http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Lance Guma
06 May
2011
The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will launch an
independent
inquiry into intra-party violence that marred its build up to
the congress
held in Bulawayo last weekend.
Responding to questions sent
in by SW Radio Africa listeners on Question
Time, new National Organising
Secretary, Nelson Chamisa, said both the
National Council and Congress
resolved that “all those people who were
directly or indirectly involved in
disturbances are going to be dealt with
in very swift
circumstances.”
The run up to the congress was dominated by allegations
that certain
candidates were sponsoring mobs to beat up rival candidates and
supporters.
Several provincial elections were disrupted in a number of
provinces as
rival supporters clashed or argued over who was eligible to
vote.
Chamisa conceded that violence “particularly in Bulawayo, in some
cases in
Manicaland and partly in Harare” had been a cause of concern. He
however
said there had been an ‘over-dramatization’ of the disturbances
which he
said were in ‘isolated areas.’ He blamed ‘internal’ and ‘external’
factors
for fuelling the violence in the party.
Of the internal
violence he said; “There is an almost certain belief the
party will win the
next election and this is why people were so energetic in
their campaigns
and everybody is seeing that we have a train that is about
to get to the
destination, so they would want to be either part of the
drivers or the
passengers. And those who failed to do so would use even
uncouth mechanisms
so that they cling onto this moving train.”
In the pressure of the
campaigns, Chamisa said ZANU PF found room “to
disrupt our structures, even
from the branch level.” He added that as a
result there were MDC-T members
who became willing tools of “ZANU PF
shenanigans. Those people we are going
to flush out,” he vowed. But he said
that overall ZANU PF had failed to
“contaminate our basket of good apples.”
“We want to make sure that this
demon of ZANU PF is exorcised from the
structures of the party and the
people of the party. The culture of our
movement should be such that we
don’t have people who use violence or
anarchy or chaos as a way of
organising or transacting political business.
It’s a culture alien to the
MDC, it’s a culture that has been imported from
ZANU PF by certain
elements.”
Last month journalist Pedzisai Ruhanya wrote an article
suggesting that,
“apart from the Mashonaland West provincial congress where
the leadership
there was elected in a decent manner, the majority of the MDC
electoral
processes and gatherings were marked by acts of violence, alleged
vote
rigging and vote buying.”
Much more seriously he alleged the
MDC-T disciplinary committee had failed
to bring to book Prosper Mutseyami,
the provincial organising secretary of
Manicaland, and former Minister of
Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa, on
allegations of violence against party
supporters, including the assault in
2010 of Thamsanga Mahlangu, the party’s
national youth chairperson.
“What stinks about the Mutseyami controversy
is the persistent allegation
that he is linked to a vigilante group made up
of party youths called
“Hunters”. This group commits acts of violence
against its opponents. It is
alleged that the Hunters do so at the behest of
Mutseyami and his handlers
in the standing committee of the party who avoid
being disciplined by the
party,” Ruhanya wrote.
But on Friday SW
Radio Africa spoke to a senior party official in Manicaland
who denied the
existence of the so-called ‘Hunters’ vigilante group. The
official said
Mutseyami and Mutsekwa faced a disciplinary hearing which
absolved them of
any blame in acts of violence. This committee we were told
was chaired by
Harare lawyer Chris Mhike and had legislators Jessie Majome,
Dr Tichaona
Mudzingwa and Tongai Matutu, among others.
“Mutseyami could not have been
part of the pre-congress violence or
disruptions as he was on suspension
pending this case” the official said.
Mutseyami’s suspension was only lifted
a week before the congress he added.
He said accusations against Mutseyami
were meant to tarnish his name, as it
was initially thought he would
challenge Elias Mudzuri for the National
Organising Secretary’s
position.
In the end it was Nelson Chamisa who ran against Mudzuri and
won. Meanwhile
Chamisa told our Question Time program that he will try to
unite all the
structures and roll out educational programmes to encourage
tolerance and a
new ‘genre of politics where we have happy differences.”
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tichaona Sibanda
6 May
2011
The country’s reviled ‘media hangman,’ Tafataona Mahoso, has been
appointed
co-chair of the thematic committee dealing with the media for a
new
constitution in Zimbabwe.
ZANU PF nominated him for the position
and he was brought in as the former
ruling party’s specialist technical
advisor. To try to counter his
influence, the MDC formations brought in
their own ‘top dogs’ to co-chair
this committee.
The MDC-T appointed
their combative spokesman for Manicaland, Pishai
Muchauraya, while the MDC-N
has the fearless Nhlanhla Dube, the new party
spokesman, as their man on the
committee.
But Mahoso’s appointment to the media thematic committee will
be a major
disappointment for the journalist fraternity in the country, and
for anyone
who believes in media freedom.
The controversial and
vitriolic former chairman of the Media and Information
Commission (MIC) will
have a major say on what is to be contained in the new
constitution, as far
as media issues are concerned.
Despite his repeated denials that he’s a
professional who is not directly
involved with ZANU PF politics or
structures, this latest appointment once
again exposes him as a card
carrying member of Robert Mugabe’s party.
Journalists who spoke to us
said Mahoso should also relinquish his position
as chief executive officer
of the secretariat of the Zimbabwe Media
Commission. The ZMC secretariat is
in charge of receiving and processing
applications from journalists and
media houses seeking registration with the
body.
After his
appointment to head the ZMC secretariat Foster Dongozi, the
secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, said they were very
uncomfortable with Mahoso’s appointment.
‘He’s the reason why so many
journalists in Zimbabwe are out of employment.
To bring him back is like
rubbing salt into a wound because the mayhem he
caused to scribes is still
fresh in many people’s minds,’ Dongozi said.
‘To be honest, I don’t have
a problem with Mahoso as a person, but he should
not take us for fools when
he tries to distance himself from ZANU PF
structures. All thematic areas
have co-chairpersons or specialist technical
advisors, and each committee
has three nominated by each political party. So
if Mahoso is on that
committee on a ZANU PF ticket, then he is a ZANU PF
cadre,’ a journalist in
Harare said.
Others have condemned his involvement with the drafting of a
new
constitution, especially on media, because of his legacy as a proponent
of a
shackled media industry.
During his tenure as chairman of the
MIC, Mahoso presided over the closure
of at least four newspapers, the
deportation of several foreign
correspondents and the arbitrary arrest,
detention and malicious prosecution
of dozens of local journalists, editors
and publishers.
In 2009 he was controversially appointed to chair the
Broadcasting Authority
of Zimbabwe (BAZ) but Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai declared the
appointment null and avoid.
He has been at
the forefront of ZANU PF’s stringent laws to police the media
industry,
forcing several newspapers, including the popular Daily News, to
close in
2003.
Controls over radio and television have been even stricter.
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tererai
Karimakwenda
06 May, 2011
The Mugabe regime’s attempt to “petition”
their way out of targeted
sanctions imposed by the E.U. and other Western
powers received another blow
this week. Charles Ray, the United States
Ambassador to Zimbabwe, dismissed
a petition being circulated by ZANU PF
calling for the removal of the
restrictive measures and said the Zim
authorities must show good faith
through their actions first before the
restrictions are removed.
Under increasing pressure to end violence and
intimidation of innocent
civilians and activists, ZANU PF has instead been
forcing people to sign the
petition with the hope of collecting two
million-signatures. Their plan is
to use the petition to influence foreign
officials who imposed the
restrictions.
But Ambassador Ray this week
put a damper on ZANU PF’s ambitions. Speaking
at a belated World Press
Freedom Day celebration in Gweru, the Ambassador
reportedly said the
petition would achieve nothing.
Ray is quoted as saying: “You have to
consider why the targeted sanctions
were put in place first then look at
what has been done to address the
causes. There has to be action taken by
the government to show good faith
before people can start to talk about
lifting the targeted sanctions”.
Ambassador Ray also defended independent
radio stations broadcasting to
Zimbabwe from abroad, which ZANU PF officials
have labeled as illegal,
“pirate” stations, calling for their closure. The
Ambassador said there was
nothing illegal about them and the U.S. supports
freedom of information and
freedom of the media.
Reports quoted him
as saying: “Just because you don’t like the message
coming from a radio
station doesn’t make it a pirate radio station.”
Ray’s comments came in
the same week that a SADC delegation joined ZANU PF
in its efforts to get
the restrictive measures lifted. Lindiwe Zulu, the
international relations
advisor for South African President Jacob Zuma,
travelled with the
delegation to key Western cities, campaigning for the
sanctions
removal.
The SADC delegation is also selling ZANU PF’s claim that the
restrictions
are blocking Zimbabwe’s economic development.
Civic
groups and rights activists in Zimbabwe and South Africa have strongly
criticized SADC for taking on this role, instead of focusing on the key
reforms that are so urgently needed.
http://www.radiovop.com
06/05/2011
16:57:00
Masvingo, May 06, 2011 - Zimbabwe’s army officer, Major
General, Engelbert
Rugeje, has been accused of disrupting lessons at
Masvingo’s Great Zimbabwe
University (GZU) by forcing students and lecturers
to skip lessons and
attend his anti-sanctions seminars.
Rugeje, who
is the Chief of Staff of the Zimbabwe national Army (ZNA),
stands accused of
employing a ‘mafia-style’ programme to force students to
participate in the
anti-sanctions programme that was launched by President
Robert
Mugabe.
Allegations against Rugeje are contained in a report released by
the
Community Tolerance for Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), a local
research institute advocating for the establishment of a Truth Telling
Commission in Zimbabwe.
“The custodians of the violence culture have
employed a mafia style
demonstration in a bid to force even students who
posses national identity
cards to sign the petition.
“At Great
Zimbabwe University brigadier Rugeje had a series of seminars with
the
students forcing them to sign the petition which is clear violation of
the
co curricular of the students,” reads in part the COTRAD report.
Maj-Gen
Rugeje could not be reached for comment on allegations leveled
against
him.
Rugeje is one of the top army commanders who have been reportedly
deployed
countrywide to direct campaign for Zanu-PF.
The COTRAD
report adds that Zanu (PF) youths were being coerced by senior
army officers
and party officials to threaten Masvingo villagers to
participate in the
anti-sanctions campaign.
“This is disturbing news youths are being
manipulated to spread violence and
threaten villagers on impending
catastrophes if they shun and snub these
processes.
“In Jerera four
villagers namely Brighton Machivana (22), Titos Muhunde
(26), David
Madzimure (29) and Prosper Nyamudya were beaten and threatened
with death
penalty after refusing to sign the anti sanctions petition,” the
COTRAD
report added.
President Robert Mugabe who launched the anti-sanctions
campaign in Harare
recently has said over 2 million signatures are required
from Zimbabweans to
push for the lifting of the embargoes from the West and
the European Union.
Mugabe has said the anti-sanctions campaign is a war
against the West and
the European Union.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw/
By Oscar Nkala
Friday, 06 May 2011
11:49
BULAWAYO - Zimbabwean businesses will continue to suffer from
power
shortages in the short–term as the country is unable to import power
from
the region as the entire southern Africa faces severe shortages, a top
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) official has
said.
John Chifamba, the newly appointed Zesa chief executive, told a
Zimbabwe
International Trade Fair (ZITF) business conference this week that
internal
power generating capacity also remained hamstrung by lack of funds
to revive
and maintain existing plants as well as equipment, since Zimbabwe
began
experiencing a steady decline in 1992.
“Our own local power
supply and generation capacity has actually slumped
over the years. This is
a sign that there has not been much investment
taking place in terms of
building new power generation capacity. We have
actually lost capacity
because we do not have enough funds to maintain the
existing generation
plants and equipment,” he said.
Industry executives had earlier attacked
Zesa for sabotaging the stuttering
economic revival programme by failing to
supply enough power, despite a new
regime of power tariffs.
Sectors
that have been mainly affected, include agricultural, manufacturing,
mining
and other sub – economic sectors.
Chifamba said local power demand is
suppressed at the moment because Zesa
does not have the supply to meet
it.
He said while the power utility was able to cover up the supply gap
by
importing from its neighbours in the past that was no longer possible as
all
countries in the region face power shortages.
“We used to import
our way out of the problems by sourcing power from our
neighbours, but that
is no longer possible. There is not a single country
with enough power in
the region except perhaps, Mozambique, which still has
power supplies
contracted to South Africa. We do get opportunistic purchases
now and again
but the power is supplied on a non-firm basis, which means
there is no
guarantee. We get it as and when it is available and that is not
good for
industry,” the Zesa boss said.
He said the power supply fluctuation also
gives an idea of how much the
economy has shrunk, drawing a comparison
between 1997 when Zesa sold 11
billion units of power to industry and 2011
when it is selling only 8,5
billion units.
“This give you an idea of
how much the economy has shrunk. After
dollarisation, our figures show that
the manufacturing sector has shrunk
while there has been activity in the
commercial sector. That is because the
supply situation remains our major
constraint,” said Chifamba.
He said Zesa, which has not commissioned any
new power stations since Hwange
in 1998, was working on plans to boost
production at Hwange and Kariba power
station, while reviving Bulawayo,
Munyati and Harare thermal power stations
to augment supplies.
He
added that they are also coming up with various demand-side management
project, which would see the nationwide replacement of incandescent light
bulbs with flourescent lights which save power.
He said 6 million
bulbs will be given out freely to consumers, starting in
the main cities of
Harare and Bulawayo.
http://www.voanews.com
Combined
Harare Residents Association Chairman Simbarashe Moyo told VOA
Studio 7
reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that most Harare suburbs have been
without
water for two to seven days
Sithandekile Mhlanga | Washington 05 May
2011
Many suburbs of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare were without
water Thursday
due to an expansion of power cuts by the Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply
Authority which is performing maintenance on its Kariba Dam Power
Station,
Harare City Council officials said.
ZESA has confirmed that
water supplies were disrupted due to power cuts, but
said it is not solely
to blame for the latest crisis as many pipes in the
capital have serious
leaks.
Combined Harare Residents Association Chairman Simbarashe Moyo
told VOA
Studio 7 reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that most Harare suburbs
have been
without water for two to seven days and that angry residents are
threatening
to stage demonstrations.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/
Impressive ... Industry Minister Welshman Ncube
admires one of the products
on display
06/05/2011 00:00:00
by
Lunga Sibanda
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair underway in Bulawayo
has been by low
turnout with members of the public expressing concern over
the high fees
being charged for entry into the exhibition park.
The
Fair, an annual event, was opened to the public on Thursday but turn-out
was
remarkably low although an improvement was expected on Friday for the
event’s official opening by Africa Import and Export Ban president
Jean-Louis.
A survey carried out at the Fair revealed that most of
the people who
visited Fair grounds were impressed by the quality of
products on display.
James Gabaza from Mzilikazi suburb said he noticed
an improvement in the
number of exhibitors at this year's event.
"I
have seen a significant improvement this year. Last year there were huge
gaps in hall three and four as some of the cubicles were not occupied,
however this year the gaps have been filled by exhibitors.
"Today
(Thursday) is bit quiet because there are fewer people but we are
sure that
Friday will be much better as people might want attend the
official
opening," Gabaza said.
He added that the admission fees for the fair
might have discouraged some
people from coming as it was
unaffordable.
"The problem some people might have incurred is that the
opening of the fair
was close to the opening of schools and some people have
opted to save their
money for the school fees instead," he
said.
Children who visited the fair were also impressed by the displays
with most
visiting the police and Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF)
stands.
"The police displays were very educative, we were fascinated by
their skills
they use in controlling animals. The cow exhibits are also
interesting, the
whole fair brings various elements together in one place
and we can receive
the education from one place," said Ndumiso Sinyoro from
Southwold.
Meanwhile exhibitors also said they had been encouraged by the
number of
inquiries they were getting inquiries from potential
clients.
"We have been receiving many inquiries from potential clients
since the Fair
started and now that the fair open to the public we are
optimistic of good
business," said Clarion insurance company underwriter,
Mkhululi Nkomo.
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Tobias Manyuchi Friday 06 May
2011
HARARE -- Foreign owned mines have until Monday to submit
indigenisation
proposals to government, as trading on the local bourse has
taken a
battering over the past month on the back of the controversial plan
to force
the mining firms to sell controlling stake to indigenous
Zimbabweans.
Most mines have adopted a wait and see attitude putting
expansion as well as
retooling plans on hold until there is clarity on how
the empowerment plan
will be executed.
In March, government gave all
foreign owned mines a six-month deadline --
which expires in September --
to sale their majority stake to locals.
Firms that fail to disclose their
share-transfer plans within the stipulated
period face prosecution,
according to the empowerment regulations that have
thrown the lucrative
mining sector into turmoil and split the unity
government of President
Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Zimplats, the
country's largest platinum miner and foreign investor, said it
was currently
reviewing the regulations.
"The government gazetted new indigenisation
and economic empowerment
regulations which compels all non-indigenous mining
businesses to submit
their plans to the Minister by 9th May 2011," Zimplats
said in a circular to
shareholders in its quarterly report.
"The
operating subsidiary is currently reviewing the regulations," said the
miner
that also reported a drop in production and sales volumes in the first
quarter that accounted for a 12 percent fall in operating
profit.
Executives at several other foreign-owned mining groups
interviewed by
ZimOnline also expressed worry about the future of the mining
sector
especially if the government proceeds with legal action against firms
that
do not submit empowerment plans by next Monday.
"For now, we are
just waiting to see what would happen. We have even stopped
buying some of
the heavy equipment which had made indications that we want
to buy," said
one executive, who did not want to be named. "We do not know
what would
happen, it may be politicking but we can’t risk investors funds."
The
Chamber of Mines has proposed trimming the indigenisation quota to a
minimum
of 26 percent with the balance of 25 percent made up of credits
arising from
corporate social investments such as roads, schools, dams and
hospitals that
most major mining firms have over the years built for local
communities.
The Chamber says it backs indigenisation of the mining
sector but says any
empowerment plan must seek to achieve the twin
objectives of growth and
development of the industry plus broad-based
economic empowerment
The government has not responded to the Chamber’s
recommendations made more
than three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, according
to the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange figures, value of shares
that exchanged hands
fell to US$35 497 749.67 last month from US$36 374
501.59 recorded in March
as the bourse took a knock on the back of the
government empowerment
laws.
The empowerment plans are being pushed by Mugabe’s wing of the
coalition
government and opposed by Tsvangirai’s MDC party that favours a
gradual
approach, fearing that wholesale indigenisation could wreck a
fragile
economy.
The International Monetary Fund has warned that the
empowerment programme
could damage Zimbabwe’s impressive but still fragile
economic recovery after
a decade of acute recession. -- ZimOnline
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex Bell
06 May
2011
The remaining 40 families still living at the Chiadzwa diamond
fields are
demanding US$50,000 as compensation before they are forced to
relocate, to
make way for more mining endeavors.
About 20 families
have already been relocated to Arda Transau in the Odzi
area, with mining
activities at Chiadzwa rapidly growing. But the remaining
families have now
said they will not be forced to move until they are paid
upfront.
The
Chiadzwa Community Development Trust (CCDT), which was formed to protect
the
rights of the Chiadzwa families, has said that it has been discussing
the
issue with the government and the mining companies that have taken over
the
area. The CCDT’s chairman, Malvern Mudiwa, is quoted as saying the group
has
arranged for the demanded money to be used buy shares in the mining
companies, saying some people might “abuse” the money they would have
received.
Centre for Research and Development director Farai Maguwu
told SW Radio
Africa on Friday that the demands by the villagers are
justified, saying
“they should be asking for more.”
“It’s very much
justified and it’s also in line with the minimum standards
for relocation
set out by the United Nations. First there must be prior
consent for the
people to be moved, secondly, there must be adequate
preparation in the
relocation site before people are moved and thirdly there
must be
compensation because normal life is disrupted when people are being
moved
and cultural values are being violated,” said Maguwu.
He added: “There is
nothing wrong with the families getting $50,000 as
compared to the billions
of dollars that the companies will be making.”
Maguwu continued that
promises made by the government should be taken
lightly, explaining that
“the implementation of plans by the government
usually fall through and
people lose out.” He said that “the government
appears to be more interested
in respecting the interests of its investors
over the interests of its
people.”
Civic society has been calling for legislation to be passed through
Parliament, to ensure that profits from Chiadzwa’s diamonds will directly
benefit the local people. But Maguwu said such legislation “is unlikely to
happen.”
“Even if there were beneficiaries it would all be based on
party
allegiance,” Maguwu said. “What is needed is political will to ensure
that
the residents benefit, but political will is the main thing lacking in
the
diamond industry.”
http://www.voanews.com
Mines
Minister Obert Mpofu and Deputy Mines Minister Gift Chimanikire say
the
South African-based diamond giant took rough stones from Marange but
never
declared their value to the state when it held a concession there
Sandra
Nyaira | Washington 05 May 2011
In a move some observers are calling
an attempt to divert attention from
alleged looting of diamonds from
Zimbabwe's controversial Marange field, the
Harare government has set up an
expert panel to investigate alleged fraud by
De Beers in years
past.
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and Deputy Mines Minister Gift
Chimanikire say
the South African-based diamond giant took rough stones from
Marange but
never declared their value to the state when it held prospecting
rights for
the alluvial field for 10 years.
No De Beers
representative could be reached for comment, but the company has
said in the
past that it found no diamonds in Marange, in eastern Manicaland
province.
Authorities in Harare say De Beers told them it was looking
for Kimberlite
pipe diamonds which require deeper digging than alluvial
diamonds, raising
questions as to how the giant could have missed stones
that local panners
extract with hoes and hands.
Mpofu maintained that
it is common knowledge in the diamond market that
rough stones from Marange
were being sold even before the government revoked
a concession held by
African Consolidated Resources of London in 2006 and
took over the
field.
ACR took up the mining claims for Marange soon after De Beers told
Harare it
did not intend to renew its concession. ACR has sued Harare and
the case
remains in court.
Chimanikire said Harare will take De Beers
to court if the report by its new
expert panel confirms Harare’s suspicions
based on another earlier report.
Political analyst Charles Mangongera
said the government’s launch of a probe
into the De Beers role in Marange
may be intended to distract attention from
present operations in Marange by
shadowy firms working in joint partnerships
with Harare.
Human rights
organizations have alleged serious abuses by Zimbabwean
military units in
control of Marange, and others say millions in diamonds
are being smuggled
out to the enrichment of a clique with close ties to
President Robert
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme has
attempted to establish
monitoring of the development activity in Marange
including the treatment of
local residents, but the watchdog group is deeply
divided over the
appropriate supervisory role.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Staff Writer
Friday, 06 May
2011 15:36
HARARE - US ambassador Charles Ray has defended the
external radio stations
broadcasting into Zimbabwe which President Robert
Mugabe and his allies say
are funded by the West to topple
him.
Ray said the dislike of broadcast messages from the so-called
pirate radio
stations by some sections of government, an inference to Zanu
PF, does not
make them illegal because they are not operating from
Zimbabwean soil.
“Just because some people in government do not like
messages that are
broadcast by the so-called pirate radio stations does not
make them illegal.
“Pirate implies illegal and these stations are located
elsewhere outside
Zimbabwe and their legality is governed by broadcasting
laws in those
countries.
“Botswana hosts facilities used by Voice of
America’s Studio 7 and if the
radio was pirate, that country would not allow
it operate on their soil,”
Ray told journalists at Gweru Press Club during
Press Freedom Day
commemorations on Wednesday.
Studio 7 broadcasts
into Zimbabwe from Washington daily and is manned by
local journalists who
were either hounded out of the country or fled the
political persecution. It
is one of three external radio stations
broadcasting into the
country.
The other two are Radio Voice of the People (VOP) and Short Wave
RadioAfrica
(SW Radio) which broadcasts from London.
Zanu PF
negotiators in the inclusive government insist Studio 7, SW Radio
and Radio
VOP are illegal and should be closed.
Mugabe wants the broadcasts stopped
before he can commit to reforms in the
broadcasting services sector where
the ZBC enjoys a monopoly.
Ironically, most Zanu PF officials willingly
grant interviews to Studio 7
ahead of the local independent
Press.
Earlier on, Ray officially opened an American Resource centre at
the Gweru
Memorial library, the first if its kind in the city.
He
urged the Gweru community to interact with American culture and history
through the centre as well as utilising the internet facilities to connect
with the global village.
The American Embassador also presented five
Gweru students scholarships to
study at American colleges and universities
http://www.swradioafrica.com/
By Alex Bell
06
May 2011
A group of journalists from the NewsDay independent newspaper
were subjected
to a search by state security agents on Thursday, which the
paper said was
‘intimidation’.
Calling it a “suspicious” search,
NewsDay explained that the journalists
were stopped on their way from lunch
at St Lucia Park in Harare on Thursday.
Among the searched journalists
were NewsDay Editor Brian Mangwende and the
paper’s political editor Kelvin
Jakachira, along with former Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation news editor
Patrice Makova. The team had been
invited to lunch by officials from the
Centre for Public Accountability,
where the NGO was holding a workshop for
journalists.
The newspaper said a group of six known State agents “made
an abrupt move
and stopped Mangwende and Makova’s vehicles for over 30
minutes, but would
not say why.” The State agents proceeded to thoroughly
search the vehicles,
claiming it was a routine exercise.
“We are only
doing our job,” one of the State security agents said.
NewsDay’s
Mangwende meanwhile said that “such acts do not augur well for
their
organisation.”
“I wonder whether their superiors are aware of what their
operatives are
really up to. What did they achieve by searching my vehicle
on my way from
lunch for goodness sake?” Mangwende is quoted as saying by
his paper.
The state agents ordered everyone to write down their names,
registration
numbers of their vehicles, their company’s physical addresses,
the motive
for their visit to the park and the time they
arrived.
Meanwhile, NewsDay reported that the action by the operatives
“reawakened
fears” at the newspaper, because it followed the recent raid at
its offices.
Mangwende’s laptop was stolen together with the computer hard
drives of
senior editorial staff, and it is widely believed that the raid
was planned
as part of a worsening crackdown against the independent
media.
NewsDay said: “Fear abounds that the agents were keeping a close
eye on
journalists and their movements.”
http://www.radiovop.com/
06/05/2011
16:56:00
Gwanda, May 06, 2011 – Cattle buyers mainly white commercial
farmers from
Gwanda and Bulawayo refused to buy cattle belonging to former
Matabeleland
South Zanu (PF) chairman Rido Mpofu at a Cattle Sale here on
Thursday.
Mpofu is allegedly desperate for cash as workers at his Sunrise
Restaurant
have gone for two months without pay.
“He desperately
needs cash to pay his workers who are threatening to take
him to court
because they have gone without pay for two months”, said a
source.
Mpofu had to transport back eight herds of cattle to his farm
after
commercial farmers and butcher men showed no interest in his beasts
despite
them being of a high quality.
They accused the former Gwanda
Mayor of wanting to reap were he did not sow.
“These are stolen cattle
how can he demand such a high price for animals he
grabbed?”, said one white
farmer.
Zanu (PF) officials including Mpofu stand accused of grabbing
properties
belonging to white farmers at the height of Zimbabwe’s chaotic
land
resettlement over a decade ago.
Many of them have since amassed
unparalleled wealth since the seizure of
farms in 2000.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw/
By Reagan Mashavave, Staff Writer
Friday, 06 May 2011
14:39
HARARE - Faction-riddled Zanu PF and its beleaguered
presidium face further
fracturing over the inexplicable push by some party
heavyweights to have
controversial businessman Phillip Chiyangwa bounce back
as provincial
chairman for the troubled Mashonaland West
province.
At the same time that Chiyangwa’s supporters are fighting
to have him
re-admitted to the commanding heights of the party, it has
emerged that
seven other people from different factions of the party are
interested in
the post.
Already, the two main factions in Zanu PF —
one allegedly led by vice
president Joice Mujuru and her husband Solomon,
and the other by Defence
Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa — are reported to be
sponsoring their own
candidates for the position.
The Daily News was
told yesterday how top Zanu PF officials were now engaged
in “a bruising
fight” over the issue, amid reports that there has been a
flurry of letters
and representations to party leader President Robert
Mugabe, with many
heavyweights trying to block Chiyangwa’s re-ascendancy to
the powerful
position.
Chiyangwa’s interest in the provincial chairman comes seven
years after he
was fired from the same position following sensational
allegations that he
had spied for the South African
government.
Chiyangwa, a former police officer during the Rhodesian era,
was
subsequently arrested, although he was never convicted for the alleged
crime. His co-accused were given lengthy jail sentences.
As a
precursor to Chiyangwa being re-appointed to the position, the maverick
businessman has also since been readmitted to the membership of the divided
party, after Mashonaland West province wrote a letter to the party’s head
office seeking his readmission.
Chiyangwa and Zanu PF secretary for
administration Didymus Mutasa confirmed
this fact yesterday.
Mugabe
is said to be in a dilemma over the Chiyangwa riddle, as the
octogenarian
reportedly no longer trusts him since the spy scandal was
unearthed.
However, Mugabe is apparently not sure who to support,
given that both the
Mnangagwa and the Mujuru camps have taken a keen
interest in the post.
Chiyangwa is seen as being more inclined towards
the more radical Mnangagwa
camp, which is said to enjoy the support of
securocrats.
“The fight for control of Mashonaland West has escalated to
national level
as it has been turned into a power scramble between the
factions in Zanu PF.
What is even more intriguing is that there are several
politburo members who
are supporting their people and want to impose them on
the people of the
province."
“The fight to replace President Mugabe
is clearly evident in this battle for
control of Mashonaland West. The game
is becoming dirty everyday, with
people approaching President Mugabe while
others have even gone to the
extent of soliciting for support from service
chiefs."
“In many senses, the coming in of Chiyangwa has worsened an
already volatile
situation because he is said to be unpopular. People in the
province are
saying they don’t want someone who was arrested for spying and
who was a
police officer in Rhodesia to lead them. The game will become
dirtier and
President Mugabe will have to come in and save the situation,”
said a top
Zanu PF source.
Besides Chiyangwa, several other
candidates in the province have showed
interest in the post, which was left
vacant following the death of acting
chairman Robert Sikanyika two weeks
ago.
The others who are said to be interested in the position are Reuben
Marumahoko, Walter Chidhakwa, Faber Chidarikire, Christopher Shumba, Bright
Matonga, Themba Mliswa and John Mafa who was deposed from the same position
recently.
Mafa has been appealing to Zanu PF’s national disciplinary
committee to
reverse his dismissal from the chairperson’s
position.
Zanu PF’s political commissar Webster Shamu is reportedly
pushing for
Marumahoko to lead the province, while politburo member Ignatius
Chombo is
said to be supporting Chidhakwa. This could not be verified last
night.
However, Mutasa rubbished reports that there were attempts to
impose
Chiyangwa on the people saying everyone interested in the post would
be
allowed to contest.
“Mashonaland West province lobbied for Phillip
Chiyangwa to be retained in
the party,” Mutasa said. “The normal thing is
that people nominate the
candidate through an election. Everyone from the
party in the province will
vote. No-one will impose candidates. Card
carrying people will vote like in
any other province. Why should it be
different for Mashonaland West
province?” he said.
When contacted for
comment, Chiyangwa said he could neither deny nor confirm
his interest in
the post.
“I just got my letter of being rehabilitated into the party
today (Thursday)
and I haven’t set foot in Mashonaland West. I am just
reading from the
newspapers about my candidature and of course I am excited
and enthused that
people are still interested in me seven years down the
line,” Chiyangwa
said.
Chiyangwa could not take questions on claims
that some party stalwarts in
the province still regard him as a ‘sell-out’
and that his candidature has
divided Zanu PF. He said he did not want to
talk about the past.
He also denied claims doing the rounds that he was
splashing money to ensure
that he wins the post “at all costs.”
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Friday, 06 May 2011
15:32
HARARE - Dismissed MDC councillor Warship Dumba has dragged
Local Government
Minister Ignatius Chombo to court challenging his
controversial dismissal by
the minister.
In his court papers, Dumba,
a fiery elected councillor for Mount Pleasant,
wants the High Court to
reverse Chombo’s decision to fire him saying the
committee that investigated
him was improperly constituted.
He alleges that the committee was biased
because it was appointed by Chombo
whom he and other councillors
investigated and implicated in the illegal
acquisition of vast tracts of
prime land in Harare.
Dumba cited Chombo as the first respondent while
the City of Harare is cited
as a second respondent.
“The first
respondent failed to observe the principles of natural justice
which require
that any determination against me must be undertaken by an
impartial
authority able to undertake and make a fair inquiry and
determination,” read
the court papers.
The fight between the two started soon after the Harare
city council started
investigating land deals that were executed soon after
the 2008 elections.
Dumba chaired the committee which implicated Chombo
along with Zanu PF
politician Phillip Chiyangwa and a police report was made
but up to this day
no arrests have been made.
Last week, councillors
petitioned the attorney general Johannes Tomana to
institute investigations
against Chombo but the AG said he had not seen the
petition.
He said
the charges levelled against Chombo were serious and did not require
to be
dealt with politically or in the media.
“Generally, I can’t confirm to
you whether we are investigating any person
or not because if I say we are
investigating him and he flees we would have
not helped anyone, we are not
politicians and we act professionally. In any
case I have not seen the
petition you are talking about,” said Tomana.
Chombo is alleged to have
bought several residential stands in Harare
without going to tender and he
is also alleged to have abused his office get
some land from
council.
Recently, he was alleged to be in the process of transferring
one of the
disputed properties from one of his company Harvest –Net to the
state citing
security reasons.
Dumba was suspended from council in
November 2010 after he made a report to
the police against Chombo alleging
that he had deprived council of property
worth millions of dollars.
http://www.radiovop.com
06/05/2011 11:40:00
Harare, May 06, 2011
– Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s faction of the
Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) is pushing South African President
Jacob Zuma, the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) facilitator in
the Zimbabwe crisis, to
allow the Diaspora to vote in the next elections now
thought to be held in
2013.
About three million Zimbabweans are estimated to be in the Diaspora
after
they fled an economic and political meltdown between 2000 and 2010.
Over 250
000 have been given work permits in South Africa this year after
the country
formally started registering illegal Zimbabweans.
Zanu
(PF)'s legal guru, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is thought to be vying to
succeed
President Robert Mugabe and is reportedly, working behind the scene
to
maintain his status as the heir apparent has told the state media that
his
party would not allow the Diaspora to vote.
He said restrictive measures
imposed by the European Union (EU) and other
Western powers on Mugabe and
his inner circle should be unconditionally
removed before people in the
Diaspora were allowed to vote. Mnangagwa added
that due to the targeted
sanctions the Zanu (PF) leadership was unable to
travel to Europe and the
United States to canvas for support from the
Diaspora yet Prime Minister
Tsvangirai and his leadership could crisis-cross
the globe to
campaign.
But in a hard-hitting statement to the media on Friday, Prime
Tsvangirai’s
party charged that all adult Zimbabweans, regardless of their
station either
at home or in the Diaspora, must be allowed to vote in the
next and in any
election if democracy has to assume its “generic”
meaning.
Tsvangirai said this as Zanu (PF) and MDC negotiators exchanged
notes with
the SADC facilitation team in Cape Town.
The MDC-T said
Zanu (PF) Mnangagwa should know that the issue of restrictive
measures and
the Diaspora vote were not linked in anyway and therefore could
be
compared.
“The Inclusive Government was set up to give birth to a
completely new
society, a society that reflects a radical departure from our
dark past. The
right to a vote can never be treated as a privilege, and
cannot be bargained
for,” read part of the MDC-T statement to the
media.
“Decades of economic and political chaos drove millions of
Zimbabweans off
their home base. As if to further punish them the former
regime quickly
disenfranchised them purely on allegations of supporting the
party of the
future, the MDC. Now that Zimbabwe is being surveyed by an
Inclusive
Government, there can never be any justification for official
discrimination
of citizens in the Diaspora,” said the MDC-T.
“For the
record, these Zimbabweans living and working abroad gave the
country a
lifeline against a debilitating hyper-inflationary period through
a steady
flow of remittances in cash, food and fuel. They continue to do so
today as
the country teeters back to its feet. They should never be denied a
voice to
determine the future of their country.”
“We should end the discrimination
and exclusion of such a sizeable and
invaluable part of our active
population in national affairs. Needless to
point out that the liberation
struggle was anchored on the need for a
one-person, one vote principle. To
deny a Zimbabwean such a right would
amount to a regrettable betrayal of the
ideals of that struggle,” it added.
Meanwhile, the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has said that
Zimbabweans must only go for
elections once a new constitution has been
passed in the country. NCA
chairperson was speaking to villager in Kanyemba
district in their 'take
charge' campaign that is meant to teach people about
constitutional
matters.
‘’As the NCA we are telling the politicians of this country that
elections
should only be conducted after the writing of a new genuine people
driven
constitution. That new constitution should guarantee a free and fair
election,’’ Madhuku said.
NCA spokesperson, Madock Chivasa said
people should "after the draft is out
it is everyone’s duty as a Zimbabwean
to scrutinise the contents of the
draft and if your views are not captured
surely you should all vote NO.’’
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Roadwin Chirara, Staff Writer
Friday, 06
May 2011 16:00
HARARE - Zimbabwe's the trade balance is likely to
deteriorate by more than
three percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in
2011, the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
According
to the Bretton Woods institution’s regional economic outlook
sub-Saharan
Africa, global commodity price movements will have a negative
effect on the
country’s trade account.
“In terms of the impact on external accounts,
work done for the World
Economic Outlook suggests that commodity price
movements observed through
December 2010 are likely to affect adversely the
trade accounts of a number
of countries in the region fairly significantly,”
the report said.
However, the global financier said increased capital
inflows in the country
were being driven by the country’s vast platinum
reserves and where most of
the funds were being channelled.
“FDI is
mainly driven by one large investment in platinum production,” the
report
said.
“Higher commodity prices — copper in Zambia and gold and platinum
in
Zimbabwe — were expected to boost economic conditions and may have
contributed to higher inflows to these countries,” it added.
The
report said the introduction of stabilising measures such as the
government
of national unity and a multi-currency system had encouraged a
surge in
funds targeting the stock exchange.
“As a result, portfolio flows have
resumed, and market capitalisation
rapidly increased from US$1,5 billion in
February 2009 to US$5 billion in
October 2010,” the IMF said.
“All
categories of capital inflows have surged, and have exceeded pre-crisis
levels.
“Following the implementation of an economic stabilisation
programme in
2009, Zimbabwe has recorded a sharp increase in portfolio
equity investment
and foreign currency deposit inflows,” according to the
report.
The report also said despite several countries still struggling
in the
aftermath of the global economic downturn, Zimbabwe had put in place
sound
macroeconomic policies in place.
“Macroeconomic policies have
improved in a number of countries, most notably
Zimbabwe,” according to the
IMF fundings.
External borrowings by countries, according to the IMF, partly
reflect the
need to finance current account deficits.
“For instance,
Zimbabwe relies on capital flows to finance current account
deficits of
about 20 percent of GDP and support liquidity in the fully
dollarised
banking system,” the report said.
The report said banking systems in several
countries were strained by the
global slowdown or by domestic factors which
were compounded further
tightening of banking regulations in the case of
Zimbabwe.
“In some countries, such as Zimbabwe, a tightening of banking
regulations
for prudential reasons correspondingly may constrain net capital
inflows,”
according to the IMF.
The Fund reiterated its forecast of 5,5
percent GDP growth for the region in
2011 and 5,9 percent in 2012, with
low-income countries making up the bulk
of the continent’s fastest
recovering regions.
With an average oil price of U$107 per barrel this year
compared to US$80
per barrel in 2010, an increase of more than a third which
would result in
higher import bills for most countries in the region, it
said.
http://www.mmegi.bw/
Friday, 06 May
2011
THALEFANG CHARLES
HIFA is a six-day annual event that
showcases Zimbabwean, regional and
international arts and culture in a
comprehensive festival programme of
theatre, dance, music, circus, street
performance, spoken-word and visual
arts.
Even Zimbabwe's political
and economic situation was not a hindrance to the
arts lovers across the
world, including this writer, who joined the
pilgrimage to Harare Gardens
for the 2011 festival themed, The Engagement
Party.
Tens of thousands
of festinos (festival tourists) who descended on Harare
resembled one huge
community of mixed races - black and white. They arrived
mostly in
colourful attires of red, gold green and black, bearing the
occasional Che
Guevara portrait and five-leafed plant pattern as well as
berets and
turbans. Flat shoes - mostly Converse - dreadlocked unshaven
rugged-looking
males, and women in long African print skirts, various hats
and colourful
beads. A united nation of arts lovers ready to "engage" with
a
comprehensive line-up of artists from across the globe.
Every year the
organisers come up with a different theme for the event,
which serves as an
"inspirational tool for the creative community, a message
to engender
excitement and anticipation about the upcoming festival in the
festival-goers, a useful marketing hook for the festival's investors who via
financial injections, provision of goods and services, or a combination of
both, help to make the festival possible". According to the festival press
release, the 2011 theme, Engagement Party, "carries a message of becoming
engaged across all sectors of society, all belief systems, viewpoints, of
coming together, setting aside differences, and engaging fully and
completely with one another". The theme also describes the carnival
celebration of art and life that HIFA brings to Harare.
Tens of
artists performed one after the other for six days of inspiring
spectacles
of art. From over 15 platforms revellers were treated to a
week-long rousing
display of art forms. Art being art, it was therefore not
surprising that
some of the performances were reported to have "ruffled the
feathers of the
powers that be". The Standard newspaper reported that the
opening show of
the festival on Telecel Main Stage carried some powerful
political
undertones that led to the "arrest and release of the HIFA
organising team
without any charges". The play titled Treasure was a tale
of political,
social and economic factors that shaped interactions in
various Zimbabwean
communities in the recent years. It explored in a lighter
form, the issues
of looting by respected public officials, their greed as
well as police
brutality. In a country that such tales are only told in
whispers behind
closed doors it was therefore, not a surprise when festival
managers were
reportedly "arrested". The HIFA founder and artistic
director, Manuel
Bagorro was, however, quick to deny the "arrest" saying
their "meeting at
the Harare Provincial Police Headquarters was a regular
liaison with law
enforcement authorities where check-box reviewing was done
in terms of the
various types of paperwork that has to be submitted by any
promoter when
holding a show."
One of the headline acts, Nneka, Nigerian-German born
young female artist,
performing on Day Five at Telecel Main Stage also
touched a raw nerve with
her satirical VIP (Vagabounds In Power) song, which
generally mocks the
corrupt officers and multinational companies. The
talented singer and
guitarist gave an inspiring oration preceding her song,
on how most revered
leaders are corrupt and are failing the ordinary man.
The crowd was stunned
when she loudly stated, "even here they are corrupt"
(referring to Harare).
With her beautiful Nigerian-Jamaican accent and an
excellent way of playing
with words she later talked herself out of being
seen as pushing any
political agenda.
The other ruffling of the
feathers was at Hivos Poetry Cafe where a number
of talented poets used the
word to voice their discontent with the "grease"
authorities "that drive big
black executive cars on dirt potholed streets".
Hivos Poetry Cafe
featured spoken word practitioners from Zimbabwe, Malawi,
Botswana (TJ
Dema), South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and guest artist, Morten
Sondergaard from
Denmark. At Global Quarter Craft and Design Centre artists
showcased and
sold a wide range of homemade gifts, toys, home d�cor,
accessories and
fashion items that provided festinos with perfect souvenirs.
Since most
of the acts were performed in an outdoor area, the festival was
nearly
spoiled by showers that poured over Harare on Friday and Saturday.
The
lovers of art were nonetheless still undeterred by the downpour as they
patiently waited for the rain to stop and continue with their indulgence in
the arts spectacle.
http://www.africalegalbrief.com/
Friday, 06 May 2011
07:51
The legal fraternity yesterday described prominent lawyer Mr George
Charles
Chikumbirike who died on Wednesday as a legal icon who contributed
immensely
to the development of law in Zimbabwe.
He was 56. Mr
Chikumbirike, who died at St Annes Hospital after a short
illness, was
arguably one of the best legal brains in the country.Mr
Chikumbirike was a
senior partner at Chikumbirike and Associates.Harare
lawyer Mr Jonathan
Samkange, who had known Mr Chikumbirike for 37 years
described him as a good
lawyer and friend.
"I have known Chikumbirike for the past 37 years
and he had been a good
friend. He was my personal friend and I was actually
his best man.
"He was a very good lawyer who quickly rose to become one of
the best
lawyers.
"His death is unbelievable and a blow to the whole
legal fraternity," said
Mr Samkange.
Constitutional and Parliamentary
Affairs Minister Advocate Eric Matinenga
said Mr Chikumbirike was a great
lawyer who gave the best for his clients.
"Some may have disagreed with him,
but at the end of the day, he gave the
best for his clients.
"It is a
very sad loss to the profession and for some of us who associated
with him
at personal and professional levels," said Adv Matinenga.
Another lawyer Mr
Selby Hwacha of Dube Manikai and Hwacha law firm described
Chikumbirike as a
"huge legal brain" and a source of inspiration for many
lawyers.
"George
was a very good legal mind and he inspired most of us who were many
years
behind to practice law.
"If you look at most criminal cases in this country,
George produced the
most dramatic and creative results," said Mr
Hwacha.
In a condolence, secretary general of the Magistrates Association of
Zimbabwe Mr Munamato Mutevedzi said Mr Chikumbirike's death was a big loss
to the fraternity.
"The legal fraternity will be poorer without the legal
icon Chikumbirike. He
was a quick-witted lawyer who would never make a tired
argument in court.
"He always had new ideas and was so persuasive and so
eloquent in his
arguments that he could easily convince the court that he
had re-invented
the wheel.
"His contribution to the development of the
law in Zimbabwe remains
indelible and because of this, we should not
despair.
"Instead, we should celebrate the life of a legal icon," said Mr
Mutevedzi.
Mr Chikumbirike was born on October 27, 1956 in Murewa and went to
Murewa
Mission for his primary and secondary education.
He enrolled at
the then University of Rhodesia in 1976 to study law,
obtaining his Bachelor
of Law degree in 1978 and LLB the following year.
He then joined the Justice
ministry as a magisterial assistant. Mr
Chikumbirike quit the bench and had
a brief stint at Coghlan, Welsh and
Guest.
He left to join Chirunda and
Chihambakwe law firm, where he became a partner
and the firm was to be
called Chirunda, Chihambakwe and Chikumbirike. He
left to form his own law
firm Chikumbirike and Associates in 1994.
Mr Chikumbirike left behind a wife
and several children. He will be buried
at his rural home in Murewa
tomorrow.
Mourners are gathered at Number 11 Wood Lane, Borrowdale,
Harare.-Herld
http://www.cathybuckle.com/indexph.php
May 6, 2011, 10:22 am
Friday May 6th
2011
‘Justice has been done’ claimed the Americans after US Special
Forces killed
Osama bin Laden in Pakistan this week. That seems a strange
interpretation
of justice, shooting an unarmed man - however ‘evil’ he may
be – without the
benefit of a trial in open court. Some might argue that it
is nothing more
than extra-judicial execution. While ordinary Americans
rushed out onto the
streets in Washington to chant their triumphalist USA!
USA! In the outside
world there have been not a few voices questioning the
legality - and
morality - of the action. The narrative of Osama’s death has
changed in
several respects from that first issued by the White House and
added to that
is the fact that President Obama has decided not to make
public the pictures
of Osama bin Laden’s body on the grounds that such
images might provoke
revenge attacks from Al Quaida sympathisers. We are
told that Osama was
buried at sea within twenty four hours. Whatever the
truth, we still have no
hard evidence of how bin Laden was killed or the
actual circumstances
surrounding his death. The US acknowledges that the
death of Osama does not
mean the end of terrorism so what exactly was the
purpose of killing him if
it was nothing more than revenge? What we do know
is that the killing took
place inside Pakistan without that country being
aware that American Special
Forces were present in the country or the nature
of their mission. Pakistan
was not informed, the US tells us, because there
was a fear that Osama would
be warned by the Pakistani authorities of the
plot to kill him. Not
unnaturally, Pakistan has taken exception to that
allegation, claiming their
right as a sovereign state to have control over
who enters the country.
It is that expression, ‘sovereign state’ so often
used by Robert Mugabe that
highlights the predicament of how the world
treats dictators and how it goes
about bringing them to justice. Mugabe uses
the expression to justify his
regime’s excesses with the excuse that as a
‘sovereign state’ Zimbabwe has
an absolute right to behave in any way it
wishes. Many people have asked
since the killing of Osama bin Laden: ‘Why
not Robert Mugabe or the North
Korean leader? What is stopping the world
from removing these ageing
dictators?’
Much as Zimbabweans want to
see Mugabe gone, I don’t believe they would
welcome outside forces entering
the country to remove him from power. The
thought of British, American or
South African forces entering Zimbabwe to
assassinate the dictator or
attempt to overthrow his regime would, I
believe, be deeply repugnant to the
average Zimbabwean. It can be argued
that Osama bin Laden as the founder and
leader of Al Qaeda was a very
different case. Al Qaeda was after all,
responsible for millions of deaths
of innocent civilians not only on 9/11 in
New York but in London on 7/7 in
Kenya at the bombing of the US Embassy and
in Pakistan itself which has felt
the full brunt of Al Qaeda
terrorism.
The moral question at the heart of this debate is whether a
nation is
justified in using extra-judicial measures to destroy the
individual or
organization that has threatened the security of the state
and, in bin Laden’s
case, killed thousands of people. Do the means ever
justify the end?
Clearly, Mugabe and Zanu PF have no doubts on that score.
The means they are
using to maintain their stranglehold on power include
torture, kidnapping
and destruction of people’s homes. In the words of one
delegate at the
recent MDC Congress, “Anyone who is associated with the MDC
is threatened
with eviction and some are actually kidnapped, beaten up.
There is actually
no control at all so even if our people go to the police,
the police do
nothing.” And therein lies Zimbabwe’s problem: the police and
army are
complicit in Zanu PF’s attempts to silence all opposition by any
means. What
needs to happen I believe is that these criminals, from Robert
Mugabe down
to the lowest hireling of Zanu PF, be ultimately brought to
justice before
the International Criminal Court in the Hague. No
extra-judicial killings
as was the case with Osama bin Laden; for justice to
be done, it must be
seen to be done by the whole world.
Yours in the
(continuing) struggle PH.
By Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
05/05/11
At a time when we thought SADC leaders had redeemed themselves
at
Livingstone, Zambia and were now focused, instead the regional bloc is
back
to its comfort zone – babysitting the dictatorship in Harare. The
timing of
the SADC leaders’ mission could not have been more
inappropriate.
What is c;ear, however, is the fact that on receiving
premature media
reports that Zimbabwe’s GPA negotiators had reached a
so-called agreement on
a roadmap, SADC probably prompted by Zanu-pf envoys
immediately found it
opportune to approach Western countries with the ‘good
tidings’ and to
sweeten them to lift targeted sanctions when actually that
roadmap is a big
joke.
But what is still rather unusual is that
President Zuma’s envoys and the
SADC delegation found it worthwhile to plead
with Western countries to lift
a travel ban on Mugabe and his wife which
were imposed for violence, human
rights abuses and vote rigging despite the
fact that violence has increased
and everything remains as it was in 2001
except for the full supermarket
shelves where only the rich can buy due to
80 percent unemployment rate.
The regional bloc’s decision to sell its
soul for Robert Mugabe and his
loyalists is baffling in the aftermath of
remarks by Zanu-pf Defence
Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa that there will be no
Diasposa vote as long as
he is not welcome to travel to Europe and America.
He was said to have asked
those who wanted to vote to return to Zimbabwe.
Obviously there is a high
risk of abduction and torture in Zimbabwe at the
moment.
The negative effect of such an utterance when Zimbabwe is trying
to come up
with a peaceful solution to its crisis can only be blamed on SADC
which does
not deplore such inflammatory speeches.
Interestingly, in
the wake of his statement, Zanu-pf violence is said to
have erupted
throughout the country targeting opposition supporters like in
2008.
SADC may need to urge Minister Mnangagwa to refresh his memory
of
constitutional law that the voting rights for 3-4 million Zimbabweans in
the
Diaspora has nothing to do to with 200 Zanu-pf’s hardliners who are on a
self-inflicted travel ban and asset freeze for rights abuses which have
escalated. The two are unrelated.
What SADC leaders are doing shows
that their roadmap for Zimbabwe is
actually a roadmap to nowhere if not a
roadmap to anarchy because of their
connivance with Zanu-pf.
Clifford
Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London,
zimanalysis2009@gmail.com