Zimbabwean diamond field 'run by Robert Mugabe's police chiefs'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

A Zimbabwean diamond field said to be the largest in the world is being
mined by companies staffed by Robert Mugabe's police and military chiefs who
may use the proceeds to crack down on opposition supporters, Global Witness
has warned.

By Peta Thornycroft and Aislinn Laing in Johannesburg

8:00AM GMT 14 Feb 2012

A study by Global Witness marks the first comprehensive attempt to pin down
ownership of two companies awarded the rights to mine at Marange, in eastern
Zimbabwe, since concessions were awarded by the mining ministry – run by Mr
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party – four years ago.

It reveals that one company has among its directors members of Mr Mugabe's
security services who have previously been implicated in vote-rigging and
political violence in the run-up to elections.

The other is part-owned by companies registered in tax havens such as Hong
Kong and the British Virgin Islands, making its beneficiaries virtually
impossible to identify.

Tendai Biti, the finance minister and a member of the Movement for
Democratic Change in Zimbabwe's fractious coalition government, has
repeatedly complained about the disappearance of diamond revenues which it
was hoped might help to revive the shattered economy.

Global Witness claims that instead, the security forces could be channelling
the profits into a "war chest" that could be used to act against dissenting
voices in elections expected this year or next.

"Control by the military and police over a major diamond miner creates
opportunities for off-budget funding of the security sector," the report
said. "There is a real risk of these revenues being used to finance violence
during a future election."

Military chiefs, many of whom fought under Robert Mugabe in the independence
war, have already made clear that they will not allow an MDC victory.

Global Witness is appealing to the Southern African Development Community,
charged with keeping the peace in Zimbabwe, to push for the cancellation of
the mining contracts and greater transparency in future.

"Zimbabwe desperately needs these diamond revenues for health, education and
the refinancing of its banks," said Nick Donovan, the Global Witness
researcher who compiled the report. "It does not need it to be spent on
AK47s or the repression of its people."

Mr Donovan said it was unlikely to be coincidence that so many senior
military figures were on the board of one of the mining companies. "That
number of officials suggests that the government is in control," he said.
"It looks like a Zanu-PF government decision to control one of these diamond
mining firms as a war chest."

Marange diamond fields are home to an estimated 25 per cent of the world's
diamonds. They first made international headlines in 2008 when they were
seized by the Zimbabwean military, which used helicopter gunships to clear
the area of illegal diggers when the extent of the subterranean bounty
became clear. Last year, Global Witness claimed that locals were being
forced to work for soldiers, then smuggle the stones over the Mozambican
border to sell. Their proceeds were then returned to the military, it
alleged.

After widespread condemnation, the fields were divided up among favoured
companies. Leading the pack were the Chinese, whose Exim bank provided the
Zimbabweans with a $98 million loan to rebuild their defence college in
return for a concession at Marange.

Anjin, a joint venture between a Chinese and a Zimbabwean company, intends
to produce two million carats a month. According to Global Witness, as well
as Chinese businessmen, Anjin has on its board the ministry of defence
permanent secretary along with a Zanu-PF official, two police commissioners
and two Zimbabwe defence force officers.

Anjin's company secretary is listed as being Charles Tarumbwa. A brigadier,
Charles Tarumbwa is on the EU sanctions list for what it describes as his
role in "the terror campaign waged before and during elections".

The second company, Mbada, is run by Robert Mhlanga, a former air
vice-marshal in the Zimbabwean air force, who was at one time Mr Mugabe's
personal helicopter pilot and a prosecution witness in the 2003 treason
trial of Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader.

Mbada is associated with a network of companies based in Mauritius, Dubai,
the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. "The secrecy surrounding the real
owners of Mbada has the potential opportunity for officials or military
figures to personally benefit from a state asset," the Global Witness report
said.

Mr Biti said the results of the study did not surprise him. "I know the
money [from the sale of Marange diamonds] is being stolen, but I don't have
any proof of how it is being stolen," he said.

Neither Anjin nor Mbada could be reached for comment.

Global Witness Tells Consumers: Don't Let Mugabe be Your Valentine!

http://www.diamonds.net/

Feb 14, 2012 1:33 PM   By Jeff Miller

RAPAPORT... It is Valentine's Day -- the day for lovers to exchange jewelry
gifts -- and the day that Global Witness published a report showing how
diamond purchases may ultimately be funding Zimbabwe's military.

The report, ''Diamonds: A Good Deal for Zimbabwe?,'' reveals names of
high-level military officials who are serving on the board of  Anjin
Investments, one of the largest mining companies operating in Zimbabwe’s
controversial Marange diamond fields.  According to the group, Anjin’s
executive board includes, Martin Rushwaya, the permanent secretary in the
Ministry of Defense; Oliver Chibage, a commissioner in the Zimbabwe Republic
Police (ZRP);  Nonkosi M. Ncube, a commissioner in the ZRP;  Munyaradzi
Machacha, a ZANU-PF director of publications; Mabasa Temba Hawadi, a
director of Marange Resources, a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation (ZMDC), which also faces U.S. sanctions.

Anjin's non-executive board members were listed as: Morris Masunungure, a
current or retired officer in the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) and  Romeo
Daniel Mutsvunguma, a retired colonel in the ZDF alleged by Human Rights
Watch to have participated in violence in 2008.

The report also revealed that 25 percent of Mbada Diamonds  was handed to a
company linked with a man widely reported to be President Robert Mugabe’s
former personal pilot, and which has an opaque company structure based in
tax havens.  Mbada, which was recently added to U.S. sanctions, was given a
diamond mining concession in 2009 under questionable circumstances and is
chaired by former air vice-marshal Robert Mhlanga, a prosecution witness in
the 2003 treason trial of then MDC opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangarai, and
widely reported to have been Mugabe’s personal pilot.

Mbada, which was recently added to the U.S. sanctions list,  was a joint
venture between Zimbabwe and Grandwell Holdings, which is registered in
Mauritius but owned by Reclam, a South African scrap-metal company.  But in
the most recent financial year, 50 percent of Grandwell was passed to
Transfrontier, which has an opaque company structure based in secrecy
jurisdictions, Global Witness found. The beneficial owners of Transfrontier
are unknown. However Global Witness research revealed the firm’s connections
to Mhlanga.

''Zimbabwe desperately needs diamond revenues for health and education
services, not AK47s and flash cars for the elite,'' said Nick Donovan, a
senior campaigner at Global Witness. ''Zimbabwe must ensure that diamond
mining companies are not used as an off-budget cash-cow by ZANU PF loyalists
in the military and police. If the next election is accompanied by violence
there’s a real risk that any bloodshed will be funded by diamond revenues.''

In 2008, Zimbabwe's  army took control of the Marange diamond fields using
troops and helicopter gunships, killing and wounding many small scale miners
in the process. Since that time, violence has subsided and diamond
concessions have been allocated to several companies in questionable
circumstances, Global Witness contended.

Global Witness defined Anjin Investments as a joint venture between "an
obscure" Zimbabwean firm called Matt Bronze and a Chinese construction
company.  Global Witness’s investigation into Mbada Diamonds revealed a
matrix reporting structure hiding in the jurisdictions of Mauritius, Hong
Kong, British Virgin Islands and Dubai.

''Corporate anonymity and the use of secrecy jurisdictions can be used to
hide the true beneficiaries of business deals and have the potential to
conceal corruption, tax avoidance or off-budget government spending. The
Zimbabwean government and Mbada should immediately publish all contracts and
details of revenue flows to allay such fears,'' said Donovan.

Both Mbada and Anjin were cleared for exporting rough diamonds in November.
"Over the past three years the [Kimberley Process], which was set up to stop
the trade in blood diamonds, has failed to address state-sponsored violence
in the Marange diamond fields and resisted calls for reform," the group's
statement noted. Global Witness, which was a founding member of the
Kimberley Process,  left the scheme in December.

''Given the failures of the Kimberley Process the diamond industry urgently
needs to implement a system of ‘supply chain due diligence’ in order to give
consumers the confidence to buy diamonds without any risk that they fund
human rights abuses,'' concluded Donovan.

Global Witness recommended that Zimbabwe must cancel Anjin's contract,
review all Marange-related diamond mining contracts, and audit rough diamond
operations to date.

Furthermore, the government should pass legislation that bans  members of
Zimbabwe’s security sector from serving and exerting any control over mining
companies – including being the beneficial owners of subsidiaries of
companies operating in the country’s sector, and immediately audit every
concession granted so far in the Marange and publish details of the
beneficial owners of Mbada and Anjin.

Global Witness also raised several questions for discussion in its report.

1) Do Anjin and Mbada’s corporate structures benefit Zimbabwe’s people?

2) Do Anjin or Matt Bronze make any payments direct to the Ministry of
Defense, Ministry of Home Affairs, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe
Defense Force, Central Intelligence Organization or the Office of the
president and Cabinet?

3) Is Transfrontier International actively trading in Mbada-produced
diamonds in Dubai?  If so, how are the transfer prices governing the sale of
diamonds between two related companies (Transfrontier and Mbada) determined?
And, if so, how does this affect the taxes paid to the Zimbabwean treasury?

4) Who are the ultimate beneficial owners of Matt Bronze and Mbada and
associated companies including Transfrontier, and related firms registered
in Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands and Dubai, Skyview Minerals, Reclam and
Liparm?

5) Was the transfer of 50 percent of Grandwell Holdings to Transfrontier
Mining Company made in return for the grant of an extra 6,440 hectares
concession area? If so, why was 50 percent of Grandwell transferred to
Transfrontier, registered in Hong Kong, rather than to the Presidency of
Zimbabwe, in whom mineral rights are vested by law?

WOZA Valentines protest disrupted by police

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
14 February 2012

Two journalists were arrested on Tuesday as riot police broke up a
Valentines Day demonstration by the pressure group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise
(WOZA).

One of the coordinators, Magodonga Mahlangu, told SW Radio Africa that a
journalist from the ZANU PF controlled Herald newspaper and freelance
journalist Anderson Manyere were being held at Harare Central Police
station. Several other journalists trying to cover the march were targeted.

Two different processions of  WOZA members marched to Parliament building
where they planned to hand over a ‘WOZA Moya’10th anniversary newsletter
which documented the harsh conditions of beatings and arrests that the group
have had to endure since it was formed.

Mahlangu told us a truckload of 10 riot police arrived and stood between
them and  Parliament building. For 20 minutes the two sides faced off while
the women continued singing and chanting slogans. The police kept telling
the women to disperse during this period.

A second procession of WOZA demonstrators arrived later and this was also
met by another truckload of some 50 riot police. It was this second
deployment of  police that dispersed the crowds and police then began
beating up people indiscriminately.

Mahlangu and fellow coordinator Jenni Williams are still awaiting the
resolution of a court case in which the Mugabe regime is accusing them of
‘theft’ and ‘kidnapping’. Both have already sought the intervention of the
High Court to review the proceedings currently underway in the Magistrates
Court.

Meanwhile Amnesty International has launched an online protest plan,
encouraging people to “call on the Zimbabwean authorities to stop the
harassment of WOZA members.”

The Amnesty website allows people to enter their details and be e-mailed a
letter of protest which they can fax to the Police Deputy
Commissioner-General in Harare. Those willing to participate are free to
edit the letter and write it in their own words, Amnesty said.

Prime Minister tells civil servants diamonds key to better salaries

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 February 2012

The Apex Council representing civil servants met with Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai on Tuesday, to discuss the way forward regarding the salary
increases they are demanding.

A statement released by Tsvangirai’s office after the meeting said
discussions had been “fruitful” and the Prime Minister had repeated his
position that diamond revenue “will go a long way” to alleviating their
plight.

The PM told union leaders that he would be going to Chiadzwa on Thursday to
see for himself what is happening in the controversial diamond mining area
of Zimbabwe. He also said that he will meet with the Cabinet task force that
deals with issues affecting civil servants.

However, we were unable to contact the Apex officials for their comment on
the meeting with the Prime Minister.

Earlier negotiations with officials from the government’s National Joint
Negotiating Council had failed to produce the salary increments civil
servants are demanding. The workers want a minimum salary of US$538, more
than double the current minimum of $253.

Minister of Education David Coltart told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that
there is no money left after teachers are paid their current salaries, which
had been increased to the minimum of $253 last year.

Coltart said the only solution to the crisis faced by Zimbabwe’s teachers is
political stability, which would in turn breed confidence in foreign
investment and increase the funds in government coffers.

“Beyond the issue of salary increments the teachers are demanding, we need
to restore the respect and status within the community that teachers used to
have. In countries with the best educational sectors you will find that
teachers occupy a revered status in society,” Coltart explained.

Meanwhile, a meeting between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert
Mugabe, reportedly to discuss the heated issue of police chief Augustine
Chihuri’s expired contract, did not take place as planned on Monday.

The excuse by the Principals was that they also needed to discuss the
progress on the constitution making process and had not yet received the
latest report from the committee writing the first draft.

Tsvangirai and deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara have been strongly
criticized for agreeing to allow Chihuri to continue as “acting” police
commissioner after his contract expired on January 31, without setting a
date for his termination and replacement by someone not politically biased.

The lack of urgency on the part of the Principals has now become an issue
for Zimbabweans, who are desperate to resolve the deadlocked political
crisis that is delaying credible elections.

ZANU PF at war with itself over new constitution

Zanu PF officials in Mugabe ouster plot

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Farai Mutsaka and Thelma Chikwanha
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 12:00

HARARE - A draft constitutional clause that got the green light from Zanu PF
members and could stop President Robert Mugabe from running in next
elections has left the party at war.

The clause, contained in a first constitutional draft completed this month,
passed through the noses of party members sitting in a special parliamentary
select committee that authorised the document.

A witch hunt that could claim scalps is now underway as the party fights to
reverse the clause, which bars anyone who would have served two five-year
terms before from running in future elections.

Mugabe has served as President since 1987 and his loyalists fear it might be
used to target him in future elections.

Zanu PF enjoys equal numbers with arch-rival Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s MDC in the select committee that approved the draft.

So fierce are the fights that the Constitution Select Committee  (Copac) has
moved meetings from Harare to the eastern resort of Vumba from today where
the Mugabe “retirement clause” will come under fresh debate.

Copac is a parliamentary body driving the crafting of a new constitution,
viewed as a critical foundation to credible elections after the disputed
2008 presidential poll run-off.

Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC Copac co-chairperson, told the Daily News
yesterday that the move to Vumba was meant to “secure the life of
co-chairpersons” who are receiving threats as well as “to avoid unnecessary
political and media interference”.

“We are balancing between disruption in Harare and the need to secure
chairpersons. We are going out of Harare to Manicaland, probably Vumba. We
want to concentrate and by moving away from town and from proximity to a lot
of things that distract us,” Mwonzora said.

The clause that has got Mugabe and his loyalists running scared reads: “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.”

This has left Mugabe and some top officials still fiercely loyal to him to
suspect that some Zanu PF representatives in Copac deliberately let the
clause slip through to get at the 87-year-old former guerrilla leader.

Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, who co-chairs Copac on Zanu PF’s ticket, is now
under fire from hawks who accuse him of letting down Mugabe on what the
party views as key areas such as land, homosexuality and the
Mugabe “retirement” clause.

Things came to a head yesterday when Goodwills Masimirembwa, who is acting
as a special advisor to Mangwana walked out of a special meeting to review
draft chapters.

Sources who attended the meeting said Masimirembwa branded Mangwana “a sell
out” after his demand for a fresh start to the whole process was ignored.

Masimirembwa, according to the sources, was particularly angry that land was
being lumped together with other rights during a review of Chapter Four of
the Bill of Rights which deals with property rights.

He wanted land to be treated as a special property deserving its own
separate set of rights, most of which should reside in the state.

As the technical expert to Mangwana, Masimirembwa attends the meetings of
Copac co-chairs.

Mangwana denied a rift between him and Masimirembwa.

“There is no disagreement between me and Masimirembwa, we are one and the
same. He is my technical advisor. I do not comment on issues that we discuss
in meetings,” he said.

Masimirembwa confirmed the row, describing the Select Committee as “useless”.

“Yes, I did walk out of the meeting because I felt we were wasting time
going in circles. The disagreement had to do with the failure by Copac to
use the national report (on public outreach meetings) in drafting the
constitution."

“Those people (Copac) want to write what they believe are best practices not
what the people want and I was merely arguing against the whole approach,”
he said.

Yesterday’s show was just part of the bigger war over Mugabe’s future.

Sources said although some Zanu PF officials were publicly accusing
technical drafters of inserting the Mugabe “retirement clause”, it was in
fact viewed inside the party as a plot to oust the veteran leader.

Mugabe has in the past admitted that some members of his party have been
campaigning against him.

Hawks fighting in Mugabe’s corner accuse Zanu PF representatives in the
Select Committee of letting the party down on what they view as key issues
such as land, homosexuality and the Mugabe “retirement clause”.

Matters have become even more heated after it emerged that Zanu PF members
in the Select Committee agreed to the Mugabe “retirement clause” during
previous meetings in Harare and Vumba before the draft was made public.

The Select Committee gave the green light to the first draft that has left
Zanu PF members at each other’s throats.

Zanu PF has 10 members in the select committee, the same number as
Tsvangirai’s MDC.

Professor Welshman Ncube’s MDC formation has two members.

“The clause was inserted by drafters using international best practice as
well as public national report findings of public outreach meetings. In the
national report, most people spoke in favour of presidential term limits but
not specific on the issue of presidents who have served before,” said a
source who spoke on condition of anonymity because she is not authorised to
speak on Copac matters with the media.

“This is where the drafters looked at international best practice. They are
also using mountains of constitutions from Africa and the rest of the world
and Zanu PF Select Committee members were agreeable to all that,” said the
source.

“All these things were discussed in Select Committee meetings. After the
completion of the national report, the Select Committee has been meeting
specifically to discuss sticky issues regarded as parked.

These include land, devolution, homosexuality and presidential powers.

Zimbabwe's debt-crippled power utility plans to get tough

http://news.monstersandcritics.com

Feb 14, 2012, 15:18 GMT

Harare - Threatened with being cut off from electricity imports from its
neighbours for non-payment, Zimbabwe's state-owned power utility said on
Tuesday it would cut off hundreds of top politicians and civil servants who
refuse to pay their bills.

The move comes after Energy Minister Elton Mangoma was castigated in
parliament after reports that poor people were being disconnected from the
power grid for arrears as little as 30 dollars, while senior officials had
not been paying their electricity bills for years.

'We will start disconnecting all cabinet ministers and MPs (members of
parliament) who are not paying,' Mangoma said. 'There are no sacred cows.'

The minister said unpaid bills by top politicians and senior civil servants
accounted for a significant part of the 540 million dollars customers owed
to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)

Coming in at the head of the list was a provincial governor, Christopher
Mushowe, who was said to owe ZESA 145,000 dollars. Mushowe did not respond
to requests for comment.

The ministry itself was said to be in the red to the tune of 30,000 dollars.

Mangoma's disclosures came as he warned that neighbouring Mozambique had
threatened to stop imports from its giant Cahora Bassa hydroelectric dam for
non-payment of 90 million dollars.

'That is one debt that we have got to service because if we do not, our
major source of power will go away,' he said. Zambia is also owed 70 million
dollars.

Zimbabwean homes, businesses and hospitals suffer long power cuts daily as
ZESA can produce only 1,300 megawatts each day. Average daily demand is
about 2,200 MW. The country has been turning to its neighbours for power
since 2000.

ZESA said it is planning to distribute 5.5 million energy-saving fluorescent
light bulbs, and is also introducing pre-paid electricity meters.

Mangoma taken to task

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

By Gift Phiri, Senior Writer
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 14:58

HARARE - Mines and Energy parliamentary portfolio committee chairman Edward
Chindori-Chininga yesterday took Energy minister Elton Mangoma to task for
allowing his permanent secretary to continue defaulting on an electricity
bill of more than $30 000 that he accrued at his home.

The allegation arose after Mangoma threatened to cut power supplies to
defaulting legislators’ homes.

The committee was receiving oral evidence from the minister on challenges in
power generation when Mangoma touched a raw nerve by alleging that
“honourable members” were not paying their power bills, and were among
defaulters that currently owe the state utility $400m.

“On customers, we have about $400m  owed by customers including some
honourable members,” Mangoma told the committee.

“What are we doing about it? I have agreed with Zesa that we will start
disconnecting honourable members,” the minister added, to howls of protest
from legislators in the senate chamber.

“Be careful,” interjected Chindori-Chininga, a member of President Robert
Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

Chindori-Chininga then challenged Mangoma to name the legislators,
intimating that he was under legislative oath to qualify his allegations
with names.

“I will check what the rules are, you might actually want to give us a list
of who in Parliament owes what amounts (to Zesa). I will ask the chief whip
and Clerk of Parliament to tell us what the rules are,” Chindori-Chininga
said.

Mangoma had a torrid time explaining his permanent secretary’s behaviour.

The fiery Chindori-Chininga said the permanent secretary Justin Mupamhanga
had no moral authority over the State power utility and that the senior
ministry officials must lead by example.

Asked to comment on allegations that Mupamhanga owed Zesa over $30 000 in
unpaid electricity bills, Mangoma said: “I am not sure about the exact
figure but I am aware that he owes, yes.

“And he is supposed to be a policy person directing Zesa what to do?”

Chindori-Chininga fired the next question. “How does he make a directive to
Zesa when he owes money Zesa?”
Mangoma explained that ministerial directives to Zesa did not originate from
the permanent secretary or the accounting officer but from him.

Then Chindori-Chininga took it a notch up: “We are also told the governor of
Manicaland (Chris Mushohwe) owes more than $100 000 (to Zesa).”

Mangoma did not answer the question.

“In Cabinet, you guys owe a lot of money to Zesa and if you want us to give
names we will, okay,” Chindori-Chininga said.

Parliament instructed Mangoma to boost power generation and rectify the
problems, and said it would be monitoring the situation to ensure this
happened.

But he said the utility was saddled with debt.

“Zesa owes about $800m  in old debts. Some of these are being carried in the
Hwange books. In the end, it’s still a debt that Zesa owes and at this stage
with the cash inflows of Zesa, there is no possibility of repaying them,” he
said.

Kariba Dam Wall On Zimbabwe Side Risk Collapsing:Mangoma

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, February 13, 2012 - The dam wall on the Zimbabwean side on one of
the world biggest dams, Kariba is weak and requires urgent repairs to
prevent the wall from collapsing, Energy and Power Development Minister
Elton Mangoma said Monday.

Mangoma who was presenting the state of the energy sector in the country to
the Mines and Ernegy parlimentary portfolio committee said the Kariba dam
wall on the Zimbabwean side needs to be anchored to prevent the wall from
collapsing that might affect the dam and power generation.

"I repeat that the wall on the Zimbabwean side is weak and requires
anchoring and this is being attended to.It is something that is high on the
agenda because without the dam wall you really have nothing," Mangoma said.

The Kariba dam on the Zambezi River is one of the largest dams in the world,
standing 128 m tall and 579 m long. The dam was built by Italians between
1955 and 1959 during the colonial time when Zimbabwe was still called
Rhodesia. It borders with Zimbabwe's northern neighbour Zambia which also
generates electricity on the dam.

At the time of the construction of the dam several people and animals were
killed forcing authorities to embark on an "Operation Noah" aimed at saving
thousands of animals while over 57 000 people were relocated to safer areas
away from the flooding rising water.

Mangoma said his ministry is coordinating efforts to anchor the dam wall
adding that power generation at Kariba Hydro power station at the moment has
been between 735 Megawatts to 750 Megawatts.

Zim to begin selling tobacco

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Own Correspondent     Tuesday 14 February 2012

HARARE – Zimbabwe's tobacco selling season opens tomorrow with at least 150
million kilogrammes expected to be sold this year up from 132.5 million
kilogrammes sold last year, in yet another sign of recovery in the farming
sector after a decade of decline blamed on President Robert Mugabe’s land
reforms.

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive officer Andrew
Matibiri said the board was not able to give an exact figure of how much
tobacco will be sold this season as most of the crop was yet to be
harvested.

But some industry experts said as much as190 million kilograms could be sold
this year, a figure within touching distance of the 236 million kilogrammes
realised from the 1999/2000 season before the chaotic and often violent land
reforms destabilised agriculture.

“It is a bit too difficult to make an accurate production at this point
however we expect anything within the range of 190 million kilogrammes of
tobacco to be sold this season,” said a top official at Tobacco Sales Floor
(TSF), one of Zimbabwe’s biggest auction floors.

Tobacco output has steadily increased over the past four seasons as more
black villagers resettled on former white farmers opted for the highly
rewarding cash crop dubbed the ‘golden leaf ’.

From an all-time low of 48.8 million kilogrammes produced in 2008, tobacco
output rose to 60 million kilogrammes in 2009 and 123 million kilogrammes in
2010.

According to Matibiri 60 000 farmers were registered to grow tobacco in the
2011/12 season or 35 000 more farmers than were recorded in the 2010/11
season.

Prior to Mugabe’s controversial land reforms tobacco production was largely
a preserve of white commercial farmers who numbered only 4000 and not all of
whom grew the crop.

Once a breadbasket of the region during the first two decades of
independence, Zimbabwe has 2001 largely relied on food handouts from aid
agencies after production plummeted when Mugabe seized white commercial
farms for redistribution to landless blacks.

The plunge in production coincided with the collapse of the economy, which
was marked by hyperinflation and acute shortages of foreign currency and
high unemployment.

Commercial farming was once a preserve of white Rhodesian farmers, but in
the last decade the sector has embraced a new crop of black farmers who have
struggled to maintain previous production levels due to widespread shortages
of farming inputs like seed and fertilizer.

But the plunge in agriculture could have bottomed out as witnessed by rising
production in tobacco and maize and a rebound in dairy and cattle
arming.  -- ZimOnline

Prices of basic commodities rising sharply

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Prices of basic commodities have risen in 2012 as compared to 2011. In a
snap and random survey carried by ZNCC Harare research in some of the
country’s top supermarkets, the year 2012 has seen a stead rise in the
prices of goods.
14.02.1202:12pm
by ZNCC Daily Newsletter

The price of 10kg palenta mealie meal has risen from $6,65 to $6,95 in Ok
and Food World supermarkets, while a 2kg white sugar has risen from $2 to
$2,10 and $2,15 in Ok and Food World respectively. The price of D’lite
cooking oil has risen to $3,85 and 3,99 from $3,20 for a 2litre bottle
whilst green bar washing soap has risen from $1 to $1,50 and $1,60 2 kgs
salt has risen to $1 from $0,90 and 2litres Mazowe Orange has risen to $3,50
from $2,93.

Consumers have been greatly affected by the rise in prices of basic
commodities pointing that goods are now expensive yet their salaries have
not increased. “Basic commodities are now very expensive as prices of goods
have risen as compared to last year,”said one consumer identified as only
Mrs Chibise.

“Goods have risen drastically yet we have not received salary increaments,”said
one Mrs Moyo.

The rise in basic commodities can be attributed to surtax on some goods that
was introduced by the government with effect from January 1.

Meanwhile The cost of living as depicted by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s
Low-Income Urban Earner Monthly Basket for a Family of Six has shown a
marginal increase from USD499.95 in December 2010 to USD509.17 in January
2011 reflecting a2 % increase.

Food Basket has increased from USD144.19 in December 2010 to USD151.80 in
January 2011 reflecting a 5% increase. The food and detergents basket
increased from USD155.95 in December 2010 to USD165.17 in January 2011
reflecting a 6% increase.

Generally, all products in the food basket have remained the same compared
to the previous month. For some time now, the Rand has been very strong
against the US dollar and fuel has gone up by 25 – 37c, but CCZ is concerned
that the increase in the food basket may be attributed to the traditional
behaviour of supermarkets to increasing prices towards the beginning of a
new year with the anticipation that workers will receive salary increments,
a behavior which CCZ abhors. Also this is in consideration that supermarkets
have not responded positively to giving consumers change. The problem of
change needs to be addressed urgently so as not to inconvenience consumers
who need every cent they can have for transport and other needs.

Locally manufactured products have increased on the market, however they are
still not at competitive prices and levels as compared to imported products.
In-house brands are a welcome inclusion on the shelves being offered at
lower prices.

The cost of the CCZ Basket for transport, rent, water and electricity,
health, education, clothing and footwear has remained the same at USD344.00.
There is still a challenge in the area of water supply where a number of
households are still running dry. CCZ wants to see all households receiving
actual bills or at least bills generated from meters read every quarter.
Consumers are still concerned about high utility bills which are being
received in most areas, moreso as Harare City Council has announced its
intention to increase water charges by 40% in its 2011 Budget. Relevant
utility providers and Ministries are urged to deal with these challenges
timeously. Sanity needs to prevail where the cost of services have to be in
keeping with the salaries and wages prevailing in the environment.

Consumers are urged to always seek a fairdeal on the marketplace by ensuring
that their rights are observed. Also, consumers should report any anomalies
on the marketplace. They should always be proactive and assert their rights
at all times. It is their right to choose products and services at
competitive prices with an assurance of quality and all stakeholders need to
honour the rights of consumers.

The story and snap survey was conducted by By Patson Gumbo and Daniel
Muzana. The two are students on attachment from the Christian College of
Southern Africa. Department of Journalism and mass communication.

As Zimbabwe Fends off Typhoid, City of Harare Reconnects Water Service

http://www.voanews.com/

13 February 2012

The Combined Harare Residents Association also complained about the lack of
toilets in most households in the Dzivarasekwa 3 development, 40 years after
the homes there were constructed

Sandra Nyaira | Washington

City officials of Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, have ordered the
reconnection of water supplies to more than 300 households in the
Dzivarasekwa suburb which have gone for more than seven months without water
amid mounting typhoid outbreaks.

Deputy Nayor Emmanuel Chiroto and Harare Clerk Tendai Mahachi met Monday
with a delegation from the area, but sources reported that Chiroto professed
ignorance about disconnections of water services to residents. He said the
water supplies had been disconnected by corrupt council officials seeking to
profiteer from residents.

The meeting was initiated by the Combined Harare Residents Association.

Chiroto then directed city employees reconnect water supplies.

The Combined Harare Residents Association also complained about the lack of
toilets in most households in the Dzivarasekwa 3 development, 40 years after
the homes there were constructed. Chiroto promised to look into this.

Chiroto said he will be following up to make sure all affected households in
the city’s other suburbs who’ve had their water disconnected are put back on
the grid to avoid the spreading of typhoid and other water-borne diseases
affecting the capital.

Combined Harare Residents Association Chief Executive Mfundo Mlilo said his
organization will continue to fight for safe, clean and running water to be
available in the city as authorities and health experts fight communicable
diseases in Harare.

"With the ongoing outbreak of typhoid, it is unhygienic conditions such as
the ones witnessed in Dzivarasekwa that exacerbate the spread of disease,"
said Mlilo.

Some 2,000 cases of typhoid have been reported in the capital and those
figures are expected to continue rising as water shortages continue
unabated.

Mlilo commended Chiroto and Mahachi for ordering the reconnections. "As CHRA
we will continue to identify areas that have had their tap water closed for
reconnection as we continue to fight communicable diseases in Harare," he
said.

Despite the outbreak of typhoid in many areas of Harare and its high-density
suburbs in particular, water supplies in many districts remain erratic,
garbage piles up uncollected in many areas and vendors continue to eke out a
living through the sale of food despite a citywide ban on such open-air
commerce.

Correspondent Mavis Gama visited some of the affected suburbs in Harare and
reports that residents are still struggling to find clean water with many
complaining the local authority is not doing enough to address their plight.

Hotel meeting with Chombo lands Mutare councillors in trouble

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 February 2012

A clandestine meeting between Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and
five MDC-T councillors in Mutare has irked the provincial leadership of the
party who wants them ‘dealt with sternly.’

Chombo, who was in the eastern border city on a ZANU PF program in early
January, met the five councillors in his hotel room at the Holiday Inn.

The councilors, George Zveriseni, Tatenda Nhambarare, Pamela Mutare, Morgan
Chipara and Sangani Mubatanhema, allegedly met Chombo without the knowledge
of the MDC-T.

Details of the meeting were inadvertently revealed by Chombo during a
question session by a Parliamentary Committee on gender. He was answering
questions on why youths and women were not being afforded an opportunity to
own houses in Zimbabwe.

One of the MP’s on the committee asked Chombo why he had suspended the
Mutare Mayor, Brian James. His response was that MDC-T councillors had
visited him in his hotel room and advised him to take action against James.

SW Radio Africa is reliably informed Chombo’s revelations left the MDC-T
horrified. The provincial leadership in Manicaland met on Saturday at the
party headquarters to deliberate on the hotel visit and the suspension of
James. The Mayor was suspended by Chombo on allegations of misconduct in
late January. James’s suspension had left the MDC-T bewildered as they felt
he was paying the price for fighting corruption.

Following their meeting in Mutare the MDC-T provincial leadership resolved
to ignore Chombo’s suspension of James and ‘throw the so called suspension
document in a public bin at the civic centre.’

According to resolutions from the meeting, which was chaired by the
provincial vice chairman Shuah Mudiwa, the party wants to establish whether
it is true that Chombo held a meeting with their councillors.

‘We want to know why if it is true that the councillors met Chombo without
the authority of the party. That relationship is too close for our comfort
and there are reports the meeting culminated in the suspension of James,
meaning that our own councillors instigated that move,’ a senior official in
the MDC-T said.

Mudiwa confirmed that a team comprising Kambuzuma MP Willas Madzimure,
Senator James Makore, Dzivarasekwa MP Evelyn Masaiti and prominent Mutare
lawyer David Tandire was set up look to look into the problems that have
recently rocked the Mutare City Council.

Mudiwa said the team was mandated to engage James on all matters to do with
the city of Mutare and to probe the reasons why council financial books have
not been audited since the dollarization three years ago.

The team will also look into the circumstances surrounding the fraud charges
levelled against councillor Xavier Upare. It is alleged he facilitated the
payment of $300,000 to a Harare based contractor to replace valves on the
city’s water pipes.

‘It’s over a year since the contractor was paid and nothing has been done to
the pipes. Moreover Upare is alleged to have received a thank you payment of
$30,000 from the businessman for facilitating the deal. That money was
deposited into Upare’s Barclays account,’ the MDC-T officials claimed.

He added:‘We have the Pungwe Breweries which is wholly owned by council but
whose books have not been audited for years. The team was tasked to find out
possible and suspected illegal land sales and who benefited from the illegal
transactions.’

The official, who asked not to be named, said this is what James wanted done
but was then suspended, leading to suspicions of underhand dealings by the
MDC-T councillors and Chombo.

Zimbabwe's Social Security Authority Takes 84% Stake In Troubled Bank

http://www.voanews.com/

13 February 2012

The state-run Herald newspaper quoted Renaissance Bank Curator Reggie
Saruchera as saying NSSA will inject US$10 million and convert to equity an
earlier US$8.5 million loan to the bank that cannot be repaid

Gibbs Dube | Washington

Zimbabwe's National Social Security Authority has taken an 84 percent
controlling stake in Renaissance Merchant Bank, placed under curatorship
last June by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in response to irregularities and
a US$16-million hole in its accounts.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper quoted Renaissance Bank Curator Reggie
Saruchera as saying NSSA will inject US$10 million into Renaissance and
convert to equity an earlier US$8.5 million loan to the bank that cannot be
repaid in cash.

The Herald quoted Saruchera as saying the authority will move the bank out
of curatorship within weeks and help it meet the minimum capital
requirements set by the reserve bank. For a merchant bank that is US$10
million.

The NSSA deal caused a stir in parliament and the finance sector last June
when it was made public. Critics charged that Finance Minister Tendai Biti
had engineered the deal for the benefit of relatives in bank management.
Biti dismissed those allegations.

Percy Mcijo, Matabeleland regional officer of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions, said the deal will not benefit retirees now drawing pensions of
US$60 a month.

“NSSA should seriously consider giving workers housing loans and increasing
pension benefits for retirees who are normally sidelined in such deals,”
Mcijo said.

Economist Prosper Chitambara said the social security authority will reap
the benefits of the deal when Renaissance eventually turns a profit.

Activist Zvorwadza asks court to close Matapi police station

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 February 2012

Sten Zvorwadza, spokesperson for the Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe
(ROHR), appeared in a Harare court on Tuesday to answer charges of “posing a
threat to future violence,’ but the trial was postponed after defense
lawyers asked the court to first deal with the “inhuman treatment” Zvorwadza
suffered during his detention.

The activist was arrested last month when he went to the police to report
that a gang of ZANU PF youths had attacked his business in Mbare and
threatened the workers, saying he was not allowed to operate in the area
because he supports theMDC-T.

Instead of investigating the case police arrested Zvorwadza and accused him
of threatening to murder the thugs who had attacked his business. He was
detained for the weekend and released on bail the following Monday.

In court on Tuesday Zvorwadza’s lawyers described how he was denied food and
water while in detention, and kept in filthy cells that are not fit for
human beings.

“We are asking for the courts to shut down Matapi Station on the grounds
that it is not habitable and was condemned by the Supreme Court in 2004. We
want that dealt with first so that no-one else has to suffer what I went go
through,” Zvorwadza told SW Radio Africa after the hearing on Tuesday.

“The judge could not decide what issues to bring forward to the Supreme
Court so we did not go ahead with the trial,” he added. The hearing is now
scheduled for February 29th.

Meanwhile Zvorwadza’s business in Mbare has remained closed because of
threats by ZANU PF youth chairman Jim Kunaka. But the activist insisted that
he will keep fighting to get it re-opened, because “the liberation war was
not fought to benefit one party or person”

Youths turned away for bringing Affidavits to register as voters

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Youths from Bulawayo are deeply frustrated over the change in positions by
the Registrar General when it comes to initial voter registration. This came
to light after groups of Young people from Magwegwe and Nkulumane
respectively went to the registrar’s office to register for the first time
to become voters but were turned away for bringing affidavits.

“We went to the registrar’s office on Friday to register to become voters,
we had everything that was required to get ourselves into the voters’ roll
however things did not go as planned as we were told that affidavits were
not required for the process but written letters. We were turned away for
bringing affidavits which legally speaking are much better than a written
letter,” said a concerned youth who chose to remain anonymous.

In a statement which appeared in The Zimbabwean in 2011, Tobaiwa Mudede, the
Registraar General said,”one of the requirements needed for one to register
as a voter are: A Sworn statement by employer of applicant confirming
applicant’s address and any other information or document sufficient to
ascertain the applicant’s residence. While rural dwellers would need a
confirmation letter from the chief, headman or village head, farm owner or
mine owner”.

The youths and residents at large have questioned the decision to send away
the youths who had brought affidavits, with some alleging that it is a way
of frustrating young people from actively participating in the forthcoming
General elections. Young people in Zimbabwe constitute over 60% of the
population and their participation in electoral processes can be the game
changer in Zimbabwean Politics.

“The decision to send the youths away is questionable. It feels like the
registrar’s office is now being used to sabotage potential voters instead of
facilitating their registration,” said Bridget Ncube, one of the Youths who
were turned away.

She further said, “I am afraid that young people will be frustrated by the
process of going back and forth trying to get their documents in order,
giving up on their chance to contribute to changing the country’s status
quo.”

NYDT, an organisation that is working on assisting young people to register,
also voiced its concern and promised to engage the registrar general’s
office on behalf of these young people. “Every Zimbabwean, as long as they
are above 18 years should be allowed to register to vote. The tendency by
officials from the Registrar General’s office to frustrate potential voters
can not be tolerated. As an organisation we will be engaging the registrar
general’s office to find out if there have been adjustments to voter
registration requirements.” Njabulo Moyo of NYDT said.

The registrar general is responsible for the voters’ roll hence the need to
go to the registrar’s office to register as a voter. The voters’ roll’s
accuracy has in the past been questioned as it is one of the tools used for
rigging during elections. Registering as voter is a continuous process,
youths and the public at large who are at the eligible age of voting have
been advised to go to the local registry and register to vote.

Chitungwiza Residents raise concerns with Minister Chombo

http://www.swradioafrica.com

13 February 2012
RESIDENTS of Chitungwiza have expressed serious doubts on the sincerity of
the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatius
Chombo in dealing with the scourge of corruption among councillors and
officials, saying his actions smacked of political hypocrisy.
The Chitungwiza Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (CHIRRA) Chairman Mr
Arthur Taderera said while they applauded the Minister for his stance on
corruption, the general feeling among the residents was that the Minister
was paying lip service to the crisis of corruption and mismanagement in
Chitungwiza Municipality.
Taderera said: “The appointment of special interest councillors for the
residents is just reappointment of electoral rejects, previous employees of
council who can only perpetuate rather than end corruption and other
partisan individuals who have nothing new to offer the electorate.”
Despite identifying the major culprits in the collapse of service provision
in the city, and the continued stripping of assets, CHIRRA says the Minister
has still not acted decisively on the Town Clerk Mr Godfrey Tanyanyiwa, who
has previously been suspended but subsequently reinstated under unclear
circumstances. Lately Tanyanyiwa was reportedly arrested but residents are
doubtful this would herald a new era of transparent and accountable city
governance.
He said the replacement of elected councillors with people perceived and
known to belong to Zanu PF who come in as special interest councillors is
wrong as it politicises local government, in particular the Chitungwiza City
Council.
CHIRRA denounced the appointment of special interest councillors who serve
the Minister and not the residents of Chitungwiza. To address this anomaly
in the Urban Councils’ Act (Chapter 29:15), the legislation governing the
administration of local authorities, CHIRRA came up with the following
recommendations;
• Remove all special interest councillors
• Suspension of the Town Clerk pending investigation as he is central to
council operations.
• Residents should be allowed to appoint their own independent
investigation/audit into Council affairs.
• A thorough investigation into allegations of corruption against
councillors and officials especially around the allocation of residential
and commercial stands.
Ends//

HRT Advocacy and Communications Desk
Website: www.hrt.org.zw
Email: info@hrt.org.zw
Mobile: 0772 816 909/0772 284 219/0772 869 294

Migrants face unlawful arrests and hasty deportations

http://www.irinnews.org

Nearly 10,000 Zimbabweans have been deported since October 2011

MUSINA, 14 February 2012 (IRIN) - Four months ago, Clemence Uzizo, 21, a
welder living in Soweto, Johannesburg's most populous suburb, made the
mistake of venturing out to a local shop without his asylum-seeker permit.
Neither the police who arrested him, nor the immigration officials who
detained him, verified Uzizo's legal status before deporting him to
Zimbabwe, the country of his birth.

"My permit was at home but I didn't have a cell phone to call to ask someone
to bring it," he told IRIN not long after making a risky and expensive
return to South Africa via the Limpopo River. "Since my father brought me
[to South Africa] in 1992 I've lived here, so I don't know anyone in
Zimbabwe."

Uzizo's story is not unusual. In October 2011 South Africa lifted a
moratorium that had protected undocumented Zimbabweans from arrest and
deportation for more than two years. Since then nearly 10,000 have been
forcibly returned, according to the International Organization for Migration
(IOM), which runs a reception and support centre for returnees at the
Beitbridge border between the two countries.

An internal directive issued by the Director-General of South Africa's
Department of Home Affairs said deportation should only be carried out after
verifying that a suspect had not applied for asylum or any other permits.
However, Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, who heads the Refugee and Migrant Rights
Programme at Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), said officials at Lindela
Repatriation Centre outside Johannesburg, where the vast majority of
migrants are held before being deported, often fail to screen new arrivals
to establish that they really are undocumented.

"We find people with documents who shouldn't have been admitted [to
Lindela]," she told IRIN. "It is a huge struggle to have [them] released; we
usually have to resort to high court litigation which is time consuming and
we can only assist a few people."

In a recent submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of
Migrants, LHR noted that "Despite the legal protections afforded to asylum
seekers, refugees and other migrants in South Africa, the detention and
deportation of foreign nationals is often carried out in an unlawful
manner."

Arrest first, ask questions later

In the busy border town of Musina, about 10km south of Beitbridge, newly
arrived migrants, many of them border jumpers like Uzizo, sleep rough in the
vicinity of the Refugee Reception Office where they start queuing in the
early hours of the morning in the hope of securing asylum-seeker permits.
Despite waiting all day, not all of them reach the front of the queue and
those who leave without documents risk arrest by police waiting outside,
according to Jacob Matakanye, director of the Musina Legal Advice Office
(MLAO).

On a recent Friday, three cells at Musina Police Station contained 106
migrants, of which 102 were men held in just two cells. Among them were
Zimbabweans, Ethiopians, Somalis, Bangladeshis, Congolese and one Tanzanian,
Cassim Mustapha, who had attempted to enter the country via the Beitbridge
border post. "I'm claiming asylum because of my sexuality," he told IRIN. "I
had a paper from the UN but they just said, 'Where is your passport?' and
when I didn't have it, they arrested me."

Arresting someone who is claiming asylum because they cannot produce a
passport is "completely unlawful", said Ramjathan-Keogh of LHR, but "quite
common" at Beitbridge.

While the practice of arresting undocumented migrants first and asking
questions later appears common in Musina, several organizations, including
LHR, IOM and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have regular access to detainees
at the police station and often help secure the release of those with
pending asylum applications or lost permits.

Access to detainees at Lindela is much more limited. The South African Human
Rights Commission is the only organization with an official mandate to
monitor immigration detention facilities, but according to LHR, such
monitoring has been "haphazard and infrequent".

"We rely on clients to tell us who is there and what is going on. It's
extremely laborious and frustrating," said Ramjathan-Keogh, adding that the
organization was being forced to scale back its assistance to detainees at
Lindela due to resource constraints.

Poor conditions

LHR's submission to the Special Rapporteur notes that detainees at Lindela
regularly complain about conditions at the facility, in particular the lack
of medical care, but also dirty bedding, inadequate meals, and beatings by
security guards and immigration officials.

South Africa's immigration law stipulates that detention for the purpose of
deportation should not exceed 120 days, but a number of detainees told LHR
that they had been at Lindela much longer.

The cells at the Musina Police Station are often overcrowded, so
deportations to Zimbabwe occur almost every day and detainees from further
afield usually spend no more than two weeks there, according to Matakanye of
MLAO. The downside of migrants being detained so briefly is that some are
deported before agencies like LHR can determine the lawfulness of their
case, said Ramjathan-Keogh, noting that there had been several instances of
unaccompanied minors being deported from Musina.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expressed concern about conditions in the
police cells, in particular the lack of access to health care and the
absence of screening to determine which detainees are on medication for
infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB) or HIV. "There's still no
screening happening," said Christine Mwongera, MSF's project coordinator in
Musina, "so there are TB patients being kept in cells with others."

Migrants with TB whose treatment is interrupted can develop
multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of the disease. Mwongera noted that "At
some point, these people who are being deported might return and they will
bring MDR-TB back to South Africa, so it really needs to be deal with."

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Father Fidelis Mukunori Publishes Book On Violence

http://www.radiovop.com

By Ngoni Chanakira Harare, February 14, 2012 - Father Fidelis Mukonori has
published a book entitled - "The Genesis of Violence in Zimbabwe" - which
was launched last week.

Mukonori, a prominent priest in Zimbabwe, works for the Centre for Peace
Initiatives in Africa (CPIA). The CPIA is a regional peace organisation
based in Harare.It works towards achieving a sustainable stable and peaceful
Zimbabwe and Africa at large and is committed to conflict prevention,
conflict management, and conflict resolution, ensuring sustainable peace,
development and good governance.

"In pursuance of these objectives the CPIA commissioned Father Fidelis
Mukonori to write a book entitled - "The Genesis of Violence in
Zimbabwe" -," a spokesman for the CPIA said.

He said the book was being published at the right time when the nation was
engaged in a public debate about violence.

"The three principles of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) are on record
for proposing joint rallies to denounce violence," the spokesman said.
"Father Fidelis Mukonori S. J. is a renowned man of the cloth who traces the
historical origin of violence in Zimbabwe from 1879 to the present.

"In writing his book he targets all Zimbabweans by appealing to everyone to
shun violence which has sadly become an accepted culture affecting present
day Zimbabwean politics, particularly when the country is facing an
election."

He said Father Mukonori used a biblical term "genesis" defined as a Latin
word within the context of "origin or mode of formation of something".

"He further uses the word genesis as a biblical metaphor to define the
historical origins of violence from colonialism to present day Zimbabwe," he
said.

"Father Mukonori's mission is to remind everyone to respect human dignity by
shunning and condemning the occurrence of violence in Zimbabwe".

The book which costs US$20 a copy has 11 chapters which the author considers
as significant in shaping the present day politics in Zimbabwe.

"The book concludes by celebrating Zimbabwean freedom and the promise of
happiness which is expressed in the National Anthem," the spokesman said.

It costs US$20 a copy.

Zimbabwe's economic and political heavyweights attended the book launch
function including Professor George Kahari from the University of Zimbabwe
(UZ), publicist Etherton Mpisaunga, Senior Journalists and the author,
Father Mukonori.

Black Caps complete Zimbabwe rout

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

14/02/2012 00:00:00
    by Press Association

Zim 200/2(20) | NZ 202/5(19.4)
NZ won by 5 wkts
Man of the Match: James Franklin

KANE Williamson kept his nerve at the death to see New Zealand to a
thrilling five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 international
at Hamilton.

Zimbabwe won the toss and made first use of good batting conditions to reach
200 for two in their 20 overs, captain Brendan Taylor leading the way with a
big-hitting 75 not out.

The Black Caps made a strong start but two wickets in successive balls for
Kyle Jarvis left them needing 21 from nine balls, but Williamson hit three
successive boundaries to win the game.

Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri got Zimbabwe off to a blistering
start with a stand of 76 in seven overs before the latter departed for 32,
lifting Ronnie Hira to Tim Southee at long-off. He hit two fours and three
sixes in 19 balls.

Masakadza reached a stunning 26-ball half-century with a six off Andy Ellis
but slowed down thereafter and fell for 62 from 42, with three fours and
four sixes, when he hoisted Michael Bates to long-on Colin de Grandhomme.

Elton Chigumbura hit three fours in one Kyle Mills over and Taylor then
reached 50 with a six off Bates from the 31st ball he faced. He added two
fours in Southee's last over but Zimbabwe could only take five from the
final over, bowled by Mills, which also saw Chigumbura (29no) dropped by
Franklin.

Openers Rob Nicol and James Franklin got New Zealand on track with a century
stand in 10 overs before Nicol, having hit four fours and four sixes in an
innings of 56 from 37, skied Chigumbura to Keegan Meth at deep cover.

Franklin kept the rate going before he was superbly run out from the
boundary by Meth for 60, also from 37 deliveries with three fours and five
sixes. Brendon McCullum added 38 from 24 but he and brother Nathan
successively holed out off Jarvis, leaving Williamson as the key man.

A boundary meant 14 were needed from the last over and after Ellis squirted
a single to deep mid-wicket, Williamson crashed Shingi Masakadza for four,
six and four to win the game with two balls to spare. The 21-year-old
finished 20 not out from five balls, four of which went to the fence.

Zimbabwe will therefore return home having been defeated in every match of
their tour after the Kiwis won the one-off Test by an innings, the three
one-day internationals by wide margins and then the two T20s.

Blood Diamonds Are Mugabe’s Best Friend

http://www.american.com

 

 

By Roger Bate Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Filed under: World Watch

The Kimberly Process has become a whitewash; Roger Bate reports from Africa. CAPE TOWN, South Africa—Between 2000 and 2008, Zimbabwe collapsed. The confiscation of white-owned farms precipitated the destruction of its economy; mad monetary policies led to the worst hyperinflation in Africa’s history; politically manipulated food distribution caused malnutrition; and, with woeful sanitation infrastructure, the already-weakened population succumbed to a cholera epidemic, plunging life expectancy to 35 years of age. But in 2008, a political compromise was reached between President Robert Mugabe of the African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). They formed a power-sharing coalition, stabilized prices, and made small steps towards democracy. These steps resulted in aid returning to the country, thus ending the cholera epidemic and increasing life expectancy to just over 40 years. And while most of the credit goes to the MDC, at least ZANU-PF didn’t stand in the way. But a seeming lull in the violence may not augur a stable and prosperous future, because Mugabe and the ZANU-PF elite may have a more devious plan to recapture full power by the end of the year. The Diamond Dimension The Kimberly Process has effectively ‘aided and abetted the return of the blood diamond…. ordinary Zimbabweans will pay the price. It's now a myth that there are any controls over diamonds.’ Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, looks far more prosperous than just a few years ago. Smart new vehicles are everywhere, its restaurants are full, and construction is underway on luxury houses in the suburbs. In the few good hotels, and in airport lounges, there are numerous businessmen, notably from China and Eastern Europe, apparently engaging in earnest conversation about business opportunities. In rapidly emerging economies, wealth distribution can be very unequal, so the sight of conspicuous consumption by Zimbabwe’s elite is distasteful to many, but is not unexpected nor inherently worrying. Instead, Zimbabwe’s problem is unbalanced economic growth; most of the conspicuous consumption is driven by a single sector—the flourishing diamond trade. The growth imbalance is made worse by Mugabe’s cronies, who are siphoning off funds from the Marange diamond mines in the east of the country. Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe’s finance minister and a minister of parliament (MP) of the MDC, issued a budget report claiming that the treasury was underpaid from the diamond business by at least $60 million last year. That is a conservative estimate. MDC MP Eddie Cross told the Zimbabwe parliament last fall that the production records he had seen of one company in Marange indicate that at least $1.4 billion in diamonds was mined. Yet this is over four times more than the mining ministry reported for all mining activities in those fields. The Kimberly Compromise A seeming lull in the violence may not augur a stable and prosperous future, because Mugabe and the ZANU-PF elite may have a more devious plan to recapture full power by the end of the year. Mugabe’s mining minister, ZANU-PF’s Obert Mpofu, says that everything mined has been “accounted for,” and an important independent organization apparently agrees with him. The Kimberly Process is a coalition of governments, producers, and political activists that aims to limit diamond mining in conflict areas and to stop the proceeds of illegal mining from financing bloodshed. The Process approves the mining activities of the Marange fields. Given the evidence of torture of workers at several of the Marange mines, some caught on film by the BBC, and underreporting of income from Marange, it is bizarre that the Process certifies the fields’ diamond sales. Global Witness, a human rights pressure group, was one of the main drivers of the Kimberly Process, but left it last November because the Process allowed over 4 million carats of Marange diamonds to be sold at numerous auctions. Local sources, who wish to remain anonymous for security fears, claim that the resulting funds are being used by Mugabe’s cronies to position themselves to use violence to ensure they retain power in future elections—and the signs are that Mugabe wants that election this year. It is common knowledge in Harare that, last November, military leaders loyal to Mugabe bought a large shipment of weapons and equipment from China. Mugabe's secret police was able to buy hundreds of vehicles and weapons from China even though it had no government budget to do so. And now Chinese interests in Marange have financed a new military academy. The main Chinese entity behind this, Anjin Investments, also announced that it was now the world's biggest diamond producer. Global Witness is calling for a new international body to replace the Kimberly Process. In a statement, the group claims that the Kimberly Process has "dithered around wringing their hands, and now effectively have aided and abetted the return of the blood diamond…. ordinary Zimbabweans will pay the price. It's now a myth that there are any controls over diamonds." The Kimberly Process was always flawed; it was never possible to control the flow of diamonds from poorly governed regions, since they are relatively easy to mine and very portable. Zimbabwe’s finance minister issued a budget report claiming that the treasury was underpaid from the diamond business by at least $60 million last year. But to provide international cover for sales of Zimbabwe’s diamonds, at a time when western nations have sanctions in place against the ZANU-PF elite, is worse than flawed— it is immoral, as it enables the politically powerful cronies of Mugabe to keep control and to make arbitrary decisions against foreign and domestic business. This deters investors, since any deals made with Mugabe’s men may be challenged by MDC or foreign governments in the near future. And, perhaps worse, it means that legitimate businessmen have to try to make rapid profits as opposed to making the best long-run decisions, because they know any deal may not last. All the uncertainty lowers the growth Zimbabwe desperately requires, and reduces the chance of a sustainable recovery. While Global Witness may be overly optimistic about a successor to the Kimberly Process, it is right about one thing—the poor of Zimbabwe will suffer from the Kimberly Process whitewash. ZANU-PF’s elite and its allies are raking in the money, and the poor must fear that any hope of a recovery will be squashed by more election violence, probably within the next year. Roger Bate is the Legatum Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Global Witness press release on Zim diamond report

http://www.swradioafrica.com

 

At the occasion of the granting of the mining licence Anjin executives meet President Robert Mugabe and Minister of Defence Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa. The presence of Commander of the Defence Forces, Constantine Chiwenga, is possibly indicated by the presentation folder.

Global Witness
14 February 2012

Don’t let Mugabe be your Valentine

This Valentines Day, Global Witness is publishing a report raising concerns that diamond purchases may help fund the Zimbabwean military. The report, Diamonds: A Good Deal for Zimbabwe?, reveals that several directors of one of the largest mining companies operating in Zimbabwe’s controversial Marange diamond fields are drawn from the Zimbabwean military and police, and highlights the risk that off-budget funding of the security sector could be used to finance violence in any future election.

The report also reveals that 25% of another diamond firm has been given to a company linked with a man widely reported to be President Mugabe’s former personal pilot, and which has an opaque company structure based in tax havens.

“Zimbabwe desperately needs diamond revenues for health and education services, not AK 47s and flash cars for the elite,” said Nick Donovan, senior campaigner at Global Witness, “Zimbabwe must ensure that diamond mining companies are not used as an off-budget cash cow by ZANU PF loyalists in the military and police. If the next election is accompanied by violence there’s a real risk that any bloodshed will be funded by diamond revenues.”
In 2008, the Zimbabwean army took control of the Marange diamond fields using troops and helicopter gunships, killing and wounding many small scale miners in the process. Since then diamond concessions have been allocated to several companies in questionable circumstances.

The report profiles two such companies, Anjin Investments and Mbada Diamonds:
• Anjin Investments claims to be the world’s biggest diamond miner. Anjin is a joint venture between an obscure Zimbabwean firm called Matt Bronze and a Chinese construction company. Anjin’s Zimbabwean board members include senior serving and retired military and police officers, and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.
• Mbada Diamonds. Global Witness’s investigation reveals the company has a complex structure, with associated companies located in secrecy jurisdictions including Mauritius, Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands and Dubai.

“Corporate anonymity and the use of secrecy jurisdictions can be used to hide the true beneficiaries of business deals and have the potential to conceal corruption, tax avoidance or off-budget government spending. The Zimbabwean Government and Mbada should immediately publish all contracts and details of revenue flows to allay such fears,” said Donovan.

The Kimberley Process (KP), the intergovernmental diamond certification scheme, recently approved unlimited diamond exports by Mbada and is considering giving the same endorsement to Anjin. Over the past three years the scheme, which was set up to stop the trade in blood diamonds, has failed to address state-sponsored violence in the Marange diamond fields and resisted calls for reform. Global Witness left the KP in December 2011.
“Given the failures of the KP the diamond industry urgently needs to implement a system of ‘supply chain due diligence’ in order to give consumers the confidence to buy diamonds without any risk that they fund human rights abuses,” concluded Donovan.
Global Witness is recommending that the Zimbabwean Government should:
• Pass legislation that bans serving members in Zimbabwe’s security sector from exerting any control over mining companies – including being the beneficial owners of subsidiaries of companies operating in the country’s sector.
• Immediately audit every concession granted so far in Marange and publish details of the beneficial owners of Mbada and Anjin.

See full report- Diamonds: a good deal for Zimbabwe?