that in the (grand scale of the world) Zim's is but a pin prick on an elephant and although we have all done this before, lobby senators and others on high it falls on deaf ears.

Your people in power in the USA have more on their mind with internal security world terrorism wars in IRAQ AFGAN and the festering situation in N Korea and Iran, so realistically speaking I wonder if the actually care a rats tail about Zim's.

I am going to be quite frank about it. The USA has an emabassy in Harare and they know the situation first hand so to speak, and unless the MUGABE madmen takes down a plane or kills some number of foreigners with any connection to USA, then do you honestly believe that anything will be done, we all know how Politics works, it takes some major incident to get the Politition to wake up

There are only two ways to sort it out being /

Mbeke steps in and puts the screws on ROB

OR someone stirs up the Matabele or locals to start major internal action beyond striking

Sorry to be so negative BUT I have seen and heard it all before, and having spent many many years there I know how the system works quite well

Peter

The email that I copied at the start of thread was titled "Prayer Request" when it was forwarded to me. That may be all that we can do at this time.

Peter- I am glad you mentioned the US embassy. I assumed the US presence was long gone. I wonder who our ambasaduer is and if that would be considered a "plum" or a punitive position?

quote:

Originally posted by crane:
Peter- I am glad you mentioned the US embassy. I assumed the US presence was long gone. I wonder who our ambasaduer is and if that would be considered a "plum" or a punitive position?

US. Embassy in Harare located at 172 Herbert Chipeto Ave. The U.S. Embassy in Harare can be contacted by phone at (263) 4-520-594/5.

Updated information on travel and security in Zimbabwe may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747, or from the U.S. Embassy in Harare. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Zimbabwe, and the World Wide Caution Public Announcement, which are located on the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov

Take care

Regards, Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Balla Balla:


There are only two ways to sort it out being /

Mbeke steps in and puts the screws on ROB

OR someone stirs up the Matabele or locals to start major internal action beyond striking

Or New Zealand could invade.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

quote:

Originally posted by Balla Balla:


There are only two ways to sort it out being /

Mbeki steps in and puts the screws on ROB

OR someone stirs up the Matabele or locals to start major internal action beyond striking

Or New Zealand could invade.

500grain

If the truth be known, although we have some VERY good SAS forces operating with your special forces we essentially in NZ could not fight our way out of a WET PAPER BAG ///

We are militarily a basket case, if it came to a fight, we would have to call on Australia and USA to bail us out //

We have a couple of ships, frigates or similar, and no strike airforce any more, except for a few choppers and some transport planes

That is what happins when liberal ideas and liberals get into power

We are having an election in a month or two over here in NZ ... hopefully we can turf the bastards out and get a center right government back in power whom will become MORE friendly towards the USA and allow your ship to again visit our PORTS for R&R

I better run before there is a (knock on my door) and the (secret squirrels arrive) and whisk me away to languish in the Hotel Hilton in Cuba

Peter ( downunder in Nuclear free NZ )

If each of NZ, OZ, DE, FR, NE, IT, ES and CH contributed 10,000 men, you guys could take over the entirety of Africa and run it better than the locals have been doing the past 20 years.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
If each of NZ, OZ, DE, FR, NE, IT, ES and CH contributed 10,000 men, you guys could take over the entirety of Africa and run it better than the locals have been doing the past 20 years.

If the Western World would have left us OLD IDIOTS and Smith supporters in power in Africa WE would have run it better, like we did before all those countries gained their independance and consequently went downhill, but that is another story, we cant live in past and cry in our beer, we can only learn from the past, mind you do we

Peter

The news and situation is getting worse and worse each day. If South Africa is going to give $1 Billion dollars to zim and Mugabe where wil it go ???

At the reataurant where I work we have about 6 ex Zim employees who work for almost minimal wage but even then they spend R400 per month just to send food over to their families. The R400 excludes the food they send. It is a sick realistic problem and not enough is been done about it.

i have been reading abot zimbawe since the rhodesia a war won by the excellent troops ,of rhodesia the rli,the sas the selous scouts and others considred the best of the best amog specail forces units but then the ian smith goverment was betrayed by england and and the rest of occident ,we permitted that the brave people of south africa live under a terrorist that deserves like all terrorist one thing a bullet in his head.juan

quote:

Originally posted by Balla Balla:

If the Western World would have left us OLD IDIOTS and Smith supporters in power in Africa WE would have run it better, like we did before all those countries gained their independance and consequently went downhill,

Zim's mess is Britain's fault, and RSA's mess is the fault of the U.S. IMO.