[Marxism] Zimbabwe - US confesses plot to topple President

[Lil Joe <joe_radical@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

US confesses plot to topple President

Sunday Mail Reporter

THE United States has for the first time openly admitted that it is 
funding and actively working with the opposition MDC and other civic groups in 
an attempt to topple President Mugabe.

In a report entitled: Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: US Record 
2006, released on Thursday, the US State Department gives details of at least 
eight planks it is using in its effort to effect regime change in 
Zimbabwe.

The recent political disturbances in Zimbabwe, which were thwarted, are 
understood to have been part of the US-sponsored machinations to 
illegally remove the Zimbabwe Government from power.

The US, however, denies that it is engaged in regime change efforts but 
instead claims it is promoting human rights and democracy.

But the report, which is prefaced by a quote from newspaper publisher 
Trevor Ncube, who owns the South African Mail & Guardian, Zimbabwe Independent
and Standard newspapers, reveals clearly how the US government is actively 
working to undermine the Zimbabwe Government.

The efforts are camouflaged as measures to foster "democracy and human 
rights". The US government says its approach is three-fold: "to 
maintain pressure on the Mugabe regime; to strengthen democratic forces; and to 
provide humanitarian aid for those left vulnerable by poor governance".

But, in fact, the campaign can be broken down into eight distinct 
planks as extensively stated in the report.

The first plank is the opposition, which is receiving diplomatic and 
financial support. "The US government utilised diplomatic efforts, 
public outreach, and technical and financial support to advance these goals,"
confesses the US government.

The second is support given to non-governmental organisations, which in 
reality are the faces of the MDC. The US government admits to funding 
NGOs involved in what it called democratic processes, human rights and peace 
building.

The US government has also been funding human rights lobby groups. 
Although not mentioned by name in the report, the so-called human rights lobby 
campaign in Zimbabwe has been spearheaded by such organisations as the 
Law Society of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and the Zimbabwe 
Doctors for Human Rights, which have openly confronted the Government.

Then there is support being given to forums designed to encourage 
debate meant to discredit the Government.

"To encourage greater public debate on restoring good governance in the 
country, the United States sponsored public events that presented 
economic and social analyses discrediting the GovernmentÂs excuses for its 
failed policies," the reports states.

Whilst it talks of failed policies of the Government, the report also 
admits that it is championing sanctions against Zimbabwe. "To maintain 
pressure on the regime, the United States emphasised international co-operation 
and 
co-ordination. US officials engaged multilaterally and bilaterally to 
expand international support of sanctions against the Government and ruling 
party officials for human rights," reads the report.

The fourth plank is the funding of families of opposition members for 
litigation and medical bills when they confront the Government as was 
the case a few weeks ago when violence was unleashed in residential areas 
such as Highfield, Glen View and Budiriro. One man was shot dead by the 
police whilst several opposition leaders were injured in skirmishes with the 
police.

The US report said it pays for the medical and legal bills of such 
activists.

The report also suggests that the US government has been funding certain 
parliamentary
portfolio committees hoping to use them to discredit the Government. It said a 
US-sponsored
programme to strengthen parliamentary committees resulted in increased 
debate in Parliament  both from opposition and "reform-minded" Zanu-PF
parliamentarians.

"Support for portfolio committees also served to provide greater checks 
on the executive branch, as ministers and other high- ranking officials 
were held more accountable for their policies through vigorous questioning 
by committee members," claimed the report.

Then there is support to the ZCTU and affiliated unions. The support is 
known to include funding for the recent two-day stayaway, which was an 
unmitigated flop.

Unions such as the teachers union now have offices in upmarket 
buildings like Eastgate where prime rentals are paid. Yet union affiliation fees
fall far short of such rentals.

The seventh plank is working under the rubric of freedom of religion. 
Activists in this plank like Archbishop Pius Ncube travel frequently 
out of the country outside the budget of the Catholic Church to demonise the 
Government.

The eighth plank confessed by the Americans is the media plank. They 
admit in the report that they are behind Studio 7. "The US government 
sponsored programmes and supported organisations that promoted the free flow of 
independent and objective information, including several township 
newspapers that disseminated reports and advised residents of their rights. 
Studio
7 radio station provided uncensored and balanced news to citizens 
throughout the country and worked to expand its listener base during the year."

The expansion of the listener base of Studio 7, a pirate radio station 
being beamed into Zimbabwe illegally is an indirect admission that the US 
distributed radios, such as those pounced on by the Government in Gokwe 
and other rural areas.

They also admit to sponsoring several township newspapers. This 
admission explains why there has been a proliferation of community newspapers, 
especially in the Midlands and in Bulawayo.

Information from the Media and Information Commission indicates that 
there have been some strange requests for licences to run community 
newspapers from people who clearly did not have the resources to run them, a 
sign
that they would rely on external funding.

In one case, a Bulawayo emergency taxi operator applied to the Media 
and Information Commission for a licence to publish a newspaper. In another 
case, a man applied for a licence on the strength of five head of 
cattle and six goats as his capital base.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists and Misa are suspected to be the 
conduits of funds to these community newspapers. The resources are known to come
through the Open Society in Southern Africa (OSISA), which is run by 
international financial tycoon George Soros.

Central to the media campaign is the plethora of anti-Zimbabwe 
websites, which have been at the forefront of demonising President Mugabe and 
his
Government.

The US report also listed its libraries in Zimbabwe among the 
destabilisation instruments. The report said Zimbabweans had access to 
independent information through what it termed the US-sponsored 
American Corners programme, which operated the libraries and published a 
newsletter.

Also critical in the media plank has been the role of private 
newspapers. Each time the US ambassador says something critical of the Zimbabwe 
Government it is highlighted.

"It is actually contrived. They are admitting for the first time that 
convoluted coverage of the American ambassador is part of the 
programme," said a Government source.

The US report admitted as much when it said: "Statements by US 
officials, including highly critical commentary on human rights abuses, 
corruption
and gross economic mismanagement, received prominent coverage in the local 
media; however, Government- controlled outlets often distorted the 
message."

The destabilisation programme is not restricted to Zimbabwe, as it is 
also known to include other countries like Zambia, Angola and Swaziland.

Recently the Southern African Develop-ment Community (Sadc) refused to 
bow to Western pressure to criticise Zimbabwe for alleged political 
intolerance. They interpreted the pressure as part of efforts to destabilise 
governments being run by liberation movements.

The admission by the Americans brings to the fore the continental and 
inter-continental attempt to effect regime change in Zimbabwe and 
selected Sadc countries.

The Westminster Foundation of Britain has actively been funding the MDC 
since its inception.

US Secretary for State Condoleezza Rice recently announced that an 
award has been introduced for a US embassy official who works to promote that 
countryÂs interests in human rights and democracy. "This is probably 
what Dell is working towards,"
said a Government source.

http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=1490&cat=12


Lil Joe


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