Definition of courage: planning a strike under Mugabe

By Sokwanele (http://www.sokwanele.com), a pro-democracy civil action support group in Zimbabwe

Thousands of workers in Zimbabwe are expected within a week to join a nationwide “stay away” called by the 300,000-member Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Their chief demand? A living wage in a country where workers have been reduced to beggars due to the ever-rising cost of living.

The protest against the deteriorating standard of living in Zimbabwe comes after State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa threats to labour leaders: “(If) the (ZCTU) leaders want to start a war we are more than prepared to deal with them.” What that could mean has been on very public display in recent weeks.

It is important to note that Zimbabwe ratified the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that guarantee the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. However, the government disregards these rights.


A similar strike last September was nearly derailed by the arrest of the top leadership of the ZCTU. Although the same action may be taken this time around by the police, the spy network -- Central Intelligence Organisation -- and other state security agents, it appears as if workers are well-prepared to face the government head-on following the recent brutal attacks on opposition leaders and their followers.

Against this background, thousands of workers are expected to strike, and with good reason. The poverty line currently stands at Z$1million (A$4970) per month for a family of six. More than 85 per cent of people in Zimbabwe are believed to be living below the poverty line. Inflation stands at almost 2000 per cent, the highest in the world.

The majority of workers in Zimbabwe earn an average of Z$150,000 (A$791) with the least paid in the agricultural sector netting a paltry Z$32,000 (A$159), an equivalent of 12 kilograms of mealie-meal (aka cornmeal) per month.

The situation will be fuelled by the recent increases in urban fares of Z$5000 (AU$24) per trip. Most workers can hardly fork out Z$10,000 (A$48) per day for commuter bus fares. Under the current chaotic economic environment, an average worker needs at least $250,000 (A$1242) for urban bus fares per month and a monthly salary of Z$1.2 million (A$5964) to live.

Government spin doctors have already tried to derail the proposed strike through threats and “disgruntled” affiliate unions of the ZCTU who, they claim, are against the strike. These tactics were used last September but failed to yield the expected results for the state. The government then ordered its security agents to attack the striking workers.

One cannot rule out the possibility that the top leadership of the ZCTU will be harassed or locked up before the strike. The government will be banking on draconian laws such as the Public Order and Security Act to instill fear in protestors.

Fantastic. I seriously, honestly hope someone assassinates that son of a bitch.

Aside from Iraq and Darfur, Zimbabwe is the greatest human tragedy facing the world right now and it's not even on the map. Nobody knows about this. I knew things were degrading, but until I really started reading up on it here in the last few weeks, I was clueless.

The problems under Mugabe run back at least a few years. This entire tragedy began when he expelled every white person and redistributed all their property and plantations to the native people. This not only created clan problems, but essentially wiped out the food supply. Zimbabwe used to be one of the icons of African nations recovering from poverty. And it was largely because the nation had the ability to not only feed its people, but export food and cash crops which kept the nation afloat. They had poised themselves to start attracting more tourism like Tanzania, South America, Uganda, and Kenya. But when they expelled the white folk, they basically gave the land to uneducated farmers and the farms and plantations have deteriorated.

That, in and of itself, is what has created this problem. Mugabe has also since expelled any white diplomats and advisors in the country who dissent from his policies, and has even threatened to expel ALL white diplomats period.

Through his policies, he's inadvertantly starved his people. He refuses to accept food imports, the inflation rate and sanctions makes importing food more difficult, and nobody can afford the food that is out there. Jobs have become scarce as a result, and I believe the unemployment rate is between 40-60%. Some say 80%.

One thing that Zimbabwe really never faced was a slum problem. Zimbabwe was ahead of the game in many regards so far as living conditions goes. Well, that all disappeared and large slums popped up in the major cities. What has Mugabe done? Anti-slum drives. Which means he pulls bulldozers into the slums, and levels them. Why? In the name of promoting tourism. Who wants to see those ugly slums anyway right? So now that Mugabe has leveled the homes of thousands in the cities, he's also created an absolutely massive homeless problem. Say what you will, a shack is a home.

Then you couple that with the top article...

This country is a mess, and it's probably going to get a lot worse before it gets better if Mugabe maintains his power.

It's really remarkable how much damage one man can do to a previously prosperous nation.

Bob would not have approved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe_%28song%29

The first thought when I read the article was that a "living wage" should be near the bottom of the list of priorities. I would imagine that showing some semblance of respect for property rights would be the first and foremost step in trying to rebuild Zimbabwe's economy. But I guess "property rights" aren't nearly as sexy of a catch phrase as "living wage". The only question is what businesses exist to pay this living wage.

Strongly worded letter in route!

The world doesn't care about Zimbabwe because there's no oil. The minute black gold is discovered, there'd be 'Regime Change' sponsored by the UK & US within six months.

There's a ton of known oil in Sudan, and there's believed to be a hell of a lot more too. Nobody cares about them though.

I don't think any western nations want to get involved because of the long history of colonialism in Africa. That and the whole 'black hawk down' thing.

The reason western nations don't get involved in Africa is because they don't have to. Right? To western governments, the only concern there really is about Africa is the threat that instability here will have on their own security. There are no resources here that can't be secured elsewhere. Western nations don't need these people or these places for anything.

The people in western nations don't care either. So why should their governments? Sure, everyone likes to say they want more done. But when push comes to shove next to nobody does anything about it.

Which is why Mugabe can literally get away with what he's doing (done). The people don't care. People in Africa are essentially voiceless to the world press. The only thing they are to the world press are victims, who from time to time will only serve to help sell advertisements when other real news is slow. They're convenient supplemental shock pieces. It spurs everyones hearts, but they'll never do anything about it. I mean, it's 8000 miles away!

Violence is down in Iraq... Hey look at what this bastard has been doing for YEARS in this other place.

From The TimesMarch 31, 2007

My Week: Robert Mugabe According to Hugo Rifkind

Monday We are out the back of the sprawling presidential compound, having a relaxed afternoon braai. With three US dollars’ worth of Zimbabwe currency on the fire, the flames have been burning for four hours. And the British say I have harmed this country? “Why do my people no longer love me?” I demand. “What more can I give to them?” I am attended by a team of recent graduates from the University of Zimbabwe. They were given the choice of working for me or going to jail. They are all extremely loyal.

My graduates all shrug, and continue gorging themselves on the barbecue. It is a surprise to see them eat this way. They seem to have adopted this European look that has become popular. Grace, my fashionable wife, calls it “size zero”.

“Maybe it’s an image thing,” suggests one. “Maybe it’s time to ditch the moustache.” I have a moustache?

Tuesday I cannot see this moustache, although my eyes are not what they were. I would ask my fashionable wife, but she has taken the jumbo jet to Paris to see how many shoes she can get for 20,000 hectares of Matabeleland.

The telephone rings. It is little Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. Although I am careful never to exploit this, I am told he is in awe of me, because I am the original hero of southern African independence. Last month he lent me series five of The West Wing on DVD. He keeps calling to ask for it back. “You can’t have it,” I say.

“I understand,” says Thabo, solemnly. “Might I be permitted to ask why?”

“No,” I say. “Go away.” Little Thabo rings off. Later he rings back to apologise.

Wednesday I am in my compound in Harare, holding a brainstorming session with my graduates. Under pain of death, they have been told to suggest reasons why I might be growing unpopular.

“The moustache?” suggests one, meekly. I glower at him, and he starts to sweat.

“British propaganda!” I shout, after a few minutes of silence. “Tony Blair and the homosexual British Establishment! It is they who have destroyed this country!” The graduates all nod. We agree that the British have consistently presented our abandoned farms, decimated economy, rampaging war veterans and inflation running at 1,800 per cent in a really, really bad light.

Thursday Grace arrives home from Paris. She has bought 6,754 pairs of shoes.

“Actually,” says one of the more ambitious graduates. “Your Excellency has solved the problem of the war veterans. In successfully reducing the life expectancy of Zimbabwe to 37, you have ensured that nobody alive today can have been more than a toddler during our wars of independence.”

“Yet another unacknowledged triumph!” I agree. “Perfidious Albion!” None of the shoes fit. Grace flies back to Paris.

Friday “Seriously,” says little Thabo when he calls in the afternoon, “I don’t mind. I can just buy it again, if I have to. It’s just, I’m right at the end of series four, and I wondered if . . .”

“Silence!” I shout. “A curse on you and your DVDs! Advise me! I am losing my country! What can I do to be popular again?”

Thabo falls silent. “Well,” he says eventually. “You could always lose the moustache. It’s a little odd. Some people say it is a bit too much like Hitler’s.”

“I don’t even have a moustache!” I shout.

“Of course you don’t,” agrees Thabo. “Sorry.” *

I agree with an LW post. Wow.

The saddest part of this whole thing is that I'm not sure Zimbabwe is even the second worst situation on that continent. Aside from the meaningless distinctions between Zimbabwe, The Congo, Sudan and the rest of sub-saharan Africa save South Africa, I think you've pretty much been spot on except for one point I would like to add. Africa does have some resources the West likes. They aren't as major as, say, oil. But they're there, and one reason nobody really cares about the continent is because most people don't really care how those resources are acquired. Even if it's just money from arms sales, somebody in the developed world is profiting from all this massacring going on.

Right, there is a ton of oil, and guess who wants it? (hint: they also have a crucial veto vote in the UN). China. Nothing has gotten done in the Sudan because no one wants to piss off the Chinese. Similarly President Hu toured a large handful of other African countries a few months ago strengthening relations and cutting deals to extract natural resources.

Admittedly China seems to be giving a little back in these deals they make, but I think it remains to be seen whether these will actually benefit the average person as far as skills and technology-transfer, or whether the projects will be a bunch of Chinese engineers coming in, building something, and leaving, with untrained African workers left wondering how the hell to maintian their new road/factory/etc.

There's been some talk recently about the issue of Chinese aid that is given for access to foreign markets and raw materials. Unlike western aid agencies, the Chinese don't care how the money is spent and have no qualms with local corruption. They are throwing money at all these countries with minimum strings attached (beyond getting sweet sweet raw materials) and as you said not doing anything to make sure anything beneficial comes out of it.

The Chinese are really weird. They've even gone into places that seemingly have nothing to offer and they've done all kinds of stuff. Here in Djibouti they've constructed and financed almost all the paved roads here, built all the cell phone towers and provided all the infrastructure needed for what basically amounts to nationwide cell phone coverage. They've done a lot of similar stuff in Ethiopia, but Ethiopia has all kinds of good stuff to offer the world.

But here in Djibouti...there's no possible upside to the investment. Djib Telecom is state operated. What do you get out of roads? Dubai Ports World owns all the ports. The French control the straight that leads from the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden and there are no natural resources here. It's puzzling.

Funny thing that China enviroment is already fucked up and global warming will fuck Africa in the ass without lub.

Any likelihood of an opposition party winning the election? Any likelihood of a fair election?

This business in Zimbabwe has to be the definition of 'Democrazy' that Chinese nationalists speak of.

So who else here is a big fan of Mugabenomics?