‘Scared’ Zimbabweans ‘expect worse things to come’ after Mnangagwa re-election
As Emmerson Mnangagwa thanked his opponents, the Zimbabwean people and the country’s churches after his second presidential election win, some of Harare’s residents prayed for a changed outcome.
Not at the Sunday congregations of their usual churches but in the safety of their homes – fearful of the police deployed across the streets of the capital and the threat of a crackdown.
“Today I didn’t go to church,” Dorcas, a Harare resident tells Sky News. “We were scared since the announcement of the results and unsure of what is going to happen given the presence of the police in the neighbourhood.
“So I just thought we would pray for our country at home. We are praying for a better future, a changed outcome and for court cases to be heard by people who are wise.”
While Mr Mnangagwa‘s main opponent Nelson Chamisa has publicly denounced the election results calling them “a blatant and gigantic fraud”, and is expected to share the opposition’s next course of action, any legal recourse is unlikely to bear fruit.
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa called the election results a ‘gigantic fraud’
Not only is there no precedent of an overturned election outcome in the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe, but the rule of law has increasingly become a tool of repression.
After a day of disappointment for disenfranchised urban voters unable to cast their ballots because of closed polling stations or a lack of voter materials, the Zimbabwean authorities arrested 39 election monitors and raided their office on the evening of polling day.
The employees and volunteers of the Zimbabwe Election Network and the Election Reporting Centre were charged and released on bail.
Armed riot police on the streets of Harare ahead of Zimbabwe’s election result. Pic: AP
“They have been charged with violating section 66 of the electoral act of purportedly announcing election results – which they did not do,” said Kumbirai Mafunda, the spokesman for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which is representing the civic society group. They are still expected to appear in court to face their charges.
“Our concern lies in the targeted harassment, intimidation and disruption of legitimate election observation,” Mr Mafunda added.
“These are organisations who have in the past played a critical role in the observation of Zimbabwe’s elections – we cannot wake up and suddenly label them as subversive.”
Not only can these labels be dished out by the authorities but they can also be easily enshrined in law.
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Officers outside Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission building in Harare. Pic: AP
Legal pathways to crush dissent have ensured Mr Mnangagwa’s hold on power – a fate not only written in the stars but in the subtext of Zimbabwe’s controversial “Patriotic Bill” passed in the weeks leading up to the election.
The bill criminalises acts seen to be damaging to the sovereignty and national interests of Zimbabwe – dangerously vague provisions that are punishable by loss of citizenship, denial of the right to vote and even the death penalty.
Critics have called the legislation a symptom of tyranny and a sign that Mr Mnangagwa has outdone his predecessor Robert Mugabe’s dictatorial ways.
“I don’t expect anything from him but I do expect worse things to come for my fellow countrymen,” says disappointed voter Chief Svosve, who is using a pseudonym for his safety.
“We are being governed by a regime that tramples on citizens.”
Banned from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia will hold a rival international song contest on Saturday, with an emphasis on “traditional values”.
Instead of camp, think conservative – patriotic pop with a PG-rating.
“Intervision” was launched under the order of Vladimir Putin, with the hope it would serve as an expression of Moscow’s international pulling power.
Intervision decorations in Red Square, Moscow, ahead of the contest
There are contestants from 23 countries, which are a mixture of Russia’s allies old and new, including Belarus, Cuba and Tajikistan as well as China, India and Saudi Arabia.
The odd one out is the United States, who’ll be represented by an artist called “Vassy”. She’s not part of an official delegation, but an American voice is still a coup for the Kremlin, which will seek to use this contest as proof of the West’s failure to isolate Russia on the global stage.
‘War whitewash’
Intervision is not entirely new. It was originally launched in the 1960s as an instrument of Soviet soft power, before largely fading from view in the 1980s.
According to Moscow, its revival has nothing to do with politics. But Ukraine has condemned it as propaganda, and an attempt to whitewash Russia’s war.
It was a point I put to some contestants after their final press conferences, but it didn’t go down well.
“We don’t think like that, we are here to spread peace,” India’s Rauhan Malik told me, when I asked if his participation was a show of support for Russia’s invasion.
Malik, one of the contestants
“Are you not turning a blind eye to Russia’s aggression?” I countered.
“I have no idea about it,” he said. “I have no idea about the current situation that’s happening. I don’t want to speak about that as well.”
Eurovision legends Abba would almost certainly not make the Russian contest guest list. Pic: AP
Really? He had no idea? But before I could go on, I felt a forceful hand on my shoulder and a minder stepped in.
The intervention was even quicker when it came to speaking to Brazil’s act. As soon as I mentioned the word Ukraine, I was drowned out by shouts of “no, no, no, no” and the duo were ushered away.
Brazilian contestants, duo Luciano Calazans and Thais Nader
Where’s the glitter?
Intervision is not just a reaction to Russia’s recent exclusion from Eurosivion, however, it’s also a reaction to the contest’s values and what it’s come to represent.
Its celebration of sexual diversity and LGBTQ+ rights are seen as a symbol of what the Kremlin calls the West’s moral decline. In contrast, Intervision organisers say their contest will promote “traditional, family values.”
Judging by the costumes on show ahead of last week’s draw, that translates to less glitter, more embroidery, with a thematic emphasis on national heritage.
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So what do Russians think of Intervision’s resurrection? Can it replace Eurovision?
“We don’t miss Eurovision,” Galina and Tatiana say, underneath a collection of purple and pink ‘Intervision’ flags near Red Square.
“It was so horrible, especially lately. We didn’t like watching it at all.”
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Why are countries boycotting Eurovision?
Polina agrees, believing Russia’s version will be “more interesting”.
“Many countries that participated in Eurovision want to boycott it, so it’s interesting to see a more peaceful event now,” she says.
Igor is more circumspect. “I’d like to believe that this isn’t a political event,” he says, “but rather an event that unites nations and people.”
Intervision will succeed in uniting some nations. But at the same time, it may only deepen divisions with others – further evidence that Russia and the West are singing very different tunes.
Donald Trump will introduce a new $100,000 application fee for foreign worker visas.
A White House official said the US President is preparing to sign a proclamation today that will require a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa, which covers highly-skilled foreign workers.
The charge is part of a broader immigration crackdown.
H-1B visas are meant to bring the best and brightest foreigners for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill with qualified Americans and other permanent residents.
The programme has drawn criticism for becoming a pipeline for overseas workers who are often willing to work for wages lower than those typically paid to US technology workers. Critics also argue that companies use H-1B visas to overlook Americans for jobs.
First lady Melania Trump, the former Melania Knauss, was granted an H1-B work visa in October 1996 to work as a model. She was born in Slovenia.
What is a H-1B visa?
The H-1B programme has been crucial for technology and staffing companies who rely on foreign workers.
Historically, these visas – 85,000 per year – have been doled out through a lottery system.
Donald Trump will introduce the charge as part of an immigration crackdown
India, the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounted for 71% of approved beneficiaries.
China was second with 11.7%, according to government data.
Shares of IT services company, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, fell by over 5% on Friday.
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