DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**paydayloanfasters** · 04-19-2008, 11:39 AM

Robert Mugabe 'mobilising command centres for national terror campaign'

By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
Last Updated: 8:06pm BST 18/04/2008

Hundreds of "command centres" led by war veterans in police uniforms are being established across Zimbabwe to wage a national terror campaign, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

South Africa helps ship arms to Zimbabwe
In pictures: Mugabe attacks Britain in his first speech since the elections

These centres are responsible for keeping President Robert Mugabe in power through intimidation, violence and ballot-rigging.

Watch: Robert Mugabe hits out at Britain in his Independence Day speech

By these methods, the regime plans to guarantee victory for Mr Mugabe in the presidential election's second round.

Three weeks after the poll's first round, no official results have been announced, but the regime has publicly acknowledged that Mr Mugabe fell short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a run-off.

A senior army officer and a police chief described the president's re-election plan to The Daily Telegraph in Harare.

At national level, the effort is being overseen by the Joint Operations Command, a committee of armed service chiefs.
The two sources attended a meeting in a rural province on Monday morning.

This gathering, which included traditional chiefs and local politicians, was addressed by two senior members of Mr Mugabe's regime.

They said that "command centres" will be established in all the province's local government wards. Zimbabwe has about 1,800 of these wards.
advertisement

The network will probably not cover the cities, all strongholds of support for Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader. Instead, they will be concentrated in the rural areas where 70 per cent of Zimbabweans live.

Each command centre will consist of three policemen, one soldier, and a war veteran who will be in charge.

They will dispatch militias, comprised of war veterans and the ruling Zanu-PF party's youth wing, to assault and torture known opposition supporters.

They will also control the local police to ensure that the militias are immune from arrest.

A terror campaign of this kind, organised in the same way, delivered victory for Mr Mugabe in the parliamentary and presidential polls of 2000 and 2002.

Victims are likely to be taken to the "command centres" for beatings and torture.

Telegraph journalist Stephen Bevan freed in Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe stole Zimbabwe election, Gordon Brown tells UN

In the past, Zanu-PF's torture methods have included stripping victims naked and dripping burning plastic over their bodies.

At the meeting on Monday, a senior member of the regime told the chiefs that a "black against black" war will start if Mr Mugabe loses.

He added that even if the United Nations deploys peacekeepers, by then people will have died.

"You have to defend the revolution," said the politician. "If you don't and it is sold through the ballot we will go back to the bush and fight."

Hundreds of people have been assaulted and at least two murdered since the election on March 29.

Mr Mugabe today claimed credit for introducing democracy in Zimbabwe.

Speaking on the 28th anniversary of independence from British rule, he said: "Today we hear the British saying there's no democracy here, people are being oppressed, there's dictatorship, there's no observance of human rights, rule of law.

"We, not the British, established democracy based on one person, one vote. We are the ones who brought democracy to this country, we are the ones who removed the oppression which was here."

Copyright 2008 The Daily Telegraph.

04-19-2008, 11:39 AM	#9
paydayloanfasters Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 299 Senior Member	Robert Mugabe 'mobilising command centres for national terror campaign' By Peta Thornycroft in Harare Last Updated: 8:06pm BST 18/04/2008 Hundreds of "command centres" led by war veterans in police uniforms are being established across Zimbabwe to wage a national terror campaign, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. South Africa helps ship arms to Zimbabwe In pictures: Mugabe attacks Britain in his first speech since the elections These centres are responsible for keeping President Robert Mugabe in power through intimidation, violence and ballot-rigging. Watch: Robert Mugabe hits out at Britain in his Independence Day speech By these methods, the regime plans to guarantee victory for Mr Mugabe in the presidential election's second round. Three weeks after the poll's first round, no official results have been announced, but the regime has publicly acknowledged that Mr Mugabe fell short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a run-off. A senior army officer and a police chief described the president's re-election plan to The Daily Telegraph in Harare. At national level, the effort is being overseen by the Joint Operations Command, a committee of armed service chiefs. The two sources attended a meeting in a rural province on Monday morning. This gathering, which included traditional chiefs and local politicians, was addressed by two senior members of Mr Mugabe's regime. They said that "command centres" will be established in all the province's local government wards. Zimbabwe has about 1,800 of these wards. advertisement The network will probably not cover the cities, all strongholds of support for Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader. Instead, they will be concentrated in the rural areas where 70 per cent of Zimbabweans live. Each command centre will consist of three policemen, one soldier, and a war veteran who will be in charge. They will dispatch militias, comprised of war veterans and the ruling Zanu-PF party's youth wing, to assault and torture known opposition supporters. They will also control the local police to ensure that the militias are immune from arrest. A terror campaign of this kind, organised in the same way, delivered victory for Mr Mugabe in the parliamentary and presidential polls of 2000 and 2002. Victims are likely to be taken to the "command centres" for beatings and torture. Telegraph journalist Stephen Bevan freed in Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe stole Zimbabwe election, Gordon Brown tells UN In the past, Zanu-PF's torture methods have included stripping victims naked and dripping burning plastic over their bodies. At the meeting on Monday, a senior member of the regime told the chiefs that a "black against black" war will start if Mr Mugabe loses. He added that even if the United Nations deploys peacekeepers, by then people will have died. "You have to defend the revolution," said the politician. "If you don't and it is sold through the ballot we will go back to the bush and fight." Hundreds of people have been assaulted and at least two murdered since the election on March 29. Mr Mugabe today claimed credit for introducing democracy in Zimbabwe. Speaking on the 28th anniversary of independence from British rule, he said: "Today we hear the British saying there's no democracy here, people are being oppressed, there's dictatorship, there's no observance of human rights, rule of law. "We, not the British, established democracy based on one person, one vote. We are the ones who brought democracy to this country, we are the ones who removed the oppression which was here." Copyright 2008 The Daily Telegraph.
	Quote