Chaos in Chitungwiza as police crush youth rally

A rally by the Zimbabwe Youth Movement in Chitungwiza was stopped by police who sealed off Huruyadzo Centre and beat up everyone suspected of involvement in the event. A spokesman told us and everything went out of control when police began beating without provocation. ZINASU president Promise Mkwananzi said police details were armed with AK-47’s, accompanied by police dogs and indiscriminately fired teargas.

Shops closed, people forced to attend Independence Day address

Police in Harare forced shops to close and herded people to Rufaro Stadium in Mbare to hear Mugabe on Independence Day. With the ongoing arrests, torture of opposition officials and supporters, and ever increasing inflation rates Zimbabweans did not have much to celebrate. Mugabes speech contained the usual negative venom against the British and opposition parties.
MDC stopped from attending Independence celebrations in Mutare

The officer-in-charge of Mutare central police station, Inspector Florence Marume, personally instructed her officers to block an MDC delegation from entering Sakubva stadium for the Independence celebrations. The MDC delegation, which included provincial spokesman Pishai Muchauraya, was travelling in a party vehicle when they were stopped at the gate and ordered to turn back.
Cabinet agrees to combine elections
The Herald newspaper reports that the cabinet has approved proposals to harmonise presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. It said the Cabinet met on Monday and endorsed all proposals, except the issue of whether the Senate should be chosen through proportional representation or through elections.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/newsreel180407.mp3

 For a couple of weeks Cathy Buckles Letter from Zimbabwe is being replaced by A Letter from the Diaspora – Outside Looking in, letter from a Zimbabwean in exile.

Dear Friends.
The South African papers over the Easter weekend were full of comment and analysis of how Thabo Mbeki was going to tackle the problem of Zimbabwe and what particular hurdles he might face in dealing with Mugabe.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/lfz180407.mp3

In the Balance this week looks at reports from Zimbabwe of the abduction, detention and torture of opposition supporters by police and other State agents which have intensified in the last few weeks. It is increasingly difficult to establish what is happening to those who end up in the hands of the police because lawyers are being denied access to them and being obstructed from investigating these cases. Sitting in for Gugulethu Moyo Tererai seeks an insight into what is taking place from the Deputy Secretary for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in the Movement for Democratic Change, Jessie Majome. Gugu returns next week In The Balance.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/itb180407.mp3

 Gerry describes Zimbabwe as a nation in a state of ‘despair, despondency and deterioration’. Whilst most Zimbabweans are struggling to feed themselves and their families Robert Mugabe and his ‘select few’ will no doubt be spending millions tomorrow on ‘their’ independence celebrations. Gerry talks to Mandisa about what 27 years of independence has brought to him.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/callback170407.mp3

 This week on Different Points of View, Duane Udd interviews Aaron Lee, one of the organizers of The International Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe which is to be held April 18th, Zimbabwe’s 27th Independence Day anniversary.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/dpv170407.mp3

On the programme Hot Seat Violet takes a look at the role of the Church in Zimbabwe in finding a solution to the crisis. The guests this week are Bishop Trevor Manhanga, head of delegation of the Zimbabwe National Vision Document that was launched last year, Pastor Ray Motsi, the spokesperson of the Christian Alliance (the conveners of the Save Zimbabwe Campaign) and Pius Ncube, the Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo. What has happened with the National Vision document initiative? Does the church have the moral authority to summon ZPF & MDC to the negotiating table? These and other questions are discussed on the programme Hot Seat.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/hotseat170407.mp3

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Government withdraws NGO licences as crackdown widens
The Zimbabwe government has cancelled licences for Non Governmental Organisations alleging that they are being funded by the west. But critics say this is the usual paranoia and a ploy by the regime to silence critics. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said this is an illegal act and a violation of the law as it stands while other c ivic groups say it is a political move meant to intimidate people.

Three more arrested as concern grows for detained activists
Police continued their violent campaign of arresting and assaulting opposition officials and supporters over the weekend. In the Sizinda suburb of Bulawayo on Saturday they arrested MDC activists Nqobile Mguni, Pius Mpofu and Thubelihle Siwela. Police did not specify charges and transferred them to Harare .

Demonstrations lined up in the diaspora to mark Independence Day
Activists all over the world have lined up a series of demonstrations to express their condemnation of Mugabe’s crackdown on the opposition. UK protesters will march to the British parliament in Westminster and a petition will be handed over asking the UK to put pressure on African leaders and use their influence to solve the country’s crisis.

ZEC plans to deny millions of Zimbabweans right to vote
The Zanu (PF) led regime has set it’s rigging machinery in motion by announcing that it will deny close to 5 million Zimbabweans living in exile the right to vote in next year’ presidential and parliamentary elections. Zimbabwe Election Commission spokesman Utloile Silaigwana told the state controlled Herald that only those on official government duty outside the country would be eligible to vote.

Opposition leaders say nothing to celebrate on Independence Day
On the eve of Zimbabwe’s 27th Independence Day celebrations, the two leaders of the country’s divided opposition united in acknowledging there was nothing to celebrate. Newsreel on Tuesday spoke to both Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara to get their thoughts on the celebrations.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/newsreel170407.mp3

 Zim Alive this week goes to the rural district of Murehwa where one of our regular contacts Kumbirai explains why many people are finding it necessary to travel in pairs. He says a large number of youth militia was dispatched to the area after local church officials read aloud the Pastoral letter issued by the Catholic Bishops criticizing government officials.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/zimalive170407.mp3

In the Hidden Story on Monday Tichaona speaks to Ephraim Tapa, the MDC UK national chairman whose province is working on proposals that would see millions of Zimbabweans living in the diaspora having a say in any future talks concerning a new Zimbabwe and possibly taking part in the voting exercise itself. This latest initiative comes after concerns were raised by people living in the diaspora that they might be left out of the voting process, which they believe is part and parcel of their democratic rights as Zimbabweans to choose their leaders.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/hs160407.mp3

 In today’s Letter from AmericaDr. Stan Mukasa discusses how the sheer resilience by Zimbabweans against dictatorship and repression may be having an impact on Robert Mugabe.

http://www.zimaction.com/LFAAPR1607.htm

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/04/lfa160407.mp3