31 posts from 2008

General C. Chiwenga, CDF
Commander, Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF),
C/O The Defence Attaché
Lt. Col. George Chinoingira
Embassy of Zimbabwe 
1608 New Hampshire Ave
Washington DC 20009

10 July 2008 

chinoingira@zimbabwe-embassy.us

RE: Use of Agro Chemicals as Bio-Chemical Warfare Agents in Zimbabwe.

General Chiwenga,

Zimbabweans steadfastly demand that you order the cantonment of all ZDF personnel currently deployed in the rural and urban areas and an immediate cessation of all universally prohibited bio-chemical attacks on Zimbabwean citizens.  Furthermore, the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war by your military auxiliaries and militias on women political activists in your numerous re-education torture camps must end forthwith. This sadistic premeditated use of sexual violence against women and girls is inhuman and defies our strong African cultural values.

Unashamed partisan members of the ZDF under your direct command and control are engaged in illegal, horrific and repugnant acts of bio-terrorism against unarmed defenceless civilians in Zimbabwe. These unprovoked attacks carried out by your officers and men as part of a pre-planned opposition voter annihilation exercise, are prohibited under international law and lack human decency.

General Chiwenga your propensity for wicked acts of brutality is infamous. However, you have outdone yourself with this latest spate of despicable criminal acts of viciousness, which are not only cowardly but also repulsive and totally unforgivable.

Traumatised women, who are gang raped, children and the elderly subjected to torture and horrendous beatings, have their ghastly open wounds sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides. The Joint Operations Command (JOC) of which you chair supplies these agricultural chemicals, logistical support, the victims list and is responsible for drafting the operational plans in defence of a despotic junta.

Why on God’s earth do you do this?

Zimbabwe is a member of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and the Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare.

Article I, GENERAL OBLIGATIONS of the Convention: 1. Section (B) states that, each State Party to this Convention undertakes never under any circumstances: (b): To use chemical weapons.

The Convention thus reinforces a basic principle of law relating to the conduct of hostilities whereby the right of the parties to an armed conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not unlimited. Punishment of the crime of developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, retaining, transferring or using biological or chemical weapons is based upon the precedents set by other international treaties on crimes such as torture, piracy, slavery and hijacking. The 1925 Geneva Protocol forbids the use of chemical and bacteriological agents in war.

General Chiwenga, you are in gross violation of all known rules of war and the laws of armed conflict. You flagrantly employ brutal military tactics against unarmed peaceful civilians, which are prehistoric, barbaric, banned by universal law and have no place in modern civilised society.

You and your subordinates are now wanted war criminals to be punished for crimes of war under the International Criminal Court and other international statutes that cover the use of poison weapons, crimes of war and crimes against humanity. Under Zimbabwean law, you are subject to a military court marshal for these and other acts of blatant cruelty for which the penalty under the Defence Act is death by firing squad.

The ZDF and ZANU(PF) youth militia under your unlawful military command is using Paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium), trade name Gramoxone, a lethal herbicide and Dimethoate (Dimethoxyphosphinothioylthio–N-methylacetamide) trade name Rogor, a noxious pesticide, in its low intensity conflict against the innocent rural citizens of Zimbabwe who voted against Robert Mugabe.

The long-term effects on the victims of your chemical warfare include respiratory ailments, liver malfunction, involuntary defecation, psychosis, rapid heart rate, kidney failure, lung sores, and liver injury, coma and cardiac arrest.

International arrest warrants will soon be issued. Prepare to answer for your scorched earth policies and heinous acts alone in a court of law.

Phil Matibe

Anti-Tyranny Taskforce Commander

Of the numerous military intervention strategies that exist for the ethical and morally justifiable removal of the junta in Zimbabwe, only two options are tactically feasible, politically correct and need no further public  interrogation.

The first option would involve the use of a private army. It offers plausible deniability to any supportive government in the event of collateral damage and civilians casualties. This option also allows for countries with post-colonial guilt to render indirect lethal and non-lethal assistance from a distance.

This urgent intervention is a moral imperative and will confound all cynics who subscribe to the notion that Western countries only intervene when their economic interests are threatened.

The second option is a direct military intervention in Zimbabwe to restore democracy and save innocent lives under the auspices of the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth.

Operation Restore Democracy should be broken into four critical phases: planning and posturing, attack, mission completion and post-hostilities.

The period from the first phase to the final phase for both options is sixty days.

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) adopted the Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government through the 36th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, held in Lomé, from 10 to 12 July 2000. This in tandem with the relevant principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union legally compels the AU to intervene militarily in Zimbabwe. The mandate is to remove an unlawful, criminal junta that overthrew an elected president on March 29, 2008 through a brutal low intensity conflict and an unconstitutional coup de tat.

Only African Union member states whose leaders and governments are themselves in elected office should participate in this operation, "the coalition of the willing and able."

Zimbabwe, by its very geography presents a challenge for any military strategist. It is landlocked and surrounded by some neighbouring sovereign states that are sympathetic to the despotic ruler in Zimbabwe. The ability of the intervention force to over fly these territories in support of the ground troops requires diplomacy, secrecy and African unity. Diplomatic clearances, international support and intelligence capabilities are essential for the success of the mission at hand.

Without divulging intimate details of this robust intervention strategy, current war gaming reveals that the main invasion force, the foot soldiers, should be  made up of infantry battalions from Africa in order to mitigate local animosity. With Zimbabwe broken up into five theaters of operations, each African contingent will be responsible for the command and control of its troops. A coalition headquarters manned by officers from participating countries coordinates operations under a central command, thus avoiding friendly fire and other combat communication mishaps during the fog of war.

Establishing a no-fly zone that covers Zimbabwean airspace is the first action to be undertaken before the posturing of the intervention force thus establishing air superiority.

Protection of national assets such as power stations, dams, etc., against destruction from the regime militia's scorched policy, should be prioritised .

On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are well trained and battle hardened in comparison to some of their African counterparts.  However, their equipment is functionally obsolete and if their last battles in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (OSLEG) are anything to go by, only the Special Forces units i.e. Parachute Regiment, Commando Battalion, Special Air Service (SAS), could present meaningful resistance.

The threat to the civilian population and to the intervention force from the military elite, sycophantic rogue officers and men of the ZDF will have to be suppressed through psychological operations. Pre-emptive targeted bombings prior to the commencement of the main attack will effectively degrade the junta's fighting capabilities. The junta leadership should also be neutralised during this phase. The will of the professional Zimbabwean soldier to fight and certainly die in defence of a despotic tyrant is questionable.

Special Operation Forces (SOF) units shall be deployed for direct action missions for eliminating youth militia and auxiliaries who pose a grave threat to civilians. The coalition shall not use cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines or dumb bombs in Zimbabwe.

A robust post hostilities stabilization force under a comprehensive military operation other than war (MOOTW) plan, comprising of officers and men with peacekeeping experience and training, are deployed as soon as major combat is over. The United Nations then assumes sovereign authority during the transitional phase as elections are conducted.

Baboons can only count up to three.

Appointing unelected buffoons to a corrupt government embedded with bandits, embezzlers, political fossils, imbeciles, and geriatrics is a futile exercise that only buys time and delays the inevitable.

Mugabe apererwa neplan kunge tsoko yazvara matwins.  Monkeys and baboons only give birth to a single baby. The rare birth of twins causes such a commotion that the entire forest is disturbed for days,as the mother tries to figure out how to fend for two. Mugabe’s predicament is akin to that of a monkey with twins. He did not plan for defeat ,let alone a runoff election.

I vividly remember when I started farming two decades ago how the biggest threats to our maize crop were troops of baboons that wrecked havoc on the maturing maize cobs.  A good friend of mine from the National Parks advised me on how to eradicate the problem.

He told me that baboons can only count up to three.

He advised me to take ten men into the maize field and stay hidden in the field. After approximately ten minutes, three men walk out of the field back to the farm sheds in plain view of the baboons. At this point the sentry will give his fellow baboons an all clear. The troop of baboons, which is always alert and watching will count the three men and assume that everyone that went into the maize field has left. The remaining seven men can then wait in ambush and shoot the surprised baboons as they feast in the maize field.

The presidential election runoff is scheduled three months after the Mugabe lost the elections.

Three thugs Perence Shiri, Constantine Chiwenga and Augustine Chihuri head Mugabe’s inner criminal cabal – Joint Operations Command (JOC). 

Today my country is reeling from hyperinflation. The solution from the inept government and bungling central bank governor is the manipulation of our currency by removing three zeros, “gudonomics”.

And remember this is meant to be the Third Chimurenga?

I am truly convinced now that buffoons or did I mean baboons can only count up to three.

Mugabe's threat to fight against a constitutionally-elected government and president are treasonous.

"We shed a lot of blood for this country. We are not going to give up our country for a mere X on a ballot. How can a ball point pen fight with a gun?" ,Mugabe addressing a rally in Silobela on the 15th of June 2008.

Guns it is indeed!

Fall On Your Swords

The run off is a bridge too far, Robert Mugabe must accept defeat and exit gracefully. Its time for him to do what is right.

The noble act of falling on one’s sword can be best described as follows: “It's been some time since men routinely carried swords and the use of 'falling on one's sword' is now restricted to the figurative usage when someone takes personal responsibility for a group action.”

The time has come for all the saber rattling generals and for those ominously holding their sabers on the throats of democracy to fall on their swords.

“Siku yakufa nyani miti yote uteleza (Swahili Proverb) - the day the monkey is destined to die, all the trees in the forest become slippery".

Zvapera Robert- the end has come.

Unwritten Code – Amai havarohwi

Even Ian Smith observed this age-old African political code of conduct and fair play – Amai havarohwi.

Bona, Robert Mugabe’s 100 year old mother, lived peacefully in Zvimba throughout the war of liberation while her son Robert was leading and prosecuting a guerilla war against Rhodesia.  Not once did the Rhodesians as much as harm a single hair on her body.

Amai ndi Amai – even the notorious Selous Scouts and Special Branch knew that.

Enter our Freedom fighters, our liberators, our own brothers, they now rape, torture, and murder our mothers for merely expressing their wishes in a process which we all yearned for – one man one vote.

The very mothers who gave material, moral, and political support to the “freedom fighters,” are now regarded as the enemies of the liberators because they want change. Their crime is giving birth to enlightened children who have now grown into brave democrats.

Of Mugabe’s numerous crimes, this abhorrent act shall become his Achilles’ heel.

To sanction the vicious beating of the mother, grandmother, and brother of an honourable parliamentarian is “a bridge too far.”

I remember how as a young boy herding cows and goats, vicious fist fights would commence by merely kicking a mound of earth that depicted one’s mother’s bosom. There is a grown man out there today, with missing front teeth due to those boyhood challenges. Of all people Robert Mugabe, you should know this, for you spent all your childhood herding goats in the Zvimba veld. 

My promise to you, Robert Mugabe, is that we shall come after you and your accomplices. I swear that even the goats, chickens, and donkeys in your village shall pay for your sins.

“An injury to one is an injury to all.” Amai havarohwi

To: Lieutenant - General Philip Valerio Sibanda
Zimbabwe National Army, Army HQ
KG IV Barracks
Harare

1 June 2008

 

Subject: Stand Down – Order all offensive military operations against civilians to cease 

The recent reckless inflammatory statements by the Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff, Major General Chedondo refers.

I write formally requesting a lucid and unambiguous response from you as the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) force commander over these treasonous utterances. The disturbing, toxic, blatantly seditious threats and innuendos uttered by your Chief of Staff, Major General Chedondo, were delivered on your behalf in a manner that incites mutiny and insubordination within the military ranks.

It is an absolute imperative that you illuminate the relationship between the ZNA and ZANU (PF). If the ZNA has now transformed itself into a political party or if it is now part of the auxiliary militia force for ZANU (PF), we are now reluctantly preparing for war.

The ZNA Chief of Staff (General Staff), Major General Martin Chedondo called upon all ZNA members to vote for Robert Mugabe in a presidential runoff or quit the military. These offending and unprofessional comments were spoken at a ZNA target-shooting competition on your behalf on the 30 of May 2008.

According to the state-controlled Herald yesterday 31 May 2008, Major-General Martin Chedondo said that voting for Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), would be to "sell out to the imperialists."

"The constitution says the country should be protected by voting, and on June 27 in the presidential run-off, pitting president Mugabe against Morgan Tsvangirai, we shall therefore stand by our commander-in-chief (Mugabe's ceremonial position)," Chedondo said.  "Soldiers are not apolitical," he added. "Only mercenaries are apolitical. We have signed an agreement to protect the ruling party's principles of defending the revolution. If you have another thought, then you should remove your uniform."

Major General Chedondo further mumbled that soldiers were "faced with the choice to protect the country's revolution and heritage or sell out to the American and British imperialists by voting for Tsvangirai."

On May 21 2008, while addressing newly promoted senior ZNA officers Colonel Kufa and Colonel Chaminuka, Major General Chedondo said, "We expect you to understand the Government, the party and you also need to understand that the country is at a crossroads. We are under an onslaught of the Western countries, imperialists with the help of their puppets, the MDC," he said. He said the country's independence was brought about by Zanu-PF through the formation of Zanu and Zapu. Major General Chedondo said that legacy must be protected at all costs.

May I humbly remind General Sibanda of the provisions of the Constitution, the Defence Act that governs yours and all military officers’ conditions of service.  You swore to serve and protect the people of Zimbabwe and not protect a senile despot who no longer has the mandate to govern.  The current Commander-in-Chief, who is referred to by your Chief of Staff, lost an election on the 29^th of March and is merely holding onto the reins of power through an unconstitutional means with the assistance of rogue elements of the armed forces.

The MDC is a legitimate, legal Zimbabwean political party for Zimbabweans, by Zimbabweans. Any pathetic reference to the MDC by your officers blindly regurgitating sterile ZANU(PF) propaganda mantra that the MDC is an appendage of an imaginary Western imperialist conspiracy is preposterous, childish, and unintelligent, and an outright political falsehood.

Your silence on this matter shall be regarded as an affirmative to the aforementioned and acquiescence to the crimes against humanity being perpetrated by some members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

General Sibanda, please urge your subordinates to put their arrows back in their quivers. Any further saber rattling by your generals through veiled threats and politically insensitive partisan statements shall be perceived as an informal declaration of war.

General Sibanda, the line in the sand that separates you and your officers from being willing accomplices to crimes of war and being heroes for which Zimbabweans shall be eternally grateful, is your anticipated rejoinder. I urge you to evoke your military and moral authority in retrieving Zimbabwe from the brink of a brutal civil war which you will not win.

PHIL MATIBE – Askari wa wadogo

Anti-Tyranny Taskforce

 

Justice for Samson

Samson is a 3-year old, defenceless child, an innocent who was attacked on the 21^st of April, 2008, at Morning Star Farm, in Shamva, Mashonaland East Province, by ZANU (PF) militias.   His crime, according to his callous assailants, is that this child’s parents voted for the MDC and that they were still resident on a farm that now ‘belongs’ to ZANU(PF).

The orders for Samson’s attack were issued by the cowardly leaders of ZANU (PF) and carried out by vile individuals whom we shall soon apprehend. I call upon all able bodied Zimbabweans and persons who firmly believe in democracy and justice, to diligently stay within the ZANU (PF) decision cycle and make the Politburo react to our soon to be unveiled countermeasures.

“It’s wiser to keep the enemy inside your tent looking outside than for the enemy outside your tent looking inside.”

ZANU (PF) has declared war on its own people and the defence of the innocent women and children has now been thrust upon us.  The time has come to separate men from boys. We can swiftly bring an end to this terror.

“The tree of nationalism must be periodically watered with the blood of patriots.  Political violence evokes extremes of human emotion and group bonding that give nations their continued cohesion. Communities generate heroism and sacrifice in war. War produces heroes and evokes sacrifice.” We are now at war, a war ZANU (PF) is waging against the people of Zimbabwe who demand and deserve better life.

Today, I plead for any information pertaining to the attack on Samson, as I pursue the perpetrators of this heinous crime. I am compiling a criminal docket that meticulously documents the command structures of the ZANU (PF) terror campaign, identifies the architects and all the foot soldiers responsible for the violence in Zimbabwe today.

My promise to Samson, my young hero, is that I shall hunt down, capture, and punish his attackers, their handlers, accomplices and the willing enablers of tyranny, who fund ZANU (PF) from afar. They can run but they can’t hide. Vachaona moto!

Phil Matibe – Askari wa Samsom

Anti-Tyranny Taskforce - Chief of Staff – Askari wa wadogo

The Price of Democracy - US$60 million versus US$1

The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Gideon Gono, recently proclaimed that it would cost about US$60 million dollars to conduct the presidential election runoff.  These monies could instead be used for procuring the following national essentials:

   ·        240 000 tonnes of maize

·        48 million litres of fuel

·        3 years supply of generic Antiretrovirals for all of Zimbabwe’s HIV patients

The alternative is to spend only one dollar (US), the cost of a single 12.7 x 99mm round for this 50 Caliber, Long Range Sniper Rifle.

Produced by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, the M82A1 Special Application Scoped Rifle is an air-cooled, semi-automatic rifle equipped with a 10x Unertl scope mounted on a mil. spec. sight rail and 10 round detachable box magazine. Firing M2 Caliber .50 Browning Machine Gun cartridges, the M82A1 is capable of engaging man-sized targets out to 1500m, armored targets out to 2000m and is capable of penetrating up to 30mm of steel plate.

To keep the felt recoil to a minimum, the M82A1 utilizes the short recoil principle developed by John Browning, which diffuses the recoil energy over a longer period of time. To further reduce recoil, the rifle barrel is equipped with a double-chambered muzzle brake, which redirects expended cartridge gasses to the sides and rear of the muzzle.

Though the primary round for the M82A1 is the Raufoss Grade A match-grade multi-purpose cartridge, the M82A1 can fire all types of caliber .50 BMG ammunition, with the exception of the M903 SLAP (Saboted, Light Armor Penetrator) and the M962 SLAPT (Saboted, Light Armor Penetrator- Tracer.)

This SASR (Special Application Scoped Rifle), in the hands of a well trained professional can eliminate the architect  and Commander-in-Chief of the forces of terror that are unleashing a brutal campaign against unarmed civilians  under Operation Mavhoterapapi.  We need to protect the innocent citizens of Zimbabwe, who are being raped, tortured and murdered for merely voting.

It so happens that the draftsman, the chief perpetrator of flagrant human rights abuses is Robert Mugabe, who lost the elections on 29 March, 2008.   With his demise, the entire ZANU (PF) terror machine will crumble and Zimbabwe can revert to the rule of law, peace, and democracy.

A cost benefit analysis makes this alternative a no-brainer.