Zuma says Zim leaders agree to a ‘package of measures’

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Violet Gonda
18 March 2010

South African President Jacob Zuma concluded his two day visit to Zimbabwe
on Thursday. He held a press briefing in Harare in which he said the rival
political parties had agreed to a package of measures that would be
implemented ‘as per the decision of the SADC Troika in Maputo’.

In November last year the parties agreed at the summit of the Troika in
Maputo to urge the international community to lift all forms of sanctions on
Zimbabwe, and to engage in dialogue about all the outstanding issues in the
Global Political Agreement.

So it is unclear what ‘package of measures’ have been agreed to, Zuma did
not provide any clarity and journalists were not allowed to ask any
questions.

Zuma merely told journalists that these ‘measures’ are likely to take the
process forward substantially. “The leaders have instructed their
negotiating teams to attend to all outstanding matters during their
deliberations on 25, 26, and 29 March and to report to the facilitator by
the 31st of March,” President Zuma said.

A comprehensive progress report is then expected to be tabled before the
Chairperson of the SADC Troika, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique.

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said during the media briefing President
Zuma was flanked by Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara.
He said: “Unfortunately journalists were not allowed to even ask questions
which will seek clarity to the statements given by Zuma.”

“The media was left with so many questions unanswered and that is the reason
why so many people were left disappointed because its not known what has
been agreed upon; what criteria they are going to use and which sticky
issues they are going to centre on come March 31st.

Analysts expressed disappointment that Zuma, president of a democratic
country that had fought hard for media freedom, apparently feels it is not
important in the case of Zimbabwe.

On Wednesday the South Africa President also met with MDC-T Deputy Minister
of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett, Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and
Attorney General Johannes Tomana.

Bennett told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that he had a ‘very good’ meeting
with Zuma. He said the two of them had a general discussion around the major
issues affecting the GPA and the state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

“It was obvious that he (Zuma) was concerned about how to move Zimbabwe
forward to a conclusion and bring legitimacy and democracy back to
 Zimbabwe,” said Bennett.

He added that Zuma made it clear that he wants all issues to be resolved and
move forward in a manner that will not bring violence, but allow for free
and fair elections. He also said; ‘Once the timelines have expired within
the GPA and we have a new constitution then we move forward to elections.
Our National Council took a resolution that elections should be no later
than May 2011.”

The MDC official said they did not discuss his terrorism trial and that he
could not comment on some news reports that said a compromise had been
reached by the rival parties which would see the Central Bank governor
retaining his controversial post and the Attorney General stepping down.

 

South Africa says "all issues" in Zimbabwe resolved

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Mar 18, 2010, 18:00 GMT

Harare/Johannesburg - The measures agreed to by Zimbabwe's leaders at talks
Thursday resolve all the issues that have been threatening to collapse the
country's unity government, a spokesman for mediator South African President
Jacob Zuma, said Thursday.

'All the issues that were outstanding (to achieve the full implementation of
a 2008 power-sharing agreement) have been resolved,' Vincent Magwenya told
the German Press Agency dpa from Harare.

All that remained was for the three parties in the coalition government -
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a breakaway MDC faction led by
Arthur Mutambara - to agree on the implementation of the measures, Magwenya
said.

That job would fall to party negotiators who would meet on March 25, 27 and
29 to 'finalize the implementation, rollout and timeline (of the measures)
and report back to the facilitor (Zuma) on March 31,' he said.

Three South African politicians that Zuma appointed last year to mediate in
Zimbabwe would 'probably' return to assist the negotiators, he said.

Zuma told a press conference in Harare earlier that the leaders had 'agreed
to a package of measures to be implemented concurrently as per the decision
of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) troika in Maputo.'

The SADC troika is the three-country SADC team on security headed by
Mozambique's President Armando Guebuza.

The remark by Zuma refers to a meeting of the troika late last year, which
found that Mugabe's unilateral appointment of two cronies as central bank
governor and attorney general and his refusal to swear in the MDC's
candidate for deputy agriculture minister, Roy Bennett, contravened
Zimbabwe's 2008 Global Political Agreement.

Under the agreement, which formed the basis for the year-old unity
government, Mugabe is supposed to consult with Tsvangirai on key
appointments.

The MDC had been calling on Mugabe to rescind the appointment of Gideon Gono
to head the Reserve Bank and Johannes Tomana as attorney general. Until now,
Mugabe had refused.

Zuma did not specify what had been decided but a source familiar with the
talks told dpa Zuma wanted Mugabe to honour the GPA.

Magwenya said a deal had also been struck on the issue of Bennett.

The popular MDC politician was arrested in February last year and charged
with insurgency over a discredited plot to topple Mugabe, for which he is
currently on trial. Mugabe has been refusing to swear him into his post
pending the outcome of the trial.

Magwenya said Zuma had first to debrief Mozambique's Guebuza before he could
comment further. The Zimbabwean parties were also refusing to comment on the
talks on the record.

Zuma, who was flanked by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara at the press
conference, said he believed that 'that the implementation of this package
will take the process forward substantially.'

He was 'very encouraged by the spirit of cooperation displayed by the
leaders and all the parties,' he said.

The talks dealt with around 16 areas of dispute that threaten Zimbabwe's
comeback from economic ruin and post-election violence in 2008.

The MDC accuses Zanu-PF of blocking the human rights and governance reforms
necessary to instil confidence in Zimbabwe among foreign donors and
investors.

Zanu-PF accuses Tsvangirai of not doing enough to convince the West to lift
sanctions targeting Mugabe and his entourage.

 

Zuma tells Mugabe to sack two Zanu-PF members

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za

Eyewitness News | 1 Hour Ago

President Jacob Zuma wrapped up talks with Zimbabwe's political leaders in
Harare on Thursday.

Zuma is believed to have told President Robert Mugabe Zanu-PF must give up
one of two key government posts.

Zuma told a press conference he held fruitful discussions with Mugabe and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

He said they agreed on a package of measures but did not say what those
measures were.

Sources close to the talks say he may have told the attorney-general and the
Central Bank chief one of them had to stand down.

The MDC said both Johannes Temana and Gideon Gono were unilaterally
appointed by Mugabe and were Zanu-PF faithfuls. Both wield enormous power in
Zimbabwe and this would be a huge breakthrough if one of them agreed to
resign.

Negotiating teams will continue talks next week in the mountainous resort of
Nyanga and report back to Zuma by 31 March.

Zaka police stop victims of political violence demo

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
18 March 2010

A demonstration by victims of political violence, which was meant to take
place on Thursday in Zaka, was blocked by police who claimed that the
participants had not followed proper procedures. Most of the victims were
targeted by ZANU PF militants in the 2008 one-man presidential run-off and
wanted to show their dissatisfaction with the coalition government for not
doing enough to get them justice.

In 2008 Zanu PF thugs in army uniform ran riot and petrol-bombed MDC-T
offices at Jerera Growth point in Zaka, killing three MDC-T officials. The
truckload of thugs besieged the offices at midnight and first shot the
victims before bombing their offices. Also housed in the building were some
victims of political violence in the area who had sought refuge there. Soon
after the attack the charred remains of 3 bodies lay on the floor in the
burnt out MDC office and all had bullet wounds.

Zaka North MDC-T MP Ernest Mudavanhu confirmed that victims of violence in
his constituency had planned to demonstrate at Jerera Growth Point. He said
people there are very bitter that one year after the coalition government
was set up the national healing organ had not addressed their demands for
justice. Mudavanhu said most of them had held out hope that the new
government would address such issues.

Those wanting to demonstrate say not only have they been denied justice for
what happened in 2008, but they are still being victimized by ZANU PF
militants who are gradually being deployed again, in preparation for
possible elections ahead. Its no surprise that villagers in Masvingo (were
Zaka is) told Tsvangirai to pull out of the government when he visited there
last week on a food assessment tour.

Meanwhile on Thursday the MDC-T information department issued an alert
saying that its youths will on Friday stage a peaceful march in Harare,
demanding justice on behalf of MDC members victimized by Zanu PF. The
procession will start from Harvest house at 12 noon the party said.

ZANU PF faces new accusations of re-oiling its violence machinery

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 March 2010

South African President Jacob Zuma has come under fire for his failure to
denounce the resurgent political violence in the rural areas, spearheaded by
ZANU PF supporters.

Zuma ended a two-day 'mediation' visit to Zimbabwe on Thursday without
mentioning the escalation in violence or calling on the political leaders to
rein in their supporters.

Political commentator Munjonzi Mutandiri told us it is increasingly and
tragically clear that continued violence represents the default mode of the
ZANU PF establishment.

'Right now ZANU PF is busy oiling its violence machinery. I was in a rural
area not long ago and was shocked to see a ZANU PF supporter, a woman for
that matter, claiming ownership of the 2008 violence that left many MDC
activists dead. She was threatening people that if they don't support the
Kariba draft they would revert to the 2008 disturbances,' Mutandiri said.

'You could clearly see people were scared and that no one in the area dares
to wear an MDC T-shirt. Can you imagine that such things are happening a
year after the inclusive government was formed, its increadible and very
unfortunate,' Mutandiri added.

There are concerns that if the situation is not controlled widespread
political violence will erupt. Reports of unrest and violence are already
becoming more widespread as parliament prepares to roll out the
constitutional outreach programme.

Energy Minister, Elias Mudzuri, who is also the MDC's organising secretary,
told the House of the Assembly this week that incidences of violence are
occurring in many communal, farming and urban areas and there are
indications that the violence is escalating in all these areas and could
reach crisis levels.

Contributing to a parliamentary debate Mudzuri, the MDC MP for Warren Park
Harare said; 'As we are speaking, this spirit of violence is being revised
in the rural areas. There was a slogan which was used in the June elections,
that is the MAZDA slogan, which is being used now. MAZDA stands for Mugabe
Achatonga Dzamara Afa' (Mugabe will rule until he dies).

Mpofu blames UK mining firm for Zim diamond crisis

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
18 March 2010

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has gone on the offensive in the midst of a probe
into the country's diamond crisis, saying the UK firm with the legal title
to mine the controversial Chiadzwa claim is to blame for the same crisis.

Mpofu was speaking to reporters at parliament on Wednesday, just before
appearing before a parliamentary committee investigating operations in
Chiadzwa. He declared that the London-based mining firm African Consolidated
Resources (ACR) 'controlled by one white man', will never mine diamonds at
Chiadzwa as long as he is in charge of the ministry. Mpofu said ACR head,
Andrew Cranswick should be 'punished' because his company foiled Mpofu's
attempts sell the diamonds at a recent auction.
"That man will never mine in this country as long as I am minister.
Cranswick, only one man, has caused all the chaos. That one white man does
not even employ, his company is listed in Britain yet he holds Zimbabwe to
ransom," said Mpofu.

ACR was forced to abandon the Chiadzwa claim at gunpoint in 2006, and has
since been fighting a protracted legal battle over the ownership rights. At
least 30 kgs of diamonds at the centre of the ownership debate have since
been handed to the Reserve Bank for 'safekeeping' after one of the new
mining firms, given Mpofu's blessing to mine in Chiadzwa, tried to auction
the gems off earlier this year. The auction was stopped because the proper
authorities were not informed, including the international diamond trade
watchdog, the Kimberley Process. ACR at the time warned that any diamonds
bought from Zimbabwe were stolen, because they are mined from a 'stolen'
claim.

The auction is one of the reasons behind the parliamentary probe, which has
been delayed for several weeks. The parliamentary committee has been snubbed
three times by the two diamond mining firms given government's approval to
mine in Chiadzwa, under the Mines Minstry's orders. Officials from Mbada
Investments and Canadile Miners, which are joint ventures with the
government's Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), face serious
questions about who gave them the rights to mine the fields. Finance
Minister Tendai Biti has recently stated that the permits were issued
fraudulently.

 

Legislators grill Mpofu over diamonds

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=28064

March 18, 2010

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu was on Wednesday
grilled by MPs behind closed doors after he appealed for the probe into
diamond mining activities at Chiadzwa to be held in camera.

The parliamentary investigation follows the minister's controversial
decision to pick two South African companies Canadile and the Reclamation
Group (Reclam) for separate joint ventures with the state-owned Zimbabwe
Mining Development Company (ZMDC).  Reclam partnership with ZMDC gave birth
to Mbada Holdings.

"Can I request that members of the press be excused," said Mpofu.

Committee chairman Edward Chindori-Chininga who is Zanu- PF's Guruve South,
legislator granted the request.

Mpofu appeared before the parliamentary committee, a day after he told a
press conference that cabinet had endorsed his selection of the two South
African companies.

"The Cabinet has endorsed Mbada and Canadile joint venture partnerships in
Chiadzwa and has agreed that the joint venture partnerships are legitimately
structured," Mpofu said.

A report by the Kimberly Process accused soldiers who were then providing
security at Chiadzwa of illegally dealing in diamonds from the area. The KP
recommended that the security forces be removed and government complied
after some resistance.

Last month, the Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ruled that mining at
Chiadzwa should cease pending the finalization against an appeal against a
High Court order that said the claims belong to Africa Consolidated
Resources (ACR). Early this month ACR submitted a complaint to the KP
alleging that Mbada Holdings and Canadile were forging ahead with mining in
defiance of the court order.

"As you may be aware, the High Court ruled in September 2009 that ACR
mineral rights are and have always been valid over the Marange diamonds
field, and that all diamonds ever mined there belong to ACR.  More
specifically, the Court Order was stipulated to take effect regardless of
any appeals.

The Court ruling was ignored by MMCZ, ZMDC, the Ministry and the illegally
operating companies," ACR said.

"We do wish a return to the observance and enforcement of law in our country
and the development of the diamond deposit for the true benefit of my nation
and its people.

"The KPCS' role must surely include guiding Zimbabwe towards a transparent
and legal extraction and sale of its national assets."

Zimbabwean Deputy PM Mutambara Charges 'Grandstanding' Over 2011 Elections

http://www1.voanews.com

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara said President Robert Mugabe's
ZANU-PF would have no chance of winning free and fair elections held next
year

Loirdham Moyo & Gibbs Dube | Washington 17 March 2010

Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Wednesday accused
President Robert Mugabe of "grandstanding" in declaring recently that his
ZANU-PF party is ready for elections in 2011, saying the former ruling party
would be routed by the Movement for Democratic Change in a free and fair
ballot.

VOA Studio 7 correspondent Loirdham Moyo reported from eastern Mutare on
Mutambara's remarks to an audience at nearby Africa University.

But Zimbabwean civil society representatives taking part in a symposium
Tuesday in Washington said the country and the international community
should start preparing for elections sooner than later in light of the
mounting tensions within the unity government in Harare.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network Director Rindai Chipfunde-Vava, and
Zimbabwe Peace Project Director Jestina Mukoko noted that recent opinion
polls indicate most Zimbabweans favor new elections next year.

Chipfunde-Vava said the polls should be held even if a new constitution has
not been drafted and voter rolls have not yet been overhauled. Mukoko said
that while there have been some notable political and economic improvements
in Zimbabwe, major reforms have been stalled due to friction in the unity
government.

VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube reported from the symposium organized by
Freedom House.

Zimbabwe's Gono mum on proposal after Zuma meeting 

http://www.sabcnews.com/

March 18 2010 , 6:50:00

Thulasizwe Simelane, Zimbabwe

President Jacob Zuma has met directly with the men at the centre of the
storm threatening Zimbabwe's fragile unity government. Zuma last night held
talks with Central Bank chief Gideon Gono and prosecutions head Johannes
Tomana in Harare. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wants both men
ousted.

The MDC charges that President Robert Mugabe violated the September 2008
political agreement by re-appointing Gono and Tomana, without consulting
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. After meeting Zuma, Gono would not reveal
if any proposal had been made for his exit.

Zuma then held talks with MDC treasurer Roy Bennett, who is being tried on
terrorism charges that the party says are trumped up. Mugabe is refusing to
appoint Bennett as Deputy Agriculture Minister. Bennett was upbeat when he
emerged from his meeting with Zuma.

Bennet hopeful

"Very good, very helpful, very supportive to the Zimbabwean crisis and for
the Zimbabwean people," said Bennet.

Zuma concludes his visit to Zimbabwe today with a joint meeting with the
country's political leadership.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed a unity government last year to end a stalemate
over disputed elections and try to end a crisis that helped drag Zimbabwe
into economic ruin. The deal has stabilised the economy but squabbling
within the fragile alliance over policy and the slow pace of reforms have
held back progress and stood in the way of fresh elections.

Tsvangirai boycotted Cabinet meetings late last year due to the dispute over
the implementation of the deal.

 

Zuma Meets Tomana, Gono And Bennett

http://news.radiovop.com/

18/03/2010 00:16:00

Harare, March 18, 2010 - South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday
night met the Attorney General (AG), Reserve Bank governor and an appointee
of the Prime Minister for Deputy Agriculture ministry as he steps up efforts
to break Zimbabwe talks deadlock.

The three, AG Johannes Tomana, RBZ governor Gideon Gono and Deputy
Agriculture minister designate Roy Bennett, refused to speak to the press
after their meetings with Zuma.

The three are subject of the talks between Zanu PF and the two Movement for
Democratic Change formations. The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai wants Tomana and Gono relieved of their posts. MDC also wants
Bennett who is currently accused of terrorism charges acquitted and sworn in
as deputy minister of Agriculture. The MDC says charges against Bennett are
trumped up. Tomana, an appointee of Mugabe, has been prosecuting in the
Bennett case.

Zuma is in Harare to mediate talks that had collapsed following the failure
by the three leaders in the inclusive government to fulfill the Global
Political Agreement (GPA). Zanu PF wants sanctions imposed by the west
removed and exiled media radio stations banned.

Earlier in the day the South African president had met the three principals
to the agreement, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and his Deputy, Arthur Mutambara.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai told journalists that the meeting had progressed very
well.

Sources close to the talks told RadioVoP that Zuma had demanded the full
implementation of the GPA and the removal of all conditions. It is said the
three principals had agreed to move elections from next year citing growing
cases of political violence. Zuma had suggested an early poll next year.

Zimbabwe also needs to put a new constitution in place before a free and
fair election is held. The parliamentary committee spearheading a
constitutional reform process says it will only complete its work by 2013.
The process has been delayed by infighting and lack of funds. It has been
marred by violence before it has even taken off, particularly in rural areas
where villagers have been intimidated not to contribute to the process by
Zanu PF. Zanu PF wants the Kariba draft constitution, adopted by the three
principals in the inclusive government, adopted as it is but the two MDCs
want the people to contribute to the draft before it is adopted as
Zimbabwe's new constitution.

Zuma spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told reporters that an announcement on
the progress of the talks would be made on Thursday.

"The group meeting will be there tomorrow morning. There may be a press
conference in the afternoon," said Magwenya.

The sources said Mugabe called an emergency meeting with his ministers late
on Tuesday.

Only two weeks ago, Mugabe stripped MDC ministers of power, moving most
responsibilities to his cronies.
 

War vets rocked by regional division

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=28081

March 18, 2010

By Ray Matikinye

BULAWAYO - War veterans in Matabeleland have vowed to oppose and thwart
plans by their counterparts in Mashonaland provinces to replace current
Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (ZLWVA) leader, Jabulani
Sibanda, with an aspirant from outside their region at the next congress in
what appears to be a regional battle for control of the war veterans'
association.

Sibanda's leadership has recently been challenged by what he termed "a
splinter group led by people without a following," who tried to organize a
congress to force the current leadership out of office. The faction
announced that Sibanda's deputy, Joseph Chinotimba had taken over as interim
leader.

The provincial chairman of the ZLWVA in Matabeleland, Temba Ncube said war
veterans in the region would strongly lobby other provinces for the
retention of Sibanda as leader at their congress sometime this year.

Sibanda told journalists last Friday that he would contest the chairmanship
post.

"We understand our colleagues in Mashonaland provinces, particularly our
comrades-in-arms in Zanla want the leadership to rotate from Zipra to Zanla.
Their argument is that the founding chairman Justice Charles Hungwe was
former Zanla while his successor, the late Chenjerai Hunzvi was former Zipra
as is current chairman Jabulani Sibanda. So the leadership should now revert
to a Zanla cadre," Ncube said.

He said the ZLWVA constitution does not provide for the rotation that some
of the members were agitating for.

"Nowhere in the constitution is such an arrangement provided for and we don't
know where they get the idea from," said.

Ncube's explanation revealed the underlying reason for the recent spat in
the war veterans association when a rival group called for a congress in
Chinhoyi which was aborted and rescheduled for Chindunduma.

Both congresses were called off when Zanu -PF big wigs intervened,
threatening to discipline any ZLWVA members who attended such allegedly
unsanctioned gatherings.

Another member of the provincial executive, Julius Siziba said the war
veterans in Matabeleland would strongly oppose any machinations by their
counterparts in Mashonaland to replace Sibanda.

"We have allowed people from Mashonaland, particularly our former Zanla
members to dictate the pace of events in the organization and other issues
of importance to us as former Zipra but we can no longer allow that to
continue," Siziba said.

He cited the parceling out of wild life conservancies to people from
Mashonaland in the on-going land redistribution program at the expense of
people in Matabeleland as one such example and expressed members' fears that
this could happen again when the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act
is  implemented.

"That is the kind of bias we want to stop," Siziba said.

Meanwhile the wrangles within the war veterans took a new dimension on
Wednesday this week when 11 of the 20-member ZNLWVA resigned purportedly to
pave way for     elections scheduled for this weekend.

Media reports say the bulk of the executive leaders resigned "to facilitate
the creation of an ideal environment for the holding of free and fair
elections at the forthcoming congress."

Reacting to the resignations, Sibanda said the latest development was a
continuation of the same machinations of Joseph Chinotimba and his team
acting on the advice of some Zanu-PF officials in Harare.

"But that will not change anything," Sibanda is quoted as saying. "We will
have our congress on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Mt Darwin."

Sibanda said the national executive members who resigned had failed to
secure nominations from their provinces to enable them to seek re-election.
So they had resorted to trying to frustrate any progress towards the
meeting.

Zimbabwe Student Leader Suspended

http://news.radiovop.com/

18/03/2010 08:00:00

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) Vice President Obert Masaraure has
been suspended from the Midlands State University (MSU) pending a hearing.

 Masaraure a final year student at the Midlands State University was served
with a suspension letter dated 8 March 2010.  Surprisingly barely a month
after firebrand student leader had been reinstated at the university after
serving a one year suspension. He was first suspended in February last year
after leading a series of demonstrations during the National Campaign
Against the Dollarization of Education (NACADEZ) campaign.

According to Zinasu spokersperson Kudakwashe Chakabva, Masaraure was
suspended for breaching Ordinance NO.2 of 2000. (The Rules of students and
discipline Ordinance 2 of 2000).Allegations are that he is "the ring leader
of a group which calls itself the Orange Revolution. On Tuesday 4 March
2010, this group printed and distributed posters and on Friday 5 March 2010,
the group printed and distributed to other students posters inciting them to
demonstrate against what you called satanic fees, unpalatable plate of sadza
and astronomical rentals" reads the suspension letter. Such is background
that the Midlands State University administration decided to encroach upon
and strangle Masaraure academic freedom.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union condemns with all the contempt it
deserves this despicable act by the Midlands State University. It is a
desperate attempt to by a few recidivists saddled with the idea of
decimating the students union.

 Masaraure is the Vice President of ZINASU not a ringleader of any other
group as they claim, we believe that is the reason why he was persecuted
.The charges leveled against the Vice President do not in any way provides
reasonable grounds to threaten anyone or any institution, but they are just
an empty manifestation of a profound resentment of the student's right to
representation.
 

Zimbabwe cbank governor attacks planned company seizure

http://www.reuters.com

Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:23pm EDT

* Move to take over foreign companies scaring investors

* Foreign banks should be protected

* Gono is Mugabe ally, opposition want him out

By Cris Chinaka

HARARE, March 18 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's central bank governor on Thursday
attacked as "reckless" a drive by President Robert Mugabe's party to force
foreign-owned companies to cede majority shareholdings to local black
businessmen.

Gideon Gono, a close ally of Mugabe whose position at the central bank is
opposed by the president's rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said in a
newspaper interview the move was scaring off investment badly needed to
revive a battered economy trying to recover from a decades-long crisis.

In an unusually fierce attack on policy strongly backed by his benefactor,
Gono told privately-owned weekly Financial Gazette newspaper that the black
empowerment drive smacked of racism, and would hurt efforts by a
power-sharing government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai a year ago to fix
the economy.

"The last six months have seen a flood of interest in the economy from both
friends and foes and we must not disturb the momentum by being reckless,
inconsistent and self-contradictory with our pronouncements or with what we
say or do," he said.

"You don't shoot yourself in the foot during a time of scarce capital
availability and neither do you start any new wars before concluding battles
of yesteryear," he said in reference to Mugabe's controversial seizures of
white-owned commercial farms which critics say triggered Zimbabwe's economic
collapse.

"While national calendars and sovereign debates must never be dictated by
outsiders, it is an act of madness for a family to engage in domestic
quarrels at a time when the whole village is up and about its business," he
added.

Gono -- whose money-printing policies at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
between 2003 and 2008 is blamed for the world's worst hyper-inflationary
crisis in the last 20 years -- said the empowerment drive had attracted
unnecessary media attention of a people "trying to dispossess one another of
this and that".

The central bank governor called for protection for foreign-owned banks like
Barclays BAC.L, Standard Chartered (STAN.L), Central African Building
Society owned by Old Mutual (OMLJ.J), and MBCA owned by South Africa's
Nedbank (NEDJ.J), which he said were targets of "vulture-style" seizures by
some cartels of black businessmen.

"The firm policy position of the Reserve Bank is that all existing
foreign-owned banks must be left under the current parentage ownership to
optimise on the capacity of domestic economy to penetrate international
financial markets," he said.

"Our political leaders must take the lead in openly condemning what we see
as self-centred approaches that are evolving under the guise of
indigenisation and empowerment drive."

Gono said the central bank was ready to award new licences to blacks to run
their own banks, and suggested Zimbabwe could pursue a programme of
empowering historically disadvantaged blacks by giving them preference in
government contracts while allowing some joint ventures with foreigners on a
willing-seller-willing buyer basis.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it is trying to
persuade Mugabe's ZANU-PF party to shelve the empowerment law, and Gono said
he hoped current public consultations on the programme would also help the
government on how to tackle the issue.

Asked whether investors were justified in their fears of Zimbabwe's black
empowerment drive, he said: "Absolutely, those fears are justified in the
sense that most of those to be affected came in as a result of the country
calling on them to come in and invest in our landscape."

Security forces stifle union activity: ILO

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Caroline Mvundura Thursday 18 March 2010

HARARE - Zimbabwe state security forces have used arrests and torture of
labour leaders to stifle union activity in the troubled southern African
country, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said in a report
released Wednesday.

The ILO, which last August dispatched a team of labour experts to Harare to
probe alleged worker rights abuses, urged the unity government of President
Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to end anti-union
practices by security forces and other state agents.

The world workers' body also called on the government to speed up creation
of a human rights commission that is expected to defend the rights and
freedoms of Zimbabweans including workers.

The ILO investigators said they saw: "a clear pattern of arrests,
detentions, violence and torture of trade union leaders and members by the
security forces coinciding with Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
nationwide events."

They added that coordinated cracked down on the ZCTU indicated that there
was a central authority directing security forces clampdown on the union and
its structures across the country.

The ILO commission of inquiry was prompted by the alleged assault and
torture of top ZCTU in September 2006 after state security agents foiled a
workers' protest.

ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and secretary general Wellington Chibebe
were among some of the executives from the labour body who were assaulted
and tortured by the security agents.

Matombo, Chibebe and 14 others later sued Home Affairs Minister Kembo
Mohadi, Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri and several other
police officers implicated in their alleged torture after independent
medical doctors produced reports indicating that their injuries were
consistent with torture.

There was no immediate reaction from the government to the damning ILO
report. - ZimOnline.

MP sues State witness over court case

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=28054

March 18, 2010

By Owen Chikari

MASVINGO -  MDC legislator Tachiona Mharadze is suing for US$2 million
Retired Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, who was a key state witness
in case in which the legislator was acquitted.

Nyikayaramba has been the state's key witness in cases in which several MDC
MPs were accused of abusing state-sourced farming inputs.

Mharadze, the MP for Masvingo West, was cleared last week. He had been
accused of abusing 180 tonnes of farming inputs.

"I have instructed my lawyers to file papers in the High Court," said
Mharadze. "I am demanding US$2 million from the State's key witness.

"You have to know that I was booking expensive hotels in Harare for me to
attend the trial which means I lost a lot of money attending to this case.

"In addition to the bookings that I made in hotels, I also lost business as
a result of this case in which Nyikayaramba was the key witness.

"Nyikayaramba has to account for his actions; therefore he should compensate
me for the losses I suffered."

Although no official comment could be obtained from Mharadze's lawyers,
Mwonzora and Associates, it is reliably understood that several MDC MPs
acquitted of similar charges had also resolved to sue Nyikayaramba.

The angry MPs say they were singling out Nyikayaramba because he had been
used as the key witness in cases in which they were subsequently acquitted.

"We agreed as acquitted MPs from the MDC-T to sue Nyikayaramba and our
lawyers are currently preparing the papers", said one of the acquitted
mainstream MDC MPs.

Among those acquitted on charges of abusing farming inputs are Ransome
Makamure (Gutu East), Evelyn Masaiti, Mharadze (Masvingo West), Heya  Shoko
(Bikita West), Edmore Marima (Bikita East) and Zanu- PF's Irvin Dzingirayi
(Chivi South ).

One MP Ernest Mudavanhu (MDC) was convicted of abusing farming inputs and
spent two weeks in jail. He is currently out of custody on bail pending
appeal.

UK firm will never mine Zim diamonds: Minister

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Clara Smith Thursday 18 March 2010

HARARE - Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has declared that London-based mining
firm African Consolidated Resources (ACR), "controlled by one white man",
will never mine diamonds at Marange diamond field in eastern Zimbabwe as
long as he is in charge of the ministry.

Mpofu was speaking to reporters at Parliament on Wednesday just before
appearing before a parliamentary committee investigating operations in
Marange, which is also known as Chiadzwa.

He reiterated that Zimbabwe was ready to sell the gems outside the Kimberly
Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).

The parliamentary committee, which Mpofu and his top officials have tried to
dodge, is also investigating the composition of the boards of two private
firms - Mbada Investments and Canadile Miners - that were unprocedurally
licensed to mine in Marange, according to evidence collected through several
interviews conducted by the committee.

Reporters were barred from attending the hearing after Mpofu, who despite
telling journalists before the start of the hearing that he had nothing to
hide told committee chairman Edward Chindori Chininga (ZANU PF) that he
wanted to give evidence in camera, forcing journalists to troop out of the
committee room.

Mpofu said ACR chief executive officer Andrew Cranswick should be punished
because he was the major obstacle in Zimbabwe's bid to officially sell the
diamonds.

"That man will never mine in this country as long as I am minister.
Cranswick, only one man, has caused all the chaos. That one white man does
not even employ, his company is listed in Britain yet he holds Zimbabwe to
ransom," said Mpofu.

ACR owns legal title to the Marange diamond claims but was controversially
forced off the alluvial diamond-rich field by the government about four
years ago.

"In fact, we received communication from Israel, the Kimberly chair saying
they will not listen to Cranswick and they want us to move forward. He is
responsible for all this mess, stopping us from using our resources to
assist the country. We are under sanctions because of that one man," Mpofu
said, blaming the media for listening to Cranswick more than the government.
"He has used the media effectively."

Mbada and Canadile are two are joint venture companies between state-owned
Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and some South African
investors formed as part of measures to bring mining of diamonds at Chiadzwa
in line with standards stipulated by world diamond industry watchdog, the
Kimberley Process (KP).

Mpofu said Canadile and Mbada could mine diamonds worth between
US$1,2billion and US$1,4 billion annually if they were allowed to operate
"smoothly".

He said Zimbabwe would seek other markets if the KPCS refused to certify
Marange stones.

"We have told them (KPCS) that we can pull out. We can sell our diamonds
elsewhere. There is a bigger market out there," he said.

Asked why Zimbabwe was still putting efforts to keep its KPCS membership if
it could just walk away, Mpofu said: "We are a founding member of the KPCS.
We are a member and we are producers as well. The UK and the US are not
producers yet they want to control our industry. They make the most noise,"
he said.

Most evidence heard so far in the parliamentary investigation points to
Mpofu unprocedurally licensing Mbada and Canadile, as well as making
irregular board appoints to the two firms. But he was defensive.

"I don't regret any decisions I made. I have never touched alcohol in my
life and I didn't make those decisions under the influence of alcohol. Those
were sober decisions."

Chiadzwa is one of the world's most controversial diamond fields with
reports that soldiers sent to guard the claims after the government took
over the field in October 2006 from ACR committed gross human rights abuses
against illegal miners who had descended on the field.

Human rights groups have been pushing for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds but
last November, the country escaped a KP ban with the global body giving
Harare a June 2010 deadline to make reforms to comply with its regulations.

However Mbada and Canadile brought in to ensure mining standards at Chiadzwa
meet KP requirements have attracted more controversy amid revelations that
some members of the two firms were once illegal drug and diamond dealers in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone.

Some Mbada and Canadile members are also known to have close links to
Zimbabwe's military establishment that is accused of stealing millions of
dollars worth of diamonds from Chiadzwa and offloading them onto the foreign
black market for precious stones. - ZimOnline

Indigenization law risky to investors – US

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=28086

March 18, 2010

By Ray Matikinye

BULAWAYO – The United States (US) says Zimbabwe’s indigenization law creates
risks for investors worried about President Robert Mugabe’s record on land
seizures.

US ambassador Charles A. Ray on Wednesday said the international community
could not dictate what laws Zimbabwe should pass but investors were
concerned about how the controversial Indigenization and Economic
Empowerment Act said would be implemented.

“While investors can contend with security  risks, the Act raises political
risks that are unpredictable which investors are not comfortable with
because the Zimbabwean government had  done things in the past  like the
crisis over the land  issue  which has failed to change their  perception of
government  intentions in future  even though there  is true empowerment
implicit in the law,” he said

The law prescribes that foreign investors cede 51 percent shareholding to
Zimbabweans, with failure to comply resulting in imprisonment.

Ten years ago, Mugabe’s government went on a programme to seize white-owned
commercial farms. Under the often violent exercise, the government said it
would only compensate the farmers for developments made on the farms.

Critics say the land reform fiasco has cast a shadow on the new empowerment
laws.

Embattled Zimbabwe, the critics argue, needs to create jobs for thousands of
jobless ordinary people who cannot afford to buy the shares prescribed by
the new law.

Ray also said the US had not seen enough willingness and progress to
implement the Global Political Agreement (GPA) fully on the part of Zanu-PF
to warrant lifting the restrictive measures imposed on Mugabe and members of
his inner circle.

Zimbabwe was at a crossroads and had the opportunity to choose a route that
would bring about prosperity for the majority of its people or one that will
cause it to descend into chaos.

“Zimbabwe is at a junction,” said Ray. “The route to bringing about
prosperity and economic recovery and real freedom for the people will no
doubt not be an easy one and would take time.

“But it is up to Zimbabweans to accelerate the change needed.”

Ray was addressing the media after commissioning a resource centre at
Bulawayo Library in the city.

He described criticism of his government by Zanu-PF for what the party terms
illegal sanctions as “a lot of smoke without fire”.

He said his government was seriously concerned about the “hang-ups over
agreed issues”.

“The benchmarks to lift sanction have not been met and there is insufficient
progress towards meeting them,” said Ray. “We propose taking action to lift
these measures when we see that they are doing what they are supposed to
 do.”

Ray acknowledged he had witnessed some progress and lack of it in
implementing the GPA, such as the failure to get the Zimbabwe Media
Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Electoral Commission off the
ground.

These commissions are essential drivers to the full implementation of the
agreement, he said.

“There is still the presence of violence and lack of due process by not
following rules on the part of those affected by the measures,” Ray said.

He dismissed assertions by the government that the sanctions had affected
its economic recovery efforts saying his country had funnelled more than
$300 million in aid to Zimbabwe.

Zesa needs US$383m to import power

http://www.chronicle.co.zw

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Chronicle Reporters

ZESA requires US$383 million to import power and improve electricity
generation amid reports that the utility is owed US$347 million in unpaid
bills. The debt has ballooned from US$230 million reported last year.

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) manager for
Bulawayo Mr Enoch Ncube said the entity was struggling to meet power demand
because of financial constraints to buy spares and equipment for power
stations.
He told a Bulawayo United Residents' Association (Bura) stakeholders'
meeting at Mhlahlandlela Government Office Complex yesterday that US$383
million was required to meet operational costs.
The meeting was supposed to be attended by Members of the House of Assembly
and Senators from Bulawayo, but they did not turn up.
Mr Ncube said 28 178 Bulawayo residents have not paid a cent towards their
power bills since January last year.
"On average, a household should pay US$31 while the highest consumption
should see the bill going to US$59 per month. We encourage ratepayers to pay
because in the western region (Bulawayo) 21 percent of our consumers haven't
paid even a cent since January 2009," he said.
"We owe our electricity suppliers from other countries US$100 million while
US$156 million is required to pay the Zimbabwe Power Company."
Mr Ncube said power generation was below capacity, with Kariba producing 745
megawatts, Hwange Power Station 160 megawatts while 150 megawatts were
imported from Mozambique.
He said of the electricity generated in Zimbabwe, 150 megawatts was exported
to Namibia as payment for a deal the two countries agreed on.
Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Middleton Nyoni, said council was also facing
financial problems as it was operating with a standstill budget, which was
carried from 2009.
Council is using the 2009 US$303 million budget this year although they are
awaiting approval by Minister Ignatius Chombo of Local Government, Urban and
Rural Development.
Bura chairman Mr Winos Dube said residents resolved to tell the legislators
and Ministers that: "Zesa should comply with its service levels and not
short-change consumers. People are bitter about the excessive tariffs and
costly power outages. Zesa should desist from charging electricity not
consumed through the use of estimates in billing and arbitrary cutting of
electricity supplies.
"TelOne should consider writing off all the debt incurred between January
and December 2009. The company should also reduce their unit charges, as
they are too high for consumers. Telephones are not efficiently functioning,
this hinders communication in the domestic and business sectors."
He also took a swipe at the city council for failing to deliver services
despite charging high tariffs.
"People are paying non-existent services. Service delivery in council has
continued to deteriorate, water has become a rarity, garbage is not being
collected and potholes are making roads impassable," said Mr Dube.
He also attacked the local authority for buying a US$65 000 Dodge Journey
SUV for the mayor when service delivery was poor.
Turning to the education sector, Mr Dube said teachers should not demand
incentives from parents.
"Parents are not employers of teachers. Incentives should not be used as an
instrument to improve salaries," said Mr Dube.
He said Bura was appealing to the Government to make sure prices of goods
and services were charged in United States dollars in Bulawayo because
business was pegging all prices in South African rand.
Mr Dube said workers who earn US dollars were short-changed by business,
which charge in rand.
The Bura chairman also fired a salvo at Members of the House of Assembly,
Senators and Cabinet Ministers in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province for
ignoring a meeting meant to discuss high tariffs charged by service
providers.
Bulawayo Resident Minister Cain Mathema invited the legislators and
Ministers for yesterday's meeting, which was poorly attended.
Bura had a list of challenges facing residents and wanted answers from
Members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers.
Mr Dube had no soft words for the legislators and Ministers for failing to
turn up for the meeting.
He accused the MPs and Senators for ignoring residents who voted them into
office.
Mr Dube said legislators and Ministers from Bulawayo lacked commitment and
seriousness in addressing the plight of "the very same people who put them
into office."
"We are disappointed by ministers, MPs and the Mayor (Councillor Thaba Moyo)
as they did not attend a meeting that was requested by the residents through
Mathema's office. We are hungry to interact with the local leadership.
Residents wanted to tell them problems they are facing everyday," he said.
"We are not going to get the responses we want from heads of departments
from TelOne, Zesa and Bulawayo City Council. We want to talk to the policy
makers. This was not the kind of meeting we were looking forward to."
After failing to meet the Ministers and MPs, Mr Dube said Bura would now
seek the attention of President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The meeting was chaired by the Bulawayo Provincial Administrator Mrs
Khonzani Ncube who was standing in for Resident Minister Mathema.
Resident Minister Mathema was in Harare attending a meeting with the
Minister of Local Housing, Urban and Rural Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo.
Contacted for comment, Resident Minister Mathema expressed disappointment at
the Ministers, MPs and Senators for boycotting the meeting.

"I invited everyone and these guys just decided not to attend. If the
elected MPs and Ministers didn't come to the meeting, then it's very sad.
The request by the people of Bulawayo to gather with the policy makers was
meant to highlight their problems to the legislators.
"None of the MPs and Ministers ever responded to my invitation except for
Clr (Edward) Manning who came to my office on Tuesday. At the moment I am in
Harare attending a meeting," he said.
The legislators and Ministers denied that Minister Mathema invited them to
the meeting.
The Minister of Water Resources and Development Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, who is
the Member of the House of Assembly for Bulawayo, said he was not aware of
the meeting.
"I don't know about the meeting and I'm in Harare as we speak. We were never
told about it," he said.
MDC-T deputy spokesperson Ms Thabitha Khumalo of Bulawayo East, said Members
of House of Assembly and Senators from his party did not get invitations
from Minister Mathema.
"We never received any invitation. Besides, Parliament was sitting this week
so it was difficult for our MPs to attend. Ministers were also supposed to
be in Parliament because they were supposed to answer questions from Members
of the House of Assembly. Next time (Minister) Mathema should organise such
meeting when there is no business in Parliament," she said

GNU Watch - A Year in Review

See the Tragedy of the Commons

Letter about Charara ‘New Year’s Eve Party’

The Trustees
National Anglers' Union of Zimbabwe
Box 3632
Harare

Dear Sirs

RE:  Charara ‘New Year’s Eve Party’

At a recent meeting of the Harare Heads of the ATS (i.e. non-governmental
schools) I raised the problem of the New Year’s Eve parties held at Charara.
This was done as quite a few parents had themselves raised the issue with me
as an area of great concern. After a discussion, I was given the mandate to
write to you directly on behalf of most, if not all, the Heads attending.

There are two issues here:

The first is a moral one.  It appears that there is, year after year, an
abundant supply of alcohol and drugs available and evidence to suggest there
is a serious problem with drinking and indeed, under-age drinking.
Fornication or sexual activities take place in the ‘open’. There have been
statements, apparently, confirming rapes; and injuries were sustained (at
the last ‘party’) by jet skiers who were seemingly drunk. Stories by many
who attend the ‘party’ tell of youths lying unconscious in the mud by
sunrise on New Year’s Day. Other reports indicate the payment of cash bribes
at your gate to allow the under-aged to enter and external stocks of alcohol
to be brought in.

I am sure your organisation has a set of rules and guidelines to general
conduct on the premises. Yet the management of the ‘party’ seems
uncontrolled and there is a systematic abdication of responsibilities by
those in authority.
Ultimately, and obviously, it is parents’ prerogative to send their children
to Charara for the party or not. As Educationalists, however, we also have
an important say in the matter. ATS schools are concerned with the education
of the ‘whole’ person.
Indeed, Education is not just intellectual formation; Spiritual and Moral
components are equally important and vital foundations in the formation of
our youth.
The second is an environmental one.  From Primary school to Secondary School
environmental studies are, in one way or another, incorporated into the
syllabus and timetable. Our Schools all have class trips to Wildlife areas,
fund-raising projects for rural communities, student projects, fund-raising
for the SPCA,  the Rhino rehabilitation campaign (Save Conservancy) etc to
name but a very few. Then along comes the Charara party and everything we
stand for is effectively ‘trashed’ overnight!

We all know Charara is a National Park area designated for wildlife.
Beginning with the whole unfortunate episode of ‘Tusker’ in 2007, reports
continue to highlight the negative impact of the party on the wildlife and
environment in that area. Not only is the area strewn with litter and debris
but the tremendous amplification of music and the igniting of fireworks
surely are both unacceptable in an environmentally sensitive area? With so
much in Zimbabwe already so fragile and imperilled from a wildlife point of
view, how do you excuse such an outrage?

Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the
common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral,
vegetable, and animal resources of the world cannot be divorced from respect
for moral imperatives.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If, ultimately, it is all about
money and the financial survival of the NAU setup at Charara then perhaps
the schools (and our respective parent bodies) ought to be engaged so that
some support could be mustered for the NAU without having to resort to
hosting what is now widely perceived as an infamous gathering of
unsupervised youth.

There have been widely circulated and well subscribed public petitions in
the past against the hosting of the party at Charara. It is regrettable that
your organisation continues to disregard the mounting groundswell of
opposition.

I entreat you to take into consideration all the above when preparations
begin for the next ‘party’.

With kind regards

Cav. C. Trinci  O.M.R.I.
Headmaster
Hellenic Schools

cc Neil Todd (CEO ATS Schools) and Heads of ATS Schools
    Mike Suddens, Chairman, SDC.
    Chairman of ATS Parents
    Chairman of ATS Teachers
    NAU Magazine