COPAC draft to be presented to parliament in February

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
22 January 2013

Zimbabweans on Tuesday inched closer to getting a new constitution, after
the three drafters handed in the revised copy of the draft to the COPAC
co-chairmen in Harare.

The draft, described as the ‘final’ document by COPAC co-chairman Douglas
Mwonzora, will be presented to the parliamentary select committee on Monday
for formal adoption, as dictated by the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

“After that we will wait for the opening of Parliament in the first week of
February to present the draft to the legislators,” Mwonzora said.

It is expected that after its presentation to Parliament, a committee of
experts will convene to draft questions that will form the basis on which
Zimbabweans will either vote for, or against the draft constitution in a
referendum.

The three COPAC drafters who included the amendments proposed by the parties
in the GPA last week were Moses Chinhengo, a former High Court judge,
Priscilla Madzonga, a senior legal practitioner and former drafter in the
Attorney-General’s office, and Brian Crozier, a former director of legal
drafting in the Attorney-General’s office.

Mwonzora said the draft they received Tuesday contains no material or
significant changes to the draft that was produced on 18th July last year,
explaining that the current draft seeks to make things clearer than the
previous one.

“We have also simplified the language so that people who are not skilled in
law are able to follow this draft. Starting next week, we will prepare the
vernacular copies in all the languages,” added Mwonzora.

He emphasized that the handover of the document on Tuesday has almost closed
any window to make amendments, which had been proposed by those opposed to
the draft.

“We are aware there are some people who may want to revise this process as a
way to derail the progress. We are no longer interested in any other input,
the people of Zimbabwe spoke, we negotiated and we finished and the draft we
have is now the final draft,” Mwonzora said.

The Nyanga North MP said that Zimbabweans should be ready to “cross over
into Canaan after four years of wondering in the wilderness in search of a
new constitution.”

The draft is expected to be made available in about two weeks time.

Stage set for June polls in Zim

http://www.timeslive.co.za

Vladimir Mzaca | 22 January, 2013 00:31

Zimbabwe could go to the polls as early as June, with the main rival
political parties saying they are ready for them.

"We are ready to go for elections as soon as the constitution-making process
is finished," Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said yesterday.

Officials from the Movement for Democratic Change, led by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, as well as a breakaway faction of the party, concurred.
This followed an announcement on Thursday by Zimbabwe's political leaders
that they have finally agreed on a new constitution after more than two
years of dispute, primarily about the sweeping powers President Robert
Mugabe enjoys.

No details of the deal were released, but a coalition of pro-democracy
activists said on Friday that the "sticky issues" had been resolved, paving
the way towards the finalisation of the draft.

The Crisis Coalition said a referendum on the document could be held as
early as April.

According to his office, Tsvangirai described the agreement as a defining
moment for the nation's future.

Once the draft is finalised, Mugabe would consult with the Zimbabwe Election
Commission and draw up dates for both the constitutional referendum and the
general election. Douglas Mwonzora - co-chairman of Zimbabwe's parliamentary
commission in charge of the constitution-making process - said the
referendum on the constitution would be likely be held some time between the
end of March and the start of April.

"The date of the elections will be announced by the president any time after
the referendum," said Paul Mangwana, the other constitution-making process
chairman.

Mugabe can announce the date of the general elections within 30 days of the
new constitution coming into effect, so a June date is possible.

"This is the most likely scenario, because the president has been pushing
for elections since 2010," said a senior Zanu-PF member.

Mugabe yesterday used the funeral of his late vice-president, John Landa
Nkomo, who died last week after a long illness, to call for peace during the
elections.

Previous polls have been marred by violence, largely attributed to
Zanu-PF. - Additional reporting by Sapa-AFP-AP

Floods close Beitbridge Border Post

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Tuesday, 22 January 2013 00:00

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

ZIMBABWE and South African border authorities were yesterday forced to stop
both vehicular and human traffic after the bridge at the Beitbridge Border
Post was flooded on Sunday night. The border was only open to travellers
after 3am when the waters subsided.
The torrential rains also claimed the lives of three children aged between
four and nine years when the houses they were sleeping in collapsed.

Authorities at the border post were forced to stop traffic after the flooded
Limpopo River left the New Limpopo Bridge inaccessible.
The bridge links Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The bridge was temporarily closed for three hours at midnight on Sunday.
It was only reopened at around 3am when the water had subsided.
Border authorities from both countries had to harmonise traffic control
systems to ensure the safety of motorists.

They also temporarily suspended movement of heavy vehicles over the bridge.
The Old Limpopo Bridge was safe for pedestrians though the situation was
under close monitoring by the authorities.

The children’s deaths bring to five the number of people who have died in
Beitbridge District due to torrential rains that started last week.

Two people drowned, one along Bubi River and another one in a pond in the
town.
Forty-two more people were stranded at Chituripasi Village 10, under Chief
Elsh Matibe’s area.
Their huts were destroyed by heavy rains that hit the area on Saturday and
Sunday.

Authorities had also dispatched an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter to
assist stranded villagers yesterday afternoon.

Beitbridge Civil Protection Unit chairman Mr Simon Muleya said the situation
was terrible.
He said the AFZ helicopter would continue to assess the situation around the
district.
Mr Muleya said they had secured 30 tents for temporary shelter for the
villagers.

He said some people had been marooned at the Parks and Wildlife Management
Authority camp on Sunday night.

They were, however, rescued by police on Monday morning.
The camp houses close to 80 people.

“The floods have also hit the communities living near the banks of the
Limpopo River, especially at the River Ranch Diamond Mine.

He said two of the deceased children, a five-year-old and his nine-year-old
colleague died at Mawale Village, some 20km east of Beitbridge town.

The bedroom hut, which had four occupants, collapsed due to the incessant
rains.
He said the third victim, a four-year-old child died in the same manner at
Tshituripasi.
“The situation is bad. At the moment we are looking at ways of assisting the
victims as a matter of urgency.

“We have 19 adults and 24 children who have sought refuge at Tshituripasi
Police Post after their 14 homes were destroyed by the heavy rains.

“It is also difficult to go there by road since the link roads have been
badly damaged while some bridges have been swept away.”

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department yesterday said the heavy
rains would subside starting tomorrow up to Saturday.

“During this period, most of the rains should be confined mainly to the
Mashonaland Provinces, Harare, and the North of Manicaland.”
The Met Dept, however, said the rains would increase from Sunday onwards.

86 drown, 38 killed by lightning in 3 months

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

21/01/2013 00:00:00 by Staff Reporter

Danger ... Flooded rivers taking lives POLICE say at least 86 people have drowned and 38 others killed by lightning since the onset of the rainy season in September last year. Figures released by the ZRP on Monday showed Manicaland had the highest number of deaths from drowning – 18 – followed by Masvingo with 13 deaths. At least 12 people died after being struck by lightning in Masvingo, one more than the Midlands which accounted for 11 deaths. Bulawayo recorded the lowest number of deaths from drowning with one case reported – that of a Grade Seven pupil at Hugh Beadle Primary School who was swept away by the Mazayi River on her way back from school on January 15. Forecasters are warning that low-lying areas are at a risk of flooding as the rains continue to pound the country, including the parched Matabeleland provinces which have seen non-stop rains for nearly a week. National police spokesman Superintendent Andrew Phiri said: “Members of public must desist from crossing flooded rivers whether on foot or in vehicles as vehicles are also in danger of stalling in the middle of rivers resulting in the death of passengers.” The Civil Protection Unit has warned of a flooding crisis in Beitbridge after heavy rains saw the border post temporarily closed at 3AM on Sunday when the Limpopo River’s tide reached bridge level. Three people have died in Beitbridge from drowning, while over 50 homes are said to have been destroyed in the area.

Zim villagers airlifted out of flood zones

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/01/22/zim-villagers-airlifted-out-of-flood-zones/
- click to see video

By Alex Bell
22 January 2013

Ongoing heavy rainfall continues to cause chaos across the country, leading
to the closure of the Beitbridge border over the weekend and the rescue by
helicopter of stranded villagers.

A helicopter from the Air Force was dispatched on Monday to rescue villagers
in the Binga district, where flooding has washed away several homes.

SW Radio Africa’s correspondent Lionel Saungweme reported on Tuesday that 16
people from the Kalungwizi area were rescued on Monday after they were
caught out by flash floods. He said most villagers had evacuated the area
but some had stayed to try and tend their crops.

“There are reports yet of deaths. 16 people were airlifted out of the area.
Local councillors are now trying to put together a welfare bundle to help
the villagers,” Saungweme reported.

Flooding has also brought misery to the Beitbridge district, where over the
weekend at least 42 more people were stranded at Chituripasi Village. An Air
Force helicopter was sent to rescue the villagers, who are now living in
tents provided by the Beitbridge Civil Protection Unit (CPU).

Three children have also died as a result of the floods. Two of the deceased
children, aged five and nine, died at Mawale Village, some 20km east of
Beitbridge town. They were trapped when the hut they were in collapsed in
the rain. A third child aged four reportedly died in similar circumstances
at Tshituripasi, according to the CPU.

The CPU has also said that 19 adults and 24 children have sought refuge at
Tshituripasi Police Post after their 14 homes were destroyed by the rains.
Meanwhile the Beitbridge border was temporarily closed on Sunday night
because of flood water. It was only reopened on Monday.

Widespread flooding hits Southern Africa

http://www.irinnews.org

Photo: UNHCR/N. Shrestha

Flooding at Botswana's Dukwi Refugee Camp

JOHANNESBURG, 22 January 2013 (IRIN) - Several Southern African countries are dealing with the effects of flooding following heavy rains over much of the region in the past week.

In South Africa’s northern Limpopo Province, floodwaters claimed 10 lives and left hundreds stranded after the Limpopo River burst its banks. By 22 January, the rain had subsided, but rescue operations were still underway in Musina, near South Africa’s border with Zimbabwe, said Tseng Diale, spokesperson for the province’s Disaster Management Centre.

Across the border, in Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge District, the rains damaged roads and left some areas impassable, according to state-owned newspaper The Herald, which reported that since the onset of the rainy season, floods and lightning strikes had claimed 124 lives.

In Mozambique, a UN situation report estimated that by 20 January, nearly 20,000 people throughout the country had been affected by the heavy rains. Nearly 6,000 had been displaced, the majority of them in the capital, Maputo, where the drainage system was overwhelmed by 157mm of rain falling in less than 24 hours. Nine temporary shelters have been set up in the city, and authorities have declared an “orange alert”, with the aim of scaling-up monitoring measures and strengthening preparedness in case the situation worsens.

Northern Botswana also experienced heavy downpours that resulted in severe flooding of the Dukwi Refugee Camp, about 130km outside the city of Francistown. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), about 120 refugee homes were inundated by floodwaters, and pumps have stopped working, leading to a shortage of clean water in the camp. Skillshare International, an NGO that provides vocational training programmes in the camp, is sheltering 400 of the displaced in its classrooms, and UNHCR is providing food and trying to establish temporary ablution facilities.

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

ZimRights board summoned by police in fraud case

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
22 January 2013

A representative of the ZimRights management board is to report to Harare
police Wednesday, to answer questions regarding the ongoing fraud case
against the organization.

The police have so far charged the ZimRights boss Okay Machisa and two
others with fraud, and they are also accused of forgery in their individual
capacity. But the police have now added charges against the organization
itself.

One of the ZimRights board members Nunurai Jena told SW Radio Africa the
organization has been summoned to Harare Central Police Station and he will
report to the Law and Order Section to represent them.

It is not clear exactly what ZimRights is being accused of doing, but the
police allege that the organization was involved in an illegal voter
registration exercise. They are also accused of ‘conspiracy to commit fraud’
and publishing ‘falsehoods prejudicial to the state’.

Jena said on Tuesday that they welcome the police investigations and
ZimRights will cooperate, adding that the organization does not support any
illegal activities.

“As a board we condemn the commission of crime in whatever form and the
board disassociates itself from the alleged criminal activities and if
anything ever happened in that manner, as alleged by the state, such was
done outside the mandate and objectives of the organizations,” Jena said.

Meanwhile, a High Court judge postponed Machisa’s bail hearing on Tuesday to
Thursday. ZimRights Programs Manager Cynthia Manjoro said the case could not
be heard on Tuesday because the state appointed a new prosecutor, Edmore
Nyazamba, “who claimed that he wanted some time to acquaint himself with the
record proceedings.”

The rights group said the other accused persons (chairperson for Highfields
Dorcas Shereni and the organisation’s Education and Programmes Officer Leo
Chamahwinya) are likely to spend fourteen more days behind bars after a
Harare magistrate on Monday remanded them in custody to 4 February, citing
the need to give the state more time to conduct investigations. ZimRights
said this was despite the defence counsel having submitted lengthy and
detailed arguments warranting the release of the two.

Jena said his organization is law abiding and is waiting for the court
process to be concluded and the board will carry out its own internal
investigations to unearth the truth facts of the allegations at
institutional level.

“Now we are appealing to the state to expedite the prosecution of this
matter to conclusion rather than to make these guys to wait and wait and
wait. I think it’s not proper,” Jena added.

More Zim children found smuggled across the border

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
22 January 2013

More Zimbabwean children have been found in South Africa after they were
smuggled across the border, just over a month after a Bulawayo man was
imprisoned for smuggling 17 other kids.

Six Zimbabwean children were found at the Swartkop border gate in South
Africa on Monday. According to local police two Somali men were found with
the children, trying to transport them illegally into the country.

The six children are among 23 other Zimbabwean youngsters that South African
authorities have placed at welfare centres across the country in recent
months.

Last year a 33 year old Bulawayo man called Never Tshuma was caught in South
Africa with 17 undocumented children, and has since been sentenced to eight
months in prison. In that case, the parents of the 17 children had paid
Tshuma to transport their children to South Africa, so they could be
reunited.

Diana Zimbudzana from the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum in South Africa told SW
Radio Africa on Tuesday that the smuggling of children across the border is
an ongoing problem, mainly because of the ‘limbo’ situation created by the
South African government.

“Some Zimbabweans have been able to get permits here (in South Africa), but
it is not always clear what happens with their children. Undocumented
children are left in limbo,” Zimbudzana said.

She also warned that not all children are being smuggled to see their
parents, and that many are targeted by illegal gangs that are active along
the borders. She said border crossing is a danger for children, particularly
if they are travelling without their parents.

Recent statistics have indicated that rape cases involving Zimbabwean
children are increasing, which Bulawayo East MP Tabitha Khumalo warned was a
real threat to children being smuggled. She said children are increasingly
vulnerable in Zimbabwe, because of the breakdown of traditional family
units.

“There is a gap that has been created by political crises and it is a gap in
the family units. We have lost out humanity and we are sentencing a
generation to death,” Khumalo said.

She added: “We as a society need to change and all be the custodians of our
nations children. Plus, we need to create a conducive social, economic and
political environment so people can get jobs and family units can be
restored.”

Court bars Chombo from imposing councillor in Bulawayo

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
22 January 2013

Bulawayo residents on Monday succeeded in obtaining a court order blocking
the Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo, from using his powers to
appoint a ‘special interest’ councillor in Bulawayo.

According to the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), Chombo
instructed the City Council in late November to appoint Fidelis Fengu as a
‘special interest’ councillor. The minister had made the decision without
consulting any stakeholders in the city, and the BPRA has accused him of
appointing Fengu to represent his personal interests and not those of the
residents.

Then last week, Chombo allegedly wrote to the City Council threatening to
fire the Mayor and Town Clerk if Fengu was not sworn in by Monday. The
Monday deadline moved the residents to act, and they filed an urgent
application with the Council to stop the appointment.

“The appointed councillor, Fengu, was representing the special interests of
Minister Chombo under the guise of representing people living with
disabilities. We managed to argue that case in court and won,” said Roderick
Fayayo, coordinator for the BPRA.

He added: “We have a special councillor here in Bulawayo who is disabled. He
uses a wheelchair. Does Minister Chombo not think that he can represent the
disabled? If a special interest councillor is to be appointed, they should
represent the special interests of the residents of Bulawayo.”

Fayayo explained that this is not the first time that Bulawayo residents
have blocked Minister Chombo from trying to appoint councillors of his
choice, without consulting any other stakeholders.

“Immediately after the 2008 harmonised elections he appointed eight ‘special
interest councillors’ and apparently all of them had lost in the election.
We went to court and won. After that he didn’t say anything and we don’t
expect to hear from him,” Fayayo said.

In addition, the term of office for the current councillors comes to an end
in just eight weeks. Fayayo questioned the wisdom in appointing any
councillor with such little time left for them to make any difference.

Chombo has in the past managed to force the appointment of councillors in
several municipalities, including Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare and Kwekwe. In
Harare he suspended councillors who had investigated illegal land deals the
Minister was linked to. And in Mutare, he suspended the Mayor and other
MDC-T officials who were calling for an independent audit.

Fayayo said in terms of the law, the Urban Councils Act gives Chombo the
power to appoint these special interest councillors, but consultations are
called for.

In a statement, the Bulawayo Residents expressed concerns over the Urban
Council’s Act, saying it invests too much power in the Local Government
Minister by allowing him “too much leeway to undemocratically dictate the
conduct of local authorities without consulting residents.”

The group said “special interest councillors should not be imposed by a
Minister, but should be selected by the residents in a democratic manner.”

Blast at sorcerer's house kills five

http://www.timeslive.co.za

Sapa-AP | 22 January, 2013 17:25

Police in Zimbabwe say they are investigating a massive explosion at a
tribal sorcerer's house outside the capital, Harare.

Police officials said Tuesday the blast killed five people.

The sorcerer, often known in the West as a witchdoctor, and a man seeking to
improve his failing finances, were among the dead, witnesses said.

The explosion damaged 12 nearby houses in the Chitungwiza township.

Witnesses said crowds began sprinkling salt on nearby streets and sidewalks
afterward, a traditional belief to ward off evil spirits.

Army bomb disposal experts told neighbors they found no remnants of a bomb
or gasoline or gas containers.

In Zimbabwe superstition, sorcerers can use lightning, common during current
rain storms, to eradicate enemies. Neighbors told reporters they feared a
"lightning manufacturing process" was being carried out Monday.

Update 2: Blast at n’anga’s house kills 5

http://nehandaradio.com

on January 22, 2013 at 5:28 am

By Michael Chideme

FIVE people including a traditional healer died in a mysterious blast in
Zengeza 2, Chitungwiza yesterday afternoon. The bodies of the dead were
burnt while their limbs were strewn all over the place covering a distance
of up to 60 metres.

While the bodies seemed to have been burnt, there was no fire from the
blast, which some people suspected could have been lightning. Body parts
like arms, fingers, and pieces of flesh were picked from rooftops and from
nearby houses.

Among the five is a commuter omnibus operator identified as Clever
Kamunzeya, who was consulting the traditional healer — popularly known as
Sekuru Shumba — Speakmore Mandere (24) who came from Chiweshe.

A seven-month-old baby Kelly Chimina who was sleeping in one of the rooms at
the house also died in the blast. Her mother was a tenant at the property.

Two other people who died were not immediately identified. Identity
particulars were picked from the scene but no one could verify whether they
belonged to the dead. Three other people were seriously injured while others
with minor injuries were also taken to Chitungwiza General Hospital.

The traditional healer had been given a notice to vacate the property by
month-end after the property owner expressed reservations over his
traditional healing. More than 12 houses were destroyed in the blast that
witnesses said shook properties as far away as a kilometre.

Walls, roofs and windows were destroyed while property worth several
thousands of American dollars was also lost. By early evening people with
destroyed houses were seeking refuge from relatives and friends while those
returning from work were shocked to see the destruction that had occurred.

More than 500 people gathered at the scene with police and the army
cordoning off the area to investigate the cause of the blast. Witnesses said
Mr Kamunzeya whose damaged vehicle was parked could have been consulting the
healer. He was in the company of two women who were severely injured in the
blast.

A neighbour whose house was badly damaged said he heard a huge blast and
went out to investigate. But he ran away the moment he noticed the damage.
Mr Edmore Mikitayo said the blast caused huge panic that saw some people
running from their homes.

Others linked the blast to a marital problem involving a woman who was
staying with the traditional healer. It is believed she had sought a peace
order against her husband and had eloped to the n’anga.

Officer-in-charge of St Mary’s police Inspector Daniel Badza said
investigations were in progress to ascertain the cause of the blast. He
referred further questions to his superiors at the scene who declined
comment.

A nephew of the healer Mr Emmanuel Chinwadzimba said his uncle possessed
supernatural powers. He said their family believed that he had a mermaid
spirit, having been trained by one when he was a young boy. Residents
assisted in retrieving some of the body parts.

Nkomo’s son praises Tsvangirai

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

Tuesday, 22 January 2013 11:48

HARARE - Jabulani Nkomo, son of the late Vice President John Landa Nkomo,
has lavished praise on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the good
relationship the premier enjoyed with his father.

Delivering a speech at the national Heroes Acre yesterday, Jabulani said the
two worked closely in spite of their different political affiliations.

Part of the crowd consisting Zanu PF supporters who had mocked the MDC
leader during salutations were silenced by Jabulani’s words, who reminded
them that his father was a man of peace, unity and integrity.

“Ironically your Excellency, one of the ministries that he was leading was
the ministry of Labour and Social Welfare where he had to deal with one ZCTU
leader by the name of Morgan Tsvangirai,” he said explaining to the crowd
how his father was a “problem solver”.

“I am aware he used to call my father Mudhara John, isn’t that so?,” turning
to Tsvangirai for confirmation.

Tsvangirai was the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ leader before he
founded the MDC in 1999.

Jabulani said this showed how his father had good relations with colleagues
irrespective of political differences.

“I remember again, the Prime Minister agreed to attend my father’s elevation
function to the presidency because it was John Nkomo’s.

“In his speech, he went on to reveal how close they worked together. He said
it was his first ever time to attend a type of party where the leader of one
political party attends a function for an opposition member,” Jabulani
said.

“Our father brought sworn enemies to eat, drink and merry together,”
referring to the long rivalry that existed between Tsvangirai and President
Robert Mugabe.

Nkomo succumbed to cancer last week on January 17.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed the government of national unity in 2009 after
a disputed 2008 presidential run-off election.

Power blacks out Mugabe’s speech

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Tuesday, 22 January 2013 11:48

HARARE - An electrical glitch and a huge downpour dampened President Robert
Mugabe’s peace speech at the burial of national hero and late Vice President
John Nkomo yesterday.

Mugabe’s speech, beamed live on State TV, was blacked out by a power outage
that seemed to irritate the veteran ruler. As soon as power was restored,
Mugabe remarked: “Pasi nacho.”

Zimbabwe has been reeling under intermittent power blackouts because of
shortages of electricity.

As if the brief outage was not enough, suddenly it began raining midway
through the 88-year-old leader’s speech, with many dashing for cover from
the grandstand at the shrine that is exposed to the elements.

“Mvura haizezese kana musina kufudza mombe munotiza, (You can’t be scared of
the rains, you were never herdboys?)” Mugabe joked.

In a sombre speech devoid of belligerent rhetoric synonymous with his
speeches at the national shrine, Mugabe narrated Nkomo’s long history, his
trials and tribulations and how he came to be his trusted lieutenant.

He called for peaceful elections saying it is what the late Nkomo would have
loved.

“Ironically he passed away on the day the Global Political Agreement (GPA)
resolved the issues that had been an impediment to the success of our
constitution- making process, issues that had threatened to divide our
national interests. We want peaceful elections,” the former guerrilla leader
said.

Zimbabwe is expected this year to hold a referendum on a new Constitution,
and a fresh poll to choose a new president, parliament and local
authorities.

Zimbabwe's climate change policies need an urban focus

http://www.irinnews.org

Photo: IRIN

Urban Zimbabweans are already grappling with water shortages

JOHANNESBURG, 22 January 2013 (IRIN) - In spite of the political and financial turmoil that Zimbabwe faces, the country seems to be on the right track in adopting strategies to address the effects of climate change. But these strategies tend to have a strong rural bias, overlooking the fact that almost half of the country now lives in urban areas, according to a joint review of the country's climate change response by a think tank and leading NGO.

Zimbabwe, like many other African countries, has begun to develop a national framework to respond to climate change, including efforts to identify authorities to process donor funds for mitigating and adapting to climate change, said one of the authors of the review, Shepard Zvigadza of ZERO Regional Environment Organization.

However, as in most other African countries, policymakers and researchers "ignore longstanding urbanization trends and continue to overstate the proportion of Zimbabwe's population living in rural areas."

The ruling ZANU-PF party, which has dominated politics in Zimbabwe for decades, has been accused of appeasing their voters, who are largely rural, by developing policies that cater to them while disregarding urban residents.

Taking into account UN statistics, the authors suggested that almost 38 percent of Zimbabwe's population lives in urban areas, but the number could be as high as 50 percent if national assessments are considered.

Climate change adds to woes

Zimbabwe's urban transition is a lot more advanced than most countries in Southern Africa, and urban problems such as water scarcity - prompted by sparse rains and a dropping water table - are not getting the attention they deserve, Zvigadza told IRIN in an email.

"Research shows that the water table for boreholes used to be around 30m in the 1990s, but now water can be found around 60m or more below ground. This is true for cities like Bulawayo, whose water sources are various rivers. Such a situation has created long-term water and sanitation challenges, leading to health problems in cities like Chitungwiza and Kadoma," he added.

Following severe water shortages in Chitungwiza and Kadoma in 2012, outbreaks of typhoid and cholera were recorded. In 2008, the country experienced one of the worst cholera outbreaks recorded anywhere in recent times; the outbreak killed at least 4,000 people and infected 100,000 others.

The country's socioeconomic problems, combined with the effects of climate change, are likely to aggravate the situation in the coming years.

"It has become obvious that climate change has not been politicized, thus civil society has been working and continues to work with communities without intimidation"

Zvigadza explained that, "obviously, there are some other socioeconomic factors like poor waste management and service delivery that are most likely to be at play, but climate change is going to worsen this situation. For example, in [the] water and sanitation situation, nearby flowing sewer water is more likely to contaminate fresh piped water if there is a broken pipe. Water reticulation infrastructure has now aged and cannot cope with the rising population. This means they can break at any time where there is too much water in the system as a result of flooding."

Evidence from climate change impact studies shows that Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, is going to experience heavy, frequent and prolonged rainfall leading to flash floods, said Zvigadza.

A broken health infrastructure that cannot cope with the rising urban population is yet another driver of a potential crisis. "The health facilities may fail to cope with this demand, and climate change as an added stressor is most likely to increase this urban population’s vulnerability," he added.

Adapting to climate change

The government should invest in the health, water and energy sectors to develop infrastructure that can adapt to climate variability, said Zvigadza.

Zimbabwe's development policies should be related to adaptation, such as promoting water harvesting techniques at the household level. Education on climate change should be initiated at primary schools to create awareness at an early age and help people prepare.

Zvigadza noted that the country "is obviously struggling financially", but there are "donors who are interested" in supporting the country, which "has advanced in its readiness to receive and use climate funds."

A number of NGOs and research organizations have begun to emphasize adaptation to climate change in their development projects, particularly in drought-prone rural areas, noted the review. A community-based adaptation project was piloted by the UN Development Programme in Zimbabwe, for example. A growing number of NGOs has also becoming involved in Zimbabwe's Climate Change Working Group, a leading civil society network.

While civil society has increasingly come under attack in the country for political reasons, Zvigadza said, "it has become obvious that climate change has not been politicized, thus civil society has been working and continues to work with communities without intimidation... Overall, what is only required is the sense of national belonging that is speaking with one non-partisan voice, and this has begun to happen.”

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

City creates emergency water taskforce

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Tuesday, 22 January 2013 00:00

Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council has created an emergency water taskforce headed by town
clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi dubbed 24/7. The taskforce’s vision is to ensure
uninterrupted water supply in Harare. Dr Mahachi

confirmed the setting up of two multidisciplinary teams drawing officials
from a number of city departments.

The city is failing to supply adequate water to residents. Close to 60
percent of all water pumped from Morton Jaffray and Prince Edward Water
Treatment Plants is lost through leaks. At the same time over 70 000
households enjoy free water as they are illegally connected and not on the
city billing list.

“Our aim is to improve on water delivery. There is progress that has been
registered under the present set-up but we want a quantum leap in water
delivery,” he said.

Last week Dr Mahachi assumed management of the amenities department
(formerly waste management).

He divided the city into eight zones whose team leaders report to him on a
daily basis.
Under the new set-up that seeks to bring teamwork in the operations of
council there would be two teams.

Harare wastewater manager Eng Simon Muserere heads the technical team
composed of water engineers, officials from city health, treasury, urban
planning and human capital.
The city public relations manager Mr Leslie Gwindi is part of the team.

Zinasu Leaders Arrested at Harare Poly, GNU Given Ultimatum

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) is appalled by the arrest and
detention of the Union’s Secretary General Tryvine Musokeri, Vice President
Believe Tevera and midlands provincial chairperson Rudo Rwapedza by Harare
Polytechnic security personnel today (21 January) in the afternoon. They
were arrested for speaking to students.

After addressing a multitude of students at an open space, the trio was
misled by security personnel — who probably feared being attacked by
students if they arrested their leaders in front of them– into believing
that they were being taken to the Principal’s office to have a meeting with
him but upon arrival the trio was locked inside the office whilst the
security went to get re-enforcements.

According to unconfirmed reports Musokeri, Tevera and Rwapedza have since
been released but this information is still to be verified.

The Zinasu leadership was addressing students on the failure of the GNU to
provide students with grants and loans. The president Pride Mkono and the
gender Secretary Coezzet Chirinda were among those who addressed students.

During her address, Coezzet Chirinda bemoaned the fact that her fellow
female students were being left with no choice but to trade sexual favours
for material gain as a means of getting by. ‘This problem will disappear if
grants and loans are availed to students’ said Chirinda.

Believe Tevera told the gathered students that grants and loans are the
solution to most of their problems. ‘Loans and grants would make our
schooling much smother as we would have less problems to deal with’ said
Tevera.

Last week, Zinasu made efforts to get information on grants and loans from
the ministry of higher and tertiary education and the ministry of Finance to
no avail.

This failure to get information coupled with the fact that grants and loans
have not yet been availed to students though many tertiary institutions have
opened, mainly teachers’ colleges and Polytechnics, has led the Union to
believe that the scheme is a hoax mentioned in the national budget every
year but is never implemented.

Since the year 2011, grants and loans have been provided for in the national
budget but up to now no student has received a single cent from the scheme.

Zinasu is tired of the GNU’s shenanigans, chicanery and tomfoolery.

The students of Zimbabwe demand their grants and loans now.

For two years the GNU hoodwinked students into believing that they were
going to receive grants and loans when in actual fact they would not.

This time around we will not be taken for a ride.

Zinasu is going to make good on its threat to mobilize students for mass
action if grants and loans are not delivered.

As is evidenced by the scores of students who took time away from their
studies to be addressed by the Zinasu leadership at Harare Polytechnic
today, students are truly concerned about the failure of the government to
provide them with grants and loans. They are on standby for action.

With this in mind, the GNU is hereby given an ultimatum to disburse grants
and loans to students by the 30th of March 2013. Failure to meet the demands
of this ultimatum will result in student mass action. Aluta Continua!!!!!

Zinasu Information Department

COURT WATCH 1/2013 of 21st January [Opening of 2013 Judicial Year; Achievements of 2012 ]