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| Africa: Southern |
| Zimbabwe protesters arrested |
| 2003-10-25 |
| Zimbabwe police have arrested scores of demonstrators as they tried to protest against worsening economic conditions they blame on mismanagement by President Robert Mugabe’s government. Witnesses said riot police armed with batons sealed off a square in the capital Harare’s city center Wednesday, trapping National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) activists who had gathered to demonstrate against chronic shortages of fuel, foreign currency and food. Could have been worse, they could have been parboiled and served with barbecue sauce: Congolese "beef". A Reuters correspondent saw about a dozen protesters loaded into a truck while riot police, some with police dogs, stood guard over another group. NCA members said as many as 400 people were arrested and taken to police stations. NCA spokesperson Ernest Mudzengi said Wednesday police arrested the group’s chairman Lovemore Madhuku in the crackdown at Africa Unity Square, near parliament and Mugabe’s town offices. "The NCA activists were protesting against the problems of fuel, the problems of transport, escalating inflation and all the other problems facing Zimbabweans which are a result of bad governance, which is itself the result of a defective constitution," Mudzengi told Reuters. All starting with a thug in power. Police had no immediate comment on the arrests. "We will say no more!" |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #12 There's a world of us Scots that would take offense at those words, laddie, so be careful! Actually, my ancestors came to America to guard Savannah from wild injuns, then married into the tribe... hoodathunkit |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-10-25 6:57:48 PM |
| #11 I'm still not used to the idea of Scots being: 1. Persecuted B. Farmers III. Being so patient. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-25 3:50:09 PM |
| #10 The BBC has another article on the reopeing of Bob's favorite paper, the Daily News. With a front-page headline saying "We're back", the daily went on sale on Saturday, for the first time since it was shut down by police six weeks ago. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-25 2:47:00 PM |
| #9 good catch SH - Zambia ho! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-25 12:45:33 PM |
| #8 Interesting article SH, I just hope Bob doesn't send someone to whack him |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-10-25 12:42:43 PM |
| #7 Frank G, Winds of Change has a link to an article about Zambia's recent doubling of its grain production. Evidently the persecuted farmers who fled Bobland, remembered how to farm. The persecuted Scots who are transforming an African nation |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-25 12:24:29 PM |
| #6 yw - it's sad to think that Rhodesia used to be a major exporter of food/grain. The land redisribution from whites (who knew what they were doing) to Bob's cronies has destroyed their agrarian economy. I've heard that many of the farmers have relocated to adjoining countries. Who went where? - look at the food supplies in a couple years and you'll be able to guess pretty accurately. Africa will be a festering sore for a long time |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-25 12:11:20 PM |
| #5 Thank you, Frank. I guess Kadaffy wounded Bob pretty badly when he stopped the free oil for land deal. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-25 11:48:56 AM |
| #4 Internally he's still pretty strong due to his control of the police and brownshirt youths...the tipping point will be if So Africa sees so many refugees that they join an effective blockade of Bobland. If he can't give goodies, food, gas, or money to his minions to stay in control, he'll be ousted (and hopefully killed by mobs along with his kleptocratic wife Grace). The countrie's been run so far into the shithole that whoever takes over will have a rough time, and probably revert to thugism out of habit |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-25 11:46:40 AM |
| #3 Anyone know whether the widespread disatisfaction is coherent enough for Mugabe to get the boot. If so who would replace the guy? Somebody worse? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-25 9:38:31 AM |
| #2 Of course Amnesty International and Human rights Watch an all the other anti-american ankle biters will be all over this, right? Anyone?.........*crickets chirping*........ |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-25 8:43:51 AM |
| #1 It takes a serious talent for f******Up to make Rhodesia a beggar state. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-25 8:42:51 AM |