Zimbabwe's Oppression of the Press

May 5, 2009

18 human rights and political activists were remanded back to jail after being indicted on an alleged plan to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. The order sent freelance journalist Andrison Manyere, and former journalist turned human rights activist Jestina Mukoko back to prison. 16 other MDC supporters were recalled as well. This action goes against the former Global Political Agreement (GPA) established with prosecutors in March. The GPA is the document that guides the coalition government and in the agreement the MDC had added a clause releasing all political detainees. The Harare magistrate responsible for revoking their bail agreement, Catherine Chimanda, explained her actions saying, “The law says if accused persons have been indicted, they must remain in custody.” The MDC has expressed outrage over this action and has said the magistrate has acted contradictory, not only to the original agreement, but also against the will of the people. They are particularly upset by the blatant disregard of human rights.

Critics fear this most recent action could disrupt the uneasy balance in the coalition government. President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai plan to hold crisis talks soon to try to save the coalition government from its seemingly impending doom.

May 12, 2009

Police arrested Vincent Kahika and Constantine Chimakure on Monday for publishing an article allegedly aimed at hurting the credibility of law-enforcement agencies. Kahika is the editor of the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper and Chimakure is the news editor. The article alleged police and security agents abducted rights activists from the MDC last year. The arrests couldn’t be at a worse time because Western governments are refusing to give Zimbabwe money until there is political reform and new human rights legislation. Mugabe has jailed many foreign and local journalists and has closed privately owned newspapers and radio stations. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has called the actions unjustifiable and unsustainable, citing the source of information as indictment papers, which became public record after the attorney general brought them before a judge.

May 12, 2009

In a follow up story the editors arrested in the morning had been released from detention. The court magistrate found the charges ill founded and let the men free. Although this is a step in the right direction the frequent arrests of activists have raised doubts about the efficiency of the coalition government.

I hate to say this but maybe a coalition government is not right for Zimbabwe. It seems the Zanu-PF are still abusing their powers and are doing more harm than good for the country. They are hurting the humanitarian record and discouraging foreign investors from helping with their economic problems. If the Zanu-PF really care about Zimbabwe and its people it is time for them to step down, particularly Robert Mugabe. The election last summer showed the voice of the people is in support of the MDC. Even with vote tampering the Zanu-PF could not clearly win the election and it is time for them to accept that and stand aside. That is much easier said than done; I understand that. But perhaps if the international community applied some pressure it could be achieved. The coalition government will definitely be something to watch over the next few weeks and we will see how it plays out. They are in a dangerous place right now, and I fear there may be and imminent civil war or the horizon.

Zimbabwe: Theivery, Independence, and its Empty Wallet

April 17, 2009

After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Zimbabwe they would need to change their domestic policy and reinstate law and order in the country, reports have surfaced that allies tied to President Robert Mugabe have continued to illegally seize control of farms. Under President Mugabe farms owned by large white farming organizations have been taken over and given to individual black farmers in an attempt to redistribute the nation’s wealth. This practice has come under heavy fire because most farms have fallen off in production leading to national food shortages and preventing foreign currency from being invested in the country.

The newest accusations came against Senate President Edna Madzongwe. Peter Etheridge, who previously owned the farm in question, said it was obtained illegally. Madzongwe was not reached for comment but her daughter insists the farm was obtained legally. Madzongwe currently owns four farms.

In the meantime Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara began touring farms now owned by Mugabe supporters to see why production is down and make sure the farms were obtained legally. “We will not tolerate any government official who is promoting lawlessness in our country,” he said on Friday. Mutambara’s commission visited the Stockdale Farm Friday. A police presence kept reporters away from the farm, causing Etheridge to call the police biased saying, “They are giving protection to her but not us who want to feed the nation.” Militias at other farms tried unsuccessfully to prevent the government commission from entering.

April 19, 2009

In brighter news, Zimbabwe celebrated their country’s 29^th independence day, the first under the newly formed unity government. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai marked the occasion together, suggesting tensions between the Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change is easing. This is a great change for the country because in previous years Mugabe has used this anniversary to criticize the MDC and Tsvangirai. Mugabe addressed a crowd of 40,000 at a stadium in Harare, calling for national healing. “As Zimbabweans, we need to create an environment of tolerance, and treat one another with dignity and decency, irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation,” said Mugabe.

May 1, 2009

Zimbabwe is broke. Zimbabwe’s Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has been making demands for higher wages but the unity government says it is doing the best with what it has. Annual salaries for government workers have fallen to $100, even for high-ranking officials such as President Robert Mugabe. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai explained the core of the problem saying, “No-one is paying tax at the moment. If the government is not getting taxes, where will the government get the money to pay salaries?” The ZCTU has been making demands for a minimum wage of $454 and Lovemore Matombo, the President of the ZCTU, has told workers if their demands are not met workers must take to the street.

The unity government insists it is working overtime to improve the lives of Zimbabweans. They assure the public they will pay more as soon as possible. Zimbabwe has appealed to the international community for monetary support but Western nations are hesitant to invest until they see signs the unity government can work together. Humanitarians have also appealed for greater human rights before their countries send any support. Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe’s finance minister, has said the country is getting about $400 million in credit from African states. It is not as much as Zimbabwe is asking for but it’s a start.

Zimbabwe's unity government is in a lot of trouble but it seems like the nation is starting to take steps in the right direction. The only question I have is if they are acting different in response to external pressure from the international community or if they really are trying to reinstate law and order for the advancement of the country. I hope it's the latter. The farm seizure business is being addressed by a government commission and hopefully that means former farmers will have their land returned to them. This is essential because production of food is at an all time low and as a result the population is starving. The IMF and other foreign investors are right to not invest in the failing country but this could cause the internal conflict to spill over into the political arena putting added pressure on an already less than stable coalition government. It is a slippery slope because everyone wants Zimbabwe to restore law and order and protect human rights but if the government loses anymore control of the reason there could be a civil war, which would not be good for either side. Hopefully the coalition government will hold the country together long enough to establish a solid human rights record and prove to the international community that they are worth the money they ask for. If they can do this the economic support they will get from the rest of the world should help to restore a once strong economy.

Model UN Crisis Simulation

Model UN Crisis Simulation

By the end of it all, I found the Model United Nations Crisis Simulation quite entertaining and thought provoking. However, my first impression was quite different. Initially I expected us to break off into our countries and work in small groups to resolve problems as they were presented to us. I did not know that there would be communication between countries or that our actions would affect the countries around us. I assumed it would be more isolated and each group would work to a desired resolution and then the problem would be forgotten. I have to say I do not think I would have enjoyed the simulation nearly as much as I did if it had been isolated.

When I first got to Koury Business Center on Sunday afternoon I was directed into the LaRose Theater with the rest of the Model UN participants. The Vice President of the Model United Nations club greeted us and he explained we would be sent to different classrooms dependent on our country. The Vice President then introduced the rest of the staff and greeted the group from Eastern Carolina University and we were dismissed to break up into our groups. The Iran group was assigned Room 353 for all sessions.

During the three-story climb I wondered how this was going to work and was nervous that I was not fully prepared. Once we got into our room all my anxieties were relieved. Our excitable Grand Ayatollah, Andrew Black, and our studious President, Amanda Kuss, directed us to sit down and first asked us how we had prepared for this simulation. They were happily surprised to hear we had written two papers and composed fact sheets about Iran. Andrew then asked us what sort of international issues faced Iran and we made a list of things we needed to fix in the country and things to worry about during the simulation. After we made our list the simulation began.

Within minutes the crisis staff brought us intelligence about our current under production of our largest export, petroleum. This was awful news for our economy so of course it became our immediate concern. While we were brainstorming resolutions to the problem the Chinese group contacted us to arrange a meeting in the next 5 minutes. We had to give up on our domestic concern and take care of the more pressing international matter with China first, if for no other reason than it had a 5-minute time limit on it. We found out they were interested in building an intelligence base in our country and decided we would allow it under certain circumstances, one of them being they resolved our oil problem by paying us for the barrels of oil we failed to produced every day (over 300,00) barrels, a total of $5.5 billion per year, just for their location. Thanks to some salesmanship the Chinese agreed.

This was an awesome move for us. Not only did we now have a powerful ally with a booming economy in China but we also had full access to the intelligence facilities. We were in great shape and it felt for a minute like it was real. You could feel the excitement after solving our first problem and it just grew throughout the night. The scenarios were realistic and the crisis staff made us work to resolve them in a realistic fashion making the experience extremely educational and leaving me personally satisfied after each session.

For the rest of the first session we just got used to the format and sent in a couple action orders and press releases that were botched by the under staffed news crew and over worked crisis staff. The mistakes proved costly because they strained our relations with China and because of a miscommunication the crisis staff sent our national guard into Iraq instead the special operations group we put in our action order. We got caught trying to frame different countries using Iranian spies posing as foreign militants but both attempts failed.

After dinner we returned with a greater focus on nuclear technology and immediately got to work trying to contact North Korea or sneak into Pakistan. The crisis staff blocked both actions and no matter what we tried they prevented us from getting nuclear technology until the next day. While nuclear advancement was unsuccessful we did start to strengthen ties with Syria, Hezbollah, and Palestine, sending money and weapons to the latter two. Hezbollah gained extra political power behind our funding but that ultimately turned them away from our cause. They now had to worry about losing political legitimacy. Meanwhile, the weapons we sent to Palestine took forever to get there. The second session was far less successful then the first.

During the third and final session our group was finally comfortable with the action orders and we really shined as international minds. We established an attack contingency plan based on the Millennium Project to protect Iran by suicide bombing American and Iraqi air force bases. We gained nuclear weapon technology and equipped some of those planes with dirty bombs. We got Hezbollah a mythological nuclear bomb from the movie, Sum of All Fears, which they planned to set off in Tel Aviv, Israel. We convinced Palestine to attack the new Israeli Desalinization plants, and after much convincing got Syria to agree to attack towns in the Sheeba Farm region of Israel. Then we waited for the first sign of the imminent Iraqi attack.

Finally, with about 15 minutes left, American boats entered our water and it was on. What happened next no one really knows. The simulation basically ended but we found out later that the United States declared victory over Iran, so I guess we got blasted.

I really enjoyed how busy we were and how hard we had to work when planning our attacks and forming our alliances. It was realistic for the most part and really showed me what it might be like to be a member of the cabinet or Joints Chief of Staff. It was exciting and we faced a lot of diverse problems, which really helped to educate me not only about the region but also about realism, and why country leaders must act the way they do. I didn’t like the fact that a lot of our private orders and news got printed. I understand the staff was over worked and under employed, but it really hurt us on a couple of occasions. Our group worked efficiently and effectively and really took Middle Eastern politics into account. We considered every angle before we acted and I think that really added to the experience. Overall it was a great experience and I would definitely do it again.

Zimbabwe's Economic Troubles.

March 18, 2009

Zimbabwe’s new Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, says the government has survived on taxes and duties paid imports such as alcohol and cigarettes. According to Biti, 88% of Zimbabwe’s revenue is based on these taxes. Biti is a newly appointed official in the new unity government and is a member of the MDC. Biti suspects the annual revenue for 2009 will come in at about $1 billion, $700 million less than initial projections made by the former Finance Minister, a member of the Zanu-PF party. Biti also projects spending for the year will be $1.9 billion, generating practically $1 billion in deficit just this year. Economists blame the 29-year reign of President Robert Mugabe for the economic collapse citing his skewed government policies, violent reallocation of land, and corruption in his cabinet as the main causes. To compact the problem there has been overspending by the government due to continued printing of the Zimbabwe dollar, which has now been replaced by the American dollar. Zimbabwe’s only hope is to ask the international community to help out, relying on the creation of the coalition government to provide legitimacy to the country’s economy.

March 19, 2009

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe asked the international community for financial support to help restore the country’s ailing economy. The new unity government introduced the Short Term Emergency Recovery Pan (STERP) that is supposed to increase factory utilization to levels above 60%. During the past year most industries scaled down production or closed, dropping capacity utilization to about 4%. Mugabe also focused on getting sanctions that targeted him and his associates lifted by the United States and European Union. He blamed the sanctions, but his critics blame him for the faltering economy. Meanwhile, Ulla Tornanes, the Danish Minister of Cooperation Development visited Zimbabwe to talk about working together, but she insisted Zimbabwe must first restore law and order to the country and stop the crime wave of farm invasion. Zimbabwe officials promised to look at farms protected under bilateral agreements and compensate people for the invaded land. They also promised to resolve outstanding political issues such as continued detention of political activists.

March 25, 2009

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) refuses to provide financial assistance to Zimbabwe until they establish a track record of sound policy implementation, donor support, and resolve all overdue debts to official creditors, including the IMF. However, the IMF did say they would assist Zimbabwe through policy advice. Zimbabwe hoped a good report from IMF would establish trust in the country and encourage support from international donors. Just last month Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the country needs about $5 billion dollars to restart the economy, of which $2 billion is needed immediately. President Mugabe continued to ask for the removal of sanctions set up by the US and European Union. The sanctions were established because of Mugabe’s reallocation of farm lands from white commercial owners. Critics blame this policy for food shortages and economic collapse because it gives inexperienced farmers land just for supporting the Zanu-PF. Zimbabwe has the highest inflation rate in the world although it has leveled off since the termination of the Zimbabwe dollar. Zimbabwe also faces a 94% unemployment rate and more than half the population faces starvation.

If Zimbabwe does not establish some sort of financial reform soon the citizens of this once great country may face a starvation epidemic similar to the 1985 Ethiopian epidemic. The internal infrastructure the country is falling apart and social programs have been hit the hardest. The unity government must start to listen to the international community and I believe they must follow any rules set out by them, particularly when it comes to farm reallocation, in order to get their support. Now is not the time to try to save face and stand by policies that have destroyed the country. Zimbabwe must change with the times and in accordance to the IMF, US, and European Union. The people of the country have to be saved, but in order for that to happen the leaders, particularly President Mugabe, must listen to international advice.

Iran-Health Care

With a population of 65.9 million people Iran is the most populated country in the Middle East and 16^th most populated in the world. Iran’s Human Development Index, which is based on life expectancy, knowledge and education, and quality of life, was ranked 94^th in 2008. As Iran further develops it faces many challenges known to other semi-industrialized countries including high unemployment (12.5% in 2008), inflation (26%), and a growing economic gap between the wealthy and poor.

Over the past 20 years the status of health care in Iran has improved greatly. By establishing a Primary Health Care network Iran has been able to extend preventive public health programs to most citizens. 73% of Iranians have official health care coverage, but the constitution promises all citizens health care so most people get subsidized prescription drugs and vaccination programs. Clinics offer medical attention and medication for low prices. The Ministry of Health operates 488 general and specialty hospitals to provide higher care. Over 85% of population has access to health services and health personnel assist 90% of births. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has improved from 122 per 1,000 in 1970 to 28.6 per 1,000 in 2000. Maternal Mortality rate is 37 per 100,000 births. 90% of the population is immunized and Polio is almost completely eliminated. Under 5 Mortality (U5MR) also improved to 35.6 per 1,000 from 191 per 1,000 in 1970. The life expectancy for average citizens is now 71 years.

Iran has 730 medical establishments throughout the country. The Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) is in charge of 488 of those establishments. MOHME is in charge of medical insurance, medical education, policymaking, production and distribution of pharmaceuticals, and research and development. MOHME produces generic-based drugs inside of the country to keep the prices low and make most drugs easily accessible. 55 Iranian pharmaceutical companies produce 96% of pharmaceuticals on the market.

A major health concern in the Middle East and particularly in Iran is the growing drug problem. Drug use has become the leading cause of HIV infection and AIDS. The Ministry of Health has estimated 66,000 people are currently living with HIV infection. Intravenous drug use is the cause of 64.5% of HIV infections, while 8.9% is from sexual transmission, and 5.1% from blood and blood product transfusion. Iran has reached out to neighboring countries in an attempt to counter-drug trafficking by sharing intelligence and increasing border control along Afghanistan, the main source of opiates for the country.

The economic gap amongst households has triggered a trend of malnutrition in the poorer citizens. Moderate to severe underweight effects 11% of the population, and 15% have stunted growth. To make matters worse 7% of households have no safe drinking water and 27% have no sanitary toilet. There is an intermediate degree of risk associated with waterborne diseases such as bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A. Cholera has also caused a minor epidemic in Iran. In 2005, salads were banned from restaurants and television broadcasts told citizens not to eat vegetables or buy ice off the street after there was a spike in cholera related deaths. These problems are particularly apparent in rural areas in the Iranian countryside.

Health care will continue to be a growing concern in Iran. The country’s population is still young and as they age and begin to start families the population rate will grow. With more people generally comes more sickness and it will put extra strain on the health care network. Iran will need to continue to produce low cost pharmaceuticals and vaccines and should begin to focus on research and development for the future.

Tsvangirai Car Crash and Bennett's Release

Friday March 6, 2009

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was in a car accident on a two-lane highway between his home in Buhera and the capital city Harare. The car accident killed his wife, Susan, and left Tsvangirai with head injuries. Suspicions were raised about the nature of the accident and some are suggesting Mugabe might be connected. Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change told reporters it was too early to call this more than an accident. But Tom McDonald, US ambassador to Zimbabwe from 1997-2001 thinks otherwise. McDonald told CNN, "I'm skeptical about any motor vehicle accident in Zimbabwe involving an opposition figure. President Mugabe has a history of strange car accidents when someone lo and behold dies -- it's sort of his M.O. of how they get rid of people they don't like." McDonald spoke directly to three deaths, Defense Minister Moven Mahachi, Employment Minister Border Gezi's, and Elliot Manyika, a government minister and former regional governor, all of which were car crashes. McDonald has urged for a full investigation by a third party. The fragile, newly formed coalition government has been under a lot of heat recently and analysts fear this accident could be the breaking point, particularly if it is linked back to Mugabe.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, said Monday he believes the car accident he was involved in on Friday was a complete accident. This just days after his political party, Movement for Democratic Change, declared the accident to be an assassination attempt on Tsvangirai’s life. On Monday, Tsvangirai returned home from Botswana where he was being treated for head injuries sustained during the crash and told reporters, “If it was foul play, it was one in a thousand.” However, sources in Tsvangirai’s political movement told CNN on Saturday that Tsvangirai thought the driver deliberately crashed into him. Members of the MDC are asking for a third party investigation into the events of the accident. Traffic accidents are common in Zimbabwe and many of the cars from the country are in bad shape with inexperienced drivers.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Finally, Roy Bennett has been released from prison in Mutare. The Zimbabwean Supreme Court ordered he be released on bail Wednesday. Bennett spent nearly one month in jail on charges he called, “an absolute fabrication,” reports Al Jazeera. Bennett told reporters he planned to travel to Harare later Thursday to be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister, in the new unity government. Bennett was nominated by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and would have been sworn in weeks ago had he not been arrested. The timing of the arrest, and the fact that the initial charge of treason was immediately changed to weapons charges upon arrest raises concerns about the legitimacy of this new coalition government. As conditions of his bail Bennett turned over his passport and $5,000 as a deposit. Bennett also must visit a police station three times a week.

My biggest concern for this young government is how the next few weeks will go. Will there be an investigation into the causes of the accident? I hope so, but for the sake of the country that might not be the best thing right now. At a time when the two government factions should be working together to restore their country for the good of the people there are rumors of potential assassination attempts amongst high ranking officials. Meanwhile, Roy Bennett has an upcoming trial to prepare for. It seems like the release of Bennett immediately after this accident, is only to calm the critics of the coalition government. He has been charged with terrorist activities and plotting against the state, but while he's not in jail he is in charge of agriculture. Does that seem backwards to anyone else? The MDC should cut ties with Bennett and the Zanu-PF should get rid of Mugabe. All they bring to the table is controversy and that is the last thing Zimbabwe needs. If these people in charge really care about their fellow countrymen they would start working on the Cholera epidemic or dilapidated hospitals and schools instead of fighting amongst themselves all the time.

Iran - Background

Iran is a country in the Middle East located between Iraq and Pakistan. The capital is Tehran. Iran is slightly larger than Alaska with a total area of 1.648 million square kilometers. The natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, and sulfur. Iran also has an important location along the maritime pathways for oil transport. The region is subject to droughts, floods, dust storms, sandstorms, and earth quakes.

Iran was formerly known as Persia until 1935 and became an Islamic republic in 1979 after Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was exiled and the monarchy was overthrown. US Iranian relations have been rough since Iranian students took over the US embassy and held hostages in a standoff lasting 1 year and 3 months (November 4, 1979 until January 20, 1981). Iran faces economic sanctions and export controls from the United States, United Nations, and European Union for being a state sponsor of terrorism and continuing with research into nuclear weapons. The United Nations Security Council has passed many resolutions asking Iran to stop its uranium enrichment and reprocessing work. Iran is also under United States Executive Orders 13382 and 13224 for designations for proliferation activities and designations for support of terrorism, respectively.

Iran is a theocratic republic and is divided into 30 provinces. The constitution was written on December 2-3, 1979 and revised in 1989 to give more power to the president. The legal system is based on Sharia law and there is universal suffrage for everyone over 18 years old. There are three branches of government. The Executive branch incorporates the Supreme Leader, Ali Hoseini-Khamenei, who is the chief of state and is appointed, for life, by the Assembly of Experts. The branch also includes head of the government, President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad, who was democratically elected on June 17, 2005 for a four-year term; Pariz Davudi is his Vice President. The Legislative Branch consists of a unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly with 290 seats. Members are elected for four-year terms by a popular vote. The Judicial Branch has a Supreme Court and a four-member High Council of the Judiciary. The branch’s job is to supervise enforcement of the laws and establish legal policy.

The Iranian economy is weak. It has an inefficient state sector and is reliant on the oil sector. The state sector is weak because the economy is weighed down by price controls and subsidies. This undermines potential for private sector-led growth. Informal market activity flourishes, resulting in widespread corruption and shortages of goods. President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad has tried to propose reforms such as fuel rationing (June 2007) and the imposition of the Value-Added Tax (October 2008) but both reforms caused violent protests. High oil prices in recent years allowed the oil market to flourish, but with oil prices falling off the Iranian government is facing some problems. Double digit unemployment (at 12.5%, according to the Iranian government, in 2008) and inflation (at 28% as of 2008) has caused the educated youth to consider moving out of the country for better economic opportunity. The major industries are petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and production of vegetable oil), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, and armaments.

All Iranian men must serve at least 18 months in the military. At age 15 men can serve in the Basij Forces and at 17 the can work in Law Enforcement. At 16 years of age a man can volunteer for the army. If by 19 you haven’t started your obligatory service you will be called for compulsory military service.

Internationally, Iran faces problems with human and illicit drug trafficking. Iran serves as a source, transit and destination for such atrocities. Women are sold for sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude while children are sold into marriage or slavery. Iran has yet to ratify the 2000 UN TIP Protocol to prevent human trafficking. Meanwhile, Iran remains one of the primary shipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe despite efforts to share counter-drug intelligence with neighboring countries. The area has one of the highest opiate addiction rates and an increasing problem with synthetic drugs.

Iran’s international disputes often involve water boundaries and the sharing of resources. Iran wants Afghanistan to share the water from the dammed tributaries to the Helmand River in periods of drought. Iraq’s lack of maritime boundary with Iran starts arguments over jurisdiction beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf. Iran also insists upon a division of the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors.

Roy Bennett Follow-up and the Deteriorating Economy of Zimbabwe

Roy Bennett, a newly appointed official in the Zimbabwean unified government, remains in police custody and will remain in custody until Thursday, February 19, after prosecuting attorneys failed to show up at his court hearing. . Trust Maanda, Bennett’s lawyer, is filing an appeal for his release claiming his imprisonment is unlawful and politically motivated according to Al-Jazeera.

The charges stem from a cache of weapons found in the possession of Peter Hitchman in 2006. Hitchman claimed the weapons were to be used to destabilize the country, implicating Roy Bennett during his confession. Hitchman was acquitted of his most serious charges and is scheduled to be released from jail this July. Bennett fled to South Africa and had lived there for the past two years to avoid prosecution.

Bennett was initially charged with Treason on Friday, February 13, but since then the allegations have changed to possessing weapons for sabotage, banditry, and terrorism. He was planning to be the Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the new unity government but was arrested before any of the cabinet members could be sworn in.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has expressed its outrage over the arrest claiming it to be politically motivated, yet they have taken no action to free Bennett. Prime Minister and leader of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, has apparently been talking with President Mugabe, leader of the opposition party known as Zanu-PF, but reports indicate no tangible progress being made. With no tangible progress, Tsvangirai’s power in the unity government has been called into question.

Finally on Tuesday, February 24, High Court Judge Tedious Karwi ordered Bennett be released on bail of $2,000. Karwi says his decision was made in the interest of preserving justice. He also cited the fact that the investigation is over and key witnesses are in police custody so Bennett could not interfere with the prosecution.

However, the prosecution has asked for one week to determine if they will appeal Karwi’s decision and CNN.com reports Bennett will be incarcerated until there is a decision.

Bennett’s arrest puts the new unity government on shaky ground because of his outspoken opposition to President Mugabe. Besides Bennett, 30 MDC supporters have been arrested and are being detained for plotting to overthrow Mugabe. The MDC has accused Zanu-PF of trying to extort power in the new unity government and using Bennett as a pawn to get army generals immunity for past atrocities.

The divisions between the Zanu-PF and MDC have only exacerbated existing economic and humanitarian problems in Zimbabwe. CNN.com reports Tsvangirai has called the economic situation “dire and serious.” Tsvangirai is asking for support from the international community to help rebuild the economy. Originally he projected a $5 billion cost to rebuild the countries infrastructure.

Years of poor agricultural production, widespread corruption and failed government policies have damaged the nation, which has one of the world's highest inflation rates. Many civil servants -- including teachers, doctors and nurses -- have been on strike since September, demanding higher pay. That has caused many schools to close.

The International community will probably not help Zimbabwe because it has no potential benefit for them. Idealists would say that we must step in and help the country establish a democracy and rebuild it's infrastructure for the good of the people. But realists would feel no obligation because Zimbabwe has no major exports or geostrategic positioning.

The conflict between Zanu-PF and MDC must be resolved and they have to fix their countries problems. There is something fishy about both sides, either Zanu-PF is illegally locking people up and falsifying statements or the MDC has potential terrorists or "freedom fighters" in their organization. Both sides must be more straightforward with each other to make any progress and they should not be bartering for power with people's lives.

Zimbabwe's Politics/Health/Economy

In Zimbabwe, a deal was brokered last week to share the country’s power between the two largest political factions, the Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change. The leading faction, Zanu-PF, only agreed to the deal because of the much-disputed election results from this summer. But the two sides refuse to play nice.

Roy Bennett, a leading member of the DMC, was arrested Friday and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and other terrorist acts. He was set to take a position in the unity cabinet before he was arrested, and many people claim his arrest was politically based. He has been an opponent to Mugabe (Zanu-PF President) for many years and people believe Mugabe had him arrested to prevent him from being a part of the cabinet.

To further exacerbate the problem rumors now say the Zanu-PF are trying to set up a deal to release Bennett if the party is provided amnesty for their actions since Zimbabwe got it’s independence in 1980. Top ranking officials in the cabinet have disputed the legitimacy of these rumors, while others refuse to comment.  Reportedly, Bennett has already refused such a deal.

Zimbabwe also faces a cholera epidemic that is getting worse every day. Cholera is a water-based bacterium that causes diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration, sometimes resulting in death. In the month of February new cases of cholera were being reported at a rate of one new infection every minute. The World Health Organization says cholera may only be in the beginning, fearing that the epidemic and its resultant malnutrition could lead to another infectious disease outbreak in the region.

Complicating the problem even more is the rainy season, which started in November. The flooding in the region has helped to spread the disease at a much higher rate and has helped cholera get to every region of Zimbabwe. Overpopulation and a failing sewage and waste system has left conditions unsanitary and has helped spread the disease as well.

Doctors Without Borders has gotten involved in treating the epidemic but they fear the exposure rate is too high and their response time is too slow. Visas are hard to come by and medical supplies are slow to reach the region because of the newly created political system and somehow this outbreak is being ignored. Hospitals in the region are few and far between as many physicians refuse to go to work because of overcrowding and low pay. Also, medical fees are enormous in the region and many people stay away from the hospitals for that reason. The organization is asking that all countries ignore their politics for a minute and help Zimbabwe recover from this epidemic.

Zimbabwe’s ailing economy may be the cause of this outbreak. On Friday, the UN said more than 80,000 people had been infected by cholera in the region. To solve the economic crisis Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met with South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to discuss a recovery plan. No plan had been conceived by Friday, but Tsvangirai was quoted saying the recovery could cost as much as $5 billion.

Zimbabwe's new leaders are grappling with a massive humanitarian and economic crisis. Many civil servants -- including teachers, doctors and nurses -- have been on strike since September, demanding higher pay as Zimbabwe's currency has plummeted in value. That has caused many schools to close and exacerbated a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 4,000 people and infected about 65,000 people since August.

I think the world needs to take notice of all the problems in Zimbabwe and the international community must come together to help those less fortunate... especially when it comes to disease. Cholera is an easily treatable disease and Zimbabwe is facing an epidemic. The country's leaders cannot help the people right now because of their own internal struggle, so it is up to the rest of the world to help out. The UN recognizes the problem such a disease presents and should collectively take action to provide medical supplies as well as emergency technicians to try to control the outbreak. Meanwhile, the unified government has to start working together or the country will fall apart. They have different ideas about what to do and how to do it, but if they cannot compromise nothing will ever get done and the country they work for will fail to exist in the future.

Economic Stimulus Plan

According to CNN, negotiators have lowered the proposed American stimulus bill to $789 billion. The bill is still being debated in congress as the House proposes an $819 billion stimulus and the Senate offers an $838 billion plan. Both the House and the Senate must come to a compromise in a joint House-Senate committee hearing before it can be voted into law. Republican senator Susan Collins told reporters they are getting closer to a compromise every day.

Originally the Senate cut $20 billion for the construction of schools out of the plan in order to get the Republican vote. However, the democrats in the house refused to cut the spending on schools so they refused to pass the bill. As a result, negotiators have restored some of the funding for schools but will use it to modernize facilities rather than construct new ones.

More differences that need to be reconciled:

· The Senate version of the bill makes changes to the president's signature middle-class tax cuts. Obama campaigned on tax breaks for those making $75,000 or less. The Senate version provides tax breaks for individuals making $70,000 or less, or for couples making $140,000 a year or less. That's different from the $150,000 in the House bill.

· The Senate bill, unlike the House version, would make the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits tax-free. Both the Senate and House bills extend the time that jobless workers can collect benefits.

Ultimately the Senate Democrats need two Republican votes to pass the bill, while the House has a large enough majority that they passed the bill without any need for Republican help. BBC reports that the bill will be passed in the House on Thursday and the Senate on Friday, just ahead of President Obama’s Monday deadline.

In other bailout news, eight national bank heads are under fire for questionable lending practices with regard to the $125 billion the government used to bail them out last October. According to The New York Times, Congress is looking into where the money is being spent and if it is being loaned to other businesses like it was supposed to be. Congress fears that the banks misused funds to provide bonuses for their employees.

Each of the bankers outlined the ways in which they had used the government capital. Goldman, for instance, increased its financing to lend to clients like Sallie Mae and Verizon Wireless. Morgan Stanley said it had made $10.6 billion in new commercial loans and $650 million in loan commitments to consumers.

The fall in lending trends is attributed to a retreat in lenders like money market and hedge funds.

As an American citizen I think it is important to be paying attention to our economic situation and our government's attempt at a bailout. I don't have a great personal knowledge on the workings of the economy but I do know that weak banks leads to a weak currency and a weak currency leads to a lose of power. I also now know that changes in power can lead to war for that power. So does that mean the War in Iraq is not the only one we'll have to fight? Historically war has helped restore our economy, but this time it seems it has ruined our economy. Has the United States finally stretched itself too thin? Have we concerned ourselves with everyone else's business to a point that we don't even bother to fix our domestic issues? I don't know, only time will tell, but perhaps it's time that we focus on us... before it's too late.