Zimbabwe's Central Bank to lay off 85 per cent of staff: minister

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

Aug 29, 2010, 15:39 GMT

Harare - Zimbabwe's bankrupt central bank is to retrench 85 per cent of its
bloated staff complement to help it move back into the black and function as
a reliable national bank, according to Finance Minister Tendai Biti.

The layoffs will mark the end of what analysts say was the use of the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to prop up President Robert Mugabe's party
after years of misrule exhausted the country's finances and led to economic
collapse in 2008.

'There are about 2,600 employees at the bank but the board will reduce the
staff to around 400,' Biti was quoted as saying in the state-run Sunday Mail
newspaper.

He said the slashing of staff was the result of new legislation to restrict
the bank's operations to managing monetary policy, monitoring the banking
industry and to act as lender of last resort.

The changes at the bank are among the few major agreements to have been
carried out under Zimbabwe's 18-month-old coalition government between
Mugabe and former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now prime minister.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accuses Mugabe's Zanu-PF
party of stalling on other promised democratic reforms.

Biti confirmed that the RBZ, under governor Gideon Gono, owed 1.1 billion US
dollars, for which it has been forced by creditors to sell assets. The debt
rendered much its new mandate 'academic for the moment,' he said.

Under Gono, the bank confiscated hundreds of millions of US dollars from the
accounts of major companies and non-governmental organizations. The money
used to pay for handouts to Zanu-PF party members, and to buy vehicles,
tractors, fuel and other goods which were distributed to party faithful
before elections.

To maintain the spending, Gono had money printed as fast as the bank presses
could produce, resulting finally in inflation of 500 billion per cent and
the abolition of the national currency last year.

Blair secretly courted Mugabe to boost trade

http://www.independent.co.uk

By Robert Verkaik, Home Affairs Editor

Monday, 30 August 2010

Tony Blair secretly courted Robert Mugabe in an effort to win lucrative
trade deals for Britain, it has emerged in correspondence released to The
Independent under the Freedom of Information Act. The documents show that
the relationship between New Labour and the Zimbabwean President blossomed
soon after Tony Blair took office in Downing Street.

Just weeks after the Government unveiled its ethical foreign policy in May
1997, the British PM wrote a personal letter to Mr Mugabe congratulating him
on his role in unifying Africa and helping to improve relations between the
continent and Britain. The signed message, which welcomed Mr Mugabe's
appointment as leader of the Organisation of African Unity, paved the way
for an attempt to bring the two leaders together in a face-to-face meeting
in Downing Street during the first weeks of the New Labour administration.

Revelations about Labour's early links with Mr Mugabe come as Mr Blair
prepares to publish his autobiography in which he casts himself as a force
for good in world affairs.

But the secret documents show how, despite international condemnation of Mr
Mugabe's regime, Labour was secretly negotiating to establish close trading
and political relations with Harare. At this time, Mr Mugabe was under
growing pressure to accept responsibility for "crimes against humanity" in
which thousands of Matabeleland civilians were killed by the Zimbabwe army's
Fifth Brigade in 1983-87.

Proof of President Mugabe's intent came in October that year when the two
leaders finally met at the Commonwealth summit in Edinburgh. Mr Mugabe told
Mr Blair that he wanted Britain to fund his land reforms in which half a
million hectares of white-owned farmland were to be redistributed among
black farmers.

But, weeks earlier, a Foreign Office briefing to Mr Blair argued the
advantages of meeting the African President outweighed human rights
concerns.

In a letter dated 11 June the Foreign Office urged the Prime Minister to
accede to Mr Mugabe's request for an official visit to Downing Street. The
memo reads: "This may be a useful opportunity for an exchange of views in
advance of CHOGM [the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]. After South
Africa, Zimbabwe is the most important country in southern Africa to us both
commercially and politically. Despite domestic criticism arriving from
recent financial scandals, and his failure so far to respond to renewed
serious allegations by Zimbabwean NGOs of his involvement in atrocities in
Matabeleland in the early 1980s, Mr Mugabe remains a senior African and
Commonwealth figure with whom there would be advantage in establishing early
close relations. We recommend that the Prime Minister sees him if his
programme permits."

No 10 wrote back to the Foreign Office saying that Mr Blair could not make
the date suggested by Mr Mugabe. A second Foreign Office letter later urges
Mr Blair to hold the meeting in September. But this time Mr Blair's
commitments prevented the two leaders meeting.

In the run-up to the Commonwealth conference, Mr Mugabe was optimistic about
forging closer ties with Britain. "I have great hopes of Tony Blair," he
said. "Mrs Thatcher described me as a terrorist but Tony Blair is
different."

How it all changed

Mugabe on Blair

2000: Blair's administration is "the gay government of the gay United
Kingdom" after Peter Tatchell attempted a citizen's arrest on him

October 2005: "The voice of Mr Bush and the voice of Mr Blair can't decide
who shall rule in Zimbabwe, who shall rule in Africa, who shall rule in
Asia, who shall rule in Venezuela, who shall rule in Iran, who shall rule in
Iraq."

March 2010: "Conservatives are bold, Blair and Brown run away when they see
me, but not these fools, they know how to relate to others. We have a better
chance with David Cameron."

Blair on Mugabe

2001: "True democracy, no more excuses for dictatorship, abuses of human
rights; no tolerance of bad governance, from the endemic corruption of some
states, to the activities of Mr Mugabe's henchmen in Zimbabwe."

March 2002, on Mugabe's treason charges against Morgan Tsvangirai: "I think
most people realise that these types of charges that are being put up there
in the course of an election campaign are deeply, deeply suspect and the
truth is that Mugabe is prepared to do virtually anything in order to cling
on to power.

July 2009: "I think whoever has the possibility should topple Mugabe - the
man has destroyed his country, many people have died unnecessarily because
of him."

TZI calls for new Anti-Corruption Commission

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Guthrie Munyuki
Sunday, 29 August 2010 16:21

HARARE - Corruption  watchdog, Transparency Zimbabwe International (TZI) has
implored the inclusive government to appoint a new Anti Corruption
Commission   to see the conclusion of corruption cases that have been
reported but are yet to be prosecuted.

In its latest monthly report, TZI said the lapse of the former commission
has left a gap which needs to be filled to expedite the cases brought before
the previous commission.

"Abuse of employees by the irresponsible companies and widespread bribery
and extortion could be dealt with if punishment for corruption is  a
sufficient deterrent and the judiciary discharges its role with
impartiality.

"Consequently, TZI advises the inclusive government  to expedite  the
appointment of a new Anti Corruption Commission following the lapse of the
terms of current commissioners so that the massive corruption cases reported
are investigated  and the perpetrators  prosecuted accordingly," said TZI.

The failure to appoint the new commission is a violation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) which led to the formation of a unity government
between President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minster Morgan Tsvangirai and his
deputy, Arthur Mutambara.

After the formation of the inclusive government on 13 February 2009, the
three parties to the GPA agreed to institute media, human rights, electoral
and the anti corruption reforms.

All the commissions dealing with the four key sectoral issues have been
appointed but the Anti Corruption Commission is yet to be sworn in, four
months after its appointment.

"In the same vein, it is important for policy  makers in government to note
that a weak economy precipitates the spread of corruption and as such,
economic recovery and massive capital injections coupled by transparent
systems are indispensable to the eradication of corruption in Zimbabwe,"
noted TZI.

Mugabe approved the severance packages of the outgoing commissioners in
April but nothing has materialised to this date.

During its tenure, the Anti Corruption Commission, kept its findings under
wraps and there was no high profile cases involving senior Zanu PF officials
that were brought before the courts.

Some of the commissioners have anonymously said their colleagues with links
to Zanu PF have concealed damning  evidence which could be used in future
prosecutorial discharge.

Critics still argue that there were many cases of corruption involving Zanu
PF bigwigs that were recorded by the Anti Corruption Commissions but there
has not been any political will to prosecute the cases.

Among the cases that are yet to be dealt with finality are the looting of
assets and money at Ziscosteel, the allegations and claims made by the
Harare City Council against flamboyant businessman - Phillip Chiyangwa and
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo - that are both alleged to have
fraudulently acquired vast tracts of land belonging to the city fathers.

Both Chiyangwa and Chombo have denied any wrong-doing in the transactions in
which Chiyangwa's company - Kilima Investments -   bought the land in Harare's
prime areas and nearby farms.

Chiyangwa's case is yet to be prosecuted despite complaints by the HCC who,
in a dramatic turn of events, has its councillors who probed him, arraigned
before the courts for allegedly criminally defaming him.

MDC-T threatens ‘No Vote’ campaign

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

30 August, 2010 01:29:00    FELUNA NLEYA/MOSES MATENGA

MDC-T has threatened a “No Vote” campaign if the proposed constitution does
not reflect the will of the people.

The party also blamed Sadc for not being tough on Zanu PF in addressing
outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement.

Party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told hundreds of party supporters at a
rally in Chitungwiza Sunday that MDC-T was not happy with the ongoing
process, citing intimidation and violence against villagers in most parts of
the country.

Chamisa said the Constitution Select Committee (Copac)’s handling of
information dissemination and the state media’s treatment of the
constitution-making process were a cause for concern.

“We are not happy with Copac’s information dissemination and the public
media’s blackout of this important process,” Chamisa said.

“Elections have to come after the necessary reform processes that include
the drafting of a new constitution. We are expecting a constitution, but we
are not happy with the way things are being handled. If the new constitution
does not reflect the will of the people, we will reject it. We will only
accept constitutions that reflect the will of the people.”

“There are things we agreed on with Zanu PF that are not being implemented.
There are issues we are not in agreement with at all that include Reserve
Bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana. We are not
against them as individuals but how they were imposed on those positions
without consultations in the inclusive government,” Chamisa said.

“There is also the issue of the swearing-in of Roy Bennett as Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and the continuation of unilateral decisions by Zanu
PF in appointing public figures.”

Chamisa also took a swipe at the state media for failing to carry out its
mandate of informing Zimbabweans on the constitution-making process.

“There are no debates on national television. We should be having such,
after the main news. We should get into debates on the constitution and that
is what we want. The youths should say what they want in the constitution,
women and men should do the same, but there is no platform for that to
happen.

What we only see are partisan jingles,” he said referring to the Zanu PF
jingles being flighted on television.

He said people should freely express themselves during the process and
should not be coached on what to say.

Chamisa said the sole broadcaster (ZBC) was still behaving like a Zanu PF
mouthpiece instead of being a voice of the people.

“They are playing Zanu PF jingles every day. We have our own jingles and if
they want to be fair they should play our jingles as well.”

The issue of provincial governors, he said, remained of concern in the
inclusive government as Zanu PF was shifting goalposts on the agreed
position.

“Their governors’ term expired on July 31 and we waited for that. Now they
say governors will be sworn in simultaneously with the removal of sanctions.
We were not there when they were doing things that made them get those
sanctions,” he said. “We are trying to help them cleanse themselves,” he
said.

He also told the gathering of the new party card MDC-T president Morgan
Tsvangirai launched last week urging party members to secure the card as
MDC-T was in a massive restructuring exercise.

MDC-T has joined other groups that have threatened a “No Vote” campaign. The
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and the Zimbabwe National Students
Union have already concluded that the process was flawed and have threatened
to lead a “No Vote” campaign against an outcome that does not reflect people’s
wishes.

NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku recently urged youths to reject the flawed
process as it would not reflect the will of the people.

“When you see the Copac people at your colleges, kick them out because it’s
your future at stake and you have to defend it,” he said. Cases of
intimidation were rife in rural areas with war veterans threatening
villagers who want to freely express themselves.

This is the second major attempt by Zimbabwe to come up with a new
constitution after the “No Vote” of 2000 stopped the process.

The current constitution, which came into being in 1980, has been amended 19
times. - News Day

Learn from Kenyan experience: ZESN

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Vusimuzi Bhebhe
Sunday, 29 August 2010 12:58

HARARE - The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) says Zimbabwe should
draw important lessons from Kenya's peaceful and orderly constitution-making
process which culminated in this month's referendum that passed the country's
new charter. (Pictured: Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga - Zimbabweans
urged to emulate the example set by the east African nation on
constitutional reform)
ZESN said the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) and Zimbabwe's
leadership should emulate the Kenyan experience in terms of administrative
arrangements and political commitment to seeing a transparent and smooth
process leading to the drafting of the new charter and the accompanying
referendum. "There was a strong political will to follow the provisions of
the legal framework that had been put in place for the review process.
ZESN noted that all stakeholders were consulted in all processes," said the
group of Zimbabwean election observers which sent a team to monitor Kenya's
August 4 referendum. It called for constant dialogue and collaboration
between COPAC, civic society and the media to ensure the process is open to
scrutiny. Citing the case of Kenya where civil society groups set up
violence early warning systems, ZESN said cooperation among all stakeholders
would significantly reduce incidents of violence and intimidation
experienced during the ongoing exercise to gather public views on the
proposed constitution.
Cases of politically motivated violence and intimidation have escalated
since June when the country embarked on an outreach programme to draft a new
"people-driven" constitution. The MDC-T led by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai says assaults on its officials and supporters have intensified
across the country in the past two months. The party accused President
Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) of activating the same machinery used during past
elections to intimidate opposition officials and supporters.
The machinery includes soldiers, Central Intelligence Organisation
operatives, the police, traditional chiefs, the youth militia and
local thugs who are paid for each assignment.

Mugabe sets up military state

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

Written by Vusimuzi Bhebhe
Saturday, 28 August 2010 13:54

HARARE - The appointment of serving and retired soldiers to various
committees to oversee implementation of Zimbabwe's controversial company
ownership law has once again exposed President Robert Mugabe's determination
to establish a de facto military state amid fears that the indigenisation
scheme is another facade to enrich Zanu (PF) cronies. (Pictured: Mugabe)
Top military officials and other Mugabe allies dominated committees recently
announced by Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to help the
government set percentages of shareholding foreign-owned companies in
different sectors of the economy must transfer to locals. The decision to
set varying empowerment thresholds for each sector was adopted about two
months ago, in a major shift from an earlier requirement that foreign firms
cede 51 percent shareholding to local
blacks.
In a move that has become all too familiar in Zimbabwe since 2000, Mugabe
appointed retired army officers Gibson Mashingaidze and Mike Karakadzai to
sit on some of the committees that will determine how much foreign
shareholders will be required to transfer to locals. Other pro-Mugabe
supporters appointed to the committees included the acerbic presidential
spokesman George Charamba, Affirmative Action Group President Supa
Mandiwanzira and controversial Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga
Kaseke.

Increasingly paranoid
But it is the appointment of the retired army officers that raised eyebrows.
Both men - together with another retired army officer Brigadier-General
Douglas Nyikayaramba - appear to feature prominently in Mugabe's
militarisation scheme.
Mashingaidze is the current head of the Zimbabwe Sports and Recreation
Commission and sits on the board of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
He allegedly participated in violence-marred June 2008 presidential run-off
campaign together with Major General Rugeje when they headed the Masvingo
provincial team that masterminded attacks on Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's supporters. Karakadzai is head of the struggling National
Railways of Zimbabwe. An increasingly paranoid Mugabe has become reliant on
the military for political survival over the past few years.
The veteran Zimbabwean leader has over the past few years appointed serving
as well as retired members of the armed forces to take charge of almost
every sector, including the running of elections. For example, the immediate
past chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission that runs polls, George
Chiweshe, was a former judge advocate general in the army and was appointed
to the High Court in 2001 after Mugabe purged the bench of independent
judges. He took charge of the commission in 2005 until the appointment of a
new body early this year.
Other former military officers appointed to head key state firms and
institutions included former Attorney General Sobuza Gula-Ndebele who is an
ex-military intelligence officer and retired colonel Samuel Muvuti who
headed the state's Grain Marketing Board (GMB) until 2007.

Veto power
The GMB is often accused by human rights groups of refusing food aid to
opposition supporters as punishment for not backing Mugabe. The army has
been in control of food distribution for several years now via control of
GMB sales depots, the only source of affordable maize in rural areas. Most
of the former military personnel participated in Zimbabwe's 1970s
war of independence and have vowed unwavering loyalty to Mugabe, who at 86
years is one of Africa's oldest leaders.
The appointments mean that the army is effectively in charge of food
distribution, transport, industry and trade, sport and finance.
Through the notorious Joint Operations Command (JOC), the army also controls
Zimbabwe's defence, state security, home affairs and foreign affairs. The
military therefore controls the finances in one way or the other and
dictates the country's foreign policy. That explains why a number of
military men are on diplomatic missions. Retired Major General Jevan Maseko
is Zimbabwe's ambassador to Cuba while retired Brigadier-General Elisha
Muzonzini heads the mission in Kenya.
Hardline Zimbabwean army generals have refused to publicly recognise the
inclusive government's authority, especially former opposition leader - now
Prime Minister - Tsvangirai's role. The hardline generals - who include
Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga, police commission
general Augustine Chihuri and Central Intelligence Organisation deputy
director general Maynard Muzariri - are believed to hold a de facto veto
over the transition process by taking advantage of their positions and
symbiotic relationship with Mugabe.
The cabal of powerful generals, with the support of elements in Zanu (PF),
still believes that Tsvangirai should not be permitted to lead the country,
even if he wins an election.

Chombo on the warpath

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Vusimuzi Bhebhe
Saturday, 28 August 2010 13:50

HARARE - Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo (Pictured) has launched a
two-pronged attack on the MDC-T aimed at decimating town councils controlled
by the party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai while also silencing
Harare city fathers accusing him of corruption.
In a series of events reminiscent of the April 2003 suspensi on by Chombo of
former Harare executive mayor Elias Mudzuri, the combative minister last
Tuesday suspended seven Harare MDC-T councillors on allegations of illegally
"evicting widows and orphans from council houses with the intention of
converting them to their own use".
This brought to 12 the number of MDC-T councillors suspended by Chombo
inside two days after another five Rusape Town Council officials were
ordered to vacate office by the minister last Monday on allegations of
mismanagement. Six other MDC-T councillors from Bindura are also either on
suspension or have been dismissed since last year on allegations of
corruption. The MDC-T last week accused Chombo of abusing provisions of the
Urban Councils Act which is  administered by his ministry to cow its
councillors who are investigating the minister on allegations of corruption.
"The latest suspensions are nothing but part of Chombo's grand political
plot to stop Harare councillors from investigating him and Zanu (PF)'s
Phillip Chiyangwa after they looted prime council land in Harare," the MDC-T
said in a statement.
The MDC-dominated Harare City Council earlier this year launched a probe
into alleged underhand dealings involving the acquisition of residential
land in the capital by Chombo and Chiyangwa - both close relatives of
President Robert Mugabe.
The two politicians, however, immediately ordered the police to arrest the
councillors behind a damning report detailing the alleged corruption which
also sucked in some senior council employees.
"The MDC calls for the immediate arrest of Chombo and Chiyangwa for stealing
council land. Chombo has no right to suspend the councillors who are
investigating him for his corrupt activities," said the MDC-T. Chombo has
also allegedly blocked several investigations in Kwekwe, Chinhoyi and
Chegutu that are being carried out by the councils on senior Zanu (PF)
officials who corruptly acquired council land. Ironically the minister has
apparently rewarded a group of former
MDC-T councillors from Chitungwiza by protecting them from dismissal after
their party called for their removal from office over corruption.
Tsvangirai's party also accused Chombo of trying to reduce its dominance of
urban councils by firing elected councillors and replacing them with
hand-picked commissioners or sneaking in Zanu (PF) sympathisers under the
guise of "special interest" appointments. "We strongly reject Chombo's
continued machinations to further the interests of Zanu (PF), which was
overwhelmingly rejected by the voters in March 2008," it said.
Chombo succeeded in hounding former Harare mayor Mudzuri in 2003 after
manufacturing allegations of mismanagement by the then newly appointed
MDC-led local authority. He immediately replaced Mudzuri with former deputy
mayor Sekesai
Makwavarara who was herself later fired for incompetency.

Rights activist wants abductors exposed

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Corespondent Monday 30 August 2010

HARARE - Prominent Zimbabwean human rights defender Jestina Mukoko wants the
High Court to unmask law enforcement agents behind her sensational abduction
and torture in 2008 as she seeks to have her kidnappers and torturers
brought to justice.

Mukoko, the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, is suing four cabinet
ministers and top police officers for the anguish she suffered as a result
of the abduction, wrongful arrest and torture when she was forcibly removed
from her Norton home in December 2008.

In an application filed with the Harare High Court, Mukoko is claiming $200
000 damages from former State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa, Defence
Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi and
former co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa.

She is also suing Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, Chief
Superintendent Peter Magwenzi and Brigadier-General Asher Walter
Tapfumaneyi.

In addition to the damages, the former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
news anchor also wants the four ministers and top police officers to reveal
the names of the law enforcement agents who abducted her.

Her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa wants the ministers and the police bosses to
furnish her with the "full particulars of each law enforcement agent
involved in the alleged arrest of the plaintiff (Mukoko), including the
name, rank, address and organisation to which he/she is attached."

The ministers' lawyers have challenged the torture allegations, saying she
was lawfully arrested.

This has prompted Mtetwa to demand that the defendants disclose the "lawful
holding facility" where her client was taken to after her alleged arrest.

She also wants the ministers and the senior police officers to disclose
"under whose custody" the human rights campaigner was detained during the
period 3 December, 2008 to 22 December 2008.

Mukoko was abducted by state security agents in December 2008 and held
incommunicado in secret detention centres until the end of December when she
was produced at a police station and subsequently in court.

Mukoko was accused of recruiting persons to commit terrorism and banditry,
including the recruitment of insurgents to train in Botswana for an alleged
armed uprising against President Robert Mugabe's previous government.

ZBC fails to pay World Cup panel

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Saturday, 28 August 2010 20:44

A STORM is brewing between the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and
their studio panel for the 2010 Fifa World Cup following failure to pay them
two months after the global football jamboree. The country's sole
broadcaster had a panel of over 15 people including anchors and analysts.
The panel was made up of John Phiri, Wellington Mpandare, Charlie Jones,
Bheki Nyoni and Tawanda Marime, Hope Chizuzu and Philimon Mhlanga.

Veteran broadcasters Admire Taderera, Charles Mabika, Lovemore Banda, Mike
Madhodha, Barry Manandi, Ian Zvoma, Howard Musonza were the anchors.

Free State Stars defender James Matola also made one appearance on the set
during the Netherlands and Japan group stage match.
One of the panellists told Standardsport they were yet to receive their
allowances referred in broadcasting as "author and artists" (AA).
The panelists were each promised US$70 for each sitting, during the football
jamboree that ran from June 11 to July 11 in South Africa. The panellists
stood to rake an average US$700 each.

"Before the World Cup we entered a verbal agreement with Wellington Nyoni
( SportNet executive producer) and they said they were going give us $70 on
each sitting," the panellist said on condition of anonymity.

"Since the World Cup ended we have been waiting patiently, but nothing has
materialised and we keep on getting empty promises from ZBC.
"We gave them some breathing space at the end of July thinking that they
were still sorting out their books.

"Now it is the end of August they have not said anything. When you phone
them they will just tell you we are sorting it out."

Asked why they entered into verbal contracts with the corporation the
panellist said they have "mutual relations" with the country's sole
broadcaster.
"Over the years we have been offering our services for free, but this year
ZBC's coverage of the World Cup was being sponsored by Econet," he said.

A source at Pockets Hill said the station received a substantial amount from
Econet the country's biggest cellular services provider. The live broadcast
was branded with Econet flagship Buddie. The company also flighted
advertisements. The panellists also donned branded shirts.

"ZBC got their money from sponsors a long time ago and we are now wondering
why they are taking so long to pay us.
"We were using our own resources and fuel going to Pockets Hill thinking
that we would recover that money once they pay us."

ZBC spokesman Sivukile Simango was livid when contacted yesterday asking why
the panellists had approached the media without exhausting all channels
within the corporation.

"The Standard or the Zimbabwe Independent is not going to pay them anything;
only ZBC is going to pay them," Simango said.
"Complaining to newspapers will not do them any good they know where to go.

"My comment is that those people who came to you must know where to go if
they have a problem with ZBC.
"ZBC has got management for television and radio services, it also has the
chief executive officer. They can go to any of these people rather than to
go to newspapers."

BY NIGEL MATONGORERE

Chinese firms take to Africa like bushfire

SADC behaviour in Zimbabwe irresponsible: communities point

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/

29th Aug 2010 23:50 GMT

By Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa

ONCE again the Southern African Development Community seems to be losing its
footing on Zimbabwe. Its continued obsession with "sanctions" and clear
negation of issues affecting the lives of Zimbabweans questions the
sincerity of SADC as a bloc to solve the situation in Zimbabwe once and for
all.

The issues in Zimbabwe do not start with "targeted sanctions" or "sanctions"
however one would want to name them. Those measures are in themselves a
reaction, they followed an event and it is that event that still remains
unsolved.

They followed the stolen Presidential Elections of 2002 which thanks to SADC's
inertia were repeated in 2008 this time with fatal consequences.

The nation state in Zimbabwe paralysed itself first by allowing a culture of
the commission of atrocities in post-independence Zimbabwe and second by
allowing impunity over those crimes which have been viewed as a reward for
the continued perpetration.

For SADC to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on this behaviour of ZANU PF in
particular and fail to insist on an inquiry into those atrocities and then
try to blame it all on sanctions does not read the mood in Zimbabwe
correctly. SADC does not seem to see the movement towards the radicalisation
of some opposition forces in Zimbabwe with others even calling for a
separate homeland in Matabeleland and a slowly building consensus
particularly in the Diaspora for a more engaging effort against ZANU PF.
SADC's failure to understand the fact that ZANU PF is continuing to act as a
bully especially after they lost the 2008 General Elections and went into a
bloody campaign again which SADC has failed to question alienates
Zimbabweans with the fatal consequence of allowing a new breed of radical
politics to emerge in Zimbabwe.

Our fear is that ZANU PF may feel encouraged to continue on the same path
should they lose any future elections and Zimbabweans, unconvinced that SADC
is there for them may end up resorting to an armed campaign with disastrous
consequences for the region. It must be stated that SADC may have the
capacity to sit down and defend ZANU PF whenever and whatever but they may
not be able to contain the anger of Zimbabweans determined to put an end to
ZANU PF by whatever means. There is a good dividend for them to be seen to
be credible and we urge SADC to push the Government of Zimbabwe in the
following:

1. An inquiry into the post 2008 Elections violence and the bringing of
perpetrators to justice.

2. A fresh inquiry into Gukurahundi atrocities and the bringing of the
perpetrators to justice so as to bring the issue to its final closure.

3. An inquiry into the liberation war atrocities especially Nyadzonia,
Mkushi, Mulungushi, Tembwe and Chimoyo and the bringing of the perpetrators
to justice and obtain a final closure.

4. Urge an audit on the land reform and since the whole programme was not
restitution as in essence it replaced white commercial farmers with black
commercial farmers SADC must insist on a formula for the compensation of the
previous farmers and the payment of redundant costs for former farm
labourers by the new owners of the land.

Zimbabwe yearns for justice and SADC's seemingly conspiring inertia is not
helping but fanning fires in a country seating on the edge of recovery or
boiling up. COMMUNITIES POINT believes in "Justice before Reconciliation"
and as we are indebted to no-one but Zimbabwe, we believe the starting point
is the atrocities committed by UDI defenders against Zimbabweans during the
liberation struggle. We continue to urge the above not as a witch hunt but
as a way to bring all injustices a final closure and promote a fresh start.

Generation of muggers, murderers?

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/

30th Aug 2010 00:12 GMT

By Chenjerai Chitsaru

THE next time you see a young man give up his seat on the commuter omnibus
to a senior citizen or a mother with a baby strapped on her back, say a
silent prayer of thanksgiving. God has not yet given up in Zimbabwe. He is
still in His heaven.

He must be praised - if you are a Christian.
Even if you are not, that Great Someone to whom you pay homage deserves a
gesture of thanks. Even a tip of your hat - most of these deities don't
demand lavish, extravagant gestures of adulation. They are the soul of
humility.

The Great One continues to guide the young people of Zimbabwe to do good
works - even if some of them seem to have sold their souls to the Devil - in
exchange for something filthy.

The last decade has seen a decline in morals, honesty and the good,
old-fashioned respect for elders and women the country was so proud of. The
aged and the so-called weaker sex have been victims of the decade-long
economic crisis. This has spawned a disregard for them over which the
ancestral spirits might, at some point in time, unleash revenge on the
young.

God Himself might decide to intervene on behalf of the aged and the women.
Woe be to those young people who still regard the aged as useless, worthless
creatures to be stamped underfoot mercilessly, to be thumped to a pulp, to
be deprived of all their dignity and possessions, for no other reason than
that they have been around long enough. They have had a fair wicket of it,
it is said, and must now be eased out, not necessarily with any gentleness,
but with even indecent, hasty dispatch.

The last decade has changed Zimbabwe, almost beyond recognition. The crisis
was wrought by economic and political ineptitude of a particularly
breathtaking magnitude - laced with liberal doses of corruption.

The crisis has nearly destroyed the moral fibre that held together this
nation since 1980. On the outside, the people seem unchanged, to exude the
same good-naturedness they radiated after 1980. But today, give them a
challenge to test their tolerance of others, or the stoutness of their
resistance to temptation, and you will be shocked.

An old man living alone in a high-density suburb of Harare tells of a brutal
night attack by two young hoodlums - they qualify for that sobriquet for
what they did to him.

"They said they knew I had children in the Diaspora," he said. "They said
the kids sent me money almost regularly. I was loaded, they said. They said
they wanted some of the money because they didn't have any. They advised me
not to resist.

They had recently killed another old man who had, as they said, 'give us lip'.
So, be warned, they said."

By this time, his shirt stuck to his skin because of the blood streaming
from his head, the target of a savage bashing with a piece of firewood by
one of the men. He said he didn't beg for mercy.

"I just looked at them with what I thought was a mixture of loathing and
pity. I didn't say a word, until they were leaving. They had come across
some money from my pockets. It wasn't much and none of it was from the
Diaspora.

"And you are the so-called Born Free?" I asked.
"The Born Free?" one of them asked. "What's that?"
"You were born into independence.free."
"You call this free? Old man.Is this freedom, when you have to kill old men
like you, to give our lives any meaning, to sustain ourselves? Born free?
More like born cursed.Oh, here, Have your money back! Who needs it from an
old man? We'll try someone younger, someone loaded with loot.one of those
government people. They always have money from the sale of gold diamonds
rhino horns, ivory other things."

So, he says, they threw his crumpled US$10 notes at him. Then they were all
three silent, not looking at each other in shame?.

"Who do you believe, of all our heroes, should have lived like for ever?
Chaminuka, Nehanda, Kaguvi, Chitepo, Nkomo?" he asked, out of the blue. The
two men stared, first at each other, incomprehension turning their faces
into those of idiots. Then they turned to him.

"Who are those dead people?" one of them asked.
He looked at them curiously. "How far did you go.education-wise?"

"Ah.. A levels." one of them said
"Assholes. I suppose," he said under his breath. "What I mean is: If you
cannot remember who those people were, then what do you know about our
history? The Chimurenga wars, Gukurahundi, the Unity Accord Murambatsvina,
things like that?"
There was a dead silence. It was as if the two young men, having sized up
the old man, had decided there was no hope for the dialogue achieving much
that was beneficial to the three of them, unless they set out the rules of
engagement.

"You live in the past, Old Man," one of them said finally, with quiet
deadliness. "The past is important, mind you. It can guide us to the
 future."

"But we have to be careful not to let it preoccupy us to the extent of
ignoring the present or the future," said the other young men. "The present
is the Internet, the future is Space not for us in Africa, perhaps, but we
will be caught up in it too. Did you know they are trying to study how
people can live longer - longer than they do right now? Live like forever?
Medical science is probing how death can be eliminated. altogether from
life. Have you heard of this?"

The old man says he looked at the two young men with new respect. They were
not so dumb, after all.
"I suppose you have read Brave New World?" he asked. "Aldous Huxley?" one of
them said. "Cover to cover."

"But here you are trying to kill an old man - for what?" he asked, sounding
appropriately incredulous.

Both young men laughed, laconically. "That's how screwed up we are. And it's
all your fault, people like you.

"Why?" he asked.

"You won't let go of the past, will you? You make me sick. You did this and
that to free the country. Okay. But now that it's free, what are doing for
it? Looting it? Oh, yes, you let us pick up the crumbs, after you have
finished with the main course of fillet mignon.You get the bigger share. We
should be thankful for that, should we? Look at us." They pointed to their
clothes: not entirely threadbare, but not new either.

"We did finish at A level. Why are we unemployed? You might well ask. Where
are the jobs? Where is the foreign investment?

In the newspapers, yes, they announce this and that country promised to pour
in this or that amount into the country. But on the ground, it's a haze, a
mist, a mirage. Can you ask a mirage for a job? As a what? A mirage minder?
There are jobs like that?"

"Someone is getting that loot, not us," said the other young man. "We are
trying to get our share.somehow. It's terrible that we have to knock a few
heads, including your white-haired one.'

"It's humiliating, soul-destroying," said the other.

"You feel humiliated when you knock down an old man because you believe he
has a lot of cash, sent to him by his children in the Diaspora? It makes you
feel embarrassed? Come on, give me a break! You just boasted of having
killed someone.Is that something for which you feel sorry, apologetic
 about?"

The room was still. It was the old man's bedroom, with a genuine four-poster
bed, a rug with the motif of a raging bull and a faded poster of the great
Humphrey Bogart-Ingrid Bergman classic, Casablanca.

They laughed. The old man was aghast, before they dropped themselves on the
bed. "That was just talk, talk and more talk.We never killed anyone."
"Really?" gasped the old man. "You look as if you kill old men for a
 living."

"Like the politicians, we too can put on an act. a great show. They put on
this act of doing everything for the country, working their backsides off
for the sake of the country.

Meanwhile, what are they really doing? Fleecing the country."

"But there are young people who have done this for real. They've mugged and
murdered old men, raped old women. That is the reality, surely?"

The old man said he was feeling a little befuddled. What was the reality?

What was the real situation in his beloved country? Were young people
turning into muggers and murderers?

Who were the real muggers, the murderers?
When he turned to look at the two young men, he saw they were nodding,
rather smugly. "You can see what a complex situation we are in - right? Who
is the real villain here?"

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 28th August 2010

Halfway through the 30 day period given by SADC to the interim government to resolve their differences there has been no discernible movement and the Vigil doubts there will be. So we are preparing to hold a demonstration on 18^th September to mark the failure of the latest SADC initiative and the second anniversary of the misconceived agreement under which the MDC submitted to Mugabe. 

Vigil members will wear black armbands to mark the occasion in what we intend to be a rebuke to the MDC leadership for their abject betrayal of their faithful supporters. Certainly, as far as the UK is concerned, MDC members have been left bewildered by the failure of Harare to resolve the problem of the dissolved UK and Ireland leadership.  Now we hear stories that Tsvangirai signed up to a crazy proposal to link the appointment of governors to the lifting of targeted sanctions.

Vigil supporters have heard denials of this but on the other hand we have always been puzzled why the MDC agreed two years ago to sign up to the GPA which committed them to call for an end to sanctions and broadcasts by SW Radio Africa and Voice of America. Vigil supporters clearly remember a meeting in London at which we were shown the agreement with this crazy provision. Tsvangirai signed up to it so we can well believe that he will give in to other Zanu PF demands.

Further anxiety about the prospects for democracy in Zimbabwe were prompted by an ominous interview given to Violet Gonda of SW Radio Africa by the departing Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Sten Rylander. See: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/aug27_2010.html#Z18. 

The Vigil responded to an invitation to comment on the interview and here is what we said: “The Vigil is disappointed by Ambassador Rylander’s wimpish remarks. Despite all the evidence of unrelenting abuse of the GPA by Zanu PF, he says he is leaving on 'a note of optimism', that Zimbabwe is 'on the right track', 'space is opening up', the constitution-making process is 'going better than expected', the three parties are 'coming together' and there is 'no stalemate'. Where has Rylander been for the past few years? He is complacent about the stolen elections and blind to the realities.  Mr Rylander says elections next year would be too early. The Vigil's view is that there will always be reasons to postpone elections if Zanu PF abuses are not curbed. On this logic will there ever be elections again? He calls for 'out of the box' thinking - our guess is that this is code for caving into Mugabe. We fear that a similar delusional message has been coming from the British Ambassador.”

It’s a pity My Rylander hasn’t had a word with MDC Senator Mishek Marave who said recently: "Since we joined the Inclusive Government, not a single day has gone by without the police harassing, intimidating and persecuting MDC officials and supporters. The same police force treat us with contempt, disrespect and scorn while showing favouritism and granting special privileges to Zanu PF and its supporters. . . They (Zanu PF) have a free pass to do as they please and are never held accountable. They are simply untouchable."

What depressed Zimbabwe Vigil supporters is that Mr Rylander’s line is remarkably similar to one we have been getting from the British government: “things in Zimbabwe are not perfect but they are getting better, the opposition is part of the government, things are moving forward . . . In other words all you exiles should obey Mr Tsvangirai’s summons and go home and get out of our hair”. As one Vigil supporter said “Thinking outside the box means things are not working in the box”. So we can expect a favourable response to a new appeal by Mr Tsvangirai to lift targeted sanctions before they are renewed next February. But by then Mugabe will probably be in his own box and it will be a different ballgame . . .

Other points

·       Vigil Co-ordinator Dumi Tutani was on a panel at a screening of ‘Mugabe and the White African’ in London on Thursday.  Director Lucy Bailey was very pleased to have a black Zimbabwean’s views.  Dumi stressed that the problems in Zimbabwe were not caused by the white farmers and the land issue but by a corrupt government determined to stay in power at all costs. He received a round of applause at the end of the event.

·       We are grateful to an unidentified passer-by who gave use £20 to support our work.  He does this regularly and doesn’t wait for thanks.

·       Despite our apprehension about possible change in the British government’s policy on returning failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, several Vigil supporters have recently been successful in their applications to remain in the UK.

·       We were glad to be joined today by two long-term members of the Vigil, Gugu Tutani and Agnes Zengeya, both of whom have babies due in October.  We are opening a book on who’s first.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. For the latest ZimVigil TV programme check the link at the top of the home page of our website.  For earlier ZimVigil TV programmes check: http://www.zbnnews.com/home/firingline.

FOR THE RECORD: 153 signed the register.

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.

·       Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children. This documentary will be shown again on BBC 2 on Tuesday 31^st August at 9 pm. 

·       ROHR Liverpool Vigil. Saturday 4^th September from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Church Street (Outside Primark), Liverpool City Centre. For details please contact: Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Trywell Migeri 07956083758, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161. 

·       ROHR Harlow general meeting. Saturday 4^th September from 2 – 6 pm. Venue: St James and St Lukes Church, Perry Road, Harlow CM18 7NP. Contact: Clement 07879123783, Bothwell 07725208657, llyod  07883695970, Paradzai Mapfumo  07915926323.

·       ROHR Woking general meeting. Saturday 4^th September from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Ravens Wood Court, Hillview Road, Woking GU22 7NR. Contact: Isaac Mudzamiri 07774044873, Sithokozile Hlokana 07886203113 or P Mapfumo on 07915926323 / 07932216070.

·       ROHR Manchester general meeting. Saturday 11^th September from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: The Salvation Army Citadel, 71 Grosvenor Road, Manchester, M13 9UB. ROHR Founder, National Chairperson and executive members present. Contact Fenny Nyatsanza 07886310005, P A Karimanzira 07538534375, Charter Madzivanyika 07747141835 or A Mungoyo on 07939913688

·       Ministering to the Diaspora: a case study of Zimbabweans in Britain. Wednesday 15^th September from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. Venue: Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, SS Philip & James Church, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HR. A conference to help identify unique needs, the services Christian organizations are offering and can offer (but are not), identifying what more needs to be done and how this might be achieved, and drawing up a co-ordinated action plan. For more information, contact: Clayton Peel, capeel@ocms.ac.uk or phone 01865 882 42.

·       IOM Live Video Conference with Returnees in Zimbabwe. Wednesday 22^nd September from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm. Venue: International Organisation for Migration, 21 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR. Attendance is free, but registration is required. To confirm your attendance or for more information about the event, please call 020 7808 1083 or email infouk@iom.int.  Lunch will be provided.

·       Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts

·       Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil

·       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.