--- Begin Message ---
Israelis Sabotage Mugabe's Opposition
Jewish Intelligence Working To Keep Mugabe In Power In Zimbabwe
2/26/02 9:40:31 AM
Canadian Broadcasting Company / LSN Notes
Salisbury, Rhodesia -- [The Israeli intelligence linked Jewish consulting
firm Dickens and Madson, who
has been counting the regime of Robert Mugabe among its clients for quite
a
while, today released a bogus tape designed to frame up the Rhodesian
opposition leader Tsvangirai in order to keep him from stopping anti-white
racist violence.
An Islamic comrade sent us the following two news stories with this
attached
note:
This Montreal-based consulting firm Dickens and Madson is Jewish and they
made
this tape. The CBC interviewed a spokesperson for the firm - Ari
Ben-Menashe-
about this tape a few weeks ago and he even admitted they have worked
previously with the Mossad. Furthermore, when people called in responce
to the
allegations Ari Ben-Menashe was making they thought he was outright lying,
and
that the was just trying to protect Mugabe who, by the way and by their
own
admission, the firm has worked with before many times. My wife and I both
listend to the interview in stunned silence and it was rather obvious that
Ben-
Menashe was not telling the truth and leaving certain facts out. I find it
shocking anyone is taking him seriously, but the ever compliant media
seems to
run after these lies with great enthusiasm.]
http://allafrica.com/stories/200202210442.html
Tsvangirai's Priorities: Law And Order, Plus Food Security
Financial Gazette (Harare)
INTERVIEW
February 21, 2002
Posted to the web February 21, 2002
WITH just 15 days before Zimbabwe's historic presidential election, a
Canadian-
based company Dickens and Madson has made startling claims that opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai wanted to
hire it
to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.
Can you clarify what exactly went on between you and Ari Ben-Menashe and
his
Dickens and Madson company?
ANSWER: We have already issued a statement regarding our relationship with
Dickens and Madson. The relationship did not arise out of our own
initiative.
We only got to know about Dickens and Madson through one Rupert Johnson
who
knew them and tried to link them with us so that they could act as a lobby
group for us in North America.
The subject of relationship with Dickens and Madson was that we (the MDC)
should build contacts with the highest authority in Washington so that we
could
have a greater impact. Dickens and Madson claimed to know people higher up
in
the American administration so they were going to lobby these people on
our
behalf.
Dickens and Madson also wanted to help promote internal contacts within
Zimbabwe. Their position was that if the MDC were to win an election
without
the necessary contacts with people in powerful positions in the
institutions of
state, our position would be untenable.
Of course Ben-Menashe has his own interpretation of events and the only
way to
resolve this would be to show the original tape recordings of the meetings
showing who attended and who said what during those meetings. Anything
else
would just be an attempt to take people for a ride.
You have said the allegations that you plotted to assassinate Mugabe are a
ploy
by ZANU PF and Mugabe to discredit you and eventually eliminate you from
the
presidential election race. What exactly do you mean by that? Do you mean
Mugabe may actually wish to physically eliminate you?
I am saying Mugabe is pulling the last card. All along there have been
these
conspiracy theories being targeted against the MDC but the most serious
one of
course is this latest one.
They come up with imaginary plots to assassinate the president of the
country
and blame this on the leader of the opposition believing that this will
tarnish
his (Tsvangirai's) image.
But how about yourself, are you not afraid that you could be targeted?
Of course the risk is there. In fact, all Zimbabweans who hold political
opinions different to ZANU PF are exposed to this state-sponsored
violence.
Mugabe has built up institutions of violence against the people - the
militias,
the rogue element of the war veterans and some members of the police force
who
are conniving with ZANU PF thugs against the people. All this is part of a
violent strategy intended to cow the opposition.
Of course I am also at risk personally but I am not intimidated. I will
continue on my campaign in the full knowledge that the people of Zimbabwe
have
a right to make a choice.
And on international election observers, in your view do you believe the
international election observers will be able to make a meaningful
difference
as far as ensuring that there is a free and fair election?
The question was never that the observers should ensure that the election
is
free and fair because you must understand that Mugabe is picking and
choosing
those international observers and that he has remained defiant to an open
and
transparent process, which could be put under international radar and
inspection.
But all the same, we as the MDC want the observers to be here because it
is
very clear that Mugabe, at the end of the day, wants and needs to have
legitimacy. We need international observers to assure Zimbabweans that the
international community is watching, that Mugabe cannot stage an election
whose
outcome is pre-determined and get away with it.
What sort of measures should the EU, SADC, US and others take immediately
to
force the government to conduct a truly democratic presidential election?
Of course the international community, particularly SADC, could exert some
pressure on Mugabe.
SADC must take the lead and highlight publicly that, with all the
irregularities that are taking place, this election cannot be considered
free
and fair. They must make clear that they will not be party to a scam, that
they
will not endorse an election that is considered by Zimbabweans to be
illegitimate.
But clearly you have not been able to win the support of SADC, which is
critical to the success of any action that the international community may
want
to take against the government?
I think the MDC has made significant inroads and influence within the
region.
It may not have been able to influence some of the leaders of SADC because
there is a tendency among them to have solidarity with the leadership of
Zimbabwe and not solidarity with the people of this country.
But let me say that we have so much support within the region (though) it
may
not necessarily be at leadership level.
You may have the people on your side but if you do not have the leaders
how is
that helping your cause?
How else can we persuade them? We are saying: 'can you be on the side of
the
people? The people of Zimbabwe want a free and fair election and Mugabe is
subverting that.'
If the SADC leaders want to be in solidarity with Mugabe, then good and
well,
but what we are saying is that if they want to own up to their
responsibilities
as SADC leaders, then they must be on the side of the people or they will
become irrelevant to the situation.
OK, let's say on March 11 you are the new president. What is your agenda
of
action, what are your priorities? How specifically would you tackle the
economic crisis, the land issue, and the question of a new and democratic
constitution for the country?
A: First and foremost we believe that there should be civil order in the
country. We will work on the security arrangements as an immediate step to
ensure that there is stability in the country.
Secondly one must understand that the nation is on its knees as far as
food
supply is concerned. We have already been talking to some of our possible
funders and according to our plan we would require more than US$300
million to
ensure no one starves.
On the economy, it is clear the economy faces severe haemorrhaging through
corruption, the Congo war and a collapsing infrastructure. Our
short-to-mid-
term economic plan aims to stabilise the situation, revamp the economy and
allow it to begin growing again.
On land, we are going to do a quick audit of land ownership patterns in
the
country and of the impact of ZANU PF's fast-track land reforms and how we
can
quickly bring back the productive sectors of agriculture to a more
sustainable
basis. We will appoint a land commission that will spearhead the
formulation of
a permanent solution to the land question.
On the constitution, in the short term we would want to ensure that an MDC
government is not hamstrung by lack of a working majority in the House. We
already have a plan on how we will achieve that.
And then of course we need to put in place a mechanism for a people-driven
constitution-making process that can lead to a truly modern and democratic
constitution for the country. I must say other short-term rehabilitation
programmes will be in education, health and other key public sectors.
But surely where will you get the money needed to fund all these things?
For
example, you say food security alone will require US$300 million. Where is
that
money going to come from?
There are people who are interested and have already made commitments to
assist
us. In fact let me just point out that the international goodwill to
assist
Zimbabwe is there. It is us who have destroyed that goodwill. It is up to
the
MDC to rebuild that goodwill which Mugabe, out of political expediency,
has
destroyed.
Would you agree to a live debate on television with President Mugabe on
these
and other important issues facing the country?
I have already offered my challenge to everyone. All the five candidates
must
be allowed equal time on television. I think it would be vital for the
democratic discourse in this country for the contending candidates to have
a
public debate over all these issues so that the people can make their own
judgment.
Are you going to be a one-term president or should Zimbabweans expect you,
if
you win, to follow in the footsteps of Africa's long-reigning big men such
as
Kenya's Daniel arap Moi, Libya's colonel Muammar Gaddafi and others?
I can certainly commit myself to one position - that is that I am
committed to
term limits. But Zimbabweans should determine how many terms their
president
must serve through a new constitutional dispensation that I have talked
about.
I cannot single-handedly determine whether I will be there for one, two or
three terms. I am going to be there in accordance with the constitution
designed by the people.
What structure will your government have, given the fact that a good
number of
MDC MPs are either still too young and inexperienced or could just not be
suitably qualified to be appointed as ministers of government?
I want to say that the MDC will produce a most credible government of
competent
and committed people, individuals who do not regard a Cabinet appointment
as a
job but as a service to the people. We have the capacity to produce a
government that is capable of implementing programmes and we are for a
participatory government where the doctrine of separation of powers is
respected.
And do you really believe you could pull through without a government of
national unity?
We have cultural diversity in this country. The only way you can drive
this
country is when that cultural diversity is marshalled in a positive way
and not
in a way which polarises society along race, tribal or regional lines.
I am for a national government but I am not for a government of national
unity.
The difference is in the manner the government is structured. In this
country,
we have had a government that has been too tribalistic, where we have had
situations where, for example, you get 10 permanent secretaries coming
from one
province.
That, to me, is not acceptable. We need a government that every Zimbabwean
must
feel they are part of.
http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/02/25/zimbabwe020225
Zimbabwe opposition leader charged with treason
Last Updated Mon, 25 Feb 2002 21:56:23
HARARE - A videotape allegedly made in Montreal has led to charges of high
treason against Zimbabwe's opposition leader - just two weeks before the
country holds presidential elections.
INDEPTH: Zimbabwe
The tape was made in December and purports to show Morgan Tsvangirai
asking
executives of a Montreal consulting firm for help in assassinating
President
Robert Mugabe.
Morgan Tsvangirai
Tsvangirai, Mugabe's main opponent in next month's controversial election,
is
denying the charges.
"It is, of course, intended to divert people, and confuse people. But
people
aren't confused, they see through this whole ploy. It's a conspiracy that
they've contorted, and now they want to blame it on me," said Tsvangirai.
Robert Mugabe
He was questioned for two hours on Monday by Zimbabwean police, after the
secretly taped footage of a meeting with Montreal-based consulting firm
Dickens
and Madson was screened by Australian television.
According to the video Tsvangirai allegedly discusses eliminating Mugabe
with
officials from the consultancy firm. Independent analysts say the video
has
been heavily doctored.
Tsvangirai has dismissed both the videotape and the allegations and denied
participating in any assassination plot. He said it was a clear attempt by
the
ruling ZANU-PF party to smear him, and damage his reputation and candidacy
for
the presidential election, which will take place March 9-10.
A number of public opinion polls have put Tsvangirai way ahead of Robert
Mugabe, who is rapidly losing the support of the electorate, as Zimbabwe
plunges deeper into economic chaos and pre-election political violence.
Even if Tsvangirai is arrested and charged, he can still stand for
election. If
convicted he faces the death penalty, or life imprisonment under
Zimbabwean
law.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Libertarian Socialist News
Post Office Box 12244
Silver Spring, MD 20908
http://www.overthrow.com
(check out our messageboards -- discuss this story on-line!)
(Formerly http://www.libertariansocialist.com)
--- End Message ---
