New constitution to allow dual citizenship

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
09 July 2012

For the first time in Zimbabwe’s history the new constitution will allow
dual citizenship, a situation that could be capitalized on by people living
in the Diaspora, to push for their right to vote in the next polls.

Three years ago the Supreme Court barred the country’s exiled community from
voting in the general election because of an Electoral Act that prohibited
such a move.

At the time a group of Zimbabwean exiles, the Diaspora Vote Action Group,
had petitioned the Supreme Court asking it to reverse a government policy
that barred exiles from casting their votes.

Under the country’s electoral laws only citizens outside their home
constituencies on official national duty can cast postal votes, a
requirement critics say has disenfranchised more than three million
Zimbabweans living abroad.

But a chapter in the new constitution to be released soon stipulates that
every Zimbabwean citizen by birth should retain his or her citizenship, even
if that person acquires foreign citizenship.

But constitutional law expert Dr Alex Magaisa explained that Zimbabweans in
the Diaspora would only be able to vote if the Electoral Act is amended to
conform to the new supreme law of the country.

‘This is why the Supreme Court voted against allowing people in the Diaspora
to vote because it was not contained in the constitution of Zimbabwe. But
now the new charter will allow dual citizenship and as such, the electoral
laws need to be amended to conform to the new law,’ Magaisa said.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said a new Electoral Bill will be tabled in
parliament and legislators from both sides will be able to debate it and
recommend changes to the Act.

‘As a party we will push for changes in the Electoral Act to allow
Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to vote. By allowing dual citizenship, what that
means is that if you are Zimbabwean by birth and have acquired British
citizenship, you will still have the same rights as people who are
permanently based in Zimbabwe.

‘But as we speak, there are electoral laws that stop people in exile from
voting. You will get laws that say you must be domiciled or resident in
Zimbabwe for a year before voting, and must provide proof of residence when
registering to vote,’ Mwonzora added.

Dewa Mavhinga, a lawyer and pro-democracy activist, waded in and said the
Diaspora participation in the next election is still murky and what was
needed was clarification from the government on the process of putting in
place a mechanism for logistics and registration of voters.

‘A good example is that of prisoners, who are citizens but do not have the
right to vote, so are those under 18years. So the right to vote is not equal
to citizenship. Laws have to be amended,’ Mavhinga said.

Mugabe surrenders on bid for early elections

http://www.timeslive.co.za

TAWANDA KAROMBO | 09 July, 2012 00:04

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party have given up on a
bid for early elections this year, in line with a SADC resolution to delay
polls until a number of reforms have been made.

The turnaround allows the party to quell growing fissures and disenchantment
in its ranks over a divisive race to succeed Mugabe.

The Zimbabwean leader had previously repeatedly called for elections this
year, a move that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change and civic society groups have fiercely resisted.

President Jacob Zuma, the SA Development Community mediator for Zimbabwe, is
expected to visit Harare soon to map the way for elections next year.

His visit has been delayed by the failure of the parties in Zimbabwe's
fragile coalition government to finalise a new constitution, which the SADC
regards as a pre-requisite for a credible election.

Zimbabwe Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said Zuma's visit,
which will start negotiations expected to lead to fresh polls next year, was
"dependent on the [finalisation of the] constitution". He said "good
progress" had been made.

The parliamentary select committee drafting the new constitution said
yesterday that the draft had been finalised and invited bids for the
printing of the document.

The final draft will be handed to Mugabe and Tsvangirai this month.

"Things have stalled on the constitution but once it is given to the
principals, Zuma will come and broker the way forward for elections," said a
government official.

The SADC has also resolved that Zimbabwe's political parties must finalise
security issues, ensure recognition of human rights, and make electoral and
media reforms before the voting.

Zanu-PF has emerged crippled and unprepared for elections this year.

Empty Boeing 767 dispatched to pick Mugabe

http://www.zimdiaspora.com/

Monday, 09 July 2012 16:50 Editor News

The financially-beleaguered Air Zimbabwe on Saturday dispatched an “almost
empty” Boeing 767 to South Africa to pick up President Robert Mugabe as he
flew back from a “routine medical check-up” in Singapore.

Impeccable sources told our correspondent yesterday that the Boeing 767 —
with a capacity for 205 passengers — left Harare on Saturday around 4am for
Waterkloof Airforce Base Airport in Gauteng with about 10 cabin crew members
to airlift Mugabe, his wife Grace and about 15 aides and security details.

Mugabe left Zimbabwe on Monday last week using the same “empty” Boeing 767.
He flew into South Africa from where he then boarded a commercial flight to
Singapore.

The sources said the two trips had bled the struggling national airline,
which has ceased regional and international flights due to a myriad of
problems, mainly to do with cash flow.

Mugabe, government ministers and senior government officials have over the
years been accused of flying around the world using AirZim without paying
the airline — an accusation the President and State have adamantly denied.

The Boeing 767 requires at least 20 000 litres of Jet A1 fuel for a return
trip to South Africa.

“The plane left Harare with about 10 cabin crew members at around 4am on
Saturday for Waterkloof Airport to pick up the President,” one of the
sources said.

“It was back home around 10am. The two trips were costly to AirZim. The
costs included things like fuel, landing rights and airspace. The plane
required about 40 000 litres of fuel at a cost of about 60c a litre.”

This makes the cost of the fuel alone $24 000.

Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba yesterday confirmed that AirZim
uplifted the President from South Africa, but denied that the airline was
being abused.

He said the President’s Office had chartered the plane.

He said it was not the President’s Office’s business to choose a Boeing 767
to pick up Mugabe and his entourage.

“We don’t allocate planes, we charter them for the President and AirZim
decides what to give us,” Charamba said.

Efforts to get a comment from AirZim chief executive officer Innocent
Mavhunga yesterday were in vain as he was not answering his phone. He did
not respond to a text message sent on his mobile number.

AirZim, which resumes domestic flights this week after suspending them last
week to give way to mandatory modifications, is struggling to raise over $40
million owed to workers and faces a ban from using international airports
and airspaces of other countries if it fails to meet a three-month
International Air Transport Association deadline to comply with global
safety standards.

The national airline suspended international flights indefinitely in
February after one of its planes was impounded in the UK over a $1,2 million
debt accumulated by the airline over a long period.

A week later, AirZim suspended its flights to South Africa to avoid having
its planes seized over a $500 000 debt owed to a South African supplier -
Newsday

Zim teachers demand diamond cash for salaries

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
09 July 2012

Zimbabwe’s main teachers’ union has demanded that the proceeds of diamond
sales be spent on their members’ wages, saying there are no more excuses for
the government not to compensate its civil service.

Teachers and other government workers last week Wednesday issued an
ultimatum to the government, insisting that they will launch a ‘crippling’
strike if their demands for higher pay and better working conditions are not
met.

This is the latest strike threat issued to the unity government, which has
repeatedly stated that there is no money for a significant wage increase.

But as Takavafira Zhou, the President of the Progressive Teachers Union of
Zimbabwe (PTUZ) argued on Monday, the discovery of wealthy diamond deposits
in Marange should be changing this situation.

Zhou told SW Radio Africa that the country’s vast mineral resources,
particularly the Chiadzwa diamond fields, “are not being harnessed by the
government for the benefit of Zimbabwe or civil servants.” He said they are
losing patience with the government line that there is no money for wage
increases.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti last year pegged the 2012 national budget on
what he expected would be a welcome cash injection from the local diamond
trade. Biti said he had been promised US$600 million from diamond sales by
the Mines Ministry, with most of the money allocated to various
infrastructure development projects.

But half-way through the financial year, the Prime Minister has said that
only US$25 million of diamond money has been remitted to treasury. Morgan
Tsvangirai told Cabinet last month that funds received to date had been very
disappointing and far short of budgetary estimates.

Biti has now also admitted that one of the main mining firms in the Chiadzwa
fields, the Chinese owned Anjin mine, is not remitting anything to the
treasury, despite making a serious profit. In an interview with The
Independent newspaper recently, Biti said nothing was coming from the
company, “not even a single cent.”
This is despite the Anjin mine being started on the understanding that it
was a joint venture with the state and the treasury would be getting 50% of
the profits. It has since emerged that the government does not hold any
shares in the lucrative business, and instead there are two army linked
groups working with the Chinese.

The PTUZ’s Zhou said Monday that the salaries of teachers and other civil
servants, as well as the country’s economy, was being held hostage by what
he called “economic bandits,” saying that only ZANU PF and its associates
were benefiting from Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth.

“If the minerals, particularly the diamonds, were only being tapped into by
ZANU PF and the proceeds went to the Treasury, then Zimbabwe could be
saved,” Zhou said.

He explained that the morale among the nation’s teachers was at an all time
low, with serious knock on effects for school children.

“There is no meaningful teaching taking place and teachers can’t even afford
to send their own children to the schools where they teach. So we will see
what government says in two weeks, but we are tired of the hide and seek
game they are playing,” Zhou said.

RBZ seeks buyers for Homelink

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

08/07/2012 00:00:00
by Roman Moyo

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has invited bids for its entire
shareholding in Homelink Private Limited as it continues to dispose of
assets not related to its core functions.

Homelink was set up in 2004 to facilitate property development and
investment for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.

KM Financial Solutions (Pvt) Ltd have been appointed financial advisors for
the disposal and individuals and corporate investors have up to July 16 to
indicate firm interest.

“Consistent with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act (Chapter 22:15) which
requires that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe disposes of its assets not
related to its core functions, the Reserve Bank hereby notifies the public
that it intends to re-tender the disposal of its 100 per cent shareholding
in Homelink (Pvt) Ltd,” the RBZ said in a statement.
“Preference will be given to bidders that offer competitive prices and
commit to settling immediately upon winning the bid.”

The central bank has put several of its investments held through the Finance
Trust of Zimbabwe up for sale as it bids to reduce its own debts said to be
more than one billion dollars.

A deal was recently concluded for the sale of the bank’s 57 per cent
interest in Tractive Holdings to Zimplow for about US$9.7 million.

Cairns Holdings, another listed entity, recently indicated that negotiations
were also at an advanced state for the RBZ to exit the group in which it
holds a majority 63.3 per cent shareholding.

Zaka villagers brief Tsvangirai on Sibanda’s reign of terror

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
09 July 2012

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been briefed on how war vets leader
Jabulani Sibanda is terrorising villagers in Zaka, Masvingo province, ahead
of the next harmonized elections. The Prime Minister was in Zaka visiting
Constituency Development Fund projects

The war vets has been in and out of Masvingo on a ZANU PF campaign
programme, dubbed “Operation Kubudirana Pachena”.

The Daily News reported on Monday that Sibanda has been threatening MDC-T
supporters with death if they continue supporting the party. All four
parliamentary constituencies in Zaka fall under the MDC-T.

The paper added that Sibanda has since left Masvingo, although he
religiously pays a visit to the province to indoctrinate the grassroots in
ZANU PF propaganda.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson said his boss was taking complaints from villagers
seriously, adding the Premier received reports that the community was now
living in fear following the recent visit by Sibanda.

Tsvangirai told the villagers to desist from violence and live in harmony
and appealed to all political parties to live and deal with each other in
harmony, irrespective of their political ideologies.

'Generals have no support'

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Gift Phiri and Wendy Muperi
Monday, 09 July 2012 11:20

HARARE - The Zimbabwean army is disillusioned and will not support the
generals’ threat to ensure President Robert Mugabe clings to power if he
loses the forthcoming presidential election, according to a former colonel
and a government minister.

Giles Mutsekwa, secretary for defence in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
MDC, yesterday blasted a recent claim by Martin Chedondo, Zimbabwe’s Defence
Forces Chief of Staff, that the military would not recognise any leader who
did not participate in the war.

The claim was designed specifically to unsettle Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, the leader of the mainstream MDC, who is expected to square off
with Mugabe in a watershed forthcoming election.

Mutsekwa said his comments were personal except for the few generals who
have openly declared their allegiance, Mutsekwa said the entire defence
workforce did not buy into the coup plot.

“My phone got so busy soon after Chedondo addressed the troops in Mutoko,”
Mutsekwa told the Daily News.

“They were dissociating themselves from his statements. The troops said if
he had given them the chance to speak, they would have told him how
unprofessional he was. What you can deduce from this is that, these generals
do not have the following of the army, they are mere personal statements and
people should never construe them as collective.”

Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphias Makotore and Colonel Overson
Mugwisi both refused to immediately comment on the revelations, and asked
the Daily News to put questions in writing saying they wanted to consult
before responding.

Chedondo told 3 000 soldiers from 2 Brigade undergoing a battlefield
training exercise in Mutoko in June that all soldiers should support Zanu
PF.

The chief of staff and a few other elite officers have benefited hugely from
Mugabe’s patronage, but at the level of colonel and brigadier and below, the
support dwindles, according to Mutsekwa.

In the last elections, held in 2008, a number of constituencies with large
military garrisons voted against Mugabe.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, secretary-general of Welshman Ncube’s MDC,
said threats by the security chiefs to subvert the will of the people will
leave them exposed.

She said what the generals were saying was not a true reflection of the
attitude of the entire army personnel.

Mutsekwa said the heads of the army and security forces, the vital cog in an
elaborate strategy that has kept Mugabe, 88, in power after Tsvangirai
handed the former guerrilla leader his biggest defeat four years ago, are
assured their services will not be terminated, and the change in the regime
will only be in the State’s superstructure not the bureaucracy and the
securocracy.

“Unlike what some press statements say that MDC and defence forces are
categorically at loggerheads, we have always been very clear from the start
the MDC wants to change the political administration, which is Zanu PF,
through the ballot,” Mutsekwa said.

“Because we have never had an axe to grind with the security forces, after
the next elections, we will adopt the structure hook, stock and barrel.
Those who feel they can’t serve under the MDC dispensation, we will
certainly give them a healthy golden handshake,” he said.

Analysts say Mugabe is banking on these commanders to fight next year’s
elections amid complaints by the MDC that already, there have been troop
deployments to rural areas.

There are also mounting concerns that Mugabe’s political forces were
regrouping and re-strategising to pummel the population into submission
through violence, the MDC says.

There are suggestions of a split in the top echelons of the security forces,
but there is nothing on the ground to suggest that.

Govt partners Chinese firm

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

Written by Ndakaziva Majaka, Staff Writer
Monday, 09 July 2012 12:56

HARARE - Government is partnering Chinese company Avik International to
start construction of the long awaited Kunzvi Dam, Water minister Samuel
Sipepa Nkomo has revealed.

Kunzvi Dam will augment Harare and its satellite towns’ water supply.

Without providing finer details on the joint venture, Nkomo said the new
company will partner other private contractors engaged last year.

“We have roped in Avik International to speed up the overdue construction of
Kunzvi Dam as necessitated by the water deficiency in the capital. We expect
the completion of the dam to alleviate pressure on the existing sources,” he
said.

The project is estimated to cost at least $370 million, of which $70 million
is for the construction of the dam and the other $300 million for pump
stations, reservoirs, water treatment works, conveyance and connections to
the existing city of Harare network.

Plans to construct Kunzvi Dam, which when complete will carry 158,4 million
cubic metres and produce 250 000 cubic metres of water daily, were
mooted 30 years ago but have been hampered by inadequate funding.

Avik will join firms such as Locan Holdings, Swede Water Limited, Okada
Group from Nigeria and Vince Group of France and government in constructing
the dam.

Bigen Africa Consulting Engineers, BKS Group and Dycon from South Africa are
the technical partners.

The engineering and financial advisory team consists of Zimbabwe’s CBZ Bank,
Brian Colquhoun, SDP Africa, Deloitte and Finesse Financial Services.

Located 67km north east of Harare near Juru Growth Point, Kunzvi Dam will be
getting supply from Nyaguwi River.

The Kunzvi Dam and waterworks will not only be on an entirely different
river system to the Manyame River, the present source of all city water, but
will be on the opposite side of the city to the main Manyame dams.

With the Kunzvi works operational, city water managers will have more than
700 000 cubic metres a day to supply consumers, with the main pipelines
entering the city to the south-west and north-east.

This will allow both better supplies and easier supplies, since the double
entry points should reduce the amount of intermediate pumping required to
reach any suburb.

Zim rugby stars fail US doping tests

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

Doping tests ... Zimbabwe qualified for JWRT finals after winning the 2011 CAR Under 19 trophy

09/07/2012 00:00:00
	by Sports Reporter

RELATED STORIES Wallabies ace mends broken Zim dream

AS MANY as half of Zimbabwe’s Under 20 rugby stars who participated in the Junior World Rugby Trophy finals in Utah, the United States, last month have tested positive to banned substances, it has been claimed.

The Young Sables lost all three group matches against Japan, Georgia and Canada before winning a face-saving seventh and eighth play-off with winless Russia.

Now it has emerged that the International Rugby Board’s anti-doping team which conducted random tests at the tournament is preparing charges against as many as 13 players from the 26-man squad.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union general manager Sifiso Made said they were awaiting further information from the International Rugby Board which has its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

A source said: "It potentially is one of the biggest sporting scandals in Zimbabwe's history."

Dominic Rumbles, the IRB’s head of communications, told New Zimbabwe.com by e-mail that rugby’s governing body had adopted a tough regime of doping tests to crack down on cheats in the game.

He said the IRU would only comment on the Zimbabwe players after hearings are conducted.

“You will be aware that the IRB as a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, operates a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs cheats in sport and undertakes an extensive annual programme of education and testing equating to over 5,000 tests,” he said.

“An extensive testing programme was undertaken at the recent IRB JWRT in Salt Lake City. It would be inappropriate to discuss the outcomes of such testing programmes prior to any results being received.

“In the event of a positive result, the IRB would not comment until parties are notified and final hearings into any such matter are concluded.”

Sources told New Zimbabwe.com that the Zimbabwe Rugby Union had become aware that several players were using banned substances during the Cottco Schools Rugby Festival held at Prince Edward School in Harare, but did little to take corrective measures.

A source said: “They conducted a workshop to enlighten school children on the dangers using performance enhancing drugs, but no disciplinary action was taken.”

Now the problem has come back to haunt the ZRU spectacularly with the affected players facing certain bans – potentially ending some promising careers.

Zimbabwe’s Results at Junior World Rugby Trophy

18 Jun 2012: Japan39 - 36 Zimbabwe (Murray Rugby Park Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah22 Jun
22 June 2012: Georgia 43 - 7 Zimbabwe (Murray Rugby Park Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah)
26 June 2012: Canada 66 - 45 Zimbabwe (Murray Rugby Park Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah)
30 June 2012: Russia 10 - 22 Zimbabwe (Murray Rugby Park Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah)

ZIMBABWE TEAM TO JWRT

Management

Bright Chivandire 01/03/1969 Head Coach
Colleen De Jong13/01/1963 Team Manager
Godwin Murambiwa 31/12/1967 Assistant Coach
Gary Hewitt 08/06/1980 Assistant Coach
Margie Gibson 04/01/1961 Physiotherapist
Austin Jeans 04/10/1961 Team Doctor

Players

Tyran Fagan 25/04/1992 Harlequins, KZN (Prop)
Kuda Makuvire 07/06/1993 Old Georgians (Prop)
Ian Muza 21/01/1992 Durban Collegians (Prop)
Thabani Ndaba 03/06/1993 Prince Edward School (Prop)
Daleroy Sibanda 24/02/1992 Pennsylvania University (Prop)
Andries Van Heerden 24/07/1993 Old Georgians (Hooker)
Matthew Lawson 28/09/1993 Old Georgians (Lock)
Graham Logan 31/05/1992 SB Valke (Lock)
Michael Sinclair 06/07/1992 Pretoria University (Lock)
Joshua Smallbones 05/02/1993 Old Georgians (Lock)
Tonderai Chigumbura 11/05/1992 Old Georgians (Flanker)
Tawanda Chowe 03/04/1993 Old Hararians (Flanker)
Daniel Rorke 28/08/1993 Old Georgians (Flanker)
Tapiwa Tsomondo 05/05/1993 Old Hararians (Number 8)
Dylan Coetzee 30/11/1992 Old Hararians (Scrumhalf)
Michael MacIntosh 16/11/1992 Pretoria University (Scrumhalf)
Robert Sargeant 27/01/1993 Harlequins, KZN (Scrumhalf)
James Forrester 09/06/1993 North Walsham (Flyhalf)
Sean Linfield 24/06/1992 Harlequins, KZN (Flyhalf)
Taku Chieza 16/05/1993 Harlequins, KZN (Centre)
Richard Morkel 05/04/1992 Pretoria University (Centre)
Mclean Muhambi 27/12/1992 Zvishavane (Centre)
Joshua Broomberg 12/09/1993 Pretoria (Wing)
Justin Coles 03/02/1992 Old Georgians (Wing)
Brian Ndudzo 06/01/1993 Oranjemund (Wing)
Victor Mushoriwa 01/08/1992 Old Hararians (Fullback)

Sports minister reacts to small size of Olympic team

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
09 July 2012

Education, Sport and Culture Minister David Coltart has urged Zimbabweans
not to focus too much on quantity and instead look at the quality of the
athletes who will represent the country at the Olympic Games in London this
month.

Coltart was reacting to weekend reports that Zimbabwe will be fielding the
“smallest and probably weakest sporting team to ever compete” in the games.
Only seven athletes including swimmer Kirsty Coventry have qualified.

Joining Coventry will be marathon runners Cuthbert Nyasango, Wirimayi
Zhuwawo, triathlete Chris Felgate, rowers Jamie Frazer McKenzie and Micheen
Thornycroft. Although sprinter and strong medal hopeful Ngoni Makusha
qualified, an unfortunate injury ruled him out of the games.

As Coltart explained the reason for this small number, “is mainly dictated
to us by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As you know they set
qualifying times and athletes have to meet those times, otherwise they are
not accepted to the Olympics. So unfortunately we have these seven or so,”
who have qualified.

“Its not necessarily (quantity) the nation should be looking at. Think back
to the 2008 Olympics, Zimbabwe also had a very small team but we came away
with way more medals than South Africa who went with a team of over 200 and
so we shouldn’t really be looking at the quantity, we need to look at
quality,” he said.

Asked whether government was responsible for the deterioration in sporting
standards Coltart said:

“There is no doubt that education and sport in the last two decades has been
under-funded and tied into that is the collapse of the economy in the last
10 to 12 years. That’s has meant some of our best athletes have left the
country or their talent has not been identified and nurtured.”

He said because of this crisis Zimbabwe did not have as many athletes going
through its system and excelling, as was the case in the past.

Zinasu activists’ discharge ruling Wednesday

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Tendai Kamhungira, Senior Court Writer
Monday, 09 July 2012 10:27

HARARE - Harare magistrate Don Ndirowei is set to rule this week on an
application for discharge by Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu)
activists who were arrested outside the courtroom demanding the release of
social activist Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others.

The students who are from different universities are Francis Mufambi, 21,
Tinashe Mutyaso, 25, Jorum Chikwadze, 21, Tinashe Chisaira, 24, Pride
Mukono, 22 and Tryvine Mukoseri 23.

Magistrate Ndirowei on Thursday advised the six students that a ruling on
their application for discharge at the close of the state’s case would be
ready on July 11.

The students are facing disorderly conduct charges as defined in Section 41b
of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

According to state papers, the students gathered outside Harare Magistrates’
Court on March 21 this year, together with 30 others who are still at large.

It is alleged they did this in solidarity with Gwisai and his accomplices
who were being sentenced on conspiracy to commit public violence charges.

The court heard the students were singing obscene songs while chanting
slogans.

It is alleged the students threw flyers which called for the freedom of the
social activists.

“The continued persecution of these innocent comrades has now become
intolerable. The incrimination of basic freedoms of assembly and the right
to hold opinion of choice is regrettable and should not be allowed anymore,”
read part of the flyers, according to state papers.

The flyers, it is alleged, further read: “The sons and daughters of Zimbabwe
deserve their freedom, freedom now, freedom in our life time.”

The students were rounded up by police and arrested.

Two witnesses Clement Nyambiya and Ali Mugovera testified in the case before
prosecutor Nyikadzino Machingura closed the state case on June 18.

The students’ lawyer Obey Shava then made an application for discharge of
his clients.

Sir Humphrey Gibbs Training Centre: Giving a Home and Hope to People Living With Disabilities

Tatenda Taibu quits cricket for church aged 29

http://www.espncricinfo.com

ESPNcricinfo staff

July 9, 2012

Tatenda Taibu, the Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman, has announced his
retirement, stating that he wants to focus on working for the church. Taibu
played 28 Tests and 150 ODIs for Zimbabwe and has quit aged only 29, usually
a cricketer's prime.

The decision comes as even more of a surprise as, earlier in the day, he was
named in Zimbabwe's provisional squad for September's World Twenty20. It
ends an 11-year international career, during which he became the youngest
Test captain in history. A finger injury kept him out of top-flight cricket
since the tour of New Zealand early this year.

"I just feel that my true calling now lies in doing the Lord's work," Taibu
said, "and although I am fortunate and proud to have played for my country,
the time has come for me to put my entire focus on that part of my life."

Since making his debut at the age of 18 in 2001, Taibu was an automatic pick
for Zimbabwe, except for the times when he clashed with his country's
cricket board. He had stepped down as captain and quit the national side
back in 2005 following threats against his family. Taibu moved to South
Africa in 2006 with the intention of going through the four-year
qualification process to be eligible for international cricket for them.
However, he reappeared for Zimbabwe in 2007.

One of the highlights of his career was his Man-of-the-Match performance in
2005 against Bangladesh, when he made 85* and 153 to help Zimbabwe draw the
Test. His only other Test victory was against Bangladesh last year, when
Zimbabwe returned to the format after a six-year exile. Taibu's outspoken
nature was highlighted before that match as he slammed the board for not
doing enough to promote cricket in the country.

He was picked while still in his teens as a potential long-term successor as
wicketkeeper-batsman to Andy Flower, and while he didn't reach the heights
Flower did, he forged a solid career. He finishes as the country's
fourth-highest run-getter in ODIs, and only Flower has effected more
dismissals than him as a one-day wicketkeeper for Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe's political instability exaggerated

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/

09 July 2012

Vince Musewe says the challenges facing the country can be reduced to two
words: self interest

Zimbabwe's political instability exaggerated: The challenges we face in
Zimbabwe can really be reduced to just two words: self interest.

I think our local newspapers here in Zimbabwe should all have the same
health warning required for tobacco products that sounds as follows; Danger:
reading this newspaper and accepting everything you read blindly is harmful
to your health.

I was quite astounded last week to read that a leader of one of the
political parties here was quoted warning Zimbabweans of the violence that
will inevitably come as we get closer to the elections next year. In my
view, that is downright irresponsible in the case of the leader and
downright sensational in the case of the newspaper. When our newspapers
dramatise issues and continually give prominence to the worst case scenarios
when it comes to political developments it is inevitable that Zimbabweans in
general will begin to expect the worst and live up to that expectation. The
saying that "be careful what you wish for in case you get it" surely
applies.

It is important for my patient readers to note that at no point am I saying
that Zimbabwe does not have some severe political and governance problems
nor am I downplaying the adversity that most are currently facing on the
economic front. However, when a divergence of opinions are reported as
"fights" and loud arguments as "war" surely that only serves to create an
environment where readers will involuntarily begin to expect the worst
outcomes and thereby ignore those things that may confirm otherwise. I can
understand now why politicians world over continue to cry for balanced
reporting. Unfortunately sensational reporting can actually be the source of
instability.

For those of us who want to create a future in Zimbabwe, it is quite
important that we deliberately attempt to create a positive attitude about
the future and this will hopefully become contagious with time. However one
cannot be naïve to the difficulties we are facing nor is one endorsing the
misdemeanours of those currently in power.

In my opinion, the challenges we face in Zimbabwe can really be reduced to
just two words: self interest.

I think that those who want to hold onto the past are a few terribly
frightened men who really have not been doing things by the book and face
economic and political loss if things were to change. Their reaction is to
take all they can now and try and stall any change. There are also those who
clearly understand that their thinking will not fit within a new democratic
space and will therefore be rendered irrelevant and powerless in any new
power structure, these are many. These are not a threat for they are known
to quickly change their allegiance when the tide turns.

There are those who have tasted power in the GNU and must carve for
themselves a place in the future and remain lukewarm to accelerated change
and thus afford themselves more time to consolidate their interests. These
are our worst enemies dressed in sheep's clothing.

More worrying are those who have been disenfranchised who are outside the
country and wish Zimbabwe the worst no matter what. These unfortunately
include powerful forces that control the international flow of capital and
hold the key to future economic progress. These are mainly whites and hate
Mugabe to the core and are most unlikely to change that view. Unfortunately
they matter when it comes to the economic revival of Zimbabwe.

They are those who seek change at any cost and might not have calculated or
contemplated what the alternative will be. These count the majority and they
anxiously wait for the vote. While they are those convinced that any
political change in Zimbabwe is an imperialist plot and are diehards
ZANU(PF). These to me are not many but their numbers are at times
conveniently enlarged. I conjecture that the truth shall set them free.

Finally there are some of us who want a absolute overhaul of the system now
but are quite worried of what may take its place.

As a result, like in any emerging democracy, we have a cocktail of all these
multiple dispositions that we must accommodate and unfortunately they have a
final effect of slowing down progress. In the old days such differences were
sorted out through wars but man has become more civilised and we must bear
the pain of some sort of negotiated gradual change. There is nothing wrong
with that. In fact I would rather have a government of national unity than a
polarised political environment that is likely to be unstable. The caveat
being that we must get better management of the country's resources and also
get rid of the deadwood. The international community need to understand that
sanctions have ceased to serve any constructive purpose but to stifle growth
and reduce the economic opportunity space for the ordinary Zimbabwean.

In my opinion the parties to our GNU do not have an easy task at all but I
think it is clear in everyone minds that free and fair elections, the
scariest solution to those resistant to change, are really the only lasting
"solution" or are they?

Why I ask is because it is most likely that Zimbabweans will vote to protest
against ZANU(PF) and not necessarily to endorse the MDC. This is an
inevitable consequence of our history given that political activism in
Zimbabwe was constrained and therefore allowing only a few contestants to
power. A precedent to this is the fact that we sit today with the same
debility throughout Africa where those who deposed the colonialist have not
necessarily been our best. Although the MDC may then have power, it may not
necessarily lead to Zimbabwe achieving its optimal potential because the
party is gaining legitimacy from being the challenger to ZANU(PF) and not
necessarily for its competence in governing. That, we still have to see.

I estimate that we will only begin to experience true democracy after the
first term of government of the MDC because during that first term, I expect
more political parties to emerge as they take advantage of a free political
environment with the potential of increasing the gene pool of political
participants and leadership.

In the mean time the challenge is; how do we balance competing interest
without throwing the baby out with the bath water? How do we resolve the
competing interest of many to get Zimbabwe on the optimal economic
trajectory? How do get Zimbabweans themselves at least begin to talk
positive about their country and their own future?

On that issue I have applied my mind and request my readers to be patient
for my next instalment: Moving Zimbabwe forward despite the politics.

Vince Musewe is an independent economist currently in Harare and you may
contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com

In killing enterprise, Robert Mugabe is not alone in Africa

http://focus.rw/
Monday, July 9th, 2012

Edward Ojulu.

In Zimbabwe, there is a minister for Empowerment. His name is Saviour
Kasukuwere—a man often described as a rising star in President Robert Mugabe’s
ruling ZANU-PF party by western media.

So misleading is the name of this ministry that one might think that
Kasukuwere’s docket is to economically empower rural women, youth and
physically impaired persons by initiating programs and promoting policies
for social inclusion and equity in the use of public resources.

But in Zimbabwe, ‘empowerment’ appears to have a completely different
meaning and as such, Kasukuwere’s job has nothing to do with enabling poor
national to improve their lives. Instead, Zimbabwe’s ‘rising star’ is his
party’s grabbing arm.

Last week, he stunned the world (including members of his own party) when he
announced a deadline for foreign-owned banks and privately-owned schools to
handover majority ownership to black Zimbabweans.

Kasukuwere, is said to have already forced mining companies like Rio Tinto
and Impala Platinum , the world’s second-largest platinum miner, to turn
over majority stakes in their local units to black Zimbabweans who are
by-and-large the already wealthy embers of the ruling party.

But the idea of asking Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Barclays Bank Plc and
South Africa’s Standard Bank and Nebank to cede 59% of their local business
to ZANU-PF stalwarts has shocked even some of Mugabe’s strongest allies such
as the central bank governor, Gideon Gono.

The worry with what is happening in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe is not just
about a rogue regime that is pursuing an agenda “devoid of detail and
rationality,” as Gono described the move on banks, but likelihood that the
vice could spread to many more African countries ruled by men nursing
life-presidency ambitions. And they are many.

Once African rulers realize that they have lost legitimacy and no longer
have anything positive to do for their countries, they resort to the old
colonial tactic of divide-and-rule. And once they run out of that option to,
the last resort to start pursuing a populist agenda that often seeks to
blame outsiders ( and in Africa’s case colonialists) for all the social and
economic problems in the country.

So they start telling uneducated youth in villages and slums that they are
poor because foreigners own all the mines, commercial banks, schools,
hospitals and good residential houses.

Yet the dictator will not tell their often gullible audience where the
billions of dollars these foreign-owned companies pay in taxes end up. But
very often, this money that should be used to improve the living conditions
of the poor by investing in more social infrastructure is spent by ‘first
ladies’ in expensive shopping sprees and educating their children in the
very western countries they vilify at home!

I would understand when a government, like that of Mugabe, seeks to
redistribute land by asking those who own big chunks (often acquired
illegally) to give up some and hand it to landless blacks.

However, it is incomprehensible that in this era when every country is
trying very hard to make the local regulatory environment conducive to
private business so as to attract more investors, another man is
confiscating private schools, hospitals, banks and shops.

I do not know how handing over a majority stake in the local business of
British-owned Barclays Bank Plc to black people is going to help a rural
peasant in Zimbabwe to have access to clean water, enough food or put
medicines to rural hospitals. But I know that such moves will certainly
weaken the financial sector and hurt the struggling economy further. This
will result into further loss of jobs as the economy takes a nosedive.

On the other hand, you risk losing out completely in the competition for the
dwindling foreign direct investments—the single sure creator of jobs and tax
revenue.

Rather than sticking with politicians with no more ideas to take the
continent to the next level of development, African people need to wake up
and hold such bulls by their horns together with their cheer leaders.

It is now clear to me that free enterprise and life-presidency do not mix.
And as ordinary people, we it is within our powers to choose between the
two—that is the path to death (life-presidency) and the road to prosperity
(free enterprise).

A plea to focus on the reasons why children commit criminal offences

Bill Watch 30/2012 of 9th July [Parliament Resumes for HRC and Electoral Bills and Mid-Term Financial Statement]