Mugabe blasts gays, foreigners at birthday bash

http://www.sbs.com.au

 

 

26 February 2012 | 03:09:19 PM| Source: AAP

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe eats a piece of cake during a celebration to mark his 88th birthday. (EPA)

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe marked his 88th birthday with a trademark attack on gays and foreigners at a mass rally of his supporters to celebrate the occasion.

  

He told British Prime Minister David Cameron "to hell with you" over his calls to respect gay rights and accused non-governmental organisations of trying to destabilise the country, at a birthday rally in the eastern border town of Mutare.

  

"NGOs come with these stupid ideas, some to destabilise us. Quite often they support one party. We say to them get away from our country. Leave us to solve our political problems. Leave us to manage our own systems," Mugabe said.

  

Africa's oldest leader lambasted Cameron, who at the Commonwealth summit last year said countries receiving British aid should respect gay rights.

  

"Nature is nature. It has created male and female," Mugabe said. "That's how we were born, so we reject that outright and say to hell with you."

  

He also urged voters to reject gay rights in a new constitution, currently being drafted as a key step toward new elections to replace Mugabe's rocky unity government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

  

"Please, young men and women, you don't have the freedom for men to marry men and women to marry women. You have the freedom for men to marry women. That's God's freedom. That's what created you and me."

  

But he urged his supporters not to resort to violence, as debate over the charter and the date for new polls has intensified over the last week, with Mugabe insisting on fresh polls this year.

  

"We used to fight each other. Time has come for us to do our politics in a much more cultured way. Although our differences are ideological and sometimes quite negative, we should not regard them as a source of hatred.

  

"Those who are opposed to us are also part of our society. We should recognise their rights. So, no to violence. No, no, no violence."

  

Elections marred by violence

 

Every election in Zimbabwe since 2000 has been marred by violence, most recently the 2008 presidential run-off in which Tsvangirai says more than 200 of his supporters were killed, prompting him to pull out in hopes of curbing the unrest.

  

Mugabe turned 88 on Tuesday declaring himself "fit as a fiddle". He has already been endorsed as his party's candidate in the next elections, whenever they are held.

  

Tsvangirai vowed Friday to resist Mugabe's push for new elections this year, saying he would not contest polls that come before reforms including a new constitution and a raft of changes to electoral and media laws.

  

Mugabe's party in Mutare began with a beauty pageant, and was to include a football cup final dubbed the "Bob at 88 Cup", with a concert by the country's top musicians set for later in the evening.

  

Up to 20,000 people were expected to attend, according to provincial officials. As people trickled into the stadium, a military band played music praising Mugabe, while drum majorettes went through their drills.

  

Mugabe's supporters wore party shirts with his portrait emblazoned on the front and back while had T-shirts with Mugabe's signature.

  

Cakes donated by local companies were displayed at the centre of the pitch, including one with a crocodile, another with the design of the mountains surrounding Mutare, and a third was shaped like the Victoria Falls.

  

Some supporters hoisted banners with messages like "Long Live the President" or hailing Mugabe as "The Lion of Africa".

Mugabe says ready for polls, slams violence

By MacDonald Dzirutwe | Reuters – Sat, Feb 25, 2012

MUTARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Octogenarian Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe
called on Saturday for his supporters to avoid violence in elections he says
should happen this year and which he says his ZANU-PF party is poised to win
resoundingly.

The veteran ruler told supporters at a rally for his 88th birthday the time
had come to make up with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), with whom
Mugabe was forced to share power after disputed and violent elections in
2008.

"We used to fight each other, but time has come for us to do our politics in
a much more cultured way," he said in an hour-long address at a stadium in
Mutare, 270 km (180 miles) east of Harare.

"Although our differences are political, we shouldn't regard them as a
source of hatred. No. No violence, no violence, no violence."

Mugabe, who has held power since independence from Britain in 1980, has
become a pariah in the West, blamed for running the economy into the ground
and for massive human rights abuses to keep his grip on power.

One of Africa's longest-serving leaders, Mugabe is pushing for elections in
2012, a year ahead of schedule, arguing the unity government he formed with
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has broken down.

He repeated accusations of Tsvangirai and the MDC dragging their feet over
crafting a new constitution in a bid to delay polls Mugabe says he will win.

Despite his advanced age and fears over his health, Mugabe has been endorsed
as his ZANU-PF party's presidential candidate.

HEALTH CONCERNS

Tsvangirai insists Zimbabwe can only hold elections after broad reforms,
including a new charter.

Critics say Mugabe's ZANU-PF has ruined one of Africa's most promising
economies with seizures of white-owned commercial farms, and a more recent
drive to force foreign firms to transfer majority shareholdings to
Zimbabweans.

A June 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks last year said
Mugabe had prostate cancer that had spread to other organs. His doctor urged
him to step down in 2008, according to the cable.

In his birthday speech, Mugabe sought to dispel concerns about his health.

"I still have the strength. No going back. Forward ever, backwards never,"
he said, to cheers from the crowd.

Elections in Zimbabwe have often been violent, with hundreds of opposition
supporters killed in the last 12 years in clashes with security forces and
ZANU-PF youth militia, according to the MDC and rights groups.

MDC officials arrested in Mat South

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Sunday, 26 February 2012 15:20

BULAWAYO - Police in Matabeleland South Province yesterday arrested more
than 20 MDC provincial and district leaders for holding “illegal” training
workshops in Beitbridge and Gwanda.

Nelson Chamisa, MDC national organising secretary told the Daily News that
police in the province interrupted their training programmes before
arresting everyone who was there, charging them with holding unendorsed
meeting.

“The police have stopped doing their duty instead they are now policing the
MDC, even when we are conducting training workshops or selling party cards,
they want to supervise it. They are now our observers,” Chamisa said.

Parts of the party officials arrested in Gwanda include Claris Madhuku, a
member of platform for youth development and leadership trainer at MDC
headquarters.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe said he
was not aware of the arrest as he was in Harare.

Efforts to get hold of his assistance failed as the station landline went
unanswered.

But Mehluli Dube, a member of the training team as well as provincial
executive member said he survived the arrest by shear lucky as he had not
arrived at the venue when police details pounced on his colleagues.

He said police misinterpreted Public Order and Security Act (Posa) by
arresting their members who were not holding a public gathering or a rally.

“These trainings are just the same party meetings were only leaders attend.
We don’t allow any member of the public,” Dube said.

According to Dube, 11 of their district leadership was in custody at
Beitbridge police station while more were expected as police went out
searching for others who fled.

“We hear that they are now following everyone who was there and in Gwanda
they arrested six people.

“These include Godfrey Koster, Sally Mlambo, Limukani Nyoni and two others
whom I do not know,” Dube said
According to Posa, any political gathering that is to be held publicly
should be sanctioned by the police.

Zanu (PF) youth league attacks corrupt party `chefs`

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Zanu (PF) youth league has blasted senior party officials for being greedy
and corrupt.
26.02.1212:25pm
by OWN CORRESPONDENT

Speaking during the President Robert Mugabe`s 88th birthday celebrations
held at Sakubva stadium yesterday(Saturday), Manicaland Provincial Youth
chairman, Tawanda Mukodza, publicly told President Mugabe that as youths
they were not happy with the corrupt tendencies by some top party officials.

Mukodza said corruption was rife in the party`s top hierarchy and pleaded
with President Mugabe to take action. He said the corrupt officials where a
barrier to youths development in the party.

“President as Manicaland youths we have a lot of complains. There are a lot
of corrupt activities happening within the party. Some of the top officials
are abusing their political positions and power to acquire vast wealth for
themselves,” he said.

Mukodza said youths were being sidelined from decision making process in the
party.

Some top party officials are accused of looting inputs from the Presidential
Input scheme for resale to small scale farmers at exorbitant price.

He also revealed that education in the country was now a preserve for elite
and most party youths were dropping school due to exorbitant fees.
“Education has become so expensive for poor youths and most of them are
dropping out,”he told President Mugabe.

Immediately after Mukodza finished delivering his speech, Zanu (PF) National
Youth Chairman, Absolomon Sikhosana tried to put a brave and face went to
the pulpit, and tried to water down accusation of corruption and greediness
by top party officials to please President Mugabe who was visibly disturbed
by the report.

The obviously disappointed Zanu (PF) fat cats including service chiefs and
ministers who were sitting on the top table could be seen hiding their faces
in shame.

“We are not here to register our complaints but to celebrate with our leader
Cde Robert Mugabe. It`s a day for the President to celebrates with the
youngsters. Let’s rejoice and celebrate not to complain it`s not the right
platform,” he said.

Youths in the party are accusing Zanu (PF) top officials of looting
country`s resources such as diamonds in Marange to line their pockets while
the majority of them are languishing in abject poverty.

Some top officials in the province are reported to have used their political
muscle to loot inputs at Grain Marketing Board (GMB) for resale at the
expense of poor communal and resettled farmers.

In his address, President Robert Mugabe blasted the new crop of leaders in
the Africa Union (AU) as politically naïve and politically weak, saying they
continue to play in the hands of former colonizers.

President Mugabe told close to 15 000 party supporters who were bused from
the country`s 10 provinces that current leaders in the AU were reversing the
gains of continent`s independence which was brought about by great leaders
such as Kwame Nkrumah, by letting former colonizers take control of the
continent.

“African continent has backslide and it`s now on its knees because the
leaders lack vision and continue to play in the hands of former colonisers,”he
said.

He said those who were following the footsteps of political founders of the
African continent were only concerned in acquiring education and find
employment to earn money.

“The current crops of leaders who are following political founders have a
task to just acquire education and find employment to get money. They want
to establish themselves as people who are materially good and position
themselves for opportunities,” he said.

President Mugabe also condemned those who practice homosexuality, describing
them as worse off than dogs. He said generation can only be created through
a system of marriage between man and women. He said such acts and practices
will not be embraced in the country.

President Mugabe attacked countries in Africa which have embraced such
practices in their constitution, saying it’s a “taboo”.

“We do not have such freedom in our country to marry another men or women.
Some have accepted it in their constitution but in we rejected it outright
and say go to hell,” he said.

He also attacked Non Governmental Organasation (NGO) s, saying they were
interfering in the internal political affairs of the country. “We have a lot
of NGOs in the country who come with stupid ideas.

Quite often they support one political party. But we kicked them out and
tell them to let us manage ourselves and our systems,”said President Mugabe.

He also warned party supporters who were leasing their land to former
commercial farmers to stop doing so as they risk losing it.

President Mugabe also spoke strongly on the party`s massive defeat in the
hands of MDC-T during 2008 harmonised elections. He said the party should
reclaim all the lost seats in the next general elections and blamed the loss
to factionalism and imposition of candidates by local leadership.

MDC-T won 20 seats of the Manicaland`s 26 legislative seats.

How Chipangano stalled fuel project

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Gift Phiri, Senior Writer
Sunday, 26 February 2012 15:27

HARARE - A Daily News on Sunday investigation and diary of events leading to
the stalling of the $1.2m Mbare project exposes Chipangano as nothing more
than a brutal and politically-connected extortion racket.

A timeline of Chipangano’s modus operandi reveals dark tales of moonlight
oath ceremonies, vows from politicians to cripple anything perceived to be
MDC in the sprawling slum, where members of the secretive sect extort money
from the poorest of the poor.

Below is a timeline compiled by the Daily News on Sunday about the militia’s
modus operandi during the Mashwede Diesel construction saga and how senior
politicians pulled the strings behind the scenes.

05/01/2012: Mashwede Diesel commences construction of service station and
food court at Stand No. 29615 next to Matapi Police Station in Mbare.

17/01/2012: Zanu PF Politburo member addresses a meeting in Mbare where he
urges participants to obstruct construction work ostensibly because the
project does not benefit the people of Mbare.

18/01/2012: Workers attacked on site at 10am and police take no action.
Mashwede Diesel developer Alex Mashamhanda appeals to Joshua Gore, Zanu PF
Mbare district coordinating committee (DCC) chairman for workers to resume
work and is given the green light.

Mashamhanda holds meeting with the Zanu PF DCC executive at party offices
near Stoddart Hall in Mbare.

Meeting resolved that Mashwede Diesel accepts workers seconded from
Chipangano militia.

20/01/2012: Mashwede Diesel advised by Zanu PF DCC that construction could
commence the following day after consultations on recruitment have been
finalised.

23/01/2012: Zanu PF Politburo member overturns resolution of DCC to okay
resumption of construction and directs that work be stopped immediately
because Mashamhanda is an MDC supporter.

24/01/2012: Zanu PF DCC insists project continues, recommend workers to
Mashwede Diesel and work resumes.

26/01/2012: Workers ordered to stop work by menacing thugs.

An instruction note advises that Mashamhanda phones Zanu PF Harare province
youth chairman Jim Kunaka.

27/01/2012: Mashamhanda holds meeting with Jim Kunaka at Carter House in
Mbare.

Mashamhanda reports meeting to Matapi Police Station, where officers promise
to protect workers.

Zanu PF Politburo member addresses meeting vowing to block the project,
urging youths to destroy property and remove workers from site.

He tells the meeting Mashamhanda is an MDC supporter chased from Masvingo
province by Zanu PF provincial heavyweight Dzikamai Mavhaire.

07/02/2012: State TV flights a news clip alleging Mashamhanda bankrolled an
MDC funding programme to influence traditional chiefs to ditch Zanu PF and
take sides with the MDC.

08/02/2012: Zanu PF Politburo member instructs youths at an evening meeting
in Mbare to invade the site.

09/02/2012: Over 100 youths armed with crude weapons attack workers at site,
destroying property.

Developer Mashamhanda and nine workers, injured in attack, are rushed to
hospital. Police record statements and summon Kunaka for a meeting.

10/02/2012: Police call crisis meeting chaired by top police officers,
including commanding officer Senior Spt. Mahachi and another Superintendent
heading Crime Division.

13/02/2012: Harare Central Police Station Law and Order Division records
statement from Mashwede Diesel about the attack.

Police call Jim Kunaka who produces a letter on a City of Harare letterhead
ordering that all construction work at the site must stop.

14/02/2012: Mashwede Diesel receives letter from City of Harare Town Clerk
Tendai Mahachi ordering all construction at the site to stop.

Outraged councillors protest against Town Clerk for generating the letter
saying the action subverts a council resolution to allocate that stand to
Mashwede Diesel.

17/02/2012: High Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya issues a provisional order
against Tendai Savanhu, Kunaka and Alfonso Gobvu restraining them “from
engaging in any unlawful acts, individually or jointly, or in concert with
any other person, directly or indirectly, calculated to or with the result
of causing harm to the person and property of Stand 29615 Harare Township
and the operation of its subsequent business operations or the damage or
destruction of the property of second applicant.”

18/02/2012: Police team conduct dawn raid of Mashwede Towers in Graniteside
around 5am.

The search warrant is for “dangerous weapons.” Mashamhanda summoned to Law
and Order Division where he is “profiled.”

20/02.2012: Meeting scheduled between Mashamhanda, Town Clerk Mahachi and
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo fails to take place.

Zanu PF Politburo member addresses youths in Mbare and instructs them to
confiscate or burn Mashwede Diesel equipment.

21/02/2012: Mashwede Diesel pays $30 000 in salaries and lays off 100
workers. Construction stalls.

MDC 99 bays for Mugabe, Chihuri blood

http://dailynews.co.zw/

By Gift Phiri, Senior Writer
Sunday, 26 February 2012 12:59

HARARE - MDC 99 President Job Sikhala has claimed he is bringing a case
against Zimbabwe police chief Augustine Chihuri and President Mugabe before
the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Sikhala, who been trading barbs with the police chief over his planned
hunger strike, said his party was gathering evidence to present to the
International Court of Justice to ensure that Chihuri and Mugabe are brought
to book for alleged torture and crimes against the people of Zimbabwe.

The former St Mary’s legislator and University of Zimbabwe student leader,
announced the counter-measure after the police threatened to quash his
planned hunger strike that is pushing for the disqualification of Mugabe’s
candidacy in the next poll.

“We have had an emergency management committee meeting of the party today
(Friday), to discuss the issue about Augustine Chihuri’s threat against
myself and the party and we have resolved that we will engage local legal
experts and international lawyers to compile evidence against Chihuri on his
human rights abuses he did in our country and to engage other stakeholders
to ensure that Chihuri is surrendered to the International Court of Justice
together with his master Robert Mugabe to face crimes against humanity,”
Sikhala told the Daily News on Sunday.

“We are going to pursue this route vigorously.”

Sikhala said he was taking serious steps to bring Chihuri and Mugabe to
justice for alleged wanton abuse of human rights since independence in the
UN’s highest court, set up in 1945 as a world court for disputes between
nations.

But his action is not likely to be entertained by the International Court of
Justice because the specialised court is designed exclusively to resolve
disputes between states.

It cannot deal with purely domestic cases, nor can it be used as a place to
deal with individuals who fall foul of international law.

The court was set up in order to deal with atrocities committed by state
representatives against foreign nationals, both domestically and abroad.

It cannot be used to deal with Chihuri and Mugabe's alleged atrocities
against Zimbabweans.

International rights group Amnesty International has urged the GNU to put in
place an impartial and independent police oversight body saying it was
inundated with thousands of reports from political and human rights
activists in Zimbabwe who have been arbitrarily arrested, unlawfully
detained, ill-treatment and even tortured while in police custody, but
no-one has been held accountable.

Sikhala’s move to seek legal vengeance for Chihuri and Mugabe’s alleged
crimes may spell trouble for the fiery politician and could strengthen the
resolve of the targeted officials to cling to office fearing they might end
up exchanging the comforts of retirement for a prison cell.

Iran funds by $3.5mn joint tractor factory in Zimbabwe

http://www.iranwpd.com/

Sunday, 26 February 2012 21:37

Feb 26 - The Iranian ambassador to Zimbabwe has announced that Iran has sent
$3.5 million to the Southern African country.

Ambassador Mohammad Pournajaf said on Saturday that the funds will help pay
for the completion of the Zimbabwe-Iran tractor assembly plant, a project
which was inaugurated by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 2010.

The Motira Tractor Plant is located in Harare's Willowvale industrial area.

Under a program established by the two countries, farmers will pay an
initial deposit of 30 percent of the price of a tractor and pay the rest in
24 months.

Pournajaf also said that 12 Zimbabwean technicians have been sent to the
Islamic Republic for training in the assembly and maintenance of tractors.
In April 2010 and during President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visit to Zimbabwe,
Iranian and Zimbabwean Presidents opened the Iran tractor assembly line.

Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan as well as
Iran's neighboring countries, and African and Central Asian states as among
his company's main customers.

Horse-trading over constitution

http://www.timeslive.co.za

MARK SCOFIELD | 26 February, 2012 02:10

As squabbles intensify over Zimbabwe's protracted constitution-making
process, observers warn that the new legal document may end up being a
negotiated settlement between President Robert Mugabe and the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC).

Ultimately, the people's views - collated over a three-month long outreach
exercise by the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) - will count
for nothing, as the parties step up to defend positions favourable to their
political party agenda.

Tensions have mounted in recent weeks between Zanu-PF and the MDC, fuelled
by a clause in the draft constitution that would bar Mugabe, as presidential
candidates would be reined in by a 70-year-old age and two-term limit.

The constitution-making process has emerged as a new political battlefield.
Zanu-PF hawks moved in this week to rewrite the "careless" clause that would
exclude Mugabe from contesting his seventh election race, in the strongest
signal of the process moving into a negotiated arrangement.

Paul Mangwana, the Zanu-PF linked Copac co-chairman, said this week; "Of the
six chapters we have reviewed, we have made a lot of changes because we have
discovered that the drafters had ignored what we instructed them to do and
70% of their content was of their own invention. We have evidence that they
were careless with their job and we had no option than to make plenty of
changes".

In response, Welshman Ncube, the leader of the splinter MDC party, said:
"Zanu-PF is panicking, they know the new constitution will abolish the
institutions they used to rig elections and unleash violence. For that
reason Zanu-PF wants to destroy the constitution-making process, through
discrediting it. But as the MDC we are monitoring vigilantly the
constitution process as it is the gateway to a democratic Zimbabwe".

Although the main political parties are seen to be the central players in
keeping a watchful eye on the constitution-making process, the hawk's eye
has also extended to other groups.

War veterans insisted earlier this year that Mugabe dissolve parliament and
call for a snap election to end the three-year-old unity government, while
civic groups are demanding greater civil, political and media freedoms and
the clipping of presidential powers.

Constitutional law expert, Lovemore Madhuku, warned that the country should
not be "hoodwinked" into believing the new constitution would curtail the
powers of the executive.

Political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said: "The fierceness of the fight over the
new constitution suggests that it is certainly going to be a negotiated
agreement. That won't come as much of a surprise as from the very onset the
whole exercise took on a negotiated approach; from the composition of the
outreach teams to the views that would be used in the draft".

Charles Mangongera, the MDC's director of policy and research, agreed:
"Ultimately the draft constitution is going to be a negotiated settlement
and most likely it will be very close to the Kariba Draft. Political
gladiators from the three parties have in fact publicly said so. The
political dynamics are such that for as long as the unity government is in
place, then key political processes will always be negotiated. In some cases
this has supplanted democratic processes and popular will, but that is the
nature of politics under negotiated governing pacts".

Zimbabwe constitution panel: No clause agreed on age limit to disqualify Mugabe from polls

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

By Associated Press, Published: February 26

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A panel of lawmakers in charge of rewriting Zimbabwe’s
constitution says no conclusions have been reached on an age limit for the
country’s president.

State media reports have said there are moves to disqualify longtime ruler
President Robert Mugabe, 88, from contesting new polls and alleged it was a
ploy by his opponents.

The all-party parliamentary Constitution Select Committee said in a
statement Sunday it has “not yet deliberated” on a reported age limit of 70.
It said such suggestions were premature and “people should not be distracted
by hearsay.”

It said it had no hand in leaking unsubstantiated draft proposals to the
media. Mugabe’s party has emphasized he will not sign into law any rules
that disqualify him.

Mugabe’s bid to vie for top seat after clocking 88 puzzling

http://www.nation.co.ke/

By CHEGE MBITIRU
Posted  Sunday, February 26  2012 at  19:39

It’s always joyful to have grandpas and grandmas around. After all, most
amuse, telling it as they see it, often camouflaged as wisdom.

If former heads of state are truthful, they are assets. They can at least
tell upcoming leaders how not to govern, “I did that, but …”

However, if they are in office, it often becomes a case of an old dog and a
new trick. They don’t mix. Yet today’s world perches on new tricks, really
ideas.

Two grandpas — presidents Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and Zimbabwe’s Robert
Mugabe — made news last week.

Wade’s security forces relentlessly clobbered those shouting, “Grandpa, go
home!”

At 86, he is seeking a third term under a debatable constitutional
interpretation. The jury is out, pending the outcome of Sunday’s polls.

Mugabe celebrated his 88th birthday with a $1 million party and a pledge to
extend his 32-year-rule this year “with or without a new constitution”.

He has previously given reasons. This time he added another. He is as “fit
as a fiddle”.

“Fit as a bow string” would have served better. A fiddle is not a common
musical instrument in Zimbabwe. Besides, the word “fiddle” is prone to
unflattering connotations.

Mugabe’s relentless pursuit of elections, he argues, is because the nearly
three-year-old coalition with opposition Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for
Democratic Change is “dysfunctional”. (READ: Tsvangirai vows to resist early
elections)

It is certainly not as dysfunctional as Mugabe’s Zanu PF government that led
to a political and economic meltdown prior to the 2008 elections.

Then, Tsvangirai gave Mugabe a near shellacking. However, Zanu PF
intimidation of and violence against the opposition earned Mugabe a runoff
victory.

According to the coalition deal, a new constitution and a series of reforms
are conditional to the elections. Mugabe went further and threatened to
reject South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma as mediator.

CIO attack Mujuru ally

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

By Ngonidzashe Mushimbo, Staff Writer
Sunday, 26 February 2012 12:46

HARARE - Zanu PF’s battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe is becoming
even nastier with the latest episode being a key ally of the late Solomon
Mujuru who was battered in a nightclub brawl with intelligence operatives
for suggesting, Joice Mujuru should succeed the octogenarian leader.

Retired Major General Kudzai Mbudzi, a former senior Zanu PF official in
Masvingo province and freedom fighter, was assaulted and ejected from a
Harare bar — the ZimCafe — for insisting Joice Mujuru should lead the
liberation movement.

Mbudzi said Zanu PF needed leadership renewal and the widow of the late
five-star general was the ideal candidate to spark life into the party ahead
of elections whose date has not yet been announced.

The former soldier was in discussion with other patrons including
journalists on Friday at the pub when intelligence operatives attacked him
at the counter.

He was grabbed by the collar and struggled heavily to free himself from the
grip on his throat while patrons and onlookers were caught by surprise at
what was happening.

The fiery war veteran, whose political allegiance to either Zanu PF or
Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD) is questionable, tried feebly to pack punches but
was overwhelmed by the attacks.

Yesterday, Mbudzi told the Daily News on Sunday that he feared for his life
and had already contacted the spy agency — the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO) bosses to protest at the attack.

“I’m very bitter about the whole issue and I actually called the CIO bosses
and the minister to report the incident. What pains me most is that I didn’t
say anything wrong or anything defamatory because it was an open discussion
and I spoke my mind.

“As as a retired major general, I must not be beaten or questioned by the
CIO operatives for speaking my mind. Only Chiwenga is in a position to tell
me what I said is wrong. They are not supposed to beat people. Period,”
Mbudzi said.

He called on the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Constantine
Chiwenga to give them protection just like the late decorated general Mujuru
used to do.

“Chiwenga should protect us the senior army officers and the retired
generals. The late general Solomon Mujuru used to give us enough protection
and respect so Chiwenga should do the same,” said Mbudzi.

Mbudzi fought in the war front with the late Mujuru and other senior
commanders during the war to liberate Zimbabwe.

In February 2008, just a month before the watershed Presidential poll, he
led a rebellion against Mugabe and successfully shepherded former Zanu PF
politburo member and finance minister Simba Makoni to contest against him at
the polls.

Mbudzi was one of the key Zanu PF members who led the campaigns against
Mugabe, mainly because he felt the veteran former guerilla had outlived his
usefulness in the party.

Makoni failed to defeat Mugabe and came a distant third in the 2008 poll
which led to a run-off after Morgan Tsvangirai failed to garner an outright
victory against the aged leader.

The results of the election however, were withheld for five weeks sparking
accusations that Tsvangirai had been ‘robbed’ of victory because the
inordinate delays ‘took away his votes”.

On Friday, Mbudzi repeated that Mugabe had his time and Zanu PF was headed
for defeat if they allowed him to stand in the next Presidential election.

He said Mugabe was no longer giving a positive image of Zanu PF due to his
old age and should be replaced by either Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa
or Vice President Mujuru.

Mugabe, who turned 88 on February 21, has been in power since 1980 when
Zimbabwe got independence from Britain.

He has outwitted his colleagues to remain at the helm of the party although
calls for him to appoint a successor are now reaching a crescendo, but in
private discussions.

Mujuru and Mnangagwa have for long been touted as front-runners to succeed
the veteran leader who last year told a Namibian paper that he would want to
celebrate 100 years still as the Zimbabwean leader.

But there is no evidence on the ground showing either of them succeeding
Mugabe anytime soon.

Recently, Zanu PF was left in turmoil after a clause appearing to bar Mugabe
from participating in future elections, was inserted in the constitutional
draft.

Mugabe has taken aim at his colleagues in Zanu PF whom he described as
cowards for trying to bar him and instead, said he will amend the draft to
remove that clause because “it’s just a draft not a constitution”.

Concerns raised over youth fund vetting

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Taurai Mangudhla, Business Writer
Saturday, 25 February 2012 13:50

HARARE - Old Mutual Investment Company (Omic) was forced to re-vet about 2
000 unsatisfactory youth empowerment fund applications at Indigenisation
minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s instruction.

Kasukuwere yesterday told journalists in Harare that his department had to
intervene after Omic rejected most of the 2 000 initial applications from
the country’s 10 provinces.

“We were quite concerned of the rejections that were made. About 200
applications came in and almost 2 000 were rejected immediately. It was
almost as though they had rejection letters ready to reply the youths,” he
said.

“We said to Omic, all those that have been sent must be recycled,”
Kasukuwere added.

“It was the first time for Omic to process such transactions (and) perhaps
the young people failed to communicate in a way that is understood by Omic,
but that does not mean their projects are not worthwhile.”

Omic has been processing applications through CABS.

A team from the empowerment ministry will now assist Omic in the selection
of successful applicants to avoid a repeat of the situation, said the
minister.

The two parties have also resolved to hold capacity building meetings with
applicants across the country in order to equip the beneficiaries with
business proposal writing and management skills.

Zom Chizura, Omic managing director said his company had approved 101
applicants out of 3 083 as of Wednesday.

The 101 successful companies and individuals, of which 65 are from Harare,
are due to receive $306 000 soonest, an average of $300 each.

Omic announced last October it would give a $10 million loan facility to the
youth and an additional $1 million capacity building fund, as part of the
company’s compliance to the Indigenisation Act.

The Act compels all foreign-owned companies to relinquish at least 51
percent of their shareholding to Zimbabwean locals.

The fund, to be administered by a board of trustees comprising independent
individuals as well as Indigenisation ministry and Omic appointees, has
largely been taken by Harare youths.

The manufacturing sector received 40 percent while agriculture and
distribution got 29 percent and 21 percent respectively.

Industry minister Welshman Ncube recently raised concern over the slow
disbursement of another fund partnering Old Mutual, the Distressed
Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) after only two companies had
accessed the fund to date.

He said his ministry was considering engaging the financial services giant
and its partners over its concerns as companies had become reluctant to
apply due its stringent requirements.

The $40 million fund was established by government and Old Mutual Zimbabwe
last year to bail out Bulawayo firms following the closure of more than 80
companies leaving 20 000 workers jobless.

Mugabe tells cops : Hands off Morgan

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

JAMA MAJOLA | 26 February, 2012 02:10

President Robert Mugabe this week warned police to avoid rushing to arrest
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on fraud allegations involving $1.5-million
given to him three years ago by government to buy a house - because he
personally authorised the release of the funds at the centre of the ongoing
probe.

Information obtained from high-level government officials and police shows
that Mugabe surprisingly made remarks which could save Tsvangirai's skin,
largely because he was aware of the issue and did not want his name involved
in what could end up a messy affair.

"Mugabe took that public position against the police, maybe for the first
time ever since he became president, because he cleared that transaction. So
this means if he allowed Tsvangirai to be arrested, he would also be dragged
into the case and it would have been difficult for him to emerge without
bruises," said a senior government official close to the investigation.

"Those behind this issue forget that the deal was between Mugabe, Tsvangirai
and Gono. So police can't arrest one of them and not the other without
opening themselves to charges of pursuing a political agenda."

Police are investigating Tsvangirai on fraud allegations involving
$1.5-million which the premier received, through Reserve Bank Governor
Gideon Gono, in November 2009.

Gono, who is close to Mugabe and is Tsvangirai's 'home-boy,' facilitated the
deal although police now want to arrest him for refusing to be their "star
witness" in court. Police accuse Gono of obstructing the course of justice
as they intensify their campaign to nail Tsvangirai ahead of crucial
elections.

Documents seen by the Sunday Times this week show Mugabe's position, which
has left security service chiefs under Joint Operations Command (JOC)
shocked into inaction, as self-preservation. JOC, which brings together the
army, police and intelligences services, is behind the plot to arrest
Tsvangirai - who is also MDC-T leader - ahead of elections to help Mugabe to
win the polls.

They also wanted to arrest Finance Minister Tendai Biti, another MDC-T
stalwart, claiming he was an accomplice in the case and that this would
cripple the party. Police were also investigating Biti over the use of
$500-million Zimbabwe got from the International Monetary Fund in 2009.

JOC hardliners, who include Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General
Constantine Chiwenga and Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, were
said to have been desperate for Tsvangirai to be arrested, while Mugabe and
Gono were opposed to it.

However, JOC's plan came crushing down this week after Mugabe took an
unexpected position to warn police against moving on Tsvangirai without
watertight evidence.

Mugabe even suggested police were "making up things against the prime
minister", surprising remarks given their long-standing bitter rivalry.

"What we don't want is people getting arrested on the basis of evidence
which is not clear and on the basis of facts which have not been thoroughly
investigated," Mugabe said in an interview with the state media.

"The police must investigate these cases thoroughly so that by the time they
get to the stage of building a case and taking it to the court, they are
quite sure that they have a case against the particular individual to whom
it relates. But just rushing to build a case against somebody doesn't do us
good at all. If anything, it harms our reputation and I hope they have
investigated the matter thoroughly, not just rushed to make up things
against the prime minister," he said.

Mugabe's position would almost certainly scare away JOC and police. Recently
the state media have been on a warpath - beating the drums about a story
which was broken by the Sunday Times - as they campaigned for a police swoop
on the premier. On Friday Tsvangirai reacted angrily when a state media
journalist asked him about the issue, screaming: "Are you a policeman?"

Insiders say that last year, police considered arresting Tsvangirai many
times, and came close to doing so in Mugabe's absence in September. The
president was away attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting in
New York. JOC was, however, paralysed by internal disputes over the issue.

Biti cracks whip after customs complaints

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

ZOLI MANGENA | 26 February, 2012 02:10

Inundated with complaints about unprofessional clearance formalities by
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers and the harassment of
travellers, Finance Minister Tendai Biti this week intervened to sort out
the situation at the country's ports of entry.

The move to crack the whip on Zimra customs officers - which was discussed
in cabinet this week - could see the country's chief tax-collector, Gershem
Pasi, losing his job.

It has already triggered hostilities between President Robert Mugabe - who
wants Pasi to stay on as Zimra commissioner-general - and Biti, who wants
him to go.

Informed sources said that Biti tried to convince cabinet on Tuesday that
Pasi should be fired, but Mugabe and Zanu-PF ministers resisted.

Pasi was appointed during Mugabe's previous administration, before Biti
became a minister.

"Stakeholders will be aware of widespread complaints raised by travellers
over unwarranted customs clearance formalities and the resultant undue
delays at our border ports of entry," Biti said.

Biti said there were reports Zimra customs officers "subjected travellers to
physical searches and screening", rendering irrelevant green routes
designated by government at airports and border posts for use by travellers
with nothing to declare.

"Such conduct is tantamount to harassment, which is inconsistent with
Zimra's legal obligation to act lawfully, fairly and reasonably at all
times.

"This would also, in the process, undermine government efforts towards the
restoration of the realisation of the full potential of our tourism
facilities and infrastructure."

Biti said he was taking corrective measures, which included orders that
Zimra officers must cease indiscriminate searches of travellers and apply
customs formalities professionally.

"At airports, travellers with nothing to declare should go through the green
routes.

"In this regard, only internationally accepted random physical searches
should apply, mindful of our obligations with regards to countering
smuggling of drugs and other illicit substances," he said.

"Travellers carrying commercial consignments should go through the red route
in order to complete the necessary customs formalities, thereby fulfilling
their obligation to pay customs duty."

Biti said that the same procedures would apply at border posts.

He further indicated that government would deal with Zimra officers who
defied rules and procedures.

Biti came up with measures on the rebate of duty on travellers' effects and
the advance passenger and cargo manifest system.

"The Treasury urges travellers who experience harassment by customs officers
to report to them, to Zimra and the government," the governor said.

Fresh problems confront Zou

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Everson Mashaya, Staff Writer
Sunday, 26 February 2012 15:22

HARARE - A row has erupted at the Zimbabwe Open University (Zou) over
Student Representative Council (SRC) funds which the students say could
result in a court action if they are not released to them.

According to a leaked letter addressed to Vice Chancellor (VC) Primrose
Kurasha by the student representative body, the SRC branch is threatening
legal action against the university if all the funds meant for student
activities are not released to them.

These revelations are the latest to the university whose profile has been
heavily battered by damning reports on its finances alleged corrupt
activities and examination scandals.

Zou is currently under probe by the Anti-Corruption Commission and several
study programmes have been suspended by the Zimbabwe Council of Higher
Education (Zimche).

A letter by the Bulawayo region showed that SRC funds were not remitted to
the student body.

“We realise with regret that the university continues with unparalleled
impunity to arbitrary send refunds that are not in harmony with what has
been collected from our region on the SRC tag.

“We wish to register our dismay over the $1 050 recently extended to our
region as SRC. We are privy to that over $20 000 has been collected on the
SRC name and we thus demand that this amount including any other interests,
be released to us so that it is accordingly managed by the SRC” read the
letter to Kurasha.

“Should the status quo prevail, the temptation to seek advice is
 compelling,” added the letter.

Nelson Masukume, the SRC national treasurer and president of the SRC
Bulawayo region admitted writing the letter.

“What we only want is accountability on the part of the university. Students
contribute and they have the right of access to their money. The university
orders us to submit a budget of around $1 000 each time we need money and we
do not know what happens to the rest of the money that students pay,”
Masukume said.

However, an investigation by this paper revealed that all provinces had been
paid paltry amounts that did not tally with what was generated and that the
problem had been ongoing since 2009, at the introduction of the
multi-currency system.

Figures possessed by this paper, showed the enrolment figures of the
university every semester since 2009, that money paid by students towards
SRC could be in excess of $936 000 and according to an insider who refused
to be named, the university only released around $30 000 for the same
period.

A source within Zou told the Daily News on Sunday that each student pays $20
every semester to the university towards SRC and the university will be
required to surrender it to the student body but this has not been
happening.

Zou said the funds were for students but the challenge had been that some
students were not paying on time.

“Most of the students are on our staggered fees payment plan. This therefore
means that the monies will not be available upfront,  as and when students
pay, the monies are immediately available for use by the SRC,” Nhamo
Marandu, Zou communications director said.

However, the source denied that SRC funds were staggered saying the scheme
only applied to tuition fees.

According to the source, the VC gets a $1 100 allowance for two domestic
workers per month, while all designate directors get $550 for one domestic,
while all designate directors got $1 600 for security allowance, $1 000 Zou
allowance, $600 entertainment allowance and unlimited cell phone allowance
for more than two lines per month.

Zou says the allowances were in accordance to the ministry of higher
education, but an investigation by this paper showed that government
allowances for the most paid civil servants were $170 per month.

“The ministry currently funds the university bill. There is therefore no way
SRC funds could be diverted to fund the salaries and benefits,” Marandu
said.

Impala's Zimbabwe platinum unit given 2 weeks to detail handover of 29.5% stake

http://www.mineweb.com

Zimplats has been ordered to come up within 2 weeks with plan to transfer
29.5% of its Zimbabwe platinum mining unit to a state company
Posted:  Sunday , 26 Feb 2012

HARARE (Reuters) -

Impala Platinum's Zimbabwe unit, Zimplats, has been ordered to transfer 29.5
percent of its shares to a state-run fund in order to comply with local
empowerment laws, according to a letter written by a government minister.

Zimplats, 87 percent owned by Implats, had failed to comply fully with the
law, which seeks to localize at least 51 percent of shares in all
foreign-owned firms, empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere wrote in a
letter seen by Reuters on Sunday.

Failure to present the government with a plan to transfer the holding within
two weeks would result in unspecified "enforcement mechanisms", the letter
added.

Kasukuwere has in the past threatened to cancel the mining licences of firms
that do not comply.

On Friday, Implats said Zimbabwe had rejected part of its empowerment plan,
along with that of Mimosa, its 50-50 joint venture platinum mine with
Aquarius Platinum.

Both mines have recently launched community share ownership trusts, to which
they each gave 10 percent shareholdings each.

Zimbabwe's empowerment laws, being championed by President Robert Mugabe,
have been criticized by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his partner in a
shaky coalition government formed three years ago after violent and disputed
elections in 2008.

Analysts say the law is holding back the impoverished southern African
country's economic recovery from a decade of turbulence and contraction.

Critics link the empowerment push to Mugabe's plans to hold elections this
year.

EU ‘economical with truth’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 25th February 2012

The Vigil is expressing to the European Parliament its reservations about the easing of sanctions against Mugabe’s cronies. We sent the following email to Geoffrey Van Orden, Member of the European Parliament for the East of England:

“Thanks for your email about the easing of the EU’s targeted Zimbabwean measures (Mr Van Orden’s Press Release – http://www.geoffreyvanorden.com/index.php/news/detail/keeping_the_pressure_on_mugabe1). The Vigil is appreciative of your consistent work for Zimbabwe and shares your relief that the sanctions have been largely kept in place. But we are puzzled by remarks by the EU’s Foreign Affairs representative, Baroness Ashton.

She said in a press release of 17^th February that the EU ‘welcomes progress made towards the creation of a conducive environment for the holding of free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections’ . . . she went on to speak of ‘progress in the implementation of the GPA’ and further commented ‘the overall situation in Zimbabwe has improved’ (see: Declaration by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union on Zimbabwe – http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/128029.pdf).

We would be grateful if you could use your position in the European Parliament to ask Baroness Ashton where she gets her contrary information from because we would like to share this good news. But our suspicion is that she is merely ill-informed or is driven by another agenda.

One further observation: the Vigil believes the easing of the targeted measures will not lead to any progress in Zimbabwe – witness the dismissive reaction there to the recent announcement (Zanu PF dismisses sanctions ‘easing’ – http://www1.zimbabwesituation.com/old/feb20a_2012.html#Z6). We believe that even the total lifting of the measures would not persuade Zanu PF to allow free and fair elections. They would simply invent some other excuse for clinging to power.”

Other Points

·         The Vigil was joined by the daughter of Thembie Rebecca Simelane, our Swazi friend who visited us last week. Since then Thembie has been detained and served with a deportation order for Monday evening, 27^th February. See http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/371-thembie-simelane-campaign for details of our campaign to have her deportation stopped.  Thembie’s daughter came with three other Swazi ladies (Jabulile Simelane, Flora Dlamini and Margaret Dlamini) after the Swazi Vigil outside the Swaziland High Commission.  They report that there was considerable support from passers-by for their petition demanding democracy and an end to human rights abuses in Swaziland. They plan to hold their Vigil every two weeks. For details of the next protest see ‘Events and Notices’.

·         Following the lifting of the moratorium on sending back failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers we are getting more reports of people being given orders to leave. Shamiso Kofi, a Vigil supporter, whose deportation was stopped at the last minute in October last year, joined us today.  She is still limping from an injury sustained from what she said was the brutal treatment of UK Border Agency security guards. With her was Gladys Mabvira who was released on 14^th February after 6 months detention and is still fighting deportation. We are still waiting to hear whether our supporter David Moyo will be sent home on 1^st March.

·         The lovely sunshine made us hope winter had come to an end. We felt like we were in the middle of a film set as we were packed between big vans for a movie being made nearby.

·         A reminder that our second Zimbabwe Action Forum takes place after the Vigil next week (6.30 pm on 3^rd March). Everyone who wants to join the fight for Zimbabwe’s freedom is welcome.  For details see ‘Events and Notices’.

·         Several Vigil supporters attended a showing of the new film ‘Robert Mugabe – What happened?’ It was followed by a discussion with the director Simon Bright and a panel including Josephine Zhuga of the Vigil management team. The film was well-received.

·         Thanks to Margaret Gotora who has been coming at the start of the Vigil to help set up, helping at the front table throughout and clearing up at the end.

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: 73 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·         Solidarity protest with Zimbabwean treason trial socialists. Friday 2^nd March at 7pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. This is organized by the International Socialist Organisation. For more information phone 07796 690 874.

·         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.

·         NextSwaziland Vigil. Saturday 10^th March from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.  Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria.

·         ROHR North East general meeting. Saturday 10^th March from 12 noon – 3 pm. Venue: Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1HH. 3 mins walk from Gateshead Interchange and Metro station before Police Station. Free parking available. For directions please contact Hazvineyi Choto 07424524910, Susan Ndlovu 07838872435 or Tapiwa Merrymore Semwayo 07722060246.

·         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 7/2012 of 24th February [Parliament to Resume Sitting Tuesday 28th February]