Second Open Letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki

19 March 2007

Attention: President Thabo Mbeki
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
PO Box 15, Cape Town
Tel: (021) 403-2911
Fax: (021) 403-3817
president@po.gov.za

Dear His Excellency President Thabo Mbeki

Greetings to you in the special name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the source of all freedom and truth

Mr. President my challenge to you is motivated by love for the suffering and oppressed Zimbabweans, which you are denying justice and truth.

In 2005, you said that they is no crisis in Zimbabwe and you criticized the United States of America for listing Zimbabwe as an “outpost of tyranny.” Mr. President your hypocrisy is becoming visible for all to see. You should repent from such blatant hypocrisy there is so much suffering in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe

Mugabe’s ZANU PF government has committed genocide in 1983 and now is committing a second genocide. Independent newspapers have been banned and some bombed. Journalists have been arrested, tortured and some killed. Offices of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have been bombed. Opposition members of Parliament have been arrested, tortured and some killed. Tens of thousands supporters of MDC , the majority of whom are Christians have been tortured and many murdered by the government. Human rights groups have documented more than 1 million cases of human rights abuses by the State.

In June 2005, Mugabe bulldozed homes of more than 700 000 people. Thousands of productive farms have been invaded and looted by Police, Soldiers, War Veterans and State sponsored militias. Millions of Zimbabweans are starving to death. Currently it is estimated that more than 2000 Zimbabweans are dying every week due to deliberate starvation by the State. Well-crafted genocide is taking place in Zimbabwe.

All Zimbabwean elections have been characterized by rigging and intimidation of the electorate. In 2002, the South African Observer Mission leader, Sam Motsuenyame concluded the 9 –10 march presidential election should be considered legitimate. Tim Boya of the Mission added, “The election in Zimbabwe had passed in the same way if not even better in other African countries.” The leaders of the Observer Mission disregarded violence, murder, abduction of the electorate and torture of the local election observers and massive irregularities.

“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin,” Proverbs 26:28

The late MDC spokesperson Jongwe said, “All those leaders and individuals who are backing ZANU PF’s murderous agenda must know that they have blood on their hands and that one day, justice will be done,” he concludes.

The Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana declared the 31 March 2005 rigged Parliament (Zimbabwe) elections free and fair. Why are the South African ruling leaders united against Zimbabweans? Denying the oppressed Zimbabweans justice and truth is blatant wickedness.

“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern” Proverbs 29:7.

Abuse of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in South Africa

Mr. President you claimed that they is no crisis in Zimbabwe. To further prove you wrong more than 2 million Zimbabweans are in South Africa. Every day more than 1000 Zimbabweans are crossing the crocodile infested Limpopo River fleeing both starvation and State terrorism in Zimbabwe. When there is no crisis, such numbers of people do not risk their lives leaving their country.

Your government is denying many Zimbabweans Asylum permits. Recently Home Affairs offices that issue Asylum permits have been closed down in both Johannesburg and Pretoria. Your government refuses to grant refugee status to Zimbabwean Asylum Permit holders.

A few months ago the Pretoria High Court ordered the Home Affairs to grant refugee status to Zimbabwean Asylum Permit holders within 3 months of application. Justice Rabie of the High Court ruled in favour of seven Zimbabwean asylum seekers who took the current Home Affairs procedure to court. “The Court ruled that, “the process was highly inefficient and that the lengthy delays in processing asylum applications hindered refugees from accessing basic rights, such as the right to study and work. The order outlined certain changes, which should be made to improve its methods (the Home Affairs) of handling asylum applications.

An Exiled Zimbabwean lawyer, Gabriel Sumba, pointed out that speedy determination of asylum applications in an efficient and non – discriminatory manner was an integral prerequisite for enjoyment of these rights by refugees. Mr. Shumba called the South African government to deal with the Zimbabwean crisis in an active and constructive manner, as opposed to mass and often indiscriminate deportations of Zimbabweans.

“When the alien lives with you in your land, do not ill treat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born love him as yourself, for you were aliens… I’m the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:33

Quite Diplomacy

Mr. President your quiet diplomacy is fake. Your government supports ZANU PF government of President Robert Mugabe.

“Can a corrupt throne be allied with you- one that bring on misery by its decrees?”

Why are you still silent over the Sunday, 11 March 2007 State attack of a prayer meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe? Your government refuses to publicly denounce atrocities taking place in Zimbabwe, yet it loans money to Mugabe’s government and praises his wicked land reform policies. On the other hand your government abuse Zimbabweans seeking political asylum and refugee. Is your heart on suffering Zimbabweans or on the oppressors, Mugabe’s ZANU PF government? Mr. President whom do you seek to deceive? Neutrality is an illusion. If you do not have the intention to follow in the footsteps of your Marxist brothers in Zimbabwe, why are you supporting them?

Mr. President l believe that as a patriotic Zimbabwean have a moral obligation to challenge your double standards and cover up of evil in Zimbabwe. I pronounce woes upon your leadership.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,” Isaiah 5:20.

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless…” Isaiah 10:1

Yours for the oppressed Zimbabweans,

Collen Makumbirofa

Foundation of Reason & Justice
P.O. BOX 61441
Marshall Town 2107
South Africa
zimnews@mail.com
http://forjustice.atspace.org
http://zimjustice.blogspot.com/