Bob wants Zuma out

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

By Thelma Chikwanha, Staff Writer
Monday, 23 May 2011 09:32

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has intensified his fight against an
emerging consensus among Sadc leaders for him to go, by among other tactics,
trying to sideline and remove no-nonsense facilitator President Jacob Zuma.

Well-placed Sadc sources told the Daily News yesterday that Mugabe had now
identified Zuma as his biggest problem.

This was because the South African president was “unshakeable in his
impartiality and determination” to see an election roadmap in Zimbabwe that
would usher in a credible election next year or in 2013, that would be
devoid of violence and rigging as happened in the disputed 2008 presidential
election runoff.

The sources also said their own intelligence had established that Mugabe and
his Zanu PF party were pushing for Zuma’s isolation because they were aware
that they could not win a fair election.

To that extent, Mugabe and his Zanu PF viewed Zuma’s drive for a mutually
agreed roadmap within the Global Political Agreement (GPA) context as an
attack on Mugabe and the former ruling party.

Mugabe last week made two remarkable moves. Firstly, the 87-year-old – who
has been to the Far East for medical reasons five times since December –
effectively declared himself fit to rule for life.

He then unsuccessfully attempted to foist his agenda for an early election
at Friday’s Sadc summit in Namibia that Zuma did not attend.

Sadc firmly rebuffed the bid.

“We are totally against the idea of a new election roadmap as it means
re-negotiating the Global Political Agreement instead of implementing it,”
read Zanu PF’s position paper that was circulated in Windhoek.

Mugabe had, through the position paper, tried to take advantage of Zuma’s
absence to overturn resolutions of the Sadc troika on politics, defence and
security which called for an end to violence, the full implementation of the
GPA and elections only after the roadmap has been completed.

But one of the top Sadc officials who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said
Mugabe’s attempts to attack and weaken Zuma and his facilitation team was
“backfiring badly”.

Among other “ill-considered moves” by Zanu PF, the former ruling party had
written to Zuma demanding the removal of Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu from the
facilitation team, “alleging rather ridiculously” that she was biased
against Zanu PF.

The Sadc insider said this move was being interpreted by the region as a
very direct way by Mugabe and his party of asking Zuma to step aside from
his facilitation work.

“This is surprising because Mugabe is literally biting the hand that feeds
him. What future is there for Mugabe, Zanu PF and Zimbabwe without South
Africa’s immense sacrifice for its neighbour.  Without Zuma and the GPA that
he has kept together at great cost to him personally and his country, Mugabe
would not be president anyway.

“Nevertheless, Mugabe is wasting time because Sadc is sick and tired of his
machinations. He wants to trick us into believing that President Zuma is
biased but it’s far from it.

“We are aware that Zuma’s frankness has rattled Mugabe and that is why he
brought in his position paper which was ignored. Now they are spreading
propaganda that it is Mugabe who said Zimbabwe must be discussed in the
presence of President Zuma and other political players,” the official said.

Another official said part of the war against Zuma had resulted in Mugabe
and Zanu PF gunning for the South African president’s focal person,
Ambassador Zulu.

Zulu is not just a key member of Zuma’s facilitation team, she is also his
international relations adviser.

She is on record stating that it is impossible to hold elections this year
because of the slow progress in implementing GPA reforms such as a new
constitution.

The State-controlled Sunday Mail, which rarely touches on sensitive
political issues without direct instruction from Mugabe’s press office
yesterday, reported that Zanu PF had formally lodged a complaint to South
Africa about Zulu.

The former ruling party is holding Zulu responsible for recent comments made
by Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC), raising fears that Mugabe’s
potential death could spark chaos because of unresolved succession issues in
the party.

“Negotiators are also concerned about the succession law should Mugabe die
or retire before the adoption of a new constitution, which is still being
negotiated,” read the ANC comment that Zanu PF now seeks to conveniently use
against Zulu and the whole facilitation team.

However, the ANC never attributed the comments to Zulu – raising the
question of why Zanu PF has sought to vilify her thus.

In the meantime, Mugabe insists he is staying put.  He recently sent envoys
to regional countries to drill this message through and to court support
from his regional peers.

In an interview with the Southern Times, Mugabe said there was no need to
prolong elections. He also said that demands for security sector reforms by
Sadc, other political players and civil society were without basis.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who leads Zanu PF’s GPA negotiating
team, confirmed that Mugabe wanted to stay in power despite his advanced age
and waning public support.

“And as far as Zanu PF is concerned, even at his age we know that he
commands majority support among Zimbabweans,” Chinamasa told The Windhoek
Times in a separate interview.

SADC turns its back on human rights

Zim civil society slams harassment of activists at SADC summit

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
23 May 2011

Zimbabwe civil society groups have slammed last week’s harassment and
intimidation of activists at the regional leaders Summit in Namibia, which
resulted in the prolonged detention and interrogation of key figures.

The civil society groups, including representatives from the Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition, traveled to Namibia to lobby SADC leaders and pressure
them to lay out a clear plan for democratic change in Zimbabwe. But their
efforts were quickly thwarted by Namibia security officers and members of
Zimbabwe’s CIO, who led a crackdown on the activists.

First to be targeted were about ten activists, including National
Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO) chairperson Dadirai
Chikwengo, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition officials MacDonald Lewanika,
Pedzisayi Ruhanya and Dewa Mavhinga, and other representatives from the
Zimbabwe Election Support.

The state security agents also briefly detained Jelousy Mawarire for taking
pictures and chased away Shastry Njeru of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO
Forum from the venue of the SADC Summit. Mawarire, who had his pictures
deleted from his camera, was later released after the intervention of
Namibian human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe.

Also targeted were Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) head, Irene
Petras, Joy Mabenge from the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for
Zimbabwe, Lloyd Kuveya of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, and
Makanatsa Makonese of the SADC Lawyers Association. The four were
force-marched into the hotel’s parking area by two armed Namibian police who
took them to the local Chief Inspector. They were then interrogated
separately by Zimbabwe’s state security agents.

The Crisis Coalition's Mavhinga told SW Radio Africa on Monday that the
activists were only allowed to leave well after the SADC summit had ended on
Friday night. He explained how Zimbabwe’s state security agents were
directing Namibian police to individually target activists who were calling
for real democratic change in Zimbabwe.

“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms the treatment of the activists
at the Summit. Clearly Namibia is not committed to human rights, and they
are putting their relationship with ZANU PF before the rights of SADC
citizens,” Mavhinga said.

Meanwhile the ZLHR said it “strongly condemns this despicable conduct.”

“The actions of the state security agents highlights the need to urgently
reform the security sector players as enunciated in the Global Political
Agreement as they continue to be a law unto themselves even beyond the
borders of Zimbabwe,” the group said in a statement.

Police Arrest Zimrights Employees Over Torture As Magistrate Frees WOZA Members

Zuma aide disputes ZANU PF accusations

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
23 May 2011

Lindiwe Zulu, international relations adviser to President Jacob Zuma, has
shot down allegations from ZANU PF that she expressed concern over how
Mugabe’s failing health and potential death could compromise efforts to
resolve the political crisis.

Zulu is leading a team of facilitators from South Africa, including veteran
African National Congress leaders Mac Maharaj and Charles Nqakula. The trio
were appointed by Zuma to get Zimbabwe’s three political parties to agree on
an election roadmap, while fully implementing a 2008 power sharing deal.

A recent comment published by the ANC said; ‘Negotiators are also concerned
about the succession law, should Mugabe die or retire before the adoption of
a new constitution, which is still being negotiated.”

Even though the ANC never attributed the remarks to Zulu ZANU PF, through
the state run Sunday Mail newspaper, launched a scathing attack blaming her
for the remarks. It quoted a party official saying the remarks were
“tactless, inflammatory and an irresponsible display of poor judgment by an
overzealous individual.”

On Monday SW Radio Africa spoke to Lindiwe Zulu and she challenged ZANU PF
to produce evidence of her having made the remarks. “Let them produce those
remarks,” she said.
Political commentator Pedzisai Ruhanya told us; “These are the usual tactics
by ZANU PF and its intelligence department, the CIO, to disrupt the good
work that Zuma and his adviser Lindiwe Zulu are doing in trying to resolve
the Zimbabwe crisis impartially.” He said they wanted to drag Zulu’s name
into the mud and “create some kind of crisis.”

Ruhanya said it was clear ZANU PF are not happy with the more “robust”
approach to the negotiations and they were now aiming to have Zuma removed
as the chief mediator and be replaced by someone they feel will play to
their tune.

There is a growing belief Jacob Zuma has toughened his attitude towards
Mugabe in recent months and the ZANU PF leader is reported to have privately
told aides the South African leader was now a threat that needed to be dealt
with. The ZANU PF strategy allegedly includes isolating Zuma within the SADC
region by calling into question his mediation effort. The attack on Zulu is
seen as the first step towards this.

It’s being reported that ZANU PF have already asked Zuma to remove Zulu from
the facilitation team.

At the end of March the SADC Troika summit in Zambia called for an end to
violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe, much to the annoyance of ZANU PF and
Mugabe. Again the state owned media was used to launch attacks on Zuma’s
presidency and Mugabe accused the SADC grouping of trying to interfere in
Zimbabwe’s internal affairs.

Mutambara threatens to dismiss Ncube’s MDC negotiators

http://www.swradioafrica.com

by Irene Madongo
23 May 2011

A political analyst has said that it’s high time Zimbabwe’s troubled Deputy
Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara, steps down to save Zimbabwe from becoming
a laughing stock in the region. This comes after claims that he is
threatening to dismiss two negotiators to the Global Political Agreement
(GPA).

In the run-up to the congress for the smaller faction of the MDC, in January
this year, Mutambara said he would not be seeking re-election as president,
This paved the way for Welshman Ncube to take over in that role. However
soon after Mutambara made a u-turn when he discovered the party did not want
him to retain the post of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in the coalition
government. A court interdict was then obtained by Ncube’s MDC to bar
Mutambara from operating as president of the party.

However Mutambara has managed to keep the DPM post, with the backing of
Robert Mugabe. He has also been attending GPA meetings in his capacity as
DPM and principal. Last week a splinter group, which backs Mutambara and is
led by former national chairman Joubert Mudzumwe, told a press conference
that Mutambara was now ‘stepping down’ as president of the party to avoid
contravening the court interdict and Mudzumwe would meanwhile take over his
duties. Mudzumwe’s group have challenged Ncube’s appointment as president in
court. This gave the impression that Mutambara would be quiet for a while.

But this weekend it appeared he was still secretly fighting in his own
corner, after the Sunday Times of South Africa alleged that he has now
written a letter to South African President Jacob Zuma, stating that
Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders should not regognise
Ncube because his position was being challenged in the courts. Zuma is
heading the SADC facilitation team on Zimbabwe.

In the letter, Mutambara is understood to also have accused Ncube’s MDC GPA
negotiators, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Moses Mzila Ndlovu, of
abusing their posts to settle internal political problems in the party – and
says he will ‘withdraw’ them if they don’t change.

On Monday, political analyst Professor John Makumbe said Zuma is likley to
rubbish this letter. “He is likely not to take it seriously at all, because
Arthur is not an entity, he is a person, an individual. He cannot replace a
party,” Makumbe said.

“It is unfortunate that he should insist on representing a party which
elected a new leader, Welshman Ncube, as the president. It is very
unfortunate, it is the tragedy of African politics,” he explained.

“The way he is sticking to the DPM position is really confusing everybody
and doesn’t help the nation. It literally just makes Zimbabwean politics the
laughing stock of the region.”

Efforts to reach Mutamabara for a comment were unsuccessful.

Ncube Rules Out Unity With MDC-T

http://www.radiovop.com

4 hours 27 minutes ago

HARARE, May 23, 2011- MDC leader Welshman Ncube has again ruled out
prospects of a unity deal with Morgan Tsvangirai’s faction of the MDC ahead
of future elections saying differences that divide the two factions are ‘too
deep and strongly felt.’

Ncube, who was responding to a question on his fan page on the social
network website Facebook on Tuesday sad he does not believe Tsvangirai’s MDC
will ever accept unity under equal terms.

“I don’t believe that there is such a possibility,” he said. “The things
which divide us are deep and strongly felt.”
He mentioned the issue of violence, politics of deception, abuse and slander
hardly distinguishable from Zanu PF as some of the things that made unity
impossible.

“ Notwithstanding all the differences as a party, we have remained open to
working with them and have never ruled out anything as borne out by the fact
that in 2008 our national council endorsed the pact which we had negotiated
and included the agreement to back Tsvangirai as the sole opposition
candidate, ” Ncube added.
“ But the MDC national council rejected that pact. I do not believe that
they would ever accept any re-unification, except that which amounts to
surrender by our party. ”

Ncube also posted his views on the micro blogging website Twitter. He said
his party will not be forced into unconditional surrender.
Last year David Coltart, the secretary for legal affairs in the MDC hinted
that there were discussions to reunite the two factions which split in 2005
over differences around the party’s participation in Senate elections.
Several efforts have been made to reunite the two formations but they have
all come to nothing.Zimbabweans believe that only a united MDC can defeat
Zanu (PF) in the elections.

MDC eyes ZCTU elections

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chengetai Zvauya, Staff Writer
Monday, 23 May 2011 17:28

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC is keeping an eye on the
forthcoming Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) elections as the labour
movement seeks a candidate to replace outgoing secretary general, Wellington
Chibebe.

Front runner in the race and party preference Lucia Matibenga, an MDC
national executive member and ZCTU vice president, is tipped to take over
from Chibebe.

The ZCTU congress is set for 17-19 August. The MDC, according to party
sources, is keen to ensure it retains the support of the country’s labour
federation, where many of its leaders, including Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, came from.

Matibenga has already started campaigning for the post, according to ZCTU
and MDC sources.

Others are ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and incumbent deputy
secretary-general Japhet Moyo.

Matibenga is no longer eligible to contest for a position in the presidium
because she has served two terms as vice president, according to the ZCTU
constitution.

This explains her decision to run for the secretary-general’s post.  The
same applies to Matombo hence the move to seek another portfolio within the
labour movement.

The secretary-general’s post is a powerful position because the incumbent is
responsible for the day-to-day administration of the organisation.

Chibebe is set to assume a new post as secretary-general of the
Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation immediately after the
ZCTU congress.

Chibebe took over the post of secretary-general from Prime-Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, while Matombo succeeded the late Gibson Sibanda in 1999 when the
MDC was formed.

Matibenga yesterday refused to discuss her interest in the job.

“I am not ready to talk about it. I have no comment to make at the moment
until election time,’’ she said.

Matibenga is one of several political leaders with roots in the labour
movement that gave birth to the MDC.

MDC calls for release of activists and mourners

http://www.swradioafrica.com

by Irene Madongo
23 May 2011

MDC-T activists and mourners from a funeral, who are still being held behind
bars since last week, must be released as they are being held on trumped-up
charges, says Obert Gutu, the MDC-T’s Secretary for Harare Province. Gutu
also said some of those being held are unwell, yet they are being denied
access to their medication.

LastThursday 35 people were arrested in Warren Park, Harare, at the funeral
of MDC-T activist Jack Ndeketeya, who died in a car accident last week. The
35 included MDC-T activists, Ndeketeya’s elderly and ailing father, a pastor
and other mourners. They were held at Harare Central Police Station and
charged with assault and theft.

There were also allegations that the mourners provoked farmers at the
near-by Boka Tobacco Auction Floors after the funeral. The MDC-T has denied
this, saying they were ambushed by suspected ZANU PF activists who showed
up, caused trouble and then blamed the MDC-T.

Over the weekend Ndeketeya’s parents were released. But on Monday, the MDC-T
said the remaining activists and mourners appeared in court charged with
theft and assault, with the authorities still refusing to say who they are
alleged to have robbed. They were remanded in custody and will appear in
court again on Tuesday.

Gutu said he is concerned about those still locked up and that their
condition has left him depressed. He said it was ridiculous to accuse them
of robbing or provoking people in their state.

“There are some who are on anti-retroviral medication and they were not
given permission to access their tablets, which I was advised they had to
take on a daily basis. There was this elderly gentleman, I could not get his
name, but he was very frail looking,” Gutu explained, “he said he had a tube
in his stomach or somewhere and he said he was just sick. I could see for
myself he was not well.”

“This is just the usual ZANU PF strategy of just trying to victimize MDC
supporters and anyone who is perceived to be sympathetic to the MDC. It’s
just the abuse of the law, the judicial system, just to persecute MDC
activists,” Gutu said.

 

Pastor, Mukoyi And Mourners Wallow In Detention

Nyanga Magistrate Refers Mwonzora's Case To The Supreme Court As Police Defy Court Order To Release Copac Vehicle

HRD’s Alert

23 May 2011

Nyanga Magistrate Ignatio Mhene on Monday 23 May 2011 granted an application filed by Nyanga North Member of Parliament Hon. Douglas Mwonzora and 32 Nyanga residents, seeking a referral of their matter to the Supreme Court to determine the violation of several of their constitutional rights.

Hon. Mwonzora and the Nyanga residents who were arrested in February and charged with public violence filed a constitutional challenge on 10 May 2011 arguing that their rights to liberty, protection of the law and protection from inhuman and degrading treatment as enshrined in the Constitution were violated when they were arrested, abducted and detained in filthy police and prison cells in Nyanga and Mutare respectively.

In his ruling which was delivered on Monday 23 May 2011, Magistrate Mhene upheld that the application was not frivolous or vexatious as claimed by the State prosecutor Tirivanhu Mutyasira, who had opposed the application filed by Mwonzora and the residents’ lawyers Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and David Tandiri of Maunga, Maanda and Associates Legal Practitioners, who is a member of ZLHR.

Magistrate Mhene ruled that all the questions raised by Hon. Mwonzora and the Nyanga dwellers relating to the alleged violation of their rights enshrined in the Constitution should be referred to the Supreme Court in terms Section 24 (2) of the Constitution as requested by the applicants.

The Magistrate suspended the reporting conditions for the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) joint chairperson and the all the Nyanga residents pending the determination of their application in the Supreme Court.

Hon. Mwonzora and the other applicants had been reporting once a week to the police as part of their bail conditions.

Magistrate Mhene also ordered the police to immediately release upon sight of the court order a Mazda BT 50 vehicle which Hon. Mwonzora had been using to execute COPAC duties.

But as has become customary and in defiance of a court ruling the police refused to release the vehicle even after the lawyers had shown them the court order.

Detective Inspector Kasi, the Officer In Charge of CID Law and Order in Manicaland province, who had earlier advised Detective Inspector Mutema of Nyanga to release the vehicle reportedly made an about turn and ordered Mutema not to release the COPAC vehicle.

IOM assists counting of Zim migrants

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

by Tobias Manyuchi     Monday 23 May 2011

HARARE -- The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will today hand
over information technology equipment worth over US$25,000 to the Zimbabwe
National Statistical Agency (ZIMSTAT).

The equipment is part of IOM’s capacity building initiatives aimed at
strengthening evidence-based policy development to maximise the development
potential of migration for Zimbabwe.

Over the last decade Zimbabwe experienced socio-economic challenges that led
to an unprecedented exodus of Zimbabweans from the country.

Most Zimbabweans have emigrated to South Africa, Botswana, United Kingdom,
Canada, United States of America, New Zealand and Australia.

With estimates ranging from half a million to around 4 million Zimbabweans
abroad, and despite recognised immense potential of diaspora for national
development, there is lack of up-to-date and credible statistics on the
nature and extent of the Zimbabwean diaspora which has hampered
evidence-based diaspora initiatives.

As part of ongoing partnership between IOM and ZIMSTAT, IOM is providing
technical support to ZIMSTAT for the diaspora enumeration in the 2012
National Census. Such initiative is the first of its kind in the SADC
Region, and aims to collect the much-needed information on the size, spatial
distribution and demographic characteristics of the Zimbabwean diaspora.

In order to strengthen the capacity of ZIMSTAT to enumerate Zimbabweans in
the diaspora in the forthcoming National Census, IOM procured state of the
art information technology equipment, which will be utilised in the 2012
National Census.

The information technology equipment complements IOM’s earlier support,
which included the training of the agency’s draught-persons in using the
latest Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies and applications
which would be used in analysing census data.

In addition, IOM supported ZIMSTAT to host a workshop for migration
statistics stakeholders to deliberate on diaspora enumeration methodologies.
In this regard the workshop identified two methodologies, that is, the
biological and sibling methods, which could be used to enumerate the
diaspora.

Further, IOM has supported ZIMSTAT to pilot these two methodologies in the
two rural districts of Chivi and Tsholotsho. -- ZimOnline
 

Chombo suspends Mutasa council

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Monday, 23 May 2011 17:33

HARARE - Local Government, Rural and Urban Development minister Ignatius
Chombo has taken his war with elected MDC councillors to Mutasa district in
Manicaland Province, where he has suspended two councillors.

Chombo, known for his vile meddling in local authorities since the MDC
snapped control of the majority of both urban and rural councils, is
charging councillor Owen Mbona and Michael Nyangani with dishonesty and
gross mismanagement of council funds.

The councillors from the MDC controlled Mutasa Rural District Council have
been appearing before a committee of inquiry appointed by Chombo since last
week in a probe that ends today.

According to the charge sheet seen by Daily News, Nyangani is accused of
awarding timber harvesting contracts to various companies without council
resolutions.

He is also accused of unprocedurally allocating flea market stands to his
supporters at Muchena Business Centre without following laid down council
policy.

“On a date unknown but sometime in 2009, you allegedly awarded timber
harvesting contracts to various companies without council resolution."

“Thus showing favour to individuals hence you abused your office in that it
is alleged you intimidated internal auditor (s) who were lawfully carrying
out their duties thereby creating in the mind of an ordinary person, lack of
confidence in the administration of the council,” reads part of Nyangani’s
charge sheet.

He is also charged with misappropriating council funds.

“On a date unknown but sometime in 2009 you misappropriated funds from sand
harvesting amounting to US$95 which amount was supposed to be surrendered to
council,” reads the charge sheet.

Nyangani has denied the charges. Mbona refused to comment. Nyangani told
Daily News yesterday that the charges were premeditated by political
opponents in Zanu PF.

The disciplinary team appointed by Chombo comprises of Mutare lawyer Peter
Makombe, Obert Muzawazi the town clerk for Mutare, Nowell Mundeta the
district administrator for Chipinge and Richard Maruta, the Manicaland
provincial administrator.

Nyangani denied that he allocated anybody a flea market stand saying he only
regularised the “chaos” which had affected the selling of stalls.

“I did not give anyone a stand but intervened to regularise the set up at
the market stalls. There was confusion with people fighting almost on a
daily basis,” said Nyangani.

Chombo’s interference in local authorities has become legendary.

Between 2001 and 2003 he fired almost all elected MDC mayors in major cities
such as Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare, replacing them with handpicked
commissioners. He has followed up his act with regularity, firing or
suspending councilors from councils ranging from Bindura to Victoria Falls
and Rusape.

Elected Councillors Association of Zimbabwe (ECAZ), a grouping formed to
protect the interests of elected councilors, has since advised the Mutasa
council not to meet the cost of the probe team as demanded by Chombo.

“The appointment of this probe team is done in a non-professional manner
with the aim of the minister getting the results that suit his ulterior
motives,” said ECAZ.

Youth Demands for the Holding of Elections in Zimbabwe

After extensive consultations with youths from various walks of life, the Youth Forum drafted the following conditions for elections; these conditions came from the youths, mostly the marginalised youths. The youths believe these conditions will ensure that the elections are free and fair and will deviate from the past norms where elections were largely characterised by violence and bloodshed.

1.      A Legitimate Constitution

It is of paramount importance that any national election be held under a new constitution that guarantees the rights to administrative justice, emphasizes the principle of equality, does not give excessive powers to the Executive, provides for checks and balances between the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive, emphasizes the principle of transparency and accountability and has sufficient provision for the protection of human rights among others. Without such a new constitution, it is very difficult to see any election being considered free and fair as the current Lancaster House document we are using does not guarantee any of the above principles.

It is equally important to note that the current constitution-making process led by COPAC has so far failed to guarantee that it will bring about such a constitution as this process is likely to give us a negotiated constitution. However, the process should be able to give a document that is credible enough to be used as the country’s supreme law for the transition from the negotiated settlement we are currently reeling under to a democracy. After the installation of a democratic government, the new government must make it a priority to initiate a genuine people-driven process for the writing of a new constitution.

2.      National Healing And Accountability For Past Human Rights Violations

According to the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the current inclusive government “shall give consideration to the setting up of a mechanism to properly advise on what measures might be necessary and practicable to achieve national healing, cohesion and unity in respect of victims of pre and post independence political conflicts”. What this simply implies is that until and unless national healing, cohesion and unity are achieved, we must not have elections. The government must ensure that all past victims have been compensated adequately before rushing into elections as this will lead to more violence and more political conflicts. Also, the new constitution should guarantee the democratic principles of tolerance and peaceful disagreement.

Only after the achievement of national healing and accountability for past human rights violations have been achieved will the people of Zimbabwe feel free to participate in national processes like elections, so it is important that these be addressed as a matter of urgency before calling for any elections.

3.      Freedom Of Expression And Political Participation

The need for Freedom of expression and the right to information cannot be overemphasized; we demand that there be a diverse media that is not the subject of intimidation and abuse. It is only after the advent of such media that the youths of Zimbabwe, together with the toiling masses, can make informed and meaningful decisions on whom to vote for during the election. The GPA clearly states that there is need to have more broadcasters other than the public broadcaster, which is notorious for being unashamedly partisan. The arbitrary arrests, intimidation and victimisation of journalists and other media personnel based on draconian legislation must stop.

The GPA, the document that guides how the current government is to move forward and stipulates what is expected of the Inclusive Government, declares clearly that there should be free political activity throughout Zimbabwe within the ambit of the law in which ALL political parties are able to propagate their views and canvass for support, free of harassment and intimidation. It also recognises that the right to canvass and freely mobilise for political support is the cornerstone of any multi-party democratic system. The current government must ensure that such freedoms are guaranteed before any election as it is only under such conditions that the people of Zimbabwe will be free to exercise their democratic right of engaging in political activism without fear. The situation where belonging to certain political parties is regarded as a crime while belonging to other parties makes one untouchable must end.

4.      Non-Partisan State Security Institutions, National Organs and Events

State institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties, and should dispense of their duties ethically and professionally in conformity with the principles and requirements of a multi-party democratic system. The security institutions should work with the people and not against the people, their mandate is to maintain peace and security and not to be used for partisan reasons against the same people they are supposed to protect.

National events like Independence Day celebrations, Heroes’ Day celebrations among others should also be non-partisan events and benefit and receive participation from Zimbabweans from all walks of life regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation or religion.

With non-partisan security institutions, the country will experience less political violence and related crimes as the law will be at play and any crimes committed will be dealt with by these institutions.

5.      Real Electoral Reforms

The current electoral laws cannot be relied on to give us a democratic government as they have failed in the past, leading to sometimes nasty contestations as in the 2008 June Run-Off election. SADC should also make sure that such reforms are in tandem with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing democratic Elections. This includes adhering to the following

a)      Full participation of the citizens in the political process;

b)      Freedom of association;

c)      Political tolerance;

d)      Regular intervals for elections as provided for by the respective National Constitutions;

e)      Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media;

f)        Equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for;

g)      Independence of the Judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions; and

h)      Voter education.

i)        Acceptance and respect of the election results by political parties proclaimed to have been free and fair by a competent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in accordance with the laws of the land.

j)        Challenge of the election results as provided for in the law.

The Voter’s Roll needs to be revamped so that it shows a true reflection of registered voters and not the current state in which dead people are still found in the roll and are actually participating in elections. With the Youth Forum currently running a campaign aimed at adding 1 million new young voters to the voters roll, it has also been discovered that the requirements for registration are stringent especially for the youths.

6.      The SADC and AU to establish an early warning system to respond to political violence and human rights violations.

It has also emerged that the youths attach serious importance to the role that SADC plays in ensuring that elections are held in a peaceful environment. With a history of serious bloodshed in the previous elections, the youths demand that SADC together with the African Union start to monitor the likely elections at least six months before they are held. This will enable the bodies to bear true witness and come up with an accurate position regarding the freeness and fairness of the election.

The monitoring systems to be established should also be able to detect areas of serious violence and take appropriate action against the offenders. It should also be able to immediately disclose to the relevant SADC and AU structures any relationship that could lead to a conflict of interest with their duties or with the process of the observation and assessment of the elections.

It is only after these conditions have been met that the youths and general populace of Zimbabwe can vote freely and fairly. It is the duty of the Inclusive Government, together with other groupings to make sure that these conditions are met.

Four NUST students appear before a Bulawayo magistrate

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Student Solidarity Trust
Monday, 23 May 2011 14:04

Four National University of Science and Technology (NUST) students appeared
before a Bulawayo magistrate court this morning May 23, 2011. The, four
David Mushawani, Beven Nyamande, Ernest Makoni and Duncan Mombeshora, are
facing charges of participating in an illegal gathering with the  intent to
cause public violence. The allegations stem from a demonstration by NUST
students in 2010. Trial for the case has again been postponed because the
state prosecutor failed to turn up, it has been set for the 9th of June.

The Student Solidarity Trust (SST) abhors the lengthy durations that the
students face with the majority of the cases being postponed to a later
date. For justice to be attained the state has to ensure that the students
are being treated fairly and that the courts are being fair to those seeking
justice as numerous court appearances in a short space of time do not serve
both parties favorably, not only does it waste taxpayer’s money but also
compromises the liberty of those seeking justice from the courts.

Give Us Money, Not Treatment: Gukurahundi Survivors

http://www.radiovop.com

7 hours 59 minutes ago

JOHANNESBURG, May 23, 2011- Survivors of post independence Gukurahundi
massacres who still have bullets lodged in their bodies say they don’t want
medical treatment but financial assistance to ward off starvation and get
out of poverty.

During a recent healing and reconciliation prayer conducted by a Catholic
priest Father Marko Mkandla in Lupane, the survivors broke their silence for
the first time in more than 20 years and revealed the extent of their
injuries.Some told horrifying tales of how they survived the massacres which
still haunts the government.
Former Lupane Member of Parliament, Njabuliso Mnguni says he has been trying
without much success to persuade the survivors with bullets lodged in their
bodies to seek medical assistance.

“ Some donors and doctors are willing to assist with surgery to remove the
bullets from the survivors but the villagers say they don’t want medical
treatment but financial assistance.Some are now sick because of the injuries
they sustained during the shootings, ” Mnguni told Radio Vop.

Mnguni said during his visit to Lupane villages to speak to the survivors,
he discovered that many people were now willing to speak out about what
happened and how they survived the mass killings of innocent people by the
government,s notorious Five Brigade which President Robert Mugabe christened
“ Gukurahundi. ”
The brigade, exclusively made up of former Zanla cadres from Tongogara
Assembly Point executed its mission with ruthless efficiency and left a
trail of blood and destruction.
Mnguni says in one village he met three women who witnessed 24 villagers
burning to death after the soldiers rounded them up, put them in one hut and
set it on fire.The three survivors were among the villagers put in the hut
in Gwampa area but they managed to break free and fled.The soldiers kept on
firing at them but they missed until they were in a safe area.

“ I met one old man we tried to help seek treatment for his injuries but the
doctors advised that if the bullet was removed, he could die.Now everyone
does not want to have the bullets removed while others say there is no
reason to remove the bullets now when they have lived with them for more
than 20 years, ” Mnguni told Radio Vop.

According to medical and forensic experts, survivors of firearm incidents
can carry bullets in their bodies for long periods of time as souvenirs.If a
bullet remains embedded in the body for a long time, it termed as a souvenir
bullet.
Bullets can be lodged in bone or soft tissue in any firearm incident without
causing any serious damage or may be located in an area where surgical
removal could prove fatal. It is advisable to leave the bullet as such if it
is too dangerous to manipulate or if it is lodged in an innocuous area
without any potential risk or complication.
Foreign bodies such as bullets can remain silent for a long period of time
without giving rise to clinical symptoms. It is important for the surgeon to
consider removal of a foreign body/bullet only if there is a serious health
hazard, keeping in mind the possibility of causing a pathologic fracture.

“ I think the government has to find a way to pay compensation to survivors
and families of those who perished during the massacres, ” said
Mnguni.President Mugabe described the massacres as “ a moment of madness by
his government. ”But he has not publicly acknowledged the killings or pay
compensation to survivors.

According to columnist Farai Chikowore,the collective communities in
Zimbabwe have never come forward to condemn the original sin of Gukurahundi.
The reasons of standing back and keeping quite are not justifiable in that
silence, fear and moving on are open to interpretation. Zimbabweans
communities have been silent on this issue for a long time and one should
not blame the victims for assuming the meaning of the silence.
The idea of moving on has obviously been proven wrong the current
developments but the idea also carries an element of misunderstanding and
lack of practical rationality. Those who are not directly Gukurahundi
victims indirectly understand the impact of this horrific crime. Having said
that the idea of moving on is not only wrong but it is an insult to the
victims. Moreover it raises the question whether one is on the side of the
victims or the perpetrators.
The logic that Zimbabweans fear to talk about Gukurahundi demonstrates a
lack of vision. The fear of talking about Gukurahundi is the most
unjustified of all fears because we have already taken a stand against
oppression. If Zimbabweans fought the liberation struggle to free people
from oppression then they should condemn Gukurahundi publicly because
genocide is a violent form of oppression. What's more is that its impact
will affect the younger, future generations and generations of generations
if it's not dealt with.

-Thabo Kunene

The Africonomist: A Talk with Pat Devenish

http://www.africa.com/

Monday May 23, 2011, 16:37

by The Africonomist

Agro-industrial businesses in Africa are playing an increasingly important
role in the global food supply chain as the cost and demand for commodities
rise and as the world’s population expands.

Pat Devenish, the group CEO of AICO Africa Ltd., a Zimbabwe-based
agro-industrial business that has been connecting small-scale African
farmers to markets overseas for at least a decade, said the African-based
agribusinesses not only provide a way for Africa to become self-sufficient
but also offers investors sustainable profits, in an interview with the
editor of Africonomist, David Dankwa.

Devenish, a member of the Frontier 100 initiative, which aims to increase
investment in Africa by forging partnerships between CEOs in Africa and the
United States, discussed with the Africonomist some of the opportunities he
sees in agribusiness and why he thinks it is the most important sector in
Africa.

The following is an edited version of the interview.

What opportunities are there in agribusiness in Africa for foreign
investors?

Devenish: I think agriculture is certainly the most important sector in many
African countries. Getting towards food-sufficiency is very important to
those countries that are not food self-sufficient, and so is moving toward
exports or value-added beneficiation for those countries that are. The
companies that I represent are very interested in small-scale farmers. We
see them as a highly motivated and highly diligent group of people who are
able to take advantage of opportunities when presented with them. AICO
Africa owns three companies, one of which is a hybrid seed company. We sell
seed in about a dozen African countries and have large operations in about
half a dozen. In the countries we operate, you will find that it is not long
after we get there that those countries become food self-sufficient. We also
fund the production of cotton with 80,000 small-scale farmers. These are
some of the investment opportunities that I can recommend directly. There
are other agricultural opportunities in Zimbabwe, including a dairy business
with great products and brands and a company focused on crushing cotton
seeds and soybeans into oil. Ultimately, I think the big opportunity in our
world is in the improved seed space. Genetically-manufactured organisms have
not yet come to Africa outside South Africa, but we think it is not a
question of if, it’s a question of when.

As an investor in this space, how do deal with the inherent volatility in
commodity prices?

You deal with that like any business has to deal with it. There has been
huge volatility in the minerals sector as well. You saw [the] copper price
rise very high prior to 2008, and now it has recovered. We are seeing cotton
prices at historical highs, and everyone in this business is enjoying that.
We would rather see a more consistent price which is stable and good for
everyone. There are ways to smooth out those peaks and troughs, but I just
think it is one of the hazards of doing business. It requires good
management to make sure you benefit in the good times and don’t get busted
in the bad times.

What about the severe weather conditions. Is that also a part of doing
business in Africa?

Weather, especially drought, is always an issue in Africa. We have been
lucky in the last few years with drought, although Kenya had a terrible
drought in 2009. I think that is part of life in the agricultural space and
it depends on the length of the view you take and what part of the industry
you are in. From an investment perspective, drought over time is not a huge
issue.

What do you think are the biggest barriers to investing in Africa?

I am probably the most optimistic person about Africa so I don’t see that
many barriers. That said, I think currency in some countries may be a
barrier. The perception of corruption in some countries may be a barrier.
Liquidity of investments and ability to exit on time may be barriers as
well. However, I am very positive about Africa as an investment destination.
The growth of the middle class amongst several other factors is going to
lead to huge growth.

How do you promote liquidity in Africa when that’s an issue that even
developed markets struggle with?

If you look at my country, Zimbabwe, where we have just come through a very
tough 10 years, the decision by our government in February of 2009 to
dollarize our economy has had an incredible impact on the way business is
done. It has removed a lot of those barriers to both incoming and outgoing
investment. So I think some kind of dollarization or quasi-dollarization
would make a big difference to a number of African countries and could
promote liquidity.

Do you think it is critical for Africans to invest in themselves in order to
attract foreign investors?

The large African pension funds are very well-invested domestically.
Certainly in southern and eastern Africa, I am not aware of pension funds
investing massively overseas. If I look at the pension fund of Seed Co., for
instance, it has recently come down from the high-90 percent in equity down
to around 85-90 percent. Just about all their investment is in equity for
very obvious reasons. The same applies in South Africa, East Africa, and
those markets where currencies are most stable.

The Africonomist, launched in February 2009, is a financial newsletter
focused on investments and economic development in Africa. Its primary goal
is to inform our readers about the people and events shaping the economic
landscape in Africa.

Mugabe film set for big screen

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

23/05/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

A NEW film being promoted as the “definitive account” of President Robert
Mugabe is set to get its first screening at an international festival in
South Africa next month.

“Whatever Happened to Robert Mugabe?”, an 80-minute film by Simon Bright,
has been given opening night billing at the 13th Encounters South African
International Documentary Festival to be held in Cape Town and Johannesburg
from June 9-26.

In advance publicity material, the festival’s organisers said the
documentary “tells the stories of Rhodesia’s transition to Zimbabwe and the
personal journey of Robert Mugabe, using one to explain the other, finally
suggesting why Mugabe chose the road he has”.

“As a biography it has everything – first-hand accounts of Mugabe’s early
life with a desperately poor Catholic mother, what he was like at school,
the effects of a Jesuit education and his rage against his absent father,”
the organisers said in a statement.

They added: “The parallel story of the transition is equally well
researched, as are later episodes of importance, notably Lancaster House,
the Matabeleland genocide and the growing role of global business in Africa’s
economies.

“But it’s the behind-the-scenes jostling for power which Bright exposes that
are the most riveting, and from it Mugabe emerges as unquestionably one of
history’s most canny, devious leaders. It is a haunting film, the music an
achievement in itself, a mix of liberation, folk and contemporary sounds.”
Bright was co-producer of the 1996 Zimbabwe liberation film, "Flame".

Although many books have been written about the mercurial Zimbabwean
strongman, 87 this year, fewer biographies have been released on film.

Angels abroad and angels at home

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/6699

May 23rd, 2011

In Zimbabwe the operational environment and respect for human rights has
drastically worsened, even with further decline in 2011, with arrests of
innocent citizens under the nefarious POSA for various reasons, most of
which are flimsy and unsustainable. Following uprisings in the Middle East,
the army was deployed in both urban and rural areas to harass and intimidate
people – the very same people who they are supposed to protect.

What has surprised most Zimbabweans is that these same forces are being sent
outside the country on peace keeping missions. In fact, the United Nations
has lauded the Zimbabweans as disciplined when peacekeeping in foreign
lands. Why is it their discipline at home is entirely questionable?

Inside Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is infamous for
arbitrary arrests and torture of innocent women, students, MDC officials and
supporters, lawyers, human rights activists and farmers.

It is ridiculous and surprising that the United Nations (UN) in its wisdom
continues to put its faith in the much discredited ZRP for international
peacekeeping duties. This is despite the fact that it has been brutal,
corrupt, incompetent and partisan in its discharge of duties at home.

One of the key duties of the international peacekeeping force in war torn
countries is to protect innocent civilians against warring parties in an
impartial manner and yet here at home the ZRP has never been anywhere equal
to this task.

This entry was posted by Bob Gondo on Monday, May 23rd, 2011 at 10:10 am

Bill Watch 20/2011 of 23rd May [Update on Parliament, Newly Gazetted Acts and SADC Tribunal]