Hi Moraig
>> > Please get this to SA media soonest. On the road to Zambia - my brain
>> > is
>> > frying…
>> > xx Fran
>> >
>> > Mauritian (SADC) National Pierre Guimbeau (said Gam-bo) and his son
>> > 14yr
>> > old
>> > son Marc were surrounded at their Rosalie Homestead yesterday afternoon
> on
>> > their
>> > Greenvalley Farm in Chipinge. We had the following msg from him at
> 9:30pm
>> >
>> > Ben help. Call Mru Gov. Trouble here. Jambanja since 3, they at shed
> now.
>> > Want
>> > the house. No power, no radio, phone going flat”.
>> >
>> > We were able to message back and establish that they had barricaded
>> > themselves
>> > in and were waiting for daylight and help. We called the Mauritius
>> > Government in Pretoria, called CFU Chairman Trevor Gifford and all were
>> > going
>> > to try to get through on the bad lines and see what could be done
> through
>> > their various channels. Yesterday several farmers in Chipinge under
> seige
>> > and
>> > not sure what help was available. Spoke to Pierre’s wife Liz, who left
> the
>> > farm
>> > yesterday morning with her daughter Rachelle and some of their
> possessions
>> > to
>> > put in storage. They were booked to emigrate back to Mauritius in May.
>> >
>> > Since early morning no-one has managed to raise Pierre. Neither Liz,
>> > nor
>> > us nor
>> > his sister Pascale. Last message to Liz from Pierre that he was
> undecided
>> > on
>> > whether to make a run for it in the dark (the power was off since 5pm)
> or
>> > to sit
>> > tight. His phone rings, messages indicate delivery but there is no
>> > response. The
>> > family is frantic.
>> >
>> > We have urged the Mauritian Government to make the strongest possible
>> > representation at the SADC conference in Lusaka this weekend.
>> >
>> > Sincerely
>> > Fran Lagesse

Here is another one received yesterday.

Hi all,

A friend of mine from Zim sent this to me. Its from a few of the families still there, and its what is really going on. Please forward this onto anyone you with an interest in the ZImbabwe. The media is going quiet with this so please spread the news.

Thanks

Jess

Hi
Just to let you know that Chris was invaded yesterday afternoon by war vets.  I just happened to be visiting Charmaine and Chris when a bakkie load of about 23 drove up the road singing war songs.  Chris went out to them and they told him to leave the farm immediately.  The police arrived about 45 minutes after the war vets and spent a long time talking to them with Chris remaining calm and reasoning with the chaps.  The whole episode took about 2.5 hours with Charmaine, Laura and I watching anxiously from Charmaine’s house.  I was so worried that they might beat Chris up as is so ! often their style.  They left the property and have vowed to return today to “sort things out”.Â
Â
There was a carefully orchestrated war vet attack yesterday on the few remaining white owned farms in Masvingo.  The farms that I know were invaded were the Goddards, Connors, Borland, Richards, Sparrows.  The whole Pa Nyanda Lodge was taken over and Graham & Cally were given an hour to leave their house.  They did so with a few photos and valuables but didn’t even have time to pack a suitcase. Â
Â

I will update you later as to what happens but surely, surely, the outside world cannot sit back and allow a repeat of 2002.  There is huge military deployment as we speak and the people are becoming fearful.
Â
Love to you all
Kerry
Â
—–Original Message—–
From: Clive and Liz Thomas
Sent: 06 April 2008 04:33
Subject: Borland family under siege - Masvingo, Zimbabwe
Importance: High

If we just stand by, watch and do nothing - are we not just as much to blame
as those in power in Zim?  All I am asking you to do is forward this email
to as many people, who have an interest in Zimbabwe, as possible.  Send it
to the news makers in your area, plus SABC, BBC, CNN, Sky, Fox News, etc.
Thank you,

“Dear Family and Friends,
Well never thought I would have to do this email, do not know if it may be
my last from Chidza Farm, Masvingo, Zimbabwe! .
At 3.30pm today (Saturday), a lorry load of warvets arrived at our gate to
take over our land, equipment and cattle.
It is now 6pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate and
more and more of them have arrived.
We managed to get Alison (our daughter) and baby John to town and for now it
is just John and myself and our dogs in the house, now on the farm.
They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow and that they want us
to kill them a sheep, which John refuses to do, so no doubt they will kill one
for themselves.

Graham Richards was under siege at the same time as us, so it has to be
orchestrated. The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat.  They have
already taken over PaNyanda Lodge, Graham and Callie Richards are in town.

Alison is at Lorna’s in town and Carl is expected back from Bulawayo tonight!
and will go to Lorna.
Lorna’s no. is 039-264323 ; Ali is on 011216643
Our Phone Landline is 039-266080
Cell Phone Nos. 011-215275 ; 023-258810

Please pass this email on to as many folk as you would like to.
If you know of anyone in the Media all the better.
We have to let the world know what is happening.

Well done to Zesa (the state electricity company).  As they load shedded us
and I phoned my friend in the Zesa
Faults and he phoned Harare and they have switched us back on.

So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow
up
tomorrow if we are able.

Our love to you all.
John and Joy Borland from Chidza Farm.”
Â
Â
Â
From: Clive and Liz Thomas
Sent: 06 April 2008 09:27
Subject: Update on farm situation in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
Â
Hi again,
Â
I have spoken to my mum in Masvingo.  She says that the war vets have told the family that there are to be 2 dead farmers in their province by Monday – one of them being my uncle John Borland.
Â
She also said that another white farmer in the Masvingo district, Anthony Perkins, had been stoned by war vets on Saturday.  He is alive but she does not know the seriousness of his injuries.
Â
Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.
Â
Thanks,
Liz Thomas

Dear Family and Friends,

As we stand exhausted and betrayed at this critical moment in Zimbabwe’s crisis, it seems pertinent to look back over the last few days and record who said what.

 On the 29th March shortly after casting his ballot Mr Mugabe said:  “We are not in the habit of rigging… We don’t rig elections. I cannot sleep  with my conscience if I have rigged,”

On the 29th March, sure that Zanu PF would win the elections, Mr Mugabe said: “We will succeed. We will conquer. Why should I cheat? The people are there supporting us. The moment the people stop supporting you, then that’s the moment you should quit politics.”

On the 29th March asked if he would participate in a run off Presidentialelection should the result not be decisive, Mr Mugabe dismissed the suggestion and said: “We are not in the habit of boxing matches here. We knock each other out in the first round.”

 In an evening press conference on the 1st April MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai said: “Zimbabwe will never be the same again; the people have spoken with one voice. I would like to thank the millions who came to reclaim their dignity and invest in the change they can trust.”

 In the evening of the 1st April the world media went into a frenzy and reported that a deal had been done and Mr Mugabe was about to step down. The news didn’t last long and a CNN reporter said: “What’s clear is that nothing is clear.”

On the 2nd April at a press conference MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti announced election results based on figures displayed as public notices outside polling stations. Biti said: “Zanu PF have lost this election. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the next president of Zimbabwe.”

On the 3rd April, long before the results of the Presidential election  had been announced, Deputy Minister of Information Bright Matonga said: “Zanu PF is ready for a run-off, we are ready for a resulting victory. … we only applied 25 per cent of our energy into this campaign… we are going to unleash the other 75 per cent that we did not apply in the first  case.”

On the 3rd April the former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said:
 ”If he (Mr Mugabe) wants to come here, the (Malaysian) government should welcome him. If he has lost, he has to accept the decision of the people, that is the best thing he can do.”

On the 4th of April, before the results of the Presidential election had been announced, Zanu PF Secretary Didymus Mutasa confirmed that Mr Mugabe would contest in a re-run. He said: “We are down but not out. Absolutely the candidate will be Robert Gabriel Mugabe - who else would it be other than our dear old man?”

On the 4th April, hinting at what will inevitably be the slogan if there is re-run of the election, war veteran leader Jabulani Sibanda said: “It now looks like these elections were a way to open for the reinvasion of this country [by the British].”
And so now we wait. We thought our poor broken country had suffered  enough and that at last our prayers had been answered - it seems not - not yet. Until next time, thanks for reading, love cathy.

Copyright cathy buckle  5th April 2008.

  www.cathybuckle.com
 My books: “African Tears” and “Beyond Tears” are available in South  Africa
 from: books@clarkesbooks.co.za  and in the UK from: orders@africabookcentre.com

 To subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write to: cbuckle@mango.zw

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The article from CNN.

The video also from CNN.

This article is from an African news channel called SABC News.

Either way as is expected, there would be some form of rejection of the decision followed by a challenge on the results. Both scenarios hint to there being a longer road ahead.
More details here: More election details.

I suspected the results would unfold as per usual and be in favour of the current ruling party Zanu-PF, but according to news sites preliminary results show that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai could upset the apple cart. Here is the latest story from BBC:Lastest results.

I will post new results and articles as I find them.

Also mentioned are things such as:

ZIMBABWE CRISIS

Inflation: approaching 5,000%

Unemployment: 80%

4m need food aid

Life expectancy: 37 (men), 34 (women)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6914778.stm

This article talks abut Mugabe’s rabid insistance of that the West is behind the downfall of the economyand some future plans for Zimbabwe’s economy. Quote “no company restructuring, merger or acquisition can be approved unless 51% of the firm goes to indigenous Zimbabweans.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6913148.stm

Here you can find E-mails written by Zimbabweans to their friends and family.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6913148.stm

A page about what life is like in Zimbabwe, a little background and some more.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6441529.stm

The atrocies in Zimbabwe now need to come to an end. As an ex Zimbabwean I am hurt and mortified by the events occuring in this once paradise. It is no longer just another case of unrest in Africa, it has turned into crimes against humanity. The world has become a village through communications, and because of this, it is the duty of each person on earth to know and do something about these heinous crimes.

Below is an e-mail I received with regards to the economic buthery that is happening on a daily basis.

Slashing Prices

Dear Family and Friends,
Zimbabwe has been engulfed in a macabre and tragic frenzy this week andfrankly, it beggars belief. Across the country what has been called a “Taskforce” has been unleashed by the government to force shop ownersand businesses to cut their prices by 50%. The price cut enforcers are army men in camouflage clothes, police in uniform and large numbers of youth
militia.They go from shop to shop and simply pick on items they want reduced : SLASH THAT PRICE, is the phrase we are hearing again and again and then products have to be sold for less than they were purchased for. Shop owners who refuse to cut theprices face arrest and having their goods seized. Some have been assaulted, others had their premises trashed and windows smashed.

The result of it all, inevitably, is rapid collapse and many goods and foods have now become completely unavailable including all the staples which were already difficult to find such as flour, oil, sugar, salt and maize meal. Joining the list now are most other normal household products in daily use such as soap, candles, matches, milk, eggs, margarine, rice, bread and the list grows longer by the hour and day. As the prices are ordered down hordes of people with bagfuls of money swarm behind and buy up all the stocks. Shops are displaying signs announcing that only one of each item may be purchased but entire gangs are moving around in dozens and just cleaning everything out.

This week in my home town, all types of meat have become completely unavailable as butchers were ordered to sell for less than half the price they had paid to abattoirs. One supermarket in the centre of the town was empty of all goods by mid week, another two were not far behind - both saying they expected to be out of business in the next few days - a week at most. In both of these outlets there were aisle after aisle of completely empty shelves. It was heartbreaking to see pensioners and desperately poor people looking for bargains but finding none and then looking for basics and finding none of those either.

Outside a major wholesaler, groups of young men stood around waiting for the “militia taskforce” to arrive so that they could buy up everything as the prices were slashed. The car park was nearly full of luxury vehicles - pajero’s, twin cabs, SUV’s. even a Lexus - all filled with men talking incessantly on cellphones and women in tight jeans and artificial hair - their vehicles already bulging with ’slashed price’ goods, many pulling trailers also stuffed to overflowing.

I went to one almost empty supermarket and stopped near a young policeman in a pick up truck without number plates that was loaded to the hilt with ’slashed price’ goods. It was a bitterly cold morning and a barefoot and slightly retarded man was sitting on the tar shaking and shivering with cold. He stretched his hands up to the policeman and said: “Chingwa” (Bread). The policeman ignored him and turned away, calling out cheerfully to another young policeman, also in uniform, who was staggering out with more booty. Again the shivering and barefoot man asked for bread but they both ignored him. I could not stop tears filling my eyes and although I had virtually nothing left I bent down and folded a note into his hand; he clapped his hands in thanks and as I stood up I caught the eye of the young policeman. There was no compassion or empathy there, just arrogance. For a moment I remembered how it felt after the farmers and their workers had been thrown off and someone had helped me when I was utterly desperate. He had said to me: There but for the grace of God go I. Now there are so many more in that place of need.

All week as the situation has deteriorated people have been comparing what is happening now to shops and businesses with what happened to farms. A huge crisis seems just a few days or perhaps a couple of weeks away, as stocks dwindle, warehouses empty and we simply run out of food. As I write this letter the government are continuing to applaud the price cuts and say they will take over the businesses that close down.

Please keep the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans, particularly the old, sick, handicapped, frail and unemployed in your prayers in this most shocking situation.

Until next week, with love, cathy Copyright cathy buckle 7th July 2007
www.cathybuckle.com
My books: “African Tears” and “Beyond Tears” are available from:
orders@africabookcentre.com
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this letter, please write to:
cbuckle@mango.zw