Robert Mugabe seizes former Rhodesian PM's family farm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Former Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith's farm in central Zimbabwe has
finally been taken from his family by Robert Mugabe's officials.

By Peta Thornycroft, Johannesburg4:00PM GMT 06 Dec 2012

Mr Mugabe's lands ministry has given Gwenoro farm, where Rhodesia's last
white minority leader lived with his family for nearly 50 years, to a small
technical college in Zimbabwe's midlands.

It was on this farm in Shurugwi, about 140 miles south west of Harare, that
Mr Smith's ashes were scattered after his death in Cape Town five years ago.
His long-time farm manager, Owen Jarman, said: "The two adjoining farms were
taken about 10 years ago, but we all hoped this one, the small home farm,
would survive.

"But it didn't and we were told in September we must go and so that is what
we are doing."

Mr Smith bought Gwenoro, which means "place of the kudu", in 1948, the year
he won a parliamentary seat for the Rhodesia Front party which claimed it
would preserve white rule.

Mr Jarman managed the 4,000-acre cattle ranch when the former prime minister
went to live in Harare after his wife died in 1994. Mr Smith left Zimbabwe
after the death of his only child, Alec, in 2006, moving to Cape Town to be
near his stepchildren.

Mr Jarman said he is packing up the farm, trying to sell off some of the
assets such as cattle, and paying retrenchment packages to long-time
workers.
"There are about 10 workers who lived here and worked for Mr Smith for many
years. His former gardener, Moroi Chata has nowhere to go and is very old
and frail and I am appealing to the authorities to provide him with a home."

Mr Smith declared independence from Britain in 1965, leading to a civil war
that ended with a settlement ahead of the first non-racial elections in
1980, won by Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF party.

Some 4,000 white farmers in Zimbabwe have had their land and homes taken by
Mr Mugabe's supporters in seizures that began in 2000.
Mr Jarman said he has told Mr Smith's stepchildren, Robert and Jean, that
the farm has been seized. "They were sad to hear this news," he said, "but
have not been back here since they scattered his ashes."

Zim's Mugabe readies for crunch elections

http://mg.co.za/

06 DEC 2012 07:55 - REAGAN MASHAVAVE

Facing would-be successors and widespread unpopularity, Robert Mugabe hopes
to this week plot a path to victory at Zimbabwe's upcoming elections.

The Zanu-PF's annual conference, which begins on Friday, is the last before
the country's much-anticipated national polls scheduled for next year.

Mugabe, Zimbabwe's leader since independence from Britain 32 years ago,
hopes to use the elections to tighten his grip on power.

The veteran leader is currently locked in a shaky power-sharing government
with longtime rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

And he faces a series of other challenges: the dire state of the country has
made his rule deeply unpopular, and his allies have begun jockeying to
replace the 88-year-old despite the fact that he is officially the party
candidate.

Analysts say Mugabe's party has little to entice voters, and will likely
deliver a populist message of black empowerment, even if his so-called
indigenisation policy aimed at redistributing wealth to black Zimbabweans
has often served the president's cronies more than the country.

"This time their message is centred around indigenisation, but it's
meaningless to the majority of the population struggling to earn a living,"
said Takavafira Zhou, a political analyst from Masvingo State University.

'Self-enrichment for the elite'
The controversial indigenisation law was passed two years ago, forcing all
foreign-owned firms to cede a 51%share to locals in what Mugabe says is a
reversal of imbalances created during colonial rule.

But in fact the programme is about "self-enrichment for the elite in
Zanu-PF," said Earnest Mudzengi, an independent analyst.

Running under the theme "indigenise, empower, develop and create jobs", the
two-day congress will be held at the party's 5 000-seater conference centre
on the outskirts of the central city of Gweru.

The conference comes as the party battles to patch up after factionalism
cost it dearly in the 2008 general elections, where for the first time since
independence in 1980 it lost its majority in Parliament.

Critics say Zanu-PF as a party has run out of fresh ideas.

"Zanu-PF is a sunset political movement which is not forward-moving. They
cannot even discuss critical issues like succession, which is affecting the
party," said Mudzengi.

Implementation
Little new is expected to come out of the conference, which "will likely be
discussing the same old rhetoric of fighting imperialists and preaching
about indigenisation, which they do not have the capacity to implement",
according to Mudzengi.

If free and fair elections are held "under the current state of the economy
and public perception, Zanu-PF will lose", he said.

Analyst Takavafira Zhou said that because the party's chances of victory
"are next to nothing", a repeat of the violence that rocked the 2008
elections is probable.

"It's highly likely that they will manipulate the flawed electoral system
and use violence to force themselves back in office," said Zhou.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo dismissed allegations his party would
resort to violence.

"We are clear of our policy that we do not approve violence," he said.

Securing votes
Gumbo said he is confident the party's policies will deliver electoral
success.

"We have developed policies such as the land reform and indigenisation
policies that we believe will secure votes for us," he said. "Our policies
are sought by ordinary people."

Mugabe was forced into the current coalition government to stop a wave of
violence around the disputed 2008 vote and halt an economic tailspin.
Regional leaders brokered the power-sharing deal to avoid a full-scale
conflict.

The deal also pushed for political, security, electoral and media reforms,
which observers say have been slow in coming and limited in scope.

"We haven't seen reforms in the country, especially in the electoral
sector," said independent analyst Mudzengi, who said the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission is still staffed with Zanu-PF sympathisers.

"The electoral system may be manipulated in favour of Zanu-PF," he said. –
AFP

Zanu PF Prepares For Annual Conference, Skirts Succession

http://www.voazimbabwe.com

Blessing Zulu
05.12.2012

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe chaired his Zanu-PF party’s Politiburo
meeting Wednesday ahead of the official opening of its 13th annual National
People's Conference in the Midlands city of Gweru on Friday.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa told VOA some of the
issues on the agenda include a Central Committee annual report detailing the
activities of the party and the potentially divisive matter of the criteria
for choosing Members of Parliament.

The Politiburo was also deliberating on the state of the unity government,
the constitution-making process and strategies for elections expected to
take place next year.

The Politburo received reports from the party's national political
commissar, Webster Shamu, on the recent elections of provincial chairpersons
in Matabeleland North and Bulawayo.

Authoritative Zanu PF sources said the party cited factionalism for various
problems in Masvingo region.

Its Central Committee is meeting Thursday before deliberations move to the
controversial Chinese-built multi-million dollar conference centre in Gweru.

Zanu PF Youth League secretary for external affairs Tongai Kasukuwere told
VOA that the youth are backing President Mugabe, 88, to remain at the helm
of the party and to contest as their presidential candidate in elections
expected next year despite his advanced age.

Political analyst John Makumbe, who has expressed interest in contesting in
elections on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change party ticket, said the conference is "much ado about nothing" as the
party is not willing to discuss Mr Mugabe's succession.

Mugabe fires supporters for last hurrah

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

06/12/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will this week address Zanu PF’s national conference
in Gweru looking to rouse the party rank and file for a final hurrah as he
readies to fight what would likely be his last election next year.

Zanu PF has since endorsed the 88 year-old to run again in March and aides
say he will tell about 6,000 delegates from around the country that he has
one final mission: keeping his party in power and completing the economic
empowerment of the country’s historically disadvantaged black majority.

Indeed, the possibility that the March poll will likely be Mugabe’s last
gives added significance to the election, especially after long-term rival,
Morgan Tsvangirai, nearly brought the veteran leader’s lengthy stay in power
to an unhappy end in 2008.

The MDC-T leader stunned Mugabe with a solid trouncing in the first round of
the Presidential ballot, before pulling out of the runoff claiming his
supporters were being brutalised by Mugabe's henchmen.

Regional peers then refused to endorse Mugabe’s second round ‘win’ resulting
in the Zanu PF leader being subjected to the ignominy of sharing power with
a man he disparages as a lackey of Western imperialists.

But this time round Zanu PF appears to be pulling all the stops to prevent a
repeat of the 2008 debacle. The party looks to be flash with cash and is
openly flaunting its riches to the annoyance of partners in the coalition
government.

War chest
Mugabe is set to address the party faithful at a newly-built US$6 million
conference centre just outside Gweru. Officials insist that the facility
belongs to the party and dismissed allegations that it was built from
diverted diamond funds.

Said deputy Midlands chairman Larry Mavhima: “This is not a Government
project, but a private project, a Zanu-PF project. We have our right to
privacy and are not accountable to MDC formations or anyone but ourselves.

“That (diversion of diamond funds) is absolute rubbish; hogwash! If anyone
can prove that I will personally borrow US$1 million and give that person.

“This money was raised by people in this province who want to see Midlands
developing. If we have stolen the money then those people should go and
report to the police.”

Early last month, the MDCs were also left seething after Mugabe launched a
US$20 million agricultural support scheme aimed at helping poor farmers
around the country acquire inputs for the new farming season.

The scheme was brazenly launched at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare,
suggesting it was a party, instead of government programme.

Complained MDC legal affairs secretary and Education Minister David Coltart:
“Zimbabweans have a right to know who the ‘well-wishers’ are and where their
money comes from. Is it clean? Parallel governance at its worst.”

Indigenisation
In addition, Mugabe will also be buoyed by progress made in implementing the
party’s indigenisation programme which forces foreign companies to not only
cede majority ownership and control to locals but also fund the equity
transfers.

Dismissed by critics as unworkable and likely to cause disastrous investment
and capital flight from a still-recovering economy, the programme,
spearheaded by Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, is in fact looking
to be unstoppable.

Most of the country’s major mining companies are already implementing
compliance plans approved by Kasukuwere and insist that they remain
committed to Zimbabwe despite initial murmurs of disapproval and, in some
cases, outright threats to either completely pull out of the country or
suspend expansion programmes.

Kasukuwere, who has vowed to force the policy on other sectors of the
economy, briefed a politburo meeting in Harare Wednesday on the programme
which will anchor Mugabe’s campaign for the March elections.

“We were given a presentation by Kasukuwere and his staff. They presented a
documentary called broad-based empowerment concept. It is an excellent
document. We want it presented at conference,” said party spokesman, Rugare
Gumbo.

“We will have intensive discussion on indigenisation. The conference will
concentrate on broad-based empowerment concept which fits well with our
theme - ‘Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment’.”

Mugabe also goes into next year’s elections aided to no small measure by the
misadventures of his main rival.

Survey
Tsvangirai was recently damaged by embarrassing revelations about his
private life which also came on the back of an international survey
suggesting support for the MDC-T leader ad his party had collapsed across
the country.

US-based international research group Freedom House warned that Mugabe would
likely command the support of 31 percent of voters in a presidential
election, ahead of rival Morgan Tsvangirai on 19 percent, an alarming
prospect for the MDC-T.

Said South African academic, Susan Booysen, who devised and conducted the
survey: "I've heard people saying MDC-T is just not doing work in the
constituencies and is spending too much time in the palace. They're taking
for granted they're the crown princes. They are not capturing the desire for
change.

“Perhaps they think they are crown prince that need only wait for Mugabe to
go for it to fall in their lap. This is a wake-up call for them that there
is no honeymoon.”

Tsvangirai this week claimed that improvements registered in education,
health and other social services were down to his party’s involvement in the
coalition government. He added that the MDC-T was also responsible for the
country’s economic recovery; but it remains a jobless recovery as
unemployment is still very high.

Mugabe also suggested during the launch of the input support scheme that he
would use the MDC-T’s not always edifying performance in government against
the party as campaigning for the March ballot gets into full swing.

Said the Zanu PF leader: “This animal (inclusive Government) wants to eat,
but when we say the food comes from farming, the other side (MDC) says they
are inca­pable, but the Zanu PF side continues to say we should farm, we
should get inputs.

“How is this animal supposed to survive? How is the nation supposed to
survive? Are you (MDC) not getting this message?

“They say we don’t have money, but they are the ones in charge of the
Finance Ministry. Hatina mari, hatina mari. Saka hatina mari, hatina mari,
ihurumende yerudziyi? Hatina mari, naizvozvo hatina fertiliser, naizvozvo
hatigone kurima.
“If it were a Zanu PF Gov­ernment without these other partners, do you think
you can tell that to the people? A gov­ernment can dare not say we have no
money to give people to grow food for the country.

“We can’t say that. We must have the capacity even to borrow. No government
does without borrowing from others.”

Ex-ZIPRA vets warn military leaders to respect will of people

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Staff Writer
06 December 2012

Senior commanders from ZAPU’s former military wing, ZIPRA, have said the
military should respect the outcome of next year’s election results.

For the first time in many years, the ex-ZIPRA members convened a meeting in
Bulawayo and unanimously agreed to issue a statement urging the security
forces to respect the one-man, one-vote principle.

The statement was published in the country’s newspapers on Wednesday and
will pour cold water over repeated threats by ZANU PF linked army generals,
who have vowed not to allow a candidate without liberation war credentials
to succeed Robert Mugabe.

The former commanders said Zimbabweans and former freedom fighters are
perturbed about pronouncements reported by the media, regarding the choice
of the country’s future leaders.

‘The generally expressed view has been that ex-combatants shall recognise
only those leaders who have liberation war credentials. The position of the
former ZIPRA High Command is that we will support the person who respects
the ideals and values of the liberation struggle.

‘We will support anyone who recognises that the effort to liberate the
country was premised on the concept of one-man, one-vote, to be a democratic
principle which respects the will of the people will carry the support of
former freedom fighters,’ the ex-ZIPRA commanders said.

Top military commanders like Brigadier-Generals Trust Mugoba, Douglas
Nyikayaramba and Martin Chedondo, have issued countless threats since 2002
that no party other than ZANU PF would be allowed to rule Zimbabwe.

Our Bulawayo correspondent Lionel Saungweme said the ZIPRA statement was a
major boost to all democratic forces in the country. He said the stance by
the ex-commanders would reverberate far and wide beyond the Zimbabwe
borders.

‘I think it’s a statement of intent that they would not sit and watch the
military suppressing the will of the people. ZAPU, as a former liberation
war movement, has many friends in Southern Africa who would be keen to
follow the events unfolding in Zimbabwe,’ Saungweme said.

Ex-ZIPRA man supports Tsvangirai

http://www.zimdiaspora.com

THURSDAY, 06 DECEMBER 2012 09:11

Former members of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) High
Command have poured cold water over repeated threats by army generals not to
allow a candidate without liberation war credentials to succeed President
Robert Mugabe.

The generals first made the threats on the eve of the 2002 presidential
elections where they claimed the Office of the President was “a
straitjacket”.

Subsequent threats were issued in 2008, leading to one of the most violent
election campaigns in history that was blamed on security forces.

Several army commanders, including Brigadier-Generals Trust Mugoba, Douglas
Nyikayaramba and Martin Chedondo, this year issued statements saying no
party other than Zanu PF would be allowed to rule Zimbabwe.

The statements were seen as aimed at Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who
poses the greatest threat to Mugabe’s ambitions to rule perpetually.

But the ex-Zipra members yesterday broke their silence warning the security
forces to respect the one-man, one-vote principle.

“Of late among other things, Zimbabweans and former freedom fighters are
perturbed about pronouncements in the media regarding the choice of the
country’s future leaders,” the former commanders said in a statement
published in yesterday’s newspapers.

“The generally expressed view has been that ex-combatants shall recognise
only those leaders who have liberation war credentials.

“The position of the former Zipra High Command is that we will support the
person who respects the ideals and values of the liberation struggle.

“One who recognises that the effort to liberate the country was premised on
the concept of one-man, one-vote to be a democratic principle which respects
the will of the people will carry the support of former freedom fighters.

“Nationalist leaders, the likes of Joshua Nkomo and others, worked
tirelessly for this principle.”

According to the statement, the position was taken at a recent meeting of
the former commanders.

The Zipra High Command co-ordinated PF Zapu’s military training and
acquisition of arms under the stewardship of the late Vice-President Joshua
Nkomo.

The MDC-T immediately seized on the pronouncement by the ex-Zipra commanders
saying the party was committed to ensuring the welfare of ex-fighters once
it got into power.

“We commend such an unwavering standpoint on the values and principles
guiding the war of liberation which those in Zanu PF structures sought to
desecrate and disrespect in pursuit of selfish personal partisan interests,”
the MDC-T said in a statement.

“The continued total disregard of surviving heroes during national events
such as the Heroes and Independence days, as well as their unwarranted
discrimination in the police and the army, is abosolutely disconcerting.

“As we look forward to a new Zimbabwe, we remain grounded in the values and
principles of democracy, peace, stability and national security of our
country as ascribed in your unbridled resolve.”

The ex-Zipra commanders also said they hoped the recent tour of Matabeleland
by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga, would
see the government resolving a number of grievances that former liberation
fighters led by Nkomo had.

They said the visit generated hope for the return of Zipra properties
confiscated by Mugabe’s government in 1982 during the Gukurahundi
disturbances.

“The return of the properties and title deeds will definitely restore peace
and unity,” the commanders said.

“The properties belong to the former Zipra cadres and their welfare would
have been better off had they been economically utilised for their benefit.”

The ex-commanders said 32 years after independence, 75% of the ex-Zipra
cadres had not received recognition, honours, awards and liberation medals
for their efforts in liberating the country - Newsday.

Zimbabweans urged to join anti-corruption drive

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
06 December 2012

Zimbabweans are being urged to throw their weight behind local
anti-corruption initiatives, with the country being ranked as the most
corrupt in the Southern African region.

Transparency International has released its latest corruption perception
Index, with Zimbabwe being placed 163 out of a total of 176 countries around
the world. The Index, which ranks countries and territories based on how
corrupt their public sector is perceived, suggests that Zimbabwe’s
corruption record is worsening, with the country dropping nine places on the
Index since last year.

The latest report puts Botswana as the least corrupt country in Southern
Africa, ranking 30, followed by Namibia (58), South Africa (64), Lesotho
(64), Swaziland (88), Zambia (88), Malawi (88) and Mozambique (123).

“Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all aspects of
decision-making,” said Transparency International in a statement. “They must
prioritise better rules on lobbying and political financing, make public
spending and contracting more transparent, and make public bodies more
accountable.”

Zimbabwe’s low ranking puts it among some of the most corrupt countries in
the world, according to the index, which ranks Afghanistan, North Korea and
Somalia the bottom three.

Zimbabweans are now being urged to join the fight against corruption by
supporting local efforts to stamp out the problem. This includes becoming
grassroots whistleblowers and using a newly launched SMS hotline to report
incidents of corruption.

The SMS hotline was launched by Transparency International Zimbabwe last
month, and encourages the public to send anonymous messages about the
corruption they have encountered. WitnessES and victims of corruption can
send an SMS to (+263) 0775 220 700.

Precious Shumba from the Harare Residents’ Trust told SW Radio Africa that
Zimbabwe’s corruption record will not improve until there is a united effort
to fight the problem. He said corruption has become so endemic in Zimbabwean
society that “handing over a bribe for anything is a norm.” He added that
reporting measures, like the SMS platform, were a good step towards changing
the attitudes ‘corroding’ society.

But he warned that there is also a safety element of the SMS campaign that
could put people off using it, saying: “The major challenge of this
whistleblowing exercise, is will it be transparently vetted? Who has access
to the numbers and who will be monitoring?”

He warned that in a country where fear is still as large an issue as
corruption, many members of the public might be too afraid to have their
numbers associated with weeding out corruption.

Zanu (PF) Torch MDC Houses

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, December 06, 2012 - Two members of the Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party in Gutu were left
homeless after their houses were razed to the ground by suspected Zanu (PF)
arsonists.
Political violence in the province has resurfaced ahead of general polls
next year.

Solomon Madyazvivi and Enock Makoke, both officials of the former opposition
party were left without shelter and lost property worth thousands of dollars
after suspected Zanu PF supporters torched their homes in a space of a week.

MDC information department told Radio VOP that Madyazvivi, a secretary for
ward 1 in Gutu west, had his home-stead set ablaze on Monday night a few
days after Zanu (PF) war veterans had threatened to fix known MDC supporters
during a rally.

“I was left homeless after my house was torched. I strongly suspect that
Zanu (PF) war veterans and supporters are responsible for this act of
violence. A few days before this we heard that war veterans threatened a
repeat of the 2008 violence and were targeting MDC officials in the area. I
am in real trouble because I lost my property,” said Madyazvivi.

He said his family was leaving in the open at a time the province despite
heavy rain down pours.

Makoke, another MDC activist, in ward 29 in the same district, had earlier
on lost his huts after being attacked by supporters of their arch rivals in
the shaky inclusive government.

MDC spokesperson here Harrison Mudzuri confirmed the incident and blasted
Zanu (PF).

“We confirm that two of our activists had their houses torched in a space of
a week with the latest incident on Monday night. We have always condemned
violence and we are disturbed that it is re-surfacing at a time we are
moving towards elections,” Mudzuri said.

Mudzuri said Zanu (PF) should stop intimidating MDC supporters by employing
dirty intimidation tactics through violence.

Zanu (PF) provincial chairman, Lovemore Matuke refuted the allegations.

“Zanu PF supporters are not violent and arsonists. We are sick and tired of
the MDC guys who always hide behind blaming Zanu (PF) whenever their members
are involved in domestic violence. Our members do not set other peoples’
homes ablaze. MDC members are liars and they always want to use our name for
silly reasons,” said Matuke.

“Even if they refuse we are 100% sure that they are responsible for the
attack of our members. No-one doesn’t know that Zanu (PF) has the culture of
violence whenever elections are called. We are going to take up the matter
...we want perpetrators to be brought to book,” Mudzuri said.

He said police reports were made although Zanu (PF) members always get way
with crime. Police in Masvingo declined to comment.

Stop intimidating citizens, soldiers told

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Thursday, 06 December 2012 11:04
HARARE - Some forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe are destabilising the
country, marring a ceasefire brokered by principals in the coalition
government, a lawmaker has said.

Members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC have planned rallies
across the country, trusting that the truce would protect them from a
military that is said to have frightened off MDC supporters for months.

“When you look at the constituencies, especially in Gokwe — we have soldiers
who have been deployed in areas and these soldiers are also intimidating
people in these areas,” Kadoma Central MDC MP Editor Matamisa said during
debate on the president’s speech last Friday.

Mugabe’s opponents had called for mass rallies to test whether the
authorities would tolerate a return to peaceful organisation, as Sadc’s
election roadmap said they should.

“You will find that as of now, people are being intimidated by the uniformed
forces in this country,” Matamisa told Parliament.

“Yet what surprises me is that the head of State and the leader of the party
is preaching peace; preaching harmony yet the people from his party are
doing the exact opposite of what he is saying.”

International pressure has grown for Zimbabwe to fulfil all its commitments
to the power sharing Global Political Agreement (GPA) by withdrawing troops,
permitting media access to all parties and discussing a political
transition.

Mugabe has told Parliament that he wants a free and fair, violence-free
poll.

“Let us all shun violence in all its manifestations and latent forms,
especially as we look forward to our national elections,” Mugabe told the
official opening of Parliament recently.

Matamisa said Mugabe’s ceasefire declaration was insincere and renewed a
call for soldiers to return back to the barracks.

“They have to go to do some civilian jobs such as construction of schools
and dams — all that happens in a country when there is peace and this is
what I am expecting to see in Zimbabwe which has peace,” she said. - Gift
Phiri, Politics Editor

Lawyers petition government for protection to mark Human Rights Day

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
06 December 2012

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) marched from Harare Gardens
through the streets of the capital on Thursday, to commemorate International
Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10th.

The lawyers delivered petitions to the Supreme Court, the High Court,
Parliament, the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs and the Attorney
General’s Office, asking for protection for legal practitioners while they
do their work. The petitions had already been delivered to the Principals in
the unity government.

Andrew Makoni, chairman of the ZLHR, told SW Radio Africa that Human Rights
Day comes this year at a time when lawyers and their clients in Zimbabwe are
experiencing serious violations of their individual and professional rights.

He said: “The petition cites the increased level of intimidation we are
experiencing as lawyers because of our work. We complain of arbitrary arrest
and wrongful detention of lawyers on unsubstantiated charges. We also
complain of unlawful access to and seizure of client files. These are the
challenges we face.”

Makoni explained that the ZLHR decided on their own local theme this year,
because the challenges they face in Zimbabwe are unique. The theme was:
“Respect, promote and protect the legal practitioners from all forms of
threats, harassment and intimidation in the course of carrying out their
duties”.
Makoni said abuses against lawyers include being denied entry into police
stations or access to clients, verbal and physical attacks, as well as
wrongful arrest, detention and “persecution through prosecution” of lawyers.
The lawyers have documented many of these incidents and raised the issues
with government in the past, but nothing has been done.

Asked whether they viewed the judiciary system as being partisan, Makoni
said:
“With the courts having made certain pronouncements concerning the conduct
of of lawyers it would be difficult for me to comment on whether the
judiciary is partisan or not, but there may be public perceptions of such a
bias.”

He was referring to recent comments made by a Supreme Court judge, who
blasted lawyers from the ZLHR for talking to the press and criticizing
judicial rulings.

Makoni said the lawyers expect the level of intimidation and harassment of
lawyers to increase as the country heads towards elections, because that is
when violence levels go up and lawyers are called upon to represent victims
and perpetrators.

Why Mugabe dumped Kunonga

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

President Robert Mugabe, after drawn-out consultations with his inner circle
of advisors, ordered Bishop Kunonga to be dumped by Zanu (PF) and the CIO
because he failed dismally to achieve what he had been assigned to do.
05.12.12

by Staff Reporter

A highly-placed source told The Zimbabwean this week: “From the middle of
last year, the President started regularly questioning the Kunonga project,
especially during politburo meetings. He complained that Kunonga was not
taking the party anywhere and pointed out that he had received reports
indicating that the bishop was personally gaining from the project.”

In addition, Kunonga’s continued persecution of Anglicans was seen as
achieving the opposite of what he had been assigned to do, as he was
creating “too many enemies and unnecessarily discrediting the party”.

The final straw that broke Kunonga’s back, said the source, was the Supreme
Court ruling that recently reversed the High Court order of 2011 and
determined that since he left the Church in 2008, he could not claim
ownership of Anglican property in Zimbabwe.

“He had become a burden and he is now finished. Did you ever wonder why the
State media is the one that has been loudest in exposing Kunonga, especially
after the Supreme Court ruling?” he asked.

Kunonga was roped into the Zanu (PF) commissariat in the late 1990s, when he
was approached by the secret service while studying for a PhD in sociology
in the United States.

In 1997, he was ordained as the Anglican Bishop of Harare by Bishop Peter
Hatendi. At that time Kunonga had already become an ardent supporter of Zanu
(PF), the source said.

He reportedly accepted the invitation to leave the US and come to work for
Zanu (PF) from within the Church. Although he claimed to have completed his
PhD, that was never verified.

“Kunonga came in as part of a project to rally Anglicans in Zimbabwe behind
the party and guarantee it a steady support base. But he was a bad choice
right from the start. Many people had been told that he was studying
theology, yet he hardly knew anything about the Bible, even though he had
some religious background,” added the source.

Even though his allegiance to Zanu (PF) was obvious to Anglicans in the
early years, not many followers cared because the party was then accepted as
the main political formation in the country.

“With the formation of the MDC in 1999, things started to change as politics
fast became polarised. Kunonga gradually became heady and he was encouraged
by the “system” because the Zanu (PF) support base was severely threatened.
The thinking was that he would be able to ensure that Anglicans would be
persuaded to stay with Zanu (PF). For several years, it was hoped that he
would do so. He always claimed that he had a huge following, but some within
the system doubted him,’’ said the source.

In his desperation to prove his allegiance to the party and Mugabe, Kunonga
reportedly abused the pulpit to preach politics, and became infamous for
demonising the opposition, western nations and homosexuals in his sermons.

In early 2008, in the run-up to the March general election, the Church of
the Province of Central Africa dethroned him, but he retaliated by
announcing a breakaway establishment, the Anglican Church of the Province of
Zimbabwe.

This marked the beginning of massive legal battles and the grabbing of
hundreds of Church properties across the country by members of his faction.

The High Court subsequently ordered that the two factions share the
properties, leading to sometimes nasty physical confrontations, with the
police clearly supporting Kunonga’s faction.

In August 2011, the High Court ruled that Anglican Church property in the
Harare Diocese should be administered by Kunonga, forcing thousands of
worshippers aligned to Chad Gandiya to worship in the open or to rent space.

During this period, Kunonga seized scores of churches, schools, hospitals
and a shrine belonging to the Anglican Church. Some of the properties were
converted into private lodgings while others were run as commercial
entities.

Our source said Kunonga converted to his own use the thousands of dollars he
received as rent from Anglican properties such as Pax House located next to
Parliament, where numerous institutions and firms are tenants.

Kunonga, when contacted for a comment, seemed bitter about the State media
blitz against him.

“I cannot tell you anything that The Herald does not know, so go and get
answers from that newspaper. The journalists there are fully briefed on what
is happening,” said Kunonga, who singled out one reporter from the stable
who has consistently reported on the Anglican saga.

The revelations from our source have brought into doubt the impartiality of
the judiciary, which in the past has been accused of pandering to the whims
of Mugabe and Zanu (PF) and making rulings that align with their interests.

The party has consistently tried to use various churches to drum up support,
including various apostolic sects and Obediah Musindo’s Destiny of Africa.

Battle for Anglican property resumes Monday

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Thursday, 06 December 2012 11:03

HARARE - Judge President George Chiweshe has postponed the matter in which
excommunicated bishop Nolbert Kunonga is fighting to retain church property
after a Supreme Court ruling declared him an illegal occupant.

Kunonga’s lawyer Jonathan Samukange is trying to turn the tables against the
Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) arguing the church was not
supposed to evict his client when his appeal had been set down for hearing
at the High Court.

Speaking to the Daily News after the case was heard in chambers at the High
Court yesterday, Samukange said the CPCA is approaching the courts with
dirty hands.

“I am arguing that they should not have proceeded with evicting people and
these are the matters which will be decided by the court on Monday,” said
Samukange.

“Any eviction that took place after the matter had been set down for hearing
should not have been carried out as that was contempt of court.

“The judge is going to consider all the issues raised but the main arguments
have not been heard,” said Samukange.

Lawyers said Chiweshe has only heard the preliminary matters and has not
heard the main issue in which Kunonga is sensationally claiming ownership of
church properties using indigenisation laws and other pro-Zanu PF
sentiments.

Thabani Mpofu, the CPCA lawyer, said the Anglican Church headed by bishop
Chad Gandiya had already completed the eviction of Kunonga and his
surrogates.

“Judgment was reserved to Monday and evictions of Kunonga have been
completed.

“There is no possibility of anybody from Kunonga’s side going back to the
churches. Our clients will have their church services as usual,” said Mpofu.

Biti set for Manchester GNU review

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

05/12/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

MDC-T secretary general and Finance Minister Tendai is, on Friday, expected
to present a paper on the experience of working with President Robert Mugabe
and his Zanu PF party in unity government at the University of Manchester.

Biti has been in charge of the country’s finances since his MDC-T party
joined Zanu PF in a coalition government following violent but inconclusive
elections in 2008.

A top Harare lawyer before joining politics, Biti is praised world-wide for
his stewardship of the country’s economy over the last three years, a view
not shared, however, by Zanu PF which accuses him of refusing to support the
key agriculture sector.

In a statement, Manchester University said: “He (Biti) is especially noted
for reducing inflation from an estimated 500 million percent in December
2008 to single digits within three months of taking over the ministry.

“In 2009, he officially launched a controversial report by BWPI which among
other policy recommendations urged the Government to set aside tax credits
to compensate the mainly white farmers who lost their land.”

Dr Admos Chimhowu of the university’s Brooks World Poverty Institute added:
“Tendai Biti has played a major part in presiding over this economic
stabilisation and growth.

“Following the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in March
2009, Zimbabwe is emerging from a decade of socio-economic decline.

“Conditions have improved markedly now. Although poverty levels are still
high, welfare conditions continue to improve and life expectancy has risen
to 50 years and inflation fallen just above 3.5 per cent

“But more importantly, the economy has recorded four years of growth.”
Fresh polls are expected next year to end the shaky coalition government
which, despite helping ease political tensions and stabilising the economy,
has been riven by deep divisions between Zanu PF and the MDC formations.

Both Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agree the arrangement is no
longer workable because of policy differences but the MDC-T leader wants
political reforms completed to ensure free and fair elections.

A referendum on the country’s new constitution is expected to be held early
next year leading to the fresh polls in March.

Zim part of SADC summit agenda

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Staff writer
06 December 2012

Zimbabwe will be part of the agenda at a SADC summit being held in
Dar-es-Salaam this weekend to discuss the crisis in the eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo.

President Jacob Zuma, who is the chief mediator on Zimbabwe, is expected to
attend, together with the SADC Troika on Politics and Defence, currently
chaired by Tanzania.

A well-placed source in South Africa’s international relations department
told the media that while, “the issue of the DRC will dominate the agenda,
the meeting on December 7 and 8 will also hear a report from Tanzania on the
SADC mediation on Madagascar and a report from South Africa on [the]
mediation in Zimbabwe.”

The report on Zimbabwe follows a visit to Harare last week by Zuma’s
facilitation team, which was briefed on the constitution-making process and
preparations for next year’s elections.

During the team’s visit both the MDC-T and MDC-N expressed serious concerns
at the slow pace of reforms, and blamed ZANU PF of pussyfooting around,
ahead of the elections.

The Dar-es-Salaam summit is part of diplomatic efforts to stem the crisis in
the DRC which saw the strategic eastern city of Goma falling under the
control of the M23 rebels, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The
rebels have since pulled out, but regional leaders are anxious to find a
lasting solution to the crisis.

Zimbabwe Prime Minister arrives in Kenya

http://www.africareview.com

By AFRICAREVIEW.COM | Thursday, December 6 2012 at 19:16

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is in Kenya at the invitation of
his counterpart Raila Odinga.

The offices of Mr Odinga and Mr Tsvangirai in Nairobi and Harare
respectively confirmed the visit Thursday evening.

The Nairobi office said the Zimbabwe PM would Friday pay a courtesy call on
Mr Odinga before proceeding to attend the National Delegates Congress for Mr
Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement party.

Mr Odinga and Mr Tsvangirai have had close ties that have been made stronger
by their unique circumstances.

Both of them ascended to their current offices courtesy of power sharing
deals occasioned by hotly disputed presidential election results.

Both Zimbabwe and Kenya are poised to hold presidential elections next year
in which the two premiers are key players.

GPA parties eager to complete drafting of new constitution

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
06 December 2012

All parties in the inclusive government remain committed to seeing the
completion of the constitution making process, a cabinet minister said on
Thursday.

Eric Matinenga, the Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, told
SW Radio Africa he’s optimistic the much leaner COPAC management committee
of seven people will be able to resolve the differences and finalise the new
constitution soon.

This new committee, recently appointed by the principals to the GPA, has
Matingenga as the chair, Tendai Biti from MDC-T, ZANU PF’s Patrick Chinamasa
and Priscillah Misihairambwi-Mushonga from the MDC-N. The three COPAC
co-chairs complete the set-up.

The group convened its first meeting in Harare on Wednesday and Education
Minister David Coltart stood in for their COPAC chairperson Edward Mkhosi.
Matinenga said the meeting Wednesday was about laying down the groundwork
for the work ahead.

‘We had to agree on certain administrative issues and how we approach the
task on hand. We wanted to set the parameters and that was done. What the
parties will do now is bring back on Monday next week their positions on the
COPAC report.

‘Let’s not forget that in the meanwhile the co-chairs have been informally
working all along to resolve the impasse. So I don’t see ourselves taking
long to break the deadlock,’ the Minister added.

Matinenga said one thing which came out of Wednesday’s meeting was that each
of the three parties committed themselves to the successful completion of
the exercise.

‘Personally I’ve looked at the COPAC report from the second All-stakeholders
conference and I cannot see ourselves sitting for two weeks dealing with the
issues. It’s either we agree to move on or agree to disagree,’ he said.

As the process has already taken three years, there are no guarantees of
completion any time soon.

Meanwhile principals to the GPA have appointed Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai to be their spokesperson as they try to unlock the stalled
constitution-making process which has been beset by constant bickering.

The Daily News newspaper reported on Thursday that the move was meant to
reduce partisan interpretation of the leaders’ decisions.

‘As leaders of government and the political process in the country, we have
decided to have our own spokesperson to remove miscommunication and portray
a collective image when information is given to the public regarding our
activities and decisions.

“I will therefore speak on behalf of Principals from now on rather than have
COPAC spokespersons trying to interpret what we want to say. It will avoid
confusion and partisan positions. We want to make sure the people get
exactly what we want them to get,’ the paper quoted Tsvangirai as saying.

I'll not quit: Tsvangirai

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Thursday, 06 December 2012 11:03

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he will not quit as MDC
president even if he were to lose to President Robert Mugabe in next year’s
make or break elections.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily News on Tuesday, Tsvangirai was
quick to declare his party will win the polls.

On earlier statements attributed to him that he would step down if he lost
next year’s polls, Tsvangirai said the statements were not serious.

He blamed journalists for sensationalising “jokes”.

“I am a messenger of hope and cannot be a carrier of bad news. I cannot be
discouraging my own supporters or threatening them. We will win the next
elections. I do not know how journalists sneak into our closed-door meetings
and misconstrue the jokes we make with our people,” said Tsvangirai.

“I am not under any pressure to make that decision now and if there are any
people who have been misled by those reports, they need to calm down. I
intend to see through my five-year term from the mandate I received at last
year’s congress and I will be here until the next congress,” Tsvangirai
said.

Tsvangirai was reacting to media reports claiming he had told supporters in
Gweru that he would quit as party supremo if he loses next year’s
presidential I’ll not quit: Tsvangirai elections to Mugabe.

The MDC president has already lost twice to the former guerrilla leader and
Zanu PF strongman, who turns 89 in February.

In the same interview, Tsvangirai revealed that Zimbabwe will borrow a major
chunk of the funds needed for next year’s elections and referendum. This
will add a burden to taxpayers already reeling from government’s $10 billion
debt.

The Daily News reliably understands that the Principals have agreed to seek
assistance from regional bloc Sadc, the African Union and the United
Nations.

Tsvangirai confirmed that the country will be approaching institutions such
as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for assistance.

“We do not have the money,” he said.

“Whatever we have is not enough to cover the $220 million required by Zec
for the two processes. I will be meeting with Finance minister Tendai Biti
and Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa to map out the modalities of the
borrowing,” Tsvangirai said.

Curiously, the UNDP which has been funding the constitution-making exercise
has been under fire from Zanu PF hawks for pushing a regime-change agenda
through the draft document produced by a parliamentary select committee
commonly referred to as Copac.

In his 2013 budget presentation last month, Biti provided $50 million for
the referendum and elections. Biti indicated that the contentious revenue
from diamonds would be required to cover up for the cash shortfalls for
elections.

Harare residents drinking urine, says water expert

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Thursday, 06 December 2012 11:03

HARARE - Harare residents are drinking recycled urine for water as cases of
diarrhoea and typhoid continue to rise, officials have said.

Researcher and water expert Christopher Magadza told journalists during a
wetlands media tour that Harare, due to loss of wetlands, is being supplied
with water containing 50 percent recycled urine.

“Manyame used to have a perennial flow but not anymore. It is because of
disturbances, mainly caused by human beings. So, much water in Lake Chivero
right now is sewage,” said Magadza.

“For every glass, you have 50 percent water and 50 percent treated urine,
which again is not being treated so well. We will have so many troubles —
excluding cholera and typhoid — an increase in liver cancer! Imagine what 11
chemicals will do to your stomach?” he said.

Harare council had recorded 937 cases of typhoid with four confirmed deaths
in the city as of Harare residents drinking urine, says researcher Monday
and Glen View suburb was the epicentre.

According to the ministry of Health and Child Welfare director for
Epidemiology and Disease Control Portia Manangazira, the outbreak, which was
confined to Chitungwiza since June, has now resurfaced in other suburbs of
Harare.

The disease is now causing havoc in Budiriro, Mbare, Kuwadzana and Mabvuku
amid fears that a cholera outbreak could soon hit the metropolis.

Health and Child Welfare minister Henry Madzorera said the water-borne
diseases could soon overwhelm the cash-strapped inclusive government if
council fails to address the issue of garbage and supply of safe water.

“I remind all Zimbabweans to take extra caution to avoid falling victim to
typhoid, cholera and other diseases.

“The determinants of these preventable but highly transmissible diseases
remain largely unaddressed in that sustained provision of adequate and safe
water is not guaranteed for both urban and rural communities,” said
Madzorera.

Madzorera further revealed that diarrhoea is topping fatalities of
waterborne diseases standing at 265 deaths out of 428 894 cases recorded
countrywide since January.

During last week’s full council meeting, councillors admitted that water
being pumped to residents is of poor quality and may trigger adverse health
problems.

Wildlife and Environment expert Willie Nduku said government should quickly
move to separate politics and human life issues when handling wetlands
issues.

“We wrote a series of letters regarding the flat and hotel being built on
the Borrowdale vlei but they won’t listen to us. They listen to voters
because they want votes.

“During the 1960’s Lake Chivero averaged 12 metres in depth but now it is
around six metres. It is getting filled with mud. We already have a water
crisis,” said Nduku. - Wendy Muperi

Deputy sheriff attaches Masvingo council assets

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

Thursday, 06 December 2012 10:07
MASVINGO - The deputy sheriff has attached the Masvingo mayor’s Mercedes
Benz vehicle and other property over $3,5 million owed to workers in a
salary dispute dating back to 2008.

The luxury car and eight other vehicles as well as movable property are set
to go under the hammer after the High Court recently ruled that the council
pays workers salary increments from 2008 to date.

There was drama at Civic Centre when the deputy sheriff towed the mayoral
car, a minibus and seven pickup trucks.

Business came to a standstill and there was pandemonium as senior council
officials ran from their offices to their cars upon realising that the
deputy sheriff and his team were attaching the vehicles.

Some of the officials drove their vehicles off.

Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) officials told the Daily News
they approached the High Court after council defied an arbitration award and
a Labour Court order in favour of the workers.

“After defying an arbitration and Labour Court order to grant us our
increments we felt the employer was not co-operating and the only way
forward was to approach the High Court to give us the go ahead to attach the
property,” Manase Vunganai, the ZUCWU regional chairperson said.

Some offices were empty after they were cleaned by the deputy sheriff.

Mayor Femias Chakabuda said the development would not affect the “smooth
operation” of council work and service delivery.

He said council would find means to pay the workers’ dues and save the
property before it is auctioned.

“They have literary attached all our movable property. We will, however, try
to come up with ways to raise the money for the workers at the same time
save the property from being auctioned,” said Chakabuda. - Godfrey Mtimba

Tsvangirai picture costs cop his job

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Nomalanga Moyo
06 December 2012

A Gwanda-based police officer has been branded ‘a danger to society’ and
sacked from his job for allegedly possessing a picture of MDC-T leader
Morgan Tsvangirai, according to reports.

Assistant Inspector William Mutsago, who was based at Gwanda Police Station
in Matebeleland South, is said to have told his bosses that he was not
responsible for the picture, which was saved on a memory card. He was
nevertheless fired without compensation.

A statement from the MDC-T on Tuesday said Mutsago was summoned to a hearing
in October last year, following an anonymous letter written against him. He
was accused of engaging in activities likely to discredit the force,
detained for 14 days and subsequently dismissed after his appeal was
rejected.

During the hearing, Mutsago had argued that he was not the sole user of the
memory card which was also used by other staff, including those in the press
and public relations department.

Despite protesting his innocence, Gwanda Police Station has since written to
the Public Service Commission calling for Mutsago to be blacklisted across
public sector departments, describing him as a “danger to society”, the
MDC-T added.

Meanwhile Mutsago’s wife, a constable also based at Gwanda station, is
awaiting a ruling on the appeal she lodged, after she was charged with the
same offence. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is reported to be
handling Mutsago’s case.

Last year, another police officer was fired for playing Simudza Ngerengere,
a song by MDC-T parliamentarian Paul Madzore. Assistant Inspector Tedious
Chisango, who was stationed at Ntabazinduna just outside Bulawayo, was
accused of “teaching police recruits on regime change”.

Consumer basket up

http://www.theindependent.co.zw/

December 6, 2012 in Business

The cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s low
income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six, went up 0,08% in
November, pushed mainly by the rise in meat prices.

Report by Gamma Mudarikiri

The cost of living in the period marginally increased to US$572,63, up
from US$572,18 in October.

The food basket rose to US$160, 22 in November, from US$160,01 in October
representing a 0,13% increase.

“Of all the commodities in the basket, meat has shown a consistent upward
increase in price as from July 2012,” CCZ said.

The price of beef has been rising steadily this year. Between July and
August,the price of economy beef increased marginally to US$3,95 per kg
from US$3,92 per kg. In September the price went up 13,8% to US$4,50 per kg.
For October and November, the economy beef price recorded further increases
of 13,33% and 13,73% to US$5,10 per kg and US$5,80 per kg respectively.

The prices of the other basic commodities, among them bread, salt, onions,
cabbage, bath and laundry soaps remained unchanged from the October figures.

The CCZ survey is conducted twice; during the first and the last weeks of
each month. The total cost of the food basket and the price of each
commodity are arrived at by averaging prices gathered from several retail
outlets throughout the country.

Kasukuwere’s Indigenisation Kills – Bennett

http://www.zimeye.org

By Business Reporter

Published: December 6, 2012

The MDC-T party’s economic policy, known as Jobs, Upliftment, Investment,
Capital and Environment (Juice), officially launched in Harare by party
leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week, has taken a new twist
with the party labelling ZANU PF’s indigenisation drive an angel of death.

The MDC-T party’s JUICE is expected to serve as a working alternative to
Zanu PF’s indigenisation policy spearheaded by Indigenisation Minister
Savior Kasukuwere at a time when the latter described Juice as a “stale
plan”. MDC-T’s spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora has in turn labelled
Kasukuwere a “perennial failure.”

This week, the MDC-T party’s ambassador to the United Kingdom took stage to
further ambush Kasukuwere’s policy saying that ‘it kills.’

Below is his critique:

Friends, Zanu-PF is making a lot of noise at the moment about
indigenisation. But understand this: indigenisation kills.

‘That is an extreme statement’, I hear some of you thinking. Yet I am not
exaggerating. Indigenisation kills because it places national wealth in the
hands of a few and takes it out of the hands of the many.

Indigenisation Kills - Roy Bennett
This money should be going to places like our hospitals. If you have a loved
one who has died because of inadequate medical facilities, it is because the
money that should be going to Treasury is being stolen before it gets there.

Zimbabwe is a rich country, but the wealth is not being used for
development. Where there is rule of law, companies are taxed and the
proceeds are used to maintain public services.

Sadly, the nation’s wealth is currently being carved up and fed to the
Zanu-PF patronage machine. I am not against some monies going to local
community trusts. But even here the lion’s share must go to the Treasury so
that it benefits Zimbabwe as a nation.

And there must be full transparency at every step of the way. The
beneficiaries at local level must be known to all and the way the money is
spent locally must be accounted for. Likewise, company revenues must be
known and they must be seen to be paying all taxes that are owed.

We cannot have a situation where Zanu functionaries get in a smokey room
with target companies and cut deals whose details are hidden. This is theft.
As we speak, billions of dollars are being taken out the back door. Billions
that could be used to heal our people, to heal our economy, to breath life
and hope into our nation. – Roy Bennett

JUICE too ambitious: Analysts

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw

Wednesday, 05 December 2012 18:35
Njabulo Ncube, Assistant Editor

PRIME Minister (PM) Morgan Tsvangirai’s economic blueprint — the Jobs,
Upliftment, Investment, Capital and the Environment (JUICE) — is an
ambitious election project whose implementation could prove difficult for
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) given the poor calibre of some of
its administrators.
PM Tsvangirai, who is battling an implosion in his faction riddled MDC-T,
launched his economic blueprin at High Glen Shopping Centre last Thursday as
he eyes elections President Robert Mugabe wants held in March next year.
The MDC-T is promising to create a million jobs in the next five years in a
country where unemployment is estimated at over 94 percent. The blueprint
rivals the indigenisation and black economic empowerment programme which
ZANU-PF is using as its election strategy.
A number of foreign-owned firms, particularly in the mining sector, have
already embraced the Indigenisation Act which compels foreign investors to
surrender 51 percent of their shareholding to black Zimbabweans.
Critics say the indigenisation drive is scaring away potential foreign
investors and that the policy is being implemented in a partisan manner.
In launching his economic policy, PM Tsvangirai said JUICE was meant to
bring about a holistic transformation of society and growing the national
cake for the benefit of all the people.
“The MDC believes that in order to spur sustainable economic growth, it is
imperative to grow the national cake,” he said in his foreword to the JUICE
document.
“Concentrating on sharing the existing small and diminishing cake is a
recipe for disaster. The current version of indigenisation is tantamount to
nationalisation and expropriation and is clearly a political gimmick by
ZANU-PF,” he added.
Psychology Maziwisa, a fiery MDC-T critic and political analyst, disagrees.
This week, Maziwisa lashed out at the economic blueprint, saying it was much
ado about nothing.
“It’s an empty policy by an insubstantial party desperate to gain support
from the people ahead of crucial elections next year. It’s absurd that a
party that has failed to create a single job in four years can talk of
creating one million jobs in five years. They are obviously taking
Zimbabweans for fools,” said Maziwisa.
Some of the benchmarks in JUICE include achieving an average growth rate of
eight percent in five years, normalisation of Zimbabwe’s international
relations, domestic savings mobilisation, macro-economic stability anchored
on a single digit inflation and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
constituting at least 30 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
An MDC-T led government will also envisage running a green economy,
deepening and strengthening the role of Small-to-medium Enterprises (SMEs),
implementing a Natural Resources Charter, reaching a US$100 billion first
world economy by 2040, an increase in power generation capacity to 6 000
megawatts by 2018, reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure, building
a social contract and ensuring sustainable and decent wages.
Bulawayo-based economic commentator, Eric Bloch said although he was yet to
see the complete JUICE document, it sounded like a “very good” programme in
that it sought not only to create jobs but to grow skills while also making
citizens economically active.
“The creation of a million jobs is subject to the restoration of monetary
liquidity,” said Bloch.
He said average GDP of eight percent was possible and could even be
exceeded.
“That also is subject to major policy changes in the banking sector and
agriculture,” he said, adding that good agricultural seasons normally
translate into improved economic growth.
Bloch said the restoration of Zimbabwe’s international relations remained
key to attracting FDIs, adding that the country could not continue to
operate in isolation.
He said the country’s economy would grow significantly after next year’s
elections regardless of which political party wins the polls.
Economist, Stevenson Dlamini, who teaches at the National University of
Science and Technology’s Department of Banking said although jobs could be
created in the next five years, targeting a million in five years was
rather “too ambitious” on the part of the MDC-T.
“FDI into the country has not been fast flowing enough to justify the
creation of a million jobs. The policy (JUICE) goes in the positive
direction but it is a bit ambitious,” he said.
Dlamini said jobs could be created in the SME and the small scale mining
sectors, but not to the magnitude envisaged by the premier.
“Looking at the rate at which the economy has been growing since 2009, an
average GDP of eight percent is achievable by 2018,” he added.
Solusi University dean of Faculty of Business, Bongani Ngwenya, who
described JUICE as a positive initiative, said its success rested on
implementation.
He, however, said the US$3,8 billion 2013 national budget, which does not
adequately address infrastructural development, key to economic recovery,
does not tally with the MDC-T’s economic blueprint.
ZANU-PF’s Indigenisation Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has dismissed JUICE as
being a “stale plan”.

JUICE: Introduction to MDC-T economic agenda

http://nehandaradio.com

on December 6, 2012 at 2:28 pm

Jobs, Upliftment, Investment Capital & the Environment (JUICE)

A comprehensive approach to sustainable, inclusive and people centred
development

Foreword

By Morgan Tsvangirai

The biggest challenge that confronts our economy today is unemployment.
Millions of our youths face a bleak future with rising joblessness, which is
a result of the growth stagnation of our economy.

The issue of jobs is no longer just an economic issue. It has become an
issue of political stability and social cohesion. The country is sitting on
a time bomb because of youth unemployment. We have to generate decent jobs
for the hundreds of thousands of young men and women that are leaving
colleges, vocational training centres, polytechnics and universities every
year.

In order to do this we need to build a sustainable economic framework that
grows the economy. The MDC believes that in order to spur sustainable
economic growth, it is imperative to grow the national cake. Concentrating
on sharing the existing small and diminishing cake is a recipe for disaster.

The current version of indigenisation is tantamount to nationalization and
expropriation and it is clearly a political gimmick by ZANU PF. The MDC’s
jobs plan entitled Jobs, Upliftment Investment Capital and the Environment
(JUICE) is a comprehensive plan for the generation of decent jobs that will
not only end poverty but also empower citizens.

JUICE advocates for a Broad Based Economic (BBE) upliftment of citizens by
expanding people’s choices in attaining sustainable livelihoods not through
asset striping and looting. Zimbabwe desperately needs new domestic and
foreign investment in order to increase capital formation.

This can be achieved by polices that increase investor confidence. As JUICE
clearly demonstrates, it is possible to achieve upliftment without
suffocating the economy. We should never allow a situation where the goose
that lays the golden egg is killed.

Zimbabweans who are committed to sustainable development know that our
society can do better if we can combine job creation with durable human
upliftment, sustained investment capital and respect for our environment.

Instead of indigenization for a few elites based on unsustainable extraction
and exploitation, it is vital for Zimbabwe and the world to know that the
degeneration of our great country’s investment climate, the appearance of
renewed shake-downs on behalf of cronies, and the return to patronage can be
reversed, in the interests of genuinely inclusive, pro-poor development and
job creation.

This document marks the beginning of that alternative national process that
will lead Zimbabwe back to a firm path to sustainable development.

Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, MDC President

SECTION ONE – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Introduction

Zimbabwe is a structurally weak economy arrested by “enclavity”, huge levels
of poverty, social underdevelopment, decayed infrastructure and a crippling
debt overhang.

Regrettably, 32 years of a Zanu PF government have compounded the country’s
structural problems as self-induced policy distortions we implemented by a
government with neither the vision nor the craft competence of moving the
country forward.

At the epicentre of Zimbabwe’s woes is the economy’s failure to create jobs.
Jobs are not just the engine of poverty reduction or a derivative of
rowth – they are transformative in and of themselves, and can help drive
the pathways to development.

This policy document is the MDC’s job plan and sets out the foundations of a
multi-sectoral approach to job creation, wealth creation and poverty
alleviation.

In its first 5 years an MDC government will implement coherent, effective
and forward looking policies to address Zimbabwe’s longstanding economic
problems of high unemployment, deepening poverty and inequality.

It will establish a pathway for inclusive and sustainable long-term growth
based on a broad based human upliftment model.

The MDC’s entry into a coalition government in 2009 led to a structural
recovery of the economy and the restoration of our international dignity
following a decade of negative economic growth and economic mismanagement.

The MDC government will consolidate the recovery we initiated and provide a
firm foundation for macroeconomic stabilization and growth.

The MDC Policy – Jobs, Upliftment, Investment Capital and the Environment
(JUICE) is our framework to create jobs, and build a strong, growing economy
that is financially and environmentally sustainable, where growth is evenly
shared across the country and not by a privileged few.

With more than 8 in every 10 people unemployed, the pressing need for our
government will be to create new jobs, which are more empowering than
indeterminate share ownership. This policy document sets our plan for
spurring growth, long term prosperity and a credible route to a 21st century
economy.

In conceiving JUICE, the MDC is guided by the following objectives:

1. Creating decent employment opportunities for all Zimbabweans.

2. Creating an enabling environment for citizens to acquire entrepreneurial
skills and to flourish in doing business with no hindrance aside from
standard laws that protect workers, communities, consumers and our ecology.

3. Establishing a friendly environment for both domestic and Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) to rapidly increase the productive sector’s capacity
utilization to a level that ensures job creation through genuine capital
investment.

4. Enabling policies that promote capital formation through efficient
financial markets.

5. Greater integration with regional and global markets to facilitate
sustainable growth.

6. Implementing a comprehensive program that provides for the delivery of
good-quality social services such as education and healthcare, in a way that
is affordable to all.

7. Restructuring the ownership and control of the economy through a broad
based economic empowerment programme, which meets the needs of all
Zimbabweans.

8. Provide opportunities to every citizen to pursue happiness, achieve
social justice and nurture our natural environment in a democratic society
without state bureaucratic hindrance.

9. Manage our foreign debt.

2. Strategies for Building a Strong, Sustainable, Balanced Economy

JUICE is based on ten (10) strategies that will be implemented as part of
the economic transformation process, each with complementary themes.

These strategies are clear, transparent and forward-looking. Implementing
these strategies will mean we are putting Zimbabwe back on its feet using a
fresh, dynamic and new economic model.

JUICE is our plan for a strong economy and our plan to transform Zimbabwe
into one of Africa’s strongest and competitive economy, restoring our
‘Breadbasket of Southern Africa’ status.

In the short term, immediate measures will be implemented to consolidate the
stabilization of macroeconomic fundamentals. Our medium to long term polices
will set us on a path for sustainable growth.

We will focus on resuscitating our industries, reforming and making the
public sector more competitive, creating new jobs, developing and supporting
our SMEs sector and the informal sector.

Our policies for sustainable growth will mobilize state resources towards a
common national vision of uplifting every Zimbabwean out of poverty and
improving the daily experiences of our people and reducing inequality.

The following policies will drive this strategy;

1. Transformation to a Democratic Developmental State

1.1How the state should do business

1.2Political governance

2. Creating Sustainable Jobs & SMEs Development

2.1Entrepreneurship

2.2SMEs development

2.3Formalising the informal sector

2.4Enhancing skills development

2.5Sector specific job creation potential

3. Creating an Enabling Environment for Inclusive Economic

Participation

3.1Social dialogue and social contract

3.2Respect for property rights and rule of law

3.3Mainstreaming gender

3.4Upliftment and poverty reduction

4. Creating a Safer and More Stable Macroeconomic and Financial System

4.1Fiscal reforms

4.2Tax reforms

4.3Reforming the financial sector

4.4Debt sustainability and debt relief

5. Reforming Public Services to Deliver Quality Social Services

5.1A performance driven civil service

6. Sustainable Growth Strategies

6.1Private sector development and industrial transformation

6.2Rescusitation of industry

6.3Increasing productivity

6.4Value addition

6.5Infrastructural development

6.6Public-private partnerships to deliver infrastructure

7. A broad based Economic Empowerment Agenda

7.1The Pitfalls of the current indigenization policy

7.2Tenets of a broad based empowerment strategy

8. Creating a more balanced economy

8.1Cluster based development

8.2Rural transformation

8.3Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

9. Opening Zimbabwe for business

9.1Investment Promotion and Facilitation

9.2Regional and Global integration

10. Environmental Responsibility

10.1 Resource Governance

10.2 The Environment

2. 3 What Will our Policies Achieve?

Implementing JUICE will be a critical conduit for development. Our policies
will deliver tangible outcomes towards poverty reduction, employment
creation, equity and social cohesion.

JUICE will direct resources towards development within the constraints of
our fiscal resources achieving some of the following benchmarks;

Figure 1: Key Benchmarks

JUICE KEY BENCHMARKS

As a direct result of JUICE we expect to achieve the following;

1. One million new jobs to be created between 2013-2018

2. Projected average growth rate of 8% per annum between 2013-2018.

3. Macroeconomic stability anchored by single digit inflation.

4. Deepening and strengthening the role of SMEs.

5. Domestic savings mobilization.

6. Normalization of Zimbabwe’s international relations.

7. Implementation of a Natural Resources Charter.

8. Running a green economy.

9. A US$100 billion first world economy by 2040.

10. An increase in power generation capacity to 6,000 Megawatt by 2018.

11. Reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure.

12. Building a social contract and ensuring sustainable and decent wages.

13. Attracting FDI that is at least 30% of GDP.

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2012 released

BILL WATCH 53/2012 of 4th December [2013 Budget Approved: Parliament Adjourns until 5th February]