Mugabe cannot be trusted.

In an editorial (July 23) The Zimbabwean provided these words of caution to the MDC.

The MDC needs to tread very carefully in the forthcoming negotiations. They are dealing with a very devious Mugabe indeed. We carry a story on the front page [of The Zimbabwean] this week about Jonathan Moyo having been recruited back into the Zanu (PF) fold in a desperate attempt to destroy the MDC - even after the party coming into Mugabe's proposed government of national unity.

The state-sponsored violence, aimed at decapitating the MDC by murdering its activists countrywide, continues unabated. This diabolical strategy has already crippled the party's organisational ability, destroyed its structures and made it virtually impossible for it to operate effectively.

The army and police continue to operate as militias of Zanu (PF) in contravention of their constitutional mandate.

Increasingly hungry MDC supporters around the country are still being denied access to food. Those who have been savagely beaten are being denied transport to take them to hospital, while those who are in hospital are being denied treatment.

The NGOs are still banned from distributing food to the hungry, in case any of it falls into the hands of MDC members.

There is a complete news blackout of the MDC's activities in the state-controlled media, except when the party is being vilified as a puppet of the West. The Daily News and other newspapers remain silenced by the Media and Information Commission, and crippling punitive taxes on foreign-based publications like The Zimbabwean, are being used as a weapon to deny Zimbabweans their right to access to information.

Radio stations run from outside the country are jammed, while the evil AIPPA legislation is still on the statute books and its chief architect, Jonathan Moyo, has been roped in to strengthen Zanu (PF)'s hand.

We understand the regime has now turned its attention in earnest to the business community, where it has done an audit of foreign-owned companies with a view to seizing them and handing them over to Zanu (PF) loyalists.

The same people who benefited from the chaotic land grab, are standing in line to take over these companies and Mugabe desperately seeks to keep his gravy train on the rails.

In short, Mugabe cannot be trusted. And those who go into talks with him, should go into them with their eyes and ears wide open - and their backs covered.

Word:

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret-it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found. (Psalm 37)

This is the text of the Editorial which appeared in The Zimbabwean July 23 2008