- Dear Family and Friends,
-
- They say that there is no smoke without
fire and if that is true then there is a big bonfire burning somewhere
very close to home this week. It has been a very confusing few days in
Zimbabwe with a number of different media reports about diplomatic manoeuverings
that are going on to help us. First we heard that UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan was putting together a plan to rescue Zimbabwe from its political
and economic crisis. Then, insinuating that something was already well
underway by Kofi Annan, South African President Thabo Mbeki said "We
are all awaiting the outcome of his intervention"
-
- Then came reports on South African television
that Kofi Annan was going to visit Zimbabwe and that international aid
would be given in exchange for President Mugabe's retirement. Those reports
on SABC TV even went as far as to say that President Mugabe would be given
immunity from prosecution for human rights abuses. As the days passed
the reports seemed to become more speculative than factual and the atmosphere
got smokier. Things got confusing when Zimbabwe's state owned TV announced
that both Zanu PF and the MDC would accept Kofi Annan as a mediator. Whew,
I must have missed something, where did the question of mediation come
from all of a sudden? A few days later the mediation theme popped up again
but this time it wasn't Kofi Annan's name being fronted but that of former
Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa.
-
- Just as things had started getting interesting
someone must have poured a bucket of water on the fire. The smoke got thicker
than ever and from all sides came denials, back tracking and classic claims
of "I Am Not The One."
-
- Ibrahim Gambari, the UN under secretary-general
for political affairs said : "I think it is premature to talk about
any package, and certainly even more premature to talk about that package
including the possible departure of President Mugabe." Zimbabwe then
said that the invitation extended to Kofi Annan to visit the country was
no longer valid or applicable. Full stop. End of manoeuverings? Who knows,
as they say there's no smoke without fire.
-
- In the midst of a confusing week, and
to make everything seem even more delusional, there was another earthquake.
Most of us can't ever remember earthquakes in Zimbabwe or at least not
for the last thirty years but now all of a sudden we've had two series
of quakes and aftershocks in the past three months. At around midnight
on Sunday two earthquakes measuring 3.9 and 4.0 on the Richter scale shook
eastern parts of Zimbabwe. This time the epicentre of the quakes was much
closer to home and near the Nyamudzi River in Wedza. Some people are
saying that all these earthquakes are a sign that God is coming. Others
are saying that they are a sign from God.
-
- So from the country of smoke signals
and shaking beds and mysterious signs,
-
- until next week, love cathy
-
-
- Copyright cathy buckle 27 May 2006 http://africantears.netfirms.com
- My books "African Tears" and
"Beyond Tears" are available from:
- orders@africabookcentre.com
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