ZIMBABWE - drive out trash

[nicholmere]

In Zimbabwe, it sometimes seems there is no end to the indignities that President Robert Mugabe is willing to inflict on his people. The latest is called "Operation Murambatsvina", or "drive out trash."

When you go to the website you'll need to click on

Audio Available:
Listen to Part 1 of As It Happens

to hear the interview.

Last night was the first time I heard of this "operation". Is it making the news elsewhere? Hearing Mr. Didymus Mutasa explain and justify the operation left me stunned.

[wivabef]

I had heard of the growing disaffection of urban dwellers in Zimbabwe, but this has escaped my radar. I read Allafrica.com...but have never really paid attention to Zimbabwe as much as the Congo and Sudan.

It's on my radar now, thanks Nichole!

Looks like I need to see if the Episcopal Relief and Development fund has something going for the relief effort, there.

Here's another story on this.

Zimbabwe's Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube called for Mugabe's arrest and prosecution Friday. Speaking at the Vatican, Ncube alleged that Zimbabwe's government planned to drive disaffected urban voters back to the famine-hit countryside for political re-education, as the Pol Pot regime did in Cambodia in the 1970s.

Both the African Union and President Thabo Mbeki of neighboring South Africa have refused to condemn what they call Zimbabwe's "internal affairs."

[theworm[$]]

Sometimes I find it hard to be happy and informed at the same time. There is so much bad out there - so much injustice.

[mtbat]

I do not understand the hatred that is behind things like this. I just can't.

[MrsNormanMaine[$]]

Mugabe has been one of the nastiest despots out there for years. Probably worse than Saddam. We'll never interfere though, no oil.

MNM !queen

[nicholmere]

wivabef said

Looks like I need to see if the Episcopal Relief and Development fund has something going for the relief effort, there.

What did you think of Mutasa comments on foreign aid? The double (triple??) speak is amazing.

[nicholmere]

MrsNormanMaine said

Mugabe has been one of the nastiest despots out there for years. Probably worse than Saddam. We'll never interfere though, no oil.

MNM !queen

True enough.

[wivabef]

nicholmere said

What did you think of Mutasa comments on foreign aid? The double (triple??) speak is amazing.

I could not hear the interview, because I need to update real audio and I'm superstitious about downloading things without hubby's approval.

But having read some of the reports, their response to the Western appeal for the government to stop makes it sound like everybody in the way of their bulldozers is a criminal.

[nicholmere]

wivabef said

But having read some of the reports, their response to the Western appeal for the government to stop makes it sound like everybody in the way of their bulldozers is a criminal.

In the interview one of the first things he tries to convice us of is that the people driven out are all criminals.

[nicholmere]

BTW: I would be interested in hearing what people thought of the radio interview. I do not know anyone else who has listened to it.

[nicholmere]

UN report criticises Zimbabwe's bulldozing of urban slums

A report from the United Nations describes the policy of the Zimbabwean government of bulldozing urban slums to the ground as a disastrous venture. The report calls the initiative a blatant violation of international law.

I wonder what will happen here. I still have not heard very much about what is going on there.

[wivabef]

nicholmere said

I wonder what will happen here. I still have not heard very much about what is going on there.

I've been waiting and watching, too.

I guess Andrea Mitchell needs to get roughed up by Zimbabwe's security forces for it to make the Today show.