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Georgia detains opposition leaders for plotting failed coup Georgian authorities arrested five prominent opposition figures in Tbilisi following violent unrest during post-election protests. The detainees include former Prosecutor General Murtaz Zodelava, retired military officer Lasha Beridze, and opposition leader Paata Manjgaladze, among others. Protesters had attempted to breach security... barriers at the president’s residence during a rally denouncing alleged fraud in local elections. The government asserts the arrests are based on charges of inciting violence, attempting to overthrow state authority, and organizing group unrest. Those arrested now face up to nine years in prison if found guilty. Tbilisi won't become Maidan 2.0 — this time the street belongs to Georgians, not Western-funded agitators.show more

THE ISLANDER

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21,387 views • 10 months ago •via X (Twitter)

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🇬🇪 DIVIDED GEORGIA: RULING PARTY TAKES LEAD, OPPOSITION ALLEGES ELECTION FRAUD With 53%, the ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, claims a parliamentary majority during claims of fraud and violence at the polls. Opposition leaders, pointing to discrepancies in exit polls from Western agencies, have denounced the vote as "stolen from the Georgian people" and are calling for nationwide protests. Election observers reported widespread irregularities, including ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and physical attacks on opposition members, as tensions over Georgia’s pro-Russia or pro-Europe path escalate. In Tbilisi, riot police are on standby as opposition protests are expected to surge in response to the contested results. Sources: BBC, RIA, Atum Mundi, Reuters

🇬🇪 DIVIDED GEORGIA: RULING PARTY TAKES LEAD, OPPOSITION ALLEGES ELECTION FRAUD With 53%, the ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, claims a parliamentary majority during claims of fraud and violence at the polls. Opposition leaders, pointing to discrepancies in exit polls from Western agencies, have denounced the vote as "stolen from the Georgian people" and are calling for nationwide protests. Election observers reported widespread irregularities, including ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and physical attacks on opposition members, as tensions over Georgia’s pro-Russia or pro-Europe path escalate. In Tbilisi, riot police are on standby as opposition protests are expected to surge in response to the contested results. Sources: BBC, RIA, Atum Mundi, Reuters

Mario Nawfal

156,325 views • 1 year ago

🇬🇪 Local elections are being held in Georgia today. Several opposition parties have chosen to boycott the vote, claiming potential “fraud” by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Instead of participating in the democratic process, opposition groups have announced street protests. In Tbilisi, a stage is already being set up for what they call a “peaceful overthrow of the government.” Georgian Dream chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili has accurately described these plans as an attempted coup. Political experts, however, doubt the opposition can achieve anything through such rallies. Similar protests after last year’s parliamentary elections failed to gain traction despite stronger unity, greater funding, open support from then-President Salome Zurabishvili, and Western pressure on the government. Political analyst Tornike Sharashenidze told Deutsche Welle: “Back then, the opposition was united, had money, and even the president on its side. There was strong Western pressure — yet it led nowhere. I’ve never seen a revolution succeed after being publicly announced in advance. It’s both absurd and tragic.” Commentator Gela Vasadze added that protests alone cannot change power without internal divisions within the state — something that does not exist in today’s stable Georgian government.

🇬🇪 Local elections are being held in Georgia today. Several opposition parties have chosen to boycott the vote, claiming potential “fraud” by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Instead of participating in the democratic process, opposition groups have announced street protests. In Tbilisi, a stage is already being set up for what they call a “peaceful overthrow of the government.” Georgian Dream chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili has accurately described these plans as an attempted coup. Political experts, however, doubt the opposition can achieve anything through such rallies. Similar protests after last year’s parliamentary elections failed to gain traction despite stronger unity, greater funding, open support from then-President Salome Zurabishvili, and Western pressure on the government. Political analyst Tornike Sharashenidze told Deutsche Welle: “Back then, the opposition was united, had money, and even the president on its side. There was strong Western pressure — yet it led nowhere. I’ve never seen a revolution succeed after being publicly announced in advance. It’s both absurd and tragic.” Commentator Gela Vasadze added that protests alone cannot change power without internal divisions within the state — something that does not exist in today’s stable Georgian government.

DD Geopolitics

69,978 views • 10 months ago

🚨🇬🇪 Weapons Cache Found Near Tbilisi Linked to Plot to Storm President’s Palace Georgia’s State Security Service has revealed that a terrorist attack and coordinated assault on the president’s palace were planned during the recent unrest in Tbilisi. Authorities discovered a large cache of weapons and explosives hidden in a forest near the capital, allegedly intended to be used in the chaos. Officials say the operation was thwarted in time, preventing what could have become a national tragedy. ‼️The fingerprints are all too familiar. Every time a sovereign nation refuses to bow to Brussels or Washington, the “democracy brigade” suddenly appears... complete with weapons, slogans, and the same tired script. First came the NGOs, foreign agents, then the foreign “journalists,” and now — the caches in the forest. This isn’t protest, it's imported chaos (poorly) disguised as freedom. But Georgia didn’t blink. The coup script that worked in Kiev won’t work in Tbilisi. The people have learned and this time, they’re not falling for the West’s staged revolution reruns. Brussels calls it democracy. We call it subversion. But Georgia? Georgia calls it sovereignty defended.

🚨🇬🇪 Weapons Cache Found Near Tbilisi Linked to Plot to Storm President’s Palace Georgia’s State Security Service has revealed that a terrorist attack and coordinated assault on the president’s palace were planned during the recent unrest in Tbilisi. Authorities discovered a large cache of weapons and explosives hidden in a forest near the capital, allegedly intended to be used in the chaos. Officials say the operation was thwarted in time, preventing what could have become a national tragedy. ‼️The fingerprints are all too familiar. Every time a sovereign nation refuses to bow to Brussels or Washington, the “democracy brigade” suddenly appears... complete with weapons, slogans, and the same tired script. First came the NGOs, foreign agents, then the foreign “journalists,” and now — the caches in the forest. This isn’t protest, it's imported chaos (poorly) disguised as freedom. But Georgia didn’t blink. The coup script that worked in Kiev won’t work in Tbilisi. The people have learned and this time, they’re not falling for the West’s staged revolution reruns. Brussels calls it democracy. We call it subversion. But Georgia? Georgia calls it sovereignty defended.

THE ISLANDER

26,465 views • 10 months ago

Again, #Tanzania's 🇹🇿 authorities have arrested two opposition leaders, the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo party chairman, Freeman #Mbowe, and his deputy, #Tundu Lissu, in commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, on Monday ahead of planned protests against alleged killings and abductions of opposition officials, which authorities have banned. Police had earlier blocked all access roads leading to the homes of two opposition leaders. Lissu, who survived being shot 16 times during an assassination attempt in 2016, said that three police vehicles full of officers in riot gear were outside his house. Police abuses targeting critics of the government have continued, however, and intensified in the run-up to local government elections in December, and the national election in 2025, rights defenders say. Earlier this month a senior #CHADEMA member was abducted from a bus by armed men his body later found on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam with signs he had been beaten and acid poured on his face. Police briefly arrested Mbowe, Lissu and hundreds of their supporters to prevent them from attending a banned party conference in the southwest of the country in August. Source: Reuters, other media sources. 🇹🇿

Again, #Tanzania's 🇹🇿 authorities have arrested two opposition leaders, the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo party chairman, Freeman #Mbowe, and his deputy, #Tundu Lissu, in commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, on Monday ahead of planned protests against alleged killings and abductions of opposition officials, which authorities have banned. Police had earlier blocked all access roads leading to the homes of two opposition leaders. Lissu, who survived being shot 16 times during an assassination attempt in 2016, said that three police vehicles full of officers in riot gear were outside his house. Police abuses targeting critics of the government have continued, however, and intensified in the run-up to local government elections in December, and the national election in 2025, rights defenders say. Earlier this month a senior #CHADEMA member was abducted from a bus by armed men his body later found on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam with signs he had been beaten and acid poured on his face. Police briefly arrested Mbowe, Lissu and hundreds of their supporters to prevent them from attending a banned party conference in the southwest of the country in August. Source: Reuters, other media sources. 🇹🇿

Kennedy Wandera

21,472 views • 1 year ago

Protests in Georgia against the reversal of the country’s pro-European course continue for over 3 weeks now. After a brief pause, the protesters took to the streets en masse again on Dec 21. One of the main demands is the recall of the Parliamentary elections that the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party won. The ODIHR/OSCE monitoring mission noted a combination of voter intimidation, media bias, unequal conditions, and violations of ballot secrecy during the elections, which did not meet fundamental democratic standards or OSCE commitments necessary for free and fair elections. The opposition believes that this official conclusion creates grounds to host re-election. Last night, people in Tbilisi performed the Khorumi war dance—a traditional dance of the Adjara region that calls forth the spirits of Georgian fighters of the past centuries. The dance reminds us that in order to have peace, one must be ready for war.

Protests in Georgia against the reversal of the country’s pro-European course continue for over 3 weeks now. After a brief pause, the protesters took to the streets en masse again on Dec 21. One of the main demands is the recall of the Parliamentary elections that the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party won. The ODIHR/OSCE monitoring mission noted a combination of voter intimidation, media bias, unequal conditions, and violations of ballot secrecy during the elections, which did not meet fundamental democratic standards or OSCE commitments necessary for free and fair elections. The opposition believes that this official conclusion creates grounds to host re-election. Last night, people in Tbilisi performed the Khorumi war dance—a traditional dance of the Adjara region that calls forth the spirits of Georgian fighters of the past centuries. The dance reminds us that in order to have peace, one must be ready for war.

Anton Gerashchenko

186,929 views • 1 year ago

BREAKING NEWS This morning, Mozambican government security forces launched an attack on opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane while he was holding a press briefing with local and international journalists. Activists and members of the public who were present at the press briefing ran in different directions, fearing for their lives. Mozambique recently held general elections, where the opposition leader claimed victory and stated that the ruling Frelimo party had rigged the election. He ordered a shutdown today, and the streets of Maputo are empty, save for the media and a few people. Two prominent opposition activists were killed last week by unidentified gunmen. The two opposition figures who were killed were Elvino Dias, a lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, a candidate for the Podemos party that backed Venâncio Mondlane. According to witnesses, the two men were in a car in downtown Maputo when they were surrounded by other vehicles and shot at, with gunmen firing 20 bullets in the attack. The killings have drawn condemnation from around the world including by the African Union, with many expressing outrage over the violence and calling for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Mozambique. The SADC Chairman and Zimbabwe’s tyrant Emmerson Mnangagwa has said nothing about the crisis, and he is not expected to say anything because his party send Zimbabweans to vote in the Mozambican elections.

BREAKING NEWS This morning, Mozambican government security forces launched an attack on opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane while he was holding a press briefing with local and international journalists. Activists and members of the public who were present at the press briefing ran in different directions, fearing for their lives. Mozambique recently held general elections, where the opposition leader claimed victory and stated that the ruling Frelimo party had rigged the election. He ordered a shutdown today, and the streets of Maputo are empty, save for the media and a few people. Two prominent opposition activists were killed last week by unidentified gunmen. The two opposition figures who were killed were Elvino Dias, a lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, a candidate for the Podemos party that backed Venâncio Mondlane. According to witnesses, the two men were in a car in downtown Maputo when they were surrounded by other vehicles and shot at, with gunmen firing 20 bullets in the attack. The killings have drawn condemnation from around the world including by the African Union, with many expressing outrage over the violence and calling for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Mozambique. The SADC Chairman and Zimbabwe’s tyrant Emmerson Mnangagwa has said nothing about the crisis, and he is not expected to say anything because his party send Zimbabweans to vote in the Mozambican elections.

Hopewell Chin’ono

118,168 views • 1 year ago

They Rejected Chamisa — Now They Are Using His Playbook The opposition in Zimbabwe have secretly adopted the strategic ambiguity. Strategic ambiguity is the deliberate practice of withholding or limiting information about an organisation's plans, leadership, or operations in order to create uncertainty for opponents and reduce their ability to interfere. This strategy has been used by opposition organizations in Zimbabwe because of the government's oppressiveness. They only contact journalists privately a few minutes before a scheduled press conference. Under normal circumstances, press conferences, public gatherings and rallies are announced at least 24 hours in advance to prepare followers (listeners) as well as the media. Under opposition leader and 2023 presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa's strategy, the opposite applied. Press conferences and public gatherings were deliberately kept secret, and journalists were contacted only a few minutes before the event. This strategy appeared to work well during the period leading up to the 2023 elections. Compared with previous elections, opposition leaders and prominent supporters faced fewer pre-emptive arrests and disruptions of campaign activities, suggesting that the strategy helped reduce the state's ability to target them. Its subsequent adoption by leaders who had previously criticized Chamisa and his methods suggests that the approach had strategic value. The fragmented opposition leaders, despite aligning with known ZANU-PF apologists and each forming their own organizations, have failed over the past two years to mobilize supporters to stage even a single demonstration or mount meaningful opposition against CAB 3. Their activities have largely been confined to the digital space, where much of their energy has been spent attacking their former leader, Chamisa. Beyond this, the roughly ten leaders have periodically gathered for press conferences in bushy, secluded locations. Social media has it that these opposition outfits are funded by Chiwenga, the 2017 coup hero who now faces political relegation. If CAB 3 succeeds, his already slim prospects of ever becoming President could be irreversibly diminished. Such an allegiance may also explain the ineffectiveness these opposition leaders have displayed in opposing CAB 3. A relationship with a ZANU-PF faction has created a false sense of security, making them less disciplined and less vigilant about operational security. It may also have exposed them to infiltration by individuals whose ultimate loyalty remained with ZANU-PF rather than the opposition. This, in turn, could help explain the pattern of surprise arrests involving some opposition leaders. The internet is replete with reports of police raiding homes and allegedly discovering campaign flyers and other incriminating material hidden under beds, inside wardrobes, and in other unlikely places, suggesting that security agencies may have been acting on prior intelligence. This explain why these opposition leaders appeared less concerned about operational security. Believing they enjoyed protection from a ZANU-PF faction, they may have become complacent, making it easier for individuals whose loyalty remained with ZANU-PF to infiltrate their organisations and leak information about their activities.

They Rejected Chamisa — Now They Are Using His Playbook The opposition in Zimbabwe have secretly adopted the strategic ambiguity. Strategic ambiguity is the deliberate practice of withholding or limiting information about an organisation's plans, leadership, or operations in order to create uncertainty for opponents and reduce their ability to interfere. This strategy has been used by opposition organizations in Zimbabwe because of the government's oppressiveness. They only contact journalists privately a few minutes before a scheduled press conference. Under normal circumstances, press conferences, public gatherings and rallies are announced at least 24 hours in advance to prepare followers (listeners) as well as the media. Under opposition leader and 2023 presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa's strategy, the opposite applied. Press conferences and public gatherings were deliberately kept secret, and journalists were contacted only a few minutes before the event. This strategy appeared to work well during the period leading up to the 2023 elections. Compared with previous elections, opposition leaders and prominent supporters faced fewer pre-emptive arrests and disruptions of campaign activities, suggesting that the strategy helped reduce the state's ability to target them. Its subsequent adoption by leaders who had previously criticized Chamisa and his methods suggests that the approach had strategic value. The fragmented opposition leaders, despite aligning with known ZANU-PF apologists and each forming their own organizations, have failed over the past two years to mobilize supporters to stage even a single demonstration or mount meaningful opposition against CAB 3. Their activities have largely been confined to the digital space, where much of their energy has been spent attacking their former leader, Chamisa. Beyond this, the roughly ten leaders have periodically gathered for press conferences in bushy, secluded locations. Social media has it that these opposition outfits are funded by Chiwenga, the 2017 coup hero who now faces political relegation. If CAB 3 succeeds, his already slim prospects of ever becoming President could be irreversibly diminished. Such an allegiance may also explain the ineffectiveness these opposition leaders have displayed in opposing CAB 3. A relationship with a ZANU-PF faction has created a false sense of security, making them less disciplined and less vigilant about operational security. It may also have exposed them to infiltration by individuals whose ultimate loyalty remained with ZANU-PF rather than the opposition. This, in turn, could help explain the pattern of surprise arrests involving some opposition leaders. The internet is replete with reports of police raiding homes and allegedly discovering campaign flyers and other incriminating material hidden under beds, inside wardrobes, and in other unlikely places, suggesting that security agencies may have been acting on prior intelligence. This explain why these opposition leaders appeared less concerned about operational security. Believing they enjoyed protection from a ZANU-PF faction, they may have become complacent, making it easier for individuals whose loyalty remained with ZANU-PF to infiltrate their organisations and leak information about their activities.

Change Radio

29,034 views • 1 month ago

🚨Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: Authorities Declare 150 Protesters "Terrorists" Amid Ongoing Unrest In Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where public demonstrations have entered their 11th consecutive day, authorities have escalated their crackdown on the protest movement. In a significant escalation, the regional administration has officially designated approximately 150 peaceful protesters—both organizers and participants—as terrorists under Schedule IV of the anti-terrorism laws. The move comes after the local puppet government issued a formal notification placing the individuals on the terror watchlist. Among those named are prominent protest leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Umar Nazir, Khawaja Mehran, and Aman Khan. This latest action follows an earlier order issued even before the protests began, which had already proscribed the Awami Action Committee—the main organizing body behind the demonstrations—as a terrorist entity. With the new notification, authorities appear to be intensifying efforts to suppress dissent, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups and opposition voices.

🚨Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: Authorities Declare 150 Protesters "Terrorists" Amid Ongoing Unrest In Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where public demonstrations have entered their 11th consecutive day, authorities have escalated their crackdown on the protest movement. In a significant escalation, the regional administration has officially designated approximately 150 peaceful protesters—both organizers and participants—as terrorists under Schedule IV of the anti-terrorism laws. The move comes after the local puppet government issued a formal notification placing the individuals on the terror watchlist. Among those named are prominent protest leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Umar Nazir, Khawaja Mehran, and Aman Khan. This latest action follows an earlier order issued even before the protests began, which had already proscribed the Awami Action Committee—the main organizing body behind the demonstrations—as a terrorist entity. With the new notification, authorities appear to be intensifying efforts to suppress dissent, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups and opposition voices.

Adil Raja

14,434 views • 1 month ago

A mayor in Kansas has been arrested for voter fraud and has been exposed as a noncitizen He also voted in his own reelection So we have an noncitizen in office, who can register to vote and has been voting for years We were all told this was impossible “This Kansas mayor has now been arrested for alleged voter fraud and being exposed as a noncitizen, voting in his own reelection. So this small town mayor, Jose “Joe” Ceballos of Coldwater, Kansas is now facing up to five years in prison after investigators said he voted multiple elections despite not being a US citizen. The charges filed in Komati County are based on Cabellos voting in 2022 general election, 2023 general election for local office and 2024 primary election. So Cabellos here is reported to hold legal residency, but not a US citizenship, meaning he's never eligible to vote, let alone serve as elected office. And now, this is the reason why strong voter ID laws should be in place and citizenship verification absolutely matters. The fact that this guy was able to run and become mayor, let alone vote in several elections, raises red flags everywhere. This happens more often than anybody would like to admit, and it's true”

A mayor in Kansas has been arrested for voter fraud and has been exposed as a noncitizen He also voted in his own reelection So we have an noncitizen in office, who can register to vote and has been voting for years We were all told this was impossible “This Kansas mayor has now been arrested for alleged voter fraud and being exposed as a noncitizen, voting in his own reelection. So this small town mayor, Jose “Joe” Ceballos of Coldwater, Kansas is now facing up to five years in prison after investigators said he voted multiple elections despite not being a US citizen. The charges filed in Komati County are based on Cabellos voting in 2022 general election, 2023 general election for local office and 2024 primary election. So Cabellos here is reported to hold legal residency, but not a US citizenship, meaning he's never eligible to vote, let alone serve as elected office. And now, this is the reason why strong voter ID laws should be in place and citizenship verification absolutely matters. The fact that this guy was able to run and become mayor, let alone vote in several elections, raises red flags everywhere. This happens more often than anybody would like to admit, and it's true”

Wall Street Apes

63,446 views • 9 months ago

Yesterday’s elections in Georgia have put an end, once again, to all speculations about who the Georgian people are, where the Georgian people stand, how many Georgians there are, and who can speak on their behalf. Georgian people went to the polls yesterday, which was definitely more than just local self-government elections. Yesterday, Georgian people supported the Georgian state, the country's constitution, law and order, democracy, and national interests. I thank every voter who came to the polls, regardless of who they voted for. I thank every one of our supporters who strengthened our government. And a special thanks to each candidate involved in Georgian Dream’s election campaign, members of our electoral headquarters, who brought our main message to the voters. Yesterday, all alternative agendas, fabricated and false realities were put to an end. At the same time, yesterday, Georgia escaped Maidanization, bloodshed, chaos, and a return to the dark past. We survived not because some extremists or their foreign instructors came to their senses. We survived because law enforcement officers defended their country. I thank every police officer, special forces officer, security service officer, and government security officer who yesterday, at the risk of their own lives and health, prevented internal and external enemies from disrupting peaceful development of our country. Internal and external forces, which have been trying to destabilize Georgia for years, attempted to stage a decisive battle against the Georgian people and suffered a bitter defeat. Yesterday, we saw people led from abroad who were ready, driven by their ambitions, hatred, and revenge, to overthrow the legitimately elected government and, along with it, to overthrow the future of Georgia, our people, and our children. Today, it is no longer worth talking about the few adventurers who led the attempt to overthrow the government. Their crimes have been weighed, their guilt has been measured, and they will be given the appropriate punishment. Today, it is the most shameful, cowardly, and shameless participants of yesterday’s events who must be held accountable for what they had sewn and what they tried to reap. I am talking about those leaders of the radicals who actively participated in planning the crime, mobilizing the people, promoting hatred. When they saw that their attempt to overthrow the government failed, they fled and are now trying to shift the blame to the perpetrators who directly resorted to violence. We must also not allow anyone to distract us from the nature of yesterday's gathering. Society will not tolerate this naivety anymore neither from Georgians nor from foreigners. Each participant of yesterday's gathering knew very well that at 4 pm, on October 4th, they were going to overthrow the government. The time, place, plan, and the goal were precisely set. Several thousand people who gathered yesterday knew very well where they were going and what they were doing. These are those several thousand people angry about their lives and their country who, in March 2022, from the same place, demanded Georgia's involvement in the war in Ukraine; those who, in June 2022, from the same place, called for the government to transfer power to foreign NGOs; those who in March 2023, from the same place, threw a Molotov cocktail for the first time; those who lost elections in October 2024, and instead of accepting the defeat, launched another unsuccessful attempt to destabilize the country. These are a few thousand people flying the flag for someone else, and who would trade our country's independence for the obedience to someone else. It is symbolic that yesterday, these several thousand rioters, flying the flag for someone else, were defeated right on the Freedom Square. After yesterday's failed coup attempt, we should not lose sight of the foreign propaganda support that yesterday's attempt to overthrow the government mustered. Throughout the day, a constant stream of disinformation flowed from Georgia to international media platforms, while inciting calls were heard from abroad by people who, no one doubts, were rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of bloodshed. We saw the culmination of this external support during the storming of the Georgian President's residence, when coordinated statements by people, already well-known to our society, appeared, claiming to be external supporters of Maidanization. Pay attention to the fact that neither during the preparation of the crime, nor during its course, nor after, not a single foreigner, not a single Brussels bureaucrat, nor an official from an individual country, not even distanced oneself from violence and crime, let alone condemned it. We heard only the slogans supporting the crime and, also, general, empty phrases about democracy and freedom, which seemed even more cynical against the backdrop of the massive crime that the entire world was watching live. Moreover, a few days ago, we heard a statement from the European Commission spokesperson expressing solidarity with the anti-government rally announced for October 4. We have repeatedly pointed out the harmful nature of this statement. However, no one has distanced oneself from it. Of course, the society will not forget this open support, and expects an explanation. Their deafening silence on the failed violent overthrow by the extremists embraced by foreign funders and patrons, clearly demonstrates how much real value they place on democracy, human rights, and peaceful development of the Georgian people. The failed coup d'état of October 4 should serve as a final warning to everyone, both inside and outside the country. There are already calls made to pretend that yesterday's attempt to overthrow the government was only a temporary setback, and that there is a need to change the tactic, continue provocations and they will definitely achieve their goal. It is unimaginable to chronicle greater cynicism, contempt, and outright betrayal of the homeland than these people are doing. However, the lesson of October 4 has been learned. Within the framework of the Constitution and the law, the Georgian government will do everything possible to ensure that the country is protected, the people have peace, and Georgia and our children have a future. With calmness, strength, dignity, loyalty, and love, good has triumphed over evil.

Yesterday’s elections in Georgia have put an end, once again, to all speculations about who the Georgian people are, where the Georgian people stand, how many Georgians there are, and who can speak on their behalf. Georgian people went to the polls yesterday, which was definitely more than just local self-government elections. Yesterday, Georgian people supported the Georgian state, the country's constitution, law and order, democracy, and national interests. I thank every voter who came to the polls, regardless of who they voted for. I thank every one of our supporters who strengthened our government. And a special thanks to each candidate involved in Georgian Dream’s election campaign, members of our electoral headquarters, who brought our main message to the voters. Yesterday, all alternative agendas, fabricated and false realities were put to an end. At the same time, yesterday, Georgia escaped Maidanization, bloodshed, chaos, and a return to the dark past. We survived not because some extremists or their foreign instructors came to their senses. We survived because law enforcement officers defended their country. I thank every police officer, special forces officer, security service officer, and government security officer who yesterday, at the risk of their own lives and health, prevented internal and external enemies from disrupting peaceful development of our country. Internal and external forces, which have been trying to destabilize Georgia for years, attempted to stage a decisive battle against the Georgian people and suffered a bitter defeat. Yesterday, we saw people led from abroad who were ready, driven by their ambitions, hatred, and revenge, to overthrow the legitimately elected government and, along with it, to overthrow the future of Georgia, our people, and our children. Today, it is no longer worth talking about the few adventurers who led the attempt to overthrow the government. Their crimes have been weighed, their guilt has been measured, and they will be given the appropriate punishment. Today, it is the most shameful, cowardly, and shameless participants of yesterday’s events who must be held accountable for what they had sewn and what they tried to reap. I am talking about those leaders of the radicals who actively participated in planning the crime, mobilizing the people, promoting hatred. When they saw that their attempt to overthrow the government failed, they fled and are now trying to shift the blame to the perpetrators who directly resorted to violence. We must also not allow anyone to distract us from the nature of yesterday's gathering. Society will not tolerate this naivety anymore neither from Georgians nor from foreigners. Each participant of yesterday's gathering knew very well that at 4 pm, on October 4th, they were going to overthrow the government. The time, place, plan, and the goal were precisely set. Several thousand people who gathered yesterday knew very well where they were going and what they were doing. These are those several thousand people angry about their lives and their country who, in March 2022, from the same place, demanded Georgia's involvement in the war in Ukraine; those who, in June 2022, from the same place, called for the government to transfer power to foreign NGOs; those who in March 2023, from the same place, threw a Molotov cocktail for the first time; those who lost elections in October 2024, and instead of accepting the defeat, launched another unsuccessful attempt to destabilize the country. These are a few thousand people flying the flag for someone else, and who would trade our country's independence for the obedience to someone else. It is symbolic that yesterday, these several thousand rioters, flying the flag for someone else, were defeated right on the Freedom Square. After yesterday's failed coup attempt, we should not lose sight of the foreign propaganda support that yesterday's attempt to overthrow the government mustered. Throughout the day, a constant stream of disinformation flowed from Georgia to international media platforms, while inciting calls were heard from abroad by people who, no one doubts, were rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of bloodshed. We saw the culmination of this external support during the storming of the Georgian President's residence, when coordinated statements by people, already well-known to our society, appeared, claiming to be external supporters of Maidanization. Pay attention to the fact that neither during the preparation of the crime, nor during its course, nor after, not a single foreigner, not a single Brussels bureaucrat, nor an official from an individual country, not even distanced oneself from violence and crime, let alone condemned it. We heard only the slogans supporting the crime and, also, general, empty phrases about democracy and freedom, which seemed even more cynical against the backdrop of the massive crime that the entire world was watching live. Moreover, a few days ago, we heard a statement from the European Commission spokesperson expressing solidarity with the anti-government rally announced for October 4. We have repeatedly pointed out the harmful nature of this statement. However, no one has distanced oneself from it. Of course, the society will not forget this open support, and expects an explanation. Their deafening silence on the failed violent overthrow by the extremists embraced by foreign funders and patrons, clearly demonstrates how much real value they place on democracy, human rights, and peaceful development of the Georgian people. The failed coup d'état of October 4 should serve as a final warning to everyone, both inside and outside the country. There are already calls made to pretend that yesterday's attempt to overthrow the government was only a temporary setback, and that there is a need to change the tactic, continue provocations and they will definitely achieve their goal. It is unimaginable to chronicle greater cynicism, contempt, and outright betrayal of the homeland than these people are doing. However, the lesson of October 4 has been learned. Within the framework of the Constitution and the law, the Georgian government will do everything possible to ensure that the country is protected, the people have peace, and Georgia and our children have a future. With calmness, strength, dignity, loyalty, and love, good has triumphed over evil.

Shalva Papuashvili 🇬🇪

54,804 views • 10 months ago

Morning scan: what's big news in #Georgia today, November 29: ● Throughout the night, thousands protested on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue against the Georgian government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028. Water cannons and tear gas were repeatedly used against demonstrators, with dozens—including journalists and politicians—being beaten. By 8 a.m., special forces cleared the avenue, detaining several dozen people and injuring others. Despite this, the opposition plans to resume protests at 7 p.m. tonight. ● Numerous eyewitnesses reported that during the crackdown, special forces specifically targeted journalists. Formula TV journalist Guram Rogava was brutally beaten while conducting a live report, microphone in hand, as captured clearly on video below. Alexandre Keshelashvili, a journalist for the online publication Publika, was detained and beaten, reportedly suffering a broken nose and is now hospitalized. Security forces also sprayed tear gas directly into the faces of camera operators to disrupt their work. ● President Salome Zourabichvili condemned the violent suppression of protests, particularly the targeting of journalists and political leaders, and urged a strong response from European leaders. Zourabichvili, who joined the protests and appealed to special forces to avoid violence, had earlier called the government’s decision to suspend EU talks a “final shift from Europe to Russia.” She declared herself the “only constitutional authority” in the country and called for unity and resistance, reaching out to Western diplomats, opposition leaders, and civil society. ● The Georgian Young Lawyers Association demanded the Interior Ministry disclose details of the gas used during the protest dispersal to ensure effective medical treatment for those affected. Experts suspect chemical irritants were also added to the water from cannons, with protesters reporting burns on their faces and bodies. The exact composition of the substances remains unknown. ● Human rights groups criticized the Interior Ministry for using disproportionate force, including freezing water in cold weather, which they called inhumane treatment. ● Around 80 employees of Georgia’s Foreign Ministry signed a statement opposing the government’s decision to halt EU integration. They warned that abandoning this opportunity could have severe strategic consequences, leaving Georgia vulnerable to external threats. ● On November 28, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the October 26 parliamentary elections as fraudulent, refusing to recognize the results, and calling for sanctions against leaders of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party. 🔴 Every morning briefing on Georgia, #Azerbaijan, and #Armenia at JAMnews, here 📷

Morning scan: what's big news in #Georgia today, November 29: ● Throughout the night, thousands protested on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue against the Georgian government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028. Water cannons and tear gas were repeatedly used against demonstrators, with dozens—including journalists and politicians—being beaten. By 8 a.m., special forces cleared the avenue, detaining several dozen people and injuring others. Despite this, the opposition plans to resume protests at 7 p.m. tonight. ● Numerous eyewitnesses reported that during the crackdown, special forces specifically targeted journalists. Formula TV journalist Guram Rogava was brutally beaten while conducting a live report, microphone in hand, as captured clearly on video below. Alexandre Keshelashvili, a journalist for the online publication Publika, was detained and beaten, reportedly suffering a broken nose and is now hospitalized. Security forces also sprayed tear gas directly into the faces of camera operators to disrupt their work. ● President Salome Zourabichvili condemned the violent suppression of protests, particularly the targeting of journalists and political leaders, and urged a strong response from European leaders. Zourabichvili, who joined the protests and appealed to special forces to avoid violence, had earlier called the government’s decision to suspend EU talks a “final shift from Europe to Russia.” She declared herself the “only constitutional authority” in the country and called for unity and resistance, reaching out to Western diplomats, opposition leaders, and civil society. ● The Georgian Young Lawyers Association demanded the Interior Ministry disclose details of the gas used during the protest dispersal to ensure effective medical treatment for those affected. Experts suspect chemical irritants were also added to the water from cannons, with protesters reporting burns on their faces and bodies. The exact composition of the substances remains unknown. ● Human rights groups criticized the Interior Ministry for using disproportionate force, including freezing water in cold weather, which they called inhumane treatment. ● Around 80 employees of Georgia’s Foreign Ministry signed a statement opposing the government’s decision to halt EU integration. They warned that abandoning this opportunity could have severe strategic consequences, leaving Georgia vulnerable to external threats. ● On November 28, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the October 26 parliamentary elections as fraudulent, refusing to recognize the results, and calling for sanctions against leaders of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party. 🔴 Every morning briefing on Georgia, #Azerbaijan, and #Armenia at JAMnews, here 📷

JAMnews

58,452 views • 1 year ago

🚨 Yesterday morning, WLC member and Chadian opposition leader Succès Masra was violently arrested at his home in N’Djamena by armed forces. Masra, the former Prime Minister and president of the opposition party Les Transformateurs, was taken from his residence before dawn. Security forces stormed his home without a warrant, breaking down his door and seizing him without explanation. His party members describe the act as an unlawful and brutal operation in violation of constitutional rights. Ndolembai Njesada (Ndolembai Njesada), fellow WLC leader and member of Les Transformateurs, was at home during the arrest and shared: “We were woken up by the sound of soldiers breaking down his door upstairs. I ran to see what was happening, then returned to my room, turned on the cameras, and published the video of his arrest. I was able to visit him at noon—he is in good spirits and his physical integrity is intact.” A few hours after his abduction, Chadian authorities accused Masra of inciting hatred and being complicit in violent events in the south of the country. These politically motivated charges stand in stark contrast to Masra’s long-standing commitment to peaceful democratic change. The WLC stands in full solidarity with Succès Masra and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. We will continue to raise the alarm and mobilize international attention to ensure his rights—and the rights of all Chadians—are protected. #FreeSuccessMasra #Chad #Democracy #HumanRights #WorldLibertyCongress

🚨 Yesterday morning, WLC member and Chadian opposition leader Succès Masra was violently arrested at his home in N’Djamena by armed forces. Masra, the former Prime Minister and president of the opposition party Les Transformateurs, was taken from his residence before dawn. Security forces stormed his home without a warrant, breaking down his door and seizing him without explanation. His party members describe the act as an unlawful and brutal operation in violation of constitutional rights. Ndolembai Njesada (Ndolembai Njesada), fellow WLC leader and member of Les Transformateurs, was at home during the arrest and shared: “We were woken up by the sound of soldiers breaking down his door upstairs. I ran to see what was happening, then returned to my room, turned on the cameras, and published the video of his arrest. I was able to visit him at noon—he is in good spirits and his physical integrity is intact.” A few hours after his abduction, Chadian authorities accused Masra of inciting hatred and being complicit in violent events in the south of the country. These politically motivated charges stand in stark contrast to Masra’s long-standing commitment to peaceful democratic change. The WLC stands in full solidarity with Succès Masra and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. We will continue to raise the alarm and mobilize international attention to ensure his rights—and the rights of all Chadians—are protected. #FreeSuccessMasra #Chad #Democracy #HumanRights #WorldLibertyCongress

WORLD LIBERTY CONGRESS

20,086 views • 1 year ago

$🔹Drama in Mazabuka~LUSAKA :A video circulating on social media captures a violent altercation involving Zambia's former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gary Nkombo. The incident took place at the Mazabuka Civic Centre where Nkombo was attempting to file his nomination papers to contest the Mazabuka Central parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, he was beaten mercilessly by HH state house security officials assisted by some youths. 🔸Nkombo, a longtime ally of President Hakainde Hichilema (HH), was dismissed from his ministerial position. Following his fallout with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), he chose to run for Parliament independently. 🔹 The footage shows a group of aggressive youths disrupting the nomination proceedings. Eyewitnesses and opposition leaders identified one of the key figures in the scrum as Bilden Haaloba, a known State House security official and bodyguard. During the fracas, Nkombo was physically assaulted, and his clothing was torn before police intervened to pull him to safety. Despite the intimidation tactics, Nkombo successfully completed his filing under heavy police security. 🔸 In a controversial turn of events, the Southern Province Police Command initially rounded up and arrested 20 suspects connected to the electoral violence. However, weeks later, Gary Nkombo himself was summoned and arrested on two counts of assault. Supporters and legal analysts have criticised the move, claiming Nkombo was merely acting in self-defence against State House security personnel. Nkombo confirmed his arrest to journalists, stating that while he did not expect the situation to unfold this way, he will allow the judicial process to take its course. 🔹 The highly publicised fallout between Nkombo and President HH has sent shockwaves through the UPND's traditional strongholds. Critics and former administration insiders argue that weaponising security forces to block veteran politicians from democratic participation signals an authoritarian shift, a sentiment currently driving deep fractures among voters ahead of the upcoming election….. HH came hiding behind the bible like Chakwera and here we are!!$

🔹Drama in Mazabuka~LUSAKA :A video circulating on social media captures a violent altercation involving Zambia's former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gary Nkombo. The incident took place at the Mazabuka Civic Centre where Nkombo was attempting to file his nomination papers to contest the Mazabuka Central parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, he was beaten mercilessly by HH state house security officials assisted by some youths. 🔸Nkombo, a longtime ally of President Hakainde Hichilema (HH), was dismissed from his ministerial position. Following his fallout with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), he chose to run for Parliament independently. 🔹 The footage shows a group of aggressive youths disrupting the nomination proceedings. Eyewitnesses and opposition leaders identified one of the key figures in the scrum as Bilden Haaloba, a known State House security official and bodyguard. During the fracas, Nkombo was physically assaulted, and his clothing was torn before police intervened to pull him to safety. Despite the intimidation tactics, Nkombo successfully completed his filing under heavy police security. 🔸 In a controversial turn of events, the Southern Province Police Command initially rounded up and arrested 20 suspects connected to the electoral violence. However, weeks later, Gary Nkombo himself was summoned and arrested on two counts of assault. Supporters and legal analysts have criticised the move, claiming Nkombo was merely acting in self-defence against State House security personnel. Nkombo confirmed his arrest to journalists, stating that while he did not expect the situation to unfold this way, he will allow the judicial process to take its course. 🔹 The highly publicised fallout between Nkombo and President HH has sent shockwaves through the UPND's traditional strongholds. Critics and former administration insiders argue that weaponising security forces to block veteran politicians from democratic participation signals an authoritarian shift, a sentiment currently driving deep fractures among voters ahead of the upcoming election….. HH came hiding behind the bible like Chakwera and here we are!!

LynneM 💕💝💎

29,002 views • 1 month ago

In her first full White House briefing since the riots in Los Angeles began, Karoline Leavitt wasted no time setting the record straight. It was a statement. What’s happening in LA isn’t a peaceful protest. It’s a violent uprising. And the Trump administration, she made clear, has no intention of watching the country burn while the Democrats and the media spin fairy tales. “President Trump promised to carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history,” Leavitt said. “And left-wing riots will not deter him in that effort.” Since June 6, over 330 illegal aliens have been arrested during the unrest—113 of them had prior convictions. Leavitt listed off the heinous crimes of those that have been arrested. One now faces attempted murder charges for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at police. These are not harmless demonstrations. They are organized, coordinated, and dangerous. “Law-abiding American citizens do not want these public safety threats living in their communities,” she said, “no matter what Democrats like Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom may claim.” And despite the rising attacks on ICE and Border Patrol, Leavitt confirmed the mission will press forward. “This administration is going to continue the mass deportation effort that the President promised the American public.” Her message to violent agitators was unflinching: “Any lawlessness will only strengthen this President’s resolve to defend the majority of Americans.”

In her first full White House briefing since the riots in Los Angeles began, Karoline Leavitt wasted no time setting the record straight. It was a statement. What’s happening in LA isn’t a peaceful protest. It’s a violent uprising. And the Trump administration, she made clear, has no intention of watching the country burn while the Democrats and the media spin fairy tales. “President Trump promised to carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history,” Leavitt said. “And left-wing riots will not deter him in that effort.” Since June 6, over 330 illegal aliens have been arrested during the unrest—113 of them had prior convictions. Leavitt listed off the heinous crimes of those that have been arrested. One now faces attempted murder charges for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at police. These are not harmless demonstrations. They are organized, coordinated, and dangerous. “Law-abiding American citizens do not want these public safety threats living in their communities,” she said, “no matter what Democrats like Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom may claim.” And despite the rising attacks on ICE and Border Patrol, Leavitt confirmed the mission will press forward. “This administration is going to continue the mass deportation effort that the President promised the American public.” Her message to violent agitators was unflinching: “Any lawlessness will only strengthen this President’s resolve to defend the majority of Americans.”

The Vigilant Fox 🦊

173,886 views • 1 year ago

As Uganda moves toward the 2026 general elections, the nation is once again being dragged into a familiar and troubling cycle of state-sponsored violence. Security forces loyal to President Yoweri Museveni are once more unleashing repression, shielded by a regime determined to cling to power at all costs. The scenes unfolding today are eerily reminiscent of the run-up to the 2021 elections, when opposition leader Bobi Wine was arrested and brutalized, scores of his supporters were killed, and the electoral process was widely condemned as fraudulent. History is now repeating itself. Police and military forces are openly trampling on the law and the Constitution, not in the interest of national security, but to preserve Museveni’s iron grip on power. As this repression intensifies, Museveni continues to posture as the guardian of Uganda’s so-called “gains,” a slogan he now routinely deploy to justify state violence. In reality, this rhetoric serves as a calculated attempt to gaslight the nation, masking repression as patriotism. During the lead-up and after the previous election, however, these kind of narrative were put under rare and intense scrutiny. In a now-notable interview with Channel 4 News journalist Lindsey Hilsum, Museveni was confronted with his own words. He made explosive yet unsubstantiated claims that Bobi Wine was funded by the LGBTQ+ community and foreign agents. Hilsum refused to let these accusations slide, repeatedly demanding evidence. Unable to substantiate his claims, Museveni resorted to deflection, laying bare the hollowness of his accusations and the desperation behind them. The interview, together with my commentary, can be viewed here. YouTube -

As Uganda moves toward the 2026 general elections, the nation is once again being dragged into a familiar and troubling cycle of state-sponsored violence. Security forces loyal to President Yoweri Museveni are once more unleashing repression, shielded by a regime determined to cling to power at all costs. The scenes unfolding today are eerily reminiscent of the run-up to the 2021 elections, when opposition leader Bobi Wine was arrested and brutalized, scores of his supporters were killed, and the electoral process was widely condemned as fraudulent. History is now repeating itself. Police and military forces are openly trampling on the law and the Constitution, not in the interest of national security, but to preserve Museveni’s iron grip on power. As this repression intensifies, Museveni continues to posture as the guardian of Uganda’s so-called “gains,” a slogan he now routinely deploy to justify state violence. In reality, this rhetoric serves as a calculated attempt to gaslight the nation, masking repression as patriotism. During the lead-up and after the previous election, however, these kind of narrative were put under rare and intense scrutiny. In a now-notable interview with Channel 4 News journalist Lindsey Hilsum, Museveni was confronted with his own words. He made explosive yet unsubstantiated claims that Bobi Wine was funded by the LGBTQ+ community and foreign agents. Hilsum refused to let these accusations slide, repeatedly demanding evidence. Unable to substantiate his claims, Museveni resorted to deflection, laying bare the hollowness of his accusations and the desperation behind them. The interview, together with my commentary, can be viewed here. YouTube -

Mordecai Muriisa ™️

21,612 views • 7 months ago

The Zimbabwean President will announce the election date for that country’s general election today. This week I am sharing with you this award winning documentary film that I made and put out in 2009. This is the film that ZANUPF and the Government loves to hate because it defines its responds to losing elections. The regime stopped the University of Zimbabwe from screening this documentary film last month. A Violent Response captures the post-election brutal violence of 2008 after Robert Mugabe lost the general election to Morgan Tsvangirai by 73%, and his party ZANUPF lost parliament to Tsvangirai’s MDC-T political party. The opposition was violently beaten into submission and hundreds of its supporters were killed forcing a Government of National Unity, which failed to implement the political reforms it was created to put in place, reforms that would have delivered clean, free and fair elections. I directed, produced and shot the documentary film. The film also uses stock footage. ZANUPF as a political party doesn’t exist anymore, what exists is a political shell that is used by the military and corrupt politicians to legitimize stolen elections through violence and patronage. With the election campaign now in full swing, there are many Zimbabweans in rural areas who are still carrying the trauma of 2008, that trauma is regularly harvested by ZANUPF to instill more fear in rural citizens. Rigging is a process, it is not an event. Since the election date will soon be announced, election observers must move in now to monitor the electoral process until August to salvage a bit of fairness, if it still exists at all. A Violent Response directed and produced by Hopewell Chin'ono.

The Zimbabwean President will announce the election date for that country’s general election today. This week I am sharing with you this award winning documentary film that I made and put out in 2009. This is the film that ZANUPF and the Government loves to hate because it defines its responds to losing elections. The regime stopped the University of Zimbabwe from screening this documentary film last month. A Violent Response captures the post-election brutal violence of 2008 after Robert Mugabe lost the general election to Morgan Tsvangirai by 73%, and his party ZANUPF lost parliament to Tsvangirai’s MDC-T political party. The opposition was violently beaten into submission and hundreds of its supporters were killed forcing a Government of National Unity, which failed to implement the political reforms it was created to put in place, reforms that would have delivered clean, free and fair elections. I directed, produced and shot the documentary film. The film also uses stock footage. ZANUPF as a political party doesn’t exist anymore, what exists is a political shell that is used by the military and corrupt politicians to legitimize stolen elections through violence and patronage. With the election campaign now in full swing, there are many Zimbabweans in rural areas who are still carrying the trauma of 2008, that trauma is regularly harvested by ZANUPF to instill more fear in rural citizens. Rigging is a process, it is not an event. Since the election date will soon be announced, election observers must move in now to monitor the electoral process until August to salvage a bit of fairness, if it still exists at all. A Violent Response directed and produced by Hopewell Chin'ono.

Hopewell Chin’ono

390,519 views • 3 years ago

#OppositionDividedWeakParalysed While main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has relatively been quiet - conspicuous by his absence from action and loud silence, except for his occasional political posturing and symbolic resistance with a religious-style approach under his Agenda 2026 in a bid to reboot his sluggish career, his former ally in the opposition trenches Tendai Biti has taken a more vocal, confrontational, high-profile legal and public-outreach role opposing the government on its constitutional amendments to facilitate President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term extension and a raft of reforms changing the political, electoral and governance systems. Upon his return to active politics in January after a controversial two-year hiatus following the capture by Zanu PF of his CCC opposition party, Chamisa focused on "Agenda 2026" as a movement intended to rebuild Zimbabwe through a citizen-driven dialogue rather than traditional party politics. While he has launched this initiative and occasionally commented on social media to oppose Zanu PF's "2050 agenda" - incomprehensibly referring to the 2030 agenda - his public engagement has been characterised more by statements of intent, use of symbols and preaching "change" rather than organising grassroots resistance given his huge popular support base. He has defended his strange "No to 2050" social media post and castigated violence against citizens opposing constitutional changes, maintaining a symbolic rather than confrontational role. In the process, Chamisa has now become the weak link within the opposition movement. By constrast, Biti, who has no popular social base, has been highly vocal, acting as the convener of the Constitution Defenders Forum. Others who have been vocal include Jameson Timba as Convenor of Constitutional Defence Forum, Job Sikhala who leads National Democratic Working Group, Lovemore Madhuku and his National Constitutional Assembly, and strong-willed opposition figure Jacob Ngarivhume, among others. Biti has launched a vigorous campaign against Constitution Amendment No. 3, which aims to extend presidential terms beyond 2028 and change the political system. He has referred to the proposed changes as "legal lunacy" and a "quiet constitutional coup". Furthermore, Biti has taken the fight directly to the people, conducting door-to-door mobilisation drives and street campaigns in areas like Chitungwiza and Mutare to educate citizens on the implications of the reforms. Alongside other activists, he has filed urgent court bids to stop police from disrupting their private meetings regarding the constitutional reforms. As a result, Biti was yesterday arrested while organising a rally against the amendments in Mutare. Biti has invited Chamisa to work with him and others in fighting the current constitutional changes. However, Chamisa, despite his massive support, has distanced himself from Biti, Timba and others. He has been pussyfooting and claiming there is no constitution to defend, alarming his opposition allies. Despite pressure to take a form a party and adopt more aggressive approach, Chamisa maintains a propositional posture, making his politics and pronouncements merely symbolic opposition, not serious resistance anymore. This comes as the opposition is divided, weak and paralysed. The absence of a strong opposition and check on power has allowed for the proposal of constitutional amendments that extend the presidential terms from five to seven years and Mnangagwa's term extension, accompanied by raft of contentious changes in the political system. As formal opposition parties have fragmented and weakened, civil society groups and grassroots movements have increasingly taken centre stage in protesting government policies, human rights issues and the current constitutional amendments.

TheNewsHawks

12,003 views • 4 months ago

“They beat me up because I voted for the weighing scale (the election symbol of #Jamaat e Islami)…. was (on Ramadan) fasting. After performing the Asr prayer, I was at home. As I was getting ready to go to the mosque for Iftar, they attacked me. They beat me with iron rods and broke my legs…The group was led by Abdullah Morol,” said Mohammad Mizan, the victim, referring to a local #BNP leader. With his hands and legs badly bruised, Mizan is currently receiving medical treatment. He was attacked solely because of his support for Jamaat. After the general election results were announced around the early hours on February 13, BNP supporters and activists allegedly carried out a series of violent attacks against members and supporters of rival political parties, especially Jamaat and the #NCP. Opposition activists were reportedly assaulted, and their homes and businesses were vandalised, looted, and in some cases set on fire. The BNP is violently targeting its political opponents in much the same way the Awami League used to do after its securing victory in rigged general elections. As did the most part of the mainstream media during the regime of Sheikh Hasina, they are largely blacking out the stories of violence unleashed by the BNP following the recent general elections. Much like during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, when the mainstream media remained silent, many media outlets are now largely overlooking reports of violence carried out by the BNP goons in the aftermath of the recent general elections. UN Human Rights Human Rights Watch

“They beat me up because I voted for the weighing scale (the election symbol of #Jamaat e Islami)…. was (on Ramadan) fasting. After performing the Asr prayer, I was at home. As I was getting ready to go to the mosque for Iftar, they attacked me. They beat me with iron rods and broke my legs…The group was led by Abdullah Morol,” said Mohammad Mizan, the victim, referring to a local #BNP leader. With his hands and legs badly bruised, Mizan is currently receiving medical treatment. He was attacked solely because of his support for Jamaat. After the general election results were announced around the early hours on February 13, BNP supporters and activists allegedly carried out a series of violent attacks against members and supporters of rival political parties, especially Jamaat and the #NCP. Opposition activists were reportedly assaulted, and their homes and businesses were vandalised, looted, and in some cases set on fire. The BNP is violently targeting its political opponents in much the same way the Awami League used to do after its securing victory in rigged general elections. As did the most part of the mainstream media during the regime of Sheikh Hasina, they are largely blacking out the stories of violence unleashed by the BNP following the recent general elections. Much like during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, when the mainstream media remained silent, many media outlets are now largely overlooking reports of violence carried out by the BNP goons in the aftermath of the recent general elections. UN Human Rights Human Rights Watch

Pinaki Bhattacharya

12,312 views • 5 months ago