Air Zimbabwe threatened with liquidation

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

22/01/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

AIR Zimbabwe has been placed under judicial management and may face
liquidation after the airline’s debt rose to $140 million.

The application to place the struggling national airline under judicial
control was made by the airline’s employees who are owed about $35 million
in salary arrears.

The High Court has since appointed Innocent Mavhunga, a chartered
accountant, as the airline’s judicial manager and barred the Air Zimbabwe
board from any involvement with the company.

The development also came after chief executive, Innocent Mavhunga wrote to
President Robert Mugabe pleading for government assistance in keeping teh
company afloat.

"We wish to advise that the non-payment of salaries and other statutory
obligations for the period in question has not been deliberate, but rather a
manifestation of underlying viability challenges that our company has been
experiencing where we have even suspended international and regional flights
with domestic flights having become erratic,” Mavhunga said in the letter
which was produced during the court hearing.
The workers’ lawyer, Caleb Mucheche said his clients had not been paid their
salaries since 2009.

"Since the court has appointed a judicial manager it means that this is a
prelude to liquidation. The judicial manager will now move in and the
current AirZim board will have to step aside," Mucheche told the Sunday
Mail.

"The judicial manager will assess if AirZim is still a going entity, but as
the way things stand all is not well he is likely to recommend liquidation.
That is the process. Whenever a judicial manager comes in, the next step is
liquidation."

Air Zimbabwe is battling massive debts which include obligations to the
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, National Social Security Authority as well as
the workers’ medical aid and pension schemes.
Creditors also seized the company’s planes in South Africa and the United
Kingdom last December over unpaid debts.

The company’s Boeing 737-500 was briefly held at OR Tambo airport in
Johannesburg over a US$500 000 debt while an American firm was also forced
to seize the long haul Boeing 767-200 at London’s Gatwick airport.

The airline has since been forced to pull-out of the lucrative London and
Johannesburg routes to prevent similar actions by restive creditors.

MDC, Zec clash over CIOs

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

By Wonai Masvingise, Staff Writer
Sunday, 22 January 2012 13:55

HARARE - A nasty stand-off between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) over the role of security agents in the
country’s elections threatens to derail polls aimed at ending the country’s
dysfunctional coalition government.

Tsvangirai’s top officials yesterday said the premier would boycott any poll
held before people claimed to be state spies were weeded out of Zec.

Zec is charged with running the country’s elections.

The institution, on the other hand, says Tsvangirai’s claims of the Zec
secretariat being staffed by state security agents loyal to President Robert
Mugabe are a pack of lies, with Zec deputy chairperson Joice Kazembe
declaring to Tsvangirai “come face us”.

To compound matters, President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba
told our sister newspaper, the Daily News that Tsvangirai’s demands for
security sector reforms that include the firing of senior police and army
commanders, was a non-starter.

Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai’s spokesman, yesterday said his boss was firm
that he would not participate in polls unless intelligence officers were
removed from Zec and security sector reforms were implemented.

He said Tsvangirai was demanding the reforms as a precondition for the next
elections because he wanted to avoid a repeat of the 2008 scenario when Zec
faced accusations of tilting the elections in Mugabe’s favour.

“We cannot proceed to the next election with the same secretariat that was
at the core of the inordinate and unprecedented delay in the announcement of
the 2008 election. This secretariat was at the core of the fraud of the 2008
election and we definitely cannot proceed to the next election with the same
clowns,” said Tamborinyoka.

The allegation has drawn fire from Zec.

“We are a very reputable, impartial and independent commission. We do not
want to enter a political minefield,” said Kazembe.

“Zec, before 2007 did not have a permanent secretariat. It was only set up
through permission by treasury in 2007.

All the posts in Zec and in the secretariat were advertised in all the media
in the country. Every single one of those went through an interview and we
interviewed on the basis of their performance and that is why they were
appointed,” Kazembe said.

Answering a question on the commission’s neutrality, Kazembe said: “Who is
neutral? How do we judge neutrality? Point to us where we were impartial and
we will have a case to answer.

“If we understand where Zec is coming from, some of these questions will be
answered. If anybody has a case, if you think Zec has acted impartially, you
are free to bring a case against us. Come and face us.”

Bitter rivals and now uneasy coalition government partners Mugabe and
Tsvangirai both agree on the need for an election to end their union, which
they describe as “uncomfortable”.

But they differ on the timing and modalities of the polls. Mugabe says he
wants an election this year. Tsvangirai says elections can only be held
after the completion of political reforms, including depoliticising the
security sector as well as the removal of Mugabe spies from Zec.

Regional grouping Sadc, which is overseeing Zimbabwe’s political processes
after being mandated by the African Union following the 2008 disputed
elections, says all parties in the coalition government must agree on an
election date, meaning Mugabe no longer enjoys vast powers to unilaterally
call an election.

Sadc is also insisting on the completion of reforms, including the crafting
and adoption of a new constitution.

Zec was formed in 2005 and has been forced to defend accusations of rigging
elections on Mugabe and his Zanu PF’s behalf.

The electoral body was rebranded after the formation of the coalition
government with the appointment of new commissioners agreed to by all three
ruling parties.

But the MDC argues the changes were cosmetic because secretariat staff had
remained in place.

Another of Tsvangirai’s close aides, Jameson Timba, told the Daily News on
Sunday yesterday that the Prime Minister’s office would continue demanding
an overhaul of Zec to achieve a non-partisan electoral body.

“Our view is that the electoral body must be staffed by non-partisan
professionals who will conduct an election to the satisfaction of all
contesting parties and the people,” he said.

“Our experience over the past 12 years shows that Zec has been staffed by
people who come from various security agencies and at one time this included
Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba whose partisanship is known by anyone
who cares to know,” said Timba, a Minister of State in Tsvangirai’s office.

The MDC alleges that since the formation of Zec in 2005, the institution has
always suffered from security agents’ influence.

The party cites the fact that current High Court judge president George
Chiweshe, who was the first head of Zec had a military background.

According to the party’s website, by the time an election got underway a
month after the establishment of Zec in 2005, the institution had no
offices, no phones or any independent staff and it was given staff from the
Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), the military, the police and Zanu
PF structures to run the election.

“Zimbabweans know that Zanu PF and Mugabe have always manipulated the
elections, through Zec and the military, in broad daylight.

“It remains a fact that Zec is staffed by CIO officers, serving members of
the military and Zanu PF militias,” reads the statement.

“Until Zec claims its independence and generates public confidence,
elections in Zimbabwe shall always be a major source of instability and
illegitimacy.

“The MDC calls on Zec to cleanse itself of the Zanu PF mess, reassert its
credibility and perform its Constitutional functions in line with expected
universal norms and standards in the conduct of elections,” the MDC said.

Tsvangirai, Biti face arrest

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chengetai Zvauya, Senior Writer
Sunday, 22 January 2012 13:25

HARARE - Police and Zanu PF have launched a fresh campaign to crush the MDC
in a plan which involves arresting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Finance
minister Tendai Biti and other top officials.

The MDC says it is aware Tsvangirai and Biti could be arrested soon but has
warned that it will do everything to expose the “grand plan” to weaken the
party ahead of possible elections.

A dossier has been compiled to support MDC’s case against the clampdown, and
would be handed over to Sadc and the African Union.

Police have been on the coat tails of both Tsvangirai and Biti for more than
six months but critics say the probes are politically-motivated.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena refused to
reveal details on the matter. “I have no comment to make and I have nothing
to say.”

Last week, detectives scoured four financial institutions, perusing the
financial records and transactions of civic society and relief groups
suspected to be working with the MDC leadership in receiving direct funds
for support to distressed groups.

This was the latest crack at some of the banks which had last year been
visited on a different mission but allegedly involving Biti’s transactions.

Sources said some senior bank executives at the financial institutions that
were visited have been placed under surveillance.

This includes tapping their phones, monitoring their lockers at golf clubs
and social holes.

At one institution, the detectives are said to have demanded the list of
visitors to the founding official, list of messages and e-mail addresses of
contacts.

However, the demands were ignored.

The visits, according to the sources, had not been sanctioned by the Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe, which supervises the financial institutions.

RBZ has its financial intelligence inspectorate and supervision teams, which
monitor all activities in the banking sector.

Where they suspect malfeasance, said sources, they have to nail offending
banks but in criminal cases, they have to act as the complainants, and often
supported by investigations’ reports.

Against Biti, sources said so far there is no complainant — raising
questions on the motives of the police probe.
Biti has steadfastly maintained that he has done his tasks above board.

MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said his party had received information of
pending arrests of Tsvangirai and Biti.

“There are plans to demoralise the rank and file of MDC by arresting and
detaining MDC supporters and sympathisers.
However, we know that there is no legal basis for arresting our leadership.
It is just political harassment,’’ said Mwonzora.

Tsvangirai is under probe on fraud allegations and his relative Hebson
Makuvise, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Germany on allegations of
misappropriation of public funds he used to acquire and build property in
the leafy suburb of Highlands.

Police are also probing Biti over the controversial $500 million windfall
Zimbabwe got from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009.

They aim to arrest him if they detect any trace of fraud, sources said.

Zimbabwe got $512,3 million in special drawing rights in 2009 after the IMF
injected $283 billion into the global economy to provide liquidity and boost
member countries’ foreign exchange reserves at the height of the financial
crisis.

Biti and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono have differed over the money.
They engaged the IMF separately wanting clarification on the use of the
money.

Biti said he was the “sole authority” on how the money would be used. Most
of it would go to infrastructure development and exporters’ lines of credit.
He could also channel some to budgetary support.

The MDC maintains that police have accelerated a programme to decimate the
party ahead of elections.

Two weeks ago, police fought running battles with vendors in Harare and made
arrests not before they claimed party activists were masquerading as
traders.

A day later, they raided the MDC regalia shop where they arrested an
attendant whom the MDC claim died during violent beatings.

Last week, more than 50 MDC youths who were holding a solidarity march to
pressure the release of incarcerated youth leader Solomon Madzore, were
arrested and detained in various stations in the city.

Madzore and seven other party sympathisers have been languishing in remand
prison over allegations that they were part of a group that led to the death
of a police officer Petros Mutedza in Glen View last year.

The MDC sees police actions as a deliberate clampdown to weaken its
structures.

It has claimed that police are part of a wider campaign to decimate the
party through arrests of top officials.

Zanu PF has said it is not involved in the clampdown.

Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has in the past dismissed the MDC claims
accusing them of seeking attention.

But Mwonzora told the Daily News on Sunday that there was a clique of
hardliners that was bent on destroying the MDC.

“We are aware of various machinations by some factions within Zanu PF to
scuttle progress within the government of national unity. The tactic is to
harass senior the MDC leadership by preferring various criminal charges
against them,” said Mwonzora.

Zimplats workers strike over power bills: paper

http://af.reuters.com/

Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:37pm GMT

HARARE (Reuters) - Workers at the Zimbabwe unit of platinum miner Impala
Platinum have gone on strike to force the company to pay for their personal
electricity bills, which has partially hit production, state media reported
on Sunday.

The state-owned Sunday Mail reported that half the workers at Zimplats'
Ngezi mine had taken mass industrial action over the electricity dispute.

No one at Zimplats was immediately available for comment to Reuters on
Sunday but spokeswoman Busi Chindove told the newspaper that industrial
action was taking place.

"We can confirm that some of our workers at Ngezi mine have resorted to
taking industrial action. Please note, 50 percent of the workforce has
reported for duty," Chindove was quoted as saying by the Sunday Mail.

Zimplats is 87 percent owned by South Africa's Implats and is among several
foreign-owned mines being pressured by President Robert Mugabe's government
to cede majority ownership to black Zimbabweans.

MDC youths drag police to court

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

By Pindai Dube
Sunday, 22 January 2012 13:46

BULAWAYO - Mainstream MDC youths have dragged police to court demanding the
release of material confiscated during a raid of their Bulawayo office last
week.

Heavily-armed police raided MDC offices along Fort Street to stop a planned
“Free Solomon Madzore Campaign” demonstration. They confiscated flyers,
posters and other party material before arresting 50 youths.

MDC youth assembly president Madzore and 23 other MDC activists have been
languishing in remand prison following their arrest last year in connection
with the killing of a police officer, Petros Mutedza, in Glen View.

The officer-in-charge of Bulawayo Central Police Station, police
commissioner general, Augustine Chihuri and the co-home affairs ministers,
Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Makone are cited as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
respondents, respectively, in the urgent High Court application filed on
Friday.

MDC Bulawayo youth chairman Bekithemba Nyathi, the MDC Bulawayo youth
assembly and MDC as a party are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd applicants in the
matter.

“I am approaching this Honourable Court for an urgent order for the
restoration of possession of eight boxes of flyers (with each box containing
5 000 copies) and two boxes (with each box containing 5 000 copies) of the
3rd Applicants National Council Resolutions of the 17th December 2011,”
Nyathi said in his founding affidavit.

The party is being represented by lawyers from Hwalima, Moyo and Associates
Legal Practitioners.

“There is a reasonable fear or apprehension that the above mentioned
material may be destroyed and Applicants would suffer irreparable loss,”
Nyathi added.

Several MDC activists have recently been arrested across the country on what
the party say are flimsy charges.

Last week, MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti was said to be preparing a
dossier to be tabled before Sadc, complaining about the crackdown of his
party supporters by state security agents, especially the police.

Theresa Makone, who is also an MDC member, recently said she will approach
President Robert Mugabe and Chihuri over the partisan conduct of the police.

Reform of the country’s police force is one of the key terms of a
power-sharing deal signed between President Robert Mugabe and the two
formations of the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy
Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

ZCTU mobilises for strike

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chengetai Zvauya, Senior Writer
Sunday, 22 January 2012 13:43

HARARE - A break-away faction of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU) has appealed to the workers in the private sector to join civil
servants in a crippling strike.

Lovemore Matombo, who leads the faction, said joining the civil servants in
their planned week-long strike which starts tomorrow, was in the best
interests of all workers.

Matombo said it makes sense to strike for wages in line with the Poverty
Datum Line (PDL) currently pegged at US$546.

‘We want the workers to get into the streets supporting the civil servants
next week. It is now time to fight for a better wage from our employers,”
said Matombo while addressing a meeting at Raylton Sports Club in Harare on
Friday.

Matombo’s ZCTU faction is holding labour forums countrywide mobilising
workers to participate in a national strike they are planning.

“We have informed Minister of Public Service Lucia Matibenga of our
intention of having a strike, and we are not afraid of being arrested by the
police in our action as we have to make sacrifices for us to be paid the
money above the PDL scale,” said Matombo.

“We are going to be informing you in your workplace when we are going to
embark on the strike action. Let’s first support the civil servants in their
cause because we are all workers and we are feeling the effects of the
economic hardships,’’ said Matombo.

Raymond Majongwe, the secretary-general of the Matombo-led ZCTU faction,
also encouraged other workers to amplify the civil servants’ strike action
by joining in tomorrow.

“The time for disjointed sporadic labour strikes is over. We need to work
together and deal with employers once for all,’’ said Majongwe.

“Our union, the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), is working
together with other civil servants’ trade unions like Zimbabwe Teachers’
Association (Zimta) to take the government head-on in demanding a better
wage.

“We are now encouraging industrial workers to do the same to join us and we
can march in the streets so our point can be heard by our employers,” said
Majongwe.

The planned industrial action by public workers is likely cripple government
business and could plunge the economy into a crisis, if successful.

On Thursday, business at several government departments such as the
Registrar General’s office was low as the workers went on a one-day strike.

Government workers say negotiations for better pay between their
representative body, the Apex Council and the government, have failed
accusing Matibenga of lacking concern over their issues.

‘MDC must learn to live with me’

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Sharon Muguwu, Staff Writer
Sunday, 22 January 2012 13:48

HARARE - Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma says Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s MDC party have to learn to live with him after the party’s bid
to expel him hit a brick wall at the courts.

Zvoma on Friday won his battle against MDC MPs who were baying for his blood
after the High Court declared a parliamentary motion seeking to dismiss him
from work as “null and void”.

Justice Francis Bere ordered Parliament to abandon a motion moved by MDC
legislators Shepherd Mushonga and Brian Tshuma following an application by
Zvoma to stop the august house from pursuing the motion to dismiss him.

MDC MPs adopted the motion in November last year after Zanu PF legislators
walked out in protest, forcing Zvoma to seek recourse from the courts.

Zvoma, a long serving worker at Parliament, said the ruling was testimony to
the fairness of the country’s judiciary and should come as a lesson to the
MDC.

“They (MDC) were told by the court. I have nothing more to say to them. I
can only say that the outcome is an indication of our judiciary system, the
justice that is there. I hope that everyone has learnt a lesson on how
things should be done,” he said.

Chris Mhike, representing the MDC MPs, said his clients would study the
judgment and then formulate “a considered position” on how Parliament should
proceed.

Zvoma, however said he was prepared to face the MDC again if the party
continued targeting him.

“If the matter is still going on, we will deal with it in the appropriate
manner. If they (MDC) want to pursue the matter, we will just wait for them.
Otherwise right now I am pleased with the outcome,” said Zvoma.

MDC MPs accuse Zvoma of being unprofessional and siding with Mugabe’s Zanu
PF when conducting parliamentary duties.

EU Delegation to Zimbabwe 'Moves' to Bulawayo for a Week

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, January 22, 2012 - THE European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe
'moves' to Bulawayo for one week in a move the 27-member bloc says is
intended to allow people of Matabeleland to engage with EU officials.

Ambassador Aldo Dell'Ariccia, The Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe
announced in a statement to the media that all its senior staff will 'move
to Bulawayo' from the 30th of January to the 2nd of February, 2012 in order
to engage with local economic, social and political actors to assert
publicly and clearly its commitment to the development of the region as well
as to seek insights and ideas for the future prospects of engagement in
Matabeleland.

''The EU Delegation will especially aim at a significant qualitative
improvement of its linkages with and its understanding of the specific
issues of Matabeleland. It will not go there to deliver miracle solutions or
exceptional aid packages, but to engage with local actors, listen to them,
to better understand needs and challenges and establish a lasting line of
dialogue and communication,'' said Ambassador Dell'Ariccia.

Dell'Ariccia added that the Delegation is committed to an inclusive approach
towards supporting Zimbabwe's development. This has been particularly
evident since the inception of the current government, with a clear mandate
that the EU Delegation has received to support the implementation of the
GPA.

In this respect, the EU Delegation has increased alignment to Government's
own priorities and has moved -especially in the social sectors but also in
food security- towards more predictable assistance.

The Delegation has also engaged in supporting institutions, especially those
engaged in implementing essential elements of the GPA provisions: support to
COPAC, to constitutional commissions, to prisons and the Electoral
Commission.

During its stay in Bulawayo, the Delegation will engage in dialogue with
local partners on a number of topical issues during public round tables. It
will also monitor the impact and results of the many ongoing interventions
supported in Matabeleland through visits to various projects in and around
Bulawayo.

During the visit Dell'Ariccia will officially open the ''EU corner'' at the
Bulawayo Public Library and engage with local journalists at a Press
Conference.

Masunda extends hand to youth group

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chengetai Zvauya, Senior Writer
Sunday, 22 January 2012 13:39

HARARE - Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda is reaching out to the Zanu PF-
aligned Upfumi Kuvadiki and says there are prospects of stitching business
opportunities between the two parties.

Masunda said he will formally meet the youth group, once accused of using
its political muscle to wrestle business opportunities in the city, next
month.

“I am keen to meet every stakeholder in the city and discuss with them. I am
also aware that Upfumi Kuvadiki youths want to meet me and I have slotted
them for an appointment next month and we can sit and discuss.

“It is the policy that my council has agreed to adopt to engage every
resident of the city and I have reserved a day every month to meet various
stakeholders of the city,” said Masunda adding that meeting the youth group
which was once among some of council’s arch critics is necessary to
normalise relations with the group.

Upfumi  Kuvadiki chairman Alson Darikayi also confirmed  the meeting which
he said will centre around discussions on how to start programmes to empower
the youths.

“We are happy with the response we have received from the city council and
they are now very co-operative with us and we shall be meeting Masunda next
month and EasiPark will be high on the agenda,” said Darikayi.

Harare City Council and EasiHold of South Africa signed a partnership deal
in 2009 forming a parking business centre in central Harare.

According to the deal, council was supposed to receive 60 percent of the
earnings while Easihold was to get 40 percent of the proceeds but the deal
has since turned sour.

Last December the council gave the South African company three months to
wind up business.

Ironically, Upfumi Kuvadiki is eyeing the business which it has always
argued should be reserved for locals.

Council claims that it has not benefitted from the deal.

Following the termination of the deal, Masunda approached Minister of Local
Government, Urban and Rural Development Ignatius Chombo and Youth
Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere to inform
them of the decision to open up business opportunities for Upfumi Kuvadiki.

Municipality of Gwanda Resorts to Water Rationing

http://www.radiovop.com

GWANDA, January 22, 2012 – Residents here will receive water supplies for
only ten hours a day following the breakdown of water engines and health
experts fear that the acute shortage of water compounded by heaps of
uncollected garbage could lead to an outbreak of cholera.

Municipality of Gwanda workers Friday night went around the mining town
appealing to residents to remain calm and urging them to stock water in
drums and buckets.

Residents of Spitzkop township and students at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo
Polytechnic are the worst affected as water has virtually stopped running in
their tapes.

“Yow will now be getting water from six in the morning to four in the
evening, we would sincerely like to apologize but engineers are busy
rectifying the problem, in the meantime please store water in buckets and
drums,” said a municipality worker on loudspeaker.

The local authority is reportedly reeling under a financial crisis and has
failed to pay its service providers with garbage strewn all over the town
and there are fears the water situation could last for a little longer.

“If we start having rains with this garbage still uncollected then we should
be ready to fight a cholera outbreak, it’s even worse now that we have water
problems,” said a senior nurse at Gwanda Hospital who requested anonymity
for professional reasons.

Gwanda Mayor Lionel Denecker could not be reached for comment, however in
the past he has put the blame on Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA)
whom he accuses of clinging to the water treatment plant instead of handing
it over to the local authority.

Politics to Stall Economic Growth: MMC report

http://www.radiovop.com/

HARARE, January 22, 2012—Politics will derail the projected 9, 4% growth
this year as parties devote more energies in preparing for pending elections
than nurturing economic growth, a leading brokerage firm has said.

The Ministry of Finance projects the growth to be underpinned by strong
performance in finance (23%), mining (15, 8%), tourism (13, 7%) and
agriculture (11, 6%).

In its outlook for 2012, MMC Capital said Zimbabwe’s economic performance
this year will be largely determined by political outturns.

“The lifespan of the government of national unity (GNU), whose creation is
owed to the current economic and political stability is now coming to an end
with elections expected either this year or in 2013,” MMC said in the
Zimbabwe 2012 Equities Market Outlook report.

“Ahead of these elections, we expect political parties to invest more of
their energies in preparing for elections than nurturing economic growth.”

Based on that MMC said it expects “more political energies to be directed
towards electioneering than growing the economy” and as such it was taking a
more conservative view on the 2012 growth rate than the 9,4% projected by
the ministry of Finance.

It said with the debt issue unlikely to be resolved in 2012, it does not see
an upsurge in foreign capital flows.

Zimbabwe’s external debt is over US$8 billion and despite cabinet agreeing
to use traditional methods as well as debt relief to extinguish the debt,
nothing has moved on that front. This means that the country cannot get the
lines of credit needed to kick-start the revival of the economy.

However, the country has recorded a number of portfolio investors especially
on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Foreigner investors account for over half of
the trades on the bourse. MMC said foreign portfolio flows constitute ‘hot
capital” whose impact on the economy’s liquidity may not be sustained.

“Foreign lines of credit have remained elusive, with the few coming from
regional financial institutions like AFREXIM Bank, PTA Bank and DBSA
(Development Bank of Southern Africa),” it said.

‘The continued rollover of these lines will depend to a large extent on
satisfactory performance by the borrowing industry. Recent indications from
the banking sector on the ability of industry to service credit facilities
have been far from satisfactory.”

UK Zimbabweans petition Zuma – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 21st January 2012

Exuberant Zimbabweans from all over the UK gathered outside the South African High Commission in London calling on President Zuma to force Zanu PF to implement the Global Political Agreement signed more than three years ago.

The High Commission is normally closed on a Saturday and we were encouraged that the South Africans opened it for the delivery of an MDC petition by Adella Chiminya – to the accompaniment of a blaring vuvuzela. (Adella is the widow of activist Tichaona Chiminya who was burnt to death by Zanu PF in 2000.)

The Chairman of MDC UK Tonderai Samanyanga read out the petition, which reflected the demands of the MDC in the diaspora, not only in the UK but around the world.

The posters on display summed up the message: ‘Free and fair elections please, Security reforms now, Stop Zanu PF from stealing our diamonds, We demand a new and clean voters’ roll, Diaspora vote now, We say no to stolen elections, Media reforms now, Monitoring forces six months before and after elections, Mugabe and junta must go now, SADC scored zero’ etc.

The difficulties facing all those opposed to Zanu PF were illustrated by Vigil management team member Fungayi Mabhunu. Wearing our Mugabe mask, he carried a blunt message ‘Vote MDC and die’.

MDC and Vigil supporters returned to the Zimbabwe Embassy to dance and sing to the Vigil drummers with renewed enthusiasm to work together for change.

As far as the Vigil is concerned, we support the aims of the MDC but hope this demonstration is a wake-up call not only to President Zuma but to the MDC leadership in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF is currently in a minority in both Houses of Parliament: we can’t believe that the MDC cannot take advantage of this rather than pretend to govern the country.

Other points

·         A big vote of thanks to Josephine Zhuga and Dambudzo Marimira who missed the buzz of the protest outside the South African High Commission to keep the Vigil going outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Thanks also to Wellington Muringai for looking after the back table.

·         Thanks to photographer Russell Pollard who took photos of the protest which can be viewed on this link: http://russellpollard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Anti-Mugabe-Demonstrations-21-1-12/G0000d884BkbzKu4. (They are copyright so if you want copies you will need to contact Russell.)

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: 207 signed the register but many did not sign and we estimate there were well over 300 people present.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·         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.

·          ROHR general meeting. Saturday 4th February 2012 from 1 – 4 pm. The meeting is being called to elect a new UK Executive. All ROHR members and those interested in joining ROHR are welcome to attend. 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.

·         First Joint ZimVigil, ROHR and Zimbabwe We Can Forum. Saturday 4^th February from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel, 143 The Strand, WC2R 15A. For directions see above entry. Future joint forums to be held after the Vigil on the first Saturday of each month.

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

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

·         ‘Through the Darkness’, Judith Todd’s acclaimed account of the rise of Mugabe.  To receive a copy by post in the UK please email confirmation of your order and postal address to ngwenyasr@yahoo.co.uk and send a cheque for £10 payable to “Budiriro Trust” to Emily Chadburn, 15 Burners Close, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0QA. All proceeds go to the Budiriro Trust which provides bursaries to needy A Level students in Zimbabwe.

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.

Just doing my job

Dear Family and Friends,
All week we received increasing warnings about an approaching cyclone.
ZBC radio and TV advised people to avoid low lying areas, not to try
and cross flooded bridges or fast moving rivers and to be prepared for
heavy rainfall and big storms. Whilst warning us about the approaching
weather system, ZBC reminded us that the last cyclone to hit Zimbabwe
had been Cyclone Eline, in February 2000, and went on to point out
that some of the bridges destroyed by Eline had yet to be repaired –
eleven years later. A disgraceful admission if ever we heard one.

Roofs, gutters, drains and trees near houses were top of the list to
be checked and cleared. We’d been told to prepare for hailstorms,
high winds and rainfall of 80 mm (just over three inches) every day
for two or three days. The view from the window was of people checking
their roofs, hammering in nails and clearing sticks, pods and branches
from gutters.

I spent a morning under a bright blue sky and blazing sun trundling
backwards and forwards with a friend collecting rubble and bricks that
had been dumped in the bush nearby. We used the bricks to repair a
deep gully which had made our quiet, suburban road almost impossible
to traverse. Despite repeated appeals to the local municipality,
it’s been over four years since any road repairs or maintenance have
been done in the neighbourhood. No pot-hole filling, no drain
clearing, no grading, no sign of a single municipal worker. My
emergency brick dumping was a lonely and desperate attempt to save
what’s left of the road in the path of an approaching cyclone.

By the middle of the week storm clouds had stared building up in the
burning blue sky. Towering, deep purple columns rising from a dense
and imposing grey horizon. Cyclone Dando was now being called a
Tropical Depression and had hit Mocambique causing major flooding. It
was moving in to parts of South Africa leaving a trial of flooding and
devastation.

While we waited for the storm a human cyclone was underway in
Bulawayo. Seventeen members of WOZA were arrested while standing at a
shopping complex. A woman police officer beckoned to the group and
made her intentions quite clear from the outset: 'WOZA people today I
am going to fix you,’ she said. The women were taken to Donnington
police station where WOZA leaders said that a number of the women were
assaulted in custody. Some were knocked on the head with a broomstick
and threatened, as police tried to get them to admit that they been
planning a protest. Another young woman had a plastic bag forced over
her head and was told to kick her leg when she was ready to talk. A
male police officer said to the women: ‘we are going to remove your
panties and beat your bottoms.’ At that time the WOZA lawyer arrived
and the women were released from custody, many said to be deeply
traumatized by the events.

A press statement from WOZA said that the male police officer who had
threatened to remove the women’s underpants and beat their bottoms,
followed the WOZA members out of the police station and said: 'when
you see me around town don't hate me I was just doing my job.'

It’s not clear what, if anything, the seventeen women will be
charged with. Nor is it clear what, if anything, will happen to the
police for their actions to WOZA members at Donnington police station
in Bulawayo. If the abuses of the past are anything to go by, we must
assume that, like Tropical Storm Dando, they will come to nothing,
just blow away in the wind.
Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy 21st January 2012.
Copyright � Cathy Buckle. www.cathybuckle.com

Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series - 20th January 2012 [Meetings Open to Public 23rd - 27th January]