Crumbling Mugabe power base fuelling ZANU PF infighting

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
12 June 2012

The crumbling of Robert Mugabe’s power base and the interference of
ambitious army generals is behind the vicious infighting and violence that
has marred ZANU PF district coordinating committees (DCC), a political
analyst has told SW Radio Africa.

Attempts to elect committees in Mashonaland East, West and Central provinces
have mostly ended in violent scuffles. The latest incident involved Joel
Mujuru, brother to the late army general Solomon Mujuru. He was nearly
assaulted in Mudzi South last Friday after allegedly trying to impose
election candidates.

ZANU PF is reportedly “battling to come up with structures in different
parts of the country” even after the party resumed fresh DCC elections after
the chaos that marred the previous attempts. Various factions in the party
are jockeying for power and the elections have become fertile battlegrounds
to flex their political muscles.

Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya told SW Radio Africa: “The centre of
power in ZANU PF, as epitomised by President Mugabe, is crumbling. I say so
because during Mugabe’s heydays, when Mugabe was still fit, when Mugabe’s
faculties were operating properly, nothing of this nature was taking place.”

Ruhanya said there are a lot of factions within ZANU PF who are waiting to
take over from Mugabe and the situation had been compounded by ambitious
generals who are also eyeing the presidency once he leaves the scene. It is
this mix which has fuelled the vicious infighting and chaos in the party.

Ruhanya also pointed to the involvement of people like retired Air vice
Marshall Henry Muchena who are said to be helping restructure ZANU PF’s
structures on the ground. “ZANU PF is no longer a factor because of these
squabbles. The military going into politics to restructure the party is at
the centre of the chaos.”

“What is critical to observe, given chaos in ZANU PF and the position of
SADC, is that it is clear ZANU PF is in chaos at both regional and national
level. The democratic forces in the country should seize this moment and
expose the real power behind the regime (military) and tackle them
 properly,” Ruhanya added.

Last week Lindiwe Zulu, President Jacob Zuma’s foreign policy advisor and a
member of South Africa’s facilitation team, told her country’s e-news
television channel that Zimbabwe should have security sector re-alignment.

‘Let me make it clear, this is not a creation of externals. It is part of
the GPA and it must be implemented before elections are held. SADC was very
clear that all reforms and processes should be fulfilled before Zimbabwe
goes for elections.

‘We cannot have a repeat of the 2008 election. It is very important that we
have elections that are acceptable to all the parties as well as acceptable
by SADC and AU,’ Zulu said. Many others echoed the same sentiments saying it
was not just about having elections but about whether a transfer of power
would be allowed.

Chinese fear early Zimbabwe polls

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

Phillip Chidavaenzi 9 hours 4 minutes ago

Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Xin Shunkang, yesterday said
members of the Chinese business community in the country were getting
jittery over President Robert Mugabe’s push for early elections which he
said were likely to plunge the country into political turmoil.

Addressing guests during his government’s donation of information technology
(IT) equipment to Senate President Edna Madzongwe and House of Assembly
Speaker Lovemore Moyo, Shunkang — whose diplomatic assignment to Zimbabwe
ends on June 17 — said he had, however, assured the Chinese community such
chaos would be avoided if they work together with Zimbabwe in ensuring peace
and stability.

“Last night (Sunday), during a meeting with the Chinese commercial people,
they were worried about elections — that there may be turbulence. But I said
‘Don’t be afraid of the turbulence’. Let us look at how we can help the
country avoid it,” he said.

President Mugabe and Zanu PF have
declared the Chinese as their “all-weather friends” and have pushed a
deliberate Look East policy instructed by this friendship.

Mugabe and his party have made it clear they want elections held this year,
with or without a new constitution, and only appeared to have been stopped
to reconsider by the recent Sadc summit.

Sadc ordered Zimbabwe’s three principals in the inclusive government to
fully implement key reforms before pushing for elections.

Shunkang said he had ensured that Chinese businesspeople in Zimbabwe secured
whatever assistance they needed, including access to government officials.
He said as his tenure comes to an end, he was satisfied with the
relationship created by the Zimbabwean and Chinese legislative houses.

“I am leaving this Sunday, satisfied by the bilateral relationships created
between our two parliaments,” he said.

Moyo hailed the donation, which included five laptops, 20 LG printers, 10
television sets and 20 scanners, saying it would go a long way in
mordenising the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

“Some of us are quite illiterate when it comes to laptops. I hope I will be
able to increase my knowledge on how best one can utilise the machine for
the best for myself and Parliament as a whole,” he said. - NewsDay

China ready to dump warring Zanu-PF for MDC-T

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

By Staff Reporter 1 hour ago

China has committed to investing in Zimbabwe’s failing water, power and
transportation infrastructure, after a recent meeting with Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai and government ministers Gordon Moyo and Samuel Sipepa
Nkomo in Bejing.

During the visit, Tsvangirai told Chinese officials that Zimbabwe needed
assistance to begin “an aggressive program of infrastructure
 rehabilitation.”

Nkomo, the Water Resource Development and Management minister in Zimbabwe,
said Chinese capital and expertise were essential to the development of new
hydro-electric projects to raise Zimbabwe’s power generation capabilities,
and help solve Matabeleland’s perennial water problems. While in China,
Nkomo signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese
government, which would allow a Chinese company to work on a variety of
projects including irrigation systems.

“Sino-Hydro (a Chinese company) will be coming to look at Takanda dam near
Nyamapanda, with a view to constructing a hydro-electric project to produce
3,000 megawatts of electricity,” Nkomo announced. “Zimbabwe has more than
200 large dams and there is the potential to construct hydro-electric
schemes to boost our electricity output.”

Chinese Water Resources minister Chen Lei extended an invitation for Nkomo
to return in September, to discuss another MoU to assist Zimbabwe’s
capacity-building programs.

Moyo, Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals in Zimbabwe, said they
met with several Chinese state enterprises (Seps), including China Machinery
and Engineering Corporation, Sino-Sure and Hyrdro-Sino, who are currently
involved in power-generation projects with the Zambian Government in Kariba
North.

“The strength of China is in its well-managed and well-resourced Seps,” said
Moyo. “We went there to understand their model as they are also coming from
a background where Seps were loss-making, poorly managed and infested by
corruption. We went there to understand how they transformed these Seps to
technological success.”

With China expected to becoming the world’s largest economy in the next
decade, Tsvangirai’s visit may have greater importance in the political
landscape. Zimbabwe’s current president, Robert Mugabe and the ruling Zanu
PF party have come under increased scrutiny, and it is very possible that
Tsvangirai will become the country’s next leader. In the country’s 2008
elections Tsvangirai led polls in the popular election, but withdrew due to
government violence and intimidation against citizens.

Tsvangirai gave a speech at the Sino-African trade in Serves and Investment
Forum in Beijing on May 29th, assuring Chinese investors of government
protection, but also stressed that investments must give the maximum benefit
to Zimbabweans.

Two SADC Officials Join Jomic

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, June 12, 2012 – The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
has seconded its two representatives to Zimbabwe’s Joint Monitoring and
Implementation Committee (Jomic), putting paid to months of Zanu (PF)’s
resistance to have foreigners drafted into the multi-party group.

The two are Ambassador David Katye from Tanzania and Colly Muunyu, a Zambian
national.

Political counsellor at the South African embassy in Zimbabwe, Andy Makwabe,
said: “The two ambassadors are in the country and are ready to be deployed
in Jomic.  They arrived separately in Harare with President Jacob Zuma’s
facilitation team.”

The secondment of the two officials to Jomic was a decision arrived at
during last year’s SADC Troika summit in Livingstone, Zambia where regional
leaders demanded an end to recurrent political violence in Zimbabwe.

The two foreign nationals shall also work with President Zuma’s facilitation
team.

President Mugabe's Zanu (PF) has been resisting their deployment to
Zimbabwe, insisting the secondment of foreigners into Jomic would infringe
on the country's sovereignty.

Jomic, the offspring of the country’s inclusive process, is tasked with
monitoring and documenting violations of the Global Political Agreement
(GPA), which gave birth to the current inclusive government.

But the group, which comprises politicians from the three political parties
in Zimbabwe’s coalition government, has been dismissed as ineffective since
it does not have any legal instrument that gives it teeth.

S.African Facilitators Back in Harare to Goad Ruling Partners on Reform

http://www.voanews.com

11 June 2012

Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington DC

South African facilitators were back in Harare Monday to further prod unity
government partners to implement broad democratic reforms, following up on a
regional summit in Angola last week that virtually undercut President Robert
Mugabe's plans to call elections this year.

The facilitation team, comprised of President Jacob Zuma’s spokesman, Marc
Maharaj and Charles Ngqakula, also met with officials from small political
parties outside the government, including Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, MDC99, Zapu
and Zanu Ndonga.

Sources told VOA the meeting was part of Zuma’s new approach to keep the
momentum on the Zimbabwe question as recommended by Southern African
Development Community, or Sadc leaders meeting in summit last week.

Maharaj and Ngqakula reportedly promised that a team recommended by the Sadc
Troika last year, will finally be dispatched to Harare in the next week, to
work with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee on various
issues.

Sadc Troika members - South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia - will forward a
member each to the implementation committee. President Mugabe's Zanu PF has
publicly opposed this move, but the party's negotiators raised no such
objections in Monday's meetings, a source said.

Zanu PF and MDC representatives were said to have fully bought into a
proposal by Zuma's facilitators that a high-level organ involving officials
in Harare and Pretoria be set up to oversee the consummation of the
power-sharing accord and other reforms.

Party negotiators Tendai Biti and Jameson Timba represented the MDC
formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai while Moses Mzila Ndlovu and
Priscillar Misihairambwi-Mushonga stood in for the Welshman Ncube wing.

Zanu PF was represented by Emmerson Mnangwagwa and Nicholas Goche, both
described by observers as some of the hardliners resisting political reform.

Mzila Ndlovu told VOA's Studio 7 all the negotiators were agreed that there
is need to move fast on implementing political reforms before the next
election, possible by June next year when the lifespan of the unity
government comes to an end.

Weary of Zimbabwe's protracted political crisis, regional leaders urged the
unity partners last week to "set out time frames for the full implementation
of the roadmap to elections" and to "finalize the constitution-making
process and subject it to a referendum."

Commenting, political analyst, Briggs Bomba told VOA reporter Ntungamili
Nkomo Harare should implement all necessary reforms ahead of the vote that
Mugabe and Zanu PF have insisted should be held this year with or without a
new constitution.

Mugabe argues the power-sharing arrangement has become unworkable, blaming
it on his ruling partners. But on the other hand, the MDC blames him and his
party for blocking political reforms that promote a free and fair election.

Zuma expected to meet other political parties outside GPA

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
12 June 2012

President Jacob Zuma will meet representatives of opposition parties outside
the inclusive government, when he visits Zimbabwe at the end of June, the
president of the MDC99 said on Tuesday.

Job Sikhala said following their three hour meeting with the South African
facilitation team in Harare on Monday, it was agreed other parties outside
the GPA had a role to play in the future of Zimbabwe.

‘We met President Zuma’s facilitation team and agreed on a number of subject
issues. We all agreed that there mustn’t be any exclusion of any political
parties in the development of our country.

‘We also told them that parties outside the GPA should have a role to play
in the drawing up of an election roadmap because it’s not only ZANU PF and
the MDC’s that will participate in the next poll,’ Sikhala said.

The outspoken and former student leader told SW Radio Africa that they made
it clear to the facilitation team that any attempts to railroad elections
this year without reforms is a recipe for disaster.

‘In a nutshell, after our presentation, it was also agreed in principle to
include us in future SADC summits that discuss Zimbabwe and that we will
have an opportunity to present our dossier to President Zuma when he visits
Harare at the end of the month,’ he said.

Sikhala continued: ‘I must however emphasize that we are not interested in
issues of governance, but interested in issues of transformation and issues
to do with the future of our great nation.’

The MDC99, ZAPU, ZANU Ndonga and Democratic Party representatives met with
Mac Maharaj and Charles Nqakula from Zuma’s facilitation team, plus the
South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vusi Mavimbela, and other embassy
officials.

The team flew into the country on Monday and quickly went into meetings with
negotiators fom the three parties in the inclusive government.

The meeting was meant to prepare the agenda for Zuma’s visit, when he is
expected to meet party principals. The facilitation team is expected back in
Harare on June 25th.

Between now and then the negotiators will have a series of meetings to try
and resolve remaining issues in the GPA, discuss the constitutional making
process as well as work on finalizing the election roadmap.

Anything outstanding will have to be dealt with by the principals, with the
help of Zuma.

Zimbabwe wildlife gem taken over by settlers

http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2012/zimbabwe-wildlife-gem-taken-over-by-settlers/

 

Kevin Heath June 12, 2012

elephant (credit: Mara 1)

About 500 Zan PF supporters have taken over one of Zimbabwe’s  most precious wildlife gems the Ruware Ranch in the Chiredzi River Conservancy. While the land was set aside for resettlement about 12 years ago it is only in the last week that the settlers have moved in.

The move led by a war veteran named Cde Shorty involved 360 families of mainly government workers being given 6 hectares of land each of settlement.

While no reasonable person can be against Zimbabweans reclaiming land that was stolen from them during the occupation by colonial forces there are concerns that the  latest resettlement in Ruware Ranch will have devastating impacts on the wildlife found within the area.

My ministry is no longer responsible for allocating land in conservancies. The ministry handed over conservancies which include Chiredzi River Conservancy, Gwaai Valley Conserv-ancy, Save Valley Conservancy, Midlands Black Rhino Conser-vancy, Malilangwe Conservancy, Bubi Intensive Conservancy and Bubiana Conservancy and from 2007, resettlement was handled by that ministry.

Wildlife conservancies and ranches have until recently been left relatively unaffected by the fast track land reforms in Zimbabwe. That change in March last year when government officials stated that wildlife ranches were to become part of the reforms.

Parks and Wildlife Authority Director-General, Vitalis Chadenga, described the new policy as ‘one of the unfinished businesses of the land reform program’.

One of the concerns with the settlement of the Ruware Ranch is that it appears to be headed and supported by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement. However since 2007 wildlife conservancies and resettlement are supposed to be organised and managed by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management.

In February Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement Secretary Sophia Tsvakwi said before a Zimbabwean parliamentary committee, ”My ministry is no longer responsible for allocating land in conservancies. The ministry handed over conservancies which include Chiredzi River Conservancy, Gwaai Valley Conserv-ancy, Save Valley Conservancy, Midlands Black Rhino Conser-vancy, Malilangwe Conservancy, Bubi Intensive Conservancy and Bubiana Conservancy and from 2007, resettlement was handled by that ministry,“

The redistribution of wildlife based lands in proving to be difficult and complex. Over 28% of Zimbabwe’s land-cover is allocated to wildlife – either government backed parks and reserves or privately owned ranches and conservancies.

The wildlife conservancies are owned predominately by white farmers who are supposed to be working in partnership with Zimbabwean blacks but many have refused to voluntarily take part in the land and share redistribution and they are challenging the need to take part in the courts.

This has led to some to call for all wildlife land including the conservancies to be taken over by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management. The ministry would then be able offer the land out on a tender basis for the leases.

 

Zanu PF, Police and office of the Registrar General's vote rigging plot exposed

http://www.mdc.co.zw/

Tuesday, 12 June 2012 08:22

Zanu PF’s dirty tactics have reached the apex as the sunset party tries to
survive the coming elections.
So desperate is Zanu PF that it has resorted to force-march people to attend
its meetings at Holland in Kuwadzana 6.

The call by Zanu PF for elections to be held this year has seen the party
reinventing its campaign machinery using a method reminiscent of the 2008
scenario. Groups of youths are deployed every weekend to force-march
residents in Kuwadzana 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to Zanu PF meetings. Most affected
are vendors who on many occasions have been punished for not attending the
gatherings.

Residents are worried by the daylight vote rigging mechanics of the police,
Zanu PF and the registra general’s office as they question the holy alliance
of the three  establishments  at Holland only.

“We do not have a choice but to attend these meeting, otherwise we will not
be allowed to sell anything. If we don’t attend, they will destroy our
stalls,” said Chenai, a vendor at Kuwadzana 5 shopping centre.

Some residents were not at liberty to discuss the issue of forced
participation as they claim the police are aware of such activities.

Adjacent to the police and the Zanu PF offices is the National Registration
office which residents say is used to register voters only seconded by Zanu
PF party’s structures. One Bopoto said he was referred to KG6 for him to
recover his lost identity document as the office can only serve those born
after 1990 which officers say is a cut-off date regarding the issuance of
national identity cards.

“Is this the new condition that when you want to replace your lost ID, you
go to KG6?” asked Bopoto.

According to Edmore Tembo who has been following the exercise, “This is a
way of rigging elections by Zanu PF. People are being bussed in from Zvimba
East and White Cliff, a strategy Zanu PF believes will neutralise MDC
dominance in Harare.”

However it has not been established what other political players think about
this latest development which is a threat to democratic principles that lead
to free and fair elections.

Addressing a public seminar organised by Sapes Trust on Thursday, Patrick
Chinamasa said he predicts war in Zimbabwe. His provocative, reckless talk
is reflective of his party’s actions.

The people’s struggle for real change: Let’s finish it!!!

Zimbabwe fast sliding into a police state

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
12 June 2012

Zimbabwe is fast descending into a totalitarian and repressive police state,
to a point were even a social gathering leads to high-handed police arrests,
a top human rights lawyer has said.

Andrew Makoni, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR),
also accused the government of using the police to control the day-to-day
lives of Zimbabweans. He said that the tentacles of the police have spread
to all facets of life.

Speaking to the media following recent episodes of police brutality Makoni
said that from his perspective, what is happening in Zimbabwe is the
creation of a police state.

‘Wherever you go, whatever the activity might be, you must notify the
police. More and more activities are being regulated by the police, whether
it is political or private. Many Zimbabweans are now questioning whether
Zimbabwe has just become a police state,’ Makoni is quoted as saying.

Over the years, Zimbabwe has witnessed a sustained campaign of unprovoked
police brutality on innocent and defenceless citizens throughout the
country.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai warned that Zimbabwe was
sliding into a police state after police banned a rally he was due to
address.

‘It appears to me that the civilian authority is being undermined and we are
fast deteriorating into a police state,’ Tsvangirai said.

Tsvangirai has long accused the country’s security forces of arbitrary
arrests, mainly against his supporters. Between January and March this year
police have stopped dozens of meetings organised by MDC supporters.

Police invoke POSA to stop Jubilee celebration

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
12 June 2012

Attempts by a group of elderly Brits in Zimbabwe to hold celebrations for
the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in Harare last week were quashed by the police
who invoked the repressive Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

According to reports, a planned celebratory picnic on a farm outside Harare
by the Royal Society of St George was banned, allegedly because “a crowd of
whites waving the Union Jack on a white-owned farm would provoke trouble
among local ZANU PF militants.”

Brian Heathcote the president of the society refused to comment on the
matter when asked by journalists, but a report in the Zimbabwe Standard
newspaper said: “The society’s committee emailed its members on Friday to
tell them that “we will not be allowed to hold our picnic to celebrate the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”

The new British Ambassador, Deborah Bronnert, was expected to have attended
the celebrations. The matter highlights once again the abuse of POSA by the
police and the Mugabe regime. Even under the repressive requirements of the
Act, no police permission is required for private gatherings on private
property.

Glen View murder trial postponed as judge fails to show up

http://www.mdc.co.zw/

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

The High Court murder trial of the 29 MDC members failed to kick-off today
after the trial judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu is claimed to have attended
a funeral.

The 29 members are facing false charges of murder and public violence in
Glen View, Harare and their trial started on Monday last week with four
State witnesses testifying.

The State has lined up 20 witnesses. The trial is expected to resume
tomorrow at 10am.

The people’s struggle for real change – Let’s finish!!!

The MDC Today - Issue 374

http://www.mdc.co.zw/

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

A Mutare State prosecutor, Janrose Matsikidze on Monday refused to bring to
court, Mutare senator, Hon. Keresensia Chabuka who is facing flimsy charges
of illegally possessing live rounds of ammunition describing the charges as
weak.

The senator who is the MDC Women’s Assembly provincial chairperson was
arrested after the police claimed to have found live bullets in a box of
syringes the legislator had donated to Chipfatsura Clinic in Odzi, Mutare
North early this year.

Senator Chabuka and Gabriel Chiwara, the MDC’s district chairperson for
Mutare North were charged with contravening the Firearms Act with the police
claiming that they had found “two 9mm live rounds of ammunition” in one of
the four donated boxes of syringes.

However, at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts, prosecutor Matsikidze declined
to prosecute and referred the matter back to the police for further
investigations after agreeing with defence lawyers that the allegations
against Senator Chabuka and Chiwara were weak.

Last month, Martin Muchiruka, the councillor for Ward 4 in Mutare North was
arrested by members of the Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) for
the same offence.

He was detained and interrogated by the police for two nights at Odzi Police
Station before being transferred to Mutare Central Police Station where he
was further incarcerated until he was freed.

The people’s struggle for real change – Let’s finish!!!

Mnangagwa exhibits unprofessionalism

http://www.mdc.co.zw/

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

The MDC views threats by Defence minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa that he will
send army generals to Honourable Biti’s office as unprofessional and a
serious threat on the Finance Minister’s life.

Mnangagwa threatened Hon Biti during the Council of Ministers last week.
Zimbabwean securocrats have openly declared their allegiance to Zanu PF and
their threats to confront Minister Biti is nothing but political. In recent
days, those who have acted contrary to the laws of the land which stipulate
that security forces should be apolitical include Douglas Nyikayaramba,
Martin Chedondo and Trust Mugova, all major generals in the army.

Mnangagwa’s comments are also in sync with the violent nature of Zanu PF and
serves no purpose other than inciting violence against the minister. In the
past, we have witnessed human rights violations perpetrated on members of
the MDC, civic society and ordinary people by the former ruling party with
the aid of State security agents. This is more pronounced as the nation
prepares for elections. This must stop.

The statement by the Defence minister is in bad taste as it comes barely two
weeks after the murder of Cephas Magura, MDC Mudzi North chairman by Zanu PF
thugs. The country has already started recording an increase in cases of
politically-motivated violence and we must rely on the likes of Mnangagwa,
as senior a government official to denounce unruly behavior.

Human rights violations should never be tolerated in a civilized society,
more so when they are perpetrated on civilians by soldiers. Therefore,
intimidation of any member of the society by soldiers should be strongly
condemned.

Mnangagwa’s utterances disregard the call by the United Nations Human Rights
Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay to end violations when she visited the
country last month. The UN envoy’s statement was supported by SADC at the
just-ended summit when the regional body directed that violence be stemmed
before elections are held in the country so as to, among other things
guarantee the secrecy of the voter as well as the security of the vote and
voter.

Minister Biti is on record saying he will increase civil servants’ salaries
if diamond revenue improves. Threats will not produce the money from Hon
Biti as there is no such money in the Treasury.

In his March 2012 report, Minister Biti revealed that the Ministry of
Finance is yet to receive a cent from Zimbabwe’s largest diamond mining
company. But for Mnangagwa to demand $2,5 million for the employment of 5000
more soldiers at a time the majority of those who are already in service are
getting less than the poverty datum line is irresponsible.

Mnangagwa should know better where money from Anjin is going as the mining
giant is staffed by former security personnel of all ranks. There are even
fears that proceeds from Anjin’s activities in Chiadzwa are being used to
finance a parallel government in the country.

We urge Mnangagwa and all securocrats to respect Hon Biti and his office.
Failure to do so means that they are failing to recognize the Global
Political Agreement signed by the three principals which resulted in
Minister Biti and others occupying their offices. The Defence minister must
know that there are other means of solving challenges other than by threats
and intimidation.

The MDC is a people-driven party which takes Zimbabweans’ interest seriously
and would do everything possible to make sure that the lives of civil
servants and ordinary citizens improve.

The people’s struggle for real change – Let’s finish!!!

MDC Leader Facing Charges of Insulting Mugabe Denied Bail

http://www.radiovop.com/

Plumtree, June 12, 2012- A Plumtree magistrate has denied the Matabeleland
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) youth assembly leader, Morgan Ncube,
bail for likening President Robert Mugabe to a baboon on grounds that he is
a threat to national peace.

Ncube, who is also a Beitbridge councilor, was remanded in custody to June
22 when he appeared before Magistrate Stephen Mavhuna on Monday at the
Plumtree Magistrates Court.

Liberty Mcijo, from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Lawyer (ZLHR), who
is representing Ncube, told Radio VOP that Magistrate Mavhuna “in his
arguments to deny Ncube bail, said the MDC T youth leader was a threat to
national peace and was likely to cause riots with such Mugabe baboon jibes.

Ncube was arrested on June 06 by Matabeleland South police for the Mugabe
baboon statements that he reportedly uttered during an MDC T rally held at
Stanmore in Gwanda on June 02.

It is an offence under Zimbabwe’s tough security laws to undermine or insult
Mugabe, the only ruler Zimbabweans have ever known since the country’s
independence from Britain 30 years ago.

Mugabe ‘panicking’ over SA court ruling

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
12 June 2012

Robert Mugabe’s angry attack on a South African judge, who handed down a
landmark ruling on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, is a sign of the ageing
dictator’s ‘panic’.

This is according to Zimbabwe’s Deputy Justice Minister Obert Gutu, who said
on Tuesday that the ruling will leave no place to hide for human rights
abusers, and this is why ZANU PF is reacting with such anger and hostility.

The ruling last month said that South Africa must investigate
state-sanctioned torture and other crimes against humanity at the hands of
Zimbabwean officials in 2007. The ruling is being described as ‘landmark’
for local and international justice, because it means accused ZANU PF
officials can be arrested and tried in South Africa for crimes they
committed in Zimbabwe.

The ruling is the result of a case launched in March by the Southern Africa
Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum. The two groups had
asked the High Court to review and set aside a decision made by South Africa’s
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the police not to investigate
Zimbabwean officials linked to acts of state-sanctioned torture.

ZANU PF has dismissed the ruling as ‘irrelevant’ and the party’s Justice
Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, last month said it was only a ‘general’
judgement without specifics.

“The ruling brings the South African justice system into disrepute,”
Chinamasa said, adding: “It is a sad moment for the justice system in South
Africa.”

Mugabe has since also expressed his anger, telling a convention in Harare
last week that the ruling was like a second “apartheid”. Describing the
presiding Judge Hans Fabricius in derogatory terms as a “boer”, Mugabe urged
South Africa’s ruling ANC to “apply every means at their disposal” to stop
the investigation that has been ordered.

The ZANU PF leader told a group of African liberation movements that the
ruling was the work of people “still in our midst yearning for the old
 flags” and who want to replace ‘revolutionary movements’ with “malleable
stooges.”
The MDC-T’s Gutu told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that this reaction is
unsurprising, “because they (ZANU PF) are aware now that the net is
 closing.” He explained that the impunity that Mugabe’s party has enjoyed
for so many years is coming to an end, saying the South African ruling is a
welcome, important decision.

“Those with skeletons in their closet are very worried, because the chickens
are now coming home to roost. They are hiding behind the excuse of the
colour of the judge instead of looking at the content of the judgement,
which is very strong,” Gutu said.

Mugabe overrides tender procedures

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Chengetai Zvauya, Parliamentary Editor
Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:43

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe instructed the State Procurement Board to
override procedures in the building of a military college being funded
through diamond proceeds.

Presenting oral evidence before the parliamentary portfolio committee on
Finance, Budget, Investment and Promotion, executive chairperson of the
State Procurement Board, Charles Kuwaza, said yesterday the body was not
involved in giving the Chinese the tender to construct the Zimbabwe Defence
College in Mazowe.

“We are not involved in the tender of that project and it was a directive
from the President’s
office as you know that we follow the government’s “Look East Policy” so we
just followed instructions without going to tender,” said Kuwaza.

Paddy Zhanda, chairperson of the committee, had asked Kuwaza on state
procurement procedures.

Zhanda questioned why the Chinese company that is building the defence
college is supplying everything, including materials that can be locally
produced like wheelbarrows and labour.

Kuwaza told the committee that politics is at play in dealing with the
Chinese companies.

“I do not have much to say. It is the instruction from the President and we
are answerable to him,” said Kuwaza.

Zimbabwe’s Parliament approved the deal involving a $100 million loan from
China to build a military college just outside Harare, funded by cash flows
from Anjin Investments, a diamond joint venture between the Zimbabwean
government and a Chinese construction company Anhui Foreign Economic
Construction Group.

Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Xian Shunkang said business
people from his country who are keen to invest in Zimbabwe, are jittery
because of looming elections.

Speaking during a handover of computer equipment to Parliament yesterday
morning, Shinkangu said: “I have been approached by many people in China who
ask me whether it is safe to invest in the country because of the political
turbulence during election time. We want peace during that time,” said
Shunkang.

China has become one of the major investors in the country for the past
decade after Zimbabwe fell out with Western countries.

Constitution Committee Meets Over New Zanu PF Demands

http://www.voanews.com

11 June 2012

Jonga Kandemiiri | Washington

Zimbabwe's parliamentary committee writing the country's new constitution
met in Harare Monday in a heated meeting to discuss outstanding issues
stalling the constitution-writing process and prepare a report for the
management committee, hoping negotiators from the three governing parties
can help unlock the gridlock.

Among the issues tabled for discussion was Zanu PF’s attempt to, according
to the two MDC formations, hijack the process by coming up with a position
paper that is demanding wholesome changes to the draft.

Among the changes Zanu PF was clamoring for is giving more executive powers
to the president, allow him or her to send soldiers to war without
parliamentary approval, the removal of a law that has to do with political
violence, and the National Prosecution Authority.

The party was said to be also demanding that the army be allowed to have an
active role in the country’s politics and rejecting devolution of power.

Deputy secretary for Constitution and Parliamentary Affairs Jessie Majome of
the Tsvangirai MDC told VOA reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that the other parties
in the inclusive government were totally opposed to Zanu PF’s demands.

Multi-Million Deal Between Zimbabwe's Social Security Body, Bank in Jeopardy

http://www.voanews.com

11 June 2012

Gibbs Dube | Washington

An $18 million deal sealed early this year by Zimbabwe’s social security
authority and the troubled Renaissance Merchant Bank hangs in the balance
following a court ruling that the board of the bank which conducted the
transaction had been relieved of its duties.

Attorney Thabani Mpofu, representing deposed Renaissance Bank chief
executive Patterson Timba, successfully challenged the legality of the board
resulting in the High Court on Friday granting a final order barring the
board from conducting any business linked with the bank.

Mpofu said the ruling effectively means that the deal signed by the National
Social Security Authority (NASSA) and the bank is now in jeopardy.

“The court is yet to make a determination on the legality of the NASSA deal
which now stands on shaky grounds,” said Mpofu.

NASSA executives and attorneys representing the board were not available for
comment.

The state-controlled entity injected $10 million into the bank and converted
to equity an $8.5 million loan to the bank which it failed to repay.

The bank was place under curatorship last year after Timba and his
colleagues were accused of abusing depositors’ funds and conducting non-core
business activities including the purchase of fuel for local consumers.

Secretary General, Japhet Moyo, of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions led
by George Nkiwane said his organization is worried about workers’ funds
being allegedly mishandled by NASSA.

Electricity Shortage Hits Mpilo

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo has been without electricity since Sunday
following an electrical fault which resulted in the blackout.
12.06.1202:03pm
by Zwanai Sithole Harare

Sources at the hospital told the Zimbabwean that critical patients at the
referral centre have been transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals
(UBH).

"A major power cable caught fire on Sunday evening resulting in a power
blackout which has affected the whole hospital. The hospital is now using
generators for critical units such as the intensive care and maternity
wards," said a doctor at the hospital who refused to be named.

He said the hospital is spending about 400 litres of fuel per day running
the heavy duty generators which are also being used for cooking purposes.

The generators are costly to run but there is no other option because some
units cannot function without electricity. We hope the fault will be
rectified as soon as possible," he said.

Doctors are beyond our reach

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/7682

June 12th, 2012

The coming of a multiple currencies in Zimbabwe was a blessing in disguise
for some people and companies, but for the ordinary man it has brought more
suffering.

In a country where the majority are surviving on less than a dollar a day
trying to stay healthy become even more difficult as people cannot afford to
go for medical treatment.  The price of basic health has rocketed and
sometimes increases are levied on a regular basis.

There is simply no point in going to a hospital or clinic as these
institutions are in a state of advanced decay but a visit to consult a
private doctor costs not less than $40.  If you need medication the
hospitals are unable to provide it for free.  Just the other day someone I
know in the rural areas had to buy her mother, who is a patient at a rural
hospital, liquid paraffin to alleviate acute constipation.  Someone else I
know was given a prescription from the hospital to purchase his own
paracetamol.

Even if you can afford to join a medical aid, in the case of an emergency
one is asked to pay a minimum of $600 before admission to any of the country’s
struggling private hospitals.  After admission the bills just roll in, with
specialists, surgeons and anaesthetists charging prices way above their
colleagues in neighbouring countries.  Some patients have to opt to be
discharged without treatment, as they are likely to be detained if they
cannot settle their bills.

Then there is another friend of mine whose company deducted payment for his
contribution to the company’s medical aid scheme from his salary, but sadly
the company kept the money and failed to pay anything into the medical aid
society.  Imagine how he felt when he was turned away from the hospital when
his daughter had a problem.

But doctors are also being duped, with frequent stories whereby the medical
aid societies are not making bona fide payments for treatment rendered.  As
a result medical practitioners refuse to accept medical aid cards and
patients have to pay cash up front.

Zimbabwean medical aid societies are actively encouraging patients to travel
to India as surgical procedures are far cheaper in that country.  I for one
would be terrified to travel to a foreign country for treatment, a place
where I know nobody.

So it never pours for patients in my country as no one knows how to control
the US dollar and nobody knows how much it’s really worth in the
international scheme of things.

This entry was posted by Bob Gondo on Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 at 8:14 am

What kind of citizens will Zimbabwean children develop into…?