Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Mexico here we come!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
It's only Tuesday!
Praise God that I have a hard head!
Where's the Panado??
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Response to a Different Perspective on Zimbabwe
It should be a positive thing to have someone saying we must turn to God, provided that his views are balanced and realistic. We must remember that this person has been living in the controlled environment of Mugabe's censorship for a long time. I do not want to quench his faith, as this is all that most people in Zimbabwe have left. Nevertheless, there are some weak points in his thinking that should be corrected; otherwise he might give people incorrect thinking patterns and unrealistic expectations.
I have taken a few extracts from this sermon, and wish to make a few comments:
1) Quote:
"the west, coming in and pouring billions of dollars into the country, will shatter the spiritual platform which has been built here."
This is simply not true. It assumes that all aid from other countries is evil. It assumes that money is evil. However, it is how we use money that is the point, not money itself. There are many organizations that are involved in Zimbabwe and will be involved in reconstruction that are Christian-based and managed by genuine caring people.
The implications of Mr Jackson’s statement are that:
a) Zimbabwe does not need aid and reconstruction, but can do it alone, with its "phenomenal potential", most of who have left the country;
b) Aid from somewhere else (Chinese aid?) is more desirable than that from "the west" (And I am not sure what is meant by "the West").
2) Quote:
“The West”.
This term and the way in which it is used is reminiscent of Mugabe’s propaganda. It is not clear what is meant by the term. Presumably he means primarily the USA. Possibly he means all other countries, except the similar communist countries and dictatorships such as Russia, Cuba, North Korea, etc.
3) Quote:
"If a vote was to be taken in the nation, the Pharisees would have lost hands down. Democracy would have crowned Jesus as king. That is what the majority of the people wanted. But was that God's will? The whole of the salvation plan would have been destroyed by democracy. Thus God allowed a devilishly rigged court case to work His own purposes."
Democracy did not exist in the Roman era. The crowds were quite possibly the Pharisees "Rent-a-Crowd'. I also question the validity of extrapolating from the exceptional circumstances of the time of Jesus's crucifixion, and assuming that the circumstances in Zimbabwe are similar. Democracy has many flaws. Mugabe has always claimed to rule by democracy, but it never has been even a reasonable approximation in Zimbabwe. I am not sure if it was Churchill who commented correctly about democracy, but I remember the statement went something like: "Democracy is an inefficient form of government, but the alternatives are far worse."
Mr Jackson has defined no alternative of a system of government to offer, except to refer vaguely to "God's farming" and "God's mining". (Whatever those terms may mean). I do not know what is intended here, but sometimes these terms are used by people with good intentions but little experience of farming or little knowledge of science. I am aware of some organizations that advocate farming systems which do not use modern techniques, such as fertilizer or insecticides. I perceive this as a kind of reaction to technology, and the implication is that we must stick with the old-fashioned systems. It might be considered to be in the same category of the Luddites, who destroyed mechanical looms when they were invented; or about the suspicion given to the invention of the umbrella when it first appeared; or the dark prophecies attached to instant coffee when it was first marketed?
4) Quote:
"This is a very special nation, like a jewel in God's eyes, shining brightly in the spiritual realm. I see in the spirit the angelic beings flying around the earth, patrolling it, and then as they come close to Zimbabwe, they see a bright light shining from here."
I do not see Zimbabwe as a jewel, but as a disaster area. Spiritually, too many of the people, especially those in power, have rejected God and followed either the ways of their ancestors or foreign philosophies such as Marxism. The leadership of some of the established Churches has been discredited. There are of course some very fine Christians in the country, but their influence is very limited. Perhaps it might be more realistic to liken the situation in Zimbabwe to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation Chapter 6).
They were conquered (White Horse); they made war and continued to worship violence (Red Horse); they are now suffering starvation, which has nothing to do with droughts (Black Horse); they are also entering the era of Pestilence and Death (Pale Horse); the believers will be persecuted for their faith.
But then again, it might be an invalid comparison to trace similarities between the End Times before the Day of Judgment, with the situation in Zimbabwe today?
Nevertheless, the effects of sin (rebellion against God and disobedience) have logical consequences...and a similar pattern of events can easily follow: rebellion, leading to war, leading to starvation, leading to death.
This pattern was shown under Stalin after the communist Russian revolution. It was also shown under Mao Zedong after the communist revolution in China. I think that Napoleon was part of a similar trend.
5) Quote:
"God has a plan for this nation, and means to fulfil it. There is no way that He is going to allow democracy and the evil influence of western materialism to destroy His plan, as good as those intentions might be."
Note that Mr Jackson states that "democracy and the evil influence of western materialism" will destroy God's plan. This is unlikely to be true. The comments under Item 3) apply here also. The assumption has been made by him that all things from the west are evil. This might be true for some of the agencies in "the west", but the main characteristic of "the west" is a great diversity of opinions and ideas, not the monolithic monster that has been created in the minds of the people by Mugabe's propaganda.
Mr Jackson does not tell us what God's plan is. I do not believe that God's plan for Zimbabwe has been the rule of Robert Mugabe. Rather I put the situation in Zimbabwe into the category of circumstances that applied as a result of the request by the people of Israel for a King like those of the other nations. God did not want that form of government for them, but they insisted on it. Then God let them suffer the consequences of their bad decisions. The people of Zimbabwe have made bad decisions. The consequences have been horrendous. God does not want them to suffer beatings, torture, starvation and death. If change does not come through democracy (however flawed), then it is likely to come through war, which will only bring more destruction.
6) Quote:
"Is God's kingdom for Zimbabwe to be the pouring in of material benefits from the west? I think not. The connection to the high powered western nations has been the one thing that has really concerned me about Morgan Tsvangerai, if I must look honestly from a spiritual point of view. The west would be in here like a shot if we were to let them. The potential of this nation is phenomenal, and they know it. But when they come in they will come in with their worldly standards, and very quickly all the spiritual buildup that we have seen over the past years will be destroyed. Mammon will be our god, and God's purposes will be frustrated."
The comments from Item 5) apply here also. See also the comments about God’s Kingdom’ below.
Who must Morgan Tsvangerai go to for help? Zimbabwe cannot carry out a reconstruction on her own. If "the west" does not help, who will? The Chinese?
7) God's Kingdom:
This is often perceived to be a complex concept as we read about it in the Bible; and it has been interpreted in many ways, and even used in the wrong way by some politicians. Essentially, the Kingdom of God exists wherever God is King. This can only happen where people have given their lives to God through Jesus Christ. It is not a political concept. But it is true that the changed lives of believers can lead to significant changes in society.
8) Poverty and anti-materialism:
Poverty is not something desired by God, and there is no merit in starvation, poverty, disease or destruction of people's lives. But I also do not agree with what has been termed "the doctrine of prosperity" which implies that if we are in God's will, we will all be prosperous. The correct attitude to the material aspects of our lives should be an attitude of stewardship. We are looking after the resources God has given us, to use them in the best way to help others. If materialism turns us away from God, it is the attitude that is wrong; not the things themselves.
9) Spiritual opportunity and responsibility:
This is indeed a time of spiritual opportunity. Therefore Christians must be seen to be involved in trying to put things right in Zimbabwe. They must speak out to ensure that the new Zimbabwe will be constructed according to Christian principles as far as possible.
Mugabe would like to provoke war, because violence has served him so well throughout his life.
He should not be given that opportunity.
Regards,
Ned.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Communication?
The monkey was making a lot of noise - because that was what monkeys do.
The pony said to the sparrow: Please ask monkey to stop making so much noise.
The sparrow replied: Why don't you ask him yourself?
I can't, replied the pony. You see, I'm a little hoarse (horse)
!!!
A Different Perspective on Zimbabwe
A prophetic word of encouragement to Zimbabweans
Let me share with you some of what I believe God has revealed to me. Firstly, I had felt very strongly, as before the previous election, that the results of this election would not be satisfactory to the west. That is because God has an agenda for
I was reading from Luke 24 about the two disciples walking to Emmaus. Jesus interrupts their journey and asks them what they are discussing. The Scripture says they, “Stopped, and looked very sad.” That is the position of many Zimbabweans today. They have stopped! There is a stillness in our nation – people seem to hang in the air, with a total disbelief on their faces. They can’t believe what has happened, and don’t know what to do.
The disciples then explain to Jesus (not recognizing Him) about the recent happenings, the terrible trial and final crucifixion of Jesus. Then they say, “And we were hoping that it was Him who would restore our nation and deliver us from the hand of the enemies”. That was it! They had such high hopes, but now their hopes were dashed to the ground.
Just a week previously the entire city was abuzz with excitement. Jesus came riding into
But:
The trial was rigged. And to crown it all, Jesus did not open his mouth to defend his position. Joseph of Aramathea and Nicodemus, being believers themselves, and part of the Sanherdan made strong representations to prevent Jesus death. They did not approve of the Sanhedran’s course of action. Yet, when it came to the final crunch, where Jesus should have stood up for the truth, where He could so easily have outwitted the wicked counsel and even Pilate himself, the Scripture says that “like a lamb that is dumb before its shearers so he did not open his mouth.” Can you believe it. He did not defend Himself, while kno
So you understand then why these two disciples were “sad”. Actually they were SHATTERED!!! If a vote was to be taken in the nation, the Pharisees would have lost hands down. Democracy would have crowned Jesus as king. That is what the majority of the people wanted. But was that God’s will? The whole of the salvation plan would have been destroyed by democracy. Thus God allowed a devilishly rigged court case to work His own purposes.
So my dear fellow Zimbabweans, I believe that we have something very similar here. As evil as the rigged election results might have been, I see the finger of God in this. Let me explain:
Since the bush war times many thousands of people have been praying fervently for this nation. That means we have had some forty years of constant fervent prayer. I think the bowls in heaven must be brimful of the prayers of the saints. This is a very special nation – like a jewel in God’s eyes – shining brightly in the spiritual realm. I see in the spirit the angelic beings flying around the earth, patrolling it, and then as they come close to
Jesus proceeded to open the eyes of those two disciples to recognize Him, and then for forty days He gave His disciples concentrated teaching on His Kingdom (Acts 1). God’s kingdom has very different values to the world’s kingdom – even well meaning Christians don’t always understand His kingdom. What was His kingdom? For Peter it meant a revelation that the other nations must also be included. “What God has made clean you must not dispise” (Acts 10). For Paul, who was a young Pharisee, zealous for the cause of what he thought was God’s kingdom - but was actually racial prejudice and pride - he had to hear God’s calling to preach the gospel to the kings and nations outside of his Judaic upbringing. That change of direction caused the Pharisees to persecute him vehemently.
Is God’s kingdom for
No, I believe God has a different purpose. His kingdom must be built, and this nation should be a springboard to take the gospel to the rest of
So what should we do?
I believe that God’s children are being given a
God has been tasking me to get involved with the municipality, setting up a technopark, and working with the city’s planning department in planning residential housing, water and sewer systems and many other things. I believe we are to get involved as servants, bringing meaningful change to our cities and our country – for the sake of reaching people in every strata of society. We are to move in quietly and humbly, but like a river of life bring life-giving water wherever we go. We are to love the unlovable, reach the brokenhearted, bring healing to the sick, minister to the poor, build houses for the homeless, teach the simple, make straight ways in the desert, and thus build up a highway for God to move upon our land.
The Scripture says about many of the Jews, “They did not recognize the time of the visitation of God”. What about us today. Can we recognize that God is visiting us in a most unusual way, and just like Judea of old, even right under the nose of an evil Roman occupation, He is giving us the nation as our inheritance!?
May I encourage you to open your eyes to the incredible opportunities God is giving, and to go all out for Him. Of-course, I don’t mean to minimize the suffering that many have experienced. I honour you for what you have stood for and the price you have paid. But I should note that suffering is not a new thing in the world of God’s kingdom. No work of God has ever been established without personal cost. I have also suffered – not nearly as much as some of you. But those things are of little consequence when compared to the glories of the kingdom to follow. Be encouraged
For those Christians outside
For those inside the country. Open your eyes to the needs around you, and extend a hand to help. As you reach out to help those in need around you, I believe God will be very faithful, as always, to help you in your own need.
Folks, stop looking so sad. We have in our hands something bigger than we could ever have dreamed of. Lets take it with both hands!!!!
With love to you all
Henry D Jackson
Monday, April 21, 2008
LiveAMMO
This is the band that Paul (my son) is in: Guitarists Paul (left), Neall (centre), Luke (right - obscured by keyboard); Marcus on drums; Kevin on keyboard. The 3 guitarists began practising together in our garage during the December 2007 holidays, and were soon joined by Kevin and Marcus. They now practise at Marcus' house, because his drums are permanently set up there. On Saturday they played for parents and family - and what remarkable progress they have made. They are producing a really good sound together. Their vision is to give the gospel message through music to youth in schools etc. Confirmation of the name that they have chosen for themselves comes from Isaiah 49:2 - He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.I am in awe of what God does and how he works in lives - and I am excited at what I see happening among the youth. Paul, at the age of 8, said that he didn't want to play an instrument but wanted to carry on with theory of music. At the time he was excelling at playing the recorder even though he never (or very very very seldom) practised between lessons!! He continued with theory until the end of grade 9, when sport and school became too busy for him to fit it in any more - he'd also had enough by then! When Allan bought a guitar, Paul started to strum and play on it a bit. Then he bought his own just over a year ago (Allan having moved away to do his Internship), and has been making great strides with Neall's help. He plays every day - a good stress reliever after a long day of lectures and dissection and whatever else medical students are confronted with. My heart has been warmed as I have heard him gain confidence in his playing and expand his repertoire - not that I have said much - Mom's comments are not always needed!!!!
What excites me is that God just not bless us with talents - but he gives us the passion which drives us to develop and use those talents. What a mighty God we serve - there is none like him!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Mousetraps
But the mousetraps are still in waiting position - I nearly tripped over one this morning when I opened the curtains. Strange, isn't it, how we keep things in place that are no longer needed or serving a function. When the mice have gone, the mousetraps wait in vain, gathering dust. Reminds me of what I heard while listening to a CD in the car recently: when God moves on all we are left with is religion.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Escort Update
While talking about cars, I need to brag that when we went to my nephew's wedding in Pietermaritzburg at the end March, we drove down in my Ford Focus 1.6i - and the fuel consumption was 6.5L/100Km. That's petrol economy for you!
Being in a family males, I need to boost my female companionship every now and then - even if it is only the dogs or my car.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Observing Enthusiasm in Action
What did I notice and what can we absorb into our programme?
Enthusiasm on the part of all the teachers and helpers - an obvious desire to involved in the lives of the children.
Involvement seen in the teachers sitting on the floor with the kids - some in their laps - being like kids in the singing of the songs and the doing of the actions of the songs; encouraging the kids all the time to take part and enjoy.
Joy and excitement about what was being learned - evidenced by the freedom with which the kids answered questions, made comments and observations, and added their bit to what the teacher had been saying or talking about.
Welcome and acceptance of each kid and what he/she had to offer. I was reminded of what I heard recently: "I do not always understand you, but I welcome you and value what you bring to the table"
I was truly blessed by the experience. I pray that our Sunday School department will learn from and live out these characteristics, and that our children, too, will know that there is a great welcome for them in God's Kingdom.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A Day of Contrasts
My day started with the Contemplative Prayer group which meets every Saturday from 7.30 - 8.30 - An hour of centering prayer and lectio divina, which realigns us, fills us with peace, and enables us to tackle life in the week ahead knowing that God is within and without and 'conducting the symphony' that we have been called to be a part of.
That was followed by the funeral service, at 10.00 of a 16year old young lad whom we confirmed last year. He died in a terrible car accident on Monday night - one of three youngsters and a dad. There were two survivors. It has had a huge impact on our community. The church was overflowing - over 500 people attended. Evidence of the love for and impact of this young person on many people in his short life. One of the blessings of being in a team ministry, is that it is not just one person who is responsible to handle the difficulties and pain that arise from living in this world. Wessel took the service. I would not have been able to - having journeyed with this young person and seen him grow in faith and commitment, and watched his leadership qualities blossom. Thank you, Wessel, for being the person and the minister that you are - a great blessing.
This afternoon was the joy of my future daughter-in-law's surprise kitchen tea party. Her organizing friends and family managed to keep it a complete surprise for her, and great fun and delicious eats were enjoyed by all present. I took many photos and hope that they turn out OK and are a true reflection of the love we have for her and the joy and blessings we all pray for her.
I left the tea party early in order to join a panel at the Kairos Retreat in Pretoria Women's prison. The panel was there to answer the questions that the residents had concerning prayer. The theme for this weekend has been the Jabez Prayer, and they are given the opportunity during the Saturday of the retreat to write down any questions they have about prayer that they have been too afraid to ask or not had the opportunity to ask. There were three of us on the panel, and we took it in turns to answer the questions and to add to whatever one of us had said. Often there is more lying behind the question than is evident on the surface, so we pray for discernment and trust each other for insights so that we may truly be of help. These retreat weekends, like the Kairos 3 day weekends, are truly a blessing not only to the residents but also to the team members who go into the prison to give of their love and their time.
This evening I have still to complete my sermon for tomorrow. I will be leading the evening service, which many of our youth attend, and am planning that it be a time of healing from the trauma of losing a beloved friend, and reassurance that Jesus is the one in whom we find our rest and peace in the midst of turmoil.
I often ask myself - how do I survive times like these? The answer, as always, is by the grace of God and in endeavouring to 'be present' to each situation encountered just like Jesus was.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Satisfied Customer
I am one satisfied customer because the old unit was outside any warranty period.
I feel blessed!
Zim Election information
FLF is an organisation with four main objectives:
- To promote, further and secure the interests of former residents of Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe
- To provide or facilitate residential accommodation for persons over the age of 60, in particular for those former residents of Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe who have settled in the RSA
- To give help in particular to the aged and the disabled
- To preserve the history and heritage of Rhodesia
Typical Communist Propaganda
Run-Off - Relaunching Revolution
The Herald (Harare)
OPINION
8 April 2008
Posted to the web 8 April 2008
By Reason Wafawarova
Harare
The just-ended harmonised poll presented very important lessons for the agrarian revolution and the envisaged presidential run-off offers the revolutionary masses of Zimbabwe a perfect opportunity to rise as one coalescent force to demolish all imperial aspirations as measured by the bizarre immature celebrations by the treacherous and insidious opposition MDC, along with their unthinking masters in the Western capitals.
The ruling Zanu-PF, yes ruling, is a long-established political organisation that has gone through testing times before and the just-ended election obviously presented one of the biggest challenge ever to affect the revolutionary party since it was formed in 1963.
Lesson number one was that if the leadership in the revolution fails to shake off the dead leaves hanging on the revolutionary tree, then the winds of the masses would always do the shaking. Some of the candidates that were reportedly imposed had for a long time been viewed as some of the most useless politicians our nation has ever known while some of them have for a long time been notorious for abuse of office and negligence of duty in their constituencies.
It was naturally the duty of the Zanu-PF Commissariat Department to ensure that the people are not presented with dead leaves for a choice in the election. How was it expected that these people who could not sell themselves to their own constituencies would be able to do a good job selling the President?
The National Commissar, Cde Elliot Manyika, was dead right when he said there is nothing like neutrality in politics. This was after he was asked about the role of his department in determining the ruling party's candidates. Indeed, there is nothing like neutrality in politics just like there should be nothing worse than bias towards politically useless people who have lost credibility with the grassroots.
Anyway, the battle was fought and the revolution was shaken and it is now time to relaunch it. It is time for all revolutionaries to be reminded that the people own the revolutionary process; and after Morgan Tsvangirai is silenced in the run-off, there is need for everyone to look after the revolutionary tree with diligence, respect and commitment as guided by the aspirations of those whose lives were sacrificed for Zimbabwe to be where it is today.
The second lesson that was brought by this election is that a chunk of the electorate has been coerced by sanction-induced economic hardships into accepting that the agent of the evil master who has brought this suffering can be the liberator as well. Tsvangirai went across the country asking people: "Are you hungry? Are you angry? Then remove this government."
The two questions and the suggested answer were not only an attempt at inciting people into a protest mood, but also a message meant to dupe the masses that they were under a government that was deliberately and intentionally inflicting economic hardships on them - just because "Government officials are sadists who derive joy in seeing people starve".
It is a simple American tradition introduced by one of the US' founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. He called it "political gravitation" and all that is needed is that you isolate a country by mobilising others to shun it and making sure that its economy is strangulated until the poorest and the lowest persons in that country feel the effect.
Richard Nixon called this economic warfare the "screaming of the economy" and a point is always reached when some people find the pain inflicted by the economic warfare so unbearable that they begin to look up to the oppressor as the liberator.
This is what Tsvangirai sought to achieve by going around extorting votes by dangling the promise of a US$10 billion package -- something that obviously contributed immensely to the delusions that created the false victory that Tendai Biti seemed to take quite seriously. If the people of Zimbabwe are not free, then their bondage has been orchestrated from London through the lap-dog support and collaboration of the MDC and it is always important for one in bondage to remember always who the oppressor is.
Many times the children of Israel mistook Moses and even God for their oppressor and many times they misremembered the mediocre slavery meals they used to get in Egypt as part of true freedom.
When one reaches this stage it becomes extremely difficult to free them. A person who thinks and acts like a slave is very difficult, if not impossible, to free. One needs to think and act like a free man if they are going to win their freedom back. Not even a Messiah from heaven can free a people who think like slaves.
Tsvangirai's campaign rallies were all designed to make Zimbabweans think and act like economic slaves. The MDC hoped that they could capitalise on the hardships facing the people by posturing with a false sense of freedom and liberty packaged in financial pledges from Western governments. No wonder this did not work out.
As the legendary musician Bob Marley put it, "You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time." For one to act and think like a free man, they do not need to have a full stomach or to be rich. All they need is to have a free mind and a vision.
This is how the liberation war was fought and won. It was fought and won by young men and women with a free mind that carried a vision to break the chains of a ruinous colonialism. Carrying mere AK-47 rifles against the mighty arsenal of the Rhodesian Front, but they never felt inferior -- they kept thinking like free people and not like ill-armed colonial slaves.
Zimbabweans must tell the MDC once and for all that they will not be made to think like economic slaves, not anymore. The MDC might be having hordes of economic refugees in the Diaspora as supporters, but they cannot be allowed to create economic slaves out of Zimbabweans right on our home soil.
Tsvangirai was basically telling people kuti ndivhoterei ndinosunungura pandakakiya and that kind of an insult cannot be tolerated in this coming runoff. The third lesson coming from this just-ended election is that imperialism will not rest in its endeavour to reverse the land reform programme.
Tsvangirai was obviously fooled by the CIA and London into believing that war veterans can be bought off by massive pensions in return for being pushed out the farms to make room for the return of white settler farmers.
To this end, he kept saying he would establish some Truth and Reconciliation Commission to do a land audit and also review the pensions of war veterans. In his justification for such a review of pensions while he spoke at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare, Tsvangirai said it must be remembered that the war veterans "are not getting any younger".
Very true, Morgan, they are not getting any younger, which is why they are not going to be fooled into giving up their land for some attractive pension package, however, lucrative.
This election had given so much hope to those white settler farmers and there was a deliberate foreplay of things to come through the showing of land occupation documentaries in the Western media. Everyone was being psyched up for Tsvangirai's Truth and Reconciliation Commission -- in fact, a team that should be rightly called the Treachery and Recolonisation Commission.
It is no surprise that the Western media portrays President Mugabe as having lost this election when they know he has not lost it. In their minds, what more can make the image of a dictator than a man who refuses to recognise and accept defeat in an election?
Poor Western media, there are not many takers left for this kind of crude propaganda, really none outside those poor viewers in Western communities who are always subjected to unfair doses of slander and propaganda for news.
Biti obviously feels like he is talking to the world each time he is beamed on BBC, but the truth is that the rest of the world outside Western communities sees a perfect stooge and puppet. Just what did Biti think he was doing saying, "It is clear that no one voted for Cde Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF in this election"? His BBC interviewers did not see the need to edit out this most stupid assertion, of course. You smile and say "Cute" when your poodle vomits, don't you?
The fourth lesson provided by this election is that myths are really deceiving. Poor Simba Makoni. Poor thing. Dr Devaluation is set to gain a new name as Dr Seven Percent soon after the presidential election result is announced. Is this all that reported charisma and intelligence is worth nhai, Nyati?
This writer did say before that Makoni believes the mirror too much and is also easily flattered. So that air-clutching symbol lived for exactly 59 days and died just like the naivety of believing in this Trevor Ncube theory of the Third Force. Third, yes, because Makoni came an emphatic third; but force, no, because there is no force to talk about in 7 percent. Sometimes nicknames can be deceiving. Did Dumiso Dabengwa really believe he was some kind of black Russian?
What a shameful and pathetic way of marketing the Russian legacy if you ask this writer. Whoever told Dabengwa to stand up when people are looking for political heavyweights must be the same person who must have told him that he was as mighty as Putin.
Dabengwa might argue that 190 000 votes garnered by Makoni in Matabeleland are decent enough to save his face, but there is certainly nothing Black Russian in accumulating a 7 percent vote.
As for Ibboston Day Joseph, what an academic quack! Is this all that could come out of the hype and activity that was at SAPES offices when innocent unsuspecting youths were duped into believing that they were in the process of beginning something called Mavambo? The people of Mazowe must feel insulted to have been dragged into this shameful and degrading piece of history without their consent.
Then we hear there were 917 people in Masvingo who thought that Kudzai Mbudzi was different from his name. However, the rest of the constituency were quite clear that Major Mbudzi was not named for nothing. This shameful political outing is what Kudzai Mbudzi once called a revolution. Some people!
Poor Arthur Mutambara. The people of Zengeza thought that King Arthur was not even comparable to that forgotten childish political gatecrasher called Tafadzwa Musekiwa. Being rejected by a constituency that was once gullible enough to be duped by a 24-year-old con politician when you are a NASA rocket scientist does not exactly sound like palatable news. But what was Mutambara thinking when he started running around as Makoni supporter number one and as a leader of a political party at the same time? Political naivety does not come any cheaper.
Oh, Job "Ken Saro Wiwa" Sikhala! Nhai, homeboy, did you really have to end it up in a prison cell? We will call it fighting to the bitter end. Now that Mbudzi did not make it to Parliament and Sikhala's term of clowning has been terminated, who is going to be the next jester in our august House of Assembly?
Oh St Mary's, the nation will never forget you for providing comic relief to Parliament for the past eight years. Hopefully this Marvellous chap will live up to his name.
The politicians, or pseudo-politicians, cited here are just part of many who fell victim to delusions of grandeur and, of course, one Langton Towungana has been left out because some things are better left unsaid, especially when there are claims of divinity involved.
Point number five and the last one in the lessons provided by this election is that a revolution cannot be killed. Even at its worst showing, Zanu-PF remained invincible. In sport they say a team is considered a giant when it can avoid defeat even at its worst performance. That is a measure of depth. Now that defeat at the hands of the reactionary MDC was resolutely avoided, it is time for the giant to rise again and as sure as the sun rises from the East, this runoff will be a massacre for the MDC and Tsvangirai.
As they say, when you slap a sleeping lion you have the onus to brace up for a very crude time. When a revolution rises in defence of its existence no force can stand and stop it and, indeed, MDC Tsvangirai has every reason to be very afraid of the runoff.
They are staring defeat right in the face -- and no amount of politicking or solidarity-seeking can stop the tide. The US, the UK and everyone else can do absolutely nothing about Tsvangirai's impending defeat. It's homeland or death. The revolution will triumph. Together we will overcome.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Flying Visit
Part of what makes life hectic, I think, is that we travel so much and so far. Gone are the days when one could cycle short distances to wherever. And there is so much that we get busy with we have to make an appointment to see a friend - no longer the possibility of just popping in for a quick cuppa something and chat when on the way to or from somewhere. Ten to one the friend is not at home, and that one's schedule is so tight that the time to pop-in is not there. Sadly, we are the poorer for it all.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
New Glasses
Then I got to thinking about the 'glasses' through which we look at life. The gospel for this week has been the Journey to Emmaus, and I was thinking about the glasses that those two pilgrims had been wearing - glasses through which they had seen Jesus as the ultimate conqueror of the Roman empire, the One to restore Israel to a place of prominence among the nations; the One to get rid of foreign rule and reinstate God on the throne of Israel.... But their hopes were dashed by his crucifixion, and they were confused by the reports of Jesus missing from the tomb in which he had been placed. The 'glasses' they wore prevented them from seeing, and therefore understanding, what was really happening.
This morning I read the short passage in Luke 12:57-59 about sorting out your problem with your opponent before you get to the courts to avoid imprisonment. When I read the following article, I was struck afresh by the importance of reconciling early on in relationships and business or other dealings. You never know what might happen when you get to court!!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Busyness of March
1. Our SANSSA (South African National Sunday School Association) Gala took place on Sat. 1 March. I swam. Twice. For the same race!! It has been a family joke for a long time that I 'mom' have an annual swim - that lasted from the time that all the boys were water safe and competent swimmers and did not need me to be prepared for rescue mode, until my youngest went into high-school. Then it changed to a once-in-two-years swim, and rapidly to a 'once in at least five years' swim. I cannot remember when last I climbed into the pool - even though it is two steps beyond the door from our dining-room. I'm just not a water-baby - never have been. I remember when I was in Grade 2 (6 years old) hiding in the changerooms during our classes swimming lesson. When I was eventually found after about a month, and was being scolded not only by the teacher but by the principal who had come to the pool especially for this event, and was forced into the water but refused to let go of the edge - I remember thinking that if the teacher and principal wouldn't get into the water, why the hell should I - particularly as I was scared to death of being in the pool. Ah, the joys of rebellion! I did eventually conquer my fear and learn to swim when I was about 9 or 10 years old - and even took part in school galas.
Swimming twice for the same race was a bit of an embarrassment - put it down to age! I dived in at the starter-gun-shot as the first in the 'parents relay', and was putting in my greatest effort (bearing in mind that I had not swum for about 6 or 7 years), only to be stopped three-quarters of the way across because there had been a false start. Oh man - what a waste of effort. So then I said I would swim last in the relay - give me time to catch my breath - which I did. This time it was a bit harder going, and after three-quarters of the way I had to change from freestyle to breast-stroke. Needless to say, our team came last - but I finished the race. Sorry I don't have a photo to prove it - wouldn't want to freak you out anyway!!
2. We held our Confirmation Camp on the 2nd weekend in March. This year I didn't go for the whole camp, but spent the Saturday there. Last year I did the whole camp because I had not camped with young people since Ned and I were camp-parents for a Scripture Union camp 18 years previously, and I needed to know how camping is done with the current generation of teenagers. We have a very competent Youth Pastor, who runs camps more than very well, and I am confident to leave the programme, planning and training of leaders in his hands.
3. The 3rd weekend I spent at the Good Shepherd Retreat Centre near Hartebeestpoort Dam with a Ladies Weekend as the Speaker. The theme was Four Seasons - linking up seasons of the year with seasons in our life, and drawing parallels and hope from the cycles. It was a blessed weekend, with much healing, growth, fellowship, laughter, and learning new crafts.
4. With the Ladies Weekend ending on Palm Sunday, Holy Week was upon us. This year we journeyed through the 'Seven Words from the Cross' during the week. My 'slot' was the Word of Forgiveness (Father, forgive them. They do not know what they do) and the Word of Assurance (Today you will be with me in Paradise) on the Tuesday night. Wessel was responsible for the service on Wednesday night. We all took part in the Maundy Thursday service: David dealing with the last two 'words'; Wessel leading the Tenebrae; I lead the Communion; and Kyle (our Youth Pastor) joined us in distributing communion. I received a number of comments from members that it was blessing for them to have all four of us ministering to them at the same service. David conducted the Good Friday service with Wessel giving the children's message.
5. And then it was Easter. I was pleased to do the 08h00 service, and get back home with enough time to finish preparing for our family get-together which happened from lunch-time on. It was also my sister-in-law Colleen's birthday, so we had a double reason to get together and share a happy time.
6. The final weekend was spent, as shown a couple of blogs earlier, in Pietermaritzburg for Andrew's wedding.
When each weekend is taken up with significant activities, the time in the intervening weeks of preparation and planning become quite stressful. I am enjoying the quieter time now, especially as it is school holidays and many activities go into recess. It gives me breathing space to 'pull myself towards myself' and get in some advance preparation for the months ahead. Whew!!
Zimbabweans Reject Mugabe
Despite massive irregularities and intimidation, the overwhelming majority of Zimbabweans have voted against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF ruling party. Although the state-controlled media (The Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation – ZBC - and the Herald Newspaper) openly campaigned for Mugabe, vilifying the opposition and granting extravagant TV airtime and newspaper coverage to ZANU-PF propaganda, the two main cities in Zimbabwe, Harare and Bulawayo, have overwhelmingly voted against the ZANU-PF government.
Irregularities
There was no voter education and voters rolls were not made accessible to the opposition. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was run by senior leaders of the Marxist ZANU-PF. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) raided opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) offices and hotel rooms. Observers, and even parliamentary candidates, were detained. Many MDC candidates, officials and independent observers were threatened, beaten and even murdered.
Observers reported that ZANU-PF had packed the voters rolls with hundreds of thousands of fake names and fictitious addresses, set up ghost polling stations which only ZANU-PF agents knew about, in order to rig the results of the election. Independent observers have also reported that large numbers of voters were being turned away from the polling stations claiming that there names were not on the voters rolls.
Threats
President Robert Mugabe threatened at an election rally last week that any vote for the opposition would be wasted, because it will “never be allowed to rule this country.” Mugabe threatened to put down any Kenya-style protests, “that will never happen here. Never ever, we have enough security forces.”
Intimidation
Observers also reported that the Marxist government had printed millions more ballot papers than there were to voters in the country. They also permitted the ZRP police (who had been intimidating and beating up opposition candidates) into polling booths to “help” the voters. The ZANU-PF government had also intimidated rural voters by threatening their food supply if they failed to vote for their government.
The police also warned the MDC that they were not allowed to celebrate the election results in the streets as that would be interpreted as a coup!
Military and police leaders have threatened to seize power to prevent the opposition replacing ZANU-PF.
Against All Odds
Nevertheless, despite all the threats, intimidation and irregularities, Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the MDC, has claimed an overwhelming victory in the General Election.
Sokwanele, a non-partisan observer group, has released the following results based on the Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT) taken from the independent website www.zimelectionresults.com and cross-referenced with the Zimbabwean Electoral Support Network (ZESN) data that Tsvangirai’s MDC has won 99 seats, Mutambara’s MDC has won 11 seats, Independents have won one seat, and ZANU-PF 96 seats.
A Threat to Freedom
Sokwanele notes that while the opposition coalition now enjoys a majority control of the House of Assembly, should further vote rigging enable Mugabe to steal the presidential vote, he may dissolve the House of Assembly.
The “official” ZEC figures are being released at such “a snails pace”, and indicate massive discrepancies “a clear sign ZANU-PF is desperately attempting to inflate results in their favour. This is being done to reduce Morgan Tsvangirai’s presidential vote to below the 50% plus one result required for him to win the race in round one.”
A second presidential runoff election would be required if any candidate fails to achieve over 50%.
Blatant Rigging
Independent observers have reported “blatant rigging at it’s most iniquitous” However “the people of Zimbabwe have spoken, and it is now time for ZANU-PF SADC, all other African bodies and the rest of the world to respect and support the will of the people.”
“Mugabe Has Been Defeated!”
Collen Makumbirofa of the Foundation of Reason and Justice reports: “MDC has scored election victory. Mugabe has been defeated! I have no doubt that they will try to manipulate results.”
ZANU Politburo Rejected
According to official results already posted at polling stations, at least 9 of Mugabe’s politburo, his inner circle, have been voted out of their seats. A senior source at the Electoral Commission has reported that actually Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC has taken 191 of the 210 parliamentary seats.
The remainder has been split between the ruling ZANU-PF and the smaller MDC faction backing the ZANU-PF defector Simba Makoni.
Bizarre Broadcasts
Observers have noted that the state controlled ZBC television has, for the most part, ignored the most important election since Independence. ZBC has broadcast a mixture of cartoons and 1970’s football matches instead of reporting on poll results.
Meltdown
MDC MP David Coltart has written: “Mugabe and his cronies are chiefly responsible for an economic meltdown that has turned one of Africa’s most prosperous countries into a country with one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. The average life expectancy in Zimbabwe has fallen from 57 years to 34 years for women and 54 to 37 years for men. Some 3,500 Zimbabweans die every week from the combined effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty and malnutrition. Half a million Zimbabweans may have died already. There is no freedom of speech or assembly in Zimbabwe and the state has used violence to intimidate and murder its opponents.
“At the root of Zimbabwe’s problems is a corrupt political elite that has, with considerable international support, behaved with utter impunity for some two decades. This elite is determined to hang onto power no matter what the consequences, lest it be held to account for the genocide in Matabeleland in the early 1980’s and the wholesale looting that followed the mismanaged land reform in 2000.
“When change comes to Zimbabwe, the nation will have to rediscover the Rule of Law and the sanctity of persons and property. The public discourse and the economy will have to be re-opened. The new government will have to embrace a more limited idea of government and rescind the legislation that makes the operation of the private sector next to impossible. Moreover, the new government will have to find a way for the people of Zimbabwe to heal all the wounds caused by decades of political violence.”
A Tsunami
Eddie Cross of Bulawayo has written: “The outcome of the election has been a stunning victory for the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai. Many of the strongholds of ZANU-PF have fallen to overwhelming MDC majorities.” He described the rising tide of opposition to Mugabe’s ZANU-PF as “a Tsunami.”
Hidden Heroes
Mr Cross observes: “The consensus of the media and many other commentators was that the MDC was a spent force. Divided and confused, weakened by a year of relentless onslaughts of the authorities and the departure of thousands of their key activists to South Africa and elsewhere. In fact, it stunned ZANU when MDC was able to field 200 candidates at short notice and then come out fighting with a well-prepared and financed campaign. The key to that was the support network built up over several years in the region and these hidden heroes are very much responsible for the activity everyone has seen in the past few weeks – the adverts, the flyers, the postal war and the funding for our candidates.
The Anti-Rigging Campaign
“Finally the anti-rigging operation. We knew how they had rigged previous elections and we set out to try and stop a recurrence. The whistle-blower campaign was a key part of that and we have had hundreds of calls from all quarters and several key hits. The many people who climbed in and said ‘one more time’ and spent days in the bush helping with the count and the reporting system are unsung heroes.
“We Have Had Enough!”
“Then the people – they had just had enough, had enough of arrogance and being taken for granted, enough of the sufferings and destruction of the economy…They chose to suffer in silence and then go out and vote. For me they are the real champions and I hope they will never again be taken for granted. I also hope they will hold the new leadership accountable for the trust they have given us.”
The Destruction of a Country
As 84 year-old Mugabe struggles to extend his 28 year rule into a 6th term in office, Zimbabwe faces widespread hunger, mass unemployment and inflation soaring above 100,000 %. Most shop shelves are empty. More than 5 million of the population have fled Mugabe’s misrule across the border to neighbouring counties, mostly to South Africa. Many observers recognised this voting with their feet as the most damning evidence of Mugabe’s oppression.
Disenfranchised
However, those outside of the country were prevented from postal votes, or voting in Zimbabwe embassies. In this way ZANU-PF had hoped that most of their opposition had been disenfranchised. Now it would appear that even those who had previously been supporters of Mugabe’s ZANU have finally turned against the misrule of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF regime.
Pray for Zimbabwe
Please mobilize your friends, family and congregation to urgently pray for the Christians in Zimbabwe. There is a very real potential that violence could break out, even worse that the recent riots in Kenya that followed the government rigging of election results there. The violence in Libya, Ivory Coast, the Congo and Rwanda could easily be replicated in Zimbabwe.
We need to pray that the Christian Church in Zimbabwe will humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14).
May every form of corruption and interference with the vote counting be exposed. (As Marxist dictator Joseph Stalin once said: “It’s not who votes who counts, it’s who counts the vote!”
As Reformer Martin Luther pointed out, when we pray: “Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done” then “He must put all the opposition to this in one pile and say: “Curses, maledictions and disgrace upon every other name and kingdom. May they be ruined and torn apart and may all their schemes and wisdom and plans run aground.’”
To pray for the extension of God’s Kingdom is to pray for the destruction of all other kingdoms. “The God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom which will never be destroyed…It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” Daniel 2:44
Advance and victory for the Church of Christ means defeat and retreat for the kingdom of satan.
A War of Worldviews
There is a life and death struggle between two kingdoms. We are involved in a World War of Worldviews. God’s Kingdom cannot come without satan’s kingdom being destroyed. God’s Will cannot be done on earth without the destruction of evil. Lives and liberty are at stake.
Pray the Psalms
We need to pray the Psalms for Zimbabwe. Pray that the wicked may fall into the pit that they have dug for others (Psalm 9:16; 35:7-8; Galatians 6:7). Pray that the declarations of the wicked may come back to haunt them (Psalm 64:7-8).
Pray that their actions against God’s people may be exposed, confounded and confused (Psalm 64:2-9).
Let us pray in Christ (John 14:14) against the enemies of God (Psalm 119:113) for the glory of God (Psalm 58:11;68:34) naming the individuals and groups according to their malice and persecutions (Exodus 7:2-5; 17-21; Exodus 8:20-21; 12:12; Nehemiah 4:4-5; 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:14).
“When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to the evil-doers.” Proverbs 21:15
“Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules…” Psalm 59:13
“…Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands, 7725
Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: (021) 689-4480
Fax: (021) 685-5884
See also related articles:
- Zimbabwe – A Lesson in How to Destroy Christian Civilization
