Really a Coalition government?!

Tsvangirai is Prime Minster and Mugabe is still President. Is it me or does President Mugabe have it that good now? He can have the title and not do the work. Last week an estimated $250,000 USD was "raised" for his 85th bday bash. I'm just still saying really? You have 4000 people dead, another 75,000 or so infected with cholera and you have to have a $250,000 birthday party. Even if that money was raised wouldn't it be fitting to donate it to medical supplies or anything which is everything that Zimbabweans greatly need. It is amazing how people cannot see past their own toes and needs. In the meantime, I'm not sure what Prime Minister Tsvangirai will get done - noone is really buying into this coalition government. American President Obama made a statement saying that the US plans to have sanctions up held for another year and the EU has no plans of lifting sanctions just yet. In the meantime the Zimbabwe is yesterdays news and people continue to suffer enormously with no foreseeable end in sight.

Western opinion on the new coalition in Zimbabwe

Now the question is do we "trust" the new coalition government? Will they put the country first and work together to restore Zimbabwe? It's a tricky question and one really has to wait and see. The West has shifted its policy on the Zimbabwe slightly, saying they feel they need to give this a go/chance but will not lift sanctions immediately until there is evidence Mugabe is willing to work to help this country out of this crisis. I like many have my doubts but also feel that we have to give this a chance and see what may come out of it. The problem however is that in the meantime cholera has infected over 65,000 and deaths are nearing 3,200.

"Unity Government"

MDC, the main opposition in Zimbabwe has finally agreed to join a unity government with Mugabe and Zanu PF. After months of resisting, Morgan Tsvangirai and his party finally agreed to try and move forward with a united government. It's hard to say how unified a government can be formed and work effectively when one side has been tortured, beaten and even killed by the other. I commend the opposition on this "leap of faith" to try and put an end to the immense suffering endured by the people of Zimbabwe. Now the world will have to wait and see if Mugabe can put aside his need for power and put Zimbabweans first to try and work out of this black hole of a mess. Hopefully it is a step forward and not two steps back. In the meantime 3100 have died from cholera and cases have topped 60,000. The government has all but adandoned the local currency, with an annoucement from The Zimbabwean acting finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has allowed Zimbabweans to conduct business in other currencies, as the local currency continues to inflate at an alarming rate.(BBC)

Solidarity for Zimbabwe

Once again SADC has not been able to come to a viable solution for Zimbabwe. I am not sure I quite understand the reason SADC leaders are afraid or refuse to pressure Mugabe about the fact that 1. He lost the election and is running an illegitimate government and 2. Hundreds and thousands of people are dying due to his dictatorship. Today reports ran that unemployment in Zimbabwe stood around 94% - the number is so unfathomable to me..but things are DESPERATE. It is time for the Zimbabwe people to show where they stand on the matter, and there needs to be a call to the masses to protest this inexplicable brutality that has been put on them by their "leader". This Sunday there will be a one day global solidarity fast -(from sun up to sun down)- the more of us that fast the stronger the call for justice and democracy. This is one day for us to do something and show that this kind of injustice cannot go on and will be not be tolerated, please join the fast and show your support for the Zimbabwean people.

The pledge:

We, the undersigned, pledge to fast for a day in solidarity with the Zimbabwean people. We call on leaders throughout Africa—and the world—to act now to decisively support their struggle for justice, democracy, and survival.

2009 - More woes for Zimbabwean

2009 has started off to a rough start for many with the economy, but in Zimbabwe it's not about extra cash or keeping the house it's about not starving to death and avoiding brutal treatment from the regime. Today there are reports that cholera has claimed up to 3000 deaths and shows no signs of slowing down. In the meantime "talks" are being held between MDC and Mugabe at the SADC regional meeting. There still remains to be a stalemate as Mugabe insists on holding onto power and allowing thousands die of disease and hunger. Mugabe is running an illegal government, Morgan Tsvangirai won the election - however Mugabe continues to use violence and food to intimidate Zimbabweans into submission and allow him "run" the nation, what's left of it anyway.

Ultimately a power sharing deal will not work if the current regime will not recognize what needs to be done to turn this nation around which include stepping down and allowing the person who won the election take his post as the leader of Zimbabwe. Right now it seems the best way toward positive change would be for international sanctions to force Mugabe to concede power. More pressure needs to be placed on those who continue to support or allow Mugabe and his supporters the means to live lavish lifestyles and carry out crimes against human rights at the same time. China and South Africa need to help to cut off this life line and save a nation that has suffered more than enough.

In the meantime it is refreshing to note those who continue to push for justice in Zimbabwe - Save Zimbabwe Now. The Save Zimbabwe Now initiative has selected a relay fast as the first campaign to mobilise regional public awareness and build pressure on SADC governments to influence the Zimbabwean state to restore dignity, human and democratic rights to its people.

Join the movement to show your solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe.

Undercover in Zimbabwe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UrpciPVOdk&feature=related

Desparate Situation

The situation continues to deterioarate around Zimbabwe.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said cholera had killed 565 people and infected over 12,500 Zimbabweans. Hundreds of Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa for treatment, adding to pressure for greater regional involvement to pull Zimbabwe back from total meltdown. Meanwhile the RedCross and UNICEF have been allowed access into to Zimbabwe to drill wells to provide some sort of relief for the citizens.

The interesting thing will be to see how the neighboring countries respond. There have been reports of a few cases of cholera in South Africa. Many Zimbabweans have been trying to cross the border to receive treatment as there are few clinics open in Zimbabwe at the moment.

The International Federation of the Red Cross said six people had died in South Africa with 400 cases reported.
"The problem is massive," Robin Waudo, a Red Cross spokesman in Zimbabwe, told Reuters Television.
Malawian Health Minister Khumbo Kachali told Reuters health services had been put on high alert after a Zimbabwean truck driver was admitted to a hospital there with the disease.

And as though the health breakdown was not enough for the people of Zimbabwe to deal with there have been increased reports of police and soldier clashes with Zimbabweans. With only 1/5 adults with a steady job, crime is bound to be on the rise.