Posted on 07/03/2008 11:57:13 AM PDT by vikingd00d
A newly emboldened Robert Mugabe plans to drum up false charges of rape and robbery against MPs opposed to his Zanu (PF) party, to enable him to regain control of the parliament. The president's party lost its majority for the first time since independence in March, when the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won most seats in the lower house and drew level with Zanu (PF) in the senate. Now, after employing a terrifying campaign of violence to hold on to his presidential power, Mugabe believes he can overturn the MDC majority with underhand methods including false imprisonment, kidnap and intimidation, designed to make them forfeit their seats. 'A number of MDC members of parliament will be trapped and charged with offences like rape or theft,' said a Zanu (PF) source. 'If they are convicted for six months they will be forced out of parliament and Mugabe will order more by-elections and again use terror to win them. 'Even after three months, many MDC legislators are expected to be out of parliament because they will either run away from threats of arrest or be convicted.' Under Zimbabwean law, MPs who do not attend parliament for 21 consecutive days must give up their seats. 'They are trying everything, including arresting and incarcerating MDC MPs so they go to prison for longer than they are allowed to be absent,' said Alec Muchadehama, a leading human rights lawyer. 'Most of the MDC MPs are actually in hiding. They say that if they come out into the open they are liable to be kidnapped and they will disappear so there has to be a by-election in their constituency.' So far, at least 10 newly elected opposition MPs have been arrested on spurious charges in what the Zanu (PF) source confirmed is a carefully worked out strategy. Mugabe has already lodged legal challenges to the results in 53 parliamentary seats, claiming implausibly that they were rigged by the opposition. However, the courts are likely to throw out those challenges on the grounds they were filed too late and in the wrong places - just as they did when the MDC attempted to force re-runs in some of the seats won by Zanu (PF). If any seats are recontested, Mugabe will employ the same brutal tactics used in the presidential election to ensure victory. 'We have been ordered to start work immediately after the court decisions to ensure election re-runs are conducted as soon as possible,' said a Zanu (PF) source, who added that the courts have been instructed to expedite the cases. He said the ruling party would regain control of the parliament within six months, even if it meant '2008 would be called the year of Zimbabwean elections'. Although Zanu PF and the MDC won equal numbers of seats in the upper house or senate, the president can appoint another 33 members, including provincial governors and tribal chiefs. According to the source, Mugabe will further consolidate the party's grip on power by creating the new position of prime minister, which will be given to Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, another loyalist now serving as defence minister. Only then, said the source, will he feel secure enough to retire in favour of a chosen heir.
Did Mugabe run on a platform of HOPE and CHANGE, too?
Sigh...Some people just don’t learn a darn thing from life. Unfortunately, too many of them become leaders.
Obama, Reid and Pelosi are taking notes while looking on admiringly.
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