(WMR) -- WMR has learned from a source within Zimbabwe’s opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), that Zimbabwe’s authoritarian president, Robert Mugabe, is being propped up with the help of two unlikely bedfellows: Israel and Libya.

A knowledgeable MDC source told WMR on background that the opposition has evidence that Israel’s Mossad helped rig Zimbabwe’s presidential and parliamentary elections to forestall a decisive victory for the MDC. Mugabe has violated a power-sharing agreement with the opposition that was agreed upon after the opposition won a majority of seats in the parliament.

On April 28, 2008, WMR reported on Israel’s assistance to Mugabe. WMR reported: “Mugabe’s relations with Israel have grown close even though Mugabe has favorably compared himself to Adolf Hitler and has been a strong supporter of the Palestinians.

“According to U.S. Defense Department sources, the Zimbabwe opposition blames Israel more than China for propping up Mugabe with security assistance and military equipment.

“In 2002, prior to contested elections, Israel sold riot control vehicles to Zimbabwe. These vehicles assisted in putting down opposition demonstrations against what was then called a fraudulent election rigged by Mugabe. Israeli security firms also provide assistance to Mugabe.

“Recently, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accused an Israeli software company with Mossad links of changing computerized voter registration lists to rig the recent election in Mugabe’s favor. Tendai Biti, the MDC’s Secretary General, accused Cogniview of helping Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) of rigging the election. Cogniview’s CEO, Yoav Ezer, called the allegations ‘science fiction.’ The Zimbabwe Guardian in London reported that Ezer had contacted Phil Matibe, an MDC official in the United States, to pressure MDC officials to retract the allegations about Israel’s role in fixing the election.”

WMR has learned that the Mossad does not primarily operate out of Israel’s small embassy in Harare, located on the 6th Floor of Three Anchor House on Jason Moyo Avenue in the Causeway district of Harare, but out of the large Mossad station in the South African embassy in the South African capital of Pretoria.

Mossad agents, using diplomatic passports, regularly travel between South Africa and Zimbabwe to assist Mugabe’s security and intelligence agencies. Israeli security companies provide Zimbabwe’s police and military with tear gas, water cannons, anti-riot gear, and anti-riot armored vehicles.

Mossad has also reportedly assisted Zimbabwe intelligence agents spying on Zimbabwean opposition activities in Botswana. The small Mossad station in diamond-rich Botswana operates out of the Israeli Consulate in Gaborone, the Botswana capital. Recently, Botswana’s Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) caught a number of Zimbabwe CIO agents disguised as refugees. Botswana deported the agents back to Zimbabwe.

Mugabe’s intelligence and security services are also being supported by Libya, making Israel and Libya odd bedfellows in their joint support for Mugabe. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi owns a number of houses in Harare, including a large house in the Belgravia district of Harare. The homes are suspected of being used as “safe houses” for the CIO. In a bizarre twist, joint CIO and Mossad activities in Zimbabwe occasionally involve the use of Qaddafi’s safe houses.

In return for support for Mugabe, Israel has access to Zimbabwe’s gold and diamond resources, as well as those in the Democratic Republic of Congo over which Zimbabwe has control.

Previously published in the Wayne Madsen Report.

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