18 Feb 2007 – Highfields, Harare
The MDC (Tsvangirai group) obtained a High Court Order the previous day allowing them to go ahead with a planned rally at Zimbabwe Grounds. On the day of the rally (18 Feb) Zimbabwe Grounds was sealed off by riot police. They fired tear-gas at the 200 MDC members already inside preparing the venue.
Street fights and pitched battles then erupted. Tear-gas was fired at women and children leaving a church sparking fierce clashes. In retaliation a group of Highfield residents waited for police to move down Nyandoro Drive. They then stormed Machipisa Police Station and shut it down for a couple of hours.
17 Feb 2007 – Budiriro, Glen View and Glen Norah
Residents of the south-western townships march. Protesters carry placards reading “No To Extortionate Council Budget Charges”, “Why No ZESA” and “Your Term Is Up – You Have Stayed Too Long”. Riot Police responded with tear-gas. A police car is burned.
16 Feb 2007 – Epworth, Harare
A pick-up truck carrying 6 Harare Council police turned up at a shopping centre for the routine arrest of vendors. But this was no ordinary day. Within minutes the cops came under a barrage of missiles and stones. Kombi drivers parked their kombis around the cops truck and prevented it from leaving. The cops had to flee on foot to safety.
City-Centre, Harare
A demonstration of NCA and opposition members against the extension of the Presidents term in office was met by support unit riot police. This too was no ordinary day. The protesters baved tear-gas and police batons to charge at the police. Minutes later a police wooden post in the main shopping mall of First Street was lying in pieces. Four cops inside had to flee. One hospitalised.
13 Feb 2007 – City Centre, Harare AND city Centre, Bulawayo
The annual WOZA Valentine demonstration against bigotry and oppression takes place. 3,000 protesters in total take to the streets. 274 women and 20 babies are arrested in Bulawayo. In Harare, the police had grown weary of arrests and decided to use tear-gas. Thick clouds of smoke erupted and a handful were arrested.
* It is only by fighting that we can win. Following the launch of the TV Licence Fee campaign, the regime has had to respond by cancelling the increases. Now we must go further until final victory. Mugabe is not the only criminal in this country – all of his neighbours kuBorrowdale Brooke and so forth are the same class dzeMbavha neTsotsi.
SEND IN YOUR REPORTS FROM THE STREETS AND WORKPLACE. E-MAIL iso.zim@gmail.com or rosazulu@cooltoad.com or fax (04) 704209 JAMBANJA UNTIL FINAL VICTORY!! PASI NEMABOSS!! PASI NEMACHEF!!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
No To TV Licence Fee Hikes
SAY NO TO THE EXTORTIONATE TV/RADIO LICENCE FEES OF $ 150,000
SEND AN SMS TO MR LUWIZHI (Harare Licence Department) ON 011 873 254.
TELL THEM WE DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THEIR MERCEDES BENZ E250's, PAJEROS, DOUBLE CABS, DSTV, CURTAINS, FURNITURE AND STINKING ZANU-PF PROPAGANDA.
(Those over 65 do not need to pay as per Act 244 of 2003)
SEND AN SMS TO MR LUWIZHI (Harare Licence Department) ON 011 873 254.
TELL THEM WE DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THEIR MERCEDES BENZ E250's, PAJEROS, DOUBLE CABS, DSTV, CURTAINS, FURNITURE AND STINKING ZANU-PF PROPAGANDA.
(Those over 65 do not need to pay as per Act 244 of 2003)
59 killed by military in Guinea
At least 59 people have been killed by the military in Guinea since a general strike started on 10 Jan 2007.
Moktar Ba, a reporter for Radio France International in Conakry, the capital, says the real reason for the general strike is the people's growing poverty. Most people survive on less than $1 a day, whilst the implementation of neo-liberal policies has seen the total collapse of service delivery basics like health, water and electricity.
Guinea is the world's second biggest producer of bauxite, the source of aluminum. Aluminium is the major component of aircraft wings. Guinea possesses about one-third of the world's reserves of bauxite. It also is a major producer of gold.
The trade union movement called two successful general strikes last year.
17 people were killed on 22 January when soldiers opened fire on street protesters in Guinea in the deadliest day since the start of the mass uprising against the regime of West Africa's longest-serving president.
Trade unions and opposition parties are protesting against the autocratic 23-year rule of Lansana Conté.
"We have total support," Rabiatou Serah Diallo, the leader of the
National Confederation of Guinean Workers, said. "The resolve of the people is enormous. You can see that because they are prepared to continue turning up for peaceful marches despite the fact that the security forces now clearly have orders to open fire."
The trade unions called the strike after Conté last month ordered the release of two of his friends who had been jailed for corruption.
"That arrogant show of impunity was just too much for the people,"
Jean-Marie Doré, the leader of the opposition Union For The Progress of Guinea, said. "They are fed up with living in a country where nothing works even when there is not a general strike. People have nothing to lose."
Since it started on 10 January, the general strike has spread rapidly beyond the capital, Conakry, to the railways and its mining industry.
The similarity between Guinea and Zimbabwe means we must watch events there to learn lessons in our own struggle to get rid of the Mugabe regime and neo-liberalism.
Moktar Ba, a reporter for Radio France International in Conakry, the capital, says the real reason for the general strike is the people's growing poverty. Most people survive on less than $1 a day, whilst the implementation of neo-liberal policies has seen the total collapse of service delivery basics like health, water and electricity.
Guinea is the world's second biggest producer of bauxite, the source of aluminum. Aluminium is the major component of aircraft wings. Guinea possesses about one-third of the world's reserves of bauxite. It also is a major producer of gold.
The trade union movement called two successful general strikes last year.
17 people were killed on 22 January when soldiers opened fire on street protesters in Guinea in the deadliest day since the start of the mass uprising against the regime of West Africa's longest-serving president.
Trade unions and opposition parties are protesting against the autocratic 23-year rule of Lansana Conté.
"We have total support," Rabiatou Serah Diallo, the leader of the
National Confederation of Guinean Workers, said. "The resolve of the people is enormous. You can see that because they are prepared to continue turning up for peaceful marches despite the fact that the security forces now clearly have orders to open fire."
The trade unions called the strike after Conté last month ordered the release of two of his friends who had been jailed for corruption.
"That arrogant show of impunity was just too much for the people,"
Jean-Marie Doré, the leader of the opposition Union For The Progress of Guinea, said. "They are fed up with living in a country where nothing works even when there is not a general strike. People have nothing to lose."
Since it started on 10 January, the general strike has spread rapidly beyond the capital, Conakry, to the railways and its mining industry.
The similarity between Guinea and Zimbabwe means we must watch events there to learn lessons in our own struggle to get rid of the Mugabe regime and neo-liberalism.
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