Proof Mugabe Buys Elections

7/27/2019 Proof Mugabe Buys Elections

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Proof Mugabe buys elections: Astonishing

documents show evidence of 'neutralising' ofvoters, millions paid for systematic rigging andsmuggling of blood diamonds - to ensure tyrant,89, clings to power

Election in ten days is Mugabe's last roll of the dice after 33 years in power

Israeli firm is being paid 8.5 million to counter 'unfavourable' results

Chinese government helping with ballot rigging and voter intimidationPolice officers have been allowed to vote before citizens

Opposition politician died last month in a suspicious car crash

By Ian Birrell

PUBLISHED: 22:35 GMT, 20 July 2013 | UPDATED: 22:35 GMT, 20 July 2013

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Determined to win: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe hailing his supporters

Damning top-secret intelligence documents that expose Robert Mugabes plans to rig the forthcoming election

in Zimbabwe and crush his political rivals have been handed to The Mail on Sunday.

The dossier reveals in astonishing detail how Mugabe is plotting to steal millions of votes with massive and

systematic ballot-rigging combined with widespread intimidation by party thugs.

His tactics, along with details of massive funding from named British, Chinese and African backers, aredisclosed in highly confidential papers written for his closest aides.

They were obtained from intelligence sources who risked their lives to expose the covert campaign to keep

89-year-old Mugabe and his brutal military cabal in power.

The documents explain how unfavourable voting outcomes for the ruling Zanu-PF party will be countered for

a multi-million-pound fee to an Israeli company that has been helping the dictator for a decade.

They also show how Mugabes desperate bid to retain power in the nation he has ravaged during 33 years of

repressive misrule is being aided by the Chinese government, fellow African dictators and secretive diamond

mining firms.

Ominously, the leaked papers reveal the recruitment of armed militia and talk of the need for disciplinaryaction to enemy leaders, saying the use of absolute neutralisation of the enemy...is recommended when

necessary.

Peter Hain, the former Africa minister and campaigner against blood diamonds, said: This confirms our worst

fears about democracy being prostituted in Zimbabwe.

The South African-raised MP added: The Government and EU cannot turn a blind eye to such abuses when

democracy is being destroyed and the opposition muted in such a manner.


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Intimidation: Armed soldiers stand guard at President Robert Mugabe's campaign rally

ahead of Presidential elections on July 31

The documents, prepared for the head of Zimbabwes highly feared Central Intelligence Organisation and the

Joint Operational Command (JOC), the body that oversees state security, contain a number of alarming

disclosures.

Nikuv International Projects, an Israeli firm, is being paid $13 million (8.5 million) to manipulate voter

registration, counter unfavourable results and neutralise opposition votes.

The Chinese government is helping with ballot rigging, advising on voter intimidation and providing

jamming equipment to silence independent radio stations.

Already, 45,534 youths have been trained and deployed across the country in armed militia to stem

resistance, with another 7,343 undergoing training and mass reorientation classes to be ready three

days before polling.

Security forces are adamant that six Zanu-PF moderates must be STOPPED from standing. One of the

named politicians, Edward Chindori-Chininga, died last month in a suspicious car crash. His family say it

was an assassination.

Funding for the covert campaign is coming from controversial diamond companies, the presidents of two

African countries and prominent business figures from Britain, China and Zimbabwe.Millions of dollars are being directed towards leaders of southern African countries providing

independent election monitors to drum up support for poll credibility before, during and after elections.

The Mail on Sunday was passed the dossier by intelligence figures frustrated with the barbarity and rigid

discipline of Mugabes Marxist-influenced regime. There are lots of us who hate the way things are done by

the old guard, said one.

This source, a senior official among the estimated 300,000 spies in Zimbabwe, was clearly nervous when we

met in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. Security forces are caught up in factional feuding among the generals

and politicians plotting to succeed Mugabe.


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The election in ten days time is Mugabes last roll of the dice after three decades in power during which time

his regime has wrecked the economy, ruined key public services, helped halve life expectancy and driven

about one in six Zimbabweans into exile.

Tyrant: Mugabe, left, pictured with his wife Grace, has ruled Zimbabwe for 33 years under

a repressive and brutal regime

The previous poll in 2008 was held against an appalling backdrop of poverty and starvation caused by the

second-worst case of hyper-inflation in history, peaking at 231 million per cent. Shops had no food, hospitals

closed and Aids was rife.

The opposition Movement For Democratic Change won by 20 per cent. But after Mugabes goons started to

slaughter their rivals, foreign diplomats forced the creation of an uncomfortable coalition with the despot back

as president and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister.

After introducing the dollar as currency, the economy stabilised yet close to nine in ten people remain

unemployed.

The leaked papers show a clear strategy led by security forces in alliance with the Chinese communist party

and Nikuv to neutralise hostile votes in urban areas where MDC support is highest.

Among the tactics are under-registering voters aged under 35 and over-registering older people, who are more

likely to vote for Mugabe. They also discuss parallel registration through party offices with strict advice from

Nikuv International for statistical manoeuvring.

Reports released last week by independent monitors confirmed the scale of Zanu-PFs electoral corruption. In

a country with a population of fewer than 13 million people, and an average life expectancy of 51, there were

found to be 900,000 duplicate entries on the register, including 109,000 people aged over 100. There might be

five centenarians at best, one doctor confided.

Two million young people remain unregistered. The leaked documents disclose the electoral commission has


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orders to register fewer than ten people per day in some areas.

The dossier underlines both the need for, and effectiveness of, such tactics. In one region, they reveal

Zanu-PF membership has fallen ten per cent since the last election.

Another section, written at the start of last month, discusses Mugabes electoral prospects in different parts of

the country. It says: Records, reconnaissance and collaborated intelligence show that Midlands Province

alone has the potential of producing 450,000 votes by July end.

Mashonaland Central and West can produce a total of 1.2 million votes over and above already recorded

friendly votes.

It adds: Intelligence officers will take a lead role in party structures to set housing schemes, re-orient the

beneficiaries and populate them on the voters roll through party offices and Nikuv International Projects.


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Nikuv did not return calls or emails about its activities in Zimbabwe. However, a spokesman was quoted by a

South African paper earlier this month saying it was a legitimate and professional company: We have never

been involved in any politics, not now or ever.

It also pointed out it had no control over the electoral roll.

The security files show the generals tightening their grip on Zanu-PF, helping security staff defeat civilian

candidates whose indiscipline cost the party.

Yet they also reveal the regime meeting opposition from civilian supporters although its said thatre-orientation through mass mobilisation and covert coercion has achieved results.

One document chillingly headed Operation Return To Zanu-PF says there is an urgent need for mass

recruitment of youths under armed leaders to stem resistance.

The dossier lists the numbers already recruited in each region and the name of the top military officer in

charge, saying deployments of trained gangs will direct enemy neutralisation.

South African intelligence and local human rights groups have observed a big rise in supplies of weapons and

vehicles going into Zimbabwe in recent months amid fears hardline military chiefs will mount a coup if their

plans to steal the election are thwarted.

Zanu is led by people who won a war of liberation and seem to think they are still fighting, said Jessie

Majome, a lawyer and leading MDC figure. They just keep on fighting and want to crush us. I am fearful.

The leak also underlines the close links between China and Zimbabwe following previous reports of diamonds

and gold being exchanged for arms by Chinese dealers.

There are reports on nine trips out of the country in just six weeks earlier this year by named individuals

moving huge quantities of diamonds and money between Zimbabwe, Angola, Dubai and China.


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Skewed democracy: Police officers have been allowed to cast their votes early

The papers show how much of the regimes funding, security training and tactical advice comes from China.

They reveal great anxiety over enemy pirate radio stations adding that China has donated and is installing

new short-wave jammers and updating old equipment.

Other funds were listed as coming from two controversial diamond mining firms with links to the Zimbabwean

military.

Nicholas van Hoogstraten, the notorious British property mogul, is recorded as donating $3 million (1.96

million). He has long been close to Mugabe. Van Hoogstraten confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that he had

given money to Zanu-PF, but said it was not being used to rig election results.

The dossier also shows that military chiefs attending an election meeting at an airbase last month were told of

payments of tens of millions of dollars from Joseph Kabila, the Congolese president, and Teodoro Obiang,

corrupt ruler of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.

As the election gets closer, violence and intimidation are increasing, with opposition activists coming underattack from Mugabe supporters. Mugabe has stepped up the use of forced attendance at party rallies and

state patronage.

There are plans to make villagers in rural areas attend pungwes all-night indoctrination meetings used in the

liberation war to incite supporters three days before voting.

Security officials are also setting up hundreds of party bases rooms used to torture Zimbabweans who

refuse to give in to their pressure.

Yet the documents show a third of Mugabes election fund is being spent on regional diplomacy to ensure a

clean bill of health from the Southern African Development Community, the 14 nations whose observers are


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monitoring the election.

The crocodile, a 7 billion will, and a fast food war... thebizarre backdrop to vital vote

As the warm winter sun beat down, newspaper editors and businessmen dined on crispy chicken and fat

steaks cooked on the barbecue.

The restaurant, opened just months ago in the gorgeous grounds of the old colonial bowling club, symbolises

both the changes in Zimbabwe and hopes of a peaceful future after such a tumultuous past.

Tension: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has ruled out staying in coalition with

Mugabe

It was hard to envisage a more idyllic scene. Yet it is deceptive. For discussions at the tables centred on the

crucial few days ahead in the life of this beautiful, battered nation. First comes the hastily called election in ten

days time amid grotesque ballot-rigging and rising violence.

It is a short campaign, designed so it can be endured by a doddery dictator whose body is riddled with cancer,face is frozen with Botox and hair is coloured with dye.

Then comes the critical aftermath and whatever the result, things could get nasty. If Morgan Tsvangirais

MDC wins despite losing some of its sheen in office, there are fears hardline elements in the security forces

could unleash another reign of terror, torture and mass murder or simply mount a military coup.

If Robert Mugabe retains his presidency, there will be jostling for succession between rival Zanu-PF camps

that could turn violent.

Curiously, despite his dreadful record, Mugabes biggest weakness is that he cares deeply about his

reputation, which is why he is desperate to appear to win the election and get the last Western sanctions lifted.


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He wants to end his career with dignity and win back respect, said one well-placed observer. But most of all,

he does not want to end up in The Hague.

After the blood-stained ballot in 2008, foreign diplomats threatened Mugabe and his circle with the

International Criminal Court in order to force them into coalition with their enemies. It has been an uneasy

union one minister told me senior civil servants in her department were barred from speaking to her, let

alone sharing policy but it salvaged the country.

Some of those close to Mugabe suspect this cold and calculating man is so weary of party infighting he would

privately prefer to lose; he is thought to have offered to step down after losing the 2008 vote until told to stayput by his generals.

He knows everyone is giving him fake smiles when they really want him to go, said a source. And he also

knows that if he wins the factions start fighting and there will be terrible bloodshed.

The two key camps revolve around The Crocodile feared defence secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa,

currently in the ascendancy and his comparatively moderate rival, vice-president Joyce Mujuru.

Long reign of terror: Mugabe, right, celebrating an election win in 1980


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Her husband, a former army chief said to be the only man to stand up to Mugabe in meetings, died in a

suspicious fire two years ago. Gunfire was reported to have been heard beforehand.

It is rumoured Mujurus will was worth 7billion, demonstrating obscene levels of corruption among the

supposed communist comrades while most of the population struggles in poverty.

Such is the dislike between the two camps, their families even feud over rival fast-food outlets, with Mujurus

nephew positioning his chain of chicken bars close to Mnangagwas Nandos restaurant franchises.

The defence minister also has massive gold and diamond mining interests.

Casting a long shadow: Mugabe's years of misrule are being aided by the Chinese

government, fellow dictators and secretive diamond mining firms

These are what make the election such a high-stakes affair. For after the last election the security forces

began milking the worlds biggest diamond minefields in Marange, earning billions for the generals and funding

a Chinese-fuelled arms build-up.

A government insider told me that in 2010 these mines alone should have earned the state 1.07 billion, yet

only 23 million ended up in the exchequer.

One well-connected Harare businessman gave me an insight into Zanus tactics. He is having to dress in

party regalia to attend rallies five times a week and lasting several hours at a time as the election looms, a

legacy of Mugabes revolutionary past.

They call Tsvangirai every name going and then we must sing songs and shout slogans, he said. They check

names and if you dont go or the next day dont know the latest slogan you are in trouble.

Yet after 33 years of Marxism, murder and mayhem, Mugabe might be undone by one of his few successes:

the creation of perhaps Africas finest education system.


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I cant tell you how boring these rallies are, the source said. Many of us there have degrees and these people

shouting at us are not well educated. I sit there checking my Blackberry, trying to do business.

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Comments (117)

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Uncle Bob, the peoples president.

- horseboi , Oxford, 22/7/2013 12:11

Click to rate Rating 2

Report abuse

Mugabe a brutal dictator? Every day, thanks to the DM, I learn something new.

- Peter , beverley, United Kingdom, 22/7/2013 09:28


Report abuse

The problem with my beloved country is not ZANU, everyone knows that ZANU is just a dead donkey, the issue here is that there is

no viable alternative.This MDC is just all about oppositition to ZANU nothing more.Yes ZANU will rig the elections as usual, what

next MDC has no Plan B.Come 1 August ther will be the usual protest, SADC will endorse the rigged result and we go back to

square one which is another GNU.

- Thabani Mjikwa , melbourne, Australia, 22/7/2013 07:18


15/16


Report abuse

So the Chinese government is helping Mugabe's election campaign. No doubt using experienced picked up in its domestic

"elections".

- Myles Harcourt , London, 22/7/2013 06:49


Report abuse

All African countries are corrupt,period. It is just that some are more corrupt than others, with Zimbabwe probably topping the list.The

pursuit of power and the retention of power is the most powerful 'drug' in the world with dictators like Mugabe totally addicted to it.

- Richard Westwell , Hua Hin, Thailand, 22/7/2013 04:27


Report abuse

Did you say Mugabe, or Obama? Nothing to see here, move along...

- AFvet , Dayton, United States, 22/7/2013 02:27


Report abuse

Just confirmation that William Shockley was correct.

- Tennisgeorge , Downingtown, PA, USA, 22/7/2013 02:23


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Mugabe and his ilk have always been brutal killers. I remember when they killed the Elim missionaries - men women and pre-school

children. It was a horrible thing. I remember because we went to school with the older children who, being away at school, were not

killed. The girl had a womble doll which she would show us and which was very nice. They never came back to our school after the

attack.

- blog reader , Leatherhead, United Kingdom, 22/7/2013 01:26


Report abuse

is he still alive; shouldn't be

- Duh , Outahere, United States Minor Outlying Islands, 22/7/2013 01:14


Report abuse

if i won the lottery i would pay to have this guy removed permanantly from this planet , i refuse to belive that all eu governments still

even talk to this guy , let alone support him !!!! what a despot !!

- mixerman , portugal, Portugal, 21/7/2013 23:35


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Proof Mugabe Buys Elections