Opposition Takes Up Arms As Zimbabwe Slides Into Civil War

Mugabe's Thugs

From The Scotsman:

FRUSTRATED supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe have begun arming themselves to fight back against ruling party security forces and militias, leading research organisations said yesterday.
The country has never been as close to civil war as it is now, following the controversial one-candidate election of 27 June, in which Robert Mugabe was returned to power for another five years, says the report, entitled Saving Zimbabwe.

The report is to be published today by South Africa's publicly funded Human Sciences Research Council, based in Johannesburg, and the Africa Policy Institute, based in Nairobi and Pretoria.

Kwandiwe Kondlo, the chief of the council's democracy research programme, said the failed electoral process was "a recipe for civil war because there is no yielding ground. A low-intensity war has begun and the situation is getting out of control."

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More News On Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe regime plots fresh crackdown -- The Age
Zimbabwe In 'Low-Level Civil War,' Says South African Think Tank -- Voice Of America
Zimbabwe says sanctions could start civil war -- Reuters Africa
Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai denies negotiations started -- Yahoo News
Zimbabwe rivals start crisis talks in South Africa -- CNN
Little time to rescue Zimbabwe, says Brown -- Scotsman
Zimbabwe's Election Turmoil Marked by Campaign of Violence -- Online News Hour

My Comment: I mentioned a month ago that if I was stuck in Zimbabwe, I would start organizing and arming myself. I guess some people are adopting that thinking in the countryside of Zimbabwe.

Fears Of Civil War Rise As The Opposition Starts To Arm Themselves

Riot Police In Harare

From the Independent:

Fears of civil war in Zimbabwe escalated yesterday as it emerged that opposition supporters, frustrated by police inaction at the brutal intimidation campaign being waged by President Robert Mugabe's allies, have begun to form their own "revenge forces".

Since Mr Mugabe – the only president Zimbabwe has ever known – was pushed into second place by Morgan Tsvangirai in the first-round ballot of the presidential election, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says more than 60 supporters have been murdered and thousands more threatened in a well-oiled operation to rig the second round of voting.

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News On Zimbabwe From Other Sources:
Zimbabwean Opposition Leader Seen In Court -- CBS
African leaders unite to denounce Mugabe’s violence -- Times Online
Mugabe vows to fight 'traitors' -- BBC
Military 'runs Mugabe campaign' -- BBC News
A glimpse of Mugabe terror -- BBC News
Fears grow for MDC secretary general arrested for treason -- The Independent
Robert Mugabe says Opposition will never rule Zimbabwe in his lifetime -- The Telegraph
Barclays accused of giving Robert Mugabe 'financial lifeline' -- The Telegraph
Mugabe Foe: The Runoff Must Proceed -- Time Magazine
Zimbabwe's opposition leader brought to court -- Yahoo News

My Comment: It appears that armed rebellion will be the only way to get rid of this tyrant and his thugs.