Orders white farmers to give up land
In a speech marking Heroes Day — celebrating victory over the old white regime — Mugabe gives a stern warning to white farmers that his government will stick to its policy of removing them from their land. Nearly 3,000 farmers have been told to leave their properties, although only 500 have left so far. Those who remain could be fined and jailed for up to two years for ignoring the eviction order. Mugabe says the August deadline will allow new owners of the land enough time to prepare and plant for the new crop season in October.
We set ourselves an August deadline for the redistribution of land and that deadline stands. All genuine and well-meaning white farmers who wish to pursue a farming career as loyal citizens of this country have land to do so, no farmer need go without land.
He also rejects allegations that international food aid has been diverted away from opposition supporters to his own followers.
We shall feed all. Even the stooges and puppets will have enough. No Zimbabwean should die of hunger.
Wins election
Walker wins the election for Milwaukee County Executive. He pledges not to increase taxes even though the county is running a $3.5 million deficit. He is going to lobby against cuts in state-shared revenue to localities and for greater state funding for the county-run court system. He wants to cut the size of the 25-member county board and turn it into a policy-making body of part-time supervisors.
I believe the campaign starts tomorrow. It is the campaign to get things done.
Speaks at forum
Running for Milwaukee County Executive, Walker speaks at the League of Women Voters forum outlining what he will do as county executive. He favors a part-time county board, the elimination of the executive’s job, and many other proposals to consolidate and cooperate with other levels of government. He is for libraries being able to charge fees for some services, against the elimination of the shared revenue system and he is for cities and towns being able to levy a local sales tax. He believes that tough issues need to be tackled, not handled with a soft touch.
It requires an aggressive level of leadership to try and move things forward.
Wins primary
Walker wins in the primary election for Milwaukee County Executive receiving 37% of the votes against five other challengers. He says that he is serious about reform, promising to cut the executive salary from $128,820 to $60,000 and holding a referendum on whether the job should remain.
I am not afraid to act immediately to take on those who would defend the abuse and the waste in county government.
Re-elected
The Zimbabwe registrar-general declares that Mugabe wins a fifth term in office after the results from all 120 constituencies are returned. Mugabe wins 1,685,212 votes against 1,258,401 for challenger Tsvangirai. Mugabe makes a net gain of votes compared with the 2000 parliamentary election in every province in the country. While there is evidence of vote tampering in some areas, most of the ballots dropped into the box with a cross by Mugabe’s name are not fraudulent. There is no criticism of the count, and election observers from South Africa, Nigeria and Namibia effectively endorsed the election. Namibian observer:
It is our considered view that the election was free and fair and reflects the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe. [The poll] was watertight, without room for rigging”.
Justice Minister Chinamasa:
This is a runaway victory. It was won on the issue of the land.
Tsavrangai:
We foresaw electoral fraud but not daylight robbery. We find ourselves unable to endorse the purported election of President Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president in this election. It’s the biggest election fraud I’ve witnessed in my life.
Appointed Deputy President South Africa
Mbeki appoints Zuma Deputy President of South Africa.
Sworn in for second term
Pataki is sworn in for a second term as the Governor of New York.
We believe in people, not bureaucracy. We believe in raising hopes, not raising taxes, the power of the individual and unbridled hope for the future. New York stands at the dawn of its greatest day.
Endorsement
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal endorses Walker for State Assembly saying Walker’s record of achievement earns him another term. Walker was a major force behind truth-in-sentencing, preserving land that was about to be sold at the County Grounds, and wanting to fix problems with the program Wisconsin Works.
He is emerging as a leader in the Legislature.
Anti-crime, anti-tax campaign
In his reelection bid for State Assembly, Walker campaigns on a tough anti-crime and anti-tax message. He supports a tax-cut plan that will save the average household $1,494 in income taxes over five years, life-time imprisonment for pedophiles and laws to protect vulnerable senior citizens from abuse. Commenting on truth-in-sentencing legislation he co-authored:
You serve 100% of your time. Ten years means ten years. I’ve found even with people who lean left of center, they’re in favor of incarcerating prisoners.
His opponent, Jim Heidenreich, disagrees:
It’s gotten real punitive. Mr. Walker supports building neighborhood prisons, not neighborhood schools. He’s big on building prisons; he’s big on shipping prisoners out of state. But let’s quit shipping ’em out of state, and let’s put some money into rehabilitation. That’s just as important as punishment.
Seeks third term
Walker announces that he will seek a third term in the State Assembly.
Elected Deputy President ANC
Zuma is elected deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC) at the national conference held in Mafikeng.
Sworn in as Secretary of State
After her nomination is unanimously confirmed by the Senate, Albright is sworn in.
To Secretary Christopher, I want to express my gratitude. I can only hope that my heels can fill your shoes.
Nominates Albright for Secretary of State
Clinton nominates Albright to succeed Warren Christopher as U.S. Secretary of State.
When my name came up to be Secretary of State, there were those who said that a woman cannot be Secretary of State, that other countries would not deal with a women. The Arab ambassadors at the U.N said, we have dealt with Ambassador Albright and never had any problems. I had more problems with the men in our government, and not because they were mail chauvinist pigs, but because they had seen me go through this endlessly long rise of being a carpool mother, or a friend of their wives, or on school boards, or the perfect staffer. And all of a sudden, I’m Secretary of State and they wonder why they weren’t.
Reelection campaign
Running for reelection for State Assembly, Walker campaigns on a tough anti-crime and anti-tax message.
Crime is clearly still the most important issue in this district. I’ve been pleased to be able to deliver on that.
He also worked on property tax relief which resulted in spending restraints on education. Although the Wauwatosa school district increased its spending nearly 3%, matching the rate of inflation, school officials had to make difficult budgeting decisions.
That is not necessarily a bad thing. Some could argue that the school budget isn’t increasing at the level they would like it to be. That in part is what got us, as a state, into the problem of property taxes.
His opponent, Dale Dulberger, disagrees saying that the restraints have harmed schools:
On a whole range of issues, I think his voting record doesn’t reflect the values of the people of Wauwatosa. He’s taken some extreme positions that I think are out of step with the people of Wauwatosa.
California allows
California voters pass Proposition 215, making the Golden State the first in the union to allow for the medical use of marijuana.
Wins election
Elections are held for a president and a new National Assembly from March 2-28, the first since the coup. 125 members of the 400-seat National Assembly are nominated before the election, leaving 275 seats to be elected (of which 51 were ultimately uncontested). There are no political parties — all candidates ran as independents. Leaders of the Sudan’s main opposition parties, disbanded when Bashir took power, boycott elections. Ousted Prime Minister Mahdi, calls the elections a cheap attempt by the Government to buy legitimacy.
Bashir is elected president with 75.7% of votes. He will serve a five-year term, after which he will be allowed to run once more. He tells the crowd:
We have fully returned power in full to the people.
The New York Times reports the power behind Bashir’s government is widely believed to be the militant Muslim cleric Turabi, who is elected to a seat in Parliament in Khartoum.
Sworn in
Pataki is sworn in as Governor of New York:
The change of administrations that we have just witnessed marks not just a transfer of political authority but a renewal of the democratic sanction under which it occurs, a reaffirmation of our common belief in a system of government that is ultimately answerable solely to the people. We, the people, know that we must launch a new era of individual liberty, responsibility and opportunity by removing obstacles government has placed in the path of an energetic and creative people. And to launch that new era is why the people have placed us here today. Let us begin.
Elected national chairperson
Zuma is elected National Chairperson of the ANC and Chairperson of the ANC in Natal. An exception is made in the ANC constitution to allow him to hold both positions. A move that is called The Zuma Clause.
Appointed president
Sudan announces return to civil rule and appoints Bashir as president. Before disbanding, the Council issues a decree specifying that Islamic law will be the basis of Sudan’s political system, but guaranteeing freedom of religion. The Council’s deputy leader says the move is necessary “to put a framework for the government.”
Wins 14th District Assembly seat
Walker wins a special election over Christopher Ament for the 14th District Assembly seat in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He campaigns against crime and abortion, reducing taxes, and reforming welfare. He calls for a cap on State spending tied to the rate of inflation and an increase in prison beds. He attributes his win to:
hard work more than anything, more than any specific issue. I wore out two pairs of shoes hitting just under 10,000 homes in 2-1/2 months.