Bodies still piling up in Zimbabwe

posted at 8:50 am on June 19, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

The SADC finally woke up today about the conditions in Zimbabwe, but not before four more opposition leaders wound up in Robert Mugabe’s body count.  Another wife of an opposition leader got beaten to death by men in military uniforms, while the other MDC victims got killed by spears and shot.  This is apparently Mugabe’s idea of campaigning for the upcoming run-off election, which even the SADC sees now as a joke:

Zimbabwe’s run-off presidential election on June 27 is very unlikely to be free and fair, a group of southern African ministers said on Thursday, in the strongest regional condemnation yet of pre-poll violence.

“There is every sign that these elections will never be free nor fair,” Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe told a news conference. He was speaking on behalf of a peace and security troika of nations from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). …

Some of the observers saw two people shot dead in front of them on June 17, Membe said, without giving details.

Thabo Mbeki has also belatedly realized that Zimbabwe is indeed in a “crisis”, which he discounted two months ago when Mugabe refused to release the results of the March election.  He propped up Mugabe in the global community while Mugabe tried to steal that election.  Now South Africa’s president wants to mediate between the two sides.  He wants Morgan Tsvangirai to form a “unity government” with Mugabe, which would be a suicide mission under current conditions.  Mugabe refused to even meet with Tsvangirai.  Mugabe controls the military; what kind of power would he share with Tsvangirai?

At least Tsvangirai’s still breathing, for the moment:

The body of the mayor’s wife, 27-year-old Abigail Chiroto, was found in a mortuary close to the couple’s house north of Harare. She had been beaten so severely with rocks and iron bars that her face was almost unrecognizable, said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa. …

The other activists were also abducted Tuesday. They were were found in a township, about 30 km (18 miles) south of Harare. They had been stabbed with spears and shot, Chamisa said. …

Mugabe’s party denied any part in the deaths, saying MDC officials made such accusations frequently.  “They are claiming anyone who dies. They phone CNN,” Bright Matonga, a ZANU-PF spokesman, said. “Whenever someone dies in the hospital, they rush to claim them.”

How coincidental that the victims that the MDC claims in their “rush” all happen to be MDC activists or the wives and children of them!

Now that the SADC has figured out that Mugabe is a thug propped up by murderous goons, they need to start taking steps to pressure Mugabe to leave Zimbabwe.  The SADC should suspend Zimbabwe’s membership and demand diplomatic and economic isolation of Mugabe from all SADC members, including and especially South Africa, which has played a dishonorable and despicable role in supporting Mugabe.  Borders should be closed and air traffic turned back.  If Mugabe wants to starve and brutalize his people, then let him do it without any additional resources from outside Zimbabwe.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

But let’s try Bush for war crimes!

That’s more important.

drjohn on June 19, 2008 at 8:53 AM

BTW, Mbeki is an idiot too. He doesn’t believe AIDS is caused by the HIV virus.

Who said “you get the leaders you deserve”?

It’s hard to imagine anyone deserves these kinds of leaders.

drjohn on June 19, 2008 at 8:55 AM

If Mug-abe was White, this would be on the front page above-the-fold of every newspaper in big letters.
Since he’s Black, the media says, “This is no big deal, no shocker. What else do you expect?”
The soft bigotry of low expectations.

jgapinoy on June 19, 2008 at 8:56 AM

With all of the Black leaders being killed in Zimbabwe, I wonder why Sharptongue & Flackson aren’t leading protests at the UN?

jgapinoy on June 19, 2008 at 8:59 AM

Mugabe’s just reducing Zimbabwe’s carbon footprint.

Akzed on June 19, 2008 at 9:01 AM

jgapinoy on June 19, 2008 at 8:59 AM
—–
They don’t want to risk their lives by actually *going to* to Zimbabwe…

Mew

acat on June 19, 2008 at 9:02 AM

Although politically incorrect to say so, Robert Mugabe needs to develop a case of sudden onset lead poisoning. At least 9mm worth.

Some of the observers saw two people shot dead in front of them on June 17, Membe said, without giving details.

When a regime has gotten to the point it’s willing to shoot people in front of international observers, and the international observers and the organizations react in such a tepid manner, the situation has gotten to the point that other options are quite obviously, to use a phrase, ‘inoperative’. The only people truly in a position to deal with Robert Mugabe and his thugs are the Zimbabweans themselves, and they have the most at stake to do so.

Get on with it.

Wind Rider on June 19, 2008 at 9:04 AM

Come on, fellas! We can’t judge Mugabe’s Zimbabwe by our own [flawed] American values. All cultures [except our own] are unique and equal. We need to leave well enough alone, mind our own business, and look to our own massive inhumanities.

Free Tibet!

argos on June 19, 2008 at 9:08 AM

It will be interesting to see what the American left does with this one. Using the Iraq mantra that the US really doesn’t have a right to get involved when genocidal killers do their business within their own borders, lets see if race comes into play and which Congresscritter is the first to stand up and demand the US do something.

highhopes on June 19, 2008 at 9:08 AM

Mugabe’s just reducing Zimbabwe’s carbon footprint.

Exactly. Can’t a guy go green without all the criticism?

Buckley F. Williams on June 19, 2008 at 9:12 AM

Did Mugabe hire Whitney Houston to be his fashion consultant?

Alden Pyle on June 19, 2008 at 9:14 AM

argos

Yes, you’re right, & it’s actually just natural selection going on in Zimbabwe–survival of the fittest.
No, I don’t think what I just said is funny. As I said at 8:56AM, I’m disgusted & angry about the world’s double standard. Precious people are being slaughtered, & the world doesn’t care because they’re Black.

jgapinoy on June 19, 2008 at 9:14 AM

What does SADC stand for? — South African Dictators Club?

Tinian on June 19, 2008 at 9:18 AM

Sadists
Against
Democracy
Coalition

jgapinoy on June 19, 2008 at 9:23 AM

Another Jimmy Carter success story!!!!!!

galtg on June 19, 2008 at 9:25 AM

But they reformed the farming industry.

Johan Klaus on June 19, 2008 at 9:46 AM

highhopes on June 19, 2008 at 9:08 AM

Liberals only like other people, especially common people and those they can combine into a “victimized” group,in theory. It’s merely an intellectual way to attack Republicans and conservatism, having absolutely nothing to do with action. There is never an intent to do anything about it.

What would be the point of eliminating the injustice if it takes away your talking point?

JiangxiDad on June 19, 2008 at 9:46 AM

Mugabe may perhaps be a thug, but I’ll bet he never ordered that prisoners have panties stretched over their heads.

Bishop on June 19, 2008 at 9:51 AM

It will be interesting to see what the American left does with this one.

highhopes on June 19, 2008 at 9:08 AM

Tee shirts.

Connie on June 19, 2008 at 9:53 AM

The only good thing in this is that Mugabe has dropped any pretense of being interested in the outcome of an “election”.

If that can’t get the whiners moving (and I bet it won’t), their hypocrisy is just that much easier to show, harder to defend.

And I dunno if it is just because poor blacks nobody knows are getting hurt or it is the secret admiration of wanna-be of subtantive dictators that keeps them from acting or speaking.

Keep in mind that for a lot of them, a strong stance against Mugabe might create significant unrest in their own satraps, and threaten their feeding patterns. Why would they want that? This could apply to a lot of countries in the UN, not just African ones. One reason the UN is so useless and corrupt.

Harry Schell on June 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM

When will Barack sit down to talk with Robert? Still waiting….

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM

Meanwhile at the UN……

Haile Menkerios, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, is continuing his visit to Zimbabwe.

He has held meetings today with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, with the presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, church leaders and civil society groups, including human rights organizations.

Following his meeting with President Mugabe yesterday, Mr. Menkerios told reporters he is in Zimbabwe to learn what the conditions on the ground are like ahead of the forthcoming elections and see what the UN can do to support Zimbabwe.

He said the United Nations will be supporting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to boost its capacity to observe the election.

Regarding the security situation, Mr. Menkerios said “the reports have been about violence, people being displaced, houses being burnt. The Secretary-General is concerned about what measures can be put in place ahead of the elections.”

Where’s Jimmuh on this one?

Also happening,

A new report finds that up to five million Zimbabweans could be facing food insecurity by early next year.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today denounced the expelling of a UN human rights official by Zimbabwe as “regrettable, untimely and uncooperative”.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, she added that the move appeared to fit with a pattern which the government has chosen on non-cooperation with various international agencies.

The staff member in question was a Geneva-based desk officer. He was on a routine mission, expecting to work with the UN Country Team and non-governmental organizations on issues relating to human rights.

He was asked to leave Zimbabwe yesterday by the authorities, on the grounds that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had not given them enough warning that the desk officer was coming.

For its part, OHCHR says it did alert the authorities. Arbour said she would like to see Zimbabwe reverse its decision and allow her staffer to return.

In another slice of heaven called Darfur,

The UN-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) says a UN Staff member, working with the mission, was abducted, stripped of official and personal belongings, and physically assaulted by members of an armed Arab militia, approximately 10 meters from the UNAMID military base in El Geneina – and within close proximity of El Geneina airport.

The staff member was repeatedly beaten by rifles before he was abducted, while three of his colleagues were held at gun-point, the mission reports.

UNAMID said a member of the Sudan National Security intervened and the perpetrators released the staff-member, who is a in stable condition.

The militia moved in a convoy, made up of approximately 1,000 men on camel, horseback and in 4 Wheel Drive vehicles, on their way to the Headquarters of the Sudan Armed Forces, according to UNAMID.

In a statement issued after the briefing, UNAMID said it avoided opening fire in response to avoid further aggravating the situation and in consideration of the lives of the civilian population in that area. UNAMID condemns, in the strongest terms, the attack on its peacekeepers.

What the blue helmets did fire their weapons? Oh, that’s right. They’re only good at raping.

The Mission is deployed to help the people of Darfur achieve peace and stability. In their attempt to resolve the conflict in Darfur, peacekeepers should not, in any way, be made party to the conflict.

Meanwhile, the head of the Department of Field Support, Susana Malcorra has started her visit to Darfur.

In response to an earlier question about the status of the helicopters needed in Darfur, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations says that in addition to the four out of six required tactical support helicopters, there is a critical shortfall for three Medium Utility Helicopter Units (providing 6 helicopters each) and reconnaissance aircraft. We are still in discussions with member states to fill the aviation shortfalls.

I wonder where those helicopters are going to come from?

Here’s a good one from Human Rights Commission at the UN.

UNITED NATIONS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING VICTIMS
OF SREBRENICA MASSACRES

The Spokeswoman, in response to questions, said the following about the hearing of a case in the District Court of The Hague against the United Nations and the Kingdom of the Netherlands: The case was brought by various individuals and the Mothers of Srebrenica Foundation.

The fact that the United Nations is immune from legal process under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in no way diminishes the United Nations’ commitment to assist the people of Srebrenica in the aftermath of their tragedy. The UN continues to do everything within its ability to bring those responsible for the atrocities to justice, and to assist in the recovery of Srebrenica and the region.

They come up with craptacular policies and are immune from legal process. Great.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADOPTS NEW INSTRUMENT
ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today congratulated the Human Rights Council on its adoption of an important new instrument to strengthen the protection of economic, social and cultural rights.

The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will provide an important platform to expose abuses that are often linked to poverty, discrimination and neglect – abuses that victims frequently endure in silence and helplessness, she said.

It will provide a way for individuals, who may otherwise be isolated and powerless, to make the international community aware of their situation.

Did that come out of Barack Obama stump speech? It’s no wonder that Barry is the international choice for POTUS.

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 19, 2008 at 10:37 AM

But they reformed the farming industry.

Johan Klaus on June 19, 2008 at 9:46 AM

Change.

baldilocks on June 19, 2008 at 11:17 AM

What the blue helmets did fire their weapons?

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 19, 2008 at 10:37 AM

Crap! The blue helmets did not fire their weapons.

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 19, 2008 at 11:28 AM

The fact that masses of leftist Euroweenies aren’t demanding an international court prosecute Mugabe simply shows what craven, morally bankrupt piles of feces they are.

As Evan Sayet likes to say, they will support only what is wrong or failed.

Merovign on June 19, 2008 at 11:32 AM

Change.

baldilocks on June 19, 2008 at 11:17 AM

Not just “Change” but “Change you can believe in”.

TooTall on June 19, 2008 at 11:34 AM

Send in Jimmy Carter. He’ll make sure the election is on the up and up. NOT.

dalec on June 19, 2008 at 11:38 AM

The Dark Continent.

a most fitting name.

normsrevenge on June 19, 2008 at 11:40 AM

“They are claiming anyone who dies. They phone CNN,” Bright Matonga, a ZANU-PF spokesman, said. “Whenever someone dies in the hospital, they rush to claim them.”

At least CNN has the honesty to admit to its role in propaganda for tyrants the world over. Now, when are they going to stop being their mouthpiece?

PattyJ on June 19, 2008 at 11:47 AM

Well I guess we know that Africa is not the birth place of liberty.

MB4 on June 19, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Calling Jimmy Carter. Calling Jessie Jackson. Calling George Clooney.

MB4 on June 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM

The Dark Continent.
A most fitting name.

I blame White liberal guilt.
The media doesn’t hold nations “of color” to the same standard that it holds Europe & N. America to.
So thugs like Mug-abe are given a pass.
The soft bigotry of low expectations.

jgapinoy on June 19, 2008 at 12:13 PM

Zimbabwe’s run-off presidential election on June 27 is very unlikely to be free and fair, a group of southern African ministers said on Thursday, in the strongest regional condemnation yet of pre-poll violence.

Nothing gets past these guys.

irishspy on June 19, 2008 at 12:27 PM

Like all Dictators, Mugabe thinks he going to live forever. A well aimed bullet can, and should take care of that little problem. Lee Harvey Oswald, where are you now? The country of Zimbabwe needs you?

greasywrench on June 19, 2008 at 12:37 PM

It’s hard to imagine anyone deserves these kinds of leaders.

He won the election fair and square.

aengus on June 19, 2008 at 8:40 PM

Precious people are being slaughtered, & the world doesn’t care because they’re Black.

The world doesn’t care when its white farmers being slaughtered either. The world only cares when the principle of equality is being violated – which is why the whole world was willing gang up on Ian Smith.

aengus on June 19, 2008 at 8:43 PM