'Mugabes barring us from farm, not state'

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HENDRICKS CHIZHANJE | 12 February, 2012 20:05

More than 1000 families face eviction from a farm in Mashonaland Central to
create room for the expansion of farming ventures allegedly sponsored by
President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace.

The families moved to the farm during the land-grab exercise.

The evictions are being spearheaded by Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of
Local Government, Urban and Rural Development. Chombo directed one of his
district administrators to evict the families from Arnold Farm in the
fertile Mazowe farming area, about 25km north of Harare, and to settle them
at Lazy 7 Farm in the same area.

Chombo's ministry has justified the evictions as necessary to create room
for the revival of a game park. Manzou used to be a private game park, but
it was seized by the government and passed on to locals to settle on.

"Please be advised that as people residing at Manzou Game Park, you are now
being moved to Lazy 7 farm in Mazowe District. The movement will be done in
phases, but, in the meantime, people residing at Arnold Farm will start
moving into the new area.

"The decision came after a thorough consideration by the government of the
need to revive the game park as well as to consider your need for land,"
reads part of a letter written to locals by the district administrator,
identified only as S Nyakudya.

Nyakudya, who is also the chairperson of the Mazowe district lands
committee, copied the letter to Martin Dinha, the governor of Mashonaland
Central.

The Mazowe families have protested against the evictions, which they say
come at a time when their crops are ripening and and they are left without
compensation for developments on their plots.

Some of the families dispute Nyakudya's account and claim they are being
evicted to pave way for the expansion of the Mugabes' farming ventures,
which include a cattle ranch. They say it is the Mugabes who are planning to
revive the game park, and not the government as claimed. Four years ago,
High Court Judge Ben Hlatshwayo lost a farm to the Mugabes when they annexed
it.

Court Evicts Mohadi from “His” Plot

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Bulawayo, February 12, 2012- High Court Judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha has
ordered co- Home Affairs minister, Kembo Mohadi’s wife Tambudzani Mohadi and
son Campbell to vacate a Beitbridge farm owned by four villagers they
occupied illegally.

Four villagers Given Mbedzi, Alfheli Nare, Kumbirai Ncube and Sorofia Ndou,
who are the applicants, had approached High Court in January seeking an
order barring the Mohadis from evicting them from their Plot Number 1 of Lot
9 of Jopembe Block in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South province.

“Remove all your property and locks installed on plot, Number 1 of Lot 9
Jopembe, Beitbridge and refrain from interfering with the gates, doors and
fence on the plot, “ruled Judge Justice Kamocha on Friday.

The High Court Judge also ordered the Mohadis “to refrain from either
themselves or through persons under their control, placing any cattle or
other livestock on applicants' plots or from in any way interfering with the
farming operations carried out by the applicants or their employees on the
plot.”

In their urgent chamber application filed in January on the villagers’
behalf lf by lawyer Zibusiso Ncube, Mbedzi also alleges that the Mohadis
wanted to shoot him and his colleagues with an AK 47 at his farm but the
firearm jammed twice.
He said they ran for their lives  but his 67-year-old mother Philani Ndou
and Soforia were shoved into the Mohadis’ vehicle and taken back to his plot
where his property was strewn all over the yard.

He said the Mohadis and their agents forced the pair to remove the property
at gunpoint. Mbedzi said he feared for his life as the threats by the
Mohadis’ were real.

Mugabe wilts under pressure

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Lloyd Mbiba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 12 February 2012 12:00

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe appears to have capitulated under pressure
from his coalition government partners and backed down to their demands on
several sticky issues facing the three-year-old inclusive government.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara appear to
have prevailed over Mugabe after they emerged from the two-and-half-hour
meeting last Wednesday having pushed the 87-year-old leader towards reforms.

Mugabe’s buckling under pressure has given hope that he might finally allow
a free and fair poll.

While hardliners in Zanu PF are not interested in moving an inch in terms of
reforms, Mugabe seemed to defy them by giving in on a number of key issues
amid indications that he wants to be seen by regional leaders as moving
towards reforms.

There was drama days before the meeting, it has been established.

The Daily News on Sunday has been told that some Zanu PF hardliners had
leaked to the press a document from the Prime Minister’s office to the
President, claiming it had been drafted by “white handlers” in a desperate
bid to infuriate Mugabe ahead of the meeting.

According to the sources, the tactic was to harden Mugabe’s stance ahead of
the meeting with Tsvangirai and Mutambara so that he would not give in to
reforms.

However, Mugabe is said to be seething with anger as the letter was
reportedly leaked to the state media before he had even seen it.

“Mugabe knew about the letter from the Prime Minister through the media. He
was surprised and angry with this. The old man is slowly discovering that he
is being manipulated by hardliners who lie to him and he takes action on
flawed information,” said a highly-placed government source yesterday.

Mugabe acceded to some outstanding issues that need immediate attention.

Although this might have been influenced by the reported impending visit to
Zimbabwe by the Sadc appointed facilitator, President Jacob Zuma, for
Tsvangirai and Mutambara, it was a rare good day in office although they
still have to follow on the agreements.

The build-up to the meeting was characterised by high emotions with
Tsvangirai taking the fight to Mugabe over the expiry of the term of office
of police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri.

Prior to the meeting, the National Security Council (NEC) failed to meet
because Tsvangirai was experiencing problems with his twisted ankle.

Amongst the cocktail of issues agreed upon by the principals at the
Wednesday meeting, Mugabe admitted that there was multi-party violence and
affirmed commitment to intensify the anti-violence campaigns at inter-party
levels.

The principals also agreed that within one month, party provincial
chairpersons and secretary generals should conduct anti-violence campaigns.

All this came despite claims by Zanu PF that violence in the country was
caused by the MDC.

The principals also agreed that ministers and senior government officials
who would have been arrested should be treated in a civilised and honourable
manner.

Several MDC ministers have in the past been arrested and treated inhumanely.
Critics however, pointed out that humane treatment should be for all
citizens of the country.

“While not condoning any persons who commit offences, the principals decried
the dehumanising treatment given to ministers and senior government
officials arrested for any alleged offences,” minutes of the meeting read.

The mainstream MDC has consistently complained against the police and the
Attorney General’s office accusing them of laying frivolous charges against
its members as a way of breaking their political will.

Recent media reports indicate that there is a plot to arrest Tsvangirai and
Tendai Biti, the minister of Finance on fraud allegations.

However, the Prime Minister has so far professed ignorance on the matter
saying all his financial dealings are above board.

MDC ministers and top officials have been arrested and treated unfairly.

Last year the minister in the Prime Minister’s office Jameson Timba was
arrested for allegedly undermining the authority of the President. He was
detained for two days without access to lawyers and food.

On the appointment and promotion of service chiefs and other security
personnel, the principals agreed that Mugabe will only do so in consultation
with his coalition government partners as required by the Global Political
Agreement (GPA).

“The principals’ agreed that the re-appointment of service chiefs whenever
their contracts of employment expired, will be handled in the usual manner
i.e. the appropriate service commissions making the necessary
recommendations to His Excellency the President who will make appropriate
consultations with other principals,” read the minutes of the meeting.

However, Mugabe seems to have reneged on the agreement even before its ink
had dried with his spokesperson George Charamba telling the state media that
police commissioner general  Augustine Chihuri’s contract had been renewed
up to 2014.

The principals also agreed that major general Douglas Nyikayaramba’s
inflammatory utterances on Tsvangirai were wrong and agreed that the
minister of Defence Emmerson Mnangagwa should rein in such elements.

Nyikayaramba last year launched an unprovoked attack on Tsvangirai branding
him a security threat and said even if he was elected President, the army
would do anything possible to stop him from getting into office.

On the constitution-making process, the principals agreed to intervene and
work out a road map towards the finalisation of the process with clear-cut
benchmarks, time-frames and milestones.

Furthermore the principals agreed that a meeting should be held between the
management committee of Copac so as to quickly agree on all constitutional
processes leading to the adoption of a new constitution.

The agreement on the constitution comes just weeks after Zanu PF members and
war veterans threatened to undo the entire constitution making process.

The principals also tasked the Minister of Information and Publicity,
Webster Shamu to immediately conclude the appointment of new boards for the
Mass Media Trust and Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz).

Cabinet orders Biti to act fast to save ailing banks

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ZOLI MANGENA | 12 February, 2012 20:05

Cabinet this week directed Finance Minister Tendai Biti to devise radical
intervention measures in the banking sector to deal decisively with the
liquidity crisis gripping the market.

This came as the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has also written to
government urging Treasury and the Reserve Bank to intervene urgently to
contain the worsening liquidity situation. A senior banker with BAZ said
there was "grave concern and panic" within the banking sector because the
situation was "fast deteriorating".

Bankers say most commercial banks are already struggling, due to chronic
capitalisation problems and a prolonged liquidity crisis in the market.

Several banks are battling for survival because of poor economic
performance, low-capacity utilisation by industry and depressed demand
against a backdrop of low disposable incomes.

The current liquidity crisis is also attributable to volatile short-term
transitory deposits and limited lines of credit. The problem of low savings
due to poor salaries and wages, low interest income against high operating
costs and low capitalisation is exacerbating the situation.

Cabinet on Tuesday grappled with the crisis and ordered Biti to come up with
measures to save most banks, including the big players underpinning the
financial sector, from running into bankruptcy.

Biti had tabled a report on the banking and liquidity situation which
painted a grim picture of the situation.

Industry and Trade Minister Welshman Ncube confirmed that cabinet had
discussed the issue. Ministers were put in a state of panic when they were
told banks were no longer able to settle their obligations when due.

Given the recent failure of ReNaissance Merchant Bank, which is reminiscent
of the 2004 financial crisis during which 13 indigenous banks ran into
serious financial problems, Biti was told to move with speed to fix the
problem.

Between December 2003 and June 2004, five banks were placed under
curatorship, two liquidated and four placed in intensive care under the
central bank's Troubled Banks Fund. Ministers fear once news starts
spreading across the market that banks are in deep financial trouble, there
could be a run on banks, triggering an overwhelming demand for cash by the
depositors.

Since most banks are now failing to meet their obligations, a surge in
withdrawals could trigger a collapse of banks. The situation is worsened by
the fact that most banks have lent out lots of money to companies and
individuals who are failing to repay.

As the Sunday Times reported recently, the deposit to loan ratios of most
local banks are unsustainably high. Bank loans have been used to finance
relatively illiquid assets, while the financial institutions fund their
loans with short-term liabilities.

Cabinet also discussed the issue of some banks maintaining huge balances in
nostro accounts. A nostro account is a bank account in a foreign country
held by a domestic bank, denominated in the currency of that country. It is
usually used to facilitate settlement of foreign exchange and trade
transactions.

Amid fears of looming bankruptcies in the banking sector, Biti and RBZ
governor Gideon Gono recently moved in to calm the market, intervening
through a series of measures including boosting lines of credit and the
central bank's lender of last resort function.

Gono said last week while the banking remains "safe and sound" overall,
there were serious problems posed to financial institutions by the negative
operating environment.

"The banking sector remained in a safe and sound condition in 2011
notwithstanding underlying risks posed by the operating environment notably
volatile deposits, absence of an active inter-bank market and lack of an
effective lender of last resort function, market illiquidity, cash- based
transactions and limited access to external credit lines," Gono said.

"The weak and troubled banks in the sector are few, small, and of low
systemic importance. As at 31 December 2011, these institutions had a
combined market share of below 5% in terms of total assets, deposits and
loans."

Biti said recently Treasury was going to pour $110-million into the economy
to boost liquidity through the funding of infrastructure, lines of credit,
the central bank lender of last resort position and agriculture.

Chihuri crisis threatens GNU

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Wonai Masvingise and Xolisani Ncube
Sunday, 12 February 2012 10:35

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe are
headed for a titanic confrontation over the re-appointment of police
commissioner general Augustine Chihuri that could break apart the country’s
shaky inclusive government.

Tsvangirai took a swipe at presidential spokesperson George Charamba
yesterday, saying that the aide was “not a principal” who could pronounce on
the deliberation of principals, and went on to insist that Chihuri was now
acting head of the police.

The PM and his deputy Arthur Mutambara last week “convinced” Mugabe that
Chihuri’s term of office, which expired last month, should not be extended.

However, the much-criticised police chief continues in his acting or
substantive capacity — depending on which political party one speaks to — as
the principals strive to regularise the Police Service Commission (PSC)
which nominates and recommends to Mugabe the person to lead the police.

According to both the PM and Mutambara, as well as the dictates of the
Global Political Agreement, Mugabe is supposed to appoint the PSC nominee in
consultation with the two.

Yesterday Tsvangirai reiterated to the Daily News On Sunday that Chihuri
remained acting police commissioner general despite an announcement by
Charamba on Thursday that Chihuri’s term had been extended to 2014.

“Charamba is not one of the principals of the government. The position of
the press conference still stands. That’s what we agreed. I don’t think
there’s anything new to that,” he said.

Tsvangirai met with Mugabe on Monday last week in their usual weekly
meetings where, according to minutes of their meeting which were leaked to
the media, they agreed to defer the appointment of Chihuri until the PSC had
been regularised.

But Charamba released his own statement later announcing the extension of
Chihuri’s tenure, in a move widely seen as a slap to both Tsvangirai and
Mutambara.

“Charamba is not a spokesperson for the government, the chief secretary of
government captured it in the statement that was issued. That’s the position
of the principals. Anything that has developed is (for) Charamba and I don’t
think it has anything to do with me,” added Tsvangirai who spoke on the
sidelines of a prayer meeting in Chitungwiza.

Addressing journalists at the Premier’s residence last week, deputy Prime
Minister Mutambara said principals of the inclusive government agreed to
regularise the operations of the PSC, whose term of office expired last
December, before deciding Chihuri’s fate.

“An officer in the security forces who makes political statements undermines
the civilian government in place and should be reprimanded for making such
statements,” Mutambara said.

Chihuri and his colleagues in the security sector have often been accused of
using brute force against pro-democracy and opposition groups as a way of
propping up Mugabe and Zanu PF.

Tsvangirai, who was severely assaulted by armed police and suspected
military intelligence officers during a prayer meeting in Highfield in March
2007, says Chihuri is partisan in the delivery of his duties.

The police chief has said the MDC is a violent party, insisting that he has
no apologies to make for what his critics say is a crackdown against Mugabe’s
opponents who almost unseated the octogenarian leader in the 2008
presidential poll.

Analysts said yesterday that Mugabe’s position, as captured by Charamba’s
statement, juxtaposed against Tsvangirai and Mutambara’s stances that
Chihuri was now an acting police commissioner general could lead to a
complete breakdown of the government of national unity.

The PM has previously “disengaged” from the government, protesting against
Mugabe’s mutilation of the GPA whose listed outstanding issues, including
Chihuri’s position, remain the biggest talking points in the inclusive
government.

Tsvangirai did not say yesterday what he would do if Mugabe officially told
him of the decision to extend Chihuri’s term of office to 2014.

During the prayer meeting, Tsvangirai claimed that he was chosen by God to
lead the people of Zimbabwe.

“Leaders are chosen by God and so I was chosen by God. Even Mugabe was
chosen by God. Whether you like us or not, what you have to do is pray for
us,” he told a cheering crowd that had gathered to pray for peace.

The National Prayer Day, organised by Pastors’ Fellowship of Zimbabwe, was
also attended by government ministers from Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

Tsvangirai also said Zimbabweans must unite despite their political, social
or religious backgrounds.

“Pray against the demon of violence that rises at election time. I and the
party I lead want to see sustainable peace in this country. I can also speak
on behalf of the President that he also wants peace in this country,”
Tsvangirai said.

Zanu PF Militia Force March Resident to A Party Meeting

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Norton, February 12, 2012- Norton Residents are now living in fear of some
Zanu PF youths following the initiation of the former ruling party campaign.

Zanu PF’s loosing candidate Christopher Mutsvangwa’s scheduled could not
proceed even after party militia force-marched residents to attend the
meeting as Mutsvangwa could not turn due to another meeting he was
addressing at Halfway near Selous.

"We are living in fear as marauding Zanu PF youths are forcing us to attend
meetings as they want to restructure the party ahead of possible elections.
We are not safe as they are targeting mainly MDC supporters to attend the
meetings", said one resident Dereck Sibanda of Ngoni high density suburbs.

In Katanga, the youths were marching and singing liberation songs that
reminded residents of the party’s violent 2008 campaign. They were
threatened to beat a former party supporter whom they accused of dumping
Zanu PF to join the Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai.

They identified him only as Bob who was among the terror campaign gang
during the bloody 2008 presidential run off in town situated out of Harare.

Bob owns shops at Katanga business centre and has since fled the town,
according to some residents.

"He is not around because some youths blacklisted him to be among those
targeted during campaign rallies. If they can turn against one of their own,
what about us? The call for elections will be bloody." added Theresa Makata
of Eastermark area.

The latest bid by Mutsvangwa supporters in the area aims to wrestle the
constituency he lost to MDC-T's Edward Musumbu who won in 2008. Mutsvangwa
could not be reached for comment as his mobile was unreachable at the time
of writing.

Though President Robert Mugabe has denounced violence, some of his
supporters are accused of unleashing terror to the party opponents.
Zimbabweans are gearing themselves for referendum to vote for a new
constitution that will pave way for possible free and fair elections.

Police Thump War Veterans

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Masvingo, February 12, 2012 – Armed riot police gave veterans of the
liberation war a comprehensive thumping this week after they had pushed
their luck a step ahead by trying to invade farms owned by black Zimbabweans
along Masvingo-Mutare highway.

Self-styled war veteran Francis Zimuto popularly known as Black Jesus had
earlier last week influenced fellow comrades to look for all unproductive
farms in Masvingo and occupy them.

Popular bus operator and prominent business man Tanda Tavaruva of the Mhunga
Bus Services whose farm is situated about 60 kilometers east of Masvingo
city became the first victim.

Other farm owners around Chidza area who included another popular business
man Mr Ganyani also fell victim of the marauding war veterans.

They tried to talk to the war veterans but they refused to leave the farms
arguing that most Black people who own commercial farms are being used as
façade men by White Commercial farmers.

However, the war veterans’ joy of acquiring yet some pieces of land did not
live long as the police deployed armed riot police to beat them up.

By Saturday afternoon, all war veterans were finally driven out of farms.

Masvingo War Veterans chairman Isaiah Muzenda distanced himself from the
dubious invasions saying the police did a ‘very good job’ by beating errant
war veterans.

“Those guys are greedy and too ambitious. We thank the police for their
timely intervention. Our name as war veterans is being put in disrepute by
some greedy elements among us. I was personally against that idea and we are
relived that at least they were finally driven out,” said Muzenda.

Masvingo provincial spokesperson Inspector Tinaye Matake confirmed the
incident but refused to go into details.

“There was a misunderstanding between some farmers and war veterans, we have
intervened and everything is now in order,” said Matake.

Black Jesus who was in the fore front of several farm invasions in Masvingo
since 2000 could not be reached for comment.

‘Sanctions stalling progress in critical democratic reforms’

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By Lloyd Mbiba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 12 February 2012 09:42

HARARE - Constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku says restrictive
measures imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his allies must be removed
as he is using them as an excuse to stall critical democratic reforms.

Madhuku who is the chairperson of National Constitution Assembly (NCA) said
there is a need to review the measures because they have failed to pile
pressure on the targeted individuals to enact reforms.

“It does make sense to review sanctions because they give President Robert
Mugabe a convenient excuse to say the West is interfering with the country’s
internal affairs. It is therefore useful to remove the sanctions as they are
impeding the reform agenda,” Madhuku said.

He added “I totally agree with the International Crisis Group’s (ICG) view
that sanctions need to be reviewed. How can you harm the person you are
trying to assist? The people are the ones who are at the receiving end of
the punitive measures and as such they should be done away with.”

The ICG said in a commentary this week posted on its website that there is
need for Western governments to consider removing “sanctions” imposed on
Mugabe and his Zanu PF allies as a way of helping the reform process in
Zimbabwe.

Madhuku added that the people did not need the assistance of restrictive
measures as they are able to fight for themselves and deliver democracy.

The West can support the country in terms of donations and moral support
rather than sanctions, Madhuku said.

“They (West) can support us through donations and moral support. The
donation of books for primary and secondary schools was commendable. This is
the kind of support that is needed and not the ineffective punitive
measures,” said Madhuku.

Farai Maguwu director of the Centre for Research and Development also echoed
the same sentiments saying the measures need to be reviewed because they
have failed as a leverage to force reforms.

“An overall assessment of sanctions is needed because as a leverage to force
reform they have failed. Benchmarks should be set to assess the measures as
the continual renewing of the punitive measures without measuring their
success is folly,” Maguwu said.

The restrictive measures were introduced in response to political violence,
human rights abuses and electoral fraud in 2002.

These include targeted measures against individuals and entities, like visa
restrictions and asset freezes, restrictions on government-to-government aid
(not including humanitarian and development aid), as well as on access to
loans and credits from international financial institutions and arms
embargoes.

Currently the European Union is carrying out its annual review of the
punitive measures and observers predict that they will be renewed.

Last year the bloc removed spouses of some of the sanctioned officials as
well as other Zanu PF members considered to be moderate.

Zimbabwe diamond miner gets watchdog OK

http://www.iol.co.za

February 12 2012 at 03:03pm
By SAPA

International diamond watchdog the Kimberley Process (KP) has certified
Zimbabwe's Diamond Mining Company to sell gems from the violence-tainted
Marange fields, state media reported on Sunday.

The firm, a joint venture between the Zimbabwean government and a company in
the United Arab Emirates, became the fourth mine in the area to get the nod
after monitors inspected its operations, said The Sunday Mail.

“The report confirms that we met all the requirements, from production to
sort house,” Prince Mupazviriho, permanent secretary in the mines ministry,
told the newspaper.

“Systems we have built in terms of diamond mining are robust. Not only have
we met KP standards, we have exceeded them.”

The Kimberley Process, founded to stop the trade in so-called “blood
diamonds”, has come under fire from activists for being soft on abuses in
Marange.

Human Rights Watch alleges that President Robert Mugabe's army killed more
than 200 people two years after the 2006 discovery of the diamond fields in
an operation to clear small-scale miners from the area.

The BBC reported last year on a camp run by Zimbabwean security forces where
civilians were forced to dig for diamonds and tortured, claims the
government called “ridiculous”.

The United States in 2008 slapped sanctions on two firms mining in the
eastern region, Marange Resources and Mbada, which are mining at the scene
of alleged human rights abuses, while powerful US-based diamond trading
group Rapaport has boycotted all Marange gems.

Of the five firms operating in Marange, just one has yet to receive
Kimberley Process certification, Sino-Zimbabwe.

All the firms are jointly owned by the Zimbabwean government and foreign
investors.

Zimbabwe says it expects to rake in $600 million (466 million euros) from
diamond sales in 2012. - Sapa-AFP

Salaries consuming bulk of govt funds: Biti

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

By Everson Mushava, Staff Writer
Sunday, 12 February 2012 09:44

HARARE - Government is in dire financial straits that it has been virtually
reduced to a salary paying government, Finance minister Tendai Biti says.

Biti said this while addressing a Government Work Programme 2012 workshop
held in Harare on Thursday.

The country, Biti said, is failing to attract outside finance to fund
critical areas of infrastructural development, health and education.

“Our children are still hot sitting and expecting mothers are still dying.
The condition of our roads is deplorable. We owe parastatals hundreds of
millions of dollars. We are simply a government that is only there to pay
salaries for civil servants and nothing more,” Biti said.

“Next month, we hope to raise $269 million through tax and civil servants
salaries will chew $240 million, leaving $41 million, the same figure we
expect from diamond revenue. If diamond money is not injected into treasury,
it means we will be unable even to meet the day to day running of
ministries,” Biti said.

Biti has in the past complained that diamond revenue was not finding its way
into treasury, making it difficult for government to properly function. He
also raised concern over the unnecessary globetrotting of the executive, an
expenditure which he said was eating hard into the coalition government’s
money bag.

“We lack capital from the budgetary point of view and we also lack channels
of direct borrowing and as a result, our people are over taxed,” he said.

He said the financial burden that the country is currently facing is making
it difficult for the government to meet its other obligations such as
infrastructure development, education and health.

“Zimbabwe has 90 000 kilometres of road network but only 17 percent are
paved. I used to think that the Democratic Republic of Congo was the pothole
country but I can see Zimbabwe is competing hard for the pole post,” he
said.

Water flows once again after Zimbabwe "mermaids" are appeased

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/

Feb 12, 2012, 13:36 GMT

Harare - Water is flowing again to a small, arid town in northern Zimbabwe
after a traditional ceremony was held to appease 'mermaids' who had been
terrifying engineers trying to start the pumps at a nearby dam, officials
said Sunday.

Water Resources Minister Sam Nkomo had told Parliament last week that
operations to commission pumps at a dam at Gokwe town were halted after
frightened workers found the machines had 'broken down under unclear
circumstances and without any traces of vandalism.'

Trouble with 'mermaids' was also reported at the major Osborne Dam in
eastern Zimbabwe, Nkomo said. Divers with oxygen masks where dispatched to
investigate the cause of the blockages there, but returned to the surface
pledging to never go back down.

'That was when we hired white consultants, thinking our people were
vulnerable because they are Africans. But the whites too vowed never to go
back there,' Nkomo said.

In some sub-Saharan African traditions, mischievous water spirits feature
prominently, and are referred to as 'mermaids' in English.

The problem at Gokwe was solved late last week, however, when the water
ministry hired traditional healers to conduct propitiatory rituals, said
Chengeto Gozo, area manager for the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.

The rituals included brewing beer to placate the creatures.

'I do not believe in mermaids, but the community that lives in the area
does,' said Nkomo, the minister, about Gokwe. Ceremonies would now be held
at the Osborne Dam as well.

Zanu PF threatens to block constitution

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

12/02/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

ZANU PF has threatened to block the new constitution over a clause that
could likely bar President Robert Mugabe from running for another term in
office.

According to the first draft of a new constitution released last week: "a
person is disqualified for election as President if he or she has already
held office for one or more periods, whether continuous or not, amounting to
10 years”.

If adopted, the clause would block Mugabe, who turns 88 this year and has
ruled the country since independence in 1980, from running again.

The veteran leader was nominated by Zanu PF as its candidate for elections
the party is demanding must be held this year despite concerns over his
advanced age and reported failing health.
Zanu PF surrogates have already blasted the proposal as a personalised
attack on Mugabe.

"The draft is personalised to attack President Mugabe. Here is a
constitution being drafted...to disqualify the leader of one of the
parties," the Zanu PF-leaning Herald newspaper quoted an unnamed source as
saying.

The party’s representative on the parliamentary committee leading the
writing of the new constitution added that Mugabe would never sign off the
new charter if it blocked him from contesting the new elections.
“President Mugabe has already said he is contesting the next elections,”
Paul Mangwana told the Standard newspaper.

“As long as I am in Copac, there is no way we are going to allow a draft
which is detrimental to my party (Zanu PF) and its leader.”

“We are going to discuss issues to do with executive powers next week. What
is contained in the draft document are proposals by drafters but Copac is
yet to take a position.”

Zimbabwe is writing a new constitution as part of a raft of reforms expected
to lead to the new elections.
Zanu PF accuses its rivals of deliberately holding back work on the new
constitution in order to delay the elections.

The party insists fresh polls are needed to replace the coalition government
which Mugabe says has been rendered dysfunctional by constant disputes.
But Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party say the new
elections cannot be held until the reforms are completed.

“One can see they are running out of time on their candidate. President
Mugabe’s health is definitely a serious worry to Zanu PF,” Tsvangirai said
in a recent interview.

MDC-T denies corruption, defends record

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

12/02/2012 00:00:00
    by Violet Gonda I VOA

TENSIONS are mounting between the Minister of Local Government, Ignatius
Chombo, and councils controlled by the Movement for Democratic Change over
local authority management as delivery of key services slumps nationwide.

Deteriorating infrastructure, disintegrating roads and broken-down water and
sewer systems have hampered normal municipal operations.

The MDC formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai has accused Chombo of meddling in
council business in many municipalities, and of attempting to sack and
replace councilors with Zanu PF officials under the guise of special
interests.

Chombo says he is doing his job by firing errant councilors from the former
opposition MDC, citing poor performance and corruption. He suspended scores
of councilors last year including the mayors of Bindura and Chinhoyi. In
January he suspended one of his most outspoken adversaries, Mutare mayor
Brain James, alleging misconduct, an accusation James rejects.

In parliament, a motion has been tabled proposing to amend the Urban
Councils Act to reduce the powers of the controversial minister.
For perspective on this widespread dispute, Voice of America reporter Violet
Gonda spoke with deputy local government minister Cecil Zvidzai of the MDC
and Former president Gerry Gotora of the Association of Rural District
Councils of Zimbabwe:

Zvidzai:  There is no disaster in this country at local government level.
Services are forever improving and the councils have done so well in terms
of improving the delivery of portable water, in terms of improving refuse
management, in terms of solid waste management. All that has improved, and
the index to measure that is around the cholera pandemic. In 2008-9 we lost
lives due to cholera and this is associated with poor water and sanitation.

Our local authorities have improved significantly. You have not seen any
major strike in the local authorities because they are very consultative,
they involve the people and the people are generally happy with the
ever-improving levels of services they enjoy, which are improving with the
emerging economy.

The problem we have got is political. The problem is serious interference,
the abuse of the law by the minister to score a few political points – as a
result of a disappointment that they lost at the plebiscite in 2008. Zanu PF
lost all urban local authorities. But the minister wants to reverse the
desires of the people through the use of administrative powers to remove MDC
councilors and replace them with Zanu PF functionaries.

GONDA: Mr. Gotora is this a correct assessment of the local government?

GOTORA: It is not a fair assessment particularly when it is coming from a
former mayor of a city (Gweru) that was very well planned and that was very
clean at some stage – which today looks like it has never been cleaned at
all. The problem in local government right now is that people politicize
refuse removal; people politicize water delivery just because my political
party has won therefore nobody should touch them.

Let me take you to the beginning – all new councilors require training and
it not the responsibility only of government to train people in local
government. The association, which I led for more than 20 years, was doing
fantastic training and that is no longer there because the association
appears to have no leadership at all because they are politicizing it.

Furthermore, the issue of non-demonstrations in urban areas does not mean
that people are satisfied. Zimbabweans are civilized people.
It’s unfortunate that the deputy minister is speaking like he is speaking
from a political party office. The removal of solid waste in the country at
the moment is probably at its worst. There are dumps and dumps of rubbish –
even in First Street in Harare, which you never used to see. If you go to
the mayor’s office- right in from of the mayor’s office in Gweru – which Mr.
Zvidzai was proud of he cannot tell me the current mayor is proud of that.

The councilors need training, the councilors need guidance, the councilors
need financing – this is what Mr. Zvidzai should be talking about, that we
need to finance these councilors so that they perform better.

Corruption is at its highest because I know of some deputy mayor who had no
house in Zimbabwe but now he is living in a double story mansion in a very
expensive suburb in Harare. Where did he suddenly get the money? Some of the
councilors didn’t even have an Anglia car but now they are moving in Range
Rovers and 4x4s - and people say there is no corruption?

I was in local government for more than 40 years but I don’t have anything
to show for it. I don’t even have a stand in rural township because
councilors then were clean, they were not power hungry and they were not
there to deliver benefits to themselves but to deliver services to the
people.

Any mayor or councilor worth his salt should not suddenly become a
billionaire in terms of acquiring properties. No that’s wrong.

GONDA: Let me get a response from Mr. Zvidzai. Mr. Gotora says - the
situation is deteriorating and corruption is rife. What does it say about
the MDC operations when all the councilors are from the MDC?

ZVIDZAI:  Well I don’t know where my colleague is living. If he lives in
Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare or Gweru he should be the first one to admit that
the emerging economy has with it carried an improvement in services. With
respect to corruption, let me say that from a statistical point of view,
from a study of these numbers and the behavior of people - there is what is
called the Pareto Principal – 20 percent of any normal population is
abnormal.

So what I am saying is that 20 percent of randomly elected councilors may be
corrupt –maybe out of the normal – so it’s fairly normal if it is about 20
percent. In our case, the Minister of Local Government uses the sternest
test, the un-fairest measures against these councilors and to date he has
suspended 12 councilors out of a total of 800 councilors.

When these councilors challenged the minister’s decision in the High Court,
six were found not guilty at all, which means six out of 800 is less than
two percent. So it’s not numbers that you have to write to the moon about to
say Zimbabwe is decaying under corruption. They are simply being tested very
un-fairly and the propaganda machinery has been set in motion in the
strongest way to rubbish the MDC rather than to tell the truth – but the
truth of the matter is that services are improving, corruption is not that
high compared to the past but it’s just the measurements that are unfair.
GONDA: Mr. Gotora what can you say … (interrupted)

GOTORA: If I happened to be Minister of Local Government tomorrow I would
dissolve most of the councils. Our current Vice President when he was
Minister of Local Government he dissolved 12 local authorities in the
country – that’s 12. There was no opposition councilor, it was coming from
the same party but he dissolved them because of poor performance.

Minister Chombo has been very lenient with these councilors because he is
afraid of being labeled anti a particular political party. If I were the
minister, I’d dissolve them all because they have performed poorly!

If he says it is normal to have 20 percent of corrupt people I don’t know
which world he lives in. As Zimbabweans we don’t entertain even 0.02 percent
of corrupt practices. Yes corruption is there and we must get rid of it.
Minister Chombo has actually been slow in nipping this cancer in its bud.
The councilors who are there today are the worst crop of councilors because
I am an experienced councilor, I am a leader of local government, I am
practitioner by profession not by politics, not by election but by
profession. These people have failed and they must go like yesterday!

GONDA: But Mr. Gotora is it really only about poor performance by the
councilors or it’s also about serious interference by the minister?

GOTORA: The law as it stands today, when I was in local government and when
I was a leader of the local authorities in this country I suggested that
either we have 46 amendments to the local government laws, and Mr. Zvidzai
supported me at that time, but since he has been in government he has not
said a word about those changes.

The current parliament which is almost more MDC than ZANU PF no one has said
a word about coming up with a new local government law or the 46 amendments
which I suggested some seven years ago. For them to start blaming Minister
Chombo when he is using the law as it is obtaining today that’s unfair.

So it is the parliamentarians who are wrong, they must change the law not a
single minister. We have what are called ‘members amendments’ or ‘members
motions’ in parliament but I have not heard a members motion talking about
introducing the local government law or talking about amending certain
sections of the law, but when the minister uses law people say he is wrong
and if he doesn’t use the law people say there is no rule of law. I don’t
know what kind of world we are living in.
GONDA: Mr. Zvidzai what can you say about this?

ZVIDZAI: I can see that my eminent colleague who I largely agreed with so
much with respect to law reform is a little bit outdated. At the moment if
he goes to the government gazette he will see that a bill has been gazetted
to reduce the powers of the minister and strengthen the powers of councils
because the biggest problem - the abuse of a law that is already bad is what’s
happening. The minister… (interrupted)

GOTORA: If there is an amendment let there be an amendment but for now he
must be allowed to use the law as it obtains.
GONDA: Mr. Gotora please let the deputy minister finish.

ZVIDZAI: The portfolio committee on local government, which comprises Zanu
PF and the MDC, has agreed that the biggest problem is the abuse of the law
and they want to tighten it so that the minister cannot abuse it for his
political ends. This is why this law has been gazetted and it has actually
been promoted by the local government portfolio committee not even MDC – we
are all, as a nation, agreed that this law is being abused.

GONDA: What about the issues Mr. Gotora raised that the minister has been
very lenient with the MDC councilors who he says were dismissed because of
poor performance.

ZVIDZAI: Well I have suffered at the hands of the minister when I was Mayor
of Gweru. I was investigated once every year for four years although the
minister knew there was nothing I was doing wrong. Similarly at the moment
he is busy harassing these mayors and he is busy rescinding resolutions, he
is busy stopping them from making decisions effectively to deliver to the
people. Minister Chombo is on an agenda to cause the councils to fail so
that he can point at these councilors and say they are not educated, they
are from the MDC.

When the truth of the matter is that he is just being political. It’s not
coincidental that he has upped the tempo during an election year. Recent
dismals include the Mayor of Chinhoyi, the Mayor of Mutare and the Chairman
of Zvishavane. It’s not coincidental it’s about election thinking, it’s not
about the people it’s about power, power, power – that’s the paradigm.

International arrest warrant for Zimbabwean businessman

http://www.africalegalbrief.com

Sunday, 12 February 2012 12:22

Zimbabwean police have issued an international warrant of arrest for
flamboyant businessman Frank Buyanga, who reportedly fled the country last
year after swindling people of more than US$4 million.Buyanga was known for
his extravagant lifestlye, often flaunting a collection of some of the
world's most expensive vehicles.

According to the police, Buyanga, who fled the country at the end of last
year, was using an alias and was previously believed to be holed up in South
Africa, but latest revelations were that he may be in Kenya. Police said
they had since communicated with Interpol and forwarded a copy of his
fingerprints.
Buyanga is said to have swindled over 500 property owners in Zimbabwe, among
them politicians, musicians and businesspeople, through his money-lending
company, Hamilton Finance.
It is believed that Buyanga would lend people varying amounts, ranging from
US$2 000 to US$60 000, on condition that they surrendered title deeds to
their properties and as well as other sureties, including vehicles.
The recipients were made to sign agreements of sale documents giving his
company powers of attorney and an eviction notice which were to be used in
the event that they failed to settle their debts.
The lending rate was 10 percent of the total borrowed money and, on default,
Buyanga would allegedly charge 1 percent penalty on the accumulated figure
on a daily basis.
He, however, sold most of the properties and vehicles while the owners were
still servicing their
debts.
Some of the houses and residential stands allegedly sold were in areas such
as Milton Park, Hatfield, Braeside, Belgravia, Bluff Hill, Borrowdale,
Norton, Highlands, Mandara, Glen Lorne, Greendale, Mufakose, Greystone Park
and Waterfalls.
It is alleged that of the victims, 16 had surrendered title deeds of their
houses which were valued at over US$3 675 000.
The police have since written to the Attorney- General's Office asking them
to extradite Buyanga back to Zimbabwe to face trial for his alleged
offences.
They are also awaiting a green light from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
allow them to physically track down the suspect.
Police sources yesterday said Buyanga was also wanted by the British police
for failing to appear before that country's court on charges of conspiracy
to commit fraud in 2010.
"Our latest information is that Buyanga is now using another name and is in
Kenya. We are told that he has left South Africa and once we get authority
from the Foreign Affairs Ministry this week, we will hunt him down and bring
him back home to answer his cases.
"We have also established that he has new identity documents. While in the
United Kingdom, he was known as Tawanda," said Assistant Inspector Tom
Muleya of the Police Serious Frauds Section.
The police said they were monitoring Buyanga's movements and had also
discovered that he had acquired several Zimbabwean birth certificates and
passports.

Even President Was Chosen By God

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, February 11, 2012 -Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says that he was
God chosen to lead Zimbabwe even though there are some people who do not
like his selection.

Speaking to a capacity crowd that filled the Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza
on Saturday at a prayer meeting that was organized by churches in Zimbabwe
but snubbed by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF wing of the troubled
coalition, Tsvangirai quoted the Bible.

“I am blessed to be chosen among the multitude to leader the country. I was
chosen by God because it is said in the Bible leaders are chosen by God,” he
said to applause from the crowd.

Some service chiefs have vowed that the MDC-T leader will never rule the
country because he does not have liberation war credentials.

“Whether you like me or not you should remember that I was chosen, even
President Robert Mugabe was selected by God. What you should do is to pray
for us as the leaders of the country so that we have the vision to deliver
the nation,” he said.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai bitter political rival was not at the prayer meeting
despite having been invited by church leaders who on Saturday prayed for the
deliverance from political violence and other adversities.

The prayer was held on the 11th the day that the now dysfunctional
Government of National Unity was established three years ago by Mugabe,
Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in order to put a seal
on political violence and to save the nation from political and economic
crisis that were precipitated by Zanu PF misrule for over a decade.

But even with a GNU in place peace in Zimbabwe has been elusive.

“We formed the government argued for peace so why are we fighting today,
chibharanzi kurova vamwe vanhu (it is silly to resort to violence) towards
elections. But as leader of the government we shall continue to preach peace
until we get stability. President Mugabe also wants peace but now it is a
question of sincerity,” he said.

Tsvangirai said that it is not negotiable for the country to have peace
saying that stability is the key to stability and progress.

Women of Zimbabwe Arise: Amnesty Urgent Action

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

 

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, founders of the social justice movement Woza, face trial in Bulawayo after a peaceful protest

 

• The Observer, Sunday 12 February 2012

Magodonga Mahlangu and Jenni Williams, founders of Woza, face trial in Zimbabwe.

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) is a social justice movement created 10 years ago this week to unite Zimbabwean women and help them speak out against the social, economic and human rights problems they face. It currently has around 70,000 members.

Last September, police arrested 12 Woza members who were on a peaceful march to commemorate the International Day of Peace. They detained them in poor and overcrowded conditions for periods ranging from a few hours to several days. Ten were released without charge, but Jenni Williams, 49, and Magodonga Mahlangu, 39, the leaders of the movement, now face trial in Bulawayo on charges of "kidnapping and theft".

On 16 January this year, a judge rejected their application for the case to be dropped. Woza is concerned that language differences between the judge and the key witnesses could have played a part in the decision. With no audio recording of the trial, Woza fears a miscarriage of justice.

Since Woza was founded, Amnesty International has recorded numerous incidents where members have been arrested, harassed and beaten by police, simply for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Woza activists have reported being severely beaten while in detention, being held in stress positions for long periods, or having plastic bags put over their heads when they refused to talk.

Over the years, Jenni and Magodonga have been particularly targeted; Jenni has been arrested around 40 times. They are seen as troublemakers and are regularly locked up on spurious grounds, sometimes without access to a lawyer and in horrendous, cramped conditions.

Write to the Zimbabwean deputy commissioner-general (crime) and call on him to respect the right of Woza activists to gather and peacefully express their views here.

‘Youths must demand political space’

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Lloyd Mbiba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 12 February 2012 09:39

HARARE - Nelson Chamisa the organising secretary of the mainstream MDC party
says the country’s youths should boldly demand political space because it
will not come on a silver plate.

Chamisa made these remarks on Friday evening while addressing a Youth
Leadership Training graduation ceremony held in Harare.

“Youths need to hijack and demand tomorrow. Our tomorrow is today. Political
power is not like bananas, one has to demand in order to have. I demanded
and look where l am today,” Chamisa said.

“You cannot arrive if you have not gone through the clutches of pain. If you
want to locate the door to the State House you must go to the Chikurubi
Maximum Prison.”

Chamisa identified former MDC spokesperson, the late Learnmore Jongwe as one
of the youthful heroes that Zimbabwe has had.

According to the state, Jongwe committed suicide while in prison in 2002
while awaiting trial over the murder of his wife.

Chamisa urged the Zimbabwean youths to actively participate in processes
governing the country such as the constitution-making.

Sixty youths graduated from the Youth Leadership Training programme
organised by the Germany Embassy.

German ambassador to Zimbabwe, Hans Gunter Gnodtke said the recognition of
youth leaders was a clear reflection that his country was committed to the
cause of democracy.

Meanwhile, former ambassador to China, Christopher Mutsvangwa who was
present at the graduation ceremony launched a stinging attack on Nelson
Chamisa.

Speaking to the Daily News on Sunday, Mutsvangwa said:
“How can you say a man who killed his wife and committed suicide in prison
is a hero? His speech was good but he missed it on that point. He is an
inexperienced guy.

“It is a disgrace on an ethical point of view to label a murderer a hero. We
have too many heroes in Zanu PF, he can come to us and we tell him who is a
hero.”

Mpofu is man to watch in Zimbabwe

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

MARK SCOFIELD | 12 February, 2012 20:05

Obert Mpofu is Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development, but he's
better known for his strong opposition to the ban on the country's Marange
diamonds by Western countries over the last three years.

Mpofu's defiance of the West paid off last November and resulted in the
lifting of a trade ban imposed by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
on Zimbabwe's Marange diamonds, a victory which the 60-year-old Mpofu, a
fierce ally of President Robert Mugabe, and known to sign off letters to
Mugabe as "your ever-obedient son", continues to bask.

But now strong indications are that the Umguza-Nyamandlovu legislator may be
seeking to step out of the shadows and cast his influence within his own
Zanu-PF party - and clearly has his eyes set on becoming Zanu-PF's new Mr
Big.

With elections looming, Mpofu has the one thing that Zanu-PF needs to pull
in voters - money - and he has lots of it too.

Last weekend, Mpofu threw a birthday and graduation party at his Nyamandlovu
farm, which attracted 10 000 guests and is rumoured to have cost $100000.

The lavish treats of the day-long festivity included the slaughter of 10
cattle and 2000 chickens and live performances from top Zimbabwean
musicians.

Observers say the huge turnout, a rare show of numbers by a politician,
could not be ignored as Zimbabwe enters an election season and clearly shows
that Mpofu was on the prowl.

However, it is the host of Zanu-PF bigwigs that turned up for the birthday
party that set tongues wagging over Mpofu's possible allegiance to the
faction of hardliners in Zanu-PF, which is also said to have received a
boost from the buzz created by the festivities.

Zanu-PF's factions are known to depend on the financial prowess of its
supporters to strengthen its position.

The late army general Solomon Mujuru was seen as having roped in his vast
wealth - in farming, diamond mining and cattle ranching - to propel his wife
Joyce Mujuru to the post of deputy president in 2004, ahead of arch-rival
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The high-profile turn-out at Mpofu's birthday party included Mnangagwa,
Saviour Kasukuwere, the Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment
minister and Deputy President John Nkomo, who Mpofu at one time sought to
challenge for the post of deputy president.

Addressing delegates Kasukuwere marvelled at Mpofu's pulling power and said;
"Now I see why he [Mpofu] is a big man, because of all this support that he
has. None of you have been forcibly brought here by the army. This is
amazing and I am glad to say so, you can only come like this to a person
that you love".

Political analyst Dumisani Nkomo conceded that Mpofu's birthday party had
catapulted him to the forefront of Zimbabwe's political stage and his show
of wealth would in the long run bear on his status in President Mugabe's
Zanu-PF party.

However, endless rumours abound about how Mpofu made his riches; which
include safari lodges in Victoria Falls, farms and cattle ranches across the
country, a chain of supermarket stores in Bulawayo, and several high-rise
properties and flats dotted around Bulawayo's city centre.

Mpofu has rebuffed claims that his wealth was "ill-gotten" and said he made
his money through "securing loans" to finance his projects.

But persistent speculation is that the country's Marange diamonds, of which
Mpofu has direct oversight, have been used to line his pocket.

Last year, Lovemore Kurotwi, an official from Canadile Miners, accused Mpofu
of soliciting a bribe of $10-million in order for his mining company to
acquire a mining licence in Marange - fuelling suspicions of clandestine
deals being carried out by Mpofu.

But Mpofu seemingly remained unphased by the rumours and allegations last
year as he furthered his studies and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy
in Policy Studies from the Zimbabwe Open University - seen as another boost
for his credentials.

Courts closure and typhoid outbreak-a result of official and criminal negligence

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) expresses its concerns over the
closure of the Harare Magistrates Court on Friday 10 February 2012 following
a suspected typhoid fever outbreak.
12.02.1212:26pm
by ZLHR

According to media reports which were verified with and confirmed by court
officials, court sittings were suspended on Friday 10 February 2012 after a
suspected typhoid fever outbreak and prolonged water outages at the building
housing one of the country’s “court of first instance,” where matters
including those seeking to protect human rights can be directly brought
before the judiciary.

The typhoid outbreak which is wrecking havoc in most high density suburbs
and the water shortages are a result of official and criminal negligence
that has brought despair to court officials, families, communities and the
nation at large.

The development is an embarrassing sign of the state of collapse and dire
situation in the country and adds to a numberless list of many state
institutions like hospitals and universities that have been operating
without adequate water among other economic ills facing the country.

The closure of the court-a vehicle for protecting human rights seriously
undermines the enjoyment of the constitutionally recognized right of
protection of the law for litigants, detainees, and even convicted prisoners
whose matters are on appeal who have to suffer from the consequences that
are not of their making.

Working in such buildings is a health hazard to magistrates, prosecutors,
clerks, court officials and members of the public who have continued to be
exposed to nearly inhumane conditions that have characterized Rotten Row
court, for a while. The state and indeed government is obliged to ensure the
existence, functioning, efficiency and effectiveness of such courts and
tribunals as the Harare Magistrates Court.

The closure of the Harare Magistrates Court undermines the rights of
lawyers, detainees and even convicted prisoners whose matters were on appeal
and could not be heard.

It is alarming and quite unusual for such a preventable and medieval disease
to continue to incommode people in this day and age.

Human health and quality of life are at the centre of international efforts
to develop sustainable communities and countries. Good health throughout the
life-span of every man, woman and child are fundamental to ensuring that
people of all ages are able to participate fully in the social, economic and
political processes of their communities and country.

ZLHR holds the coalition government, and through it the Harare City Council
and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), accountable for the
typhoid fever epidemic and the disruption to court business as they have
failed to provide basic health services, medical treatment and services,
clean running water and sanitary surrounds to people in high density suburbs
(and other areas) so as to adequately respond to and contain the spread of
the avoidable disease. The failure by the government to swiftly respond to
the typhoid epidemic is an unacceptable failure of leadership.

These wanton infections are intolerable and shameful, and the State’s
failure is merely a replication of other high level failures, where the
citizenry has now been disenfranchised of almost all their basic human
rights.

ZLHR reminds the government that human rights relating to health are set out
in many international and regional human rights instruments such as Article
25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 12 of the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights amongst others and, as a State Party to
these, the government of Zimbabwe is obliged to ensure the realization of
these rights. Failure by the government to guarantee and respect citizens’
right to health thus amounts to a serious violation of both local and
international law.

It is therefore essential to take a holistic approach to the realization of
the right to health whereby both prevention and care are placed at the
centre of the health delivery system in the country.

In the circumstances, ZLHR calls upon the government including local
authorities as well as ZINWA to:

• Immediately take swift and visible corrective measures to prevent further
outbreaks of typhoid, contain the epidemic, and prevent further outbreaks.

• Take urgent action to ensure that all affected people obtain urgent
medical assistance and treatment.

• Provide clean running water and sanitary environs to affected communities
and others at risk to halt the spread of the disease.

• ZLHR calls upon the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
and relevant authorities to ensure that the Harare Magistrates Court and
indeed all courts in Zimbabwe are given all the necessary tools and
essentials to enable them to function properly, timeously and effectively in
exercising their judicial authority.

Book Review

http://www.independent.co.uk

The White Shadow, By Andrea Eames

A muted voice spinning a bold yarn
Lesley McDowell

Sunday 12 February 2012

Andrea Eames is a lovely writer, but has the quiet kind of voice that, I
suspect, won't attract the attention she deserves. This second novel, like
her first, is set in Zimbabwe, but whereas The Cry of the Go-Away Bird was
told from the point of view of a young white girl, this time she has chosen
a young black boy, Tinashe, to lead the narrative.

In the background of this late Sixties and early Seventies-set story is the
guerrilla war against white-ruled Rhodesia, and Eames carefully weaves in
the violence from that struggle with the upbringing of Tinashe and his
strange, otherworldly little sister, Hazvinei. This is a bolder and welcome
move for Eames, writing outside of her own direct experience.

‘Seized’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 11th February 2012

A quick survey of the stalwarts braving the icy weather at the Vigil showed that virtually all those who have any resources are sending money home to support their families – a considerable sacrifice. We believe this is true of the diaspora as a whole. So the bank liquidity problems in Zimbabwe are of anxious interest.

What gave us thought about Ncube’s comment was the use of the  phrase ‘seized with’ .It has been pointed out to us that when this was last in general use in the UK a hundred or so years ago it meant ‘dealing with’. We fear Ncube has picked the phrase up from his relative President Zuma who for the past few years is said to have been ‘seized with’ the issue of Zimbabwe. Not much ‘dealing with’ there . . . 

It struck us, however, that the word ‘seized’ is singularly appropriate for Zimbabwe. Seizing seems to be what we are good at: seizing the farms, seizing the diamonds, seizing government revenue, seizing the national heritage, seizing the money itself. Well, we think the only seizure that would improve life for Zimbabweans would be a seizure of power from the rapacious gangsters in charge.

Other points

·         Representatives from the Jubilee debt campaign came and spoke to us about their demand for a debt audit in Zimbabwe to establish where the money went. They left us information material which will be available on the front table.

·         Stella and Ellen of the Zimbabwe Association (ZA) came to invite Vigil supporters to a screening of a new film:  ‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21^st February from 2 – 5 pm. There will be a question and answer session with the director after the screening. For more details see Events and Notices section. Stella also spoke about ZA’s plans to hold a community day in May with sports and a talent show.

·         We are pleased that our supporter Patrick Chatakuta was not sent home on Tuesday 7^th February but he is still in detention and his solicitors are working to get him released.

·         After our first Zimbabwe Action Forum last week, Vigil founder member Ephraim Tapa was interviewed for SW Radio Africa’s Diaspora Diaries on 7^th February about how the diaspora can get involved in Zimbabwe’s democratic transition. To listen to the interview, check: http://www.2bctnd.net/swra_wp/?p=13494. 

·         The Vigil has written a letter to the Home Office to clarify the latest situation regarding our sister organization Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe. To read the letter, check: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/367-vigil-letter-to-the-home-office-re-rohr-clarification.

·         A cheerful group of students dropped by and asked us to write a few words for a book ‘written by Britain’. Here was our entry ‘Britain gives people the freedom to be the voice of the voiceless unlike Zimbabwe’.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

FOR THE RECORD: 52 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·         New film ‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21^st February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG. Please reply to: info@zimbabweassociation.org.uk or leave a message on 020 7739 8226.

·         Second Free Zimbabwe Global Protest organized by the MDC diaspora to put pressure on South Africa to do something about Zimbabwe. Tuesday 21^st February from 12 noon to 4.30 pm. Meet at the Zimbabwe Embassy at 12 noon. Protesters will move to the South African High Commission at 2 pm. For more information contact Tonderai Samanyanga 07917 742 022.

·         Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 3^rd March from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent.  Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

·         Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011-.  Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.

·         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. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.

·         ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.

·         The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.

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

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

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.

Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series - 11th February 2012 [Meetings Open to Public 13-16 February]