Mugabe on arrival at Zambezi Sun Hotel for the closed door meeting of the just-ended SADC Organ Troika summit
LIvingstone, Zambia — President Robert Mugabe moved around in a golf cart during the Thursday summit of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) troika on peace and security, sparking fresh speculation about the 87-year-old ruler's health.
Travelling with a large entourage that included six medical people, Mugabe had difficulties disembarking from the Air Zimbabwe chartered flight at Livingstone International Airport.
During the summit at Zambezi Sun Hotel in the resort town in southern Zambia, Mugabe moved around in a golf cart.
Even disembarking from the golf cart required his optimum concentration and holding of supporting metal bars while his counterparts walked freely.
The announcement followed intense speculation during Mugabe's annual leave that he was suffering from prostate cancer and had visited a hospital in the Far East.
Zanu PF has chosen Zimbabwe's only ruler since independence to represent it in presidential elections expected later this year.
But analysts' doubt that he would be fit enough to see through the usually vigorous election campaign.
His major rival would be the 59-year-old Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who beat Mugabe in the first round of the 2008 presidential elections but failed to garner the majority required to claim the presidency.
Pilots call off strike for Bob
http://www.timeslive.co.za
Apr 2, 2011 10:18 AM | By SUNDAY TIMES
CORRESPONDENT
President Robert Mugabe together with his massive delegation
and elaborate
security has caused a stir at a luxury hotel in
Zambia.
Zimbabwe's octogenarian leader, who was visibly not feeling well,
jetted
into Livingstone, Zambia, this week on a Zimbabwe plane accompanied
by heavy
security, ministers and plenty of aides - despite Air Zimbabwe
pilots being
on strike. Officials, however, said pilots were "required to
temporarily
call off the strike" if Mugabe wants to travel.
He was
attending the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit.
On
arrival at the Zambezi Sun Hotel, Mugabe was surrounded by more than 60
people. More than 40 of them arrived on the same plane as Mugabe while about
15 had come as an advanced delegation. Curious Zambians and tourists stared
in awe.
The situation was worsened by members of the Zambian protocol
and government
officials, who had come to welcome the 87-year-old
leader.
The veteran Zimbabwe leader, who appeared to struggle while
walking, slowly
made his way to a golf cart which took him to his executive
suite.
Tourists, guests and SADC officials watched as Mugabe was driven
to his room
surrounded by bodyguards and officials on foot. It was difficult
for
photographers to get a good picture of Mugabe. Another cart with more
bodyguards and protocol officials followed behind.
Even when he left
the hotel for lunch, Mugabe used the golf cart to get to
his
vehicle.
South African President Jacob Zuma had less than 12 people
around him and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai six.
SA hits back over Zuma criticism
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
03/04/2011 00:00:00
by Gilbert
Nyambabvu
IN sign of growing unease between the two countries South
Africa has told
Zimbabwean officials to communicate through “normal channel”
if they have
any problems with President Jacob Zuma’s position regarding the
conflict in
Libya or any other issue.
Zuma’s office issued a
statement on Sunday which noted that relations
between the two countries
remained “warm and cordial” but told Zimbabwean
officials to use normal
channels if they wanted clarification on South
Africa’s
policies.
“Governments have their own channels of communication … Should
the
Zimbabwean government wish to understand our position on Libya or any
other,
they will contact the South African government through the normal
channels
as they always do,” read a statement issued by President Zuma’s
office of
Sunday.
The statement was issued in response to criticism
of President Zuma by the
state-run Sunday Mail newspaper which described the
South African leader as
“erratic” and “duplicitous” in his handling of the
Zimbabwe dialogue.
The newspaper also blasted Zuma’s decision to back a
United Nations
resolution authorizing air-strikes against Libyan leader Col
Muammar Gaddafi’s
forces.
"President Jacob Zuma's erratic behaviour
is the stuff of legends," the
Sunday Mail claimed in an editorial. "The
problem with Mr Zuma now is that
his disconcerting behaviour has become a
huge liability, not only to South
Africa but also to the rest of the
continent."
Again, writing in the same newspaper, Zanu PF politburo
member, Professor
Jonathan Moyo said: "President Zuma is now tainted beyond
recovery by the
Libyan situation and his commitment to the African cause has
become
questionable.”
The South African leader apparently struck a
raw nerve when he, along with
the leaders of Zambia and Mozambique, demanded
an end to the violent
crackdown on the opposition which is blamed on
President Robert Mugabe's
ZANU-PF party.
Stung by the rebuke,
President Mugabe said Zuma, who is the regional body’s
point-man on
Zimbabwe, could not tell him what to do.
"We will not brook any dictation
from any source. We are a sovereign
country. Even our neighbours cannot
dictate to us. We will resist that,” the
Zanu PF leader charged at a recent
party meeting in Harare.
"The facilitator is the facilitator and must
facilitate dialogue. He cannot
prescribe anything. We prescribe what we
should do in accordance with our
laws and our agreement."
Meanwhile,
South African officials mounted a robust defence of Zuma’s role
in the
Libyan conflict
“South Africa's position on Libya is clear and
unambiguous. Other than
responsibilities as a member of the African Union,
South Africa also has
strong historical ties with Libya forged during the
liberation struggle. It
is for this reason that we stated that Resolution
1973 should not be abused,
and should be implemented in letter and spirit to
protect Libyan civilians
and not to advance other objectives,” the statement
read.
“President Zuma has spoken out unambiguously against the killing of
civilians in Libya and reaffirmed the country's rejection of regime change
and the foreign occupation of Libya.”
Zipra Veterans Challenge Chaotic Exhumations
http://www.radiovop.com
03/04/2011
20:42:00
BULAWAYO, April 3, 2011- Former guerrillas who fought under
the Zimbabwe
Peoples Revolutionary Army (Zipra) have made an application to
the High
Court to stop the government from going ahead with its
controversial
programme of exhuming mass graves containing the remains of
hundreds of
people allegedly killed during the liberation war.
The
case 880-11 which was filed by the Zipra Veterans Trust lawyers in
Bulawayo
will be heard on Wednesday by Justice Nicholas Mathonsi.Abameli
Human Rights
Lawyers Network, a splinter group from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights
confirmed to Radio Vop that they would be representing the
Zipra
veterans.
“ Our clients feel that the government has not followed proper
channels in
exhuming the graves.They also want the ministries of Home
affairs and
National Healing to be involved in the exercise which also needs
medical
experts who will know how to preserve the evidence found, ” Sindizo
Mazibisa
one of the Abameli lawyers told Radio Vop on Sunday.
Last
month the government uncovered mass graves containing the skeletons of
people suspected to have died during the struggle for independence in the
70s.Some of the skeletons were retrieved from disused mine shafts in
Mashonaland Central province.But pathologists have questioned the
discoveries following revelations that the skin of some of the victims was
still intact.MDC-T believes some of the remains could be of its supporters
who were killed during the violent 2008 elections.
Zipra veterans
have also alleged that the remains could be of their
colleagues and
supporters who were abducted and murdered by Zanu (PF)
militants and Zanla
guerrillas soon after independence.
MDC-T congress on
http://www.timeslive.co.za
Tsvangirai and Biti are safe but jostling intensifies for party's
other top
positions
Apr 2, 2011 10:30 AM | By HARARE
CORRESPONDENT
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's faction of the Movement
for Democratic
Change (MDC) will hold its third elective national congress
at the end of
this month and jostling for positions has
intensified.
MDC-T insiders revealed on Friday that party
president Tsvangirai and his
combative secretary-general Tendai Biti would
not be opposed at the
congress, which is set to take place from April 30 to
May 1 in Bulawayo.
However, other top officials are expected to face
stiff challenges. Elias
Mudzuri, the party's national organising secretary,
told journalists in
Harare on Thursday that the party would conduct
provincial elections from
this weekend in preparation for the congress, the
theme of which is United,
Winning - The People's Covenant to Real
Change.
"The theme has been chosen because the MDC is a party of
excellence that has
been winning elections and fighting to bring real change
to the people of
Zimbabwe," said Mudzuri.
"The party has drafted a
code of conduct that will guide the holding of
elections. Under the code,
vote buying, violence, defamation, intimidation,
tribalism, nepotism and
other misdemeanours are liable for disciplinary
action. This will limit
discohesion in the structures."
Mudzuri said the party has set gender
equality as a priority to ensure that
competent female leadership was
elected at every level of the party.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga
is expected to be the guest of honour at
the congress.
Other
political parties from across Africa, international socialist and
labour
organisations are expected to attend.
The MDC Youth and Women's
Assemblies will also hold their separate
congresses in Bulawayo on April 29.
The party has so far completed elections
in more than 12 000 branches, 1 985
wards and 210 districts in the 12
administrative
provinces.
Provincial elections will be held this weekend in Chitungwiza,
Midlands
North, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Harare.
Next weekend
elections will be held in Mashonaland Central, Midlands South,
Bulawayo,
Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East and Matabeleland
South.
Mudzuri, the former minister of energy and power development,
is facing a
challenge from his deputy Morgan Komichi, a veteran trade
unionist who once
worked for the country's power utility, Zesa.
Party
deputy president Thokozani Khupe, who is also the deputy prime
minister, is
being challenged by Thabita Khumalo.
Water Resources Development Minister
Simon Sipepa-Nkomo, Norman Mabhena, a
member of the party's national
executive committee and the former women's
wing chairwoman Lucia Matibenga,
who controversially lost her position to
the co-Minister of Home Affairs,
Theresa Makone, were all said to be
interested in the national chairman's
post.
Glen View South legislator Paul Madzore, who is also the chairman
of the
parliamentary portfolio committee on home affairs and defence, is
said to be
vying for the Harare provincial chairmanship, a development that
would see
him clashing with non-constituency Senator Morgan
Femai.
The MDC-T's deputy secretary-general Tapuwa Mashakada, who is
Minister of
Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, was also said to be
safe for now
as no one is canvassing support to take the post.
Makone
was said to be facing a stiff challenge from the MDC-T chief whip in
the
Senate and Mabutweni lawmaker Gladys Dube.
Mkoba lawmaker Amos Chibaya
confirmed that he would be vying for the
national youth assembly chairman's
post at congress in a bid to unseat
Thamsanqa Mahlangu, while Chisipite
Senator Obert Gutu was said to be eying
the national spokesman's position.
Delegates Cry Foul At Faction Riddled MDC-T Congress
http://www.radiovop.com
03/04/2011
15:04:00
MASVINGO, April 3, 2011 – The faction riddled MDC-T Masvingo
Province held
its congress in Mucheke Stadium on Saturday under a very tense
atmosphere in
which some provincial executive members cried foul citing a
lot of
irregularities and vote rigging.
The disgruntled officials
were lobbying for the postponement of the
elections.Four legislators
including Minister of Public Service Professor
Elphas Mukonoweshuro who
doubles as Gutu South MP, Tichaona Mharadze for
Masvingo West, Festus Dumbu
for Zaka West and Edmore Marima for Bikita East
boycotted the congress.The
division between MDC-T in Masvingo has seen 841
delegates out of possible 1
200 from all over the province attending the
congress. The faction that is
allegedly led by Prof Mkonoweshuro is accused
of moving around the province
campaigning for Masvingo Urban MP Tongai
Matutu’s ouster from provincial
executive.
Sources told Radio Vop that Matutu and Mkonoweshuro no longer
see eye to
eye.
“ The two guys can not even talk to each other, their
enemity which started
long back is now growing into a nasty game. The
tension heightened when
matutu was appointed to become a deputy
Minister.
“ People like Mkonoweshuro wanted Marima to be the deputy
minister not
Matutu, ” said the source.
“The date for the provincial
congress elections has now been set for April
2, 2011, ” reads part of the
letter from Mashakada.However, Mharadze who
walked out and decided to his
constituency described Saturday’s congress as
a non-event.“ We don’t know
what they were doing in Mucheke. It is a
non-event according to us. Maybe
they held a rally but all the same we don’t
know the agenda of their rally.
I am sure the congress is going to be held
next week, ” said
Mharadze.
Saturday’s congress saw a lot of provincial executive members
returning
their positions unopposed. Wilstuff Sitemere remained the
provincial
chairman, Tongai Matutu was not opposed at the position of the
provincial
secretary, Harrison Mudzuri who is MP for Zaka Central replaced
Chiredzi
based member Dust Zivave on the position of provincial spokesperson
while
Masvingo city mayor Alderman Fermias Chakabuda is now the provincial
treasurer, the position which was formally held by Chivi North losing
candidate Bernad Chondegwa.
Chiondegwa did not attend the
congress.Masvingo central constituency
legislator Jeffreyson Chitando
remained the provincial director of
elections.Chitando said they were not
afraid of having the congress on April
10 but they just observed the
directive from the national executive.
“ We can have this election any time
and win. We are not afraid of anyone.
Those who knew they were not going to
win opted to boycott. I assure you,
those who are elected are the best
candidates for those positions, ”
Chitando said.
Tomana miffed by judge’s comments
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/
03/04/2011 00:00:00
by Staff
Reporter
ATTORNEY General, Johannes Tomana, reportedly lodged a
complaint against
Justice Samuel Kudya after the High Court judge described
as weak the state’s
case against Energy and Power Development Minister,
Elton Mango.
The state-run Sunday Mail newspaper reports that Tomana felt
Kudya had
passed judgment on “factual issues” before trial and filed a
complaint with
Judge President, Justice George Chiweshe and the Judicial
Services
Commission.
Justice Kudya made the remarks in question last
month when he granted
Mangoma bail in a case in where the Minister faces
charges of abuse of
office relating a US$5 million fuel deal signed with a
South African
company.
Granting bail, Kudya said: “In my respectful
view, the State case appears to
me to be weak. It is not the type of case
that would induce the applicant to
abscond. It seems to me that in the
absence of evidence that the applicant
personally benefited from the deal,
his actions were prompted by a national
crisis."
The judge said
Mangoma may have done the right thing the wrong way adding
his “good
intentions” could help with mitigation in the case.
“As minister
responsible for energy, all Zimbabweans looked up to him to
provide a quick
solution to the problem. His well-meaning response to a
national emergency
may prove highly mitigatory. Courts accept that at times
paths to hell are
often paved by good intentions. Those good intentions may
prove highly
mitigatory . . . The credibility of witnesses will assume
prominence at the
trial.”
Tomana reportedly told the Judge President and the Judicial
Services
Commission, that Justice Kudya’s remarks would prejudice the
state's case
before trial.
He is quoted as saying he had a problem
with “the extent to which the judge
made factual findings regarding the
propriety of the charges, the probative
value of witnesses’ testimonies, the
innocence of the accused person and the
justification for his actions, as if
he was the trial judge.”
Tomana also felt Justice Kudya suggestion that
Mangoma was responding to a
national crisis and that his actions were a
“well-meaning response” could
also undermine the State’s by implying the
Minister had no case to answer.
Ncube scoffs at SADC snub reports
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
03/04/2011 00:00:00
by Staff
Reporter
MDC LEADER, Professor Welshman Ncube has dismissed as “plain
nonsense” state
media reports that he was snubbed by regional leaders at a
summit of the
SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation held
in
Livingstone, Zambia recently.
The state-run Herald newspaper
claimed that the Organ had said it still
recognises Deputy Prime Minister,
Arthur Mutambara as a principal in the
inclusive Government.
Ncube
took over from Mutambara as leader of the MDC at the party’s last
congress.
However his bid to be appointred Deputy Prime Minister and
principal of his
party failed after President Robert Mugabe refused to swear
him
in.
Again faction linked to Mutambara is also challenging in court the
election
process which elevated Ncube to the party’s
leadership.
However, Ncube told reporters at the party’s offices in
Bulawayo that he had
been invited to Livingstone summit as leader of the MDC
and GPA principal.
“We know there was deliberate lobbying that we should
not be invited to the
summit but I was invited as president and principal,”
he said.
“I was advised by SADC that DPM Mutambara was invited to the
summit as a
signatory to the GNU and he spoke in that capacity while I spoke
on behalf
of the party, just like President Mugabe and (Prime Minister
Morgan)
Tsvangirai.”
Ncube attended the summit alongside MDC
secretary- general Priscilla
Misihairabwi-Mushonga and her deputy Moses
Mzila-Ndlovu.
He insisted that Professor Mutambara no longer represented
the MDC.
“The office of party president and that of the principal are one
and the
same. I am the president and our negotiators Minister Priscilla
Misihairambwi-Mushonga and Minister Moses Mzila-Ndlovu report to me,” he
said.
“This is the same with Zanu-PF and MDC-T where negotiators
report to
President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai respectively. For one to
say he (DPM
Mutambara) is a GNU principal is pure nonsense. Mutambara has no
office as a
principal,” he said.
After Mugabe refused to swear Ncube
in as deputy prime minister, the party
subsequently sought a High Court
order to bar Mutambara from presenting
himself as MDC leader and as
principal in the inclusive Government.
The High Court granted a
provisional order barring Mutambara from acting as
MDC leader but did not
make a pronouncement on his status as a principal.
Mutambara has also
since filed court papers seeking confirmation that he is
still in charge of
the party.
Meanwhile, Ncube said Misihairambwi-Mushonga and Mzila-Ndlovu
would
represent the party at a review meeting of the inclusive
government.
“Sadc urged us to recommit ourselves to GPA as the three
political parties
in the GNU after indicating that it was exasperated and
not happy with the
slow progress in fulfilling what was agreed on,” he said.
‘ Stop Taking Over Buildings ’ - Sikhosana Warns Zanu (PF) Youths
http://www.radiovop.com
03/04/2011
15:01:00
BULAWAYO, April 3, 2011- Former ruling party Zanu (PF) has
issued an order
directing its militant youths in the country’s second city,
Bulawayo to stop
invading and occupying buildings under the guise of black
economic
empowerment.
The youths have in the past few months been
forcibly taking over buildings
owned by Indians and Whites in the city
saying the move marks the start of a
programme to empower unemployed
blacks.Absolom Sikhosana, the Zanu (PF)
national youth chairman however said
that the party leadership had not
sanctioned the takeover of the buildings,
adding that an order had been
issued against the youths to stop their
programme.
“ The programme of taking over buildings has not been
sanctioned by the
party leadership. Those youths who have been invading
buildings are
criminals who are tarnishing the party name.
“ We have
directed them to stop forthwith the programme.they have their own
agendas
and that is spoiling the party name.“If they get arrested or sued
for
invading buildings, the party will not represent them because what they
have
been doing is illegal , ” Sikhosana told Radio Vop.
Sikhosana said the
Bulawayo Zanu (PF) youths should first wait for politburo
members who will
be dispatched to provinces soon to inform and educate party
followers how
this programme of indigenisation will be implemented.
The buildings that
have been invaded so far include Zambesia and Canberra
Flats located between
Leopold Takawira and Sixth Avenue and owned by Laloo
family of Indian
origin.The militant youths have also grabbed the Capri
which houses the
Pizzaghetti owned by Di Palma family who are of Italian
origin.
The
youths recently blocked Khalil Gaibie from evicting tenants from his
Elons
Court between 3rd Avenue and Main Street over late payment of rentals,
adding that they have taken over the building.
The takeover of the
buildings in Bulawayo had caused divisions between the
party’s provincial
executive and the youths.Isaac Dakamela, the Zanu (PF)
chairman for Bulawayo
Province had on numerous occasions voiced his concern
at the takeover of
city buildings by the party youths who have also hit back
and threatened to
topple him on charges of being a stumbling block to the
black empowerment
programme.
Humiliated Zanu (PF) probes MPs Who Voted For Moyo
http://www.radiovop.com
03/04/2011 20:43:00
KAROI,
April 3, 2011- Zanu (PF) has allegedly started probing its
legislators who
are accused of voting for MDCT-T candidate for the election
of speaker of
parliament Lovemore Moyo.
Party sources told our Karoi correspondent that
the process of sniffing out
suspects has begun and when the investigations
are over, the culprits will
face the music.
“ We know that some of
the suspected legislators who betrayed the party and
voted for Moyo have
criminal records and we will use that to arrest them, ”
said one of the
sources.
The former liberation movement already has 8 suspects who, after
being found
guilty will be suspended from the party.The sources added that
they
suspected three MPs from Mashonaland West, four from Matabeleland and
Manicaland provinces among others.
''We are casting our nets wide
although one MP from Mashonaland West was
assisted by President's
office
after his car broke down on his way to parliament, Zanu (PF) lost the
election besides that effort '' added the sources. Radio VOP has the
suspected MP's name. Zanu (PF) spokesperson Rugare Gumbo denied that they
have launched a witch-hunt against the MPs suspected of voting for Moyo
instead of their own candidate Simon Khaya Moyo, a former Zimbabwe
Ambassador to South Africa who is also the party,s national
chairman.
'' We accepted defeat and as a party that brought independence
and democracy
we are looking forward to forth coming elections. No one will
be arrested
over these elections,” Gumbo was quoted as saying.Police have
not commented
about rumours that they have been asked to provide information
about the
criminal records of some of the legislators accused of betraying
the party.
Fiery human rights lawyer Mtetwa wins ethics award
http://www.timeslive.co.za
Apr 2, 2011 10:22 AM | By
HENDRICKS CHIZHANJE
Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has been awarded the
Inamori Ethics
Prize by Case Western Reserve University in Ohio,
US.
The Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at
Case Western
Reserve University will present Mtetwa with the prize at a
ceremony at the
Ohio campus in September, where she will give a lecture
about her work and
the challenges that lie ahead.
Mtetwa - who last
year won acquittals for colleague Alec Muchadehama and
exiled Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer Roy Bennett, and is
currently defending
MDC deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma - was
selected from nominations
solicited from leaders, scholars, and
organisations around the
world.
Mtetwa told the Sunday Times the award belongs to all Zimbabwean
human
rights lawyers and institutions fighting for the upholding of human
rights
in the country.
"I feel honoured for the entire human rights
community in Zimbabwe," Mtetwa
said of the award.
First allotted in
2008, the Inamori Ethics Prize honours outstanding ethical
leaders whose
actions and influence have helped to change the world since
that
year.
In honouring Mtetwa, the Inamori International Center for Ethics
and
Excellence at Case Western Reserve University said the human rights
lawyer
had demonstrated exemplary ethical leadership - and her actions and
influence had greatly improved the condition of humankind.
The
Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence said: "Dragged,
beaten and nearly choked to death, Mtetwa has not wavered in her quest to
use the law to further a free press for foreign and domestic reporters and
to fight for social justice for her country's most vulnerable residents,
particularly women ... Mtetwa has fought against Mugabe's efforts to silence
her and hide conditions in Zimbabwe, and she has become a hero to his
victims, from the country's most vulnerable citizens to reporters from some
of the world's most prominent news outlets."
The Inamori Ethics Prize
carries with it a monetary award, which is intended
to support Mtetwa's
ongoing work for justice.
Recipients of the international ethics award
include Francis S Collins, a
physician-geneticist and the first recipient of
the Inamori Ethics Prize;
former UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and
the first woman president of
Ireland, Mary Robinson; and Stan Brock, a
humanitarian, conservationist and
former co-host of the television show,
Wild Kingdom.
Last year, the American Bar Association awarded Mtetwa its
prized
International Human Rights Award for her "extraordinary contributions
to the
cause of human rights, the rule of law, and the promotion of access
to
justice" in Zimbabwe.
Law silent on payment for 51% mining shares
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by Staff
Reporter
Saturday, 02 April 2011 13:41
Govt must see sense – Chamber of
Mines
HARARE - Zimbabwe's mining companies have complained that the
Indigenisation
plan that aims to transfer majority control of foreign mining
firms to
locals was silent on how payment was to be made - raising fears the
government wanted to expropriate the mines for free.
A government
gazette extraordinary dated March 25 announced that all
foreign-owned mining
firms with a net asset value of more than US$1 must
dispose of 51 percent of
the shares to designated entities.
"This effectively means every business
will be affected," says Victor
Gapare, president of the Chamber of Mines.
"The exemption of those below a
net asset value of $500,000 has been
removed. The notice is silent on the
100 percent ownership of alluvial
minerals as had been announced by the
Minister through the Herald on
February 2, 2011."
The entities for acquisition of shares include the
National Indigenization
and Economic Empowerment Fund, the Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation,
any entity formed by the Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation, a
statutory sovereign fund and an employee share
ownership scheme, or trust,
or community share ownership scheme
The
Chamber of Mines has said it would be preferable to sell stakes of 26
percent to local owners, divided as 26 percent direct equity and 25 percent
being met through corporate social investment credits.
"It is not
clear whether the state has a plan for warehousing these shares
for future
distribution to the broad majority of the population," Gapare
said. "Not
distributing these shares to the public equates to
nationalization.
"The valuation of the shares shall be agreed with
the minister and take into
account the State’s sovereign ownership of the
mineral or minerals to be to
be exploited. Effectively, proven reserves can
no longer be included in
determining value of the business, which runs
contrary to standard practice
in the mining world. This is seen to be
nationalization of all mining
assets, and the end result will be killing the
incentive for any
exploration. Listed companies have effectively had their
value taken away."
Gapare said there was silence on the commitment of
designated entities to
pay for the shares by September 25, yet the shares
must be transferred by
that date.
"A normal transaction would require
that shares change hands only after
payment has been done," Gapare said.
Failure to comply will constitute a
level 12 offence attracting a fine or a
five-year jail term, or both.
The Minister of Indigenisation, Saviour
Kasukuwere, who drafted the
regulations, also disregarded recommendations of
the Mining Sector Committee
on Indigenization, which recommended 26 percent
direct equity, 10 percent to
communities in the form of a tax on gross
profit and 15 percent through
social credits.
There is no mention of
the fate of the business in such circumstances,
Gapare says.
Like many
other economic observers, Gapare said the move was likely to
discourage
foreign investment.
"The Minister has decided to fast track
indigenization without taking into
consideration the negative consequences
on investment and growth. If a
mining company cannot lay claim on the
reserves or other inferred resource,
it is not possible to raise capital,"
Gapare said.
"For the benefit of the industry and the economy at large,
the mining
industry must continue to lobby government to see sense in the
recommendations of the mining sector committee."
Analysts said
impoverished Zimbabwe does not have the money to buy
controlling stakes
through the investment vehicles.
ZBC needs $30m for upgrade
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by Ngoni Chanakira
Saturday, 02 April 2011
13:30
HARARE - Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings Limited (ZBH) needs at
least $30
million to spruce up its image and upgrade dilapidated equipment,
most of
which was bought before Independence.
The broke corporation needs
the cash urgently to build three new radio
stations, nine production
studios, and four drama and music recording
studios as it gears up for
competition expected soon.
A document prepared by the Ministry of Finance,
currently circulating in
cabinet, reveals that the cash-strapped monopoly
broadcaster needs almost
$30 million.
A large chunk of the cash will go
towards upgrading Outside Broadcast
infrastructure.
The OB vans are used
to help cover major events such as at the National
Heroes Acre, Parliament,
and at soccer matches.
The document shows that ZBC needs $5 320 000 for
sprucing up its
transmission and archive system and $5 649 000 for TV
production facilities,
as well as $115 000 for purchasing a commercial
recording studio, $790 000
to digitalise four archive library systems, $450
000 for the construction of
three new radio news stations, $435 000 to
construct four drama and music
recording studios and $275 000 to purchase a
radio OB flyaway kit.
Zimbabweans to be asked for more info: Home Affairs
http://www.businessday.co.za/
Published: 2011/04/03 04:14:01
PM
Thousands of Zimbabweans who have applied for documentation to
legitimise
their stay in South Africa will be asked for more information to
finalise
their applications, the home affairs department said on
Sunday.
They would be contacted for the information via SMS, spokeswoman
Manusha
Pillai said in a statement.
She said of 275,762 applications
received, 116,960 were incomplete.
The incomplete applications included
28,044 for Zimbabwean passports from
the Zimbabwean consulate and 15,066
using Zimbabwean birth certificates,
drivers licenses or expired Zimbabwean
passports.
Pillai said 17,596 applications had no supporting documents
and 56,254
required fingerprints.
The SMSs would be sent to
applicants for business, study or work permits.
Pillai said 119,009
applications had been adjudicated. The department was
also still validating
and confirming 6243 amnesty applications.
"We therefore appeal to
Zimbabwean nationals to respond timeously to [the]
SMS requests to provide
further information to enable the department to
finalise their applications
as soon as possible," she said.
Music, visual arts feast to rock Harare
http://www.timeslive.co.za
Apr 2, 2011 10:24 AM | By VLADIMIR
MZACA
The International Festival of the Arts is to rock Harare later this
month
with South African band the BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) set to
take the
stage with many other top international artists.
This year's
festival runs under the theme, The Engagement Party, to enhance
passion in
the arts, says Ross Mitchell, head of Hifa communications.
"In choosing
the theme, Hifa aimed to call on Zimbabweans to become fully
immersed in and
involved in the arts in their communities, and in the
exciting celebration
of art itself.
"Becoming engaged requires that we give undivided
attention to something
about which we feel passionate. Zimbabweans are
indeed passionate about
arts, culture, celebration and enjoyment.
"On
another level, The Engagement Party carries a message of engagement
across
all sectors of society, and completely with one another," Ross said.
BLK
JKS plays an array of rock music, from alternative to progressive to
experimental. The group consists of Lindani Buthelezi (vocals, guitar),
Mpumi Mcata (guitar), Molefi Makananise (bass) and Tshepang Ramoba
(drums).
Buthelezi and Mcata grew up together in Johannesburg's East
Rand, and were
joined by Soweto natives Makananise and Ramoba.
The
band made waves with its international recording debut, Lakeside, in
2007.
The following year the members met and became friends with Diplo
during his
DJ tour of South Africa.
After Diplo spread the word about the South
Africans, BLK JKS was signed to
Secretly Canadian, a premier independent US
indie and rock label. The band
released its four-track Mystery EP in 2009,
recorded in collaboration with
producer Brandon Curtis of Secret Machines,
and featuring a new version of
Lakeside.
BLK JKS earned their slot at
this year's festival because of their growing
international
popularity.
"BLK JKS have been receiving huge acclaim over the past two
years and been
called Africa's answer to American alternative
bands.
"In November this year, they have been invited to join the hugely
famous and
talented US rock band, 30 Seconds to Mars, on its return tour of
Johannesburg and Cape Town," Ross said.
The Harare fest runs from
April 26 to May 1 and will bring together artists
from about 10 various
forms, ranging from music to visual arts.
Mugabe has no clothes – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 2nd April 2011
G’bye G’bye
G’bagbo Joining Mugabe in
hell
The Vigil celebrated the imminent
ousting of another illegal president – Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast – whose
clinging to power after losing the election last November has cost countless
lives.
Gbagbo’s poisonous legacy – like
Mugabe’s – will blight his country for many years. But. mercifully, the
victorious President Alassane Ouattara was not persuaded to accept the
discredited Kenya / Zimbabwe model where the election winner is coerced into
playing second fiddle to the incumbent loser – with the disastrous result we
have seen in Zimbabwe.
As Ouattara's forces closed in on
Gbagbo in Abidjan, Vigil supporters played the West African drama out in front
of the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. Fungayi Mabhunu, wearing our Mugabe mask,
welcomed his Ivorian friend with the poster ‘Zimbabwe – world of wonders:
Mugabe, Mariam, Gbagbo? Gaddafi?’ Three people wearing devil masks (played by
Rashiwe Bayisayi, Itayi Mawunga and Busi Ngwenya) accompanied Gbagbo (played by
Stanford Munetsi) who bore on his back the poster ‘G’bye G’bye
G’bagbo’.
Trailing behind the former Ivorian
President was another Mugabe ally – Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi – played by Paul
Mathema in Arab robes. He managed to convey the dilemma of the Libyan monster on
whether to join Ethiopia’s ousted President Mariam and his other pals in
Zimbabwe.
The resolution of the Ivory Coast
impasse will hopefully allow African attention to focus a bit more on Zimbabwe.
The Vigil was encouraged by reports from the meeting in Livingstone of the SADC
Troika called to discuss the Zimbabwe crisis. The Troika appears to have showed
some impatience with Mugabe’s propaganda. Zambian President Banda warned: ‘if there is anything that we must learn from the upheavals
going on in the northern part of our continent, it is that the legitimate
expectations of the citizens of our countries cannot be taken for granted. We
must therefore continue at the SADC level to consolidate democracy through the
establishment of institutions that uphold the tenets of good governance, respect
for human rights and the rule of law.’ (http://www.swradioafrica.com/news310311/civilsoc310311.htm).
As Zanu PF plumbs new depths in hate
speech, the Vigil looks to SADC to honour its commitments to Zimbabweans and
insist on free and fair elections. If they open their eyes, they will at last
see that Mugabe has no clothes.
Other points
·
The Zim
Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil
Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single,
visit website: www.imusicafrica.com.
·
At a time
when there has been so much publicity about the nefarious goings-on involving
the Marange diamonds, we were glad to be briefed about the work of Global
Witness. Please check their website for information about Zimbabwe diamonds: http://www.globalwitness.org/campaigns/conflict/conflict-diamonds/current-problem-cases
·
Our
sympathies to Abel Chikomo, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO
Forum who is accused by the Zimbabwe authorities of running an illegal
organization. The Vigil has close links with the Forum in the UK and Abel has
visited the Vigil – see: http://www.swradioafrica.com/news310311/humanrights310311.htm
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.
For the latest ZimVigil TV programme check http://www.zimvigiltv.com/.
FOR THE RECORD: 113 signed the register (many
supporters were away at a big MDC-UK meeting).
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·
The
Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation
based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an
organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission
statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through
membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in
Zimbabwe.
·
ROHR
Manchester meetings. Saturday 16th April:
(committee meeting from 11 am – 1 pm, general meeting from 2 – 5 pm). Venue:
The
Salvation Army Citadel, 71 Grosvenor Road, Manchester M13
9UB. Contact: Delina Tafadzwa Mutyambizi 07775313637, Chamunorwa
Chihota 07799446404, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161, Artwell Pfende
07886839353, Charles Nenguke 07925146757, P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070 or P
Chibanguza 07908406069. Future meeting: 14th May. Same times and
venue.
·
ROHR
Liverpool general meeting on Saturday 16th April
from 2.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: Kensington Methodist Church, 294 Kensington,
Liverpool L7 2RN. ROHR President, national executive members present. A
well-known immigration lawyer available to talk about the new country guidance
ruling. Contact Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Netsai Karota 07767483180, Sheilla
Mironga 07578541227 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.
·
ROHR Newcastle general
meeting. Saturday
23rd April from 2 – 6 pm. Venue: Warwick Court, Warwick Street,
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1EY. 3 mins walk from the Gateshead Interchange opposite Gateshead Civic Centre and Gateshead Police Station. Free parking available. Contact Susan
Ndlovu 07767024586, Allen Chamboko
07500246416, Kuda Derera 07411337933, Rugare Chifungo (Coordinator)
07795070609
·
ROHR
Manchester Vigil.
Saturday 30th April from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Cathedral Gardens,
Manchester City Centre (subject to change to Piccadilly Gardens).
Contact: Delina Tafadzwa Mutyambizi 07775313637, Chamunorwa Chihota
07799446404, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161, Artwell Pfende 07886839353,
Charles Nenguke 07925146757, P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070 or P Chibanguza
07908406069. Future demonstration: 28th May. Same time and
venue.
·
Vigil Facebook
page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
·
Vigil
Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.
·
‘Through
the Darkness’, Judith
Todd’s acclaimed account of the rise of Mugabe. To receive a copy by post in
the UK please email confirmation of your order and postal address to
ngwenyasr@yahoo.co.uk and 0send a cheque for £10 payable to “Budiriro Trust” to
Emily Chadburn, 15 Burners Close, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0QA. All
proceeds go to the Budiriro Trust which provides bursaries to needy A Level
students in Zimbabwe
·
Workshops aiming to engage African men
on HIV testing and other sexual health issues. Organised by the Terrence Higgins
Trust (www.tht.org.uk). Please contact the
co-ordinator Takudzwa Mukiwa (takudzwa.mukiwa@tht.org.uk) if you are
interested in taking part.
Vigil
Co-ordinators
The Vigil, outside
the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00
to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The
Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until
internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.
Urgent Challenge To The Suspension By The Sadc Summit Of The Sadc Tribunal
Beer puddles
Dear Family and Friends,
They say that good things
come in threes and despite all the bad news about
Zimbabwe, a few flickering
lights have given cause for hope recently.
A few days ago, good news came
for a couple of hundred villagers living near
a main highway, when a passing
beer truck lost its load. Rounding a bend on
the main road in the east of
the country I came across an accident which
must have happened just a few
minutes before. A large truck loaded to its
maximum height with crates of
Chibuku beer had lost at least half of its
cargo on the tarmac at the foot
of a hill. The brown plastic beer
containers, known here as Scuds, had
rolled out of dozens of blue plastic
crates and were lying all over the
road. Many of the Scuds had burst and
spilled their contents and the tarmac
was running with beer, sticky pools of
the thick, cloudy beer forming
puddles in the steep eroded cut-offs on the
edge of the tar. Some of the
crates must have shattered on impact and shards
of blue plastic decorated
what was rapidly turning into a frenzy in front of
my eyes. From out of the
bush in all directions people came running: men,
women and teenagers. They
raced out into the road without even a glance for
approaching traffic and
feverishly gathered up undamaged Scuds and ran away
with them. Some of the
more adventurous people were cupping their hands and
literally drinking from
the beer puddles on the road, while others used tins
and empty bottles to
snatch a few mouthfuls. Stepping hard on my brakes to
avoid hitting any of
the manic beer collectors, I slowed as I passed the
truck driver; the look
in his eyes said it all: despair and a hopeless
acceptance that he wouldn’t
be able to save much of his cargo. Nearly four
hours later, on my return
journey, I was astonished to see the beer truck
still stranded on the side
of the highway. His now empty blue crates had
been reloaded and tied down,
watched by a sizeable crowd of very merry
spectators. Four women came
running out of the bush carrying empty twenty
litre containers, heading for
a spot under a tree where decanting of looted
Scuds seemed to be taking
place. A great roar of approval went up at their
arrival from a crowd of a
hundred or more people who stood, sat and danced
in the long grass on the
roadside. The unexpected party on the roadside made
me think of other good
news that has given us cause to smile and cheer
recently.
Very good
news came for democracy in Zimbabwe when the MDC’s Lovemore Moyo
was
re-elected Speaker of the House of Assembly. After being removed from a
post he had held for two and a half years by a Supreme Court ruling because
his original election had been procedurally flawed, Lovemore Moyo was again
chosen by MP’s for the critically important position. The result came in at
105 votes to 93 and has left Zanu PF in an angry tizz as they hunt for which
three of their own MP’s` had obviously voted for Lovemore Moyo. Speaking to
his ZANU PF committee members a couple of days later, Mr Mugabe said about
the mystery voters: “Let us correct ourselves…. They are wrong in being
members of our party.”
The last piece of good news came at the end of
the recent SADC meeting in
Zambia. The summit's final communiqué read in
part: “There must be an
immediate end of violence, intimidation, hate
speech, harassment, and any
other form of action that contradicts the letter
and spirit of the GPA."
Back in Harare Mr Mugabe was quoted as saying in
response to SADC: “We will
not brook dictation from any source. We will
resist interference from any
source, even from our neighbours,”
So
SADC, will you be giving us reason for beer drinking on the roadside?
Until
next time, thanks for reading, love cathy. 2nd April 2011.Copyright ©
Cathy
Buckle. www.cathybuckle.com
Bill Watch 14/2011 of 1st April [SADC Organ Summit and Communique]
BILL WATCH 14/2011
[1st April 2011]
SADC Organ
Troika Summit: Livingstone 31st March: Stern Words on
Zimbabwe
The Troika Summit of
the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation met in Livingstone,
Zambia, on 31st March to consider the political and security situation in the
region, in particular in Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
In
Attendance: The Organ Troika
Summit was attended by all the three Troika members, the current chairperson of
the Troika, Zambian President Banda, the deputy chairperson and the to-be next
chairperson, South African President Zuma and the last chairperson, Mozambican
President Guebuza, and also by the current SADC chairperson President Pohamba of
Namibia. The official communiqué lists as “also in attendance” Zimbabwe
President Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara and
Professor Ncube [so SADC did not “snub” Professor Ncube as the State press
reported].
Chairperson’s Opening
Speech: President Banda’s
opening speech referred to this year’s events in North Africa: “If there is
anything that we must learn from the upheavals going on in the northern part of
our continent, it is that the legitimate expectations of the citizens of our
countries cannot be taken for granted. We must, therefore, continue at the SADC
level to consolidate democracy through the establishment of institutions that
uphold the tenets of good government, respect for human rights and the rule of
law.”
After discussing the
Madagascan situation at some length the Summit discussed Zimbabwe. The Summit
received the report on the political and security situation from President Zuma
as SADC Facilitator for Zimbabwe and, using the strongest words yet to emerge
publicly from a SADC meeting about the situation in this country, made the
following comments and resolutions:
Extracts on Zimbabwe
from the Summit Communiqué
[full
text available on request]
“13. On Zimbabwe, Summit received the report on the
political and security situation in the country as presented by the SADC
Facilitator H.E. Jacob Zuma, the President of the Republic of South
Africa.
14. Summit appreciated the frankness with which
the report was presented by the SADC Facilitator and commended him for the work
that he has been doing on behalf of SADC.
15. Summit recalled past SADC decisions on the
implementation of the GPA and noted with disappointment insufficient progress
thereof and expressed its impatience in the delay of the implementation of the
GPA.
16. Summit noted with grave concern the
polarization of the political environment as characterized by, inter alia,
resurgence of violence, arrests and intimidation in
Zimbabwe.
17. In view of the above, Summit resolved
that:
(a) there must be an immediate end of violence,
intimidation, hate speech, harassment, and any other form of action that
contradicts the letter and spirit of GPA;
(b) all stakeholders to the GPA should implement
all the provisions of the GPA and create a conducive environment for peace,
security, and free political activity;
(c) the Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe should
complete all the steps necessary for the holding of the election including the
finalisation of the constitutional amendment and the
referendum;
(d) SADC should assist Zimbabwe to formulate
guidelines that will assist in holding an election that will be peaceful, free
and fair, in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing
Democratic Elections;
(e) the Troika of the Organ shall appoint a team
of officials to join the Facilitation Team and work with the Joint Monitoring
and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) to ensure monitoring, evaluation and
implementation of the GPA. The Troika shall develop the Terms of Reference, time
frames and provide regular progress report, the first, to be presented during
the next SADC Extraordinary Summit. Summit will review progress on the
implementation of GPA and take appropriate action.
18. Summit endorsed the report of the SADC
Facilitation on Zimbabwe.”
Comments
Additional
Troika Involvement Apart
from the stronger than usual language, the really new element emerging from the
Summit is captured by paragraph 17(e) of the communiqué – the new team of
officials from the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to beef
up monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the GPA.
President
Mugabe’s Reaction Speaking
the day after the Summit President Mugabe downplayed the Summit outcome,
reassuring the ZANU-PF Central Committee that “We will not brook any
dictation from any source. We are a sovereign country. Even our
neighbours cannot dictate to
us. We will resist that. ….. The
facilitator is the facilitator and must facilitate dialogue. He cannot prescribe anything. We prescribe what
we should do in accordance with our laws and our agreement."
SA Facilitation Team Here Next Week
The ZANU-PF lead negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa, told reporters on
returning from the Summit that the roadmap to elections would be completed by
the party negotiators on Monday 4th April and the SA facilitation team would be
invited to Harare to discuss it on Wednesday.
Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot
take legal responsibility for information supplied.
Bill Watch 15/2011 of 1st April [Parliamentary Update]
BILL WATCH 15/2011
[1st April
2011]
The House of Assembly has adjourned to Tuesday 5th
April
The Senate has adjourned to Tuesday 10th
May
Roy Bennett’s Senate Seat At Risk
Senator Bennett has now, without the leave of the Senate,
missed more than 21 sittings of the Senate during the current Parliamentary
session – Tuesday’s sitting was the 21st. This exposes him to loss of his seat
if ZANU-PF manage to get one-half of the total membership of the Senate to vote
for a resolution that his seat should become vacant. With support from the
Senator chiefs, ZANU-PF would have the votes to achieve this. If Mr Bennett
loses his Senate seat this will provide President Mugabe with another reason for
refusing to appoint Mr Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. [Ministers
and Deputy Ministers are required to be members of Parliament.] Filling the
vacancy should be straightforward. The seat is one of the four appointed
non-constituency Senate seats created for MDC-T by Article 20.1.9(b) of the GPA,
as incorporated into the Constitution by Constitution Amendment No. 19 [there
were also two such seats for MDC-M]. Holders of these four seats were
nominated by MDC-T in 2009 and formally appointed by the President. According
to Article 20.1.10, if a vacancy occurs in any of these seats it must be filled
by a nominee of the party that held it before the vacancy. So it is up to MDC-T
to nominate a person qualified to be a Senator – and it could re-nominate Mr
Bennett, but he would have to negotiate his return to take it up.
In the
House of Assembly This Week
Apart from the swearing-in of two new ZANU-PF MPs and the election
of the Speaker on Tuesday 29th March, no business was conducted in the House of
Assembly this week. After the election the Speaker adjourned the House until
Tuesday 5th April. [See Bill Watch 13/2011 of 31st March for details of
Tuesday’s proceedings.]
In the
Senate This Week
The Senate sat on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but only briefly –
40 minutes, 25 minutes and 15 minutes – and adjourned until Tuesday 10th May,
after the school holidays. It did not get round to the only Bill on the Order
Paper – the stalled POSA Amendment Bill.
Two New ZANU-PF
Non-Constituency Senators Sworn In:
·
Rugare
Gumbo on Tuesday 29th
March
·
Simon Khaya
Moyo
on Thursday 31st March, following his unsuccessful bid to become Speaker of the
House of Assembly. Reports suggest Mr Moyo is to be appointed a Minister of
State for National Healing, to take over from
Vice-President Nkomo the National Healing duties that he has continued to
perform since his elevation from Minister of State to Vice-President in December
2009.
The new Senators fill
the two ZANU-PF appointed seats left vacant by the death of late Vice-President
Joseph Msika and Vice-President Nkomo’s recent move to the House of Assembly
[see Bill Watch 13/2011 of 31st March for comment
on this move].
New Senate
Vacancy Senator David
Karimanzira, Provincial Governor for Harare Metropolitan Province, died on 24th
March. As provincial governors are ex officio Senators, this vacancy will be
filled by whoever the President appoints to succeed Mr Karimanzira. It remains
to be seen whether President Mugabe will appoint an MDC-T nominee in
accordance with the agreement on sharing governorships between the three GPA
parties, reached by the party negotiators in 2009.
Debates On
Tuesday the chairperson of the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS introduced the
committee’s report on Access to Treatment. On Wednesday Senator Mandaba
introduced his motion on the effect of economic sanctions, calling for the
government to institute a class action against the European Union in the
European Court of Justice to get EU sanctions set aside [this is the same
motion originally introduced by Deputy Minister Georgias but withdrawn by him
when the Senate President ruled that Ministers and Deputy Ministers could not
bring up such motions.] On Thursday Senator Chimbudzi spoke about the
report on Access to Treatment produced by the Thematic Committee on HIV and
AIDS.
Coming up in the House of Assembly Next
Week
Bills When the House gets back into its normal routine on Tuesday 5th April
it will have four Bills to deal with:
· Small Enterprises Development Corporation Amendment
Bill now awaiting Committee Stage. [Electronic version available.]
· Deposit Protection Corporation Bill now awaiting Second Reading.
· General Laws Amendment Bill now awaiting Second Reading. The Parliamentary
Legal Committee [PLC] agreed to give it a non-adverse report conditional on the
Minister making changes to the Bill as requested by PLC [see Bill Watch
10/2011 of 15th March for details]. [Electronic version available.] Two
portfolio committees – the one on Justice and the one on Local Government –
are preparing reports on the Bill, so it may not come up until late in the week.
· National
Incomes and Pricing Commission Amendment Bill now
awaiting reports from the PLC and from the Portfolio Committee on Industry and
Commerce, which held a well-attended public hearing on the Bill.
[Electronic version of Bill available.]
Question Time – Wednesday 6th April There are 15 written questions with notice on the Order Paper for
reply by Ministers, some dating back to November 2010. ZANU-PF Chief Whip Joram
Gumbo has put down new questions for the Minister of Local Government asking
what Government’s policy is on:
· business licences that are “counteractive” to the Government’s
indigenisation drive
· prohibitive rentals in Old Mutual shopping
malls.
Parliamentary Committees
Committee
Meetings
Committee meetings continued as normal in spite of developments in the
Speakership saga.
Committee
Reports Electronic versions of the following reports are
available:
· Thematic Committee on Peace and Security – “The Role of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in Promoting and Safeguarding Peace and Security in
Zimbabwe”.
· Portfolio Committee on Public Works and National Housing –
“Constitutionalisation of Housing”
· Portfolio
Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology – “The Fee Structure,
Cadetship Support Scheme and Scholarship Programmes in Institutions of Higher
Learning”
· Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development –
“Air Zimbabwe and the Civil Aviation Authority”
· Portfolio Committee on State Enterprises and Parastatals Management –
“Supply of Water Treatment Chemicals by Chemplex Corporation to City of
Harare”.
Update on Legislation
Bills Passed and Awaiting Presidential Assent and Gazetting as Acts
[Electronic versions available]
Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Power, Communication and Water
Infrastructure) Bill [being printed]
Attorney-General’s Office Bill [being printed]
Zimbabwe National Security Council Amendment Bill [printed, awaiting President’s assent]
Energy
Regulatory Authority Bill [being printed]
Bills in Parliament [see above]
Bills Gazetted and Awaiting Presentation in Parliament
– None
Bills Being Printed for Presentation in Parliament – None
Statutory Instruments and General
Notices
Government Gazette of 25th March
Mining Sector Indigenisation The only noteworthy instruments gazetted were GN 114/2011, setting
out the minimum indigenisation requirements for the mining sector, and SI
34/2011 containing amendments to the main Indigenisation Regulations. Both came
into effect on 25th March. [Electronic versions of GN and SI available.]
Government Gazette of 1st April Two SIs are worth noting, both effective from 1st April:
Commencement of Audit Office Act SI 42/2011 brings the Audit Office Act [Act No. 12 of 2009] into
force with effect from the 1st April. The Act establishes the Comptroller and
Auditor-General’s Office as a separate entity outside the Public Service.
[Electronic version of Act available.]
Postponement of Commencement of Motor Vehicle Equipment
Regulations SI 44/2011 postpones the commencement of SI 154/2010 [the new Road
Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use) Regulations] until the 1st July 2011;
this delays until the 1st July the enforcement of new requirements such as all
vehicles having to carry warning triangles, fire extinguishers etc. The SI also
fixes a new cut-off date, 31st October 2011, for importation of left-hand drive
vehicles. [Electronic version of SI 44/2011 available – but not SI
154/2010.]
Requests for available electronic versions should be emailed to
veritas@yoafrica.com
Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot
take legal responsibility for information supplied
Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series [Meetings 4-7 April]
BILL WATCH
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SERIES
Parliamentary Committee Meetings: 4th to 7th
April
The following meetings are open to members of the public, as
observers, not as participants, i.e. members of the public can listen but not
speak.
Note: Members of the public, including Zimbabweans in the Diaspora,
can at any time send written submissions by email to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
Monday 4th April at 10 am
Portfolio Committee: Natural Resources, Environment and
Tourism
Oral evidence from Ministry of Environment and Tourism on wildlife
conservancies
Committee Room No. 311
Chairperson: Hon M. Dube Clerk: Mr
Munjenge
Tuesday 5th April at 10 am
Portfolio Committee: Health and Child Welfare
Briefing from Public Health Advisory Board on review of Public Health
Act
Committee Room No. 1
Chairperson: Hon Parirenyatwa Clerk: Mrs
Khumalo
No Open Meetings on Wednesday 6th April
Thursday 7th April at 10 am
Portfolio Committee: Women, Youth, Gender and Community
Development
Meeting with Varume Svinurai Men’s Forum for discussion on sections
of Domestic Violence Act
Committee Room No. 3
Chairperson: Hon Matienga Clerk: Mr
Kunzwa
Note: As there are sometimes last-minute changes to the meetings
schedule, it is recommended that you avoid possible disappointment by checking
with the relevant committee clerk that the meeting is still on and still open to
the public. Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 or 252936. If
attending, please use the Kwame Nkrumah Ave entrance to Parliament. IDs must be
produced.
Committee Reports
Electronic versions of the following recent committee reports are
available:
· Thematic Committee on Peace and Security – “The Role of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Promoting and Safeguarding Peace and Security in
Zimbabwe”.
· Portfolio Committee on Public Works and National Housing –
“Constitutionalisation of Housing”
· Portfolio
Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology – “The Fee Structure,
Cadetship Support Scheme and Scholarship Programmes in Institutions of Higher
Learning”
· Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development –
“Air Zimbabwe and the Civil Aviation Authority”
·
Portfolio
Committee on State Enterprises and Parastatals Management – “Supply of Water
Treatment Chemicals by Chemplex Corporation to City of
Harare”.
Requests for electronic versions should be emailed to
veritas@yoafrica.com
Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot
take legal responsibility for information supplied.