Violence spreads to Harare: 'Ring of torture camps' set up in the suburbs

[tpsbmam]

Source: Independent (UK)

Since Zimbabwe's disputed presidential election in March, a steady stream of battered victims of President Robert Mugabe's thugs have come into the capital, Harare, telling stories of horrific intimidation in the countryside. But in the past week the violence has arrived on the city's doorstep.


"A ring of torture camps has been established on the outskirts of Harare, and gangs of youths are marauding in the high-density suburbs ," a resident told The Independent on Sunday. "They are stopping commuter minibuses and threatening the passengers. Many people are unable to go to work. They are being told to report every night to the camps to be taught how to vote." Even in Harare's relatively prosperous northern suburbs, she added, there were groups of youths on the streets.

Other witnesses said gangs of militants, wearing the bandanas and scarves of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and carrying sticks and clubs, were manning makeshift roadblocks around Chitungwiza township, south of Harare, where four opposition activists were reportedly killed on Wednesday. Party militias and "war veterans" had set up camps in suburban grassland and were frog-marching residents of Chitungwiza and other townships to political meetings ahead of Friday's presidential run-off vote. People were told to stay indoors and avoid travelling by road at night.

.........
The worsening situation has confronted his party with an agonising decision this weekend – whether to press on with their campaign in the face of ever-mounting intimidation and bloodshed, or to withdraw and cede victory to Mr Mugabe. The party is taking soundings from its provincial organisations around the country, and is due to announce its decision tomorrow.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/violence-spreads-to-harare-ring-of-torture-camps-set-up-in-the-suburbs-852040.html

[bullimiami]

1. this is the sort of situation that needs intervention.

bush sure as fuck will invade countries for revenge and to advance corporate interests and he will do it without a second thought to international law or consequences.
for this? nothing. no country and no united nations is willing to step in and take mugabe out and set up real elections and a representative government.
our world governments SUCK. and the UN is a self-serving usless waste of time.

[Diclotican]

2. bullimiami

bullimiami

You know that United States of America are part of UN?.. You know, that USA was indeed one of the founder of the UN charter in 1944?

Therefore, in your own word, since UN is a useless waste of time, then US are an waste of time, because they was one of the founder of the UN in 1944?

Think little before you write.. Mr Mugabe's stupidity are not UNs faoult....

But, whatever make your day...

Diclotican

Sorry my bed english, not my native language

[uppityperson]

8. Not quite right logic.

The idea of the UN is good. But how the UN has become, some of what it has become, is a waste of time. Because someone feels the UN is a waste of time now does not mean it feels that every country that is in the UN, or any that were founders, is a waste of time.

If I were queen of the universe, I would make the UN into a much better functioning body. Including giving them actual power to help police countries which are killing and torturing and involving themselves in genocide. Yes, that means even the USA when it is needed.

Is it summer yet in Norway?

[Diclotican]

9. uppityperson

uppityperson

I can agree that UN have become some what of a monster. For many chefs in the same kitchen I guess.. UN as an Principe is possible the greatest thing that humans have ever managed to put together.. But it are in deep ned of an overhaul, where the UN charter would be given much more power, not just to let the Big 5 get a VETO, but to have an voice of their own... Today UN could be sabotaged by everyone of the Big 5... And I would say, the sorry state of UN today, are there because the Big 5 VETO power are more hungry about their own selfish need, than work together to make a better function world.. The most ugly example is maybe when US decided that they could go to war in Iraq, against every one of the else in the Security Council. Even PRC who traditionally are one of the few who are not saing to much, have maybe if it ever had come to a vote in the Security Council ha voted no to the war against Iraq. But either way, the US goes along alone. And today we have a wreck in Iraq. And an UN who are maybe more in conflict with it self than ever...

Yes, it is summer in Norway. For some weeks we had +34C, but the last couple of weeks it have been like 15-18 C with showers.. Today it have been raining all day... And on monday it is St Hans night, when we traditionally are out and grilling food... We celebrating the fact that it is the lighter's day in the year, with just a few hour with dark, and from now to the 21-23 of December it would be darker and darker as the Sun are going away again, Sad but truth. But we have had some nice weeks the last couple of months then;) Should be interesting with all the rain:evilgrin: But Hey, it is Summer still.. Hopefully it would be more hot in July when the Holiday is coming into play (think about it, 5 weeks PAID vacations;) )

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[rucognizant]

4. It wasn't.........

When Eleanor Roosevelt wrote up the original UN charter, the world was a very different place. Good had conquered evil. SInce then evil has metasticized and proliferated, and is outbullying the good if not outnumbered! Just like the agressive, invasive quack grass that has taken over my yard in the past several years while I was busy with other things........ If you cut the root removing it, each segment replicates itself, choking out every other living thing, and using up all exhisting top soil! HARD WORK, planting a victory garden!
I lost my first election in 1952 when I was 13 years old! The stupid American Ppopulation chose the Military Republican over the briliant intellectual, "ELITIST" Adalai Stevenson, setting us on the present course even though Eisenhower DID warn us of the Military Industrial Complex.
STEVENSON WOULD HAVE ADVANCED ROOSEVELT'S NEW DEAL IN AN EVEN MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION!!!
ANd back then, public school education was 85% better than it is now!

[rucognizant]

3. Could we be next?

There but for the Grace of God go we?

[grahamhgreen]

7. YES, neo-con polices (greed over all) could collapse our society in a few short years

[Diclotican]

10. grahamhgreen

grahamhgreen

The Neo-Con mafia could not be THAT evil can thei??????:evilfrown: :shrug: :cry:

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[happygoluckytoyou]

5. fuckers set up torture camps in the suburbs... cant they use cuba like we do!! disgraceful!!!!!!

[tuckessee]

6. I doubt those Zimbabwe savages

know how to torture with the fine sophistication practiced by American troops worldwide.

Maybe we can send some advisors over there to advise them. Or we can get them slots at the School of the Americas.