KENYAN EXPRESSIONS...

Mugabe:No fingers clean enough to point

maik — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:33:35 +0000

ROBERT Mugabe has made a career out of calling the bluff of Africa’s leaders. Today he is likely to do it again.

Mugabe has said he will turn up at the annual summit of the African Union in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Freshly “re-elected”, and probably by then hastily sworn in for another five-year term, he will challenge the 53-member body to prevent him from taking his rightful place.

Several leaders have broken their silence and attacked him for his brutal assault on democracy in Zimbabwe.

South Africa’s African National Congress denounced at the weekend what it called “outright terror” in the country. Even President Thabo Mbeki is said to have had enough after receiving “compelling evidence” of intimidation.

“With such statements it is difficult to see how the AU can officially recognise the result,” said a Zambian political analyst, Buchizya Mseteka.

But the AU has a big problem: few of its members can claim the moral high ground.

The elections in Nigeria in April last year were farcical, with widespread vote-rigging. In Kenya, dozens were killed when violence followed the dubious re-election of the ruling party. And Britain was forced to suspend aid to Ethiopia when paramilitary police shot dead students protesting against the result of the 2005 poll.

Sudan is condemned as one of the worst abusers of human rights. Once-enlightened Eritrea has descended into a nasty dictatorship, with hundreds of critics held without trial.

North Africa is in bad shape, including Egypt, the host of the AU summit. Tunisia and Algeria are constantly cited for human rights violations.

Mugabe knows Africa is hardly in a position to preach to him. He told a rally in Zimbabwe last week: “I am going to go to that AU summit … I want to see whose finger there is clean.”

Who will STOP Mugabe?

maik — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:14:36 +0000

Mugabe�s tactics Working.

The grand old man of Zimbabwe politics is finally reaping the fruits of his evil machinations. MDC Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced his party will not take part in the presidential run-off following acts of brutality against his party supporters.

The future has never been more uncertain for the people of Zimbabwe than it is now. Many, and indeed the rest of the world, are wondering what next for Zimbabwe? What the Mugabe Government is doing now in broad daylight in front of the world press could only intensify when he finally takes oath of Office for another term.

Political observers believe that the intimidation of those that did not vote for him will continue unabated. Mugabe will see this as a deterrent for those who might think of opposing him I future.

The opposition is now calling on a slow and reluctant international community to step in and save Zimbabwe from ruin, but from the offing, very little will happen to stop the modern-day dictator continuing his acts of terror.

Sanctions imposed on the Southern Africa State have proved inappropriate as the people of Zimbabwe are the ones that pay the price while its leaders revel in untold luxuries.

Many leaders especially on the African continent have suggested military action to stop Mugabe. Subject to international rules and conventions this seems to be like a far cry, but given what Africa�s new-age authoritarian ruler�s tactical use of force enshrined within his Government�s constitution something must be done sooner than later or we have another genocide knocking on our doors.

By Topi Lyambila

Editor, Kenya London News

Zimbabwe � What are we not being Told?

maik — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:14:12 +0000

The fact that a man like Robert Mugabe can actually garner votes in a general election is what beats me. We all have heard or read the horror stories coming from Zimbabwe, the shambolic livelihood that the people are having to bear with, and yet the man gets over 3 million votes! Who votes for this guy?

It is true Mugabe was a freedom fighter along with the likes of Joshua Nkomo, Albert Muzorewa and others, and that he then emerged the victor in the run-up to independence thereby forming the first, and so far the only Government that that country has known.

I hate being the devils advocate, but with all these freaky stories coming out of Zimbabwe long before the elections, including the fact that over 2 million Zimbabweans are now refugees across the world, Mugabe still manages to acquire over 3 million votes. Is this not evidence that this man still has support in that country? So what if he is managing to rig in a few votes, the facts point to a very grey situation. Is there something that Mugabe is doing right by Zim standards or do we have ordinary Zimbabweans who just do not have a clue what is going on outside their own doors?

It is sickening to see footage of those village vigilantes chasing after opposition supporters around the residential areas with sticks and knives, bombing houses, beating people to death just because they are not Mugabe supporters and then they still go out to vote for the man!

Is there a possibility that the world is being shown just one side of the coin? Is the media in Zimbabwe being truthful about what goes on there?

What logic is there in having an election that you already know the winner? In fact I think Mugabe should not have called for the elections in the first place. He should just have declared himself life president and then the other issues can be dealt with individually. This cosmetic whitewash of having an election when;

-He has declared he will not give up even if he is defeated and would rather go to war!

-The country�s army has also indicated they can only support Mugabe as the Commander-in-Chief.

Is hypocrisy of the first order and I believe it is now time for the World to make a decision to end this farcical abuse of power, and free the people of Zimabwe.

Source: Kenya London News

What Harambee Stars performance means for Kenyan sport

maik — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:41:22 +0000

The Harambee Stars

I have been struggling with myself all week to try and contain the excitement that I believe every Kenyan sports lover is also feeling. This as humble as it may seem, and to many as silly as it may sound is not going to wash away soon.

How long theses boys can sustain the dream run is unknown. But then they say �Enjoy it while it lasts� for seriously, for the length of time I have followed Kenya soccer and to a larger extent World soccer, there is something that Kenya�s Harambee Stars are doing right.

Whether it is the players, supporters or the management � and by this I mean even at Government levels � we may know right away. But I believe it is not just up to the players alone. After all haven�t we had quality players like in the 80s when Gor Mahia won the Africa Cup Winners Cup and the National team dominated the regional scene?

The foreign input cannot be dismissed, for this has been what was lacking in East African football. The West Africans have vouched for this as they have many of their national team players plying their trade in Europe or elsewhere in the Western World, where they get better facilities and technical input.

Zambia proved this when they thrashed Italy 4-0 in the 88 Olympics in Seoul South Korea, courtesy of the Bwalya brothers with Kalusha sinking 3. The Bwalyas were playing in the European leagues.

Kenya�s Harambee Stars, today boasts of 11 foreign based internationals out of a 16-man squad which includes the goal-scoring heroes; Dennis Oliech (Auxxere) and MacDonald Mariga (Parma). The others in the squad are;

Arnold Origi (FK Moss - Norway): 15. Anthony Kimani (Mathare United), 6. John Njoroge (Tusker), 4. Edgar Ochieng’ (Dhosar - Oman), 3. George Owino (Simba SC - Tanzania): 14. Austin Makacha (Mathare United), 17. Robert Mambo, captain (GIF SundSvall - Sweden) 7. Titus Mulama (Vasteras - Sweden/13. Kevin Ochieng’, Al Shabab - Oman, 49th min), 2. McDonald Mariga (Parma - Italy):10 Dennis Oliech (Auxerre -France), 16. Patrick Oboya, (Siad Most - Czech Republic/ 11. Allan

Wanga, Petrolo, Luanda - Angola, 83rd).

Reserves:1. Jacktone Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), 12. Lloyd Wahome (Mathare United), 5. Joseph Shikokoti (Tusker), Osborne Monday (Al Shabab - Oman), Francis Ouma - Mathare United).

This is why for many soccer lovers in the East African nation, Harambee Stars may just be on the verge of international stardom in the soccer world, starting with the Continental scene where they are gearing up for qualification for the nations Cup and World Cup respectively.

-By Topi Lyambila,

Editor, Kenya London News

ASANTE

maik — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:04:23 +0000

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE NEW TRACK “ASANTE” FROM JEURI RECORDS