Wycliffe Muga: Why Kibaki is not a smart economist

What would you say the US President George W Bush, and our own President Mwai Kibaki have in common?

Well, one thing certainly do have in common is that the newspapers in their countries are full of articles on the president’s legacy, as well as reports of the efforts being made in various quarters by ambitious politicians determined to succeed him.

What is odd about this is that whereas President Bush has only six months to go in his second and final term in office, President Kibaki who is also on his second term, has no less than four and a half years to go, and has barely got started on his second term.

I have often wondered what the president thinks now that some of the very politicians who should be working to make his final term as president memorable full of many outstanding achievements are instead busy cutting potential rivals, as they embark on the race to State House, four years before the official campaigns can begin.

Still, since everyone seems to be so keen on passing judgement on the Kibaki presidency this early, why should I be left behind? So here is my assessment of the Kibaki legacy as it seems to be at this point.

Let’s start with the political: While the president may have shown statesmanship in agreeing to enter into a power-sharing agreement, it will long be remembered that he had to be arm-twisted into this by the US government as personified by the Secretary of State, Dr Condoleeza Rice. It was not a step taken in a generous spirit, and the President did not exactly bend over backwards to save the county from descending into anarchy.

Ultimately, the blame for any man-made catastrophe in any nation must reset with the president – and that is as true for George W Bush and the Iraq war, as it is for Mwai Kibaki and the fatally flawed December 2007 presidential elections.

So if President Kibaki’s long-nurtured reputation as a democrat and a statesman went up in flames in the first two months of this year, along with the house, cars and farms burnt over this period, what of his long-standing reputation as a brilliant economist and a reformer?

In this, there no glaring flaws. You cannot really say the Kenyan economy has been incompetently managed, or that the President when confronted with blatant cases of corruption early in his first term, did not act by demanding resignation from the ministers who had been mentioned in the Anglo-Leasing scandal.

But there is still a problem. It has been common in Kenya for media analysts to point out that economic growth during the final years of former President Moi’s tenure hovered around 1 per cent and 2 per cent if it did not sink down to zero.

And that under Kibaki, the economy grew by between 5 per cent and 6 per cent as he headed toward the end of his first term.

What is overlooked by such analysts is that Kenya’s economic growth during these periods – the Moi era and Kibaki’s first term – were both unspectacular if viewed in a bigger picture of sub-Saharan African economies.

During the 1980s and 90s, most African countries in the sub-Saharan region experienced very little economic growth, if any. The average growth for most of the region was between 1-2 per cent.

But on the other hand, over the past few years – the period coinciding with the Kibaki presidency – the average sub-Saharan economic growth rate has been 6 per cent. Yes, that very 6 per cent that the president and his supporters presented to the voters in the campaign period last year, as something of an economic miracle.

It is worth bearing in mind that few African countries have their own independent economic policies. In general, they follow the prescriptions laid down by the World Bank and the IMF: And sometimes those policies work, and sometimes they do not. The point here is that President Kibaki’s reputation as a brilliant economist is pure myth. His performance at all times has only been average, not exceptional.

But if the president has done nothing exceptional either in the political or economic fields to warrant future generations recalling his presidency with respect and affection. However he still has four and a half years to go. A lot can be done in that time. And he is now in a position to make difficult decisions to move the country forward.

What places the president in a position of great strength is that he does not have to worry about re-election: one way or the other, five years from now he will be playing golf, not struggling with the demands of high political office.

So it’s really much too early to make any definitive statements on what the Kibaki legacy will be.

Mars Group Kenya: Debate the Budget - Its critical for Kenya - Feed the People Not the Fat Cats

WE ONLY HAVE UPTO THURSDAY JUNE 26TH 2008 TO ENSURE THAT THE PARLIAMENT OF KENYA DEBATES BUDGET 2008

On Thursday June 12th 2008, the Minister of Finance, Amos Kimunya, tabled the annual estimates of expenditure of the Government of Kenya in Parliament, and informed Parliament that he proposes to raise and spend about Ksh 760 billion over the next twelve months.

This is the largest budget in Kenya’s history, and certainly the most important budget ever proposed in view of the political and economic crisis that followed the Presidential Election of December 27th 2007. The 3 month crisis resulted in the death of over 2,500 Kenyans, the forcible displacement of over 500,000 citizens, the pushing of millions below the poverty line, and the halving of the national economic growth rate to between 3% and 4%. Inflation which stands at 31% has hit poor Kenyans hard, as a result of high costs of oil and poor harvests. There can be no doubt that this is therefore the most important national budget in history, and that Parliament must debate the budget to ensure that the Minister of Finance’s spending plans are rational, equitable, waste and corruption free.

Only Parliament has the constitutional mandate to approve or refuse to approve the national budget. The Constitution and Standing Orders of Parliament require that Parliament should debate the annual estimates for 7 days which means that the debate on the Minister of Finance’s speech should end on Thursday June 26th 2008. This date is constitutionally significant, being the last parliamentary allotted day before the expiry of the Government of Kenya’s Financial Year on June 30th 2008. To prevent the Government from running out of money, the Constitution allows the Minister of Finance to get approval for upto half the budget before the end of the financial year. Half the budget is Ksh 380 billion.

OLD HABITS DIE HARD: WHERE ARE OUR MPS WHEN WE NEED THEM?

Unfortunately, there are signs that Members of Parliament are not taking their constitutional duties seriously. Lack of quorum, which bedeviled the 9th Parliament, moved the respected Speaker of the National Assembly, Kenneth Marende to speak out last Thursday to “remind members of the seriousness of debate on the Budget statement.”

The lack of diligence of Members of Parliament means that up to Ksh 380 billion could be passed undebated by Parliament on Thursday this week. This is scandalous, especially in view of the fact that the budget estimates presented by the Minister of Finance are riddled with billions of shillings worth of wasteful and misplaced expenditure proposals. Many of these examples are well known to the Members of Parliament, having been communicated to them through press reporting since the budget was read on June 12th.

Instead of spending time in Parliament going over the budget estimates, line by line as is their constitutional duty, too much time has been spent by our Parliamentarians waging a press war in defence of the immoral proposition that they should have tax-exemption in respect of their allowances. This tax measure by the Minister of Finance has disingenuously trapped the MPs in an argument they cannot win; while diverting attention from the biggest absurdity inherent in Finance Minister Amos Kimunya’s budget. Mr. Kimunya proposes, at a time of national economic crisis, not to cut government’s costs at all and has published a national budget in which he declares his intention to spend 85 shillings of every one hundred shillings of tax on the Government’s recurrent costs; leaving only fifteen shillings of every hundred shillings of tax for development expenditure.

FINANCE MINISTER KIMUNYA CLEVERLY SET UP PARLIAMENTARIANS TO TAKE THE FLAK:

MP’s, because of their insensitivity to the suffering of Kenyans, have played right into Minister Kimunya’s hands. His tax proposal was a bait which they have swallowed hook line and sinker. It was meant to galvanize public opinion and attention on Parliament and away from the Central Government which wastes much more money than we could save by taxing constitutional officers. Because they are in a morally weak position, and because of a herd mentality, MPs have spent valuable time in Parliament pointing fingers at each other in a contest which has no upside for them. Incredibly, they have made their own situation worse by failing to debate the budget in Parliament as they are paid, and given allowances at taxpayers’ expense, to do. Because our MPs are generally unpopular no one is pointing out that we will raise only 800 million shillings a year from taxing their allowances. Because our MPs aren’t concentrating on their work, none of them has been able to tell Kenyans that we should be equally concerned about the Finance Minister’s proposal to pay 5 companies Ksh 6.5 billion for a fertilizer factory that does not exist; for a navy ship that has yet to be delivered to us and has no guns; and for a communications project that was unauthorized by Parliament and which resulted in the attachment of our Embassy at the Hague. Not a single Member of Parliament has yet to stand in the debating chamber to tell us that these deals are bogus – a conclusion supported by the August House’s own Parliamentary Accounts Committee Reports and those of the Controller and Auditor General.

If our Parliamentarians wish to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public they should devote themselves this week to exposing the massive waste in Minister Kimunya’s Budget and save the country billions of shillings by refusing to approve expenditure that is unjustifiable and immoral.

SOME BUDGET ITEMS THAT ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE MP’S ALLOWANCES BUT WHICH MINISTER KIMUNYA NEVER MENTIONED IN HIS THREE HOUR BUDGET DAY SPEECH:

Our MPs should accept that their allowances are going to be taxed. More Kenyans of goodwill and means have accepted that they too will be similarly taxed so that we as a country start to take care of the poorest of the poor, and avert a return to the chaos and destruction of the first quarter of this year when mass youth unemployment exploded the myth of Kenya’s stability. However, the Government of Kenya must also play its part and tighten its belt. It must slash the waste which runs into the hundreds of billions of shillings. For example: the billions spent on ‘hospitality; ‘utilities’; ‘printing’; ‘foreign travel’; ‘fuel and lubricants’; ‘rent’ ; Ken Ren Fertiliser; Jasiri Mombasa; Project Nexus and other things that never merited even a sentence in the Minister of Finance’s 3 hour budget speech.

If I were a Member of Parliament I would take the opportunity presented by the three days left of parliamentary debate time (i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week) to show that the Minister of Finance is concealing other obvious candidates for slashing.

HOSPITALITY - Two Billion plus: Billions of shillings are spent each year on hospitality. Last year the GOK budget for entertainment of its guests amounted to Ksh 5.7 million per day for every day of the year. The total bill was Ksh 2.16 billion for the year 2007. Does anyone recall Amos Kimunya mentioning in his budget speech that this year he wants to increase the Ministry of Finance’s Hospitality Budget from just under Ksh 500,000 per day to Ksh 728,000 per day?

UTILITIES - Two Billion plus: Water and Electricity to you and me. Every year this budget item leads to haywire budgeting in which the official residence of the President (State House) is given almost as much money as the Ministry of Education, and has a higher water and power budget than 26 whole Ministries including Parliament itself, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Roads and Public Works etc… (it would take too long to go through 26 ministries). Even where there are water and power bills to be paid, the large amount we provide does not seem enough. Did Minister Kimunya mention that last year the Ministry of Water was given parliamentary approval to spend Ksh 661,000 every day of the year, but that millions of water service board consumers went without treated water because of unpaid electricity bills, or that hospitals were cut off from water supply? Surely, there must be one Member of Parliament to speak for Kenyans.

RENT - Three Billion plus: MPs should be concerned that GOK spends Ksh 3.995 billion on rents per annum and only receives Ksh 239.368 million per year from property income and rent. The Kenyatta International Conference Centre accounts for Ksh 210 million of the income received from buildings by GOK.

PRINTING - Two Billion plus: The Government Printer is a full fledged department within the Office of the President that prints all important government documents including all Bills and Acts of Parliament; and the National Budget itself. It maintains a bookstore on Haile Selassie Avenue which sells the Kenya Gazette newspaper and other materials as any other bookstore would – except it has a monopoly. Last year it was expected to earn the Government a grand total of one hundred thousand eight hundred and eighteen shillings in revenue. In a whole calendar year! Even though the Government has its own printer, last year the Government managed to spend Ksh 6.2 million per day on commercial printing of its documents – the total budget was over 2.2 billion shillings. Public procurement related to printing is notoriously corrupt and one would expect MPs to spend some quality time looking at the printing budget of the GOK this coming week.

FOREIGN TRAVEL - Two Billion plus: Kenyans frequently bemoan the globe-trotting habits of their elected officials but sometimes they forget to look at the international visits of our civil servants. Last year, the Government of Kenya spent over Ksh 6.7 million per day every day of the year on foreign travel. Of course Government doesn’t stop, but it was shocking nevertheless to learn that even during the height of the post-election crisis, high level delegations of civil servants were still attending international conventions as if nothing was going on in Kenya. Already overburdened taxpayers who assume that there is no way that this budget could still be as large as last year, are preparing for disappointment unless MPs vote the proposal by Minister Kimunya down next week.

PURCHASE OF CARS - Two Billion plus: Did you know that State House Nairobi has 149 cars? Did you know that this year Minister of Finance wants to buy Ksh 73 million more worth of cars for State House? Did you know that last year a similar amount of money was spent on cars at State House? Did you know that the Government budget for cars for 2008 has gone up by 1 billion shillings, even as public attention is consumed by the debate on MP’s allowances? Unless MPs debate the budget this week, Minister Kimunya is likely to get approval to spend at least 50% of his Ksh 2.6 billion motor vehicle purchase budget and we will never know why he needs so many cars. The Ministry of Internal Security alone wants to spend Ksh 1.6 billion on buying cars. Last year Parliament did not debate the Internal Security budget, and passed unscrutinised another 1 billion shillings for this Ministry. It is time that MPs insisted on accountability for the massive amounts of money that the Government spends on buying cars. On paper there are 10,395 cars owned by the Government of Kenya. Since Minister Kimunya never mentioned any of these vehicular facts, perhaps MPs could insist that he explains this budget to them. They might even ask to inspect some of the cars.

SINGLE LINE LUMP SUM BUDGETS FOR ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS - Forty Seven Billion plus: Every year the Minister of Finance presents lump sum budgets for the National Security Intelligence Services, the Armed Forces and the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission. This year their collective budgets will pass the Ksh 47 billion mark – and yet they will be no debate on the budget items in them because the Minister of Finance has helpfully provided none. MPs need to assert themselves. Intelligence agencies, militaries around the world, and anti-corruption commissions do not present single line item budgets to many parliaments around the world anymore. Here’s a question for the MPs: why would the official agency responsible for anti-corruption, as well as promoting transparency and accountability in Government not be accountable to Parliament for every single shilling in its budget?

KEN REN FERTILISER FACTORY - Four Billion plus: Kenya faces a massive fertilizer importation bill even as the Minister of Finance on June 12th asked Parliament to approve the payment of hundreds of millions to foreign banks for a fertilizer factory that does not exist. The Fertiliser debt is dubious and fraudlent because Kenya does not have a fertiliser factory, even though there was a still-born project in the 1970s to build one near the Mombasa Oil Refinery to leverage on the oil refinery’s waste products which can be used for fertilizer production. A massive financial scandal ensued and the factory was never built. Today, Kenya is in the midst of a fertilizer price and supply crisis that threatens to diminish food production, at the worst possible time for the country. Yet the Minister of Finance intends to pay an Austrian Bank called BAWAG, and a Belgian Bank called Ducroire, Ksh 900 million this year for the never-built fertilizer factory. This fact wasn’t mentioned in the budget speech, although the Minister indicated that he wanted to use public funds to get fertilizer to farmers and was apparently “in consultation with Uganda and Tanzania on setting up a regional fertilizer factory to ensure long-term sustainable supplies.” What is going on at the Treasury? Why does the Government keep making annual repayments of hundreds of millions of shillings for a fertilizer factory that we do not have, and apparently will never get? Parliament must end this long-running scandal and call the Finance Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry and the Attorney General to account on how this obligation came into being. The Austrian and Belgian banks involved should be put on notice that Kenya’s Parliament will not authorize any further payments from the Consolidated Fund on bogus debts.

NAVY SHIP - Four Billion plus: Did you know that the Minister of Finance has asked Parliament to authorize the payment of a staggering Ksh 4.94 billion this year to 3 foreign companies for a controversial Navy Ship? Did you know that the Controller and Auditor General told Parliament in 2006, that this deal was illegal and had breached the External Loans Act which requires parliamentary approval for all foreign debt? Did you know that the ship which the Minister of Finance wants to use tax money to pay for does not have weapons on board, and its equipment’s warranty has lapsed? Did you know that all these issues have not been properly investigated to date? Did you know that Ksh 4.94 billion is more than the entire budget of the Ministry of Water?

Do you believe that Members of Parliament should approve the Minister of Finance’s request to spend taxpayers’ money this way?

Feed the People Not the Fat Cats:

Did you know that the Government takes Ksh 85 out of every Ksh 100 you pay in tax for its overhead costs – including paying foreign loans, salaries and pensions, water, fuel and electricity expenses?

Did you know that the Government will only spend Ksh 15 of every Ksh 100 you pay in tax on development – including free primary education, building of roads, provision of water and health services?

Did you know that the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech told you nothing about the recurrent expenditure of Government – for example do you recall him telling you how much he will spend on fuel, hospitality and foreign travel?

Are you satisfied with this situation? Did you know there is something you as a Tax Payer can do to ensure that the budget is used for the development of Kenya? Tell your Member of Parliament to scrutinize the National Budget line by line, and to refuse to approve wasteful expenditure.

Tell your MP that you want a budget for the people, and not for the Fat Cats.

mwalimu mati
CEO
www.marsgroupkenya.org

James Orengo reformist activism in question as he reverses order on land fees

The Government yesterday bowed to public pressure and withdrew new charges on land transactions it had introduced last month.

The revocation puts reformist Lands minister James Orengo on the spot and throws into doubt his ability to push through the reform measures he promised when he took over the docket in April.

It is the second time the minister is being made to renege on his word his first having been an order by President Kibaki that expired land leases be renewed in the usual manner — a direct contradiction of the minister’s earlier announcement that such land would automatically be reverted to the Government.

Mr Orengo announced the reversal yesterday in Parliament, saying it is meant to give room for consultations.

It is the first time since the grand coalition was formed that a minister has had to retreat on a major policy announcement on the floor of the House, raising questions on how the decision was arrived at in the first place and whether it had the blessings of the Cabinet.

Although it comes as a financial reprieve to millions of Kenyans pressed by economic hardships, the reversal means loss of a huge chunk of funds that the ministry was supposed to raise internally to fund its Sh1.66 billion budget.

Key in the ministries budget were provisions for legal compensation payment of arrears to district tender boards.

Mr Orengo had said that the levy revision was meant to eliminate corrupt cartels in the land registration department and that revised fees would be issued after consultation with the industry players.

“The fees had been increased because they were unreasonably too low and insignificant, compared to the rigorous procedures, time and manpower involved,” Mr Orengo told Parliament in a ministerial statement.

Many observers however see the hand of intense lobbying behind the reversal.

Lobby groups such as the Institute of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) had opposed the increment, saying it was likely to encourage illegal transactions as some people might not want to raise the higher fees.

According to experts, increment of the levies ––which had seen some doubled –– would have raised the cost of acquiring land and development in the real estate sector.

The price of land, a critical factor in real estate business, greatly determines the cost of development and it should account for 30 to 40 per cent of the value of the property.

Amnesty my foot!

The Kalenjin communities should shape up! Or is it ODM leaders? Lorna Laboso’s funeral turned to a battle ground of tribal hatred agendas. Are ODM leaders about to turn to mass action to push the government they are part of to release their ‘boys’ who ‘blocked roads’ in protest to an allegedly stolen election?

The ‘boys’ who murdered, raped, burnt alive, looted property and displaced thousands of Kikuyus?

Why play cheap politics on the minds of naïve Kalenjins?

Which ODM MP has tried changing the clauses in the Kenyan law that retains Kivuitu as the ECK Chairman? None.

Which ODM MP has pushed for prosecution of policemen who shot their “boys” and get justice for their supporters? None.

Which ODM MP has called for the prosecution of Kikuyu’s who retaliated by murdering and displacing their supporters? None.

Which ODM MP has so far pushed for the equal distribution of resources that allegedly fuel Mt Kenya Mafia’s dominance? None.

ODM should give us a break! They seeded tribal hatred against the Kikuyu, now they are in power, cruising in power guzzling four wheels, and conveniently wait for a funeral to fan more tribal hatred against the Kikuyu.

Sample this from the Standard:

Karua was booed and heckled just after fellow Cabinet Minister Charity Ngilu left the podium after touching on the sensitive issue of the release of post-election violence suspects.

Kalenjins should be exempt from the law? The Kikuyu put their errant (Mungiki) sons in prison and are inwardly happy when police shoot them if they become an eyesore.

Ngilu apparently appeared to have worked up the crowd when she accused some of her colleagues in the Cabinet of working against the release of post-election violence suspects. "Those who caused the problem are not the boys in jail, but leaders who are seated here with us and who have refused to have the suspects pardoned," she said, amid applause from the crowd at Laboso’s home.

Again, cheap dirty politics from an ODM luminary. Madam Ngilu, how many times have you brought a bill to trim Karua’s powers? Worse still, call for mass action against the Justice Minister. Have you sought audience with police commissioner Hussein Ali who has categorically stated that criminals are criminals and they will face the law. If it is equal application of law, bring it on!

"If the youths will remain in jail then those generals (leaders) who called for mass action must also face the law," said the Kitui Central MP.

That is the tricky bit, madam Ngilu. How about a show of solidarity by ODM luminaries, walk to the jails and spend a month with the “boys” behind the bar? It will work wonders. Or is it Martha Karua’s fault? If Martha Karua had her way, you know where you will be.

It took almost five minutes for Ruto, speaking in vernacular, to calm down the hostile mourners before inviting Karua to resume her speech. He asked them to look at Laboso’s mother’s face, then dripping with tears, to know what they were doing, even if justified, was on the wrong day and occasion.

This is the ODM trademark, hijacking a solemn ceremony and politicking at a funeral in total disregard of grieving family. Mr Ruto, did you look at Labosso’s mother face when your time to speak came? See below:

He (Ruto) said it was unacceptable that the leaders of the Grand Coalition were being driven around in GK-plated vehicles as the youths who forced on the country the National Peace Accord languished in the cells.

Walk, Mr Ruto or get a boda boda. No one has forced you to use a GK vehicle. You know very well you should be languishing in the cells as well but you support ‘selective justice’ and always hide in the skirts of your tribe when justice come calling. Shame on you!

He said the situation was compounded by the fact that Mr Samuel Kivuitu, the chairman of Electoral Commission that oversaw the flawed election, was still in office "earning big salary". He called for an end to what he called "selective justice’’, targeting given communities.

Ruto, you are also “earning a big salary”. You are a legislator, legislate against Kivuitu, you have been in parliament for six months now, surely you should have done something by now. Damn, warlord, you are a beneficiary of selective justice.

"We must as leaders agree when we formed the Government we left behind those who were together with us during elections," he said.

Resign, Ruto, resign. You are not bound with Caesar’s chains, resign. Go back and first bring out your boys.

"We changed the Constitution to legitimise the illegal government and the big boys shared positions leaving behind those who fought to defend democracy," said the Eldoret North MP.

You see why I say you should be languishing in jail? You legitimized the illegal government? That is treasonable. For your records, your ‘boys’ did not fight for democracy, they committed genocide. Lastly, you are one of the big boys! Take a look in the mirror, you betrayed your “boys”. Stop fooling us.

He said the suspects in custody must be released if the President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to share power. "We must accommodate those boys because we are the reason they are in custody," he said.

Why are you telling us? Just accommodate them, they can do well in the army, I guess.

"We have made it look like the country has two sets of law, that for the rich and another for the poor. We have made a country where leaders do not pay taxes while the poor do. We must be honest," said Ruto.

Aargh! I thought you were fighting for change, six months down the line since you were elected on a change platform? You are still talking of two sets of laws? And you keep forgetting you are part of the rich class’ set of laws. How can you speak for the poor? Your rich class of MPs have refused to pay tax, leave alone reducing their obscene salaries and allowances.

Dr Kones said most MPs now fear using planes and instead preferred to travel by road.

Good for us. Less expenses and possibility of you greedy MPs making the roads habitable for us.

"Let the findings of the crash be made public in order to confirm or dispel fears of foul play in the accident," Kones said.

??

House Speaker Kenneth Marende, Industry Minister Henry Kosgey and Kones demanded investigations into the cause of the plane crash be hastened and it should also be thorough. "We can not keep losing industrious Kenyans in air crashes. It is simply not acceptable," Marende said.

Industrious? Yes, industrious.

Cabinet ministers and MPs led by Kalonzo and Mudavadi travelled to the function in four helicopters while others went by road.

Some people never learn!!

Zimbabwe Crisis: WP writer Njoroge Wachai’s anti-Mugabe pro-Odinga spin

MR Njoroge Wachai, distinguished gentleman, your article “Lip Service For Mugabe - World leaders’ apathy toward Zimbabwe’s crisis is disgusting” in the Washington Post 06/19/08 is interesting.

As a Kenyan journalist with the luxury and time to pry and meddle in the affairs of a foreign government, Zimbabwe, I assume business at home is prospering. Therefore, would you on behalf of Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga provide the readership with the following facts:

1) Has it been proven in a court of law or a legal body that the Kenyan presidential 2008 elections were unfair and corrupt?

2) Did Raila Odinga’s political party or Kenyan government provide for the 2,500 plus post-election deaths, a result propagating that the presidential elections were unfair?

3) Did the victims receive a decent no cost burial?

4) Are the post-election 450,000 homeless Kenyans being compensated for having their properties, homes and businesses burned, and looted as a result Raila Odinga’s accusing his government of unfair elections? Are they still living in tents?

Secretary Rice and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila A. Odinga spoke to the press before their meeting at the U.S. State Department, Washington, DC June 18, 2008.

Why was the first two and only staged questions asked by the Press: “What would you like President Mbeki to say to Mugabe when they meet later today?” And, “Minister Odinga, would you like to comment on Zimbabwe?”

What happened to Kenya’s concerns? One answer given by Prime Minister Odinga was: “So my view is that the time has come for the international community to act on Zimbabwe, the way that it did in Bosnia.”

Mr. Odinga said “My view”, or should it be Kenya’s view?

What official capacity is he in here in America? Kenya’s or the U.S. backed MDC-T’s opposition? Or the pre-war invasion buildup spin for Southern Africa?

Mr. Wachai, “U.S. officials marking the 10th anniversary of the end of the war said the death toll in Bosnia ranged between 200,000 and 300,000, a range that has been widely cited by government officials and media accounts for a decade.”

This is what the Foreign Minister of Kenya wants for the people of Zimbabwe? This is Kenya’s foreign policy for peacemaking?

You speak of stopping the name calling of Zimbabwe’s duly elected President Robert Mugabe by international media and world leaders as a waist of time. Yet you called him a “hypocrite”, a “discredited dictator” and referred to his government as “an outpost of tyranny” and a “criminal Zimbabwe leadership.”

You also said that the “international community has not done enough to contain Mugabe.” Contain? To contain a head of state means to hold, have, control, enclose, surround, and restrain.

Sir, you stated vehemently “This is, now, what disgusts me?” What disgusts you so much? You’re a well informed Kenya-based People Daily journalist. Why the emotional response to Zimbabwe when the conditions in Kenya are on par?

You speak of Zimbabwe’s election run-off as a fraud. The United States does not have a one-person one-vote electoral system to elect their President, the Electoral College does. Britain is a medieval constitutional monarchy and rules by Royal Prerogative; not a one-person one-vote system to elect their hereditary head of state.

This mob rule of one-person one-vote for electing a head of state in Britain and America is unknown? Why are African countries subjected to media spinmiester influenced one-person one-vote mob rule election systems to elect a head of state?

As a historical reminder Mr. Wachai when “the Kenyans rebelled against ruthless land seizures by the settlers and their adamant refusal to share power in any way, the British retaliated—in the name of civilization—by detaining, torturing, and executing huge numbers of Africans.

They imprisoned in concentration camps nearly the entire Kikuyu population, whom the British contended were not freedom fighters but savages of the lowest order. This colonial war may have slipped the mind of the editor of the Cambridge History because the British government did everything in its power to cover up the genocide it attempted there, including burning its colonial archives relating to Kenya on the eve of leaving the country in 1963.” ( excerpt from Chalmers Johnson’s Nemesis - The Last Days of the American Republic)

I recommend a new Kenyan foreign policy objective, find out where the “colonial archives” are instead of meddling in the affairs of a foreign government in violation of Kenyan diplomatic protocol.

www.talkzimbabwe.com

Zimbabwe Crisis: Njoroge Wachai - Lip Service For Mugabe

World leaders’ apathy toward Zimbabwe’s crisis is disgusting.

A week before Zimbabwe’s presidential runoff, killings and beatings --- directed at supporters of Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), by President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF thugs --- continue unabated. Which makes everybody, except of course Mugabe and his thugs, wonder if this runoff will be anywhere close to a free and fair election.

Human rights organizations and media reports estimate that Mugabe’s thugs have killed close to 60 opposition sympathizers, and driven thousands others from their homes in an attempt to disenfranchise them from participating in the runoff.

Mr. Tsvangirai himself has been physically assaulted and arrested five times. MDC’s Secretary General, Tendai Biti, is languishing in jail on a treason charge, which carries death sentence. He’s accused of declaring Mr. Tsvangirai the winner of the first round of elections held on March 29.

All this, plus threats to expel diplomats and aid agencies who have spoken against Mugabe, present a clear portrait of the deep political hole in which Zimbabwe finds itself. Terror hovers over the head of any Zimbabwean suspected of being sympathetic to the opposition. Mugabe, desperate to prolong his stranglehold on power, has turned Zimbabwe into a police state. There are paramilitaries roaming the country, hounding opposition supporters.

This hypocrite, who only two months ago declared he could not sleep with his conscience if elections were rigged for him, is now vowing never to hand over power to the opposition even if he lost, will not recoil at the prompting of verbal threats from the U.S., Britain, France or anywhere else.

This is, now, what disgusts me. The international community has not done enough to contain Mugabe. It’s not enough to pay lip service to that end. It’s not enough that the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has called Zimbabwe an “outpost of tyranny.” Or that the European Union (EU) has imposed travel restrictions on Mugabe and members of his inner circle. Or that President Bush has called Mugabe a discredited dictator. Or that Britain’s Gordon Brown has denounced that “criminal Zimbabwe leadership.” Or that the U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, has voiced “profound alarm” at the country’s situation. What literate person can’t impress in a rhetorical contest to describe Mugabe?

Mugabe is obstinate, and peppering him with harsh rhetoric will not work. He has also showcased his own prowess in oratory, which is why I’ve concluded that this name-calling game is absurd and will not bring the change Zimbabwe needs.

It’s time to abandon this theater and these intangible threats targeting not only Mugabe but also
his close aides, especially those in charge of security services. At 84, Mugabe could be deluding himself that there’s nothing much to lose even if he were to be dragged to an international criminal court for human rights abuses. How much longer can he live?

We need to shred that UN article on sovereignty for Zimbabweans’ sake. Since it’s become very clear that Mugabe fancies terror to silence his critics, the same dose should be administered to him. It’s no secret he has encouraged his security agents and the so-called “war veterans” to engage in an orgy of violence. He has exiled millions of Zimbabweans to South Africa. Call it what you will, but this demands foreign intervention.

And nobody can do this better than African countries, through the UN and the African Union (AU).

Kenya’s new Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has already proposed the deployment of peacekeepers in Zimbabwe to oversee free and fair elections. This is a bold proposal that must be given serious consideration. Diplomacy of the kind South African President Thabo Mbeki has been practicing is not a language Mugabe understands.

But I doubt any African country is ready to rise to the occasion, which is why any country that values democracy and respect for human rights should stand up for Zimbabweans. This is not the time to drone on about sovereignty as innocent people continue to die.

Washington Post

Zimbabwe Media Criticize Raila: Mr Raila Odinga’s way of ‘doing it’

DEAR Mr Odinga. Please be advised that we take great exception to some of the words you have used in describing our leadership in Zimbabwe, when you know very well that some of those words you use could well be used to describe yourself and your new government. We shall not repeat everything you have said otherwise we will not be able to make our point clear. You recently called Zimbabwe Africa’s ‘eyesore’ and an example of ‘how not to do it’. You have also said that ‘disaster is looming in Zimbabwe’. You made similar statements about Zimbabwe, before the current violence had started around the beginning of April 2008, as if you had some special powers of ‘reading the future’. Everything you predicted has happened in exactly the same way; yet there was no precedent to such election violence in Zimbabwe — at least of that nature. Today Zimbabwe feels like Kenya in December 2007-January 2008, where bodies, for the first time, are burnt and body parts cut off innocent civilians in the name of politics. We had never seen this kind of violence and level of killing in Zimbabwe and we condemn it unreservedly. We challenge you to read reports of violence documented on Zimbabwe and you will agree with us that this type of violence is a first in Zimbabwe’s post-independence history. You have been recently installed as a Prime Minister after almost 2, 500 post-election deaths, violent deaths, in your own country where we saw some of the worst brutality on the African continent in this day and age. Three hundred of your own people died pre-election (before December 2007) — a number that the current violence in Zimbabwe could never match; yet you have the audacity to call Zimbabwe an 'eyesore'. Mr Odinga, we know that two wrongs don’t make a right, so Zimbabwe is not exonerated from criticism and it should be criticized. But who criticizes Zimbabwe and using what words? The words you have used recently Sir, are not akin to a new leader and whose own country is still reeling from one of the worst violent episodes on the continent. We are getting increasing concerned and frustrated that you are not using diplomatic channels in criticising Zimbabwe. You will soon be mirroring the utterances of the erstwhile enemies of Zimbabwe, who have closed all diplomatic channels and are now trying to use 'force' to bring change in the couintry. You might as well be representing those countries, and their interests in Zimbabwe, not Kenya. We do not exactly know what ‘triggered you off’ as a new Prime Minister to dedicate your respectable offices to criticizing Zimbabwe in this manner, when you have the advantage of your 'good offices' to do so. We were hoping that if you had any concerns, as a ‘head of state’ you had the opportunity to visit President Mugabe and speak to him directly. But you chose to use different fora; just like those people who have traditionally been at loggerheads with Zimbabwe. In this regard, with all due respect, we think this is cowardly. As a ‘head of state’ why you preferred to use the World Economic Forum in Pretoria and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington as platforms for firing ‘insults’ at Zimbabwe, rather than engage the leadership to find common solutions, is not clear. Your silence on Darfur and your own problems at home on these same fora is very concerning. When you said you are ‘enemy No 1’ in Zimbabwe, you were wrong Mr Odinga. Zimbabwe does not hate you at all. You are not the enemy. Why are you identifying yourself with the enemies of Zimbabwe? Why should Zimbabwe hate you? Or, to rephrase, do you want Zimbabwe to hate you? As a news organsiation, we are concerned by your statements, but hate is a far-fetched word. Afterall, you are an African brother. We sincerely hope that you do not view your leadership as ‘a way of doing it’ in Africa. Your leadership as Prime Minister is yet to be tested, yet you have the audacity to speak ill about Zimbabwe's leadership. As we speak ethnic tension in your country is showing no sign of abating and suspicion runs high in your cabinet. We do not know if President Mwai Kibaki shares the same sentiments as you on Zimbabwe. We have only heard your lone voice from your bloated cabinet. The just-ended by-elections in your country have highlighted continued tensions between the coalition partners and the persistence of ethnic politics. The coalition that holds your government together is still to be tested. We urge you not to be over-excited by power and start criticizing what you term 'old African leaders'. We know about the disgruntlement that exists in your party today, and your desire to forgive those who have perpetrated violence in the post-election period which has been criticised by the Roman Catholic prelate Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi. Many of your allies “have been disheartened by the success of Mr Kibaki’s party – and his Kikuyu ethnic group – in dominating a government conceived as a union of equals,” according to the Financial Times. Long-standing ethnic grievances over the unequal distribution of land, wealth and power in Kenya will not be resolved by a GNU, and we hope you know that. This, we know, is what triggered the post-election violence, although others have said it was your desire to attain power. We hope you will not get so overzealous in your new job as to create new enemies for Kenya from old friends. You still have a long way to go before the next election (in 2012). There is still a lot of work to do on constitutional reform, on truth, justice and reconciliation, and on the ever contentious issue of land. These are very delicate areas and before you start presenting yourself as an effective leader, you have to resolve these problems first. KENYA, NOT SO LONG AGO We do not know who you represent in your views Mr Odinga, given that you seem to be distracting world attention from Kenya. It would suffice to remind people of what happened to kenya in January this year, to contextulise our concern. Some quotations from the media not so long ago would help: “An estimated 30 Kenyans of the Kikuyu ethnic group – many of them children – were burned alive after taking shelter from a mob in a church in the western town of Eldoret,” CS Monitor, Jan 3, 2008. “Ethnic violence continued to spread throughout Kenya on Sunday, with at least 7 people burned to death in their homes in a tourist town and more than 100 people killed in the past four days.” Associated Press Janury 27, 2008. In one incident, witnesses said at least 7 people and possibly as many as 14 had been burned to death after they were trapped inside their house. Associated Press January 27, 2008. “On Saturday, hundreds of men prowled a section of the city with iron bars, poisoned swords, clubs, knives and crude circumcision tools. Boys carried gladiator-style shields and women strutted around with sharpened sticks. The police were nowhere to be found. Even the locals were shocked. ‘I've never seen anything like this,’ said David Macharia, a bus driver.” Associated Press Janury 27, 2008. This will suffice for now. 300 people died in pre-election violence in Kenya and 2,500 died post election violence. This number, by any measure, dwarfs the 65-70 deaths recorded by the MDC (Tsvangirai) in unclear circumstances, yet you call Zimbabwe an eyesore, without trying to engage the Zimbabwean government as a PM. We feel that Mr Odinga you still have to prove yourself as a leader and therefore are unqualified to make informed judgments about other leaders. We do not know what advises your judgment. We urge you to stop the globe-trotting and focus on troubles in Kenya and engage African (Zimbabwean) leaders. We also urge you to let Mr Kibaki sometimes comment on Zimbabwe. He is the president, afterall. We do not even know if he shares the same sentiments as you over Zimbabwe. We also urge you to reduce the size of your cabinet. We know that cabinet posts in Kenya attract a monthly salary of nearly (US) $18,000 (£9,000). Assistant ministers earn a bit less - just over $15,000. (BBC) We also know that there are “40 cabinet ministers and 52 assistant ministers, not far short of half the total number of MPs” in your country. “Ministers and their assistants also get allowances - that adds another $210,000 a month to the bill. “To add insult to injury, the Kenyan exchequer only claws back a little in tax: only around $3,000 of the ministers' income is treated as taxable income.” So we know that you spend at least US$1.5million a month on salaries alone — the Kenyan taxpayers’ money. What exactly are you managing in that country Mr Odinga? And couldn’t you use that money for land redistribution and dealing with ethnic divisions in your country? Do you think this is sustainable in the long run? We have problems in Zimbabwe. We have to deal with them; but we do not need insults from you Mr Odinga. We need help. We did not insult your country or your leadership when innocent people died in Kenya in the name of politics. We expect you, the new generation of leaders, to be exemplary, not derogatory and divisive. What lessons are you teaching future generations of leaders? Is this the best you can come up with in your first months of leadership? Do you have to exploit every forum to chastise those who make mistakes and castigate your own continent? The US$13m a year you are about top spend on your cabinet, according to the BBC, is enough to build around 50 new schools in Kenya. So is this not an ‘eyesore’ on the continent? Is this a ‘way of doing it’? Having 40 permanent secretaries and their staff, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars more to the bill, is not a ‘way of doing it’, neither is it exemplary leadership on a continent that is trying to lift itself from years of foreign domination and extraction of resources. Mr Odinga, we wonder why you have already been allocated 45 security staff and a fleet of cars to travel in, when you say the situation in Kenya is improving. We also wonder why “cabinet ministers and their deputies get a minimum of five security personnel and a couple of shiny new cars.” In a country with an annual per capita income of less than US$400, these statistics are shocking. They are irresponsible. They are an antithesis to development and an embarrassment to the continent, and definitely an ‘eyesore’ and a ‘way of not doing it’. THE ZIMBABWEAN PROBLEM Sometimes, Mr Odinga, we wonder if you really know the Zimbabwean problem — how it started and how long it took the government to get majority rule. We wonder if you have read the history of our relationship with the ‘wild wild West’. We wonder if you know how many people perished in colonial Rhodesian and how many people sacrificed their lives. We also wonder if you know how many black Zimbabweans people fought in World War II and were only given 15 Shillings as compensation on return; and how your own people (the Kenyans) contributed to the British Empire in Burma and SE Asia and went back home to fight the same people for freedom. Obviously history is not important to you, Mr Odinga. We believe the world starts in 2008 for you? We do not say seek retribution; but we say, ‘contextualize problems’ before you are given a ‘High Chair’ at some forum or institute. Have pride in resolving your continent’s problems; not castigating those who came before you. Even Catholicism was proved fallible, remember papal infallibility? Why can’t Zimbabwe make mistakes without attracting your un-useful comments? Why can’t you take a trip to Zimbabwe and not to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. if you feel Zimbabwe needs urgent attention? Why didn’t you detour to Zimbabwe on your way to, or from Pretoria, where you were attending the World Economic Forum? Why do you always have to score points by mentioning Zimbabwe — and not providing credible solutions — than by talking about Kenya? Is there not enough trouble in Kenya? We urge you Mr Odinga, to diplomatically engage the Zimbabwean government. People are dying in the country and your words are not very helpful to a situation that is out of hand. We all exercised caution when Kenya was burning. It still is burning today, and we are still exercising caution. We are not getting over-excited. That’s what leaders do — find strategic ways to resolve crises, not attack other leaders. We do not remember hearing President Mugabe refusing to meet you or criticizing you or Mr Kibaki. We also do not remember you offering to help Zimbabwe. We remember your hugs with opposition leaders soon after your ‘inauguration’ and hugs at the World Economic Forum with Tendai Biti and Jendayi Frazer. Those are more memorable than anything useful you have said or done on ‘really’ resolving the Zimbabwean crisis. We urge you to clean house before you make any further embarrassing statements about Zimbabwe in your first few months of leadership; and we also urge you to seek diplomatic ways of engaging the Zimbabwean government. While at it, please also ask the Africa Commission and its splinter organisations and their spokespersons to lead a diplomatic offensive on Zimbabwe rather than speak from London. Also please ask Mr Tony Blair to encourage the ‘African Elders’ he currently leads, to use the same methods he used in a more difficult situation in Northern Ireland, in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis. Zimbabweans are dying from violence and soberness and diplomacy by leadership is needed; not these divisive by-partisan statements likely to divide a continent that was moving towards a Pan-African integration. RSVP. info@talkzimbabwe.com

READER OPINIONS Dipesh Pabari • dpinkenya@yahoo.co.uk Subject: well said indeed Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:13:05 • To my fellow African who posted on my blog Sukuma Kenya, I could not agree with you more. It is easier for us Kenyans to point the finger elsewhere. Nothing has been resolved in this country. We have the same criminals in government and the same people sitting receiving nice fat paychecks in their respective NGOs pretending to do good for Kenya. Ask any of them to get out and march and there will be a silence, ask them to hold a workshop abour protesting for peace, and the room will be full... Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots! Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:48:28 • Please, Africans, Rail Odinga does not deserve the time of day. lol For the sake of power ALONE, this self-hating and self-destructive man collude with the Europeans to mass 'slaughter' African people. Odinga can speak the propaganda of his European slave masters; because there aren't Kenyan Patriots willing to close him down. Zimbabweans are way ahead in this regard. Zim Patriots are magnanimous . Any self-hating and self-destructive servant and slave of the Europeans WILL pay the price for any increase violence against ordinary Zimbabweans. Kenya should have patriots who can make Odinga and his slave masters pay for the horrendous crimes against ordinary Kenyans. Then we bet that Odinga wouldn't be so full of bombast? By allowing Rail Odinga, to roam freely and the british to continue holding onto choice African lands in Kenya, Kenyans will AGAIN need liberators. Gwatakwata Mlambo • N/a Subject: Mugabe Bashing Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:27:23 • The truth is Mr Odinga loves the limelight and he thinks that by bashing President Mugabe in every International fora, he gains more marks. Well he CERTAINLY will get them. He may also be able to divert people's attention from the realities that he has to deal with in Kenya-but for how long. The unfortunate thing is the marks he seeks to gain, are marks allocated by the same people who plundered Africa. The same people who would like Africa to remain an undeveloped continent so that our brothers and sisters can continue to trek northwards to service their economies. The same people who want Africa to remain undeveloped so that the term AID remains part of our vocabulary for ever. Mr Odinga Sir, you should apologise to the people of Zimbabwe for insulting their leadership. Kindly invest more time in cultivating the true friendship between the peoples of Kenya and Zimbabwe, and the fractured relations between the Luo and Kikuyu which you have been the major architect. Raila, you are our brother and not our enemy. Mugabe is your brother and not enemy. If you do not understand this, then I pity Kenyans including the Luos who revere you. Tee • ngomandiyo@hotmail.com Subject: n/a Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:45:37 • Odinga thinks we dont know about the tribal violence that his party was promoting.He thinks he can lecture us about democracy,as far as im concerned there is no democracy in kenya. It is just a country being run by proxys of the west. Odinga we know your connection to the British, who you speak to impress when you criticise Zimbabwe. Who are you anyway. You are a nobody in Africa..A tiny little dot. Wanja • wn.2007@hotmail.com Subject: Kenya cannot point a finger at Zimbabwe, Honestly! Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:35:12 • Well said. As a Kenyan working abroad and whereas I do not believe in tribalism, racism or whatever other isms abound, I believe in removing the speck in my eye before bothering about the log in someone else's. The issues mentioned above and so many others the writer has no idea about in Kenya need urgent measures. Poverty levels in the country are astronomical while the honorable members of parliament enjoy monetary gains that are unbelievable in a developing nation. What we have in Kenya right now is a 'time bomb' waiting to explode unless leaders deal with issues in a realistic manner and not having blown up cabinets to 'appease' political parties. The issues in Kenya need to be dealt with once and for all and by leaders who want to see the people of Kenya from whatever tribes or races enjoy independence more than 44 years later! No one chooses which tribe or race to be born into - lets be proud of whoever we are and use our skin, lingua or other differences for the good of all both in Kenya, Zimbabwe and other African countries facing similar issues. Its time Africa is giving the respect it deserves but charity has to begin at home! enock • egamha@yahoo.ca Subject: we 're not like kenya Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:24:44 • mugabe should rule zim for as long has he feels. God bless RG MUGABE Richard • omondi007@yahoo.com Subject: Why have u not published my comment? Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:59:14 • I submitted my comment several hours ago in which I raised some flaws in your opinion piece. I am surprised that you have not published it yet. This does not reflect well on your image as an impartial source of news and information. You may not even publish this comment, but at least you have read what I think of you and your opinion piece on Odinga. Sadhaki Observer • n/a Subject: Odinga has no moral right to criticise Zim Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:50:24 • We all condone violence - the fact here is Odinga is the least qualified to accuse anyone of formenting violence. He is currently enjoying his premiership post at the expense of thousands of Kenyans he personally incited to engaage in violence so he could get his current title - and guess what he is not even mourning the deaths he sanctioned. As such, he too is guilty of a much bigger offence than he accuses the zim gvt of. Odinga is singing for his supper from the west - they gave him that position so he has to work for it, unfortunately in a regretable manner. Odinga aspires to be white - never mind he is as black as five dark nights put together. BHUDHI MUKOMA • dexterbm@gmail.com Subject: Mugabe a Dictator Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:30:25 • ZANU PF wants us to believe that we are in this dilema due to the influence of the west. The MDC is not a formation of the west but a grouping of tormrnted masses who dare to speak. If ZANU has the support of the masses why unleash the army machinery on the people. We can't be silent when our brothers are being butchered in the countyside. Why is the police saying its hands are tied when it comes to arresting ZANU thugs. MUGABE is a DICTATOR, just like his ally MENGISTU. Birds of a feather Chief Negomo • munhumutapamurozvi@yahoo.co.uk Subject: SIMON NYIRENDA Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:49:33 • We not saying Odinga should not comment,but his comments denotes an il informed person.In as much as he can be an ideal person to comment,the guardian newspaper is questioning his timing and the platform he is using.More to say on the allegations he is fermenting against a legitimate govt that your are saying is guilty of the innocent blood,equaly this disqualifies Mr Odinga to make such deragotory statements about zim.Mr Odinga is equaly stained with blood of over 1500 innocent kikuyus and masai. We have got situations that are wholesomely suppose to be attracting great interest for Mr Odinga to comment,but he seem to be undermining those simply because his backers are behind the scuffle.Africa has been looted and still continously being plundered by myopic and greedy nations like Britain,US and the like.Why is Mr Odinga not commenting on this.Maybe you do not know,The US is killing and raping civilians in somalia.Somalis have more people who have sought refugee across the globe than zimbabwe.In Mr Odinga's country there could be a million somali refugees and why would Mr Odinga choose to direct his vernom on zim.We blacks we seem to be seriously mentaly corrupted.Its open secret that the blood of civilians was shade in matebeleland.There is absolutely no justification to this,but why do you choose to dwell on this one alone.Are you not aware that Smith equally masacred innocent civilians.I know what you would say,It was war.Was the war against the blacks justfied at all. So all we are saying is usabvisa chitanda muziso mememwe,tanga nemako.Are you not seing some of the west's actions.Read about severo moto,mann,jonas savimbi,DRC and the liek Simon Nyirenda • tamarasvd@hotmail.com Subject: Zimbabwe an eyesore Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:27:28 • Its true Zim is an eyesore a disgrace to Africa. You cant ask Odinga not to comment on the violence taking place in Zimbabwe. If it is bad it is bad. Zanu-Pf is a party full off people who enjoy seeing blood. What happened in the 80's was not blood when people where massacred by Mugabe and his people. Guardian we are watching you try to be impartial. Chief Negomo • munhumutapamurozvi@yahoo.co.uk Subject: WELL SAID Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:34:16 • We all know of the masai problems,the mungiki terror,kenyan is rated the country with the largest slums in the world yet we do not have all that in zim. Kukanganwa chazuro ne hope.The blood of innocent kenyans are is oozing from this bastard's hands.Zim is not an outlaw governement and we do not condone an form of violence despite the fact your friends (MDC) Mr Odinga have long promised the current situation of zim. Mr Odinga even your father achieved little if not none for the people of Kenya.I have personally attended your rally at Uhuru park and you said more rhetoric than constructive speach.I have witnesed a lot that the Kibaki govt has done in kenya.I am sure you can construct more homes at moja there rather than globe trotting and spreading falsehoods about zim.You are a misguided figure and a power monger www.talkzimbabwe.com