Residents are living in overcrowded conditions without running
water
HARARE, 28 Jul 2004 (IRIN) - Residents of Zimbabwe's capital,
Harare, have been forced to use river water because of ongoing breaks in the
purified water supply, raising concern over possible outbreaks of
waterborne diseases.
Like many other urban residents, it's a daily
routine for 12-year-old Stella Chiyangwa to walk six kilometres to a river to
fetch water for household use - she now lives a life not much different from
that of her counterparts in remote rural areas.
The suburb of Mabvuku,
where Stella lives, often goes without water for days, and sometimes weeks at
a time, due to the rundown state of the city's water and sewer reticulation
infrastructure.
Sources at the Harare city council say the Morton Jaffray
Waterworks plant needs a major overhaul of its purification and distribution
capacity. But the municipality does not have the resources, and neither does
it have the foreign currency needed to import water purifying chemicals. As a
result, foreign suppliers have cut credit lines to Harare and now only
supply chemicals when paid in advance.
These problems have combined to
create major water shortages, forcing residents to make use of the Mukuwisi
river running through parts of the city. Although bottled mineral water is
available in the shops, at a price of just under US $1 it is far beyond the
reach of many.
Water cuts were initially experienced mainly in the
high-density suburbs of the city, but recently the plushest of them, like
Glen Lorne, Borrowdale and Graystone Park, have also been without piped
water, and the municipality has introduced 24-hour water cuts in
some.
Although residents in the upmarket low-density suburbs can afford
to sink boreholes, those in the overcrowded areas have no such
option.
Long queues of women carrying heavy buckets to and from
unpurified alternative water sources have become a common sight, raising
concern that there could be outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Public and
household latrines in several high-density suburbs have become blocked and
emit a suffocating stench.
"The council is not taking its duties
seriously," said Kuda Hingi, who lives in the suburb of Eastlea. "Employees
do not seem to be dealing with our complaints with any
urgency."
Residents blame the Harare municipality for their plight and
warn that the city is now on the verge of an epidemic because of the lack of
water and proper drainage; municipal officials in turn blame the national
government, saying the macroeconomic problems causing the crisis are not of
their making.
The Harare municipality's public relations manager,
Leslie Gwindi, said the council was doing all it could to resolve the water
crisis but was constrained by the foreign currency problems affecting
everyone. He appealed to residents to conserve water until the authorities
could raise money to buy the necessary purification chemicals and overhaul
the water treatment works.
Veteran 'legal eagle' quits coup case July 28 2004 at
02:21PM
Harare - The head of the defence team for 70 suspected
mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea has withdrawn
from the case, his associates said on Wednesday.
Veteran South
African attorney Francois Joubert, a specialist in security and terrorism
cases, "is no longer a member of the defence team," said fellow lawyer Alwyn
Griebenow.
He refused to give a reason. Joubert was not available
for comment.
Sixty-seven of the suspects pleaded guilty on Tuesday
to charges of breaking Zimbabwe's immigration and aviation laws when their
aging Boeing 727 landed at Harare International Airport on March
7.
He refused to give a reason They were immediately
convicted of the offenses, which are punishable by up to two years in
jail.
The alleged coup leader, former British special forces member
Simon Mann, and two associates were not on the plane and were arrested
separately in Zimbabwe.
All 70 were expected to enter innocent
pleas on Wednesday to more serious conspiracy, security and firearms charges
stemming from allegations they sought to purchase weapons from Zimbabwe's
state arms manufacturer to use in overthrowing Equatorial Guinea's
president.
Those charges carry a penalty of between 10 years and
life imprisonment.
The case has been beset by delays and
haggling with state prosecutors over the charges, evidence and a possible
plea bargain.
Joubert argued the 67 men on the plane did not
break any Zimbabwean laws Prosecutors allege that Equatorial
Guinea's Spanish-based rebel leader, Severo Moto, offered the group about
R11-million and oil rights to overthrow President Theodoro Obiang Nguema in
the former Spanish colony.
The suspects, most of them former
members of South Africa's apartheid-era military forces, maintain they were
headed to security jobs at mining operations in eastern Congo.
During preliminary hearings in April, Joubert argued the 67 men on the plane
did not break any Zimbabwean laws as they only disembarked when forced off by
military police. No weapons were found on the plane.
Joubert also
complained of political pressure in the case after Zimbabwe Foreign Minister
Stan Mudenge called for the death penalty to be applied.
State
prosecutors insist the Boeing's crew and passengers were effectively in
Zimbabwe from the moment their plane taxied from Harare International Airport
to an adjacent Air Force base allegedly to collect weapons purchased from the
Zimbabwe arms manufacturer.
In April, Zimbabwe said it had revised
its extradition policy to include Equatorial Guinea, raising the possibility
the suspects could be sent to the West African nation for trial with seven
South Africans and Namibians arrested there.
If tried in
Equatorial Guinea, described by human rights groups as one of the most
repressive countries in the world, they could face execution.
- Sapa-AP
Suspected Mercenary Leader Pleads Guilty Wed 28 July
2004
HARARE - Simon Mann, the British national accused in Zimbabwe
of being the ring leader of 70 suspected mercenaries, pleaded guilty today
to charges of violating Zimbabwe's firearms law, an admission that could
earn him 10 years in jail.
Mann pleaded guilty to a charge of
attempting to possess dangerous weapons when his trial opened at a makeshift
court at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. He also entered a partial guilty
plea to a second charge of purchasing weapons, insisting that the deal never
went through and thus did not warrant a full guilty plea.
Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe immediately convicted Mann, an old Etonian and
former member of Britain's elite SAS special forces unit, on the first
charge of attempting to possess dangerous weapons.
Mann was on the
tarmac at Harare International Airport when his 67 co-accused landed in an
ageing Boeing 727 from South Africa. He is accused of having been waiting to
load weapons he had bought from Zimbabwe's state arms manufacturer, Zimbabwe
Defence Industries (ZDI). Mann said the arms were to be used for guarding a
mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Zimbabwe
authorities maintain Mann had planned to join his co-accused on the plane and
lead them into overthrowing the Equatorial Guinea government using the
weapons. This would be achieved together with an advance party of 15 men who
were arrested in the West African country following Mann's arrest in
Harare.
Mann is currently being held in solitary
confinement.
The 67 men have already pleaded guilty to lesser
charges under Zimbabwe's immigration and aviation laws. They are still due to
face other more serious charges of violating Zimbabwe's stringent security
and firearms legislation.
The families of the 67 are hopeful the
men might receive lighter sentences and be deported back to South Africa.
However, there remains the prospect of their extradition to Equatorial
Guinea, where anyone found guilty of involvement in the plot could face
execution. Zim Online
'HOMELINK' does not bring home the bacon - Foreign currency
scheme flops Thurs 29 July 2004
HARARE A new scheme, meant to
tap into hard currency held by Zimbabweans living and working abroad and
called Homelink, has failed, Gideon Gono, the governor of the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ) has admitted.
Under Homelink, Zimbabwean exiles
are encouraged to send money back home to relatives and friends using banks
and other official channels. Recipients in Zimbabwe would get the money in
hard currency if they so wished. Gono now said said during a review of
monetary policy function earlier this week that he would reconsider Homelink.
People were only using the scheme to obtain scarce foreign currency from the
official market which they would then sell on the illegal parallel
market.
The RBZ chief said Homelink had by last Monday raised
US$23,3 million from Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
Gono, who in
the last three months visited Zimbabwean communities in South Africa, the
United States of America and Britain to encourage them to use the Homelink
system, said at the time he was hoping to raise US$300 million per week
through the scheme.
To ensure that foreign currency sent through
Homelink remained in the official market, Gono said, 'all receipts under the
Homelink channel will be converted to local currency at the diaspora rate of
Z$5 600, or the auction rate, whichever is higher, and no payments shall be
given out in foreign currency'. Zim Online
Gutu Zanu PF officials
grab Aids outreach bicycles
Gutu - AIDS service organisations
here are still battling to retain bicycles and other equipment such as
televisions and VCRs that was forcibly taken by the ruling Zanu PF from the
district Aids action committee (DAC) early this year. One of the AIDS service
organisation co-ordinators in the district, who asked not to be named for
fear of victimisation, said Zanu PF had allocated the bicycles to chiefs,
headmen and youths who are now using them in their 2005 parliamentary
election campaign. More than 100 bicycles worth millions of dollars, donated
by UNICEF, were meant for volunteers in the HIV/AIDS outreach programmes in
the district. "We don't know what we can do now because we can't get to all
our patients and projects. Patients can't get their food allocations on time
due to transport problems. The roads are bad and the bicycles were our last
hope," said the co-ordinator. Prominent politicians from Masvingo such as
Gutu South Member of Parliament, Shuvai Mahofa and Provincial Governor,
Josaya Hungwe have been implicated in the bicycle scam. But Mahofa declined
to comment on the issue. She Said: "I'm an MP. The DAC deals with
council."
Senior Gutu rural district council officials told Daily News
Online that Zanu PF youths and officials descended on the DAC offices at the
councils headquarters and took away the bicycles, TVs and VCRs forcibly.
Sources familiar with the scam said Chief Makore who was allocated one of
the bicycles by Zanu PF is willing to return it "because he appreciates
that AIDS deserves more attention than politics." Neither UNICEF officials
in Harare nor Health and Child Welfare Minister, David Parirenyatwa, could
be reached for comment on the matter. The Zimbabwe government once won
praise from the World Health Organisation (WHO) when it introduced the AIDS
levy to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic a few years ago. It now however
faces heavy criticism for abusing the AIDS levy. Last week, the Global Fund
turned down Zimbabwe's US$218 million application for HIV/AIDS intervention
but did not say why. But speculation is rife that the action was taken as a
result of lack of transparency in the manner in which the country has been
managing HIV/AIDS funds and other donations.
Australian Stock Saddle complete for sale
$2.5m Tel 091321640 _____________________________________________
2.
Advert Received 21st July 2004
For sale 1820 Victorian Burr walnut
upright piano manufactured by Henry Ward, The Nugget Piano Saloon Ltd.
requires extensive requires extensive repairs. Please contact
011219442. _____________________________________________
3. Advert
Received 21st July 2004
WANTED TO BUY: Floor polisher in good working
condition.
Old or antique cash register.
Please reply to 205489@ecoweb.co.zw ______________________________________________ 4.
Advert Received 21stJuly 2004
14ft Impala boat, with 50h Mercury plus
accessories.
1996 Isuzu KB250 D. with canopy, pro whites and spare wheel.
it is Army green.
Please contact: 011 231
403
______________________________________________
5. Advert
Received 22nd July 2004
LAMB FOR SALE:
Please phone 011600770 or
011600769 for
details.
______________________________________________
6. Advert
Received 23rd July 2004
Ex-farmer is now doing garden water- features for
a living in Harare, if anyone is interested in having one done, to contact
Gareth Baisley at cell no. 011-214994. (if no answer then cell 011- 713953,or
Hre 776988)
"The Dog Parlour " is still open for anybody wanting their
doggies shampooed,bathed,groomed, clipped etc. Contact Harare (04) 776988
Address: 58 Northampton cres, Eastlea. (Mr Ferreira, or
Maryna) ______________________________________________
7. Advert
Received 25th July 2004
We are ex Zim farmers from Bindura now living in
Cape Town where we are renting a house which is one of three on a 20 acre
Municipal property in the Southern Suberbs, Tokai area. At present one other
house is standing vacant and would suit any Zim family wanting to relocate to
the Cape and needs a place to rent while they find their feet and look for
something more permanent. There are 4 bedrooms, lock up garage, car port,
large garden and lots of space. It is a rural setting, but close to the
M3 motorway,shops and schools. Rent approx Rand 5,000 per month.
Anyone wanting more info contact Anne or Roger Freshman on freshman@yebo.co.za ______________________________________________
8.
Advert Received 26th July 2004
For Sale - One HP motor, 3 Large x Chain
Tows (for pipes/boreholes), 3 Gas bottles 9kg 14kg and 20kg, Switch boxes for
pumps, pipe threader (outside), Pond Pump, 3 x Landrover tyres and rims in
good condition, two trailers. Tel
091321640 ______________________________________________
9. Advert
Received 26th July 2004
Trailers - metal trailers 1 x 2mtr x 1.200 with
high sides - approx capacity 2 ton, with 3 x 13 inch tyres. Then one smaller
trailer l.150 x 1.200 with small sides and box in front with 2 x size 10
tyres, capacity approx half tonne. OFFERS - Telephone
091321640 ______________________________________________
10 Advert
Received 26thJuly 2004
1. Field Rotary Lawnmower 8 HP 4 stroke Briggs
& Stratton petrol lawnmower virtually unused. Could be converted into
a generator/other?sprayer etc.
2. Briggs & Stratton Petrol motor
Lawn edger.Hardly used.
Contact Paula (Harare) Tel
490723 ______________________________________________
11. Advert
Received 27th July 2004
Misc for sale; Call; 091 262 948
1 x
Polaroid camera New $150,000 1 x Polaroid camera S/H $ 100,000 1 x White
chest of drawers $200,000 1 x White (Wood) Kitchen unit $200,000 1 x
Washing machine (Motor needs att) $50,000 1 x Wrist watch (Woolworths)Needs
battery $ 300,000 1 x Window frame (Steel) $100,000 1 x Steel door and
frame $ 180,000 1 x Model 102 "Jumbo' sewing machine (New) $3,000,000 1 x
S/H All purpose saddle reasonable condition
$350,000 ______________________________________________
12. Repeat
Advert
Binocular repairs/restoration/service - please phone Mike
331478. ______________________________________________
13. Repeat
Advert
FOR SALE REVISION BOOK A - LEVEL STUDY GUIDE
FOR AS AND
A2 SUBJECTS: BIOLOGY,
Contact 011 - 207 951 or 011 - 221
001
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13. Repeat
Advert
WINTER CRICKET The Spirit of Wedza A
collection of biographies, articles, recollections and memories (by and about
the people of Wedza) compiled by Sheila Macdonald
Limited number of
copies available at the JAG Office.
The message below has come from a teacher of long
standing. ....................
Early warning signals are unable to
predict the Richter Scale of the intentions of the Minister but it is certain
that the meeting called for Mon next week at Girls' High in Harare will seek
to effect maximum damage on one of the very few fully functioning services
left in the country. The Private Schools of Zimbabwe. A major assault is
now expected on these institutions - Governors and Heads have been summoned
to hear the Permanent Secretary for Education clarify issues and directives
which have become more and more preposterous in recent days. Fiats ( not a
motor car ) from the Ministry now forbid gifts and donations to these
institutions. This is just one of the prongs in the Minister's attack to
cripple schools financially. ( One such school has already declared itself
insolvent ). The other greatly exploited tactic of our political overlords is
the weapon of fear and criminalisation - this we of course saw with the ZRP
in their brave confrontation of the young and their parents at the classroom
door at the start of the second term. Then there was the bundling of
Headmasters into an assortment of police vehicles to overnight in disgusting
and putrid cells. Not to mention the suspension of the civil servant heads on
three months on half pay.
Now there are the court cases - deferred and
deferred and deferred - because not only are they are without substance but
because every deferment delays justice and notches up the pain
level.
Is the next weapon torture - will this government will stop at
nothing now that the chefs alleged offspring are apparently at school outside
the country?
In the same manner in which he drove the Zimbabwe
Republic Police to the school gates to blockade children and teenagers from
their right to education at the start of this term will the Minister Mr
Aeneas Chigwedere now blockade parents too and drive them from their freedom
of choice for their childrens' education.
Will Christian education in
this country now be proscribed and denied its mission?
The Minister
will be in Bulawayo this Friday 30th July at the Large City Hall, ironically,
to celebrate the so -called Better Schools Movement. Please note that all
schools pay a $50000 - compulsory levy - to fund the fraudulent largess of
the Ministry in its grandiloquent hand-out of prizes ). Do give him the
warmest of welcomes. Please join the celebration with the master of
criminality and evil.
Khumalo to invest R100m in Zimbabwe, says
Gono July 28, 2004
Mining magnate Mzi Khumalo has pledged
to invest R100 million in Zimbabwe if the government puts incentives for
foreign investment in place.
Khumalo's pledge, announced yesterday
by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, comes when foreign direct
investment has plummeted by over 97 percent because of controversial policies
pursued by the regime of President Robert Mugabe.
Khumalo, who
has bought several Zimbabwean gold mines formerly owned by the Canadian-based
Independence Mining Group, was present at the announcement of Gono's mid-term
review of monetary policy.
"There is a certain brother of mine
in this room who promised to invest R100 million into the country once we put
investment criteria and incentives in place. That person is Mr Mzi Khumalo,"
Gono said. "I hope your cheque is ready, my brother."
Gono
unveiled a promise to allow foreign investors to remit dividends abroad and a
guarantee to pay back investment capital within three months if an investor
decided to leave.
TSVANGIRAI JUDGEMENT POSTPONED: THE BACKGROUND Thurs 29
July 2004
HARARE - A judgement in the case against Morgan
Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's main opposition leader accused of "plotting" to kill
President Robert Mugabe, was postponed indefinitely this week because the
presiding judge had reached a verdict convicting Tsvangirai without
consulting his two assessors, Zim Online has established.
Zimbabwe High Court Judge President Paddington Garwe, widely perceived as a
Mugabe supporter, presided over the treason case with the aid of
two assessors. He had been billed to pass judgment on the case, considered
a make or break one for Tsvangirai, today (Thursday).
Authoritative judicial sources said the two assessors in the case, Misheck
Nyandoro and Joseph Dangarembizi, had vehemently disagreed with the judge's
guilty verdict and refused to rubber stamp his decision. This left Garwe with
no option but to postpone the case.
Garwe's office had last month
informed Tsvangirai's lawyers that judgment would be passed on 29 July. He
later advised them that this would no longer be possible because the two
assessors had requested records and transcripts of the case.
Tsvangirai faces the death penalty upon conviction. Garwe's decision means
the opposition leader is now sitting on a knife edge and his future rests on
whether both assessors will maintain their opposition to
Garwe's verdict.
The sources said the assessors were enraged
that Judge Garwe had reached a decision on a matter of fact without their
input, contrary to the rules of court. All matters of fact must be decided
by the majority of the court, the judge and his two assessors. Only the judge
has the discretion to decide on matters of law.
In this case the
verdict of the majority will decide on the matter of fact - did Tsvangirai
indeed plot to kill President Mugabe?
If the majority answers the
question in the affirmative, the judge will have the discretion to decide on
questions of law, in particular the appropriate punishment to be imposed, the
sources said.
Garwe has in the past handed down several decisions
that controversially favoured the government. During the 2002
presidential election he dismissed an opposition application to extend the
voting period despite evidence of long queues of stranded voters in urban
centres who had not had a chance to cast their ballots because the government
had reduced the number of polling stations in the opposition's urban
strongholds.
Garwe is also being criticised for not having
allocated judges to hear most of the opposition's 37 legal challenges of the
seats won by Mugabe's ZANU PF party in the 2000 parliamentary elections. The
challenges are now seen as academic because Zimbabwe's next parliamentary
elections are only eight months away.
The Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) went to court to challenge ZANU PF's victories in 37
of the 62 seats the ruling party won in the election, alleging that it had
used violence in the process. The High Court only heard 14 of the challenges
and the MDC won seven.
If Garwe's guilty verdict against
Tsvangirai was upheld, observers said, this would probably end the MDC
leader's political career as he would have no chances of succeeding in
having it reversed by the Supreme Court which is seen as even more loyal to
the Zimbabwe government.
The state based its case against
Tsvangirai on a grainy and inaudible video supplied by Ari Ben Menashe, a
Canadian based Israel born political consultant. A United States
congressional committee report in the 1980s described Menashe as a
"talented liar".
Tsvangirai insisted the grainy video tape was
manipulated to implicate him. Ben Menashe agreed in court that he had been
paid more than US$500 000 for his work for the Mugabe government but denied
that he was specifically paid to frame Tsvangirai. Zim Online.
Board to persuade players that they should tour Zimbabwe
Paul
Kelso Wednesday July 28, 2004 The Guardian
The England and Wales
Cricket Board will attempt to convince the England team that it is safe to
tour Zimbabwe later this year at a special briefing, possibly between the
second and third Tests of the West Indies series. David Morgan, chairman of
the ECB, said that the players would be asked to defer their decisions until
after the briefing, following a management board meeting that saw two county
chairmen take temporary control of some of the organisation's key commercial
negotiations.
The player briefing, intended to assuage a boycott similar
to that threatened during the last World Cup, will be followed by a safety
and security inspection of Zimbabwe prior to the five one-day
internationals that are provisionally scheduled for
November.
Following pressure from the International Cricket Council the
ECB has concluded the tour has to go ahead in the absence of a clear
direction not to travel from the government or legitimate safety and security
concerns.
"We have planned a detailed briefing on the relevant issues
with the players at a relevant time and we have asked the players to delay
any personal decision on whether or not to tour until after that briefing has
taken place," said Morgan.
He added that despite reports of players
being ready to withdraw from the tour none of them had expressed this to the
board. Dialogue with the players has already taken place, led by ECB director
of cricket John Carr who has spoken with the captain Michael Vaughan, the
coach Duncan Fletcher, Richard Bevan of the Professional Cricketers
Association and the team manager Phil Neale.
The final fixture dates
and the key details of the tour, such as when and where England will stay
during the trip, have yet to be finalised but Morgan said the unique
circumstances of the tour would be considered. Zimbabwe has dominated the
agenda at recent management board meetings, but since they last met in April
a host of other issues have arisen raising questions about the long-term
health of English cricket and its governing body.
The catalyst has
been the departure of four key executives. The chief executive Tim Lamb will
leave at the end of September after nine years in the post and the commercial
director Mark Sibley has already departed. Communications director John Read
left last week and Des Wilson, head of the corporate affairs and marketing
sub-committee resigned over Zimbabwe.
The departures come at a crucial
time for the ECB, which has six key sponsorship and television deals due for
renegotiation in the next year. The Test, England team and one-day
international sponsorships with Npower, Vodafone and NatWest respectively
expire in 2005, as do radio and television rights deals with the BBC, Channel
4 and Sky.
Somerset's chairman Giles Clarke will oversee the broadcast
negotiations assisted by the Durham chairman Clive Leach. Tom Harrison,
formerly the ECB's marketing manager, temporarily fills Sibley's position.
Hampshire's chairman Rod Bransgrove will oversee communications and policy
issues.
Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF
party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have resumed
talks focusing on proposed electoral reforms, but sharp differences have
emerged again. Official sources said Zanu PF's head of delegation to the
talks, Patrick Chinamasa, met MDC counterpart Welshman Ncube in Harare on
July 14 to discuss electoral reforms officially announced by President Robert
Mugabe in parliament last week. Mugabe said there would be an independent
electoral commission; voting in one day instead of two; counting of votes at
polling centres and not at the centralised national command centre; and use
of transparent, not wooden, boxes. Ncube confirmed the meeting but could not
give details. Sources said Chinamasa and Ncube had a no-holds-barred debate
and clashed because Chinamasa wanted to dragoon the MDC into rubber-stamping
the reforms. Ncube refused to make an undertaking that his party would clear
the proposals when it came to parliament without first resolving contentious
issues. While Zanu PF wanted talks to be confined to the electoral reforms,
the MDC wanted a full dialogue to address the political and economic
crisis.
The MDC has said it is no use accepting a package of
"piecemeal reforms" that would not address the fundamental causes of the
crisis. The MDC wants other issues tackled: such as the cessation of
political violence; restoration of political and civil liberties, including
freedoms of assembly, free association and the press; upholding the rule of
law; and creating an environment for free and fair elections. SA's President
Thabo Mbeki set a June deadline as a progress point in talks. The two
parties started talking in April 2002, mediated by SA and Nigeria, after the
hotly disputed presidential election. They disengaged in May that year and
have been in informal talks since March last year. These have ensured
common ground was established on constitutional reform, although that is now
being undermined by the fresh row. Sources said the talks were bound to
collapse unless the MDC's concerns, which include reservations about
appointment of electoral officers by Mugabe, were addressed. The MDC says if
Mugabe is given powers to appoint electoral officers without adequate checks
and balances, as suggested in a draft amendment of the Electoral Act, he
would choose allies and nothing would change. The bill will be debated
in parliament in September.
THE Government has embarked on a drive to upgrade
all major roads servicing rural areas to make outlying areas more accessible,
the Minister of Transport and Communications, Cde Christopher Mushohwe, said
yesterday.
Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of
the widening of the 118km Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road at Tsholotsho Business
Centre, Cde Mushohwe said the upgrading of the rural road network was in
support of the successful agrarian reform programme.
"At the beginning
of this year, my ministry committed itself to bring roads and telephones to
the people. The issue of roads in our rural areas has to be handled in the
same way the land reform exercise was carried out," he said.
"We are
currently working on rural roads in all the provinces, including such cities
as Bulawayo and Harare, so that by the end of the year a lot of roads will
have been upgraded."
Cde Mushohwe said in Matabeleland North besides the
Tsholotsho-Bulawayo Road, the Government was working on the Lupane-Nkayi
Road, Bulawayo-Solusi Road and the Tsholotsho-Lupane Road, while in
Matabeleland South, Plumtree-Mphoengs, Plumtree-Maitengwe, Bulawayo-Kezi,
Mberengwa-West Nicholson and the Filabusi-Avoca roads were being upgraded. He
said Chinese companies had expressed an interest to work with Zimbabwe to
improve its transport and telecommunications infrastructure.
Cde
Mushohwe said the Government would at the beginning of September
install NetOne mobile phone base stations in Mbembesi, Nkayi, Nyamandlovu
and Lupane, and increase landline operator TelOne's capacity to
improve communication in Matabeleland North.
He said his ministry had
also made a commitment to decentralise the issuing of driver's licences
through the Vehicle Inspection Department to all police stations in rural
areas.
On the Tsholotsho-Bulawayo Road, Cde Mushohwe said at least 20
kilometres would be widened and tarred before Christmas.
"The
contractors, must make sure that manual labour would be sourced
from Tsholotsho instead of bringing people from Harare," he
said.
Matabeleland North Provincial road engineer Mr Gordon Marambakuyana
said the first two kilometres of the road, which covers the business centre,
had been tarred and widened to 10 metres.
The Tsholotsho-Bulawayo road
is three metres wide and would be widened to eight metres in addition to the
tarring and upgrading of infrastructure such as bridges.
Mr
Marambakuyana said at least $250 million would be spent per kilometre to tar
the road whose condition has been blamed for a number of
fatal accidents.
Zanu-PF Tsholotsho District Co-ordinating Committee
chairman Cde Believe Gaule said the district had resolved to rename the road
Robert Mugabe Highway. He said the ground-breaking ceremony was one of the
most significant development events in the district since
independence.
He said the narrow road had not only become a death trap
but was also forcing public transport operators out of the route as they
wanted to preserve their vehicles.
"We do not want this road to take
up to 10 years to complete, therefore we need to work hard and stop
complaining about lack of development," Cde Gaule said.
Speaker after
speaker praised the Minister of Information and Publicity in the Office of
the President and Cabinet, Professor Jonathan Moyo, who was present at the
ceremony, for lobbying for the upgrading of the road.
Herewith the debate on the Motion moved by Hon Philip Chiyangwa
(ZanuPF- Chinhoyi) concerning purported actions by the MDC, in the Parliament
of Zimbabwe 29-30 June 2004
Tuesday, 29th June,
2004
MOTION
ACTIONS BY MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
(MDC)
MR. CHIYANGWA: I move the motion standing in my name that this
House:
CONDEMNING in the strongest terms of the sustained campaign by the
MDC for sanctions against, and economic isolation of, Zimbabwe by the
international community, including racists called for cricket boycott of
Zimbabwe by ICU members;
OUTRAGED by a recent treacherous statement by
the Secretary General of the MDC, Hon. Prof. W.Ncube, widely reported in the
local and international media charging that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Governor, Dr. Gono's visit to the U K underlines the need for expansion of EU
targeted sanctions to include individuals who are playing "a leading role in
perpetuating the illegal rule of Mugabe and his ZANU PF
Government";
FURTHER OUTRAGED by the linkage between Hon. Prof. W.
Ncube's irresponsible and unpatriotic statement and violent and abusive
demonstrations in the UK and South Africa against the "Homelink" initiative
in support of economic turnaround;
FULLY SUPPORTED AND ENDORSED the
RBZ Governor's Homelink initiative as commendable efforts to turn around the
economy;
CALLS UPON Government to investigate as a matter of urgency the
full import of the statement by Tony Blair that he is working closely with
the MDC to subvert Zimbabwe and to take all the necessary legal measures to
bring to book anyone in the MDC involved.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the
name of the motion standing in my name, and in the strongest terms condemn
the campaign by the MDC for sanction against, and economic isolation of
Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker, in response to an inflammatory and denigratory
question by the opposition leader, Mr Michael Howard, in Britain's parliament
and I refer the House to House of Commons Hansard Debates of 14th June 2004,
Prime Minister Blair admitted at the connivance between Britain, a foreign
and dangerous power to our Republic, and our own supposedly loyal opposition
party the MDC. That connivance, Mr. Speaker, was expressed in these terms "
we work closely with the MDC on measures that we should take in respect to
Zimbabwe, although I am afraid that these measures and sanctions are of
limited effect on the Mugabe regime." Now Mr. Speaker, this is frank
admittance by Britain that it is engaged with the MDC in the subversion, both
domestically and internationally, of the State and Republic of Zimbabwe.
Prime Minister Blair expressly state the MDC and Britain are applying
sanctions against innocent Zimbabwean citizens and the State and Republic of
Zimbabwe. Mr Speaker, what I speak of the highest Capital crime on our
statutes - that of treason. How can it be described as the action of a loyal
opposition, say the MDC, to consort and conspire with a foreign to attack and
engage in economic battle against Zimbabwe? Mr. Speaker, the reminder of Mr
Blair's statement is equally revealing of the ambition of the MDC. The
entire world knows of the ambition of Blair. Mr Blair is ambitious. He is
psychologically scarred by having grown up at the twilight of British empire
- seeing Britain retreat everywhere and ironically under American orders as
part of the price of rescuing Britain from Nazi rule. Mr. Speaker, Mr
Blair is reckless. In order, to go to war on the winning side, with a
country so weak when compare to the military might of the USA, Mr Blair
recklessly lies to his own voters about dangers they might face in the now
notorious "45 minutes" statement. When Mr Blair's recklessness is combined
with that of the MDC this amounts to treason.
Mr Speaker, this motion is
seeking to draw the attention of the people of Zimbabwe at large, of the
African Union and of the UN community and more specifically the attention of
this august House - which can be called uponto take appropriate action, to
the subversive actions of the British Government against the people of this
country. We have observed with deep concern the desperation with which the
British Government is seeking to undermine the natural course of political
process in this country which has seen the country holding five yearly
general elections and six yearly Presidential elections apart from other
local authority plebiscites. As the country prepares for the impending
general elections scheduled for March 2005, we hear Blair calling for regime
change in Zimbabwe.
I also must draw the attention of people of Zimbabwe
at large, of our SADC regional partners, of the AU and the UN community and
more specifically of this august House - which will be called up on to take
appropriate action, to the subversive actions of the opposition MDC against
the people and the sovereign Government of this country. We want the world
to know that there is no longer a national opposition party in Zimbabwe but
rather we now have a subversive element that is bent on a ruinous process
supported by a foreign power to bring untold suffering to the innocent people
of this country when the country is forced to defend its patrimony against
foreign intervention that is seeking to impose all illegitimate regime on the
people of this country.
By this motion Mr Speaker, I wish to move that
any Parliamentary privileges be taken away from the members sitting across
the floor if they could not offer themselves to the public scrutiny for the
part which they have collectively and individually played in laying the plans
to overthrow the Government of this country. Most of us on this side of this
House would find it very difficult Hon. Speaker, to continue to sit here and
pretend that all is well when the people whom we represent out there face a
real danger that could see the spilling of blood on the streets and high ways
and the vales and valleys and hilltops of this peace loving
country.
MR. NYATHI: The Hon. member is misleading the House with the
statement he has just said now, to the effect that the opposition in this
august House is working with people to distabilise the country can not be
substantiated and therefore, should not be made in this august House because
it is untrue and false.
MR. CHIYANGWA: That freedom, Mr Speaker, was
given to all Zimbabweans by Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF in 1980. We do not
look forward to anybody else giving us any other freedom as our history tells
us that any other freedom has never been given to us but we struggled for it,
we were killed and maimed for it. We are happy with the freedom we have of
our own making. I do not think that we dictated freedom to those who want to
dictate freedom to us. We enjoy the freedoms that are enjoyed under the UN
charter and we ascribe to the UN, in respect thereof. It is unfair and
inhuman for anyone to ever prescribe our history. Blair can not ascribe my
freedom in concern with Prof. W. Ncube, or any such stooges as would be
Tsvangirai or anybody else.
Freed people, like myself, Mr Speaker,
will not accept or ever want to accept, a fiction propagated by Blair or any
MDC stooge. Mr Speaker, any Zimbabwean Citizen in the world must be free and
enjoy the freedom that I have alluded to that does not seek to undermine the
sovereignty of Zimbabwe.
MR GASELA: He said the foolish Prof. W. Ncube,
Stooge Morgan Tsvangirai. The last two paragraphs he read.
MR
CHIYANGWA: I did not say he is foolish, I said he spoke foolishly. Mr
Speaker, the Hon. Gono, an apolitical figure had his position,
honour, integrity, and authority besmirched by the foolish Prof. Ncube.
Ncube has sought to redefine the constitutional position for Hon. Gono as
being that of a member of Government whereas he is clearly not. For the MDC
to maliciously and scurrilously impugn the reputation of Hon. Gono's
character without foundation is to bringthe proper conduct of the Reserve
Bank's Affairs in to disrepute and is therefore an enemy attack on the
economy of Zimbabwe. An enemy from within, Mr Speaker, is a traitor and
therefore the MDC are traitors.
MISS. STEVENSON: Point of order, the
Hon member referred to the MDC as traitors, that is not true and it is
unparliamentary.
MR SPEAKER: That is not point of order, you have to
challenge it in debate. I refer to the reply given in the British Parliament
by the neo-Imperialist Mr Blair in which he stated that ". to put pressure of
change on the Mugabe regime, because there is no salvation the people of
Zimbabwe until the regime is changed." Mr Speaker. This House moves that
the MDC actions are treason and are unconstitutional an certainly
un-Zimbabwean. It is unprecedented that the MDC acting in concert with a
foreign and dangerous power, Britain, subvert and conspire to remove by
undemocratic and illegal means, the lawful Government of Zimbabwe, and Mr
Speaker, this is treason. Mr Speaker, the MDC has gone too far. Its attempts
to engage in the domestic and subversion of our economy by consorting with
foreign powers, such as Britain, is nothing less than evil. I call for the
MDC to be immediately suspend from our Parliament and their party to be the
subject of a banned order. I call for the finances of the MDC to be
investigated and I call for their relationship with Britain, various
Rhodesians, Botswanas, Americans and South Africans to be
investigated.
I beg to move the motion.
MR. KASUKUWERE: I believe
when we are in this Parliament, we all have the right to debate. The issue
as stated by Hon. Chiyangwa is available for us to debate. What is at stake
is a statement by Tony Blair in the House of Commons in London, I think it is
not just an accusation. We do not just want to accuse the MDC. It will only
be fair for the MDC to be able to stand out and tell Blair that they do not
agree with his statement.
I believe the sanctions have hurt our people.
Hon. members on the other side of the House bear testimony that our people
are suffering. You talk about medicines, hospitals this is a result of Tony
Blair demonising Zimbabwe. He has been fighting against people of
Zimbabwe. He has turned the land issue and yet it is a bilateral matter. As
the ruling party we have stated that Blair knows that this issue is between
London and Harare. The Lancaster House Constitution remains unfinished and as
a party we have said that we have to do something about it but Blair has
stood in the House of Commons and stated that he supports MDC. We would like
the MDC to clearly to state that they are working with the Blair Government.
They must tell us whether they are patriotic or sell-outs.
The MDC are
prepared to allow the people of Zimbabwe to suffer in their efforts to come
into power. We are saying that we are not going to allow it happen and to
allow them to come into power at the expense of our people. Today the people
of Zimbabwe are now very happy because they got their land back. I would
call upon the opposition to support our nation through the land reform
process. We would stop calling for sanctions against our people.
As a
ruling party we have the authority to lead our people and we are going to
defeat them in their efforts to come into power for as long as they stand and
fight against our people. We will not continue to listen to comments made by
people like Prof. Ncube or any other white person.
MR GABBUZA: I just
want to raise a few points. Blair is in London. He is simply saying ZANU PF
do not come to Britain and do not send Gono on behalf of Mugabe to come to
Britain. Why do you allowing Gono to come when Mugabe can not come? Hon.
Chiyangwa has come to this Parliament to tell us that no please we have to go
to Britain. He refers to Blair and I think that everyone is aware that the
other side has always referred to Blair as a toilet. But, why do you want to
go to Britain now?
If ZANU PF was clever enough, I do not think they
would have wasted time bringing such embarrassing motion in this House. What
you are saying is why are you refusing Gono to go and beg from the children
that you chased away? After all, those kids have been expelled by economic
hardships in this country. I do not think Blair is responsible for that.
For me I find it very embarrassing. They should not waste time of this House
by bringing such embarrassing motion.
MR. MKANDLA: The Labour Party
said - I am not happy with the UDI but I supported the whites, that was the
Government's standard. Mr Speaker, can two people move together while they
differ in policy, can MDC move together with Blair while they differ in
policy? No, that means there is somewhere where they come together. Unless
a person belongs to Blair, then he does not see this wrong. We are talking
about the people of Zimbabwe and not the British. If you are a Zimbabwean,
why should you sell it? What I know is that some of my colleagues think that
if they say something positive about Blair they will become white. You are
African and you will never turn white or change your nationality.
Buy
the truth but do not sell it. Those who buy the truth should not sell it
because this country came to through a bloody liberation struggle. Some of
the old people know this history.
MR GASELA: I would like to thank the
mover of this motion. He alluded to the Governor's Homelink programme. The
mover of the motion - obviously he wants to endear himself to ZANU PF because
he knows he is I trouble.
Zimbabwe is the only country which after the
formation of MDC decided not to allow its citizens to vote who are outside
the country. Here we are saying we want your money but you cannot vote.
People outside the country are working 24 hours in these countries. Nobody
wants to work for 20 hours but they are doing so to sustain themselves
because they are refugees.
The major point I have here is that you cannot
de-link the status of Zimbabweans outside the country with "Homelink." If
Zimbabweans outside the country are allowed to vote - do not think that all
of them support MDC. We do not know whom they support but it is their right
to vote. They should not just contribute money to crop up the economy and
the Government that is oppressing its own people.
THE MINISTER OF
JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS: I move that the debate to now
adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Wednesday, 30th June,
2004.
MR. MASHAKADA: I rise to contribute to the motion by Hon.
Chiyangwa regarding the question of Blair and his utterances on MDC. Madam
Speaker, I wish to say categorically, that we as MDC we reject the stigma and
we reject the straight jacket and any aspersions cast upon us as a party that
we are puppets. We are not puppets.
For the benefit of my colleagues,
all the members of the MDC here present were elected by Zimbabweans. No
single one person was appointed, even the white members of Parliament amongst
our ranks were unanimously elected by a black electorate so, to turn around
and start accusing us of being puppets of Tony Blair and British, is utter
dishonest on the party of ZANU PF legislators. Madam Speaker, ZANU PF day in
day out they have been trying in vain to paint MDC and to portray us as
stooges of the British.
The emergence for MDC was a challenge from
President Mugabe way back in 1998. He said do not make noise, come into the
ring. If you want politics come and join it and then we responded to his
call and we formed the MDC. When the MDC established itself as a credible
party, everyone is now running amok, everyone is getting worried with its
effectiveness as a party. Now because of its effectiveness the MDC, my
colleagues cannot understand that we are being backed by Zimbabweans and Tony
Blair does not come into it at all.
I can not understand why the
motion wants to cast MDC in the shadow of Blair. I understand why they are
not happy with us as a party. It is because we are saying ZANU PF waged the
liberation struggle but our struggle is a different one all together. It is
a struggle to bring about democracy in the country, to bring about good
political governance in the country and it is not an easy struggle. Our
struggle is to bring freedom to all Zimbabweans and a future of millions of
Zimbabweans who have invested in the liberation struggle but who find
themselves short changed.
Madam Speaker, we are not responsible for the
economic melt down, for the corruption that we have seen getting rampant. We
are not responsible for all that. We can not be able to answer for Blair's
utterances. Who are we? What this motion says is that ZANU PF is full of
racial bigotry. We are a Zimbabwean party which is funded through the State
Budget.
So to cap my speech, I want to reiterate that we reject the
accusations raised in the motion are false and untrue.
MR. MUKAHLERA:
If you remember the way back when people were leaving the country this House
accused them of being MDC. It is surprising that this time because of the
"Homelink" everybody seems to sing the same tune to say, get the money from
people that have gone out who were accused of being puppets as well as
MDC.
On sanctions, it is being said that it is the MDC which brought
these into Zimbabwe. This is not true. We have no agenda of having
sanctions on this country. It is your actions in particular of certain
individuals who have been placed on targeted sanctions. You will find that
even Botswana at one time said that there was "Drought of leadership in
Zimbabwe." At one time we failed to go to Nigeria because they said that we
are not democratic enough. This is the fault of these sitting on the other
side of the House.
The other side of the House knows very well that in
1997when the dollar collapsed that MDC had not yet been formed. You know
that the economy is in doldrums and that is why you are picking on us. Wee
not running the economy and there are no sanctions to talk
about.
MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE
MR. GONESE: Again Madam Speaker, I
rise on a matter of privilege. On the 18th of May in this House, the Hon. D
Mutasa kicked Hon. Roy Bennet.
MR. CHINAMASA: On a point of Order. I
think this is a matter before the Privilege Committee pertaining to the
assault on me by Hon. Bennet.
MR. COLTART: I have a point of Order. I am
advised that Hon. Midzi has levelled a threat against me to the effect that
he said "He will meet me in the street."
MR. CHAIBVA: Madam Speaker,
in the previous debates by my colleagues you resented the use of the word
dictatorship when one of my colleagues was describing.
Madam Speaker,
we in the MDC are on record and we have put it on record loud and clear and
it is even acknowledged by my colleagues in the ZANU PF that it was the MDC
that actually brought this land revolutionary programme. We did state in our
principal as a party that for twenty years ZANU PF has failed to deliver land
to our black people. We complained about the inequality and the lack of
equitable distribution of land to our black people. We undertook that the
MDC Government will ensure that there will be equitable distribution of land
to the black farmers. This is when now this Government went into panic and
they grabbed almost everything.
Madam Speaker, You will notice, for
example, Article 2 (a) of the International Convention on Civil and Political
Rights, it makes it compulsory that every government must ensure that every
person whose rights and freedoms as herein are violated shall have an
effective and expeditious remedy. This government has failed in all material
respect to ensure that violated fundamental Human Rights are corrected and
have got remedy to that effect.
You accuse our party of economic
sabotage - it is there. A man like me, a black man whose blood has no
foreign traits at all becoming a traitor. A man with a record of history of
the liberation struggle, fighting against the colonial rule becoming a
traitor. Look at my Leader of the Opposition, black as he is and you say he
is a puppet of the British. You say he cannot think, the British can think
for him. Me, with so many qualifications academically and you can tell me I
cannot think. It is an insult and we do not accept that.
You tell us
that we in the MDC are saboteurs. Look at this headline. I am very furious
and angry - look at this the clever ones, the Nigerians, they say we will not
allow technical expertise to take flight of Africa, Zimbabwean farmers please
come here. Nigeria is just wooing farmers and just below that headline, who
is arrested? Phillip Chiyangwa arrested - the mover of this motion arrested
and for what? We are talking of 61 billion dollars of poor people's money
disappeared into one's pocket - driving flashy cars and building mansions and
you tell us that we are externalising. You tell us that the MDC are economic
saboteurs.
Ladies and gentlemen, the economic saboteurs are found in the
Cabinet, in the Politburo, within members of ZANU PF. That is where you have
got traitors of this country, this is where you have got traitors of
the liberation struggle - they are found there. I was going to say that
those who are patriotic and those who are not patriotic must stand up and
defend themselves. My allegations have been supported by several
publications from newspapers - their own newspapers, not the ones that are
owned by MDC but their own newspapers. I was going to say that when we are
talking of patriotism, let us not try to be populist, let us be realistic and
factual. We have recently discovered - and I am not going to mention names -
that even those who hold very senior ministerial positions have got
two citizenships and you tell us that it is the MDC which is a
saboteur.
Finally, Mr Speaker, we are all Zimbabweans and because of
that, we must treat each other as Zimbabweans. We must accept divergence of
political views and in political thinking. If you have your political
thinking that you think is superior, the ultimate is there - the people. Go
on a political platform and say takakupai minda kwete zvekuti tsvimbo
mugotsi. Uri MDC, tsvimbo mugotsi! That must come to a stop and let me say
this Mr Speaker, that you must be thankful to the leadership of my party,
President Morgan Tsvangirai and Hon. Gibson Sibanda. Some of us would have
called for some people's heads to be ciphered because of the inhuman
treatment and acts of torture.
MR. BHEBHE: I stand in this House Mr.
Speaker, as a victim of human rights violation. It is a shame that I stand
up in this House challenging the same Government that is crying foul about
foreigners when it sends out soldiers against an Hon. member of this House
who was elected by the people of Zimbabwe and we never at any one time had
the same Government commenting nor taking steps to correct the wrong that was
done.
The second point Mr Speaker, Zimbabwe used to be the best friend of
Libya such that Colonel Gadaffi drove all the way from Libya to Harare.
Today, because he has seen the wrongs and bad tendencies of this governance,
he is an enemy of this Government.
The third point Mr. Speaker, we
have got renowned personalities in Africa namely Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu
but today those same people are being insulted by this Government. Are you
genuine about what you are doing? Mr. Speaker, with these three points I
would want Hon. Chiyangwa to tell us instead of choosing, to tell us what he
thinks is democratic right thing to do.
MR. CHAPFIKA: The ordinary
people of Zimbabwe are victims of the actions of the MDC. The most cruel
people in Zimbabwe are the MDC. They are diabolical to the electorate. They
are irresponsible and they are not being responsible to the people who
elected them to this House. They have been calling for sanctions so that and
our people continue suffering. There is nowhere else in the World where you
find such a thing. Democracy was brought into this country through the
spilling of blood. Those on the other side of the House are now enjoying the
fruits of democracy. There is no reason why should anybody doubt that it is
the ruling party which brought democracy into this country. You should
be thankful of what our party has done for your
country..
Unfortunately, instead of the opposition admitting that they
are the worst destabilisers of this country. They have taken the opportunity
of this motion to castigate the ruling party instead of defending
themselves. What we expected from the opposition was for them to stand up
and say that they are not working in cahoots with Tony Blair and tell us that
he was lying. This is the issue before the House. The opposition has entered
into an unholy alliance with Tony Blair. The MDC comes here to
Parliament purporting to be representing a section of the electorate of this
country. Meanwhile, they are busy undermining the same people that elected
them to this House.
PROF. NCUBE: Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, I wish to
respond on the merits of the motion and arguments as follows: Firstly and
foremost, I hold no brief for the British Government or for Tony Blair -
nobody in the MDC holds such a brief. To that extent, I do not seek to
answer for or to explain anything which might have been said in the House of
Commons by Mr Blair. What I seek is to explain for the benefit of Mr
Chiyangwa and others who might be ignorant of the fact, the MDC position of
the issues that were raised in the motion. I wish also to exclaim the
statement attributed to me, its context and its meaning.
Mr Speaker,
MDC is not a party of traitors. It is not a party which is a puppet of
imperialists. The MDC is a party born out of the aspirations and struggles
of the people of this country. It is a party which seeks to achieve
aspirations of the people of this country for a better life, prosperity,
freedom and for liberty.
I will take reference to the issue of sanctions
and be very clear about it. It is a matter of public record that the MDC is
opposed, has always opposed and will always oppose the imposition of
sanctions is has been articulated over and over again and let with those ears
hear.
Mr Speaker, the MDC is not and will not - contrary to the
allegations which have been coming from the other side - advocating for the
cutting of any electricity to Zimbabwe and that is a fact. Hon. Chiyangwa
alleges that the MDC has sought and seeks regime change in Zimbabwe. Yes, he
is correct. The very purpose of the existence of the MDC is to effect regime
change, otherwise there would be no point of the existence of the political
party. However, Hon. Chiyangwa is wrong, very wrong when he imputed on the
MDC a desire to effect regime change by unlawful means.
And indeed Mr
Speaker, let us make this point very clear. If the ZANU PF Government were
to contact an election tomorrow which is free and fair and which we would do,
we would be the first ones to congratulate them for their victory. Mr
Speaker, we are saying allow the people of Zimbabwe to be free from the
violence of the youth militias, to vote over one day and we are further
saying allow their votes to be counted without cheating and we would have no
quarrel with Hon. members on the other side of the House if that were the
case.
MR. SPEAKER: I will provide you with excellent guidance. The mover
of the motion will close the debate when it has finished. Just now nobody
stood to debate and he has the right to stand up and close.
MR.
CHIYANGWA: Tony Blair, in public and openly on the 14th of June, 2004 in the
House of Commons, declared that he was working with the MDC. It
was declaration that he owns MDC. Debates in the House of Commons are
normally flighted on email and internet worldwide. At that juncture he was
openly declaring that MDC is owned by Tony Blair, his Government and the
British.
It has been my concern since yesterday when the motion was
started to be debated that I would hear members on the opposite side openly
disowns Blair but they did not. You have failed to disown him after I gave
you two days to debate your relationship whether or not you are working with
the British Government. You have failed to demonstrate that you are not
working with this Government to undermine this government.
It is
therefore that I find most of the contributions from the opposite side have
only gone to confirm that the opposition in this country is designed and
structured in such a way as to create havoc and otherwise to promote
the intentions of the British which is to promote the question of sanctions
to the poor people of this country. I now call upon this House to
investigate thoroughly the members from the opposite side and at the same
time having found that there exists collusion which is designed to undermine
the sovereignty of Zimbabwe that such members be dragged before the courts
and the law takes its course.
I move that the motion standing in my
name be adopted in its entirety. I so move.
Bell rung.
House
divided.
Ayes - 53: Bidi Chief; Bushu Chief; Chapfika D; Charumbira
Chief; Chigumba C; Chimombe Chief G M; Chinamasa P A; Chindanya J J;
Chiyangwa P; Gombo I M C; Dokora L D K; Goche N T ; Gumbo R A N ; Hama Chief
J Z; Kangai K M; Karimanzira D; Khumalo M; Mackenzie I; Made J; Madzongwe E;
Mahofa S B; Makova C W; MalabaD C; Mangwana M P; Mangwende Chief J; Mangwende
W P M; Manyika E T; Marumahoko R; Masuku A; Matiza B; Mazikana P H ; Midzi A
B; Mkhandla E; Prof. Moyo; Moyo July; Mpofu O M ; Muchena O N; Mugabe S;
Mujuru J T; Mukota Chief E J; Mutiwekuziva K K; Mutsauri W; Ncube D M;
Nyauchi E; Nyoni S; Paradza K; Shumba G M; Sikalenge Chief B C; Tungamirai J;
Ziyambi Z - Tellers: Gombo J, Kaukonde R
Noes - 25: Chaibva G;
Chebundo B; Coltart D; Gabbuzza J G; Gwetu M; Khumalo J B; Madzimure W;
Malinga A M; Mdlongwa E; Mlambo MM; Makhalera T L; Mukwecheni S; Mungofa P;
Mutsekwa G; Prof. Ncube W; Ndlovu M; Nyathi P T, Nyoni P; Sansole J; Shoko G
M; Sikhala J;Thabane J M; Zwizwai M; - Tellers: Gonese I; Stevenson L. G.
B