By Ian Johnston and Sebastien Berger
Published: 2:57PM GMT 03 Jan 2010
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Sebastian Nyamhangambiri Monday 18 January
2010
HARARE - Zimbabwe's constitutional committee has postponed
public
consultations on the proposed new constitution to allow an audit of
members
to ensure that only accredited members will be deployed to record
the views
of citizens on the new charter, a top official told ZimOnline on
Sunday.
"We discovered that some people had fraudulently been accredited
and trained
as part of the outreach team," Douglas Mwonzora, one of the
three chairmen
of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) driving
the reforms
said.
"This was unearthed when they were claiming
payments and their names could
not be found. As a result we now want to
carry out an audit of what happened
and have a clean list. This shows how
COPAC is efficient since they didn't
access funds."
Postponement of
the exercise to gather the views of citizens on the new
constitution is
likely to further delay the reforms that have already missed
several
targets.
Mwonzora who is a member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's
MDC party,
said COPAC's management committee - composed of all GPA
negotiators and
COPAC co-chairmen - would meet on Wednesday to chart the way
forward.
"The management committee of COPAC will meet on Wednesday to
plan the way
forward. We'll try to ensure that the outreach is balanced in
terms of
gender, language and political affiliation. Management will give us
the
calendar of Parliament since all MPs are in the outreach programme," he
said.
Constitution Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga confirmed the
postponement of
the deployment of the outreach teams which was supposed to
have been done
last week.
"Of course they will be a further slight
delay, but it's to ensure that the
process of gathering people's views is
transparent and is composed of
genuine people and not pretenders. In any
case the delay will just be a week
or so," Matinenga said.
The
proposed new constitution is part of the requirements of a September
2008
power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai and
Deputy
Premier Arthur Mutambara that gave birth to the Harare coalition
government
last February.
The new governance charter will pave way for free
elections although there
is no legal requirement for the unity government to
call new polls
immediately after a new constitution is in
place.
Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will guarantee human rights,
strengthen
the role of Parliament and curtail the president's powers, as
well as
guaranteeing civil, political and media freedoms.
The new
constitution will replace the current Lancaster House Constitution
written
in 1979 before independence from Britain. The charter has been
amended 19
times since independence in 1980. Critics say the majority of the
amendments
have been to further entrench Mugabe and ZANU PF's hold on
ower. -
ZimOnline
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Own Correspondent Monday 18 January
2010
HARARE -The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET)
says Zimbabwe is
staring hunger this year, warning that crops in the
southern half of the
country are already wilting due to moisture
stress.
It said below-average precipitation and high temperatures
experienced during
the past three weeks were expected to result in crop
failures in areas such
as Masvingo, Gwanda, Bulawayo and part of
Manicaland.
The soil water index for the affected areas is less than 10
percent.
"Since December, below-average precipitation and above-average
temperatures
continue to help strengthen seasonal moisture deficits across
central
Mozambique, southern Malawi, southern Madagascar and southern
Zimbabwe,"
FEWSNET said in its latest update on food security in the
southern African
nation.
The crop situation in other parts of
Zimbabwe was equally bad, with only
small parts of the main food-producing
Mashonaland provinces having received
sufficient rains since the farming
season started last October.
The US-funded FEWSNET has revised upwards
the number of Zimbabweans
requiring food assistance during the lean hunger
season beginning this month
amid fears donors may also encounter a serious
cereal shortfall until March
2010
It said close to 2.2 million people
or 18 percent of the population would be
food insecure in Zimbabwe between
January and March 2010, up from an
estimated 1.7 million Zimbabweans who
were said to be in need of aid between
October and December.
This is
higher than the previous projection of 1.9 million who were
estimated to
require emergency food assistance between January and Zimbabwe's
next
harvest around March or April.
FEWSNET said the United Nations' World
Food Programme planned to scale up
its food assistance activities from
January to cover the food insecure
population.
WFP was however
projecting a major shortfall of more than 40 000 metric
tonnes of cereals
between December 2009 and March.
The UN agency announced last month that
it faced a US$50 million funding gap
for its Zimbabwe operation until the
end of the year that could see the
United Nations agency failing to feed the
people who require food aid.
The food pipeline shows a shortfall of
nearly 35 000 metric tonnes, with
shortages of pulses and cereals
experienced in November and December.
The total WFP food requirement from
October until the end of the operation
in March 2010 is approximately 138
000 metric tonnes for all commodities.
To ease the food shortfall, WFP
and non-governmental organisation Concern
Worldwide have started a pilot
project that provides cash or a combination
of cash and food to Zimbabwean
beneficiaries.
http://www.zimnetradio.com
By SINIKIWE
MPALA
Published on: 17th January, 2010
HARARE - Negotiations to
iron out outstanding issues to the GPA failed to
take off after Zanu-PF
co-negotiator Nicholas Goche failed to attend the
meeting. MDC co-negotiator
Mr Elton Mangoma confirmed the negotiators'
failure to resume their
discussions.
"We failed to meet today (yesterday) after Goche failed to
attend the
meeting. I don't know as to when we are going to resume the
dialogue," said
Mr Mangoma.
Goche could not be contacted for comment
late last night. The negotiations
called by the Sadc Organ on Politics,
Defence and Security meeting in Maputo
last year were adjourned in December
after considerable progress had been
reported.
Principals to the GPA
- President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and Deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara - agreed on the membership of the
Zimbabwe Media
Council, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and Zimbabwe
Electoral
Commission.
However, Zanu-PF and the MDC are at loggerheads over the
appointment of
Reserve Bank GovernorGideon Gono and Attorney General Mr
Johannes Tomana.
Zanu-PF has called the MDC to add itsvoice against illegal
sanctions imposed
by the West, external interference in Zimbabwe's affairs
and the disbanding
of pirate radio stations operating from Botswana and
Madagascar.
MDC is calling for swearing in of its agriculture deputy
minister-designate
Roy Bennett but Zanu-PF insists he has to be cleared of
criminal charges he
is facing in the High Court.
Zanu-PF also
maintains that Dr Gono and Mr Tomana's appointments were above
board and
were made when the MDC-T was vacillating before joining
Government.
Meanwhile, SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma has urged
MDC-T Mr Morgan
Tsvangirai to be flexible in his demands for full
implementation of the
Global Political Agreement while negotiations failed
to resume yesterday
because one negotiator was unable to attend.
The
discussions were adjourned last year as negotiators from Zanu-PF and the
two
MDC formations were reporting back and consulting their parties.
In an
interview with a South African radio station on Friday last week,
President
Zuma said some of the issues being demanded by the MDC were
"trivial".
The Sadc-appointed facilitator said such issues should not
be allowed to
hinder the business of the inclusive Government.
"Are
these issues (Gono and Tomana) so fundamental that we cannot move
without
resolving them? Can we park them and proceed!"
President Zuma, however,
said he was positive and hopeful that Zimbabwe's
three parties in the
inclusive Government would bridge their differences
through the ongoing
negotiations.
"I'm sure the Zimbabweans have to open up and look at the
issues from all
angles," he said.
http://www.businessday.co.za/
ERNEST MABUZA
Published: 2010/01/18 06:49:50
AM
SA SAID yesterday that it had made formal contact with the Zimbabwean
government on issues raised by its citizens in Zimbabwe.
A number of
South African farmers have been forced out of their farms by
invaders, with
the latest incident on December 24. This is despite a 2008
ruling by a
tribunal established under the Southern African Development
Community that
the occupation of farms by land grabbers was illegal.
The tribunal also
ordered the Zimbabwean government to protect commercial
farmers and their
workers and allow them to continue farming their land. But
the Zimbabwean
government has continuously flouted the tribunal’s judgment.
Civil rights
group AfriForum has applied to the North Gauteng High Court to
order
Zimbabwe’s government to honour the ruling. The matter will be heard
next
month.
The group said yesterday it was pleased the South African
government had
officially objected to the invasion of South Africans’
farms.
mabuzae@bdfm.co.za
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26641
January 18, 2010
By Our
Correspondent
HARARE - Zimbabwe this weekend launched a nationwide
consultation process to
solicit public opinion on the new draft constitution
which will pave the way
for elections next year. Almost 600 people headed
out to spend 65 days in
the 10 provinces while gathering public opinion on
the new constitution. But
the more than three million Zimbabweans living
outside the country in exile
in the Diaspora will be
consulted.
Zimbabweans have approved the writing of a new Constitution,
in the hope
that a new charter, replacing one in 1979 before independence
from Britain,
will strengthen the role of Parliament and curtail the
president's powers,
as well as guaranteeing civil, political and media
freedoms.
The views solicited during the 65-day consultation period will
form the
basis for the new Constitution.
This crucial process is
expected to lead to the adoption of a new national
Constitution and fresh
elections next year.
Observers say the public consultation was a
monumental step forward and a
necessary milestone in the writing of the new
constitution.
Teams will be working throughout the country to inform and
consult the
public. Few, though, underestimate the challenge
ahead.
There is already concern about possible intimidation, and whether
people
will feel free enough to express their views.
An
all-stakeholder constitutional conference last year degenerated into
chaos
following clashes between rival political parties MDC and Zanu (PF),
which
were broken up by the riot police and which underscored simmering
tensions
within the unity government which President Mugabe formed with
arch-rival
Morgan Tsvangirai in February last year.
Out in the provinces, local and
regional chiefs remain powerful figures and
have been campaigning for the
so-called Kariba Draft which Zanu-PF wanted to
be used as the basis for
writing a new Constitution. This has been abandoned
and now the public
consultation teams will not use any draft document as a
template, but a
document of issues in the form of a questionnaire.
Despite fears of
hazards ahead, the need for constitutional reform has long
been recognised
by all sides. President Mugabe's Zanu-PF raised the matter
at its congress
last month, but said in its resolutions "an acceptable
outcome would be a
Constitution made by Zimbabweans for Zimbabwe, which
entrenches the ethos
and gains of the liberation struggle and is not the
product of any external
interference."
But critics of the government have been the most
enthusiastic in their
demands for constitutional reform.
A broad
alliance of opposition parties, church groups, trades unions and
civic
organisations, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) which has
highlighted what they believe to be the shortcomings of the amended
Lancaster House constitution, point to the fact that the 19 constitutional
amendments passed since 1980 have had the effect of concentrating power in
the hands of the President.
A leading NCA figure, Lovemore Madhuku,
has denounced the ongoing process
which is being spearheaded by the
transitional government. He says the
process will be abused by politicians
because it is not people-driven and
gives parliamentarians too much power.
The NCA demands an independent
commission to spearhead the process. This has
been rejected outright, with
parliamentarians insisting they are the proper
representatives of the people
as they were elected into office by the
people.
There is also concern over the use of the US$42 million budgeted
for the
process, most of it from donors. There has been fierce jostling to
get into
the outreach teams amid reports people engaged in the exercise will
be paid
US$70 a day.
Government officials and the international
community have emphasised the
importance of this new Constitution for the
unity and stability in Zimbabwe.
Paul Mangwana of Zanu-PF, a co-chair of
Parliament's Select Committee
spearheading the process said: "From the
moment we have accepted the call of
duty, we should unite, be united by the
single cause of ensuring that the
people write their new democratic
constitution."
http://www.radiovop.com/
Harare, January 17, 2010 - Zimbabwe
police chief Augustine Chihuri faces a
US$5 million lawsuit from five trade
union officials who are claiming
damages for unlawful arrest and
detention.
The five Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders,
president,
Lovemore Matombo, and other union leaders Percival Mcijo, Michael
Kandukutu,
Nawu Ndlovu and Dumisani Ncube were arrested last November in
Victoria Falls
for allegedly failing to comply with a provision in the
Public Order and
Security Act (POSA. The section requires one to notify the
police about an
intended public meeting.
The trade unionists have
written a notice of intention to sue through their
lawyer, Zvikomborero
Chadambuka of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
They were freed
after magistrate Richard Ramaboea refused to place them on
remand when they
were brought to court after spending five days in police
cells.
In
the notice of intention to sue, the five's lawyer Chadambuka, said that
they
were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment in police cells.
Each
of the five unionists is claiming a total of US$1.1 million in damages,
to
be paid within two months from this month failing which the human rights
lawyer will issue summons against Commissioner-General Chihuri.
They
are each claiming US$500 000 for unlawful arrest and detention, US$500
000
for wrongful detention in conditions that amount to inhumane and
degrading
treatment and US$100 000 for the affront of the unionists' dignity
and
violations of privacy.
The ZCTU, itself is demanding US$675 for
accommodation expenses for four
unionists who were booked at a Victoria
Falls hotel, the hire of the City
Hall from Bulawayo City Council and hire
of a hall in Victoria Falls which
was all lost due to the unlawful arrest
and detention.
This is not the first time that the police chief has been
forced to face
payback time. Last year abductees who spent more than three
months in
illegal detention launched lawsuits in the High Court seeking
damages for
the unlawful detention.
From WDC (UK), 17 January
For more than a year, the World Diamond Council has voiced
its concerns
regarding allegations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and
significant
examples of irregularities concerning Kimberley Process
compliance.
Following agreement of the Working Plan, in November 2009, the
World Diamond
Council said the world would be watching closely and cautioned
the Kimberley
Process and the Zimbabwe Government not to squander this
opportunity. To
date, it would appear that some progress has been made.
Whilst we welcome
this, we continue to regard these efforts as ongoing and
call for both the
Zimbabwe Government and the Kimberley Process to increase
their efforts to
show demonstrable progress.
In November 2009,
the Zimbabwean authorities agreed with other member states
of the Kimberley
Process to implement a detailed Working Plan to bring
Zimbabwe into full
compliance and to bring an end to human rights abuses
around diamond
diggings in the Marange region. A key feature of the Working
Plan is the
placement of a Special Monitor, appointed by the Kimberley
Process and
mandated to oversee the export of rough diamonds from the
Marange region.
Exports from this region have been suspended since November
and will not
resume until the Monitor is appointed and in place. The WDC
reaffirms its
guidance to industry members to exercise extreme caution when
buying rough
diamonds on the market to ensure that, for the time being, they
do not
originate from Marange. Issues requiring urgent attention include: An
end to
the apparent delay in appointing a credible, independent Monitor to
oversee
exports from the Marange region; Demonstration that efforts to end
human
rights abuses have been successful, by assuring the safety and
security of
local communities, and ensuring that those responsible for
abuses will be
brought to justice; Demonstrate action being taken to combat
corruption and
smuggling in the Marange region.
Should the Zimbabwe authorities fail
to take advantage of the opportunity
the Working Plan presents, the World
Diamond Council will call for the
immediate suspension of Zimbabwe from the
Kimberley Process. The WDC also
call upon all participating Governments to
adopt the proposal, forwarded by
civil society, and supported by the diamond
industry, to include wording
related to human rights, in and around diamond
mining activity, as part of
the minimum requirements of the Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme.
Finally, an effective and credible Kimberley
Process is in the interests of
everyone, from mining communities to the
consumer. The WDC, therefore, calls
on Government participants of the
Kimberley Process to increase their
efforts in enforcing its systems and
standards, thus ensuring that all
diamonds are lawfully mined, documented
and exported.
From MDC, 15 January
The MDC wishes to
clarify the report in The Zimbabwe Independent today about
three of our
ministers being probed on corruption. The report is not only
false but
defamatory of our ministers. What is correct is that the MDC
through a
committee headed by the party's deputy secretary-general, Hon.
Tapiwa
Mashakada is carrying out investigations mainly targeting illicit
deals in
local government. These investigations have so far been carried out
in
Chitungwiza and Bindura. Internally, we have taken action and if the
alleged
probe on the ministers was taking place, we would have immediately
gone
public. We have nothing to hide. Although the party's crusade against
corruption is in full swing and unstoppable, the party would like to
reassure the nation that if there are any investigations of this nature, we
will be the first to let the people know. The mentioned officials: Energy
and Power Development minister and national organizing secretary, Hon. Elias
Mudzuri, co-Home Affairs Minister, Hon. Giles Mutsekwa, and Mines deputy
minister, Hon. Murisi Zwizwai are not being investigated by the party for
any corrupt activities. In fact the ministers are living examples of
hardworking public officers. We reiterate that we shall never hesitate to
weed out any form of corruption in the MDC, but we will do that in a
transparent manner. Further allegations pertaining to the succession issue
as published by The Zimbabwe Independent, are falsehoods as MDC has clear
succession programme. MDC leaders come and go through proper constitutional
procedures and the issues relating to terms of office are clearly understood
by our family of democrats. The succession issue is an endemic issue in Zanu
PF and nowhere else, least in the MDC. Although the MDC supports a free and
independent media, we would like at the same time to urge journalists to be
factual in their reporting. We respect and feel that journalists have to
report the truth. We say zero tolerance and zero tolerance to corruption.
The Zimbabwe Independent should have had the courage to refrain from relying
on unnamed, ghost and fictitious source for its news.
http://www.herald.co.zw
Monday,
January 18, 2010
Herald
Reporter
UNIVERSITY of Zimbabwe students are faced with yet another
difficulty in
getting decent accommodation after authorities shelved plans
to reopen
hostels at the start of the 2010 academic year.
Halls of
residence were closed in 2006 owing to a number of problems
including water
shortages that hit the college.
The UZ is set to open next Monday, but
the notice was only released a few
days before student registration that
starts today.
UZ director for information and publicity Mrs Ruby
Magosvongwe said the
hostels would not be opened in time to accommodate
students this semester.
"We regret to announce that due to circumstances
beyond its control, the
University of Zimbabwe has been forced to postpone
taking students into
halls of residence at the beginning of the semester as
originally envisaged.
"Since 2008, UZ has been aggressively working on
repairing kitchens but it
has proved difficult to complete the repairs in
time for the new academic
year.
"Consequently, UZ cannot admit
students in halls of residence immediately,"
she said.
She said while
students were the institute’s major stakeholders, authorities
could not
compromise their welfare when there are other pertinent issues to
be
addressed.
Investigations by the Herald showed that the refurbishment of
the university’s
kitchens was delayed due to flawed tender
procedures.
A worker at the university blamed the latest developments on
bureaucratic
tendencies by the tender board resulting in unwarranted
suffering by
students.
"The whole problem lies with the tender board
which is taking too long to
award tenders for the kitchens to be
repaired.
"There is actually a lot of bureaucratic procedure in the
tender board which
is ultimately impacting on the welfare of our students,"
the worker said.
A returning student at UZ, Gamuchirai Madamombe said
university authorities
were compromising the students’ future.
He
said the accommodation problems in Harare made it imperative that the
university give them accommodation while they look for other ways to get
food.
"Food is not a big problem to us, they should just provide us
with
accommodation and we will find ways of getting food," said the
student.
The UZ closed its halls of residence after water shortages hit
the campus.
The water situation has since been addressed but hostels
remain closed.
The situation has forced students to seek alternative
accommodation on
private residential properties.
The landlords have
however, been accused of taking advantage of the
desperate students by
charging exorbitant rentals.
Last year, about 90 UZ students were living
in squalid conditions at a house
in Mt Pleasant.
More than 100
students were accommodated at a church in the same suburb
while 56 others
share a house in Mendel Street in Avondale.
The opening of the residence
halls was largely expected to ease
accommodation problems for students who
have no access to decent
accommodation in Harare.
Students who stay
in other suburbs have to fork out at US$2 a day for
transport to and from
the university.
Mugabe and the White African opens in London this week after being named best documentary at the British Independent Film Awards in December.
The movie, directed by Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, is being likened to non-fiction films that achieved global success, such as Super Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Touching the Void.
It tells how Mike Campbell, his wife Angela, daughter Laura, son- in-law Ben Freeth and their black Zimbabwean workers battled to keep hold of Mount Carmel, the mango farm 70 miles south-west of Harare where his family had lived for 30 years, in the face of beatings by militia gangs loyal to Mr Mugabe.
The family lost a long battle to hold on to the farm last year despite winning an unprecedented court case against the Zimbabwean government.
The Campbells and Freeths were burned out of their homes in August and Mount Carmel Farm was occupied by Nathan Shamuyarira, an octogenarian former cabinet minister and President Mugabe's offical biographer.
Mr Freeth, his wife and their three children now live in a friend's house about 10 miles away in the town of Chegutu while Mr and Mrs Campbell live in the capital Harare.
Months earlier Mr Campbell, 76, was subjected to a horrenous beating after he petition a tribunal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) rule against Mr Mugabe's efforts to seize white owned farms. After a nine-hour ordeal at a militia camp, Mr Campbell was so badly injured that he could not attend the hearing in Namibia; Mr Freeth, whose skull was fractured, managed to be present in a wheelchair with his head bandaged.
"We knew there would be consequences, taking on Mugabe," Mr Freeth said. "He's a dictator, he doesn't brook any opposition or anyone trying to bring him to book in any way. But we felt it was very, very important to ensure the world really knew what was going on in this country, so it had a chance to put an end to the suffering."
Mr Mugabe once declared: "The white man is not indigenous to Africa. Africa is for Africans. Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans."
But the tribunal's ruling in Mr Campbell's favour was an unprecedented reverse for this doctrine - effectively determining that Mr Campbell and others like him had the same rights as Zimbabwe's majority black African population.
However in February last year, President Mugabe declared that he would ignore the SADC ruling and the forcible seizures would continue.
Mike Campbell, 76, hopes it will force the international spotlight back on the campaign of violent, state-sponsored farm evictions which has continued under Mr Mugabe even though he was forced to form a new power-sharing government.
Posted by ZDN on January 15, 2010
The Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe has started its
Constitutional Consultative Programme (CCP), as outlined in the terms of the
GPA. No doubt, this fact was proudly presented at the Maputo meeting of the SADC
Troika on Security, which met yesterday and pronounced the GPA alive and well
and is, according to Jacob Zuma, “Making good progress”.
However, the SADC Troika undoubtedly had not been told that
most of the Zanu-PF appointees to the CCP outreach teams are no more than a
bunch of political terrorists.
The list below indicates the crimes of violence and torture
perpetrated by Zanu-PF members and officials who have been assigned to teams on
the Constitutional outreach programme. They have committed state sponsored and
sanctioned crimes against anyone perceived to be in opposition to Zanu-PF over a
number of years. Now they are tasked with this important and supposedly
impartial, outreach work?
We maintain that Zanu-PF’s participation in the Inclusive
Government and the GPA is both cynical and an outright sham. SADC should
recognise the machinations of a dictatorship bent on clinging to power, and take
the necessary disciplinary action.
List of Constitutional Outreach Programme Members who are
perpetrators of political violence
Katsiru, Lawrence
Lawrence Katsiru a prominent member of the Vapostori faith
Church in Marondera, has over the years ordered all the followers of his church
to support and attend all Zanu-PF meetings and rallies,. He was imprisoned (9
years) for raping a minor (13 years old) in Marondera it appears he never served
his time but was released from prison after a short while. He has led a campaign
of violence against MDC supporters and is feared by many activists in
Marondera.
Baloyi, Ailess
Chiredzi South MP, in 2008 organised political violence
against MDC supporters, is mostly feared by victims of violence from that
constituency.
Beremauro, Godfrey
Godfrey Beremauro sponsored militia bases in the Hurungwe
central constituency; many MDC supporters were abducted and tortured; some
murdered by youths following his instructions.
Chaderopa, Fungai;
Chaderopa working in conjunction with the ZRP officer in
charge of Sanyati police station unlawfully detained MDC supporters in 2008, for
periods ranging from three days to 2 weeks without charge, these people were
tortured and denied food during their detention.
Chanetsa, Peter Tapera
Peter Chanetsa provided transport and food to Zanu-PF youths
in bases set up in Hurungwe North; he gave the group led by Jawet Kazangarare a
party truck that was used in the abduction torture and murder of MDC
supporters.
Chindori Chininga, Edward;
Chindori Chininga masterminded the assault and destruction of
homes belonging to MDC supporters in Guruve – he was referred to as the
commander in chief of the bases in Guruve in the run up to the Presidential
election run off in 2008 .
Chinomona, Mabel Memory;
Mutoko North MP, In the run up to the 2008 elections Mabel
moved around the constituency in the company of uniformed soldiers setting up
bases, she threatened MDC supporters with death, many MDC supporters were
assaulted during her meetings in the constituency.
Chihota, Phineas Chivazve
During the campaign period for the presidential run off
elections in 2008 he addressed rallies around Seke district threatening MDC
supporters with death if they did not vote for president Mugabe. His vehicle was
used by a group led by Joseph Mutongoreya that abducted people on 16 June 2008
and took them to Marikopo base where they were tortured.
Hlongwane, Makosini;
Makosini Hlongwane is the MP of Mberengwa East, in 2008
elections he moved in the company of CIO agents based at Mataga Growth point
terrorising MDC supporters in the area, he was personally involved in the
assault and torture of MDC supporters at Chingechuru Prim School on 22 June
2008.
Kachepa, Newton;
Kachepa the MP of Mudzi North constituency led a ruthless
campaign of violence against the MDC, he was involved in the murder of Peter Tom
Butao on 28 April 2008, Temba Muronde on 14 April 2008, Kingswell Mateta in July
2008, he directed the abduction and torture of many MDC supporters in his
constituency, he currently threatens people with death if they continue
supporting the MDC.
Katsande, Aqualinah;
She is the MP of Mudzi West constituency; she led a reign of
terror against MDC supporters in 2008. Aqualinah accompanied by Zanu PF youths
attacked and killed Lever Katsande at Zanza village, Mudzi district , on 27
April 2008. On 8 July 2008 and assisted by Peter Nyakuba, killed Gwindiri
Mutadza in Mudzi West.
Madubeko, Josephat;
Madubeko is the MP of Vungu, he encouraged Zanu PF supporters
to attack and chase away MDC supporters from their areas, several people were
assaulted as a result of his campaigns.
Matonga, Bright;
MP Mhondoro -Ngezi, Bright Matonga led a group of youths to
Dadidrayi Chipiro’s home looking for her husband Chipiro who is an MDC activist
and chairperson of the area when they did not find him they started beating her
then chopped off her hand and both feet, they threw her into her hut and threw a
petrol bomb into the hut setting it on fire. She was burnt to death. The gang
was driving in two vehicles belonging to Brighton Matonga (Zanu-PF MP) (June 8
2008).
Mazikani, Paul Hebert;
Mazikani and a group of Zanu-PF youths assaulted Wanzirai
Magodo and destroyed his home including a tractor, they took away his clothes
and money amounting to Z$900 Million. He led the gang that killed Titus Goho on
June 12, 2008 at their base they assaulted him until he died they accused him of
supporting the MDC T. A militia gang led by Paul Mazikani killed Biggie Zhuwawo
in April 2008.
Mhandu, Cairo;
Cairo Mhandu the MP for Mazowe led groups of youths and war
veterans who killed, Gibbs Tawengwa and Hama Ngowani on June 30, 2008. On May 5,
2008 Mhandu in the company of uniformed soldiers led a big group of youths into
the Chaona area of Chiweshe communal lands where many MDC supporters were
assaulted; He was personally involved in the killing of Alex Chiriseri, Joseph
Madzuramhende, Godfrey Jemedze, Author Matombo, Patson Madzuramhende and David
Tachiwa Mapuranga.
Moyo, Jonathan;
MP Tsholotsho North; Jonathan Moyo is the architect of AIPPA
and POSA, two pieces of legislation that were used to close media houses.
Opposition party activists and leaders have suffered at the hands of security
agents and the police using POSA to justify their ruthless campaign of terror
against the opposition supporters. Jonathan Moyo has since 1999 churned out hate
speeches that has encouraged the spirit and culture of violence within his
Zanu-PF militia, many people have lost their lives, property and thousands have
been maimed and tortured as a result.
Mutinhiri, Ambrose;
Ambrose Mutinhiri MP Marondera West: personally led a
campaign of violence against MDC supporters in the Mahusekwa area of Marondera
West constituency, he would order the detention of MDC supporters for no
apparent reasons. He set up and supported Zanu PF Militia bases in the Chihota
communal lands where many MDC supporters were assaulted and
tortured.
Muza, Isheunesu;
Muza is a Zanu-PF official feared by many MDC supporters, he
moves around the Redcliff town in the company of CIO agents have always
threatened MDC activists with death if they do not change.
Parirenyatwa, David Pagwesese;
MP Murehwa North ; In June 2008 towards the presidential run
off Dr Parirenyatwa held a rally at Mukarakate Business Centre in Murehwa where
he threatened all MDC supporters with death if they voted for Morgan
Tsvangirayi, several MDC supporters where severely assaulted at this meeting and
at the other rally he held at St Peters. He was witnessed branding an AK 47 at
meetings. He organized and visited torture bases at night in Murehwa north. His
vehicle was used by gangs who murdered Edward Pfukwa on June 17, 2008 and Alloys
Chandisareva Sanyangore in November 2008.
Pasiwomusha, Matiza Biggie;
Biggie Matiza organised all the bases that were set up in
Murehwa West and South, He was present when a lot of MDC supporters were
assaulted at St Peters in the Mukarakate area. He used to supply the youths in
these bases with food and money and he supervised their work during the night.
These gangs killed Edward Pfukwa on June 17, 2008 and Moses Nyada on June 19,
2008.
Raradza, Edward;
Edward Raradza is a notorious perpetrator of violence in the
Muzarabani and Chiweshe areas, he was present on May 5, 2008 when many people
were attacked and some killed at Chaona in Mazowe North.
Shaddy, Sai;
The senator of Gokwe Sengwa who brought in hundreds of
Zanu-PF militia from other areas to assault MDC supporters in the Chief Sai area
of Gokwe in 2008, many people were assaulted and reports from the areas note
that some are still nursing their injuries.
Zhuwawo, Patrick;
Zvimba East MP, He terrorised MDC supporters in the farming
community around Norton, he was always accompanied by CIO agents based in
Norton, he threatened to chase away all new farmers from their plots if they
supported the MDC.
Dinha, Martin;
The Governor of Masholand Central Province, famous in his
Zanu-PF circles for his hatred of white commercial farmers, in September 2009
,he ganged up with Masanzu also a senior civil servant and some CIO agents and
forced former commercial farm workers in the Mateptepa farms to stop market
gardening projects and start working full time for the new
farmers.
Hungwe, Josiah;
The senator of Mwenezi -Chivi well known for his hate
speeches, he encouraged the assault and eviction of MDC supporters in
Masvingo.
Kabayanjiri, Oriah;
Kabayanjiri is the UMP senator who orchestrated a campaign of
violence in 2008, he organised the gang that assaulted people in the UMP
district, and his militia killed livingstone Dzenga on July 1, 2008 and Benson
Tukaruza Karombe on May 11, 2008.
Katyamaenza, Virginia;
Makonde Senator: Victims of political violence report that in
2008 they were assaulted at Katyamaenza’s homestead which was sometimes used as
a base by Zanu-PF militia.
Makunde, Tendai;
Tendai Makunde the Murehwa senator, set up bases at Waterloo
farm, communities’ report that Makunde was involved in the abduction and
subsequent murder of shepherd Jani the late MDC official who was Makunde’s
business rival.
Mambo, Lot
Lot Mambo is the Bubi Umguza Senator, suspected CIO agent led
Zanu-PF supporters in campaign of violence in the Umguza
district.
Muchenje, Viginia;
Viginia Muchenje is the senator of Zvimba, Political violence
victims from Zvimba report that they were assaulted and tortured after the
perpetrators had been directed by Muchenje.
Sakupwanya, Stanley Urayayi;
Makoni Senator he wreaked havoc in presidential elections in
Makoni district, his vehicle was used by Militia gangs in attacks against MDC
supporters
Masimirembwa, G;
Former NIPC chairperson notorious for his hate speeches,
blaming the MDC for price increases and economic distortions, who believes
anyone who does not support President Mugabe is a saboteur.
Makova, Claudious (Col. Ret’d);
Victims of violence have reported him as the commander of the
militia in Masvingo Province, known as the merciless killer.
Muchengeti, Clarissa Vonganai ;
Muchengeti supported Zanu-PF militia by providing food at the
bases in 2008; she lost the senatorial election in Kwekwe and was bitter and
very ruthless in presidential run off campaign.
Mandiitawepi, Chimene Mandi;
Lost the Mutasa-Nyanga senatorial elections and was very
active in the violence before the presidential elections, reports note that
Chimene funded some bases and identified some MDC supporters who were later
attacked by soldiers and the militia.
Mahofa, Shuvai;
Shuvai Mahofa lost the house of assembly elections for Gutu
South and led a ruthless trail of violence against MDC supporters her vehicles
were reportedly used by the Militia in the abduction and torture of
people.
Chinotimba, Joseph;
In 2008 election campaigns Chinotimba Led the youths who
destroyed Admore Chibutu’s home and assaulted him on 11 May 2008.In the company
of his cousin Chinotimba threatened Idah Munyukwi with a gun on 5 May 2008. and
raped her twice. He kicked, stepped on and threatened Petros Murinda with a gun
on 5 May 2008, accusing him of voting for MDC. His car was used in the attack of
Choukuse Nyoka Mubango on 18 May 2008. Choukuse later died.Chinotimba in the
company of army members and Zanu-PF youths attacked Tongeyi Jeremiah’s home on
15 May 2008. They went away with 7 cattle, 10 goats, and 6 sheep together with
fowls. On 11 May 2008, he failed to get Mangwanani Zvichapera but he destroyed
his home and confisticated his 5 chickens and 2 goats. He drove Jeremiah
Tongeyi’s cattle to the business centre and forced him to vacate from his home
on the 15th of May 2008. Chinotimba is notorius for having spearheaded the
violent activities perpetrated by Zanu-PF supporters since 1999 especially
violence linked to farm invasions.
Chapfika, David;
David Chapfika sponsored militia in 2008 by providing food
and money to bases in the Hoyuyu area of Mutoko
Mliswa, Themba;
Themba Mliswa a well known Zanu-PF violent activist, he
attacked and maimed white commercial farmers during the land invasions and has
continued to terrorise the remaining commercial farmers in and around karoyi. In
2008 he personally assaulted many MDC supporters from those areas his attacks
were described by his victims as vicious and severe.
Muzenda, Tsitsi Veronica;
Tsitsi Veronica Muzenda lost senatorial elections for the
Gweru Chirumhanzu is reported to have supported the militia in Gweru with
transport to carry out violent activities against supporters of the Late senator
Kombayi.
Bhasikiti, Kudakwashe;
MP Mwenezi East, he organized the Zanu-PF militia gangs in
Mwenezi to attack known MDC supporters; he provided the party vehicle that was
used in the abduction and murder of a teacher Munguni at Neshuro Business
Centre.
Mangami, Dorothy;
Senator for Gokwe, violence activities were planned from her
home in Gokwe, she worked with Major Dalu Moyo assisting him in identifying MDC
supporters who were later attacked by the militia under the command of major
Moyo.
Mangena, Jabulani;
Jabulani Mangena MP Mberengwa North has been named in
thirteen reports of political violence incidents as the main perpetrator during
the 2008 June elections. Victims note that he was always in the company of armed
CIO agents.
Mafios, Dickson Itai;
MP Mt Darwin North, in 2008 Mafios organised and commanded
the militia in Mt Darwin many MDC supporters were assaulted, tortured and
murdered, in some of his organised operations against MDC supporters they
killed, Phanuel Mubaira, Fischer Chitese, Bright Mafuriro, and Abiya Chiparira.
Some victims note that he is a CIO agent.
——————————————————————————————————————–
This list has been compiled using information collected over
the past 11 years by many different organisations involved in human rights and
democracy, both inside and outside of Zimbabwe.
After the Zanu-PF Congress in December 2009, there was a
meeting of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) – essentially, Robert Mugabe and
the heads of Zimbabwe’s Security forces.
Among the resolutions taken at this meeting were the
following:
- The GNU will be a year old in February, therefore no rush
to implement outstanding issues.
- The January 2010 Constitutional Consultative Process will
be disrupted by Zanu-PF (but spearheaded by the Army) using the excuse that
money can’t be spent on the CCP when everyone in Zim has not been given
agricultural inputs.
- ZR Police have been instructed not to attend to any reports
of intimidation or violence during the CCP.
- Webster Shamu (Minister of Media Information and Publicity)
recommended that no NGO’s or civic society be allowed to be involved in the
CCP.
- When the Principals (to the GPA) meet again, Zanu-PF will
agree to conditions, but will not implement them.
Negotiations between the principal signatories to the GPA are
to resume tomorrow, Saturday. SADC, which has guaranteed the GPA, should
recognise this deliberate stonewalling and sabotage by Zanu-PF, and support by
every means, the efforts of the MDC to fully implement the
agreement.
New Year 2010 – and Zanu-PF
Thugs face Lawsuit
Posted by ZDN on January 16, 2010
Attacks on Zimbabwean citizens by Zanu-PF cadres continue
unchecked, but MDC structures in Mudzi West in Mashonaland have announced their
intention to seek justice through the courts for murder, arson, grievous bodily
harm, trespass, theft and extortion.
The renewed violence in Mudzi is being led by George
Katsande, who is the son of Aquiline Katsande, the Zanu-PF Member of Parliament
for Mudzi West.
The latest assaults represent a reprisal of the political
punishments meted out after the 2008 one-man Presidential election, when a storm
of violence was unleashed on the area in apparent retribution for voting ‘the
wrong way’. The crimes were reported but have been ignored by police – in direct
violation of the standing Constitution of Zimbabwe, as well as police
regulations.
Threats from Zanu PF to MDC supporters and activists in the
Mudzi and Gokwe areas are: “Look what we did to you last year and nothing has
happened to us. So we can do what we like to you this year”.
But MDC party structures have prepared a series of lawsuits
against Katsande junior and his gang of thugs. Backed by all the necessary proof
and documentation, the lawsuits will be actioned by the MDC with the assistance
of the Zimbabwe NGO Human Rights Forum.
The following Zanu-PF activists have been named as
respondents in the lawsuit. The local Chief and the Sabhuku (headman) of each of
the affected villages has been informed, as local custom demands.
George Katsande: ZPF operative
Michael “Tiger” Nhamodzvarume : ZPF DCC
Security
Mekias Kasere : War veteran
Daniel Chamuteru : War veteran (Extortion)
Mabhunu Muchapera: War veteran
Gomwe Chihwai : ZPF Masarakufa Ward Chairman
Zvikomberero Kamba : ZPF activist and Youth
Leader
Batsirai Kadiki : ZPF Activist
Zivai Chibanda : ZPF Activist
Tashupika Chibanda : ZPF Activist
Robert Nyagupe : claims to be Sabhuku ZPF
activist
Pedzai Kadzirange : ZPF Secretary
Sarudzai Mativenga : ZPF Womens League
Clara Chaipa : ZPF Womens league
Tonderai Muyangeni : War veteran
Innocent Dendera : ZPF activist (Assault GBH on Mrs.
Mahuni)
Bernard Dendera : ZPF activist
Spencer Gwenukwenu : ZPF activist
Jesinaro Rapkin : ZPF Activist (Arson on
Mujai)
Solomon Bwanali : ZPF Activist
Moffat Bwanali : ZPF Activist
Alfai Alfai : ZPF Activist
Dick Timothy Monday Garufu : ZPF activist
Joseph Bwanali : ZPF activist
Emmanuel Chakuposhiwa : ZPF Activist
Tarwirei Chihota : ZPF activist
Munyaradzi Chipaurendo : ZPF activist
(deceased)
Winnet Gwenukwenu alias Basket : ZPF Womens League
(deceased)
Tafireyi Nduluma : ZPF activist
Kadiki Gwenukwenu : ZPF activist
The complainants seek reparations for the destruction of
homes and property in 2008. In the case of those perpetrators marked as
deceased, the lawsuit will attempt to attach the estate of the
deceased.
A violent start to the New Year
The attacks in Mudzi recommenced after the Zanu-PF Congress
in December, and have escalated in January this year. Recent reports cite gangs
of Zanu-PF activists, led by George Katsande, luring villagers to meetings on
pretext of distributing seed maize. Each time the ‘distribution’ turns out to be
a party political meeting where villagers are harangued with Zanu-PF propaganda.
Statements include that the MDC and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai are ‘rubbish’;
that Zanu-PF is no longer in a unity government, and that Finance minister
Tendai Biti is sabotaging agricultural inputs by holding back funds, so that
‘whites can go back to their farms’.
While it is interesting to note that Zanu-PF has to resort to
fraud in order to get any attendance at their meetings, the inflammatory
statements being made at these meetings are serious. They are being viewed by
the MDC as slander, as well as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the GPA and
the country (a charge which could be interpreted as treasonous). In addition,
the complainants suspect that many of the Katsande meetings are unauthorised
under the country’s harsh POSA laws.
The villagers at these fraudulent meetings are being told
that they must vote for the ‘Kariba Draft’ constitution when the time comes, and
are threatened with more violence unless they ’surrender’ to Zanu-PF and resign
from the MDC.
On New Year’s Day 2010, MDC ward Treasurer Benizer Mutize
(who was a victim of torture during the 2008 elections) was assaulted by George
Katsande and his group of Zanu-PF youth and self-styled ‘war veterans’. The gang
caught Mutize while he was out herding his cattle, and beat him with sticks and
fists, saying that he had refused to attend a Zanu-PF meeting at Rukonde School.
The case was reported to the Police, who at so far have taken no action about
it.
Katsande and his mob are reported to be moving from ward to
ward, threatening to beat MDC members. Their message to villagers is that
because of poor rainfall, Zanu-PF will bring in the donors, therefore for people
to receive this food aid they will be required to produce a Zanu-PF membership
card. The inference is that the donors themselves have instructed that the food
be given to Zanu-PF members only. People at Chimkoko village are being forced to
purchase Zanu-PF membership cards.
On the 8th January 2010, Zanu-PF ‘war vets’ forced shop
owners in Bindura to donate towards the Bindura War Veterans Congress, and
George Katsande again led the assault of four people for not attending a ZPF
meeting. One of the victims suffered broken ribs.
It is an outrage that the MP for the area, Aquiline Katsande,
can sit in parliament and claim the respect and privilege due to a ‘lawmaker’,
while her son perpetrates a continuous stream of crimes in her name. In fact the
son has taken his lead from the mother: Aquiline Katsande was herself named as a
perpetrator of violence and torture in the 2008/9 state-funded operation named
“Mavhoterapapi ” or “How Did You Vote”.
This political terrorism must be condemned in the strongest
terms. We call on the Zanu-PF party president, Simon Khaya Moyo, to discipline
his MP and stop the violence. We call on the justice system in Zimbabwe to have
the courage to uphold the law.
http://www.zimbabwedemocracynow.com/2010/01/16/new-year-2010-and-zanu-pf-thugs-face-lawsuit/