That's why you should travel more. On N.Charles St you lose perspective about what's 'attractive' (must be that awfully boring red-brick architecture all around you, brother Wojtek). I know US proto-fascism isn't yet hitting hard on JHU (which I recall from my days there was #2 in military contracts after MIT), but it won't be long if you keep up your good work... and you'd have to admit, W has a thing or two to learn from Mugabe:
Zim Online (SA), 7 April Zanu PF unleashes massive violence against MDC supporters Harare - Retribution is quietly gathering pace days after Zimbabwe's disputed election with several dozens of opposition supporting families denied food or beaten up and forced to flee their homes, Zim Online has established. In the town of Karoi in Mashonaland West province, ruling Zanu PF party militants have told all perceived supporters of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party that they will intensify attacks against them once foreign election observers have left the country. At least 10 villagers from Kazangarare rural area in the province have sought refuge in Karoi after fleeing ruling Zanu PF militias on Monday, who were threatening them with unspecified punishment for supporting the MDC. "They (Zanu PF militants) said we should come here to Karoi where the MDC is supported," one of the villagers Innocent Tavoyi told ZimOnline. The villagers are staying at the Karoi home of Biggie Haurovi the MDC candidate in last Thursday's poll. Haurovi lost Hurungwe East constituency, under which Karoi and Kazangarare falls, to Zanu PF's Reuben Marumahoko. But the opposition candidate had more votes in Karoi town. In Gwanda, in Matabeleland South province, 45 MDC supporters were beaten up and told they will no longer be allowed to buy maize from the state Grain Marketing Board, the only supplier of the staple food in the hunger stricken district. MDC officials in Matabeleland South said retribution against their supporters, which they said they feared could become more brutal in coming days, began last Saturday a day after the final results of the poll won by Zanu PF by 78 seats against the MDC's 41. In Mutare city, in the east of the country, six MDC supporters are holed up at the opposition party's provincial headquarters in the city after fleeing their homes in Makoni East, about 100 km north-west of Mutare. "They (Zanu PF militants) are threatening everyone known to have been campaigning for the MDC. The police are aware and insist we be beaten up first and then report later as there would be evidence," Tendai Gonese who was campaigning for the MDC in Makoni East said. Gonese and his MDC colleagues, Nixon Injisi, Langton Chifamba, Future Musindo, Thomas Handireki and Rosemary Chimombo said they will only go back to their homes if they are assured of protection from Zanu PF militants. But MDC officials in Mutare and in other parts of the country where retribution is going on against opposition supporters said they had reported the attacks and denial of food to opposition supporters to the police but to no avail. MDC deputy spokesman in Matabeleland South, Petros Mukwena said: "Most of the people have suffered beatings .they have (also) taken advantage of their control of maize distribution to deny our supporters a right to buy the commodity. We have told the police about these activities many times in the past few days but they have not done anything about it." In Karoi, the MDC's Haurovi said MDC supporters there were living in fear as Zanu PF militants freely roam the area terrorising suspected opposition supporters while the police had by yesterday not taken any action against the ruling party militants. Haurovi said: "I am surprised that the police are not arresting Zanu PF members involved in brutal attacks against MDC supporters, people are living in fear here." But Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi and Zanu PF officials denied there was any campaign of retribution by ruling party militants against MDC supporters. "I am not aware of that. If the MDC has such problems, which I do not believe are happening, they have not reported to the police," Mohadi said. In Mashonaland West province, under which Karoi falls, acting Zanu PF provincial chairman John Mafa said: "We have not sent anyone to go around beating up people and we as a party we have not received any reports of any of our supporters beating people for voting for the MDC." Human rights and pro-democracy groups warned of a vicious backlash against the opposition after Zimbabwe's poll and urged observer missions to remain in the country a little longer after polling to help ensure there will be no victimisation of government opponents. It was not possible to immediately establish when the South African government, Southern African Development Community and Africa Union observer missions, all still in Zimbabwe, planned to leave the country. Meanwhile, MDC spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi said in a statement yesterday that deputy Transport Minister Andrew Langa last Sunday fired shots to scare MDC supporters as Zanu PF militants brutally attacked them at Avoca rural business centre in Insiza constituency in Matabeleland South province. "In Insiza, Andrew Langa, the "winning" candidate for Insiza fired at people at Avoca Business Centre last Sunday (3 April 2005). Langa arrived at Avoca business centre and ordered the youths he led to randomly beat up people at the centre. When people tried to defend themselves and forced the youths to retreat, Langa fired at the people, but no one was hit," Nyathi's statement read in part. Several people were injured during the attack and were treated at Avoca Hospital while a man, Dumisani Mthunzi, who suffered serious injuries was transferred to Bulawayo Central Hospital where he is still receiving treatment, according to Nyathi. Nyathi said police at Filabusi police station in the area however allowed the Zanu PF youths to go scot-free and instead arrested some of the victims. More MDC supporters were also attacked in Shamva in Mashonaland Central province and in Harare's Mufakose low-income suburb according to Nyathi. ZimOnline was not able to independently verify the incidents reported by Nyathi.
Zim Online (SA), 8 April Bitter Zanu PF candidate plunges suburb into darkness Bulawayo - A losing Zanu PF candidate has ordered the removal of an electricity transformer from Emganwini high density suburb in Bulawayo as punishment to the residents for failing to elect her into Parliament in last week's polls. Sithembiso Nyoni who contested and lost the Bulawayo South constituency to the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)'s David Coltart, allegedly ordered the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to remove the transformer, plunging the suburb into darkness. Nyoni who had helped instal the transformer in a bid to curry favour with the residents ahead of the election as part of her "development drive" in the constituency, ordered the removal of the transformer on Sunday to "fix" the residents for failing to vote her into parliament. Nyoni polled a paltry 3 777 votes against Coltart's 12 120 votes in the election. Bulawayo, a bastion of the MDC, overwhelmingly voted for the opposition party in the disputed poll. Speaking to ZimOnline yesterday, Nyoni confirmed the latest turn of events, but denied that she had ordered ZESA to remove the transformer as punishment to the residents. She insisted that ZESA had removed the newly installed transformer for safe-keeping from thieves who had stolen it last Sunday. "It's true that ZESA employees took away the transformer from Emganwini for safe-keeping. I was advised that some thieves stole the transformer on Sunday night leaving the local residents in darkness. However, the transformer was recovered by ZESA and they are holding onto it for safe-keeping. However to assume that I had ordered or instructed ZESA to remove it after losing the election is just too naughty," said Nyoni. The police in Nkulumane said no reports of theft of the transformer had been reported to them.
SW Radio Africa, 7 April Kidnapping in Mazowe The son of the MDC candidate in Mazowe East, Shepherd Mushonga was kidnapped at Bedrock Business Centre and severely beaten up by Zanu PF youths in Mazowe. Wilson Mushonga and his colleagues were tracked down by 4 trucks packed with youths and war veterans. He was beaten up and left for dead in an adjacent verandah close to the family shop. He is currently hospitalised in Harare alongside his collegues. Earlier, we reported how scores of suspected MDC supporters have been injured with some admitted to hospital after Zanu PF candidates led their supporters in attacks on ordinary people, especially those believed to support the MDC. Homes have been burnt down while people flee their areas. Reprisals have been reported in Insiza, Gokwe, Shamva, Hurungwe and Mufakose. The Mazowe attacks are another example of the continuing reprisals country wide. Clarence Nhamo Mushava who was part of the group explains what happened. Meanwhile its alleged Transport Minister Christopher Mushowe, is leading a campaign to get his political rival and MDC candidate for Mutare West, Gabriel Chiwara dismissed from the National Railways. Chiwara, who lost to Mushowe in the rigged election, works as an artisan in the NRZ which falls under Mushowe's Ministry. The campaign is gaining momentum with other NRZ workers perceived to support the MDC being targeted. The party's Organising Secretary at the NRZ's Westgate compound for workers in Bulawayo is being asked to write a letter to the Area Security Manager and explain why MDC rallies where held inside the complex. Victor Moyo, the MDC's Bulawayo spokesman says the reprisals show that his party actually won the elections and that Zanu PF candidates are lashing back in disbelief.