Candace: please visit this well done site by one woman in Zimbabwe and get an idea of the horror of that area, and which also inflicts much of Africa right now. We are so unaware in the USA and many other "western countries" of the suffering elsewhere in this world. Always the suffering......... well it ever stop, will man not rise up and end of it?

www.cathybuckle.com   

Note from her webmaster on the front page of the site:

A MESSAGE FROM THE WEBMASTER 

This site is dedicated to a true African, her name is Cathy Buckle. I have never met her but I share her profound love for the people and a country called Zimbabwe. From reading her book called "AFRICAN TEARS" and her weekly letters, I know that I also share her values and her sense of fair play which has motivated her to tell the truth about the despicable events which are unfolding in this beautiful country. Her letters bear witness and testimony to the exact nature of what is happening on the ground. They are a record for future generations to reflect upon with sadness and tears.

Democracy, as understood by the "free" world, no longer exists in Zimbabwe. Huge swathes of the countryside have been turned into "no go" areas by the ruling party's thugs who are now known as "war veterans". This means that no news, other than Government spin doctoring, comes forth. When the ugly truth finally does come out, the world will be horrified. The truth is that there is absolutely no rule of law. The elections which were held in March 2002 were rigged by the ruling party. Currently, ZanuPF are illegitimately "ruling" the country. Human rights abuses have continued unabated. Cathy Buckle is just one of the people who have the courage and conviction to let the world know what she sees and experiences on a daily basis.
The reality is that while you read this, crimes against humanity are in progress and very little, if anything, is being done to stop this madness. State sponsored terror and anarchy continues unabated.....

You may well ask what you can do to help. If you live in a free and democratic country, all Zimbabweans would ask is that you make your concerns known to your representatives in Government and urge them to put pressure on the government of Zimbabwe.

THE " DROUGHT " AND STARVATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

As far back as the year 2000, food shortages were predicted, given the proposed ZanuPF's intended so-called "fast track" agrarian reform. As food supplies dwindled, government ministers continually and categorically stated that there were adequate food supplies. This was a lie. At that stage, the farming community issued dire warnings of the consequences should the government carry out their intentions but this advice fell on deaf ears.

The starvation currently being experienced in Southern Africa is a direct result of ZanuPF's policies. It is common knowledge that Zimbabwe was the food basket of Southern Africa. Neighbouring countries have always relied on Zimbabwe to top up their staple food requirements because they have rarely, if ever, been self sufficient. Reports and statements made by certain media, analysts and politicians that the cause is drought is simply not correct. Southern Africa is renowned for it's frequent droughts. However, on the ground, this "drought" is a misnomer because all the dams in Zimbabwe are full but irrigation equipment is lying idle. The reality is that this "drought" is man-made as a result of experienced farmers being prevented from doing what they do best - farming to feed Southern Africa. It is notable that South African farmers, who have not been subjected to the same treatment, have produced good grain yields under the same climatic conditions. This further re-enforces the argument that this food shortage is NOT caused by drought.

On 8th August 2002, 93% of Zimbabwe's commercial farmers have been ordered (by an illegal regime) to leave their farms, their homes and their livelihoods. The downstream impact is that 1,500,000 people (men, women and children) will become unemployed economic refugees with nowhere to go.

The ramifications of this madness are going to affect the well-being and food security of Southern Africa for years to come. The worst is still to come.

Famine is now entrenched and most African leaders must shoulder blame because they have remained silent.

The Webmaster

Do Zimbabweans deserve this treatment?

Is what happened on 11th September 2001 any different to what is happening in Zimbabwe every day?

Does anybody really care?

WHAT IS MUGABE'S NEXT PLAN?