Zimbabwe, Implats agree on 51 pct stake transfer

http://af.reuters.com/

Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:40pm GMT

By Nelson Banya and Ed Stoddard

HARARE/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Impala Platinum, the world's second-biggest
platinum producer, has bowed to Zimbabwe's pressure to surrender a 51
percent stake in its Zimplats unit to local black investors, the company
announced on Tuesday.

The cave-in followed months of wrangling over the ownership requirement,
which has further jolted investor confidence in the southern African state.
The demand that foreign-owned companies, particularly miners, transfer a 51
percent stake in local operations to black investors was widely seen as a
populist tactic by President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party in the run-up to
elections expected later this year.

In a dramatic turnaround on Tuesday, Implats' chief executive David Brown,
who last year insisted that "51 percent equity just does not work," told a
news conference in Harare his company had accepted the requirement.

"Essentially we have found each other and that augurs well for the mining
industry in Zimbabwe," Brown said.

It remained unclear how the cash-strapped Zimbabwean government would pay
for the stake, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Implats decision is seen as putting pressure on other foreign mining
companies in Zimbabwe to follow suit. These include Mimosa, a 50-50 joint
venture between Implats and Aquarius Platinum, and Murowa diamond mine,
which is 78 percent controlled by Rio Tinto.

"It's a remarkable U-turn by Mr. Brown because only last week he was saying
there was no agreement and had previously said the 51 percent model could
not work," said Tony Hawkins, a professor at the University of Zimbabwe's
Graduate School of Business.

"With Zimplats having capitulated the other companies are going to be under
pressure too. But the next question obviously is where are they (the
government) going to get the money to pay for the value of the shares?" he
said.

A joint statement from the government and Implats said the 51 percent would
be broken down as follows: 10 percent to the community, another 10 percent
to Zimplats employees and 31 percent to the state's National Indigenisation
and Economic Empowerment Fund.

Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is leading the government drive
on the ownership issue, told Reuters after the press conference: "There's no
deadline on when the finer details of the transaction will be worked out."

"The details are about the value. How do they value the shares? All that is
to be worked out," he said.

"ASSET SEIZURE"

For Implats the stakes were high as its Zimplats' unit accounts for 10
percent of its output and it has just resolved a crippling illegal strike at
its South African Rustenburg operation which cost it 120,000 ounces in lost
output and 2.4 billion rand in revenue.

The spot price of platinum pushed above that of gold for the first time in
six months on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe, with the second-largest known platinum deposits in the world after
South Africa, is seen as a growth area for the sector. But analysts saw the
51 percent local ownership requirement hurting the country's investment
image.

"This will have a very negative impact on investor confidence and ultimately
it has to hurt them," said Gary van Staden, a political analyst with NKC
Independent Economists.

"If you can twist the arm of Implats then you can twist anyone's arm. This
is what awaits anyone who does not willingly submit to Harare's asset
seizure," he said.

Zimbabwe has said the policy is needed to redress the racial inequities of
past colonial rule, but the government's seizure of white-owned farmland
over the last decade has decimated commercial agriculture in what was once
described as the region's bread basket.

Zimbabwe became independent from Britain in 1980.

EU pushing for ‘re-engagement’ with Zimbabwe

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
13 March 2012

The European Union (EU) is reportedly pushing for re-engagement with
Zimbabwe to ‘normalise relations’, and has invited government officials for
‘dialogue’ in Brussels.

According to the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia, a letter of
invitation was sent to Robert Mugabe last month. Ambassador Dell’Ariccia
said the EU embassy in Harare had proposed dates for re-engagement meetings,
convenient to both sides. He said the dates had already been forwarded to
the EU headquarters for consideration.

The talks are now expected to resume at the end of this month or early next
month, although there has been no confirmation yet. Foreign Affairs
permanent secretary, Ambassador Joey Bimha, has been quoted by the state
owned Herald newspaper as saying that they were still waiting for an
official invitation from the EU’s Head of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton.

The EU’s relationship with Zimbabwe’s government has been strained ever
since the europeans placed the targeted sanctions on Mugabe, his inner
circle and other individuals and entities loyal to the regime. These
punitive measures were a result of violence, vote rigging and human rights
abuses that have yet to be addressed, despite the country now being run by a
coalition government.

A lack of reform by ZANU PF, as well as a lack of any meaningful change in
the country, has seen ‘shopping’ sanctions remain in place against the
regime over the last three years since the unity government was formed. But
the EU last month provoked criticism when it eased these measures, by
delisting 50 individuals and 20 entities from its list. The European bloc
said this was in recognition of ‘progress’ by the coalition.

ZANU PF maintains that the measures are illegal and damaging the country,
despite them being specifically targeted and in no way a sanction on the
country itself. It is now understood that a ZANU PF led ‘re-engagement’ team
has agreed that improved relations with the EU will depend on the total
lifting of the restrictive measures still in place.

Ministers up for theft

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Everson Mushava, Staff Writer
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 11:57

HARARE - Two Zanu PF ministers close to President Robert Mugabe face arrest
by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Zimbabwe (ACC) over theft of
Constituency Development Funds (CDF), it has been established.

High-level briefings to the Daily News yesterday revealed that President
Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have been briefed and are
not opposing arrests if the ACC has sufficient evidence.

The Daily News cannot name the ministers due to legal implications as
investigations are still in progress while the ACC refused to confirm either
the planned arrests or the probe itself.

Both ministers claim to be rich, are engaged in various businesses and are
usually at the forefront of bootlicking Mugabe when given the slightest
opportunity.

A highly-placed source said yesterday: “It’s game on as the Anti-Corruption
Commission is closing in on the ministers. If you notice, Tomana (Johannes,
the Attorney General) rushed to block the investigations because it was
going to nail two of his closest foot soldiers both of whom have been
harassing the MDC using powers vested in their ministries.

“When the MDC MPs were being arrested, they (Zanu PF) were celebrating not
knowing that the net was closing in on two of their top ministers.

“Mugabe feels embarrassed by the whole issue because these are some of his
closest running dogs. But at the same time, it will be difficult to stop the
arrests because the Prime Minister has been briefed.”

Tsvangirai has maintained that all MPs and ministers found to have abused
the funds should face the law. He said he would not protect anyone on the
issue even from his party.

The development comes soon after Tomana gave constitutional affairs minister
Eric Matinenga a directive to stop the arrest of MPs accused of abusing CDF
until all constituencies were audited. Tomana argues that the investigation
should be widened so that everyone will be audited.

Analysts have however, said Tomana’s actions were aimed at protecting the
legislators and ministers from the former ruling party upon realising that
they would be the next target. Others, however maintain that Tomana wants to
genuinely have all those who stole the money investigated and arrested.

At least 10 MPs have been targeted by the ACC for failing to account for the
$50 000 allocation received from the ministry of Finance.

So far, four MPs — three from the main MDC and one from Zanu PF — have been
charged with fraud and abuse of authority after failing to account how they
used the funds.

Sternford Chirindo, the ACC chairperson yesterday refused to confirm the
move to arrest the two ministers but maintained that there will be no sacred
cows.

“Our position is clear, we investigate and then arrest. The public will then
be advised,” Chirindo said adding that the commission is still investigating
all cases involving abuse of CDF. He steadfastly refused to confirm if they
were investigating the ministers.

Asked if Tomana’s order to stop arrests of MPs for abuse of CDF will not be
a slap in the face of justice and encourage corrupt activities to go on
unabated, Chirindo said: “We enjoy a good working relationship with the
Attorney General. He is a stakeholder and we are united in the fight against
corruption.”

But he emphasised that there were many interested parties with scores to
settle against each other and as the ACC, they will not be part of such
politics.

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo could not comment, asking the reporter to
call later. He could not be reached at the time of going to press.

But the MDC says they were in support of the arrests if there are reasonable
grounds.

“It depends on how fair the ACC is in arresting the ministers but if there
are reasonable grounds, as the MDC, we say justice should take its course

“The law must deal equally with law breakers, whether they are from high
offices and irrespective of political affiliation. As long as they are
treated fairly with principals of natural justice being followed,” Douglas
Mwonzora, MDC spokesperson said yesterday.

On the arrest of MDC legislators while only one from Zanu PF was arrested,
Mwonzora said people must be fairly treated.

“All the three from MDC were arrested while only one out of seven Zanu PF
implicated was arrested,” Mwonzora said.

Tsvangirai Dismisses Tomana Attempts to Protect Thieving MPs

http://www.radiovop.com

By Nkosana Dlamini Harare, March 13, 2012 – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
has dismissed Attorney General Johannes Tomana's order to police to halt
arrests of MPs accused of embezzling government’s Constituency Development
Funds (CDF).

Speaking Tuesday during his now routine Monthly addresses to Parliament,
Tsvangirai insisted there was no government policy to protect thieving
legislators.

“There have been several arrests mainly of MPs for alleged abuse of CDF
funds,” Tsvangirai said.

“There is no Government policy to protect corrupt people and I urge the
relevant agencies to ensure that justice is done and any corrupt person is
arrested.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission is an independent Commission and I hope that
it will not be threatened and hindered from its work of exposing corruption
and making sure that justice is done without favour and without bias.

“Any corrupt person should face justice regardless of whether they are MPs
or Ministers and we hope that there won’t be efforts to slow down the wheels
of justice or to protect corrupt people from being exposed and arrested.”

Tsvangirai said this in apparent reference to Tomana’s directive to the
police and the anti corruption commission to halt the arrest of the MPs
ostensibly to allow for a full scale investigation into the use of the funds
by all legislators including ministers.

Critics say the halt in the arrests, which have so far seen two Zanu PF and
two MDC-T MPs  nabbed for abusing their CDF allocation, was an attempt by
political parties not to rock the boat ahead of the country’s forthcoming
watershed polls.

Tsvangirai urged the House itself to come up with a mechanism that will
enable it to hold its own members to account.

“These are public funds and Parliament as an institution should have a way
of ensuring that these public funds are properly accounted for,” he said.

The MDC-T, whose job is to supervise cabinet ministers, further threatened
to come to Parliament next month to “name and shame” underperforming
ministers.

Turning to police roadblocks, Tsvangirai said cabinet has tasked the two
Co-Ministers of Home Affairs to consider a possible halt in the excessive
roadblocks which have seen the motoring public being forced to pay spot
fines all the time.

“Cabinet noted the reported abuse of people and the excessive roadblocks on
our roads,” Tsvangirai said in his address to the house.

“We decided that the relevant Ministers look at these issues, including the
issue of spot fines in relation to possible corruption.

“As Government, we are not condoning the unroadworthy vehicles on the roads
or the recklessness of both public and private transporters.

“Our view is that the law must be enforced within reasonable limits and
without harassment of the citizens. I therefore expect the Co-Ministers of
Home Affairs to address this issue and expeditiously report back to
 Cabinet.”

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai has taken President Robert Mugabe to task over his
failure to land support to ongoing rallies organised by local churches to
pray for peace.

“Only yesterday, I was talking to the President about the peace prayers that
the church has initiated in the provinces,” he said.

“Both of us pledged to support this process and the President assured me
that he will find time to attend these prayer meetings so that we all
continue to speak publicly once again in the promotion of peace in the
country.”

Prison is now for the poor: judge

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

13/03/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

ONLY poor people are being sent to prison as the rich buy their freedom by
bribing magistrates and prosecutors, a Bulawayo judge warns today.

Justice Martin Makonese says corruption is now out of hand in Zimbabwe's
lower courts where remuneration for the judicial officers is poor.

“It would appear that some prosecutors, magistrates, clerks and other court
officials are routinely accepting bribes to throw away cases," Makonese said
while opening the Hwange Circuit Court.

"Some criminals even boast that you can never go to jail if you have money.
What this means is that it is the poor who have no money who only end up
doing jail time."

The Magistrates' Courts handle more than 85 percent of all criminal cases in
Zimbabwe.

Justice Makonese said he was concerned that lawyers were acting as conduits
for the corrupt payments.
He said: “I would like to call upon legal practitioners to shun being used
by their clients as couriers of bribe money.

"Legal practitioners who act as agents for the clients in these corrupt
activities are just as equally guilty as the criminals they act for.

"There should be zero tolerance on corruption and any officer of the law
caught on the wrong side of the law must be punished heavily to send a
correct message to like-minded persons.”

Magistrates and prosecutors have embarked on strikes over the last two years
seeking improved pay. Unions say Zimbabwe’s law officers are the lowest paid
in the region – which makes it difficult for most to turn down bribes from
well-heeled criminals.

Dozens of prosecutors have been arrested over the last two years and charged
with corruption over the questionable release of criminals.

In February, the Justice Ministry announced that 60 magistrates were being
transferred around the country as a means of fighting corruption.

A Masvingo magistrate is under investigation after he sentenced a cattle
rustler to a wholly-suspended sentence of five months even as he admitted
stealing six cattle. Stock theft carries a mandatory penalty of nine years
in jail.

A prosecutor at Chivhu Magistrates’ Court was recently arrested after taking
a bribe from a farmer who has a pending court case.
Detectives dressed in overalls approached the prosecutor and pretended to be
farm workers sent by the farmer to pay a bribe.

While magistrates are poorly paid, by contrast High Court and Supreme Court
judges are relatively well-paid with other perks including vehicles, houses
and police guards.

Air Zim not profitable - Goche

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Taurai Mangudhla, Business Writer
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 12:26

HARARE - Zimbabwe's efforts to resuscitate the operations at Air Zimbabwe
(Air Zim) are purely a moral motif as it has emerged government does not
expect to make a profit from the business.

Transport minister Nicholas Goche yesterday told a joint parliamentary
committee on transport and  state enterprises that despite government
various initiatives to expunge the national airline’s $150 million debt to
attract investors, it did not expect the business to turn profitable.

“It must be accepted that national airlines the world over do not make
tangible profits, they bring in tourists who give the profit elsewhere in
the economy. So governments should continue pouring money into them
(national airlines),” said Goche.

“We asked ourselves is it going to put our country in good light people come
in other airlines and we are not able to take them to Victoria Falls for the
UNWTO (United Nations Wold Tourism Organisation congress in 2013),” he
added.

The Transport minister, also revealed a cabinet taskforce had agreed to
disband Air Zimbabwe Holdings to create a new and debt free Air Zimbabwe
Private Limited (Air Zim Pvt Ltd).

“Players in the country’s inclusive government, have been divided on whether
or not the country needs a national airline especially given the huge cost
associated with the business,however, a cabinet committee comprising Goche,
Industry minister Welshman Ncube, Energy minister Elton Mangoma, Tourism
minister Walter Muzembi and other cabinet minister’s resolved government
should resuscitate the beleaguered airline,” the minister said.

“After agreeing on key policy issues, the cabinet committee resolved to
decouple the newly formed company from debt ridden holding company while
disbanding national handling services, the only profitable unit in Air Zim
in order to attract investors and enhance shareholder value,” he added.

Goche said the ministers had also resolved government would pay AirZim’s
external debt to key aviation operatives to the tune of $30 million first
and then settle employee salary arrears. “The committee said it would pay
Air Zimbabwe’s debt to state institutions like the Zimbabwe Revenue
Authority and the National Social Security Authority separately through
repayment plans,” he said.

The Transport minister said the Air Zim Pvt Ltd new board would be chaired
by the Transport secretary Patterson Mbiriri.

Cabinet Resolves to Revive Debt-Ridden National Airline

http://www.voanews.com

12 March 2012

Transport Minister Nicholas Goche told a joint Transport and State
Enterprises parliamentary management portfolio committee meeting that
cabinet unanimously agreed that it was important for the country to maintain
its own national airline

Irwin Chifera & Gibbs Dube | Washington

Zimbabwean Transport Minister Nicholas Goche says cabinet has resolved to
resuscitate Air Zimbabwe after creating a new company to run the national
airline which early this year suspended domestic, regional and international
flights fearing creditors.

Goche told a joint Transport and State Enterprises parliamentary management
portfolio committee meeting that cabinet had unanimously agreed that it was
important for the country to maintain its own national airline.

He told the committee that Zimbabwe should, however, not expect huge profits
from operations of the airline now known as Air Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited.

Goche said the government will take over the $150 million Air Zimbabwe
Holdings debt, allowing the new company to operate free from the problems
bedevilling the disbanded company.

He said in an effort to boost its operations, Air Zimbabwe had started
leasing an Airbus A230 before its operations were grounded by mounting
debts. He did not disclose the origins of the airbus.

Airline management declined Monday to reveal the source of funding and
monthly payments for the plane.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai says it strongly supports the revival of Air Zimbabwe but only if
this will be done with the help of private companies.

Deputy party spokeswoman Thabitha Khumalo told VOA Studio 7 the national
airline has over the years been run down by President Robert Mugabe’s
ZANU-PF and therefore its resuscitation hinges on lack of state
interference.

Khumalo dismissed Transport Minister Goche’s remarks that the government
always pays bills for the President Mugabe's overseas trips.

She said ZANU-PF has been operating the airline like a small business
without any checks and balances.

Police do nothing to stop Chipangano violence

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
12 March 2012

The MDC-T MP for Sunningdale in Harare, Margaret Matienga, says she was
horrified that the terror group Chipangano brutally attacked her party
supporters, including children, in the presence of armed police.

‘They just stood there and watched helplessly as Chipangano waged criminal
terror on innocent civilians. One wonders what would have happened if the
opposite happened. All the police cells would now be packed with MDC-T
supporters,’ Matienga said.

Nine MDC-T members ended up needing hospital treatment on Saturday after the
Jim Kunaka led terror group stormed a rally in Sunningdale and beat up
people with logs and iron bars.

Kunaka has been implicated in a number of the groups’ murders, beatings and
torture cases, but none of the crimes linked to the group have ever been
investigated by the police so far.

‘Seven men and two women suffered various degrees of injuries, and at least
one of the men was left for dead when he was hit in the head with an iron
bar,’ Matienga said.

The legislator condemned the deliberate and planned attack by Chipangano,
saying she was left shocked that the police stood by and let the group run
riot at the venue of the rally. Matienga claimed the attack was meticulously
planned after seeing Kunaka carrying out surveillance of the area.

He allegedly drove to the venue twice in a pick-up truck and surveyed the
area. It was after his second visit, and barely 10 minutes after he had
left, that several Kombis were seen dropping off members of Chipangano. The
MP thinks the thugs were assembled in Mbare and just waiting for a signal.
Sunningdale and Mbare are neighbouring residential areas in the capital.

‘First of all, we got permission from the police and they promised us full
protection. But it is inconceivable that such levels of impunity could exist
without being known in the highest echelons of the police force.

‘For more than a year, there have been widespread scenes of violence by the
same group, but the police have not pursued the well known offenders,’
claimed Matienga.

The legislator told us the reason why the ZANU PF linked Chipangano was
resorting to violence is the knowledge that Robert Mugabe will face a
crushing defeat at the next elections.

‘Jim Kunaka and his Chipangano group intend to spread terror in Harare so
that fear grips our supporters to force voter apathy. We’re now in the 21st
century and those medieval tactics will never work again in an informed
society like Zimbabwe thanks to new media, internet and Facebook,’ the MP
said.

Scandalous salaries for Chitungwiza municipality ‘revival’ team

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
13 March 2012

Workers at the financially crippled Chitungwiza municipality are set to go
on strike, furious at the news that a team appointed by government to revive
the town has been a huge drain on their financial resources.

The state controlled Herald reported on Tuesday that the workers have served
council with a strike notice, citing the salaries and allowances the team is
getting as excessive. The workers have themselves gone for months without
pay.

The team, appointed in January by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo
to revive the municipality, is reportedly costing council tens of thousands
of dollars.

Operations at Chitungwiza have for years been dodged by allegations of
corruption with councillors and officials accused of engaging in rampant
abuse of funds. More shocking was the news that the team appointed to
investigate these allegations has granted itself excessive allowances and
salaries.

The leader of this team, Fungai Mbetsa, the Manicaland provincial
administrator, has since January been getting US$26,525 in salaries and
allowances per month. His deputy has been getting US$14,500 while committee
members get about US$13,500 each.

The Herald said allegations were that each member of the committee gets
US$375 for entertainment, US$300 phone airtime, US$300 lunch and US$200 for
other necessities. These allowances are paid after 10 days and this
translates to US$3,525 after 30 days.

Mbetsa, by virtue of being leader of the team, gets US$4,175 in allowances
after every 10 days and the council also forks out US$2,000 weekly for his
hotel bills. He reportedly gets US$1,000 for other ‘necessities’ as part of
the allowances. Each member of the team also gets 100 litres of fuel each
week.

New wave of global Zimbabwe protests

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
13 March 2012

Hundreds of Zimbabwean exiles will next week Wednesday continue with a
series of demonstrations targeting South African embassies around the world,
in an attempt to put pressure on President Jacob Zuma as mediator in
Zimbabwe’s political crisis.

The demonstrations dubbed the “21st Movement Free Zimbabwe Global Protests,”
are named after the 21st February Movement which celebrates Mugabe’s
birthday. On the 21st of each month the activists will be calling for an end
to Mugabe’s disastrous rule and want Zuma and South Africa to use their
influence.

The 21st March will see round three of the demonstrations. Den Moyo one of
the coordinators told SW Radio Africa that they will target Zuma’s offices
at the Union Buildings and also the South African parliament. They want to
pressure Zuma to ensure Mugabe honours the reforms contained in the power
sharing deal.

Moyo, who is the also the chair of the MDC-T USA external assembly, said
they are planning a fourth round of protests on Saturday the 21st April, a
few days after Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations on the 18th April.
They expect the turnout on a Saturday to be much higher than during the
week.

Moyo said: “The protests are working and influencing the political dynamics
at home. Our efforts are not in vain, and we should all take pride in the
fact that we are doing something about the chaotic situation at home.”

As part of the theme for their 21st March protests, Moyo said they had drawn
a ‘red line’ which they want Zuma to ensure will not be crossed – meaning
that before a free and fair election can be held there needs to be a new
voter’s roll, the removal of CIO agents and soldiers from the electoral
commission, media reforms and an end to political violence and harassment.

Zim Youth Seek Two Million Signatures To Stop Elections

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, March 13, 2012 - A Midlands based youth group known as the Zimbabwe
Organisation for Youth in Politics (ZOYIP) is seeking signatures of at least
two million Zimbabweans to petition the United Nations to stop the holding
of elections in the country before democratic reforms.

The petition launched in Harare on Monday under a project called the
Democratic Agenda is demanding implementation of key democratic reforms by
partners in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) before the country goes to
the polls.

"The petition will get to the people through, public meetings programs,
churches, fliers, printed T-shirts among other outreach programmes,”said the
group's director Nkosilathi Emmanual Moyo.

"What we are saying under this project is that politicians should stop
dictating for the electorate, but the reverse should happen. People are the
ones who vote for the politicians and they should be empowered to choose
when to vote not what is happening here in the country.”

Key democratic reforms include a new Constitution, a new voters’ roll,
legislative, electoral and media reforms. Zimbabwe also needs compliance
with SADC electoral guidelines on free and fair elections and put in place
mechanisms to make sure that violence will not be a factor in the next
elections.

These reforms are clearly stated in the Global Political Agreement which
formed the inclusive government, but parties are failing to agree on them
despite having signed the pact three years ago.

The mainstream MDC has since said it will not participate in any election
which will be held before the implementation of democratic reforms, while
ZANU (PF) is vowing to hold them even without the democratisation of such
reforms.

Moyo said they are going to approach regional and international groupings
with the petition once it has been signed.

“We will start by petitioning President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and his deputies, before taking the petition to south African
President Jacob Zuma who is SADC facilitator to the inclusive government
.Thereafter we will approach the African Union before forwarding it to the
United Nations, ”he said.

ZOYIP argues that if elections are held under the current environment they
will be a replica of the June 2008 bloody polls.

Civil Society Groups Threaten ‘No-Vote’ Campaign Over Devolution

http://www.voanews.com

12 March 2012

Some non-governmental organizations threaten a no-vote in the constitutional
referendum if the draft does not include devolution of power and related
issues

Violet Gonda | Washington

Zimbabwean civil society groups in Matabeleland and Bulawayo provinces, in
the western part of the country, are stepping up pressure on unity
government negotiators as drafters aim to produce a draft constitution this
week, vowing to launch a no vote campaign if the issue of devolution is not
included in the document.

The two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change say they support
the devolution concept with select committee co-chairman Douglas Mwonzora
revealing recently that 10 provinces in the country supported the idea
during the constitutional outreach phase.

Supporters of devolution say some provinces have over the years been
neglected by the current unitary state, but early this month President
Robert Mugabe said the concept was divisive, adding the country was too
small to be divided into “pieces”.

Some of the organizations calling for a no vote campaign fall under the
National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations.

NANGO chairperson Dadirai Chikwengo, however, told Voice of America that the
organization has not yet finalized a national position on the issue.

But the organization’s secretary general, Godwin Phiri, who is also NANGO
chairman for Bulawayo region, said western provinces were engaging and
encouraging other regions to join them and adopt a ‘no vote’ position if
devolution of power is not included in the draft constitution, expected out
this Friday.

“We have actually received a lot of support from across country, so whilst
other regions might not have released statements we are certainly
encouraging them to also go forward and meet with their members and adopt
this position.”

He stressed: “That does not mean that NANGO members don’t believe in
devolution of power.”

National Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku, whose pressure
group has already said it will not support the new draft constitution, says
the latest stance by the NGOs is a welcome move.

Madhuku says devolution is not a regional but national issue, adding civil
society organizations should speak with one voice on the issue.

“It’s a challenge for NANGO. NANGO must not be run on the basis of its
Matabeleland section or it’s out of Matabeleland section and so forth.”

“If you were to come to the NCA, we do not have Matabeleland positions. Our
position is very clear that there must be devolution in a people driven
constitution and that is not a Matabeleland issue, it’s an issue for the
whole country,” added Madhuku.

Trial of MDC members fails to kick-off as defence asks for time to file
papers and apply for new bail

Monday, 12 March 2012

The trial of the 29 MDC members who are facing false murder and public
violence charges failed to kicked off today at the High Court after the
defence lawyers said they needed time to file the defence outlines and apply
for fresh bail.

The matter is before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu and the 29 members are facing
false charges of murdering a police officer in Glen View, Harare in May last
year.

However, Justice Bhunu said he will hear the fresh bail application by the
MDC members will be heard on Thursday after the defence lawyers had
submitted their bail papers to him.

They were indicted on 01 March for trial and remanded again in prison. One
of the lawyers representing the MDC members, Charles Kwaramba said the
lawyers were failing to complete and file the defence outlines because the
prison environment was not conducive.

“It is not easy for the lawyers to get instructions from the accused because
the prison officers are within earshot instead of eyeshot as the prison
regulations state,” said Kwaramba.

He said the time allowed for interviewing the accused was at the discretion
of prison officials making it difficult for the lawyers to fully get
instructions from the MDC members.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people turned up in solidarity with the accused
forcing court officials to turn away some as Court A where the matter is
being heard was packed to capacity.

Those accused for the false murder charge and public violence charges are;
Solomon Madzore, the MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Last Maengahama, a
National Executive Committee member, Councillor Oddrey Sydney Chirombe of
Ward 33, Budiriro, Councillor, Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32, Glen View,
Cynthia Manjoro, Lloyd Chitanda, Stanford Mangwiro and Tendai Chinyama.

The others are; Jefias Moyo, Abina Rutsito, Gabriel Shumba, Stephen
Takaedzwa, Linda Madyamhanje, Tafadzwa Billiard, Simon Mudimu, Dube
Zwelibanzi, Simon Mapanzure, Augustine Tengenyika and Gapara Nyamadzawo,
Paul Rukanda, Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama, Kerina Dewa and Memory Ncube,
Rebecca Mafukeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Phineas Nhatarikwa Standford Mangwiro.

The people’s struggle for real change – Lets finish it!!!

–
MDC Information & Publicity Department

Why Mugabe Cannot Fire Gono - Wiki Leaks

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, March 13, 2012 - Zimbabwe's Central Bank governor, Gideon Gono,
accused of looting state resources, cannot be fired because he knows where
President Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF) skeletons are buried, a top United
States diplomat has said.

Former US ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee said in a wiki leaks cable
released this week that it was impossible for Mugabe to fire Gono for
stealing funds because the Central Bank governor knew too much about Zanu
(PF)’s dirt.

McGee made the assessment after Finance Minister Tendai Biti increased
pressure on Gono by demanding that he should be kicked out of a cabinet
meeting.

Biti had argued that important donor nations such as the US and Britain
would not fund a recovery while Gono remained at the helm of the Reserve
Bank. The cable was wired to Washington in March 2009 but was leaked late
last year and made available this week.

“Pressure rises on Gono... Finance Minister Tendai Biti escalated pressure
on Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono by demanding his ouster in
a Cabinet meeting this week,” McGee said. “Biti argued that important donor
nations such as the U.S. and the UK would not fund a recovery while Gono
remained at the helm of the Reserve Bank.”

But analysts in Harare argue that Gono no longer has the stamina he had when
the assessment was made.

Harare-based political commentator Blessing Vava said: “Gono is finished and
has been exposed too much that he no longer commands that revered
personality he used to possess six years ago. Zanu (PF) has a system of
using people and dumping them and they don’t care of the reparations.”

A fortnight ago Gono’s former advisor Munyaradzi Kereke, sensationally
accused Gono of stealing millions of dollars and gold from the bank.

Kereke also made stunning claims that he is the one who wrote the
examinations which earned Gono a doctorate degree. He said his removal from
the Central Bank as an advisor was calculated to conceal Gono’s criminal
activities at the bank.

Kereke was with the central bank for over eight years but was sacked by Gono
on the 1st February when it became clear relations had broken down.

Gono has since denied the allegations in a document, which he did not name
Kereke by name, saying Kereke wanted to curry favour with unnamed national
figures after he allegedly authored a dossier specifying the central bank
boss’ alleged financial transgressions.

Govt Turns Down Application For Gukurahundi Monument

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, March 13, 2012- The Government has turned down an application to
erect a Gukurahundi memorial site at a camp in Matopo, Matabeleland South
where hundreds of civilians were tortured and killed during the Matabeleland
disturbances.

The Zimbabwe Victims of Organised Violence Trust (ZIVOVT) had sought
authority from the Homes Affairs Ministry to erect a memorial monument at
Bhalagwe ‘as a remembrance of all those who lost their lives during their
detention at the concentration camp during the 1980’s.’

“They (Home Affairs Ministry) have turned down our application and the
reasons are not cited,” Percy Mcijo, the ZIVOVT spokesperson told Radio VOP
in an interview.

“The guilty are always afraid that is why it looks like the authorities are
not prepared to have a Gukurahundi memorial moment at Bhalagwe where
thousands of people were thrown at a disused mine.

“We knew the Government does not have money that is why we did not ask for
funding but only for permission and we are therefore surprised why they
refused.”

According to activists and survivors of the Matabeleland disturbances, about
20 000 civilians lost their lives when President Robert Mugabe sent a North
Korean trained 5th Brigade in the early 1980’s  to Matabeleland disturbances
to crack against dissent to his rule.

In September last year, a Washington based group that campaigns against mass
murders, Genocide Watch called on the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights to conduct a full investigation of Gukurahundi with the aim of
establishing a mixed UN Zimbabwean Tribunal to bring Mugabe and the
perpetrators to trial.

Genocide Watch said a mixed UN-Zimbabwean Criminal Tribunal -- like the one
established in Cambodia to probe the Khmer Rouge killings - could also be
created to try Mugabe and other leaders of the genocide

UN slammed for ‘silence’ on Zim political rape

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
13 March 2012

The United Nations (UN) has been slammed for its silence on Zimbabwe and the
campaign of politically motivated rape, unleashed by Robert Mugabe’s
supporters during election periods.

Stephen Lewis, the co-director of the international advocacy group AIDS-Free
World, last week called the UN out over this silence, calling it
‘unforgivable’ that the plight of Zimbabwe’s rape victims was being ignored.
Speaking on International Women’s Day last week at the UN Human Rights
Council, Lewis questioned what hold Mugabe has over the UN, that Zimbabwe
was left off a ‘Name and Shame’ list of serious sexual violence during
elections in different countries.

This list was the result of a UN resolution adopted in 2010, which has aimed
to correct years of impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence and rape
around the world. The document has been lauded as one that could change the
course of history for the world’s women, by naming and shaming the countries
leaders and where possible, the perpetrators of such attacks.

But, as AIDS-Free World’s Lewis discovered when the list was released in
January, there was a glaring omission in that Zimbabwe was not mentioned at
all.

In December 2009, AIDS-Free World released a shocking report detailing the
systematic and widespread attacks on MDC members and supporters in the 2008
election period in Zimbabwe. The group said their report contains enough
evidence to warrant the prosecution of Mugabe and other top ZANU PF
officials for their complicity in the attacks, saying they are guilty of
crimes against humanity.

The report, “Electing to rape: Sexual Terror in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe” detailed
the testimonies of 70 survivors of the rape campaign. The women, whose
identifies have been kept strictly confidential for security reasons, spoke
of extreme acts of brutality. Some women were forced to watch the rape of
their daughters and brutal murders of their husbands and other family
members before or after they themselves were raped, often by groups of men.
Several other women were held as sexual slaves at ZANU PF base camps for up
to two weeks.

AIDS-Free World’s report explained how in all the attacks the rapes were
committed against women solely because they directly or indirectly supported
the MDC. At the same time, all the perpetrators of the attacks identified
themselves to their victims as being members of ZANU PF. These details
clearly fell in line with the UN’s ‘name and shame’ resolution, which
includes “Sexual Violence in the context of elections, political strife and
civil unrest.”

But these details and the severity of the rape attacks appear to have been
ignored by the UN, sparking anger from AIDS-Free World, which is trying to
launch a legal challenge on the contents of their report.

The group’s Lewis told SW Radio Africa’s Diaspora Diaries series on Tuesday
that he was shocked that Zimbabwe did not feature on this list. He explained
that countries that suffered election related rape attacks such as Kenya and
Guinea were mentioned, despite Zimbabwe having a worse record.

“Zimbabwe exceeds them all because this is a pattern that began in the 80s.
So the number of people who have been victims of this kind of rape and
violence certainly hugely exceeds other countries in that list,” Lewis said.

Referring to Mugabe as a “crazed politician” who has used sexual violence
and rape as part of his “strategy in his political apparatus” since the 80s,
Lewis said it is a “startling omission” that he is not being ‘named and
shamed’ by the UN.

“I really can’t understand why this is. But mostly I think it is because of
South Africa and because of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma and their refusal to
move in and stop Mugabe,” Lewis said.

Lewis meanwhile had serious warnings that any fresh election in Zimbabwe
will once again be accompanied by a rape campaign against ZANU PF’s
opposition, unless the international community intervenes.

“It is undoubtedly going to happen again. In fact it is not a question of
‘if’, it is a certainty,” Lewis said.

AIDS-Free World is using its rape dossier to launch a legal challenge in
South Africa in May, with the case set to be filed before the National
Prosecuting Authority. Lewis explained this is the start of a wider campaign
to end the cycle of impunity in Zimbabwe.

Detained young mother wins award

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
13 March 2012

Cynthia Manjoro, a twenty-six year old single mother who spent over two
months in remand prison over what most people believe were ‘trumped-up
charges’ has now been presented with a local prestigious human rights award.

Dozens of MDC-T members were arrested in a politicised witch hunt following
the murder of a notorious policeman in Glen View. Manjoro a National
Programs Coordinator with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights),
spent two months in custody before extensive lobbying by activists led to
her release.

On Saturday the Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ) announced
that Manjoro had been presented with the Gertrude Mtombeni award given, “to
a young woman who stands out and works exceptionally in the fight for
democracy.” The award is named after the late trade unionist Gertrude
Mtombeni.

Unfortunately Manjoro was not present to receive the award as she is part of
the group of 26 MDC-T activists re-arrested this month even though they were
already on bail.  Cynthia’s mum, Anna Manjoro received the award on her
behalf at the annual Gertrude Mtombeni Memorial Lecture in Bulawayo.

Cynthia Manjoro is a former student activist who has worked with the Media
Institute of Southern Africa, Restoration of Human Rights and Zimbabwe
National Students Union. YIDEZ described her as “the face of young women
fighting for democracy” and praised her resilience “in the face of arrests
and torture.”

Drug dealers in South Africa turn to cigarette smuggling, says revenue service

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

By Associated Press, Published: March 13

JOHANNESBURG — The revenue service says illegal drug syndicates in South
Africa are turning to cigarette smuggling.

The tax and customs authority said Tuesday more than a billion smuggled
cigarettes were confiscated last year. It said 70 percent of the tobacco
contraband came from the nation’s troubled northern neighbor, Zimbabwe.

Authority spokesman Adrian Lackey said that trends suggest “well-known
organized crime figures have been moving away from investing in traditional
illegal drug smuggling.”

In Zimbabwe’s chaotic economy, cigarettes sell for one-fourth of the retail
price in South Africa.

Revenue officials said smuggled cigarettes also came from Dubai. They said a
recent shipment of 18 million cigarettes was seized at the South African
port of Durban.

Govt stalls church plans

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

By Godfrey Mtimba
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 09:32

MASVINGO - The Reformed Church of Zimbabwe (RCZ) has expressed concern over
government delays in giving them the green light to re-open its university
five years after its closure over a clash on name.

The church wants to re-open Reformed Church University at Morgenster mission
about 30 km out of Masvingo after successfully re-applying for a new charter
from government.

This followed the institution’s 2005 closure on the grounds that its former
name, Great Zimbabwe University was to be used by government, which ran the
then Masvingo State University.

Vice Chancellor Wiseman Magwa said the institution was ready to open but was
stalled by Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education (Zimche) that is yet to
approve the three faculties the institution intends to start with.

“We have done all the necessary preparations and we are only waiting for
approval from Zimche. We have since been given a new University Charter with
our new name, Reformed Church University,” said Prof Magwa.

Magwa said the university had since started recruiting staff while waiting
approval.

“If they give us the go ahead, we will start the block release course next
month and August for full time students,” Magwa said.

He said the university intended to start with three faculties of Commerce,
Education and Theology and Religious studies.

Donald Trump's Sons Awesome At Killing Elephants And Other Wildlife

Animal rights activists are revolted by a series of trophy photos that have emerged showing Eric and Donald Trump Jr. posing with a dead elephant, kudu, civet cat and waterbuck while on a big game safari in Zimbabwe last year. In one photo, Donald Jr. proudly holds a dead elephant tail in one hand and a knife in the other. In another, the brothers are seen standing beside a 12'8" crocodile hanging from a noose off a tree. Activists obtained the photos and created this video montage of the Trumps' big hunt:

“Like all animals, elephants, buffalo, and crocodiles deserve better than to be killed and hacked apart for two young millionaires’ grisly photo opportunity,” a spokesperson from PETA told Hollywood Life. ”If the young Trumps are looking for a thrill, perhaps they should consider skydiving, bungee jumping, or even following in their anti-hunting father’s footsteps and taking down competing businesses—not wild animals. If the Trumps want to help villagers, they have plenty of resources at their disposal."

Responding to the criticism on Twitter, Don Jr. blasted the "PETA crazies" and insisted "the meat was used to feed hungry villagers." The big game safari was organized through a company called Hunting Legends. The Daily Mail reports that there are trophy fees for the deer-like animal they shot, called the Kudu. The Trumps reportedly paid at least $2,795.00 and another $1,997.00 for the Waterbuck they were pictured with, but Don Jr. says on Twitter, "the money from hunting fees preserves animals and habitat."

herzimbabwe: Women’s web portal launched today

NGO job vacancies in Zimbabwe

Roy Bennett on Face Book

Dear friends,

Just to let you know that you can now join Roy Bennett is on Face Book.

Join him at http://www.facebook.com/roypachedubennett

President Tsvangirai’s statement to the Parliament of Zimbabwe

Harare, Tuesday, 13 March 2012

1. Introduction

Mr Speaker Sir, it is with great pleasure that I stand before this august House to appraise the people, through their elected representatives, of what is happening in Government.

At the beginning of the year, I made it clear that gone are the days when government would operate as a secret cult movement.

As the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, and in the spirit of accountability and in order to enhance the oversight role of Parliament, I pledged to make a monthly Parliamentary statement in this august House.

It is also in line with this spirit of openness and accountability that the Prime Minister’s Question Time was introduced so that the public, through their elected representatives, would have an opportunity to gaze and peep into the work of government and to raise questions on pertinent issues affecting this great country.

Mr Speaker Sir, it is primarily because of my pledge that I stand before this House today to update you of the work of government.

2.0 The Government Work Programme

In 2010, the Government adopted the GWP as an implementation vehicle for all Government programmes.

In 2010, we recorded a 60 per cent success rate in terms of implementation of agreed critical path targets, which dropped to 40 per cent in 2011 due to limited fiscal space arising to the many funding requirements as this nation recovers.

In February, my Office hosted a GWP workshop where Ministries presented the critical path targets for 2012.

These have now been adopted and Mr Speaker Sir, I table before you the GWP targets for 2012 as adopted by Government.

I want to say from the outset that this document is still work in progress because the relevant clusters have been asked to extract the key programmes or
“Priorities of Priorities.”

This is because of the limited fiscal space and the realisation that Government will not have the required funds to attend to all the programmes identified by the ministries.

Mr Speaker, I am laying this document before Parliament pending the completion of the identification of the “Priorities of Priorities” by Ministries.

I have told the Honorable Ministers that I will be evaluating their performance and making it public through this monthly report to Parliament.

Mr Speaker Sir, this is the last time I am making a monthly statement in this House without naming and shaming those Ministries that are either underperforming or have chosen to give scant attention to the implementation of agreed programmes and policies. This is not to embarrass anyone, but to enable Parliament to hold the executive to account.

Apart from the critical path targets contained in the document I have laid before you, government is grappling with important processes such as the census and the Constitution-making process, among other key programmes for the year.

The 2012 census is our first comprehensive population census since the time of hyperinflation.

Visioning and planning for growth is made difficult in the absence of accurate and authoritative statistics about a nation and we hope that this exercise will be successful to enable government to plan using updated statistical data.

3.0 Parliament and the Executive

Mr Speaker Sir, I wish to applaud the work of this Parliament, particularly the work of Parliamentary Portfolio committees in diligently playing their oversight role.
I am aware that some Ministers are not keen to come before the Portfolio Committees because of  the thorough grilling they endure as elected representatives seek to find explanations from the executive.

This should be applauded and I hope you will consolidate your work in ensuring that those charged with spending taxpayers’ money are doing so with the interest of the people at heart.

Mr Speaker Sir, I am aware that some Ministers do not take this House seriously and have minimized their attendance especially when MPs want to ask them questions. I will play my part in ensuring that they attend.

No one should take Parliament for granted because this is the people’s chamber. This is where the people we serve speak through their elected representatives.

I have said that fiscal space and liquidity challenges remain the greatest enemy of this government, but I urge Parliament to insist on delivery especially on those things of a legislative nature which do not cost money.

Mr Speaker Sir, as I said in my end of year speech, a significant number of Bills have not been pushed through and the Legislative agenda is lagging behind. The Government should expedite implementation of those things that do not require resources, particularly monetary resources.

4.0 Reforms

Mr Speaker Sir, I have said that we are lagging behind on reforms be they political, electoral or media.

I am disappointed that there has been slow movement in this aspect, which non-movement has a bearing on key deliverables of this Government, mainly a free and fair election.

Mr Speaker Sir, the whole essence of the GPA, which I must emphasize is now part of the Constitution, is to make sure we implement reforms and create the right environment conducive to the holding of a free and fair election.

I want to say that non-implementation has largely been due to insincerity, downright arrogance and a lack of appreciation of the mission of this transitional Government and its general mandate.

I want to say that one of the most important reforms is in media. All I can say is that the respective Ministry is aware of the expectations, timeframes and the deadlines of the Principals and Cabinet.

I hope that when I make my report to Parliament next month, work would have begun in terms of implementing reforms in this sector.

4. 1. The Constitution-making Process

Mr Speaker Sir, you are aware that the Principals have taken an interest in this process to ensure that it is expedited so that we can begin to have an idea of when the other attendant processes such as the Second All-Stakeholders conference and the referendum can be held.

This is a key process and as Principals, we expect to be furnished with a draft so that we can meet with other related bodies such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to see how they fit into the process towards creating the necessary environment ahead of the next election.

I want to stress that as Government, we cannot fund and spend our energies and resources on a product that we are not keen to use.

We need a new Constitution.

While political parties may hold their opinions, as Government, we are prepared to see this process through as well as the other political and electoral reforms that are key in creating a conducive and peaceful environment in Zimbabwe.

Only yesterday, I was talking to the President about the peace prayers that the church has initiated in the provinces.

Both of us pledged to support this process and the President assured me that he will find time to attend these prayer meetings so that we all continue to speak publicly once again in the promotion of peace in the country.

I urge parliamentarians to call for these prayers in their constituencies where all people gather and pray for peace regardless of their political affiliations.

We also expect as Principals that the secretaries-general put in place mechanisms to ensure that the peace indaba that we convened last November cascades down to the lowermost structures of our respective political parties.

5.0 International Relations

Zimbabwe is trying to normalise its relations within the region, in Africa and beyond.

Regionally, we are heartened by the fact that SADC continues to stand by us as we navigate this difficult transitional process.

This Government is in part a product of the region and the AU and we have good relations with our neighbours.

Internationally, our re-engagement committee has begun a process for the resumption of dialogue between Zimbabwe and the European Union.

I am positive that these discussions will be fruitful and will result in improvement of relations.

I also want to say that I was part of an investment promotion conference in South Africa hosted by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. I was humbled by the number of people who want to do business with us as a country.

However, it was clear from the discussions with investors that our toxic politics and mixed messages from the same Government will remain a major impediment in efforts to bring and lure meaningful investment to Zimbabwe.

Mr Speaker Sir, we are sometimes our own worst enemy because of the mixed signals that emanate from within the executive. 

This is why I have instructed my Office to convene a meeting of all the concerned Ministers to sort out this issue.

Let me state quite clearly that as Government, we have no policy to nationalize any enterprises and this has been the position since 1980.

I therefore urge members of this august house and those in the executive to correctly interpret the positions that have been adopted both in Cabinet and the Council of Ministers.

We can differ as political parties but on the essential aspects that affect future investment and job prospects for Zimbabweans, we must speak with one voice.

6.0. Corruption

Mr Speaker Sir, there have been several arrests mainly of MPs for alleged abuse of CDF funds.

There is no Government policy to protect corrupt people and I urge the relevant agencies to ensure that justice is done and any corrupt person is arrested.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is an independent Commission and I hope that it will not be threatened and hindered from its work of exposing corruption and making sure that justice is done without favour and without bias. 

Any corrupt person should face justice regardless of whether they are MPs or Ministers and we hope that there won’t be efforts to slow down the wheels of justice or to protect corrupt people from being exposed and arrested.

I also urge Parliament itself to come up with a mechanism that will enable it to hold its own members to account.

These are public funds and Parliament as an institution should have a way of ensuring that these public funds are properly accounted for.

7.0 Other Government Issues

7.1.The Police

Mr Speaker Sir, Cabinet noted the reported abuse of people and the excessive roadblocks on our roads. We decided that the relevant Ministers look at these issues, including the issue of spot fines in relation to possible corruption.

As Government, we are not condoning the unroadworthy vehicles on the roads or the recklessness of both public and private transporters. Our view is that the law must be enforced within reasonable limits and without harassment of the citizens. I therefore expect the Co-Ministers of Home Affairs to address this issue and expeditiously report back to Cabinet.

7.2 Energy

The future supplies of fossil energy are not guaranteed and our experience is that they are subject to significant fluctuations in prices. As a nation, we must continue to explore alternative sources of liquid fuels to augment fossil fuel supplies.

(1)    Green Fuel

Ethanol fuel is now available in the country but as Government we need to rationalise between the need for more fuel and the genuine concerns about this huge project.

To this end, soon after this presentation, I have called for a meeting of relevant Ministers and stakeholders so that we look at this important issue collectively and chart the best way forward.

(11) Electricity

While Government is trying to come up with solutions to the power shortages, ZESA will not be able to do much without the necessary funding. There is a vicious circle where if consumers do not pay up, ZESA cannot invest in new capital equipment and will remain unable to service its debts. We have to get out of this vicious circle. As Government we call upon everyone to pay their bills, including Ministers and top officials that I have heard are not paying up.

If one does not have the money, it is important to sit down with ZESA officials and come up with a payment plan.

Personally, I have had to pay a $5 000 bill at my residence in Strathaven.

I paid and so should you!

7.3. Air Zimbabwe

Air Zimbabwe is down and we are looking at various ways to resuscitate the national airline.

Government appreciates the inconvenience this is causing to the travelling public and to the country’s image especially at a time when we expect our tourism industry to be booming. This means that a solution has to be found as quickly as possible.

There are various options available and we will communicate the way forward once there is consensus.

7.4. Voter registration

It has come to my attention that a lot of people are being hindered from registering as voters. The responsible Ministry and related bodies should ensure that there are no unnecessary bottlenecks that make it difficult for people to register as voters.

8.0 Conclusion

Mr Speaker Sir, I hope that we will have not only a successful year, but a peaceful year despite our differences.

The political environment and the election talk should not divert Government from its mandate to serve the people.

We are aware that several provinces might not have a good yield and the relevant ministries have already been directed to ensure that no Zimbabwean starves.

I also want to say that in relation to BEAM, health and food assistance, government might have no resources to feed everyone and all assistance should mainly target the under-privileged and the vulnerable.

The fact that an area has food shortages does not necessarily mean that everyone should receive free handouts, chemahara mushana.

The relevant Ministers will ensure an early identification of areas of critical shortages and put in place appropriate measures.

And finally, Mr Speaker Sir, last Thursday was International Women’s Day. I wish to congratulate all the female legislators in this House and all the women of Zimbabwe for their self-less service to the people of Zimbabwe.

In most families, it is the women, our mothers, our sisters and our wives who toil to ensure food security, peace and stability in the home.

We must spare a thought and salute them.

I thank You.

Bill Watch 9/2012 of 12th March [Both Houses Resume: Human Rights and Electoral Bills Waiting]