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Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up'
« on: March 12, 2007, 01:30:41 PM »
Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up' 
 
Zimbabwe officials said the opposition had attacked police
The leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is in a bad state after being beaten by police in custody, says his lawyer.
Morgan Tsvangirai's head was bandaged and his face swollen, said Innocent Chagonda, who saw him from a distance.

Mr Tsvangirai was arrested on Sunday along with several colleagues after riot police broke up a public meeting.

A high court judge on Monday said Mr Tsvangirai must be allowed access to lawyers and treated immediately.

The judge also said that Mr Tsvangirai should be brought before his court on Tuesday by 0800 on Tuesday or released from police custody.

Riot police have been out in force in the capital, Harare.

As reports spread of the beatings, demonstrations erupted in Gweru, about 200km south of the capital, Harare, and hundreds were arrested in the eastern town of Mutare, say the BBC's Brian Hungwe.

Torture

Lawyers are seeking access to the detained men and it is unclear if any have been charged. The Save Zimbabwe Campaign, which organised the meeting says they have also been tortured.

One prominent government critic, Lovemore Madhuku, suffered a broken arm and had to be rushed to hospital after passing out, the civic grouping said.

Save Zimbabwe Campaign lawyers report that Mr Tsvangirai fainted three times in custody.

The country's information minister said the police themselves had been beaten.

"The opposition has been involved in violence, caught by police with weapons of destruction and destroying cars and stores and beating up people," Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

 
Mr Tsvangirai has previously been charged with treason
"They've been beating up police you know. That is what government cannot tolerate."

One activist was shot dead at the rally, described as a prayer meeting, in the capital, Harare. Crowds gathered for his funeral in Glenview township singing protest songs.

The government said the rally breached a ban on political gatherings.

The US condemned the crackdown and called for the release of those in custody.

"The United States government condemns the brutal and unwarranted actions of the government of Zimbabwe [on] March 11 in attacking its citizens peacefully gathered to exercise their legitimate democratic rights," spokesman Sean McCormack said.

"We hold President Robert Mugabe and the government of Zimbabwe accountable for the government's actions today, and for the safety and well-being of those in custody."

However, there has been no word so far from any of Zimbabwe's neighbours.

Warning shots

MDC spokesman in London Hebson Makuvise said Mr Tsvangirai was arrested at around 1300 local time (1100 GMT) on Sunday.

 MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
1952: Born in Gutu, central Zimbabwe
Left school early to seek work
1974: Started working in a mine
1988: Secretary General on the ZCTU
1997: Organised anti-government strikes
1999: Helped form MDC
2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats
2000: Charged with treason - later dropped
2002: Lost elections to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped
2003: Charged with treason - later dropped


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He told the BBC that the MDC leader was beaten unconscious and could hardly walk or open his eyes.

"He was severely assaulted. He can hardly walk and can hardly open his eyes. We don't know the extent of his injuries," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Tsvangirai has been arrested several times since leading the opposition to Mr Mugabe.

A group of unknown men once broke into his office, hit him on the head with an iron bar and tried to throw him out of the window.

He has three times been charged with treason but these have all subsequently been dropped.

BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says the MDC, which split into two rival factions more than a year ago, came together at the weekend in a rare show of unity aimed at trying to resolve the political and economic crisis in the country.

They were joined by civic and religious organisations in the Save Zimbabwe Campaign.

Riot police used tear gas and water cannons as they fought battles with activists gathered for the rally, opposition officials said.

A police spokesman said warning shots were fired after the group defied orders to disperse.

MDC spokesman Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said the rally was not political and therefore not subject to the provisions of the public order act.

A three-month ban on political meetings was imposed after violence at an opposition rally last month.

Robert Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, retains an iron grip on power.

Last month, in an interview to mark his 83rd birthday, the veteran president said he had no intention of stepping down.

However civil discontent is rising over the economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.



 

Offline ribbit

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Re: Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up'
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2007, 10:04:12 PM »
too bad zimbabwe doh have oil. it would be "regime change" already you could bet.

Offline PantherX

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Re: Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up'
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2007, 10:25:58 AM »
Not likely.

Regime change only occurs when American corporate interests are threatened. As long as they're could bleed the country dry unchallenged the US administration wouldn't really care.

Offline ribbit

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Re: Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up'
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2007, 09:38:56 AM »
Not likely.

Regime change only occurs when American corporate interests are threatened. As long as they're could bleed the country dry unchallenged the US administration wouldn't really care.

pantherx, what US corporate interests existed in iraq before the regime change? after the 10 years of us-imposed sanctions, i don't think there were any existing interests - corporate america had left iraq at the behest of the us govt and most of the international community. if you mean that us corporations wanted to get into iraq that's something else. but that's not based on an existing corporate interest. after 10 years of sanctions, the regime change in iraq was not a liberation of previously us-owned capital - iraq was a new market. this is markedly different from other regime changes in us history like central america with united fruit which is more in line with a corporate interest being threatened .
« Last Edit: March 16, 2007, 09:41:51 AM by ribbit »

Offline ribbit

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Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe PM
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2009, 01:22:59 PM »
ike and tina. chris and rihanna. now mugabe and tsvangirai. ah guess he had to heal up before he take office. steups.

==


Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe PM




Morgan Tsvanirai reached a power-sharing deal with President Robery Mugabe last September.


Inside Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe Wednesday as part of a new unity government that Zimbabweans hope will signal an end to the political and economic crises that have gripped the nation for months.

The unity government is the result of a power-sharing agreement reached in September between Tsvangirai -- the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) -- and President Robert Mugabe after months of squabbling about the results of elections earlier in the year.

Attendees applauded as Mugabe administered the oath of office to his once-bitter rival.

Wednesday morning, the country wore a festive look. Police presence was heavy, but the air was light. A group of riot policemen sat in a truck singing songs in one city.

Elsewhere, people crowded newspaper stands to buy up the last remaining copies of the day's edition. The headlines spoke of a brand-new day full of promise.

Zimbabweans and outsiders alike are hopeful the new government will help heal the country's crippling economic crisis and eroding humanitarian situation, both seen as the worst since the once-prosperous nation gained its independence from Great Britain in 1980.

A cholera epidemic has claimed close to 4,000 lives and infected about 65,000 people since August, aggravated by a lack of water treatment chemicals and a problem with waste disposal in much of the country.

The United Nations says more than 5 million people are in need of food aid, in a country that has shortages of all essentials, including fuel, electricity and cash.

The shortages have created a fertile environment for inflation. The country recorded the highest level of inflation in the world in July, at 231 million percent.

Zimbabwe has had no Cabinet since presidential elections in March created the political impasse.

Tsvangirai won the most votes in that election, but not enough to avoid a runoff, according to the government's official count.

He withdrew from the June 27 runoff days before the vote, saying Mugabe's supporters had waged a campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition supporters.

The two sides tried to end the stalemate with a series of talks that kept stalling when they couldn't agree on how much power Mugabe would retain.

Tsvangirai had said he would sign a deal only if Mugabe gave up some power.

The leaders reached a power-sharing agreement in September, with the position of prime minister created for Tsvangirai.

The various ministries will be shared between the MDC and Mugabe's ZANU-PF, with the former given 13 and the latter 15.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2009, 01:25:09 PM by Col. Saul Tigh »

Offline TriniCana

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Re: Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up'
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2009, 04:42:21 PM »
Lemme see how long he lass
Mugabe look like ah saltprune

Offline weary1969

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Re: Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'beaten up'
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2009, 05:10:22 PM »
Lemme see how long he lass
Mugabe look like ah saltprune

Exactly not as long as d red house fire.
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

 

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