Babies seized by Robert Mugabe's forces as Zimbabwe hounds voters

[seafan]

Source: The Sunday Times (UK)

Scores of children and babies have been locked up in filthy prison cells in Harare as Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president, sinks to new depths in his campaign to force the opposition into exile before an expected run-off in presidential elections.
Twenty-four babies and 40 children under the age of six were among the 250 people rounded up in a raid on Friday, according to Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Yesterday they were crammed into cells in Southerton police station in central Harare.

“This is ruthlessness of the worst kind. How can you incarcerate children whose mothers have fled their homes hoping to give their children refuge?” asked an emotional Chamisa yesterday. “In Mugabe’s Zimbabwe even children are not spared the terror that befalls their parents.” ..... Thought to be directed by top military officers, Operation Where Did You Put Your Cross? has prompted thousands to flee. They are trying to escape the so-called war veterans, who are attacking people and burning down hundreds of houses for voting “incorrectly” in last month’s elections.

“What we’re seeing is an undeclared civil war,” said Chamisa. “It’s genocide. This situation is out of control, it’s now beyond the capacity of the MDC alone. It requires the region, the continent, the international community to act.” ..... While some Zimbabweans see a glimmer of hope in this, Mugabe has remained defiant in the face of international condemnation. Most expect the regime to announce that no candidate won a majority in the presidential election and to order a run-off next month which Mugabe will ensure that he wins.

“The only game in town is a run-off,” said George Sibotshiwe, Tsvangirai’s spokesman. “The recount was just to buy them time to smash people’s heads in, so when they go for a run-off nobody will even be thinking of voting.” ..... “We’re seeing a major increase in government-sponsored violence,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“The ruling party has been sending its allies after people it thinks voted for the opposition. Now anyone seen as opposing Mugabe is in danger.”

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article3822569.ece

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Wake up, America.

[Joanne98]

1. I never believe anyone who starts talking about babies.

Ever since the Kuwaiti "incubator" incident.

[Javaman]

8. look to thread #6 for more sources. nt

[joeybee12]

2. Hmm...anyone want to re-assess their opinion of how allegedly dirty

our campaigns are? I really feel for the people who live under this evil, evil man.

[MonteLukast]

3. Oh my God.

Repulsive, absolutely repulsive. :grr:

The whole thing is, Mugabe's regime seems to be about revenge, plain and simple. Against the whites who used to colonize Zimbabwe and now against his political opponents.

If Tsvangirai prevails, he must never govern from revenge-- as extremely tempting as the prospect might be, for revenge, it is clear, turns you into another Mugabe.

[ohio2007]

4. Truly Bizarre : Indians Throw Babies 50ft From Roof To Thank God.

27/4/08 : Devotees believe this ritual is good for the health of the child.



I won't post the video link.

Sorry, imo, most people couldn't stomach the sight. I stopped watching as soon as I saw the crying baby in some guys hands abouve the crowd.About 15 seconds into the vid.

So anyway,
how are Mugabe's land reform programs going ?

[David__77]

5. Times of London - right-wing rag.

Reminds me of the old "baby incubator" stories from Kuwait. I'm sure the MDC has a PR firm or two spreading these stories.

[seafan]

6. Afraid this story is true. More sources here.

AP

April 26, 2008

.....

Results from the presidential election still have not been released. That delay and the call for recounts have widely been seen as stalling tactics, as Mugabe uses a violent crackdown on dissent to strengthen his grip on power.

Police confirmed Saturday that they arrested 215 people in a raid on Tsvangirai's headquarters in Harare the day before.

The oppositions said those arrested were seeking refuge after being attacked by ruling party loyalists in the countryside.

Women, some pregnant or with babies strapped to their backs, were among those taken away by police. Girls who had been threatened with rape and men with broken bones were also herded into a bus and pickup truck during the raid, the opposition said. Others had come for help and news of relatives missing in a wave of violence against opposition supporters blamed on militants of Mugabe's party.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said those arrested were suspected of involvement in political violence.

Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama said among those detained were 24 children, "some still suckling," as well as six people over the age of 60.

.....

Globe and Mail

.....

Last night, police raided the home of the ZESN director Rindai Chifunde, with a warrant to search for “subversive material likely to cause the overthrow of a constitutionally elected government.” Possessing such material carries a potential life sentence in Zimbabwe. At press time, Ms. Chifunde and Noel Kututwa, the ZESN chairman, were in hiding. ZESN program manager Tsungai Kokerai was arrested at the organization's offices.

Police took people away from Harvest House in three trucks and a bus. There were 20 children under three years old among those detained, and many of the adults had broken limbs, while at least one had a recent gunshot wound.

“It was shocking – it was as if they were dealing with a bank robbery,” Teresa Mano said of the police actions. She was walking past the downtown MDC headquarters when the raid began. “After 10 minutes I saw them shoving injured people in to the bus and trucks. They were brutal. Those that resisted were beaten with batons. Pregnant women were being dragged to the trucks. There were babies screaming all over the place. You would think they were dealing with hardcore criminals.”

.....

[mainegreen]

7. Doesn't suprise me. It appears the MDC may have had enough too.

Is Zim on the brink of civil war?

Zimbabwe could soon be in the throes of a civil war. It has emerged that supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who have been victims of attacks from armed militia and law enforcement agencies, have begun to retaliate.

Human Rights Watch in Zimbabwe said that, for the first time, it had documented several incidents of violence by supporters of the MDC. But it said the scope of those incidents was incomparable to those perpetrated by the state security agents and Zanu-PF militia.

Human Rights Watch warned that the emergence of "tit-for-tat retaliatory attacks" between Zanu-PF and MDC supporters would escalate the violence.

...


"MDC supporters in Masvingo and Mashonaland East provinces have organised themselves into local defence units to fight back violence and intimidation by war veterans, military personnel and Zanu-PF militia."

On Thursday, there were "fierce battles" in the village of Makaha in Mashonaland East as MDC supporters repelled an attack by Zanu-PF.