Pivotal Discussion Among Zimbabwe Unity Government Principals Is Postponed

http://www.voanews.com

By Jonga Kandemiiri, Ntungamili Nkomo & Irwin Chifera
Washington
17 August 2009

Only two out of three of the principals in Zimbabwe's fractious unity
government attended a meeting Monday of senior partners in power-sharing,
obliging postponement of a pivotal discussion of issue remaining on the
table six months into the arrangement.

In the absence of Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, President Robert
Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai took up other business,
government sources said.

For many weeks Mr. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change has been
pressing for the resolution of outstanding issues including the leadership
of the Reserve Bank and the Office of the Attorney General, and the
prosecution of lawmakers of Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC formation by which, it
says, Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF aims to erode the MDC house majority.

Late last week ZANU-PF countered by charging that the MDC formations had
failed to obtain an end to Western targeted sanctions against President
Mugabe and other top officials or supporters of the previous ZANU-PF
government.

The former ruling party also demanded an end to broadcasts from abroad by
so-called pirate radio stations, as VOA's Studio 7 has often been
characterized by ZANU-PF officials.

James Maridadi, spokesman for the prime minister, told Studio 7 that Mr.
Tsvangirai and the president reviewed the government's 100-day recovery plan
and other topics.

Pretoria-based political analyst George Mkhwanazi told reporter Ntungamili
Nkomo of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the ZANU-PF demands that the MDC
should order the United States, Britain and other countries to lift their
sanctions are preposterous.

Meanwhile, Studio 7 correspondent Irwin Chifera reported from Harare that
House Speaker Lovemore Moyo dismissed press reports on the weekend saying
the selection of the Media Commission has been put on hold, saying there is
no turning back on this reform.

Failure of coalition meeting raises stakes in Harare

http://www.businessday.co.za


DUMISANI MULEYA  Published: 2009/08/18 06:57:55 AM

A CRUCIAL meeting of Zimbabwe's political leaders over a number of divisive
issues threatening to wreck the inclusive government failed to take place
yesterday amid a growing rift within the ruling coalition.

The failure of the meeting in Harare to sort out contentious issues would
raise the stakes in President Jacob Zuma 's expected visit to the Zimbabwean
capital at month-end in a bid to knock heads together before he steps down
as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairman early next
month.

Zuma is expected to visit Zimbabwe on August 27 to open the annual Harare
Agricultural Show, although his main mission will be resolving political
problems buffeting the inclusive government.

President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara were expected to meet yesterday to tackle a series
of issues unresolved since the power-sharing government was set up after
bitter, protracted talks. The meeting failed due to Mutambara's absence.

Tsvangirai's spokesman James Maridadi said only Mugabe and Tsvangirai met
but they did not discuss the "outstanding political issues" as expected.

"The president and the prime minister met, but they could not discuss the
outstanding issues because the full compliment of political principals was
not there," Maridadi said. "Instead, they discussed administrative issues
and other matters pertaining to the day-to-day running of government."

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara were expected to deal with matters that
have kept them at loggerheads since the formation of the unity government in
February.

Tsvangirai recently held talks in Johannesburg with Zuma about the issues in
dispute. Zuma said he would contact Mugabe and Sadc leaders about the
matters.

The issues still in dispute concern the appointment of provincial governors,
positions of the Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney- General
Johannes Tomana, the swearing-in and prosecution of Deputy Agriculture
Minister Roy Bennett, the arrests and jailing of a number of Tsvangirai's
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) MPs and a series of policy issues.

However, the decision-making Zanu (PF) politburo said after a meeting last
week Mugabe should not give in to MDC demands because "we already
compromised on many issues".

"The constant reference by the MDC to outstanding matters therefore baffles
us," Zanu (PF) spokesman Ephraim Masawi said. "It is now six months since
the formation of the inclusive government and Zanu (PF) leaders, as well as
their families are still inhibited from visiting Europe and the US." Masawi
said Tsvangirai and his party must first remove "sanctions" instead of
complaining about "trivial issues".

Addressing a rally in Mutare at the weekend, he said continued failure to
address the controversial issues was a clear sign some people were trying to
undermine the coalition.

"The agreement is a workable concept to move the country forward. However,
there are some people who are working against the spirit of the people of
Zimbabwe," he said.

"If we are all serious about this government, why is it that we still have
outstanding issues six months after the consummation of the inclusive
government? It means someone, somewhere is not committed."

Tsvangirai said the issues had to be resolved because "no sane person would
like Zimbabwe to slide back to the period of last year - even those in Zanu
(PF)".

Tsvangirai warned Mugabe to stop taking him for granted because his party
had won elections last year. He said the MDC was forced in to talks due to
political violence.

"We won the election. We want to build credible, professional and non-
partisan state institutions. We should democratise the country and create
conditions conducive for a free and fair election," he said.

"This country needs healing but those who committed political crimes must
ask for forgiveness from their victims," he said.

"The only way forward is this route. The greatest beneficiaries are the
people of Zimbabwe.

"We want to create an atmosphere where those who have been defeated in
elections humbly hand over power to winners," Tsvangirai said.

Tsvangirai warns Mugabe to stop taking him granted because his Movement for
Democratic Change did win the elections last year

Zim Speaker says Parly to push ahead with reforms

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Sebastian Nymhangambiri Tuesday 18 August 2009

HARARE - Parliamentary speaker Lovemore Moyo insisted Monday that the House
would press ahead with nomination of candidates to various commissions meant
to reshape and democratise Zimbabwe's politics, amid signs of discord within
the governing coalition over the reforms.

Moyo said Parliament will next month announce dates when it shall interview
candidates, rejecting weekend reports by the official Sunday Mail newspaper
that the nomination process had been suspended to give political parties
time to come up with a mutually acceptable formula to select people to sit
on the commissions.

"It is their own imagination and dreams," Moyo said of the reports by the
newspaper, which although owned by the government is tightly controlled by
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party and often reflects the views of the
hardliner wing of the party.

"The next stage for us is that within two weeks we will be able to tell you
when the next interviews are due. Around the 1st of September we will have
the date. We are doing the process of shortlisting the candidates," said
Moyo, who is also chairman of the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC
party.

ZANU PF, MDC-T and a breakaway MDC faction led by Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara formed a power-sharing government last February to ease
political tensions in Zimbabwe and rebuild the country's battered economy.

In addition to reviving the economy, the coalition government is supposed to
write a new and democratic constitution for Zimbabwe and appoint several
commissions that will among other things oversee the media, work to promote
human rights and manage future elections.

The four commissions provided for under a Constitutional Amendment Number 19
that established the power-sharing government are the Zimbabwe Media
Commission (ZMC), Independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (IZEC), Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
(ZHRC).

Once the commissions and the proposed new constitution are in place the
government will call fresh elections with the whole process that began in
February expected to last between 18 to 24 months.

But the Sunday Mail raised fears the process could be delayed. The paper
quoting parliamentary clerk Austin Zvoma and some unnamed sources said
nomination of candidates had been suspended and that the coalition partners
might have to forward nominees for appointment to the commissions on based
proportional representation.

But MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the party was not aware of
suspension of the nomination process, in a sign of brewing conflict over the
political process that has lagged far behind economic reforms.

Moyo, who spoke after a meeting of Parliament's standing orders and rules
committee that he chairs and which is in charge of the nominations, said the
committee the had come with an improved formula to select candidates for
outstanding commissions after it sat two weeks ago to nominate candidates
for the media commission.

"It was a normal meeting but a special one in the sense that it came up with
methodologies to select the commissions still outstanding - after the ZMC.
No major changes (to the ZMC methodology.) We want to be more thorough to
avoid confusion," he said.

Nomination of ZMC candidates has been mired in controversy after ZANU PF
party protested against the selection process after several of its allies
failed to make it to the final list of nominees.

Mugabe is supposed to appoint the ZMC from names submitted to him by Moyo's
committee. But presidential spokesman George Charamba suggested Mugabe might
not act on the names submitted following complains by ZANU PF.

The slow pace of political reforms is one of the reasons cited by rich
Western nations for refusing to give direct financial support to the Harare
administration and for not lifting visa and financial sanctions imposed on
Mugabe and his inner circle seven years ago. - ZimOnline

Govt to dump loss-making parastatals

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

August 17 2009

By TONI SAXON

MUTARE - The government is going to privatise or commercialise some of its
loss-making parastatals, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said last week.
Addressing a breakfast meeting organised by the Confederation of Zimbabwe
Industries (CZI) in Mutare, Biti said an inter-ministerial committee was
working on a programme to see which government-owned companies could be
offloaded because they were a burden to the fiscus or which ones could be
commercialised and turned into profitable operations. (Pictured: Finance
Minister Tendai Biti)
He said: "The government will soon privatise or commercialise some of the
parastatals that are non-performing. The inter-ministerial committee is
working on this programme so that we can categories some of the parastatals
to see whether they should be commercialized (or privatized)."
The International Monetary Fund and local analysts have long called on the
government to privatise non-performing parastatals or allow them to charge
economic prices to stop them from perpetually draining the national
treasury.
Among some of the government's perennially under-performing companies are
the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe, Air Zimbabwe, Grain Marketing Board,
National Railways of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority.

Reintroduce Zim Dollar - Gono

http://www.herald.co.zw/

18 August 2009

Harare - Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono has proposed the
reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar anchored on gold valued by an
independent body comprising all stakeholders.

He said the reintroduction of the local currency would help in addressing a
number of bottlenecks the country was facing.

Dr Gono said the reintroduction of the local unit in the manner he was
proposing would go a long way in addressing unavailability of change of
small denominations and coins, among other constraints.
The RBZ chief said this yesterday while giving oral evidence before the
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Natural Resources, Hospitality and
Tourism.

The committee, chaired by Nkayi South Member of the House of Assembly Mr
Abednico Bhebhe (MDC), wanted to know the financial sector's preparedness in
terms of introducing plastic money ahead of 2010 World Soccer Cup Finals to
be held in South Africa.

The committee invited the central bank and the Bankers' Association of
Zimbabwe, led by its president Dr John Mangundya, to update it on progress.

During yesterday's deliberations, bankers said they had gone a long way with
preparations and international credit and debt cards would be ready by end
of September this year.

The committee, however, expressed concern at the unavailability of change,
especially coins.
In response, Dr Gono proffered an array of advice that included the need for
political stability, addressing infrastructural issues like availability of
electricity, water, transport network, and the health delivery service
system, among others.

"The financial sector might do its homework, but if other players don't play
their part, the country might not benefit anything from the world soccer
showcase," said Dr Gono.

He said there was need to reintroduce the Zimbabwe dollar that would be
pegged against gold available.

He said those who had criticised his idea were doing so out of ignorance, as
they did not understand the gist of his advice.

"Nobody can move me from that conviction. We anchor our Zim dollar to the
gold available. It will not only be RBZ, but all stakeholders. A certificate
will then be issued to the RBZ on the amount of Zim dollar to be printed
after the committee has satisfied itself on the value of the gold," said Dr
Gono.
"You can also redeem your Zim dollar in return for an ounce of gold. Say, if
you want to keep gold not cash, you can go to your bank and get an
equivalent of ounces of gold to the Zim dollar you have, so we will be
backing our money with reality on the ground. Such an approach is not
inflationary because you are anchoring your money on productivity."

The central bank chief urged Zimbabweans to be pragmatic by "thinking
outside the box".

"We can even print gold coins. The Zim dollar can then gain as it is
anchored on gold. We need to think outside the box," he said.

Asked why the country had not formally dollarised or randified, Dr Gono said
that would involve a number of legal and economic issues.
He said it was not possible to officially dollarise because the United
States had imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe while it would be cumbersome for
Zimbabwe to officially use the rand as its currency.

"If we are to randify, we will have to be members of the Common Union with
Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland whose economies are anchored with South
Africa. All our policy and monetary statements would have to be submitted to
South Africa for concurrence before we finally pronounce them," said Dr
Gono. Initially, Dr Mangundya had said it was more expensive to import coins
because transport costs were determined by weight.

"We will have to pay, say, US$100 000 to import US$10 000 worth of coins,"
said Dr Mangundya.

'Strike threatens health sector's recovery'

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Nokuthula Sibanda Tuesday 18 August 2009

HARARE - The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has
said a strike by doctors across the country is threatening the recovery of
the health delivery system at a time when the sector is struggling to
recover from last year's crisis.

Doctors at public hospitals went on strike last week to press for more pay.
The industrial action has brought back memories of last year when striking
doctors and nurses deserted hospitals as a cholera epidemic ravaged
Zimbabwe, killing more than 4 000 people before it was brought under control
with help from international relief agencies.

"The health delivery system is still struggling to emerge from a crisis that
left the country's major referral hospitals unable to deliver services at
the end of 2008," ZADHR said in a statement.

"Health professionals are entitled to adequate remuneration and acceptable
working conditions. However, this must be balanced against the well being of
patients. Unavailability of health services ultimately results in increased
morbidity and preventable deaths."

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association that represents all state doctors
is pushing for a salary of US$1 000 per month plus $500 allowance.

The association has promised to extend the job boycott to all state
hospitals across the country that are the source of health service for more
than 90 percent of Zimbabweans.

The government's Health Services Board (HSB) is negotiating with the doctors
but says funds provided by international donors for doctors' allowances and
other perks have run out. More funds can only be available for disbursement
to doctors in about two works, according to the board.

Most of Zimbabwe's public hospitals that had virtually become dysfunctional
began operating only six months ago after formation of a coalition
government by President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and
Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara.

The power-sharing government has promised to rebuild Zimbabwe's economy and
top restore basic services such as health and education that had virtually
collapsed after years of recession.

But the administration, which says it needs US$10 billion to revive the
economy, could fail to deliver on its promise unless it is able to unlock
financial support from Western governments that have remained reluctant to
provide aid until they see evidence that Mugabe is committed to genuinely
share power with Tsvangirai.  - ZimOnline

Tekere in surprise address at MDC rally

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=21317

August 18, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Veteran politician Edgar Tekere on Sunday made a surprise
appearance at Mutare's Sakubva Stadium, where thousands of Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) supporters converged to mark the party's tenth
anniversary.

Tekere, former Zanu-PF secretary general and close ally President Robert
Mugabe and now a relentless critic of the Zimbabwean leader, was greeted
with deafening applause from the crowd, which  MDC officials estimated at 40
000 strong.

Tekere, who was attending an MDC function for the first time since the party's
formation a decade ago, was allowed a brief five minutes to address the
crowd.

He praised MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai for his courage and relentless
effort to confront Mugabe in a bid to restore democracy in Zimbabwe.

As leader of the now defunct Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) Tekere has first
hand experience of the dire consequences of challenging Mugabe.

His party, which contested the 1990 elections, later disbanded after being
allegedly infiltrated by the Central Intelligence Organisation.

Tsvangirai, on his part, said he was worried about the failing health of
Tekere, saying he was among thousands of the country's liberation war
fighters who were being neglected by government.

'I am worried about the health of Mr Tekere and the welfare of the war
veterans," Tsvangirai said.

"If government cannot provide for veterans of the liberation struggle, how
can it provide for the generality of the people of Zimbabwe?"

Tekere last month told delegates to a conference in Harare that he strongly
supported Tsvangirai and his deputies in the new unity government.

Tekere said he put his faith in the "Morgan Tsvangirai Trio" to dig Zimbabwe
out of its economic quagmire.

He said the "trio" comprised the MDC leader and his two deputies, Arthur
Mutambara, leader of the smaller MDC party, and Thokozani Khuphe, Tsvangirai's
deputy in the mainstream MDC.

"I see them as a trio. We must assist them," Tekere said, "They are the ones
who are sweating to make our country come back to life."

Tekere also said he was frustrated by the continued failure on the part of
the country's partisan service chiefs to recognize Tsvangirai, who is now
Prime Minister, and those who claimed that the MDC leader had an inferior
educational background.

The outspoken politician broke away from Zanu-PF in 1989s after serious
clashes with Mugabe, accusing him in particular of abuse of power and
Zanu-PF in general of widespread corruption.

Meanwhile, in his main address, Tsvangirai said no one should take the MDC
for granted as it had overwhelmingly won the election of March 29, 2008.

"We won the election," he said.

"We want to build credible, professional and non-partisan State
institutions. We should democratize the country and create conditions
conducive to a free and fair election."

Tsvangirai also urged perpetrators of political violence in the country,
most of them being Zanu-PF, to apologise to their victims for crimes
committed.

"This country needs healing but those who committed political crimes must
ask for forgiveness from their victims," he said.

Tsvangirai said the MDC had voluntarily joined the inclusive government as
it was the only available option to confront the country's myriad problems.

"The only way forward is this route. The greatest beneficiaries are the
people of Zimbabwe. We want to create an atmosphere where those who have
been defeated in elections humbly hand over power," he said.

The MDC leader defeated Mugabe in the March 29 president election but later
withdrew from a run-off election due to fierce State sponsored violence
against the MDC.

Tsvangirai said the delay in resolving the outstanding issues to a unity
agreement he signed with his former rivals was a clear sign that some people
were trying to undermine the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

"The GPA is a workable concept to move the country forward.  However, there
are some people who are working against the spirit of the people of
Zimbabwe.

"If we are all serious about this government, why is it that we still have
outstanding issues six months after the consummation of the inclusive
government? It means someone, somewhere is not committed," said Tsvangirai.

"No sane person would like Zimbabwe to slide back to the (situation) of last
year even for those in Zanu-PF. The main aim of forming the inclusive
government was to deliver basic services and for people to have food on the
table."

Some of the outstanding issues are the unilateral appointments by Mugabe of
his cronies, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Gideon Gono and the
Attorney-General, Johannes Tomana.

The MDC is also keen to see swearing in of the party's national treasurer,
Roy Bennett as the deputy Agriculture minister and the appointment of MDC
stalwarts as provincial governors.

The posts have in the past been occupied by Zanu-PF officials.

Tsvangirai said the party which he founded had resisted temptations to take
up arms to defend itself from relentless abuse by the State but had
maintained committed to the restoration of democracy through the ballot.

"As a party, we have refused to be seduced into barbaric means of solving
our crisis," he said. "Instead of the bullet, we have shown confidence and
consistency in our belief in the ballot."

He urged Zimbabweans to take part in the current constitution-making process
which is expected to create conditions for free and fair elections in
Zimbabwe.

Sunday's rally was attended by the MDC leadership including the Vice
President, Thokozani Khupe; national chairman, Lovemore Moyo, and
secretary-general, Tendai Biti.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai Unite In Mourning One of Zimbabwe's Unsung Heroes

http://www.voanews.com

By Sandra Nyaira
Washington
17 August 2009

Zimbabweans from all walks of life converged Monday at the Mount Pleasant,
Harare, home of the late orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Mushonga, 73, who
succumbed Saturday to injuries sustained in a June invasion of his home by
seven gun-wielding assailants.

Mushonga, husband of Regional Integration and International Cooperation
Minister Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, was well known for operating on
the country's poor without charge and for supporting the democratic movement
in the country.

President Robert Mugabe led mourners with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

Mushonga was instrumental in early efforts to launch the Movement for
Democratic Change, opening his house to meetings, providing funds to the
organization and food to activists just as he did during the liberation
struggle of the 1970s.

Mr. Mugabe told mourners about Dr. Mushonga's assistance to his guerrilla
movement during the liberation conflict ending with Zimbabwean independence
in 1980. He said Dr. Mushonga would be given a state funeral in recognition
of his fight for majority rule in the country.

The family asked President Mugabe to see that justice is served for Dr.
Mushonga by bringing to book those who assaulted and robbed him. Seven men
have been arrested and charged with the attempted murder of Dr. Mushonga.

Dr. Mushonga, a former deputy mayor of Harare for the MDC, is survived by
his wife and nine children, all from previous marriages. He is to be buried
on Friday in Chishawasha, in Mashonaland East province.

His only surviving brother, Zacharia Mushonga, told reporter Sandra Nyaira
of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the doctor's death was a major blow to
the family.

Nairobi-based political analyst Brian Kagoro, who worked with Dr. Mushonga
in the early days of the MDC, told VOA that with the passing of the
physician, Zimbabwe has lost a virtuous man who fought corruption at every
turn.

Mugabe honours alleged victims

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

August 17 2009

By BRADSHAW MUZANENHAMO

HARARE -- President Robert Mugabe has posthumously conferred medals of
honour on two top army officers alleged to have been assassinated in 2007
for allegedly plotting to stage a coup against the 85-year old leader.

Mugabe, whose Zanu (PF) party has nominated to remain at the helm for
another five years, awarded the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit
Medal to the late Brigadier Generals, Armstrong Paul Gunda and Fakazi Muleya
who died within a space of two weeks and were declared national heroes.
A total of 41 senior military officers, received the medals, four
posthumously as Mugabe continues to buy loyalty from the armed forces by
decorating them with medals.
Gunda's widow, Tendai and her children have among many Zimbabweans insisted
that the Brigadier General died under murky circumstances.
The Zimbabwe National Army recently issued a statement announcing that a
board of inquiry had established that there was no foul play concerning the
death of Gunda.
Mugabe has in the past made what have been described as 'insensitive' awards
like in 2008 when he awarded the Grand Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of
Merit, the highest military honours to the architects of the Gukurahundi
genocide,  Air Marshal Perrence Shiri and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander,
Constantine Chiwenga.
Shiri was the founding commander  in 1981 of the murderous Fifth Brigade
which raped and murdered civilians in the Midlands and Matabeleland until he
was transferred to the Air Force in 1984.
He was replaced as commander by Chiwenga who in 1981 was commander of One
Brigade and replaced Shiri as commander of Fifth Brigade in 1984. One
Brigade was one of several military camps  used as a launch pad to terrorise
civilians in the Midlands and Matabeleland in the 1980s.
On Defence Forces Day, Gunda's family paid more than US$800 to place a full
colour half page advert in the state-controlled newspaper, The Herald, to
make their feelings known.
"We as the Gunda family will be receiving your medal which you worked for
the rest of your life. We salute you Comrade Gunda. We love you."
The family quoted a verse  from the Bible, which it said he read a lot. "The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come so that they may
have life and have it to the full."
The family, which is facing eviction from a ZNA house in Bulawayo,  amid
threats to repossess vehicles which belonged to her husband said it found
protection in God.
"This verse tells me that whatever happens in my life, I must always speak
with God, even when my enemies try to attack, I always refer to this verse,
because I know that God is always on my side.
"I have also learnt that if you are filled with fear, you become afraid of
(the) challenge of life..."

Media groups query BAZ candidates selection

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

August 17 2009

By STAFF REPORTER

HARARE - Zimbabwe's parliament may have prejudiced prospective candidates
for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) after it failed to
advertise for positions on the new board and instead used the list of
candidates for the proposed Zimbabwe Media Commission to select nominees for
the BAZ, media watchdogs protested last week. (Pictured: Speaker of
Parliament, Lovemore Moyo - Media watchdogs say the House may have
prejudiced prospective candidates for the Broadcasting Authority of
Zimbabwe)

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Media Monitoring
Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) said Parliament's Standing Rules and Orders
Committee (SROC) violated the law by unilaterally deciding to use the ZMC
shortlist to conduct interviews for the BAZ board without advertising the
positions.
In a letter to Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo, MISA-Zimbabwe
chairperson Loughty Dube said parliament misled Zimbabwe media stakeholders
by not stating in an advertisement placed on June 5 that it would also hold
parallel interviews for the BAZ board.
"The advertisement in question called for applications to the Zimbabwe Media
Commission and three other separate commission namely, Zimbabwe Human Rights
Commission, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Anti-Corruption
Commission," read part of the letter to Moyo.
The watchdogs, however, contended that the selection processes for the two
organisations are governed by separate legal provisions and should,
therefore, have been conducted separately.
"Our reasonable assumption was that the call for applications was largely
for constitutionally established commissions and not necessarily statutory
boards," read part of Dube's letter to the speaker.
Added MPZ: "Besides, the legal framework for the establishment of the two
regulatory bodies and the requisite qualifications for their members are
different, rendering SROC's decision technically and procedurally
 irregular," observed the MMPZ.
The ZMC and the three other commissions are established by in terms of the
Constitution while the BAZ board is not a constitutional body and can only
be set up under statutory regulations contained in the Broadcasting Services
Act.
The SROC has shortlisted 12 candidates out of the 27 interviewed on August 3
for forwarding to President Robert Mugabe who is expected to pick the final
nine people to sit on the ZMC.
The parliamentary committee also picked six candidates for the new BAZ board
out of the 27 interviewed.
The ZMC is the successor of the government-controlled Media and Information
Commission (MIC) which has been defunct since January 2008 following a
constitutional amendment.
A partisan body, the MIC was accused of forcing the closure of at least four
privately run newspapers since 2003.

Reserve Bank productive sector review

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=21332

August 18, 2009
John Robertson

ZIMBABWE'S Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono recently offered his thoughts
on the performance of the productive sectors since the formation of the
Government of National Unity.

Some views are helpful, but others demonstrate that senior officials still
cling to beliefs that have served only to damage the economy. Perhaps they
are obliged to carry on expressing support for some of these beliefs, but
many of them need to be puffed up with false interpretations to make them
look believable.

For example, the Governor describes the Multiple Currency System as a
 "noble" policy that was introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in the
last quarter of 2008. If he were to be more accurate, he would have to admit
that the rapidly collapsing Zimbabwe dollar forced the private sector to use
other currencies and that initially they had to do so in defiance of RBZ
directives that threatened fund confiscations and prosecutions.

A fuller admission would accept that RBZ conduct led to the destruction of
the integrity of the Zimbabwe dollar. This made the currency useless to
everyone, the RBZ and government included. Officials had no option but to
accept the use of other currencies. Their decision to do so should therefore
be seen, not as a noble achievement, but as an ignoble defeat for RBZ
policies.

Some of the helpful thoughts are on the mining sector. The Governor believes
that it is handicapped by uncertainties about proposed legislation,
mysterious procrastinations in the approval of investment proposals,
uncoordinated mining sector investment attraction strategies and a lack of
skills in the ministry. He also believes that foreign investors who are
bringing in capital should be allowed to own more than 50 percent of the
venture.

But he also believes that the country can earn significant foreign currency
from the auctioning of mining claims. This idea is much more ominous than
any of the others. It implies a belief that future mining claims should
automatically come under the control of government as soon as the minerals
are discovered and the claims are registered.

The success previously enjoyed by Zimbabwe's mining sector was based on the
ownership rights to discoveries that were acquired automatically by the
person or company that found the mineral deposit. These rights were then
used to arrange for development funding or to negotiate for a partnership
with, or an outright sale to potential developers. If the State now proposes
to assume ownership of new discoveries so that they can be auctioned for
State finances, the State will very quickly run out of mining properties to
auction. As a result, the development of the industry will stop.

Confusion about how farming should work in this day and age persists in the
Governor's thinking. Zimbabwe has virtually wiped out its capacity to
subsidise anybody, specially the hundreds of thousands of new farmers who
failed year after year even with generous subsidies, but at no point does
the Governor acknowledge the one-time existence of farmers in Zimbabwe who
had the needed experience, had mechanised their operations, had achieved
high levels of productivity, were able to pay the market price for their
inputs and were efficient enough to be able to cover their costs by selling
their produce, also at market prices.

They were successful enough to operate without need of subsidies, funding
their activities with commercial loans. These loans were secured by title
deeds to their land. The repayment terms made them so determined to succeed
that they achieved export surpluses almost every year for the past century.

The main purpose of the Governor's observations is clearly to underline the
need for vast amounts of money to restore and further develop the country's
economy, but the message between the lines is that he knows the money has to
come from elsewhere as, with his help, we have destroyed all our own.

The same thoughts surface in much more explicit terms in the paragraphs that
repeat the government's frequent accusations that "illegal sanctions" are
the reason for Zimbabwe's difficulties.

"Our plea to the international community is that they give Zimbabweans the
deserved giant leap of faith and play a progressive and supportive role
through the unconditional removal of the crippling sanctions that are now an
unbearable millstone around the country's economy".

This section starts with the statement: "The formation of the Inclusive
Government did and does indicate and confirm that the people of Zimbabwe
fully understand their democratic institutions.". This phrase appears to be
as close as the Governor can get to support his claim that the requested
"leap of faith" is now "deserved".

The observations that have come from many visiting diplomats, politicians,
investors and commentators seems never to have been heard by the Governor,
or by the members of government who have displayed their increasing dismay
that aid has not been pouring into the country since the Government of
National Unity was formed.

In summary, they have highlighted the lack of progress in the political
arena and point to the clear evidence that attempts to make headway on
important issues, such as the rule of law, civil rights and the freedoms of
expression and association have been frequently thwarted, if not sabotaged.

Political activists managed to vigorously reinforce the evidence that
Zimbabwe's old guard was still in charge and still determined to prevent
change when the first meetings to consider new constitutional proposals were
broken up by demonstrators and the police did not intervene. This event
helped to confirm the belief that Zimbabwe is not yet ready to be offered
assistance, especially as a safe assumption could be made that, under
current circumstances, any funding supplied might be diverted to strengthen
the positions of those who were responsible for Zimbabwe's economic decline.

Responses from development institutions, investors and donor countries are
showing that none of them is prepared to support efforts to help our
inappropriate policies to work a little better, while good policies could be
so easily adopted.

So when are we going to wake up?

From new priest to Bishop in just 17 days

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=4895


Monday, 17th August 2009. 5:26pm

By: George Conger.

Seventeen days after being ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of
Kensington, the curate of the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Hampton of the
Diocese of London has been elected Bishop of Manicaland.

On July 24 the electoral synod of the Zimbabwe diocese elected as
bishop the Rev Dr Julius Makoni to succeed his deposed processor the Rt Rev
Elson Jakazi. Dr Makoni's election must now go the House of Bishops of the
Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) for confirmation.

An ally of the former Bishop of Harare, on Sept 23, 2007 Bishop Jakazi
joined Dr Nolbert Kunonga in writing to Archbishop Bernard Malango saying
their dioceses had withdrawn from Central Africa in protest to what they
alleged was a pro-gay bias in the Province.

The dean of Central Africa, Bishop Albert Chama of Northern Zambia,
responded that it "was impossible for them to withdraw the dioceses" and on
Oct 19, 2007 the Central African bishops declared the two "were no longer
bishops" of the CPCA.

In April 2008 the former Bishop of Harare, the Rt Rev Peter Hatendi
was appointed interim bishop of Manicaland. However, Bishop Jakazi last year
retracted his declaration of independence from the CPCA and had sought to
block the election of a new bishop for the diocese, claiming he remained the
rightful bishop. Litigation is currently underway between the CPCA and
Bishop Jakazi over the trusteeship of the Manicaland church properties.

Dr Makoni was one of Zimbabwe's leading bankers until he fled to
England in 2004, after the Mugabe regime threatened to arrest him over
charges of currency manipulation. Émigré newspapers at the time dismissed
the charges as being motivated by political and tribal jealousies, and the
government eventually dropped all charges.

Educated at St Ignatius College in Harare, Dr Makoni earned a BA and
PhD in finance from Cambridge University and an MBA from London University.
He worked in the City of London for Morgan Grenfell followed by eight years
at the World Bank and three years at Bankers Trust before he formed his own
bank, NMB Bank which was listed on the London and Zimbabwe stock exchanges.

After fleeing Zimbabwe in 2004, Dr Makoni studied for holy orders at
Westcott House and was ordained a deacon in 2008 by the Bishop of Southwark
on behalf of the Bishop of Harare, and was ordained to the priesthood by
Bishop Paul Williams on July 9.

Dr Makoni is the son-in-law of Bishop Hatendi, and his father, the Rev
Alban Makoni, was a priest of the Dioceses of Manicaland and Mashonaland. In
2002, death threats were made by supporters of Dr Kunonga against Dr Makoni's
wife, Pauline. A member of the chapter of the Cathedral of St Mary and All
Saints in Harare, Mrs Makoni had opposed Dr Kunonga's usurpation of
authority within the diocese.

The land is mine (I think)

http://www.mg.co.za/

CATHRENE TARUKWASHA - Aug 18 2009 06:00

At 8.30am I arrived at Harare's passport office in the registrar general's
building next to the once-famous Prince Edward High School.

The building I'd last entered seven years before was a shadow of its former
self. The ceiling was peeling and covered in brown stains like old tears.
Tired people lined up next to doors with numbers and shuffled blindly from
room to room.

I joined a quick-moving line and soon faced a bored lady at the counter who
sneered at me and demanded to know my business. I nervously explained. "This
is the line for ETGs," she spat -- the useless Emergency Travel Document
that cost Z$20-billion and would take me only as far as South Africa at
best. Those were the days before the Zim dollar was abandoned as the
official currency.

"Do you have forex?" she spat again. "Yes, ma'am." "Then go to Room 6." I
was waved off before I could ask any more questions. So I found Room 6 and
joined the tired queue.

Inside was a man who understood what sitting in his chair meant in relation
to those who were waiting to have an audience with him -- and he milked it
for all it was worth. Sucking his teeth, he held out his hand for my
documents and demanded to see the money. Then he triumphantly dismissed me
by telling me I was missing my original birth certificate.

It was now 11.30am. I rushed home and quickly returned with the missing
documents, making a detour to Room 108 to get photocopies. Z$600-million
later I was handed two poor-quality copies with which I rushed to Room 6.
"Mr Important" then signed my copies and sent me to another window where I
was to pay US$20 for an application form and get a receipt, at which time Mr
Important would hand me another form. Back home I filled out this form and
enjoyed a restless night in anticipation of Day 2.

Day 2. I arrived as the office doors were opening and joined the anxious
crowd. Security made everyone queue according to the room they needed to go
to. Room 6 was ushered in first. Mr Important hardly looked at my documents
as he scribbled and then ordered me to go to Room 8.

There I encountered a stagnant line: the computer system was down. We were
handed numbers and told to go and wait outside; we would be called once the
system was back up. Half of the hundreds of milling people abandoned ship. I
stayed and waited with the other half in a room plastered wall to wall with
old files -- the documents of many long gone.

Speculating on what might be wrong with the computers, we settled on the
filth caked on the machines -- perhaps the answer to our problems was just a
thorough cleaning away. Waiting, a few mamas read self-improvement books and
joked lightly with the officials. An Indian couple grabbed every official in
sight demanding to know why the machines were down. A few overweight,
red-faced farmers went in and out of rooms, looking frustrated behind a
security guard who walked with an assumed authority.

Someone jokingly urged an officer to give the computers another try and
surprisingly that worked. Thanks to those who had abandoned ship, Room 8
swiftly punched my information into the computer, fingerprinted me, glued on
my pictures and stamped them.

Then I had to go to another window to pay at last for my passport. There I
took a number (23) and waited. The officials were "having tea" behind the
shuttered window. When they eventually resumed work, the numbers were in the
40s. Officials wrote down the serial number of every banknote handed to
them; we were looking at US$650 for every person, so this was going to be an
agonising wait. I got comfortable in the queue and started talking about the
good old days with the others. Most were renewing expired passports for
relatives who had left Zimbabwe for greener pastures.

As my turn neared, a man approached and offered to pay me if I would process
his passport with mine. Embarrassed and surprised, I politely declined and
looked away towards the six-foot banner splashed with Mugabe's grinning
image proclaiming that the land was mine.

At the window I paid up and was handed a green receipt and directed to Room
4. There I joined another queue and in time met a man behind a Dell computer
spitting into his phone about some clandestine meeting. He did not seem to
notice me, carelessly checked my documents against what he had in his
computer and told me to come back on seven working days. It turned out he
really meant two weeks.

Cathrene Tarukwasha is a self-employed personal assistant for busy
individuals, speaks five languages, was educated in the United States and
spent much of her adult life in Shanghai, China. She recently returned to
Zimbabwe and now lives in Harare

Zimbabwe Oh My Zimbabwe

http://www.filmmaker.co.za/


Angel Films in conjunction with the American Federation of Teachers is
proud to have been awarded the First Award: winner of the Saul Miller Award
for Documentary/Social Issues by the International Labor Communications
Association.

The Media award ceremony will be held at the ILCA Conference in
Pittsburgh on September 12th.

ZIMBABWE, OH MY ZIMBABWE

Producer/ director: Ingrid Gavshon
Executive Producer: Pat Keefer
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT

The film follows plight of Zimbabwean teachers after they were
targeted for their role in monitoring the second elections. Through their
stories the film tells of the rise and fall of President Robert Mugabe, who
played a key role in ending colonial rule and liberating his people, and was
initially hailed as a modern day savior and national hero. But that
collapsed. Mugabe and his Zanu-PF political party brought Zimbabwe to its
knees. Its citizens had been forced to flee; the former breadbasket of
Africa had no food, no jobs, and little or no democracy. Conditions in the
country deteriorated and tensions grew as teachers who had acted as election
officials were targeted, tortured, beaten, murdered, and disappeared. This
is their story.

The director Ingrid Gavshon is an award winning, executive producer
and director who established Angel Films in 1996. The company specialises in
producing high quality international and local factual programmes.

Angel Films
Ingrid.gavshon@gmail.com

Bill Watch 28 of 15th August 2009 [Media Commission Update]

Bill Watch Special of 18th August 2009 [Parliamentary Committee Meetings This Week]

BILL WATCH SPECIAL

[18th August 2009]

Parliamentary Committee Meetings Open to the Public on 18th and 20th August

Note: Members of the public wishing to attend any of these meetings are
advised to telephone Parliament first [on 700181], to check with the
appropriate committee clerk.

Tuesday 18th August at 10 am

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Water, Lands and Resettlement

Oral evidence from seed house and fertilizer company

Committee Room No. 4

Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and
International Trade

Review of Budget from Ministry of Regional Integration and
International Trade.

Oral evidence from Secretary for Regional Integration.

Committee Room No. 3

Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce

Oral evidence from Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Committee Room No. 311

Thematic Committee on Millennium Development Goals

Oral evidence from Ministry of Labour and Social Services

Committee Room No. 1

Thursday 20th August at 10 am

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Gender and Community Development

Meeting with Research and Advocacy Unit

Committee Room No. 3

Other Committee Activities This Week

The Senate Thematic Committee on Human Rights is attending a workshop on
Human Rights at Kadoma from 18th to 20th August.

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot
take legal responsibility for information supplied.