S.African court hears Zimbabwe torture case

(AFP) – 3 hours ago

PRETORIA — A South African court Tuesday began hearing a case seeking to
force prosecutors to investigate Zimbabwean officials accused of torturing
opposition supporters in Harare in 2007.

South African prosecutors have refused to investigate the allegations.

But two rights groups argue that under South Africa's commitments to the
International Criminal Court, prosecutors must take action against
high-level Zimbabwean officials accused of torture.

"Our law takes torture very seriously, particularly in light of our
inauspicious history where the treatment of political opponents often meant
torture," Advocate Wim Trengrove told Judge Hans Fabricius.

"The most fundamental of human rights is the prevention of torture."

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum filed
the case, which could mark the first time that a South African judge rules
on the scope of the country's Rome Statute treaty commitments to the ICC.

The two groups are demanding that prosecutors arrest and prosecute the
Zimbabweans accused of torture if they enter South Africa. The names of the
officials have not been released.

"A crime against humanity is a crime under South African domestic law,
wherever it is committed," Trengrove told the court.

"You have to launch an investigation and see how far you get. Then you can
judge if there is enough evidence to build a case," he said.

"One should not prejudge the matter by simply saying it will not work. If
everyone did that the purpose of the Rome Statute would be defeated," he
added.

The case centres on Zimbabwean officials accused of state-sanctioned torture
against scores of activists following a raid on the headquarters of the
Movement for Democratic Change in 2007.

The SALC argues that the torture was both widespread and systematic,
amounting to a crime against humanity.

The SALC filed a complaint with South African prosecutors in March 2008.
More than one year later, the prosecutions authority said it would not take
up the case.

The Movement for Democratic Change is now part of Zimbabwe's government,
under a rocky unity pact between MDC leader, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and long-ruling President Robert Mugabe.

Prosecutor ‘swaps sides’ in Harare rights case

http://www.businessday.co.za/

A senior NPA official has come out in support of a landmark legal bid to
compel South Africa to prosecute high-level Zimbabwean officials accused of
crimes against humanity
ERNEST MABUZA
Published: 2012/03/27 06:58:26 AM

CITING threats and intimidation from his colleagues, the head of the
National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) Priority Crimes Litigation Unit,
Anton Ackermann, has switched sides and come out in support of a landmark
legal bid to compel SA to prosecute high-level Zimbabwean officials accused
of crimes against humanity.

The North Gauteng High Court yesterday postponed the case brought by the
Southern African Litigation Centre and the Zimbabwean Exiles Forum until
today, after the centre had applied to file a replying affidavit by Mr
Ackermann.

In a stunning reversal, Mr Ackermann broke ranks and filed an affidavit that
indicated he had recommended an investigation of the Zimbabwean officials,
had disagreed with the police’s reasons for not pursuing the case, and had
been manipulated and misled by both his colleagues in the NPA and the state
advocate’s office.

The Priority Crimes Litigation Unit is a specialist unit that, among other
duties, tackles cases that relate to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
SA is obliged under the Rome Statute, which set up the ICC, to enforce
international criminal law within its borders, including torture, and crimes
against humanity.

The NPA said last night no disciplinary action had been taken yet against Mr
Ackermann.

"Management is still reflecting on all the developments around the affidavit
and will determine what to do in due course," NPA spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga
said.

The case brought by the centre and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum seeks to review
and set aside the decision of the NPA and the South African Police Service
not to probe Zimbabwean officials linked to acts of state-sanctioned torture
after a police raid on the offices of the Movement for Democratic Change in
Harare in 2007.

The forum’s chairman, Gabriel Shumba, said yesterday that Mr Ackermann’s
willingness to come forward with his side of the story, despite the fact
that it could severely compromise his career, demonstrated his integrity and
his commitment to dispense justice independently and without fear, favour or
prejudice.

"It is sad to think that he is likely to be punished for seeking to do his
job properly."

In his affidavit, Mr Ackermann said he had sought to be represented in this
matter from some time before February 2010, when it became clear his version
of the facts and the reasons for decisions in the matter would differ from
those of the national director.

"I have been refused representation, at first on the basis that my version
was irrelevant and inadmissible, and later that it would be incorporated
into the national director of public prosecutions ’ answering papers," he
said.

In July 2008, his unit recommended to then acting national prosecutions
director Mokotedi Mpshe and then acting head of the national prosecuting
service Sibongile Mzinyathi that the Zimbabwe matter be investigated.

Mr Ackermann said he would have expected the police service to take "normal
steps associated with investigating any crime", including opening a docket,
assigning an investigation officer, taking witness statements and submitting
the docket to the NPA for a decision whether or not to prosecute.

" Towards the end of 2008, they conveyed to me that the South African Police
Service orally indicated to them that the (police) would not investigate the
matter," his affidavit read.

"I urged Mpshe to obtain the police’ s refusal to investigate the matter in
writing, as I was aware that a refusal was likely to lead to a review
application by (the centre and the forum)," Mr Ackermann said.

New national director of public prosecutions Menzi Simelane then appointed
his deputy, Silas Ramaite, and Chris Macadam to represent him. "During
discussions with Ramaite and Macadam regarding this application it
transpired that we held different views on the matter," Mr Ackermann said.

These discussions culminated in an e-mail dated January 27 2010 from Mr
Macadam, which was written to dissuade him from placing his views on the
decision of the police not to investigate before the court.

The e-mail stated that if inserted into an affidavit by Mr Simelane, Mr
Ackermann’s views would "be interpreted as an attempt to cast doubt on the
reasons relied on by (acting national police commissioner Tim) Williams,
Mpshe and advocate Simelane and (police) commissioner (Bheki) Cele".

The e-mail continued, saying that the "court would be required to make
findings on your ethical conduct which could result in further action being
taken against you".

mabuzae@bdfm.co.za

SA urged to separate politics and law in Zim torture case

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
27 March 2012

South Africa’s government will this week be urged to separate its
international legal responsibilities and politics, in a landmark legal case
based on incidences of torture in Zimbabwe.

The Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum
are urging the South Africans to investigate and prosecute Zimbabwean
officials accused of crimes against humanity. These officials have been
identified as regular visitors to South Africa and the country is being
urged to honour its commitments under the Rome Statute to launch an
investigation.

The case is based on a dossier submitted to the National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA) and the South African police in 2008, which detailed torture
suffered by MDC members in Zimbabwe in 2007. The NPA and the police decided
not to take the case further, and this week’s court challenge will attempt
to overturn this decision.

Arguments on the merit of the case got underway on Tuesday after a
postponement on Monday, which in turn followed the ‘startling’ affidavit of
one of the respondents in the case. Anton Ackermann from the NPA’s Priority
Crimes Litigation Centre recently switched sides and revealed that in 2008
he had recommended an investigation. His affidavit, submitted last week,
also indicated that he was threatened by colleagues at the NPA and the State
Advocate to go along with their decision not to investigate.

The legal team representing SALC and the Exiles Forum argued Tuesday that
South Africa had an international obligation to investigate and prosecute
the Zim officials in this case. Advocate Wim Trengrove told the court that
the decision not to investigate was unlawful and a failure under
international law.

The State meanwhile led its opposing arguments by explaining that it made
little sense, in terms of inter-country relations, to investigate state
sponsored violence in Zimbabwe. The State Advocate, Christopher Macadam,
also told the court that there was no point in referring the torture dossier
to the then chief investigations team, the Scorpions, because they were
about to disband.

Gabriel Shumba, the Director of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, told SW Radio
Africa on Tuesday that the case sets an important precedent in terms of the
rule of law, because it will urge a separation between law and politics.

“This case exposes that South Africa chose to sacrifice its international
and domestic obligations over political expediency,” Shumba said, arguing
that the rule of law and politics must be separated.

Shumba meanwhile also explained that the hopes of thousands of exiled
Zimbabweans rest on the success of this case, “because it seeks to end the
impunity that forced so many out of their country.”

“Other legal forms like the SADC Tribunal have failed to provide justice for
Zimbabweans. But this case will clearly show that the circle of impunity is
closing in on the perpetrators,” Shumba said.

South Africa is the regionally appointed mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis,
although Jacob Zuma has indicated that he won’t be coming to the country any
time soon. Some observers have argued that this shows that he is not serious
about ushering in real change in Zimbabwe.

Other observers meanwhile have said this attitude could affect the court
case in South Africa. But the Exile’s Forum’s Shumba said on Tuesday that he
does not think this will happen.

“The judiciary in South Africa, unlike in Zimbabwe, is independent of the
state. So I think the legal responsibilities of the country will no longer
be affected by politics,” Shumba said.

Rio Tinto mulls Murowa sell-off

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

27/03/2012 00:00:00
    by Gilbert Nyambabvu

GLOBAL resources group, Rio Tinto has launched a “strategic review” of its
diamond business which could see the company selling-off the unit which
includes Zimbabwe’s Murowa Diamond Mine.

The Anglo-Australian mining company announced the review Tuesday with chief
executive, Harry Kenyon-Slaney saying: “we regularly review our businesses
to ensure they remain aligned with Rio Tinto's strategy of operating large,
long-life, expandable assets.

"This process may take some time. We're committed to keeping stakeholders
informed about any key developments, and in the meantime are reassuring
employees and the governments in the states and countries where we operate
that it is very much business as usual."
"The diamonds market outlook is very positive, with demand growing strongly
and lack of new discoveries limiting supply.

"We have a valuable, high quality diamonds business, but given its scale we
are reviewing whether we can create more value through a different ownership
structure."
Along with Murowa, Rio operates Argyle mine in Australia and has a 60
percent stake in Diavik in Canada.

Kenyon-Slaneysaying added: "The diamonds market outlook is very positive,
with demand growing strongly and lack of new discoveries limiting supply.

“We have a valuable, high quality diamonds business, but given its scale we
are reviewing whether we can create more value through a different ownership
structure.”

Analysts said Rio was keen to divest from diamonds because they are a “major
cash drain” with limited growth potential and no longer fitted the company’s
strategy of investing in “large, long-life” assets.
Rio’s diamond unit accounted for 2 percent of overall group earnings before
interest according to a report issued on March 19.

Rio Tinto owned 78 percent of Murowa – which is based in the Midlands town
of Zvishavane – with the balance controlled by RioZim, an independent local
company.

Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said in November last year that Rio
had also complied with the country’s empowerment laws under which foreign
companies must transfer control of at least 51 percent of their Zimbabwe
operations to locals.

"Murowa Diamonds wrote to us yesterday saying they have given up 51 percent
shares and these would be given to our people," Kasukuwere told state media
then.

Zimbabwe shortlists bids for enlarging power plants

http://af.reuters.com

Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:05pm GMT

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Zimbabwe has short-listed eleven bidders for the
expansion of its Hwange and Kariba South power plants, with a winner
expected to be announced in the third quarter of this year, its energy
minister said on Tuesday.

It has been battling power shortages due to growing demand and ageing
plants, limiting supplies to industry and the key mining sector. Zimbabwe
produces around 1,000 MW of electricity, compared with peak demand of 2,200
MW.

The extension of the Hwange thermal power station will add 600 megawatts
(MW) to the Zimbabwean national grid, while the extension of the Kariba
South hydro plant will add 300 MW.

Elton Mangoma said companies from China, India, South Korea, Italy and
Brazil were among the shortlisted and the firms have until the first week in
June to submit a detailed proposal.

"I'm hoping that it will not take more than three months to adjudicate and
thereafter award the tender. We are hoping that in the fourth quarter we can
move on the projects," he told Reuters on the sidelines of an African power
conference in Johannesburg.

Mangoma said additional units at the two plants will be operated in a
public-partnership between the Zimbabwe government and whoever is chosen to
build the plants.

The minister said Zimbabwe still owed around $85 million in unpaid power
imports, mainly to neighbouring Mozambique.

Mangoma said he was meeting Mozambican officials on Thursday to address the
issue, especially after Mozambique halved its exports to Zimbabwe to 50 MW
due to the unpaid bills.

The minister said that together with neighbouring Zambia his country had in
February decided to revive the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric power project,
estimated to cost $2.5 billion, and expected to supply a total of 1,600 MW
to the two countries.

The two neighbours will look for an independent power producer to construct
the plant on a build-operate-transfer basis.

The 1,600 MW, which could later be upscaled to 2,000 MW, would be evenly
split between the two countries, he said.

Mangoma said the project was in the preliminary stages and it would be too
early to comment on time lines.

In the meantime, the minister hoped to convince utilities in the region to
boost trade of electricity during off-peak times to alleviate the most
pressing shortages.

Prosecutors delaying hearing of Gwisai appeal

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
27 March 2012

Delays in court cases because prosecutors are simply failing to show up have
been criticised by a leading defence lawyer.

Alec Muchadehama told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that he’s noticed a
disturbing pattern where state prosecutors have failed to show up in court,
for no apparent reason.

Muchadehama is dealing with the case of former MDC-T legislator and
academic, Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others, who were last week convicted on
charges of conspiracy to commit public violence. Gwisai was jointly charged
with Antonater Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo,
and Welcome Zimuto.

Harare Magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini on Wednesday last week ordered that
the six pay a $500 fine each. A further 24 months prison term was imposed on
the activists, 12 months of which were suspended on condition of good
behaviour for the next five years. The remaining 12 months were suspended on
condition the six perform 420 hours of community service, starting on March
31st.

The lawyer appealed against both the conviction and sentence but the hearing
of that appeal has been postponed twice, because a prosecutor has failed to
attend and represent the state. Muchadehama has been in court since Monday
applying to have the community service sentence set aside pending appeal.

‘The case was in court yesterday (Monday) but there was no prosecutor in
sight. It was postponed to today (Tuesday) but nothing happened as there was
no prosecutor. Once again it was postponed to Wednesday,’ Muchadehama said.
The fuming lawyer said the action by the prosecutors was deliberate and
meant to keep his clients as anxious as they can.

‘If this appeal (against community service) is not determined by Friday, as
we keep getting these postponements it means my clients are obliged by law
to start their community service on Saturday. This is what some people in
the Attorney-General are after but we want to expose that,’ Muchadehama
added.

He continued: ‘We want the conviction to be quashed and sentence to be set
aside. All what we want is for the conviction to be upturned so that verdict
of not guilty is retained.’

Meanwhile four University of Zimbabwe students arrested last week Tuesday
for celebrating the non-custodial sentencing of Gwisai will appear in court
next month. The students were released on $20 bail and will appear on the
14th of April for trial.

COPAC working on final draft of constitution

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
27 March 2012

The Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC), which is
spearheading the drafting of a new charter in Zimbabwe, says it is now
working on the final draft of the constitution.

COPAC co-chairman Douglas Mwonzora said the current process to revise the
document will take 10 days. Then until end of April they’ll be fine-tuning
the document with the help of drafters.

The Nyanga North MP told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that they’ve already
completed one of 19 chapters in the draft.

Once the document is agreed to by all parties in the GPA it will be
translated into vernacular languages and into Braille. It will be widely
publicised to give all Zimbabweans an opportunity to familiarise themselves
with its contents before it is taken to the second all stakeholders’
conference.

Mwonzora said that according to their projections, barring any disturbances,
a referendum is expected in September, although there is a possibility it
may be held earlier if issues still in dispute are resolved sooner.

‘We still have outstanding issues that the negotiators are dealing with,
things that will be incorporated into this constitution. So even if we
complete the draft, it may be some time before they deal with parked issues.

‘Assuming these outstanding issues are dealt with quickly we can have a
referendum before September. These are minor issues in my respective view;
the only problem we have now is the management committee not resolving them
on time. The key members of that committee are also key ministers in the
inclusive government and they have been travelling quite a lot on government
business lately,’ said Mwonzora.

The MDC-T spokesman revealed that the three issues that remain in dispute
are chapters on dual citizenship, devolution and the appointment of
executive commissions.

Internet problems persist in Zimbabwe

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
27 March 2012

Internet users in Zimbabwe continue to experience slow and intermittent
service, almost 6 weeks after two separate shipping accidents severed a
crucial internet and phone link for the region.

SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reports that internet speeds
were frustratingly slow over the weekend and on Monday. On Tuesday the
service appeared to be improving. One of the Internet Service Providers (ISP’s)
Powertel had to issue a statement explaining that the problem was beyond
their control.

In February a ship dragging its anchor off the coast of the Kenyan port city
of Mombasa severed an undersea cable that cut off some nine African
countries, including Zimbabwe. Engineers warned the repairs could take up to
a month.

Another cable severed in two is known as EASSy and is owned by the West
Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC). The WIOCC is jointly owned by 14 major
telecom operators in Africa, including Zimbabwe’s TelOne. Experts say
Zimbabwe was hardest hit by the accident which cut the cable.

Last month Information and Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa
also told us his ministry was inundated with complaints about poor internet
speeds. On Tuesday Muchemwa said mobile phone networks were also having
problems with crossed lines and people were struggling to top up their
airtime.

Zanu PF plans by-election ambush

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

26/03/2012 00:00:00
    by Gilbert Nyambabvu

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe could call by-elections in 16 parliamentary
constituencies in a final bid to end a troubled coalition with his MDC
rivals, according to a senior Zanu PF official.

Tsholotsho North MP and politburo member Jonathan Moyo says the
by-elections, which are all overdue under the country's electoral laws,
would "constitute a mini-general election".

"... if these long overdue by-elections were to be held today, as they
really must, the result could be equivalent to a mini-general election,"
Moyo said, writing in the state-run Sunday Mail.

Austin Zvoma, the clerk of parliament, revealed last week that there were 16
parliamentary constituencies without MPs and 12 vacant Senate seats.

In the 2008 parliamentary elections, Tsvangirai's MDC-T won 100 seats, Zanu
PF 99 and Ncube's MDC 10. Moyo, then an independent before joining Zanu PF,
was the 210th MP.
Since then, some MPs have died, others jailed or have been expelled by their
parties leaving their seats vacant.

Moyo said there was “no legal or constitutional reason why by-elections must
not now be held in these 28 Parliamentary constituencies”.

“Is it the view of anybody else out there including in SADC that 28
parliamentary constituencies must remain unrepresented until COPAC comes up
with a new constitution even when that is clearly not only a deviation from
the GPA but also and more seriously a violation of Zimbabwe’s
 constitution?,” he said.

The outcome of these elections, Moyo added, "could see one of the coalition
parties in parliament emerging with a majority of at least 106 seats out of
210 with the consequence of sinking the Global Political Agreement and its
so-called unity government, not to mention kissing COPAC goodbye."

Zanu PF has been pushing for general elections to be held this year to end
the uneasy three-year coalition with the two MDC factions led by Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman
Ncube.

The MDC formations, apparently backed by regional power South Africa, fear
elections without a new constitution and reforms in the security sector
could plunge the country into violence as witnessed in the 2008 presidential
run-off.

But Moyo warned that Zanu PF, which is increasingly buoyant about its
electoral chances despite losing its parliamentary majority for the first
time in 2008, could use the by-election route to crater the coalition
government.

"However one looks at the issue of general elections in Zimbabwe, the fact
is that they are now constitutionally due either in the form of at least 28
parliamentary by-elections that would be as good as a mini-general election
or in the form of a full general election,” he said.

"Parenthetically, those who – like Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti – keep
making perfunctory noise that there can be no general election without
self-serving so-called reforms first; or that President Mugabe cannot call
for a general election without the agreement of the Prime Minister; or that
there’s no money for elections... should all please take note and appreciate
that if they had a requisite national vision beyond cheap politics they
would understand the simple fact that none of their nonsense about
preconditions for elections in Zimbabwe would apply to the holding of the
by-elections whose effect could be a game changer in a fundamental way."

Critics say Zanu PF is increasingly getting frantic due to growing concern
among the party hierarchy over President Robert Mugabe’s advanced age – he
turned 88 this year – and reported ill health.
Mugabe has repeatedly laughed off media speculation over his health,
insisting he is robust physical condition.

The veteran leader says new elections are needed to choose a substantive
administration dismissing the coalition as unworkable because of policy and
other differences between the parties.

Harare seeks US$100 million to fix water problems

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
27 March 2012

The City of Harare says it will approach the Development Bank of South
Africa for US$100 million to rehabilitate the water infrastructure. Mayor
Muchadeyi Masunda made the announcement at a press conference on Monday.

Masunda said: “The project will cost around $100 million. It’s not just
water infrastructure, but there is also a serious shortfall of electricity.
We are keen to have investors in the area of infrastructure,” he said.

The Mayor said the African Development Bank and an unidentified French
lender would assist with funding. The Development Bank of South Africa is
already funding the rehabilitation of roads in Zimbabwe.

Last month Masunda told SW Radio Africa’s Question Time programme that the
City Council was better placed to source funds to resolve the water crisis
than central government.

“Because of our central government’s track record, the institutional funders
of projects of this nature and magnitude are understandably reluctant to
work with government but they are not averse to working with the city
because the city’s track record is fairly good and cities are going to be
there until kingdom come.”

Masunda added: “It’s not about upstaging each other. I’m not in any way
trying to show up my old friend Samuel Sipepa Nkomo (Water Resources
Minister) but just assisting him in the full knowledge that he’s the person
that ultimately is responsible for anything that has water in this country.”

MDC-T Is Good At Campaigning Not Governing –Bennett

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, March 28, 2012 - Roy Bennett, the exiled treasurer –general of the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) led by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai believes his party is good at campaigning but it lacks the people
who knows how to run a government.

Bennett told the former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray
about the MDC-T’s inability to deliver the goods to the people despite its
strong ability to campaign in a diplomatic cable he dispatched to Washington
in February 2010 but released last week by whistle blowing website,
Wikileaks.

Bennett suggested the need for a leadership capacity building exercise.

The former MP for Chimanimani said the MDC-T had been unfocused and
described the Office of the Prime Minister as 'weak'.

He said the party had been left largely unattended as party stalwarts such
as Tendai Biti were occupied with government business. Bennett said the
MDC-T, under Tsvangirai's leadership had a tremendous amount of popularity
throughout the country, in part due to Tsvangirai's sincerity and humility,
and in part due to Zanu (PF) arrogance and lack of concern for the common
citizen.

Despite his praise of Tsvangirai, Bennett said the MDC-T lacked the capacity
to effectively run a government.

Ray in his commentary said: ”Bennett is an MDC hardliner who has been
frustrated with the MDC's progress in the coalition government and in party
building."

While he was encouraged by the determination of the Standing Committee to
take a more assertive approach vis-a-vis Zanu (PF), we have seen this
scenario before.

“Hardliners in the party convince Tsvangirai to be more assertive. He
agrees, there is a flurry of activity, and then MDC-T falls back into the
same dance with Zanu PF. We'll see if this time is any different.”

Bennett said the MDC-T’s Standing Committee, consisting of the top 12
ranking officials, had just held a series of strategy sessions to address
these thorny issues.

He said the MDC-T concluded that Zanu PF would not allow it to effectively
participate in government; it therefore resolved to focus its efforts on the
party in order to build it and prepare for elections.

Bennett told Ray that while much of US and other Western support had focused
on the party, there was a compelling need for institution building.

He said apart from the MDC, Zanu-PF would be involved in a future Zimbabwe
and the challenge was to identify those in Zanu-PF who can play constructive
roles, and to find ways to bolster them against extremists in President
Robert Mugabe’s party.

Ray said he was told by Bennett that while there were several civil society
organizations in Zimbabwe, there was no mass civil consciousness that could
act as a counterweight to Zanu (PF).

Bennett told the former ambassador there was a compelling need to do more to
build civil society.

He said they seemed to be lacking a sense of interconnectedness among all
the various civil society groups.

Bennett also discussed perceptions of MDC-T corruption.

Shamva murder: Cops face death

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Gugulethu Nyazema, Staff Writer
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 12:00

HARARE - Eight police officers who butchered a Shamva mine worker, Luxmore
Chivambo and injured several others now face the noose.

Aspias Shumba, a 48-year-old inspector who led the orgy of brutality at a
Shamva farm to revenge the theft of his wife's purse, did not show any
emotion as he was charged with murder.

The maximum penalty for murder, according to Zimbabwean law, is death by
hanging.

His accomplices, all wearing civilian clothes, equally appeared unmoved when
they appeared at Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday.

Their case had to be moved from Bindura to Harare for security reasons after
angry mine workers and villagers thronged the Bindura Magistrates’ Courts on
Friday baying for the cops’ blood.

A sombre atmosphere gripped the Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday as the
eight handcuffed “killer cops” stood in the dock amid murmuring from people
that had packed the courtroom.

The eight police officers, all stationed at Shamva Police Station, are
Motion Jakopo, 41, Simon Mafunda, 32, Michael Makwalo, 30, Lee Makope, 23,
Benedict Tapfuma, 22, Blessing Saidi, 29 and Shumba.

Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei advised them to apply for bail at the High
Court, considering the seriousness of the charges they are facing.

Prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema told the court that there was overwhelming evidence
against Shumba and his accomplices and that the situation at Shamva was
still volatile hence the cops should stay in remand prison.

The cops will be back in court on April 13.

Chivambo, a worker at Canterbury Mine, died in the brutal attack that left
11 others hospitalised. One of the victims had to be transferred to Harare
after his condition became critical.

Trouble started after Shumba’s wife, Judith, claimed that the mine workers
had stolen her purse and cellphone on March 17 this year.

Shumba, who is the Officer-in Charge at Shamva Police Station commandeered
his troops and stormed the mine compound where they indiscriminately beat up
people.

Some, like Chivambo, were forced out of their homes naked late at night.

At Chivambo’s house, the court heard, the cops forcibly opened the door,
dragged him outside and started assaulting him with button sticks, booted
feet and fists. His wife had to flee to avoid similar treatment.

The police officers then moved from door to door assaulting residents
demanding information on the whereabouts of the “stolen” purse.

Some of the people assaulted were identified in court as Martha Chidzenga,
61, Brian Gundura, 36, Michael Makina, 34, Clever Kembo, 41, Darlington
Mapwashike, 24, Willard Mapuranga, 34, Hilda Nyamaropa, 34, Tellmore Binamu,
28, Sophia Magaya, 31, Malvern Munyonga, 33, and Shepherd Hudye, 25.

According to court papers, the torture included police officers forcing the
residents to crawl to the cops’ car before they were driven off to Shamva
Police Station for further torture.

Chivambo was vomiting blood and could not eat. He was only taken to
hospital, where he died, after Shumba was told that his condition was
critical.

A post mortem concluded that the death resulted from the assault.

Chombo, councillors clash

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 14:00

HARARE - Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo has turned down a request
by Harare City Council to recruit 280 general workers saying the local
authority is over-staffed and has a bloated wage bill.

He has also turned down an application by councillors to be given laptops by
council. This has raised tempers between Chombo and councillors.

During last week’s special council meeting, the councillors accused Chombo
of sabotaging them ahead of watershed elections whose date is yet to be set.

Council wanted to hire the workers to cut grass.

Budiriro councillor Panganai Charumbira said if Chombo was serious about
service delivery then he must allow council to engage contract workers so
that roads are cleared.

“How can a minister say that we have a huge wage bill when people are being
raped and mugged on our roads because we have tall grass that is obstructing
them? This is sabotage. If we fail to cut grass on our roads, we would have
failed as councillors,” said Charumbira.

Belvedere councillor Paula Macharangwanda told the council that she had
received a number of complaints from residents in her ward of rape and
attacks by thieves who hide in the long grass, especially at night.

“We have a number of accidents taking place currently on our roads because
of the long grass. We were elected to this council to provide services to
the people but someone is sabotaging us. It is not fair,” said
Macharangwanda.

On turning down council’s application to hire extra workers on top of the
current workforce of 9 400, Chombo said council was spending too much on
salaries at the expense of service delivery.

He said council should redeploy some of its workers to the grass cutting
unit so that it utilises the same workforce without incurring any extra
cost.

But councillors resolved to engage Chombo with a view of using ward-based
groups whom they said were relatively cheaper than contract workers.

On laptops, special interest councillor Sasha Jogi moved a motion in council
that councillors should be given either desk tops or laptops.

But mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said Chombo had turned down their application
saying it was a waste of rate payers’ money.

Another special interest councillor, Tariro Chikumbirike, said the world was
going paperless hence the need to embrace new technology.

“The money that we use on bond paper to print these minutes could be saved
if we have laptops and minutes are sent via e-mail. “This will save our
budget,” said Chikumbirike.

Council then resolved to look for the laptops either from Information,
Communication Technology minister Nelson Chamisa or from the corporate
world.

Students condemn police crackdown

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

By Gift Phiri, Senior Writer
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 13:31

HARARE - Student leaders have sharply criticised a police crackdown on an
umbrella students’ body yesterday and vowed to defy arrests and beatings to
press ahead with demands for better conditions in the higher education
sector.

Pride Mkono, president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) told
a news conference yesterday that there was a worrying upsurge of student
victimisation by police.

Students blame the government for failing to implement the national budget
to deliver students loans and grants to alleviate the poverty that students
face throughout their years of study in the country’s under-resourced
tertiary institutions.

“Zinasu has noted with serious concern the upsurge of state-sanctioned
victimisation, unwarranted interruptions of Zinasu activities and targeted
persecution which is directed to destroy the efforts of the union in
addressing the various challenges that are bedevilling our education
 sector,” Mkono told the news conference.

On Wednesday last week, seven students were rounded up by dozens of police
officers for celebrating a court verdict to fine and not send to jail six
civic activists, including a former students’ leader, convicted of
conspiring to commit public violence by watching video footage of the mass
uprisings in Egypt.

Among those arrested were Mkono, Tryvine Musokeri, Zinasu secretary general
Coezett Chirinda, gender secretary Joram Chikwadze, Tinashe Mtyaso, Tinashe
Chisaira and Francis Mufambi who is aspiring to be the next University of
Zimbabwe’s students’ union president.

“This was a clear act of state repression targeted at peace-loving citizens,
there is no justification whatsoever for the actions of the police which
were excessive and barbaric,” Mkono said.

Last week’s arrest came hard on the heels of another crackdown targeting
students at the University of Zimbabwe.

At least 15 UZ students were arrested as police used force to quickly
disperse a gathering, without prior permission. Rallies are rarely permitted
at the UZ. The students had gathered chanting slogans against UZ vice
chancellor Levi Nyagura — whom they want to step down for allegedly failing
to run the state university.

Prior to that demo, Zinasu leaders were arrested when they marched in the
capital in solidarity with labour union, ZCTU, saying the current salaries
were insufficient to pay for their tuition. They were arrested several times
before that.

“All these incidences are at the backdrop of targeted persecution which has
seen the Zinasu leadership being arrested and illegally detained a record 12
times across the country in less than two months,” Mkono said.

“We want to remind police officers that they are there to serve the people
not to subject them to slavery.”

Police have blamed the students for trying to foment unrest in the country.
Zinasu has been at the forefront of the struggle to reform higher education.

Zinasu also warned Nyagura against attempting to impose a cherry-picked
pro-Zanu PF leadership at the UZ to form the students’ representative
council, SRC.

The politically-active student group has local chapters at campuses
nationwide.

“It should be unequivocally clear to Robert Mugabe and his party that
students will not have Zanu PF activists as their leaders under whatever
circumstances,” Mkono said, adding Zinasu had approached the High Court to
stop an SRC election set for this month.

TN to launch Cattle Bank

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

By Editor
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 13:23

HARARE - Small-holder cattle farmers are set to be absorbed into Zimbabwe’s
mainstream economy through an initiative by TN Bank to launch a Cattle Bank
(CB) that will recognise cattle as a bankable asset.

Speaking at the Euro Money — Zimbabwe Investment Conference in Harare last
week, CB project manager Patricia Chizengeya said communal cattle farmers
will be able to unlock the value of their cattle through the TN cattle
banking project.

The conference was meant to explore investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.

Chizengeya said cattle have always been used as a status symbol and regarded
as a living bankable investment in Zimbabwe and most African countries but
communal farmers had not benefited much from their cattle as they remained
secluded from mainstream economic activities.

“Communal farmers will be incorporated into mainstream banking. Farmers will
now be able to access capital and also earn a return on the cattle deposit
that they make thereby increasing sources of income whilst still retaining
their cattle,” said Chizengeya.

Under the new banking concept, the TN livestock bank will act as a normal
bank with farmers depositing and withdrawing their cattle in TN Bank’s
livestock banking branches provided they have clearance certificates and
clear identification particulars of those cattle.

Farmers will be issued with certificates of deposit as evidence of any
transaction and can withdraw the cattle as and when they want. The cattle
can also be withdrawn as cash while TN will also be responsible for
transporting the cattle to and from the banks.

She said farmers will not be able to withdraw the exact beast that they
would have deposited and will be given an equivalent as stated in the grade
on the certificate of deposit.

According to Chizengeya, Zimbabwe has about five million cattle and of
these, 90 percent are owned by small-holder farmers. At an estimated value
of $400 per heard, small-holder farmers have $1,33 billion locked in the
cattle yet they are considered as un-bankable asserts.

“To make the small-holder farmers bankable, farmers will be able to use
their cattle deposits as security when accessing loans from TN Bank. The
farmers will now be able to open accounts and enjoy TN banking services,”
she said.

The banking initiative, Chizengeya said, will also help boost the national
cattle herd through increased productivity. Cattle fattening programmes
would also be introduced in the cattle banks to add value on the cattle.

Zimbabwe’s cattle production is still suffering from a low productivity rate
of 45 percent, poor bull-to-cow ratios, a low carcass weight and a lengthy
period of up to four for cows to have calves, according to Chizengeya.

Speaking at the same event, Amon Muza TFC Capital managing director said the
cattle banking project will also transfer the risk of loss of livestock to
diseases and theft from the farmer to the bank which will have a better
capacity to absorb the risk, she said.

“TN Bank will defray these costs and its charges from the expected growth of
the herd before paying out the value of such growth to the livestock. At the
time of deposit, TN will agree an interest rate on the cattle deposit with
the farmers,” Muza said.

She said the cattle will be continuously vaccinated and should a disease
outbreak occur, culling of the herd will be done, followed by a restocking
exercise after the disease subsides.

TN says it has already carried out research on the viability of the project
and would soon launch the livestock banks in Mashonaland East, Midlands,
Matabeleland North and South provinces and Masvingo where levels of
reception of the livestock banking project was high, according to
Chizengeya.

Zimbabweans Hail Senegal Election as President Wade Concedes Defeat in Run-Off

http://www.voanews.com/

26 March 2012

Activists say Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from countries like Senegal and
Zambia, just next door, where peaceful elections have taken place with power
being handed over without violence

Jonga Kandemiiri & Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington

Zimbabweans are hailing the election in Senegal Sunday that saw 85-year old
President Abdoulaye Wade conceding defeat in a run-off poll in which he ran
against his former Prime Minister, Macky Sall.

Mr. Wade's controversial bid for a third term in office had sparked violent
protests which left six people dead and many were fearing the worst in the
run-off, thinking he may want to cling onto power if he lost.

But with official results still expected Tuesday, Mr. Wade conceded defeat,
congratulating winner Mr. Sall, who has declared a new era for his country.

The African Union, among others, praised Mr. Wade and the Senegalese people
for what they say was a successful election.

Though Zimbabweans in general do not know much about Senegal, but with
election talk gaining momentum in Zimbabwe as President Robert Mugabe and
his party push for elections this year, many have been watching events
unfolding in this west African country with a keen eye.

Activists say Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from countries like Senegal and
Zambia, just next door, where peaceful elections have taken place with power
being handed over without violence.

Many Zimbabweans remember the bloody 2008 presidential run-off that saw then
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrawing from the race against
President Mugabe, ultimately leading to the formation of the unity
government.

Acting Director Joy Mabenge of the Institute for a Democratic Alternative
for Zimbabwe told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that Zimbabwe must
emulate Senegal, adding the whole of Africa should also watch and learn if
democracy is to flourish on the continent.

Spokesman Nhlanhla Dube of the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube told
VOA's  Ntungamili Nkomo the Senegalese experience is a great inspiration to
Zimbabwe.

Political analyst Effie Dlela Ncube said Zimbabwean politicians should learn
from Senegal.

PM Cameron Articulates Vision for Free & Fair Elections in Zimbabwe

The MDC Today – Issue No. 327

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Police officers from Gutu in Masvingo province last week approached the personal assistant to Gutu North MP, Hon. Edmore Hamandishe Maramwidze demanding that she gives them information on the MPs’ movements.

The two officers who identified themselves as Pasurayi and Dhlakama, approached the Gutu North parliamentary offices on Thursday 22 March and said they were from the Police Internal Security and Intelligence.

Pasurayi and Dhlakama informed the PA that they wanted to secretly recruit her in order to supply them with all the movements of Hon. Maramwidze.

The MP said the move by the police officers was shocking considering the involvement of State security agents in propping up Zanu PF’s violence and murder in the 2008 elections.

Over 500 MDC members were murdered during this period.

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

--
MDC Information & Publicity Department

In the Twilight of His Rule, Mugabe Wants All the Marbles Back

http://www.time.com

 

 

By Kristin Palitza Monday, Mar. 26, 2012

 

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, center, greets the crowd as he arrives for his 88th birthday celebrations in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 25, 2012.

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi / AP

 

Human rights campaigners are warning of rising repression in Zimbabwe as 88-year-old President Robert Mugabe pushes for another election to further extend his 32 years in power, despite being seriously ill with prostate cancer. "We have grave concerns about the recent increase in political repression," says Human Rights Watch Africa deputy director Leslie Lefkow. "In the past year, authorities aligned with Zanu-PF [Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front] have intensified attacks against human rights defenders, journalists, and officials and members of the MDC [Movement for Democratic Change, led by Morgan Tsvangirai]."

Rights campaigner Paul Chizuze disappeared from the country's second-largest city, Bulawayo, last month. Supporters believe he was abducted, possibly killed, by security forces loyal to Mugabe. Scores of aid groups have also been banned this year, accused of pushing a Western political agenda, while hundreds of protesters have been detained. The latest example of Zanu-PF's clamp down is the sentencing on Thursday of six Zimbabweans to two-year suspended jail terms, $500 fines and community service for watching a documentary about the Arab Spring — evidence, the state prosecutor claimed, that they were plotting to overthrow the regime. "These politically motivated prosecutions do not bode well for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe," says Lefkow. Dewa Mavhinga, acting director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a network of more than 350 civil society organizations, condemns what he describes as the "systematic closing down of democratic spaces," adding: "We are alarmed by the sharp deterioration in the human rights situation." The country is not ready for an election, he says, since "the political playing field is not level." Noting Mugabe's allies still control state institutions like the electoral commission, the judiciary, the police and army, he continues: "We expect Zanu-PF to try to rig votes, and if that fails, resort to violence." That concern is widely shared. "Security issues threaten to undermine free and fair elections as well as meaningful reform," says Percy Makombe, Zimbabwe Program Officer at the Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa. (MORE: Mugabe Cancer Scare Is Old News, as Zimbabwean Strongman Clings to Power.)

The Zimbabwean newspaper, The Standard, reported this month that Mugabe wanted elections this year, perhaps as early as June. A further sign that an election might be approaching is Mugabe's new economic indigenization program, which forces foreign companies to hand over 51% of their shares to black Zimbabweans. The scheme seems likely only to benefit the Zanu-PF elite but is being sold to voters as something that will lift all Zimbabweans.

Tsvangirai's MDC objects to any election before a new constitution is agreed. (The current one reserves wide powers for the President.) The MDC and Zanu-PDF have been negotiating over reform since they formed a coalition government in early 2009 but have come to no agreement. The experience has damaged the MDC and robbed it of much momentum. MDC support has been further eroded by corruption scandals involving party members.

Mugabe surprised Zimbabweans by offering to form a government with the MDC after an election in 2008 during which Mugabe's unleashed a wave of violence against the then opposition, killing more than 100 MDC members and forcing Tsvangirai to withdraw from the ballot. The reason? Zimbabwe was spiraling in hyper-inflation, the government was all but bankrupt and Mugabe saw power-sharing with the MDC as a way to improve foreign investor sentiment and right the economy. (PHOTOS: The Reign of Robert Mugabe)

At the same time, however, the regime discovered it was sitting on one of the world's biggest diamond fields near Marange in eastern Zimbabwe, with a potential annual output worth several billion dollars. Mugabe's army and police quickly seized control of the area under the direction of the Zanu-PF elite and, with money no longer a problem, Mugabe now wants out of the coalition and a return to one-man rule. "Corruption among top political leadership is rampant," says Mavhhinga. "Marange revenue is lining the pockets of few individuals, while the country remains poor." This month, MDC finance minister Tendai Biti complained the treasury only received a quarter of the $77.5 million it had projected as its share of diamond sales this year. Meanwhile in January, Zanu-PF threw Mugabe a $1 million birthday party.

While any election would be important, just as critical is the question of who will succeed Mugabe when he dies. Last August, one of the two men considered as a frontrunner to take over from Mugabe, ex-military chief Solomon Mujuru, married to Vice President Joyce Mujuru, was found dead after a fire at his farm outside Harare. His widow insists he was murdered. By whom, however, is a mystery.

 

Bill Watch 12/2012 of 26th March [Update on the Clerk of Parliament Case]