Aylesbury LIFE because Learning Is For Everyone

I wrote a week ago about possible progress in Zimbabwe and it has been all over the news and the mailing lists since then. But somehow before we see any evidence of real change, for example peace, prosperity and the rule of law, it all seems rather hard to believe. I guess we are living with the state that isn't before the state that is and yet wondering will the next state be better than the last.

I have to say my heart is hoping the strangely named "opposition" has a real good go of governing without military interference. My head is asking if the "agreement" brokered by Mbeki's team will be enough to save the FIFA 2010 South Africa World Cup from relocation, and in any case if it enough to save the people of Zimbabwe from further misery and desperate straights. But I will leave the last word here in the form of a letter from K who is a member of Tearfund's Southern Africa team. Read more »

I thought you might be interested to know if like me you haven't seen the news tonight, that there is possible progress on a Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe. Read more »

There are some western leaders who have been reticent to speak out against Mugabe on account of our own sad colonial history. They have preferred only to be seen to follow African leaders' condemnation of the horrific illegal regime in Zimbabwe. For myself two wrongs never did make a right. Just because we have a history which is far from perfect so that is no reason to stand by in silence now while another crime of similar magnitude is committed. That would be to condone the increasingly illegal actions of Mugabe's regime taking place now. Read more »

Three more charities (including Save the Children UK) have been forced to quit Zimbabwe by the state sponsored ZANU-PF partly. Apparently there is to be no more official aid in Zimbabwe to starving poor, especially in the rural areas. Robert Mugabe "President" of Zimbabwe commented in Rome recently. The gist seems to be that if an organisation is meeting, or transporting enough food for, a group of people that counts as political campaigning on behalf of the "opposition". Read more »

I have put here a few snippets from an article in The Observer that tell the story of Gibson Nyandoro, a war veteran who changed his mind about Mugabe's government. He had great effect on those yet to vote in the March elections -- and he paid for it with his life and with great courage. Please click through the link at the end to read the full story. Read more »

You know sometimes I feel a bit silly writing to FIFA President Joseph Blatter and Downing Street merely because somebody somewhere lost the plot on stepping down from power gracefully.

 Read more »

Open Letter to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter

Joseph S. Blatter
FIFA-Strasse 20,
P.O. Box 8044 Zurich, Switzerland

Dear Joseph,

It is clear from members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe that Mugabe's ZANU-PF have been gearing up for war since they lost the election at the end of March. Read more »

You may know that newsnight tonight (BBC 10:30) will include details of horrific state sponsored violence in Zimbabwe designed to intimidate people against voting for peaceful change.

You may also know that last Sunday a large congregation worshippers
were beaten by police when they refused to leave a service of holy
communion in the capital city Harare.

A detail to emerge from tonight's programme is the fact that Read more »

You know I try to keep Aylesbury Life vaguely to what I do from time to time, but I can't. It has to be about who I am too. Read more »