Electoral Cleansing and Reeducation Camps in Zimbabwe?

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jun18b_2008.html

This was taken from the Zimbabwe Situation. I decided to publish it so that the world could be witness to the future macabre plans of Mugabe and ZANU-PF. The article was written by Friends of Zimbabwe.

anarkismo.com

by Friends Of Zimbabwe Wednesday, Jun 18 2008, 8:36am

  World attention is turning to what is happening in Zimbabwe as the 27th
June election marches closer. But people in Zimbabwe need more than
attention from the rest of Africa and the remainder of the world. The first
step is for the world community is to understand what our friends and
brothers tell us is happening in Zimbabwe.
What the world must know is that Robert Mugabe and his Generals are working
to a little-publicised but clear plan that undermines the prospect of the
elections being free and fair. They have a three-stage strategy for
"winning" the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off.

The first and most brutal part of Mugabe's strategy is a campaign of
"Electoral Cleansing". This intimidation is designed to suppress the MDC
vote and terrorise others into voting for the governing ZANU-PF. If this
"electoral cleansing" fails and Morgan Tsvangirai prevails on 27 June, the
military under the Joint Operational Command (JOC) will simply ignore the
true result, announce their own outcome and quickly re-install Mugabe as
President. The third and final failsafe element is to announce a "state of
emergency" - in response to the escalating violence that they themselves
have overseen. This would result in a de facto military takeover of
Zimbabwe's Government.

However, at this stage (June 15) the Mugabe government is optimistic that
the first element of the strategy will be sufficient to win outright. The
"electoral cleansing" strategy is relatively simple. The JOC co-ordinates
the arming of local militias, who in turn target known supporters of the
MDC. The polling agents who oversaw Tsvangirai's victory in the 29 March
election have been identified and beaten.

"Re-education" camps have been established on the edges of most major towns,
in order to forcibly inter locals and intimidate them into voting the
'right' way. An example is made of a few in order that the many are kept in
line. One or two people are tortured, beaten or killed in order to get the
message the anti-MDC message across. In this way, Mugabe does not need to
commit widespread murder or genocide in order to intimidate the electorate.
It is targeted electoral cleansing.

The MDC continues to work, largely in hiding, to ensure the mounting reports
of rape, violence and abductions get out. Friends of Zimbabwe are committed
to passing details of these outrages on. Bernard Kondo, the MDC Councillor
for Mutoro Ward, is just the latest opposition supporter to "disappear"
(only two days ago on 14 June 2008). This morning Takalani Matibe, the MP
for Chegutu West, was arrested and forced to watch as his home was burnt
down. The international community's chorus of condemnation in response is
welcome, but its disjointed nature blunts its effectiveness. Concerted,
forceful and united action is needed.

The world community must act.

It can start with a simple, unified and sustained condemnation of Mugabe's
campaign of violence and terror. Zimbabwe's neighbours - South Africa,
Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique - are especially important. They can
show the world that African nations support a democratic post colonial era.
Thabo Mbeki can take the lead here. If he fails to do so he runs the risk of
being seen as a man of the past whilst his rival Jacob Zuma shows himself to
be South Africa's leader of the future.

And the election needs to be properly monitored.. There must be a vast
increase in the size and scope of the election monitoring mission. Without
more election observers there is NO chance of a free and fair election.
There are over 9,000 polling stations. At present only 300 SADC observers
are promised. They would have no chance of covering the balloting to ensure
that election was free and fair.

The world community can make it clear that there are real consequences from
allowing Mugabe and ZANU-PF to stay in power. Zimbabwe will face economic
collapse. Mass migration will accelerate as more and more Zimbabweans escape
the turmoil. There is the risk of chaos across Southern Africa.

The future of Zimbabwe lies not just in the hands of its own people. The
nations of the world must act now...to end the bloodshed and ensure that
elections are free and fair. Zimbabwe is an issue for the whole world.
http://friendsofzim.com/