A Bulawayo based community radio initiative, Radio Dialogue has released a press statement saying it is losing patience with government over its failure to provide a broadcasting licence.

Speaking at a press conference held after the handover of the Radio Dialogue constitutional report activities to the parliamentary select committee(COPAC) on Saturday at Bulawayo Rainbow hotel, chairperson of the Radio Dialogue Trust, Peter Zwide Khumalo said the inclusive government has failed to liberate the media.

Khumalo said failure to provide radio licences is testimony that the government cannot fulfill the Global Political Agreement.

“For five years now Radio Dialogue has been meeting with government on the issue of community radio licensing,” Khumalo told the conference, “The GPA brought great hope that, at last, licences would be issued. For sixteen months now the people of Bulawayo have been waiting the Inclusive Government to fulfil its promises. But this has been in vain.”

Khumalo was reiterating the words of the executive director of Radio Dialogue Nigel Johnson who said the GPA is not working.

“Article 19 makes it clear that all licences , all applications will be processed immediately,” Johnson said, “This was signed by Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara. They all signed that they will process applications immediately but it hasn't happened.”

Khumalo also criticised the ministry of media, information and publicity for its failure to constitute a legitimate broadcasting authority.He said the ministry is in a state of confusion.

“The Minister unilaterally appointed members to BAZ,” he said, “These appointments were immediately rejected by the Deputy Minister and subsequently by the Prime Minister.”

In April 2009, the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu toured Radio Dialogue studios, and held discussions with trustees and staff.The chairperson of Radio Dialogue Trust also stated that Radio Dialogue has sent proposals of the amendment of the Broadcasting Services Act through the parliamentary portfolio committee.Furthermore, Khumalo also told the conference that Radio Dialogue is ready to broadcast.

“Technologically, we are advanced and we' ve got the equipment,” he said, “In terms of skills base, we' ve got the staff and the structures are there and they are trained.We are ready for a license to raise the mast and start broadcasting.”

Meanwhile, the handover of the Radio Dialogue report on constitutional activities to COPAC was attended by two parliamentary select committee co-chairpersons, Edward Mkhosi and Douglas Mwonzora, members of the civic society and Radio Dialogue ward committee members.

Our vital contribution in Zimbabwe

http://www.guardian.co.uk

The Anglican church in Zimbabwe has an uneven record. But now we are leading
reconstruction

    * Rowan Williams and John Sentamu
    * guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 February 2010 21.30 GMT

At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Morgan Tsvangirai, former
opposition leader, was one of those present to represent Zimbabwe - a
reminder that the fragile power-sharing arrangement brokered just a year ago
still survives. But it would be a brave person who took this as a sign that
Zimbabwe was moving steadily towards anything like political normality or
full economic recovery. Some urgent humanitarian matters have been
addressed, especially in relation to the freedom of NGOs to deliver
essential services. But education remains in chaos, and disease - including
HIV rates and measles infection - is on the rise; last year's cholera
epidemic is over, but this year's rains will bring new risks. The number of
doctors in the country is tiny, with all routine health services seriously
depleted.

One sign of dysfunctionality and oppression is the continuing level of
harassment of Anglican Christians in Harare and elsewhere. Some
congregations were locked out of their churches at Christmas; church members
are threatened, attacked and beaten. The election of several new bishops
with a clear and courageous commitment to the welfare of their people is
provoking the disgraced and ousted former church leadership to continue the
tactics of violent intimidation that led to their alienation from the wider
church and eventual removal. That violence is actively supported by the
police, despite court judgments in favour of the new leadership. In one
diocese, the former bishop and his small group of associates still have a
stranglehold on property, so that no funds are available to pay stipends for
the legitimate clergy.

But in the middle of all this - with legal costs threatening to cripple
their work - Anglicans in Zimbabwe have become vital contributors to
sustaining and rebuilding the social fabric. A year ago, the archbishops of
Canterbury and York launched their appeal for Zimbabwe. It has so far raised
nearly half a million pounds from the Church of England. This money,
administered through the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
has enabled the Anglican church in Zimbabwe to increase its already
extensive development work - HIV care, rural clinics, training in
sustainable farming practices, feeding programmes delivered through schools,
often in close partnership with local government and NGOs. The Nets for Life
programme, funded by the Episcopal church in America, is widespread in the
country. No less importantly, various dioceses sponsor healing and
reconciliation initiatives, with drama and music workshops for young people
in both rural and urban settings.

The church's record in Zimbabwe has been uneven, especially in the shameful
period of uncritical support for Mugabe from leaders like the former bishop
of Harare. But things have changed. Last year, the churches jointly offered
a framework for confronting and dealing with the buried traumas of many
decades in a country that has seen more than its share of violence and
corruption. And in October 2009, the Roman Catholic bishops' conference of
Zimbabwe published a pastoral letter on national healing which gave an
impressively comprehensive analysis of the country's ills and spelled out
what the churches could provide. Anglican churches in particular have been
at the forefront of establishing counselling centres where people can speak
about their sufferings, and education programmes that open new
possibilities.

Unless government adopts something like this framework, Zimbabwe is doomed
to another round of trauma and destitution. There are still those who say -
as some of the discussion about aid for Haiti has shown - that churches are
not the best vehicle for delivering aid, because they have an "agenda" to
advance. This is nonsense - and dangerously unrealistic nonsense. In
societies where the main civil society networks are closely bound to the
life of the churches, it is self-defeatingly foolish to bypass their
systems. The "agenda" of the churches in contexts like this is simply the
restoration of human dignity and stability in a deeply damaged society. No
one else is there to do it.

A year on from the launch of the archbishops' appeal and a year on from the
power-sharing agreement, Zimbabwe still suffers acutely. We in the UK need
to be clear about the urgency of supporting those working for basic human
dignities and struggling to build social capital for the future through
their work in counselling and reconciliation.
 

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 6th February 2010

Every week another petition. It must seem so if you read last week’s diary. We spend long cold hours outside Zimbabwe House telling the passing world what is going on in Zimbabwe and normally run two petitions at a time. Sometimes we have a lively debate about them with passers-by; people from all over the world are concerned.

Last week the Vigil announced the launch of a new petition demanding elections in Zimbabwe as soon as possible because of Mugabe’s failure to honour the Global Political Agreement. This week we sent Morgan Tsvangirai a petition we have been running for several months urging the MDC to stop co-operating with Mugabe. The petition reads ‘Petition to the Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai. We urge you to refuse to co-operate with President Mugabe until he respects the rule of law and complies fully with the agreement under which the Zimbabwean coalition government was formed in February.’

Here is what we said in our letter to Mr Tsvangirai:  ‘Enclosed is a petition signed by hundreds of people passing by the Zimbabwe Vigil outside Zimbabwe House in London.  We note that the MDC’s partial withdrawal from government late last year prompted new moves by the Southern African Development Community and we urge you to do the same again in the hope that SADC will again intervene to ensure either that Zanu-PF complies with the GPA or that elections are called soon under international supervision.’

It will give Mr Tsvangirai something to read given that all ZANU PF ministers have been told not to report to the Prime Minister in future. He might like to consider his position  in the light of the AU summit’s backing of Mugabe  and the election of Mugabe’s client, President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi (absentee owner of a  Zimbabwean farm), as the organisation’s new Chair. It was ironic but predictable that Zimbabwe was elected to the AU’s ‘Peace and Security Council’ – a resounding vote of confidence in Zanu PF’s gangster regime.

The Vigil noted the demise of NEPAD at the AU summit. It was said that ‘it couldn't deliver a single project during the last decade.’ Remember NEPAD (New Economic Partnership for African Development)? It was a brainchild of South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki and promised good governance in Africa in return for aid. Remember Mbeki? He is the man responsible for keeping the Mugabe regime in power, with the help of it seems of Rwandan genocidaires.

For us at the Vigil things fell into place when we saw a report from the Rwandan New Times (http://allafrica.com/stories/201002030876.html) that a top genocide suspect is working for Mugabe along with several thousand compatriots from Rwanda. They apparently live in fear of being sent home so will do anything to keep him in power, plumbing new depths of bestiality. We noted during the last elections that torture victims spoke of being abused by people who could not speak English or the Zimbabwean vernacular languages. We assumed at the time that they were Angolans.

We doubt the British parliamentary team considering aid for Zimbabwe had an opportunity to meet these Rwandan killers during the team’s brief visit to Zimbabwe. But they may have learnt something of the looting of the Marange diamonds and the power it has given to the Zanu PF mafia. They might also have noticed the publicity about the Zimbabwe Presidential scholarships. These are supposed to be paid for by Mugabe but in fact come from aid money and go to the children of top Zanu-PF people so that they can study abroad.  Zimbabwean student leaders are angry that the money is not at least spent to prop up the decrepit Zimbabwean education system.

It was lovely to have some sunshine even though it got bitterly cold when the sun set.

Some other points:

·       The new Swazi Vigil was grateful to Sue Toft of our management team who bought four Swazi flags for them to display to compensate for the Swazi High Commission lowering their flag last week at the launch of their Vigil. The Swazi Vigil was joined by a family who spoke about how they had suffered under King Mswati’s autocratic rule and how a relative had been murdered.

·       We were pleased to be visited by Bahar Milani and Armin HZ from Iran Solidarity UK – especially in view of the closer relations between Zimbabwe and Iran. They have asked for our support for a demonstration outside the Iranian Embassy in London (see Events and Notices section for details). Bahar tells us they have prepared a poster showing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shaking Mugabe’s hand.

·       It was good to welcome the Reverend Bonnet Moyo and Pastor Lucky Siyafa of the Southend Brethren in Christ Church who prayed with Vigil supporters for the deliverance of Zimbabwe.

·       Another visitor was Dr Tim of ZBN News who filmed our protest.  ZBN News have been tireless in filming human rights events and activists in the UK to help publicise the plight of Zimbabwe.

·       Mathias Makozhombwe of Motherland ENT has produced another video of the Vigil. This was filmed last week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeI4veVo0H0.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.

FOR THE RECORD:  204 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·       'Truth be Told? Debating the Human Rights Record of the Exiled Liberation Movements of Southern Africa'. Wednesday 10^th February at 5pm. Venue: Keynes Lecture Theatre, King’s College, Cambridge. The seminar is chaired by Martin Plaut, Africa Editor, BBC World Service News and participants include Professors Jocelyn Alexander (Oxford), Saul Dubow (Sussex), and Stephen Ellis (African Studies Centre, Leiden & Free University Amsterdam) with Paul Trewhela, author of ‘Inside Quatro: Uncovering the Exile History of the ANC and SWAPO’

·       Iran Solidarity Protest. Thursday 11^th February from 4 – 8 pm.  Venue: opposite the Iranian Embassy, 16 Prince’s Gate London SW7 1PT. (Between Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington Tube Stations.) Iranians are demonstrating for human rights and freedom on the day the Islamic Republic of Iran celebrates its ‘Islamic Revolution’s Victory Day’. For more information, contact: 07507978745, iransolidarityuk@gmail.com or check: www.iransolidarity.org.uk.

·       ROHR Stoke-On-Trent general meeting. Saturday 13^th February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Shelton Centre, Crowther Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2ER. Substantive committee to be elected. Executive members present. Contact: Pauline Mutema on 07850462301, Agnes Chivhimbo 07908447037, Joana Zhira 07845896347, Farirai Muchibwa 07746628397.

·       ROHR North London general meeting. Saturday 13^th February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Tottenham Chances, 399 High Road, Tottenham, London N17 6QN. Closest Station: Seven Sisters. From Seven Sisters towards Tottenham three stops on Buses 123, 149, 256, 349, 341 and 476. Contact:  Gladys Mapanda 07877670522, Valarie Chengaose 07956586377, Nobuhle Ndlovu 07949588597 or P Mapfumo 07915926323 / 07932216070.

·       ROHR Liverpool demonstration. Saturday 20^th February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Church Street (Outside Primark) Liverpool City Centre. For details please contact: Desire Chimuka 07917733711, Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Patrick Kushonga 07900857605, Trywell Migeri 07956083758.

·       ROHR Luton (Bedfordshire) launch meeting. Saturday 20^th February from 1.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: Bury Park Community Resource Centre, 161 Dunstable Road, Luton LU1 1BW. Milton Keynes Branch in support. ROHR Executive members present and a chance to buy raffle tickets for Hayes fundraising do on 27^th February. Contact Edson Kureva on 07767773949, Martha Jiya 07727016098 or P Mapfumo 0791596323 / 07932216070. The car park at the back of the community centre in Avondale Road is available.

·       ROHR Leeds general meeting. Saturday 20^th February from 1.30 – 4 pm. Venue: Dock Green Inn, Leeds LS9 7AB. Contact: Wonder M Mubaiwa 07958758568, Donna Mugoni (Chair Wakefield), 07748828913, Prosper Mudamvanji 07846621050, Beauty Sikosana 07940181761, David Munemo 07963708923 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070

·       ROHR Hayes fundraising party. Saturday 27^th February from 3 pm till late. Venue: Coronation Hall, Stoke Road, Water Eaton, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 3AB. Admission £7.50 including food (lots of traditional food: mazondo, maguru mubhoora and all). Fashion show. Zim Music. Raffle: tickets £10. Prizes include: computer, printer, mobile handset, DVD player. To be drawn at 10.30 pm. Nearest station: Bletchley. Bus number 5 from central Milton Keynes or Bletchley. For more info contact Rodah Kuhlengisa 07958205544, Charity Nyamuzuwe 07898765091, Snodia Chihowa 07852921523, Martha Jiya 07727016098 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.

·       ROHR Stevenage & Hatfield (Hertfordshire) general meeting. Saturday 6^th March from 1.30 – 6 pm. Venue: Poplars Bandley Hill Community Centre, Magpie Crescent, Stevenage SG2 9RZ. ROHR executive present and respected guests. Contact: Kennedy Mashonganyika 079623838720, Jemtiasi Mare 07909338769, Bertha Mwatse 07404112684, Clarkson Shumbanhete 07958550506 or P Mapfumo 07915926323 / 07932216070.

·       ROHR Sheffield launch meeting. Saturday 13^th March. Venue: Ruby Lounge, 35 Carver Street, Sheffield S1 4FS. Come and share ideas on how we can tackle the human rights abuses of our fellow countrymen. ROHR President & Executive present together with some VIPs. Contact: Prosper Mudamvanji 07846621050, Raymond B Jonga 07729472879 or P Mapfumo 7915926323 / 07932216070.

·       Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays 10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue: The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84 Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Nearest underground: Finsbury Park. For more information contact the Zimbabwe Association 020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).

·       Strategic Internship for Zimbabweans organised by Citizens for Sanctuary which is trying to secure work placements for qualified Zimbabweans with refugee status or asylum seekers. For information: http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/pages/Strategic.html or contact: zimbabweinternship@cof.org.uk.

·       For Motherland ENT’s videos of the Vigil on 30/01/2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeI4veVo0H0 and the Vigil on 26/12/2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPsBsief0s and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX6sv2T9gwk&feature=related).

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.

ZCTF Report - February 2010

Bill Watch 5/2010 of 6th February 2010 [SA Facilitation Team and President Zuma Expected in Harare]

BILL WATCH 5/2010

[6th February 2010]

The House of Assembly sat this week

Both the House of Assembly and the Senate will sit on 9th February

Update on Inclusive Government

Top Executive Meeting: The President, the Vice-Presidents, the Prime Minister and the two Deputy Prime Ministers met on Friday 5th February. Their discussions included the constitutional commissions [see below] and the circular from the President’s office on Vice-Presidential responsibilities.  There was no agreement on stopping farm evictions or proceeding with the land audit. 

Cabinet Circular on Vice-Presidential Functions: The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, issued a circular to Ministers dated 25th January directing them to report to the Vice-Presidents, who would assist the President in their "supervision and management”.  MDC-T have interpreted this as undermining the Prime Minister’s authority, as under Article 20 of the GPA as enshrined in Constitution Amendment No. 19, the Prime Minister “shall oversee the formulation of government policies by the Cabinet” and “shall ensure that the policies so formulated are implemented by the entirety of government”.  Tendai Biti, speaking for MDC-T, rejected the circular as “unconstitutional, null and void”. 

The National Security Council [NSC] met on Friday 5th February for the second time since its establishment nearly a year ago.  Under the NSC Act the Council should have been meeting monthly.

JOMIC’s first annual review of progress on GPA implementation and achievements is due soon under GPA Article 23, 13th February being the anniversary of the formation of the Inclusive Government.  Co-chair and spokesman Welshman Ncube has said a report is being prepared and will be made public.

GNU faces problems with striking workers:  The civil service decision to strike may trigger strikes in other sectors and there is insufficient revenue to satisfy demands, but salaries well below the cost of living index are seen as a failure by the GNU to deliver on peoples’ expectations.  The situation is exacerbated by the Famine Early Warning Network’s estimate that over a million Zimbabweans need food aid over the next two months.

Negotiations on GPA Disputes:  The negotiators from the three parties are due to meet again on Monday 8th February.  The South African facilitation team is expected in Harare the same day to assess the position and report back to President Zuma ahead of a visit by him to Harare tentatively scheduled for 13th February.  Mr Tsvangirai has said “I have said to our party representatives let's finalize this, let's not procrastinate ….let's see what we have agreed and what we have not agreed….Therefore we are able to say to President Zuma and SADC that ZANU-PF is refusing to implement and therefore as far as we are concerned the only solution is that let's agree on a road map to an election."

Update on Constitutional Commissions

The Prime Minister has said that Friday’s executive meeting confirmed Judge Simpson Mtambanengwe as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] and Professor Reg Austin as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission [ZHRC] and that members of those commissions and the Zimbabwe Media Commission [ZMC], would be sworn in this coming week.  Commission members-designate have not, however, received any official notification of their appointments. 

Parliamentary Update

POSA Amendment Bill [Mr Gonese’s Private Member’s Bill] had its First Reading on Tuesday afternoon and was referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee to check that it conforms with the Constitution.  It is also under consideration by the House’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs.  At the committee’s first  meeting on the Bill, the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Melusi Matshiya, said that the proposed amendments would “weaken the police force and make their operations ineffective” and Police Commissioner Mubatapasango claimed they would “put State security at risk”.  The committee have invited Hon Gonese to their next meeting at 10 am on Monday 8th February to defend his Bill [the meeting will be open to the public]. 

Uproar over ZANU-PF motion on sanctions: on Wednesday Hon Bhasikiti [ZANU-PF] tried to introduce a motion calling on “the Hon. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara to engage the European Union, the United Nations, the British and the American governments to urgently and unconditionally remove the illegal sanctions imposed at their instigation on the government and people of Zimbabwe as confessed in the British Parliament by the Foreign Affairs Secretary Mr David Miliband".  MDC-T members objected and ZANU-PF members responded noisily, leading to such pandemonium that Deputy Speaker Hon. Khumalo, presiding in the Speaker’s absence, adjourned the sitting.  Afterwards MDC-T Chief Whip Hon Gonese said the motion was “against the letter and spirit of the global political agreement.”  [Note: Hon Bhasikiti’s motion was not notified to the Deputy Speaker in advance, contrary to reports in the State media.  Although Standing Orders do not specify that the Speaker [or Deputy] must be notified of motions, this has been a long-standing practice, introduced well over ten years ago as a courtesy to the Speaker and to avoid just this sort of situation.]  When the House resumed on Thursday Hon Bhasikiti duly gave notice of his motion, and it is due to be introduced next week.

Next Week’s Parliamentary Agenda

House of Assembly: The Order Paper for Tuesday 9th February includes Hon Bhasikiti’s motion on sanctions, another new motion on disbursements of inputs to farmers and the establishment of irrigation schemes, and continuation of debate on motions already introduced. 

Senate: The Order Paper for Tuesday includes the controversial Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill, for which proposed amendments have been tabled, as well as motions carried over and a few questions for Ministers.

14th AU Summit: 25th January to 2nd February, Addis Ababa

At the three-day Assembly of Heads of State and Government that concluded the Summit, President Bingu wa Mutharikwa of Malawi was elected as AU Chairperson for the next year.  As at the previous summit in Libya, the Assembly called for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe.    Zimbabwe was elected to the Peace and Security Council for a 3-year term with effect from the 1st April, along with Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, and Nigeria, and ten other states were elected for 2-year terms [Burundi, Chad, Djibouti, Rwanda, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa, Bénin, Ivory Coast and Mali].  The Council is the AU’s standing organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa and functions as a collective security and early-warning arrangement to facilitate timely and efficient response to conflict and crisis situations. 

Appeal against Decision not to register SADC Tribunal Order

There is to be an appeal to the Supreme Court against Justice Patel’s 26th January refusal to register the SADC Tribunal’s order in the Campbell case, which ruled that Zimbabwe’s land reform programme breached the SADC Treaty and accordingly ordered the Government to protect the farmers from eviction or pay proper compensation to those already evicted.  If the appeal against Justice Patel’s judgement [Copy available] fails, the appellants will report this to the Tribunal and if the Tribunal decides that Zimbabwe has failed to comply with the Tribunal’s order, it must then “report its finding to the [SADC] Summit for the latter to take appropriate action” [SADC Protocol on the Tribunal, Article 32].  Meanwhile, the Tribunal’s registrar has confirmed the official SADC position that Zimbabwe is a member of the Tribunal and bound by its decisions.  This week a South African court has ruled that the South African government’s failure to protect the interests of a South African national evicted from his farm in Zimbabwe makes it liable to compensate him for loss suffered. 

Legislation Update

Acts Gazetted:  None

Bill in House of Assembly:  POSA Amendment Bill awaiting the PLC report before proceeding to Second Reading.  [Electronic version available]

Bill in Senate:  the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill awaits its Committee Stage.  Amendments have been tabled for consideration.

Bills Passed by Parliament Awaiting President’s Assent and/or Gazetting as Acts:  Financial Adjustments Bill, Public Finance Management Act and Audit Office Bill.

Statutory instruments:  SI 21/2010, in a Gazette Extraordinary dated 29th January, enacts the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulations, which will come into operation on 1st March. 

SIs 15 to 20/2010 of 29th January enact new fees payable to the Medicines Control Authority under the Dangerous Drugs Regulations and Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act and regulations.

SIs 22, 23, 25 and 26/2010, dated 5th February, amend customs duties and suspensions.  SI 24/2010 introduces the COMESA simplified customs form for small-scale traders importing consignments worth less than US$500 from Zambia.

General Notices 8A and 8B/2010, dated 28th January, notify the revocation of specifications of individuals and private companies under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.

Bill Watch Special of 7th February 2010 [Parliamentary Committee Meetings 8th - 12th February]

Brussels Hosts an important conference on Zimbabwe

   `But how then to ensure the continuous free flow of donor aid to the                          innocent Zimbabweans whilst at the same time ensuring that the wrong                                  long arms and hands do not encroach in the baskets coming from these                              our friends?` BritaVoice

The Zimbabwe Europe Network in association with the European Parliament`s delegation to the Pan African Parliament and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, on Tuesday 2 February 2010, hosted a high level round table to evaluate the performance of Zimbabwe`s Government of National Unity (GNU), one year after its formation.

The conference was held in Brussels and speakers included the Minister of Healing, Honorable Sekai Holland (MDC-T), Gabriel Shumba, the Director of Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, and Okay Machisa, Director ZimRights.

Amongst the several Zimbabwean participants were Grace Kwinjeh and Basildon Peta.

As the conference was open to any individuals or organizations interested, it accorded a platform for us Zimbabweans to freely deliberate on political issues bedeviling Zimbabwe without the fear of the Zanu pf perpetrators of violence walking in the conference room to harass the participants or to demand refund for transport expenses.

The Honorable Minister, Sekai Holland expressed confidence in the Healing Organ, whose mandate is to foster reconciliation amongst the Zimbabweans. She reiterated that the Healing Organ has built a tool which enables Zimbabweans to have a starting point in achieving reconciliation.  She was very emphatic that Zimbabwe has made significant progress in addressing conflict and violence since the birth of the GNU. She admitted that whilst there maybe hurdles in the transition to peace in Zimbabwe, there has been a remarkable decrease in incidences of violence, since the Healing Organ embarked on its work. The Honorable Minister also highlighted that out of the total number of women who took part in an MDC survey to find out if people were happy with the GNU or not, most had preference for MDC-T to stay put in the GNU as opposed to its pulling out.

BritaVoice however noted that the Honorable Minister was at pains to justify to the audience the effectiveness of the Healing Organ, in the light of the political problems still bedeviling Zimbabwe. It was not much of an easy day for her.

The well outspoken Zimbabwe Exiles and the Civic Society, through the voices of Shumba and Machisa respectively gave a deep insight into some of the political problems still haunting Zimbabwe to this date.

The list as true Zimbabweans would admit is endless; continued violent farm invasions; the continued unwarranted arrests of some Zimbabweans such as the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), some of whom ironically had actually been arrested just a day before this conference; the squabbles surrounding the crafting of the constitutional process; the escalation of violence relating to Zanu pf`s campaigning for the Kariba draft constitution, the controversies surrounding the appointment of the various Commissions (Media, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission etc). The Zanu pf women`s league is not an exception in also unleashing violence. Also of concern is Zanu pf`s lackadaisical attitude in having a new people driven constitution in place. The judiciary is still partial and the controversial acts such as POSA and AIPPA crafted by the cunning and controversial Jonathan Moyo, still remain put.

The rule of law in Zimbabwe is still miles away, with abductions continuing. Victimization of Independent Journalists has not stopped.

BritaVoice also notes that a couple of days ago, an independent Journalist, Stanley Kwenda was according  to our Zimbabwean

online newspapers, forced to escape Zimbabwe for South Africa, following death threats by Zanu pf people. The continued stay in exile of Independent Journalists of high repute, the likes of Basildon Peta, Geoff Nyarota and many others to name a few, is more evidence that peace and normalcy has not yet been restored in Zimbabwe. Well known Zimbabwean protest artists, the likes of Viomak remain stuck in exile, nor can her music receive airplay in the government controlled radio stations. It also remains a dream to imagine her staging a live show in Zimbabwe.

The ground is therefore not yet fertile enough for Zimbabweans to dream of free and fair elections. To therefore call for elections when all these controversial issues  prevail is to play around with the Zimbabwean`s vote.

In the light of all these problems bedeviling Zimbabwe,  the restrictive measures which to put it right, are measures solely targeted against only some Zanu pf leaders may have to stay put. Unless and until, normalcy returns in Zimbabwe. Unless and until the will of the people of Zimbabwe is respected. The wellbeing of the ordinary Zimbabweans indeed remains at the heart of the donor community. However, how then to ensure the continuous free flow of donor aid to the innocent Zimbabweans whilst at the same time ensuring that the wrong long arms and hands do not encroach in the baskets coming from these our friends?

It was interesting for BritaVoice to note that at the conference, in the spirit of the `unity`, the Acting Ambassador to Belgium, a Mr Chimbindi and his staff, could be seen `respectfully` chatting to the Honorable Minister, from MDC-T and providing services that they normally in the past provided only to the Ministers from Zanu pf. This was some kind of pointer to BritaVoice that it appears most of the physical violence that is still ongoing is targeted on grass root level people. Whilst the top leaders from the 3 political divides in the GNU may from time to time be speaking hard on each other, they are drinking coffee together without scratching each other's cheeks.

Article by Tapuwa Bridget of BritaVoice, Belgium. She is reachable at britavoice@gmail.com