Close to the point where I need to rename this blog 'WTF is going on in Zimbabwe?'

Reports of violence against opposition supporters continue to hit the wires, including a Human Rights Watch report on detention camps where people are tortured by ZANU-PF loyals, middle of the night mob attacks, harassment and abduction of journalists, and the obstruction of humanitarian efforts. The MDC says that the country is in a state of “undeclared war,” and despite Thabo’s best efforts, the ANC is starting to wake up and realize that the unrest in Zim has destabilizing potential for the entire region, and South Africa in particular. New ANC President Jacob Zuma, typically not on my list of favorite people, also addressed the crisis during his trip to Europe, using language not particularly harsh, but still stronger than anything said by Mbeki.

On a more positive note, union and other organizers have so far successfully prevented the Chinese ship from unloading its cargo of weapons intended for the Zimbabwean military. (See earlier post for background.) After being turned away from South Africa, the ship was also denied permission to unload from Tanzania and Mozambique, and is reportedly headed for Angola. The government of Namibia said that the ship has not made a request to either dock or refuel at either of their ports. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Trade and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) are calling for an international effort to prevent the ship from unloading its cargo.

The recount of the 23 districts in the parliamentary districts is moving at a slower than expected pace, raising further fears that the ZEC and ZANU are engaged in election fraud. Surprise, surprise.